The Knights of Mandalore: Rise of the Empire/Part 1

*The Knights of Mandalore: Rise of the Empire*
**Chapters 1–3** | Chapters 4–6 | Chapters 7–9

Written by: Gridlock007 (Gridlock), Astrovious (Astrovious), Octology (Fej Torra), Ocarina451 (Tracinya), Jonax Frostwalker (Jonax Frostwalker), Grant Holifield (Gjante Skirata)

Edited by: Ocarina451

Editor's note: All dialogue is as originally written, with the exception of minor spelling and grammar edits and occasional reordering of dialogue in conversations for clarity of reading, with the intent to faithfully preserve each character's voice as portrayed by their player. Action descriptions have been added and combined to clarify the flow of scenes where necessary. Out-of-character comments have been removed or worked into the context of scenes, as applicable. Veterans of the campaign are more than welcome to add their own edits and comments to this project.

## Prologue

*Coruscant, 19 BBY*

*"Citizens of the civilized galaxy, on this day we mark a transition. For a thousand years, the Republic stood as the crowning achievement of civilized beings. But there were those who would set us against one another, and we took arms to defend our way of life against the Separatists. In doing so, we never suspected that the greatest threat came from within.*

*"The Jedi, and some within our own Senate, had conspired to create the shadow of Separatism using one of their own as the enemy's leader. They had hoped to grind the Republic into ruin. But the hatred in their hearts could not be hidden forever. At last, there came a day when our enemies showed their true natures.*

*"The Jedi hoped to unleash their destructive power against the Republic by assassinating the head of government and usurping control of the clone army. But the aims of the would-be tyrants were valiantly opposed by those without elitist, dangerous powers. Our loyal clone troopers contained the insurrection within the Jedi Temple and quelled uprisings on a thousand worlds.*

*"The remaining Jedi will be hunted down and defeated. Any collaborators will suffer the same fate. These have been trying times, but we have passed the test.*

*"The attempt on my life has left me scarred and deformed, but I assure you my resolve has never been stronger. The war is over. The Sepratists have been defeated, and the Jedi rebellion has been foiled. We stand on the threshold of a new beginning.*

*"In order to ensure the security and continuing stability, the Republic will be reorganized into the first Galactic Empire, for a safe and secure society, which I assure you will last for 10,000 years. An Empire that will be continue to be ruled by this august body and a sovereign ruler chosen for life. An Empire ruled by the majority, ruled by a new consitution.*

*"By bringing the entire galaxy under one law, one language, and the enlightened guidance of one individual, the corruption that plagued the Republic in its later years will never take root. Regional governors will eliminate the bureaucracy that allowed the Separatist movement to grow unchecked. A strong and growing military will ensure the rule of law.*

*"Under the Empire's New Order, our most cherished beliefs will be safeguarded. We will defend our ideals by force of arms. We will give no ground to our enemies and we will stand together against attacks from with or without. Let the enemies of the Empire take heed: Those who challenge Imperial resolve will be crushed.*

*"We have taken on a task that will be difficult, but the people of the Empire are ready for the challenge. Because of our efforts, the galaxy has traded war for peace and anarchy for stability. Billions of beings now look forward to a secure future. The Empire will grow as more planets feel the call, from the Rim to the wilds of unknown space.*

*"Imperial citizens must do their part. Join our grand star fleet. Become the eyes of the Empire by reporting suspected insurrectionists. Travel to the corners of the galaxy to spread the principles of the New Order to barbarians. Build monuments and technical wonders that will speak of our glory for generations to come.*

*"The clone troopers, and others now proudly wearing the name of Imperial stormtroopers, have tackled the dangerous work of fighting our enemies on the front lines. Many have died in their devotion to the Empire. Imperial citizens would do well to remember their example.*

*"The New Order of peace has triumphed over the shadowy secrecy of shamful magicians. The direction of our course is clear. I will lead the Empire to glories beyond imagination.*

*"We have been tested, but we have emerged stronger. We moved forward as one people - the Imperial citizens of the first Galactic Empire. We will prevail. Ten thousand years of peace begins today."*

*- Emperor Palpatine, formerly Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic, in his first formal address to the citizens of the newly created Galactic Empire*

## Chapter One

*The* Agitator, *Acclamator-class assault ship, somewhere in hyperspace*

WHIT-KE STRELL: The Republic is now the Empire. We need some way to live under this tyranny. Let us share our stories of how we got here first, though.

GRIDLOCK: I was saved from Zygerrian slavers at the age of 5 by Whit-Ke Strell. He taught me the art of combat, and he taught me to fly. Now I am one of the best pilots in the galaxy.

ASTROVIOUS: Well, I may as well start this, as this is a bit more personal for me now. I was a former Jedi, I was abandoned as a padawan, and eventually found my way off planet, but ended up on Korriban. I accidentally ended up in a Sith tomb for shelter, and was trained by an ancient Sith spirit. I was trained for about 10 years or so, difficult to keep track of time for that long. I bested him in combat afterwards, took his helmet, and then I may have killed a few people in the way off planet, stole a blaster from one of them, and then their ship. The ship ended up getting crashed and now I'm here!

AROA TRACINYA: My family ran a business as guides on the resort planet Generis, but I always wanted to travel elsewhere. When I was older I ended up leaving with a group of Mandalorians who'd been there hunting, and eventually joined the Mando'ade. After being trained on Mandalore and ending up with armor, a strill and a lack of obligations, I worked on Felucia as a hunter for a while. Then the Clone Wars happened, and... somehow I ended up traveling with you guys.

STRELL: Fej, would you like to share?

FEJ TORRA: I was born on Dorin, 47 BBY, into a family of grain merchants. They sold those grains like there was no tomorrow, I'd say. I was only a boy, around three standard years of age. I was with my parents when they were at the side of a plateau, giving off a large load of grains, when a ship of Riorian pirates came out of nowhere, shot that ship down, our customers with it. After killing my parents and taking the grain, I was bagged and put into their pungent dungeon. Later, at a slaver meet in Tatooine, I met a young man, Mandalorian. Whit-Ke himself. He bought me, out of his own money, and raised me. Then I learned Basic and came to live here, amongst us warriors. Waiiwaieeefyeh!

STRELL: Now we have to figure out how we survive. During the Clone Wars, our way was assisting Clones in need and infiltrating Separatist cargo ships. Now, we need ideas.

ASTROVIOUS: Well, if they were able to kill Jedi, we can't always walk around openly if we become enemies of the Empire, what we need to do is not get on the Empire's bad side, but don't get too friendly with them. Strike when we need to, not always.

GRIDLOCK: Where do you suggest we park the *Agitator?*

TORRA: *(light turns on in corner)* Somewhere hidden.

GRIDLOCK: Like Tatooine? Hoth? Rishi? Where could we go?

ASTROVIOUS: Somewhere in the outer rim would be best

*Tracinya pulls up a holomap of the Outer Rim Territories on the table. The warriors gather around it.*

GRIDLOCK: Kamino. It is extragalactic and after the declaration of the Empire, they have declared themselves an enemy. Rumor is, the Empire is scared of the Kaminoans.

ASTROVIOUS: Well, sounds like it'll work.

TORRA: It's a complete water planet with no clearance, that will never work! *(slams hand on table)*

ASTROVIOUS: How about Eriadu?

GRIDLOCK: We all know you can't swim Fej, but we can land in one of the minor facilities.

TORRA: Hmm... Wait, who said I can't swim? I *can* swim...

ASTROVIOUS: Eriadu, from what I know about it, is mainly jungles and mountains, that's plenty of cover, isn't it?

GRIDLOCK: Yeah, but the Kaminoans could be dangerous allies.

ASTROVIOUS: True, so it's currently between Kamino and Eriadu from the sounds of it?

TORRA: *(to Gridlock)* Untrustworthy, dangerous allies.

STRELL: I say Eriadu.

GRIDLOCK: Well, we should at least visit Kamino at some point.

ASTROVIOUS: Yeah, it wouldn't hurt, but for now, Eriadu is our best bet to stay safe.

GRIDLOCK: I agree.

*The* Agitator *plots a course to Eriadu, and makes the jump to hyperspace.*

## Chapter Two

*The* Agitator *drops out of hyperspace, to see that Eriadu is surrounded by an Imperial blockade.*

TORRA: ALL POWER OFF!

GRIDLOCK: What do we do?

TRACINYA: Circle around and sneak past the edge of the blockade? If this is the planet we're planning on landing on...

GRIDLOCK: Not anymore!

TRACINYA: Man the guns just in case, and start plotting the next hyperspace jump out of here.

GRIDLOCK: We need to get out of here! Where are we going?

ASTROVIOUS: Anywhere but here, Kamino doesn't seem so bad now!

GRIDLOCK: *(checking the map)* Or Crait.

ASTROVIOUS: Crait wouldn't be bad.

GRIDLOCK: Yeah, there are tons of old mines to hide the Agitator. We can all fit in Strell's YT-2400 freighter for missions.

*The ship's comm starts pinging, signifying an incoming Imperial transmission.*

TRACINYA: Are we leaving soon, because they might have noticed us...

*The* Agitator *hastily jumps to Crait. There, the Knights of Mandalore land the* Agitator *in an old mine.*

ASTROVIOUS: All right, so what do we do now?

TRACINYA: Explore and set up camp. Is there naturally occuring water here? Because all I see is a lot of salt.

ASTROVIOUS: Got it, I'll head out and explore surroundings, anyone wanna come with, or should I go alone?

TRACINYA: Verd and I'll come.

*Astrovious, Tracinya, and Tracinya's strill Verd leave the* Agitator *to go scouting.*

TORRA: *(wakes up)* That was a long trip... wait, where is everybody? Hey! Grid? Aroa? Astrovious?

ASTROVIOUS: We're getting ready to head out Fej, everything locked down here?

TORRA: *(locks a bunch of cases)* Yes, are you all outside? Are we on Crait already?

ASTROVIOUS: *(over comms)* Yeah, we're scouting out the terrain, so far just salt.

TORRA: That's all there is here - salt. *(proceeds down stairs)*

ASTROVIOUS: There's mountains on the horizon, but they're quite a ways away.

GRIDLOCK: *(over comms)* We can scavenge the old mines. *(goes outside)*

ASTROVIOUS: *(over comms)* Yeah, there's nothing out here, I'll be coming back now.

GRIDLOCK: *(over comms)* K.

TORRA: *(over comms)* I can't see any animals besides those kriffing Vulptexes! I doubt there's anything in those mountains.

ASTROVIOUS: *(over comms)* No, the mountains were pretty bare, and surprisingly, there's no canyons, there is supposed to be quite a - *(ground breaks and falls into a canyon that was coherent by the salt)* Kriff.

GRIDLOCK: *(over comms)* There seem to be a few supplies in the mine -

ASTROVIOUS: *(over comms)* Uhh, I may need backup...

TORRA: *(runs out of the Agitator's entrance, runs to Gridlock)* Hey, find anything good?

GRIDLOCK: Yeah, some rations and... what's that?

*Gridlock and Torra see a crashed Jedi starfighter.*

TORRA: Kriff.

GRIDLOCK: Wait... There seems to be nobody in the cockpit.

*The two Knights hear the noise of an activated lightsaber.*

## Chapter Three

*While investigating an abandoned mine, Fej Torra and Gridlock see a crashed Jedi starfighter. As they approach, the sound of an activating lightsaber reaches them.*

TORRA: We gotta get the kriff out of here, this place will not work, come on.

ASTROVIOUS: *(over comms)* Uh guys, from the looks of it, there seems to be evidence of people here, right now, possibly Force-sensitive!

GRIDLOCK: We know. Wait, where is Master Strell? *(in rising fear)* You have a Jetpack, right Astro? We need to get to the YT-2400!

ASTROVIOUS: *(over comms)* Yeah, there's plenty of Jedi texts in this canyon, along with empty rations, and clone helmets with blaster marks -

*The strill Verd is prowling away from the edge of the newly formed canyon that Tracinya is trying to find a way down into. It growls at something unseen.*

*At the landing site of the* Agitator*, a human male holding a lightsaber walks up to Gridlock and Torra as they approach. He points to the ground by the ship. They see the dead body of Whit-Ke Strell.*

ASTROVIOUS: *(over comms)* Alright, from the looks of things, there's a cave at the close end of the canyon, it may lead into the mine you are all in.

GRIDLOCK: *(in grief)* YOU ARE NO JEDI! *(a moment later)* I angered him. Karabast

TORRA: *(whispers)* We don't have any requisite business here! Crait has no valuable assets. We shouldn't have come!

ASTROVIOUS: *(over comms)* Guys, what's going on?! Who's no Jedi? I'm hurrying up, but I can't promise I'll be there on time!

GRIDLOCK: *(over comms)* Come as fast as possible, Astro. Anyone have any good ideas?

TRACINYA: *(over comms)* Kriff, Verd just ran off after something. I'm on the cliffs above Astro's canyon, was trying to find a way down - I'd better go catch it.

*Gridlock shoots the lightsaber wielder in the gut. Gridlock and Torra run for the* Agitator's *hangar.*

GRIDLOCK: *(over comms)* Astro, Aroa'yr, get to the Agitators hanger! *(to Fej)* What do we do about Master Strell though?

ASTROVIOUS: *(over comms)* Uhh, guys, ya know those weird crystal foxes? There's a bunch of dead ones at the mouth of this cave... with what look like lightsaber wounds... is everything all right where you are? Wait, what happened to Whit-Ke?

GRIDLOCK: *(over comms)* Strell is dead. There is a Jedi, but he is wounded.

*While Tracinya tries to catch Verd, who has run off across the salt flats, Astrovious makes his way through the cave tunnel.*

ASTROVIOUS: I'm almost there, I can sense the Jedi, he's fallen to the dark, you guys need to get out! There's no telling what he can do!

TORRA: Comms are no good. *(strikes and throws his comm into the salt)* To the hangar, quickly.

GRIDLOCK: There could be surviving clones.

TRACINYA: *(over comms)* Verd ran around to the - wait, we're almost back to the ship! *(starts running for the ship, still some distance away)*

GRIDLOCK: Should I kill the Jedi?

TORRA: He could kill us! That's what he could do!

ASTROVIOUS: *(over comms)* Surviving clones? Not from the amount of helmets I saw down there, there were rows of them, must've been some Jedi to survive that -

*At the edge of the* Agitator's *hangar, Gridlock shoots the dark Jedi in the head as he approaches.*

GRIDLOCK: It wasn't lethal. It... it... it glazed right off!

ASTROVIOUS: *(over comms)* I'm out of the cave, I see him, I'm going in. *(jumps and activates his lightsaber, a green blade emits from it)* I'll hold him off, you guys *go!*

TORRA: Of *course* it wasn't lethal!

*The dark Jedi advances, and throws the dead body of Whit-Ke Strell at Gridlock. Gridlock is knocked unconscious.*

*The Knights of Mandalore: Rise of the Empire*
**Chapters 1–3** | Chapters 4–6 | Chapters 7–9