Perseus

The Pax dropped out of Hyperspace before a planet that seemed to be partially blown apart. There was some debris orbiting around it and one of its moons.

"She held together," Fai said, feigning surprise.

"Was there ever any doubt?" Perseus asked. "I know my ship and I know how to fix her." Fai chuckled a bit as Perseus flipped a few switches, hailing the active comm channel. "Hound Base this is Pax," Perseus said into the microphone when he got a connection. "We've just returned and we need some actual repairs. Permission to come in for a landing?"

There was a moment of static. "Permission granted, Pax," said a familiar voice. "Proceed to landing pad M."

"Will do," Perseus said as he flew the Pax into Concord Dawn's atmosphere. The planet's rotation was all out of wack due to the wars it had been through and a good chunk of its mass being thrown into orbit. Because of that, it's rate of rotation was the same as its rate of revolution. The sunward side was essentially experiencing daytime year round, and the opposite was true for the other side. The airfields used by the Protectors were dotted around on the dark side of the planet while farms dotted the sunward side. Perseus flew the Pax over the ravines and plateaus that made up the landscape of this region of Concord Dawn. In the distance, he saw a cluster of buildings and an airfield filled with Mandalorian Fang Fighters.

"I'll keep her steady," Perseus said to Fai. "You go get our cargo ready to unload." Fai nodded and stood up, leaving the cockpit. Perseus directed his concentration back to the airfield. It consisted of about fifteen octagonal duracrete platforms that were labeled with Mando'a letters. Of course, Perseus couldn't see A through J since they were occupied by the Protectors' ships. Perseus saw the octagon of duracrete labeled with an M. He landed the Pax on the landing pad, lowered the boarding ramp, and powered the ship off. By the time he was in the hold, Fai had already exited. He caught up with him at the base of the boarding ramp, the crate of blasters hovering next to him.

"Check it out," Fai said, pointing to the sky. Perseus looked up to see three Mandalorians soaring over via their jet packs.

"We don't usually get the welcoming committee," Perseus noted. Fai shrugged. The Mandalorians landed and began to walk towards them. They were all male. Their was designed specifically for piloting. The horizontal parts of their visors were shaped like a semicircle rather than a straight line. Their armor was grey and dark blue. The one in the front had some pale purple highlights on his pauldrons, a pitch black hawk and a few parallel lines were painted on his right vambrace, and a golden laurel was painted on his chest. In his hands was a GALAAR-15 blaster Carbine.

"Hey Jason," Perseus said to the Mandalorian in the front.

"Perseus," Jason addressed. "You do know I said landing pad M, right?"

"I did land on M," Perseus said.

"No, you landed on landing pad N," Jason said, pointing to the duracrete. Perseus turned around and examined the character. Up close, it was clear that there was a spur missing from the base. He hadn't been able to tell in the air.

"Sorry, I'm dyslexic," Perseus deadpanned. "Have you forgotten?"

"I've forgotten why we let you fly," Jason retorted.

"Because you apparently think my piloting skills make up for it," Perseus said. "Mereel lets you fly even though you don't have perfect vision."

Jason sighed and held his forehead. "This isn't an argument I want to have right now. What happened while you were out?"

"The usual," Fai said.

"That bad, huh?" Jason asked.

"No," Perseus said. "This time we took a stop on the way back to make repairs instead of calling you guys."

"He killed a Terentatek in the process," Fai added.

"It was a team effort," Perseus said. "I brought back the tusk I used to deliver the killing blow."

"Most impressive," another voice said. Perseus and Fai recognized it well. They stood at attention, but Perseus was grinning happily behind his helmet. Approaching them was Pos Seidon, his cloak billowing in the wind.

"Father," Perseus said as he and Fai nodded their heads to the leader of Clan Seidon. "What brings you here?"

"I figured you would return sooner or later with your ship in not the best condition," Pos said, looking at the Pax.

"Again, it wasn't too bad this time," Perseus said. "All that needs to be fixed is some scorch marks and the coolant line to the hyperdrive needs to be replaced. We did, however, bring a crate of N-500's back."

"I assume that is why your ship needs to be repaired?" Pos asked.

"Uh, yeah," Perseus said.

Pos nodded. "Rau, see to it that this vessel is repaired."

"Very well," Jason said. He turned and began to speak into his comlink. Pos turned back to Perseus and Fai.

"Bring your belongings and the weapons to my Gauntlet Fighter on the other side of the compound," he said. "We'll take the weapons to Krownest."

Perseus cocked his head to the side. "You do remember the last time we gave them blasters Fai and I collected, right?"

"Or the time before that?" Fai asked.

"I do," Pos said. He sighed, and walked off. "I am eager to hear of your travels on the way to Krownest."

—————————

"And then Perseus pushed off its knee and killed it with its own tusk," Fai finished.

"Very impressive," Pos said. "Good work you two." They were aboard Pos' full sized Gauntlet Fighter, the Brine. Perseus and Fai just finished recounting their excursion when they dropped out of Hyperspace before Krownest. Perseus had been here many times. The planet had a cold climate, causing it to be covered in snow most of the year. Coniferous forests dotted the landscape at the bases of the mountains. There were some bodies of water near the equator that weren't completely frozen over, but that wasn't where they were going.

"Stronghold, this is Pos Seidon," Pos said. "Requesting permission to land."

"Permission granted," said a female voice. "You know where to land." The radio cut out as Pos flew the Brine further north, about forty-five degrees from the equator. Perseus soon saw a large building made of glass and steel. It was blocky like the buildings on Mandalore, and it was partially built into the side of the hills. Before the building lay a lake that was completely frozen over (he and some childhood friends used to dare each other to cross, risking falling through into the freezing water). At the moment, the sun seemed close to setting. Pos flew the Brine over to a clearing next to the building and landed it. They stood up from their seats and exited the craft, Perseus pushing the crate along. They were met by two female Mandalorians in armor painted silver and gold.

"Hello, Perseus," one of them said.

"Kinz," Perseus said with a nod in her direction.

"Lady Wren awaits," the other said, gesturing for them to proceed. They trudged through the four-inch deep snow to the entrance to the Wren Stronghold.

"Let me do the talking," Pos said before they opened the door to the great hall. It was a huge room with three glass walls displaying the lake. On one side of the room was a dining table, and there were members of Clan Wren standing around the perimeter of the room. A majority of them were female, although here were a few males. Facing the windows was a throne, and sitting in that throne was a Mandalorian who wasn't wearing her helmet. Her armor had more gold paint than most of the others', she wore a gold and silver kama, and her utility belt was all golden. Her face bore a stoic look. She had black hair, dark eyes, and tan skin. Pos removed his helmet as well. "Countess Hylla Wren," he said, bowing slightly. Outside, they heard the engines of a ship approaching and landing, but Perseus figured it was a Fang Fighter coming back from a patrol.

"Lord Pos Seidon," Hylla said, nodding to him. "I see you've brought young Perseus and Fai."

"Good day, Countess" Perseus said as he and Fai bowed. He looked around. "Where's Reyna?"

"Reyna is no longer a member of this Clan," Hylla said. "I will leave it at that."

"Very well," Pos said. "Now, my son and Fai Zhang have come into possession of twenty four N-500 heavy blaster rifles. I present them as a donation to your clan as a sign of goodwill."

"Your donation is appreciated," Hylla said. She beckoned one of her Mandalorians forward to collect the crate.

"It would be also appreciated if they all didn't go to Clan Vizsla this time around," Perseus said. Pos sighed and Fai held his face in his hand. Hylla grimaced slightly.

"Why not?" A new voice asked. Perseus knew that voice. He swore internally as he, Pos, and Fai turned to the entrance. Five more Mandalorians had entered; four male, one female. They wore dark grey, black, and white armor with streaks of red. The one in the lead was as tall as Pos but he had a greater physical build. He wore a cloak over one shoulder like Pos, but it was black with a red jai'galaar sigil. His helmet paint was scratched, and his visor was glowing red instead of the traditional plain black transparisteel. There was a CD-35 blaster rifle in his hands, the missile in his jetpack jutted up over the top of his helmet, and there was a hilt on his thigh. "Clan Wren falls under House Vizsla. If we desire something they are in possession of, there's no reason for us not to at least ask."

"I was unaware that you were invited to this meeting, Arre," Pos said carefully.

"I invited myself," the Mandalorian in the front, Arre Vizsla, said. He removed his helmet, revealing light skin riddled with scars, closely cropped brown hair, and irises that were a shade away from black. "Hello, Water Boys."

Perseus closed his hands into tight fists. Fai seemed to clutch his rifle tighter, and Pos just grimaced. No words needed to be exchanged for everyone to tense up. The tension in the room was palpable.

"What do you want?" Hylla asked.

"As a matter of fact," Arre said, "we would like to take some of those guns that Clan Seidon has so graciously collected."

All Perseus did was take a step towards Arre, and a chain reaction of drawing blasters ensued. In an instant, everyone in the room, whether they be Clan Seidon, Vizsla, or Wren, had blasters drawn, raised, and pointed at someone else in the room. The only person who didn't have a blaster raised was Perseus (although he had his flamethrower ready), and the only person who didn't have a blaster aimed at their neck was Hylla.

"That's enough," she said, deadly calm yet commanding. She stepped down from her throne. Her gaze without her helmet was more intimidating than it was with it. "There will not be bloodshed in my Clan's ancestral home. Arre Vizsla, take what you wish from what Clan Seidon has brought."

"Thank you, Countess," Arre said, lowering his blaster. Everyone else slowly lowered their weapons. Arre smirked slightly and looked to Perseus, who was still staring fixedly at him. "Why so upset?" He asked sarcastically.

"Because getting those guns and bringing them back was a pain in the shebs," Perseus said, "and I was hoping that, this time, you wouldn't swoop in and take them."

"Take it as a compliment, boy," Arre said to Perseus as he waved two of his comrades forward. "You have a good eye for blasters. That's why we only ever take yours. It's a shame you can't shoot the blasters you find without committing friendly fire." Perseus felt his blood roaring in his ears as two of the Clan Vizsla members walked over and took the crate. They returned to their Clan leader, who was putting his helmet back on. "Countess, it has been a pleasure." They turned and began to file out.

"Later, Prissius," the one female member of Clan Vizsla said before following her clan mates. Perseus almost raised his arm to torch her, but Pos held his arm down.

Hylla waited until Clan Vizsla had taken off before speaking. "My apologies, Perseus and Fai. You aren't the only ones that are frustrated by these developments."

"Then why don't you do something?" Perseus asked.

Hylla's expression hardened, if that was possible. "That is easy for you to say. Clan Seidon is part of House Kast, not House Vizsla. The last thing my Clan needs right now is a civil war with most well-armed Clan in all of Mandalore." Perseus sighed. "Your attempts, both today and in the past, will not go unnoticed," Hylla said to Pos. "If you are ever in need of assistance, you have the support of Clan Wren. As a matter of fact, if you wish to stay the night, we will give you hospitality."

"Thank you, Countess," Pos said, his amicable smile appearing on his face. "I think these two would like to take you up on that offer. They haven't slept in an actual bed in a week."

Hylla smiled slightly. "Very well. I will see to it that rooms are prepared for you."