Kamda

Varina watched as she often did. She was young, even she knew that from time to time. But for this man, supposedly their greatest warrior, to do the same. It did not sit right.

Not when a girl so few years her senior was leading from the front. It didn't matter what had happened the day before. The present was now, and it was what mattered to her.

"You should be out there, besides Raven," she spoke out to Mandalore.

Mandalore stood, watching over the city. How the Empire struck against the resistance fighters and some made it through, inward, toward the defenders. Where Raven would soon stand against the tides of stormtroopers for a cause that few Mando'ade felt was their own, but followed her to battle for anyway.

Here Mandalore stood, and watched.

"Why do you think that, girl?" he spoke, his tone harsher than usual.

"Why not stand against the Empire? We're not home because of their control. At least I'm not." Varina crossed her arms. "Raven's strong, but she's not the strongest. She's only seen so many battles."

"If she were strongest, perhaps she would be Mand'alor. Yet, where surely you and her see an enemy in the Empire I just see.." he looked out over the battle, "tiny tin-soldiers sent into the fray at such a number as to overwhelm their enemy. They have no spirit for battle, most of them indeed fear it."

"Varina, I believed when I heard your story that you would understand, one day, as I do. What is truly plaguing our people. Yet, well, you still have time. When you look at your home you see oppressors who have shackled our once proud people. A shame, to one who holds such a view. Yet I see an even greater shame. Our people are the conquerors, we are the warriors who are feared the galaxy over and yet.. we are also those bent to kneel underneath the Empire? It does not make sense. Unless we accept the truth. That it was we, the Mando'ade, who allowed our core to become so rotted as to be brought to heel. Our strength was not taken from us, it was freely given. Our home was not taken from us, we offered it up to those who would cause us to cower. Our people grew weak and we allowed it."

"Our people chose weakness and then changed. The coming of the Empire came our captivity. If it were another way, then we would have helped the Emperor ascend." Varina looked back to the city and smirked. "It's not all about glory, anyways. It's about doing what is necessary.

"What if Raven were to be overwhelmed and die there? Do you deny any responsibility then?"

"As Mand'alor it is not my place to coddle the warriors who fight under my name. Should she fall, she will have died a warriors death. That I have given her the place to lead our warriors into this battle elsewhere, having their own enjoyment of this fight, do you not feel that is enough?"

"If I did, then we would not be having this conversation." Varina scratched the back of her head. "I hear there's a few tough cookies out there. You don't want to fight them?"

"I have no desire to waste effort on the men and women of the Empire who call themselves soldiers but pale in comparison to warriors," he spoke. Turning his attention from the battle to her, he paused. "Yet, I find you are here as well. Do you not wish to fight those down there? Those you so believe that I should be fighting?" he asked.

"There's a difference between you and I. I've trained as a scout, you a warrior who claims to be a leader." Varina pursed her lips. "A leader that hides while his followers fight."

"I did not choose to lead them into this battle, they chose to lead themselves. Yet you, a scout, are you not Mando'ade? You speak as if I should lead those who choose to go their own way into their own battles. Yet, here you are, hiding with me on this rooftop," he said.

"I will make this offer to you," he says, turning fully to face her. "If I am to fight in this battle of Raven Cadera's choosing. You are to fight with me."

"Why would I turn down this fight?" Varina asked. She raised a brow. "I did not come here to hide, unlike you. I came to speak with you."

"You do work so hard to insult me, child, but you will have what you wished for all the same. I have already spoken," he replied.

"Fine. Let's get to the fighting then." Varina wasn't quite sure if he meant the Imperials or him herself. But she wasn't too worried either way.

[Joining the Fight with Mandalore in "Hold the Line" at the top of the Third round. You can enter now and roll Initiative if you like to have your character present and ready to join in the third.]