Time passed, and the final day at Kweving Heights arrived, marked by a bittersweet atmosphere as everyone meandered through the clan grounds for one last time. The air was filled with laughter and nostalgia as memories and stories woven from years past floated on the gentle breeze.
The Duke and Duchess, accompanied by the spirited Bo-Katan, strolled alongside them, guarded yet content as the loyal sentinels surrounding them kept a vigilant watch over the gathering.
"One of the few spots on this planet adorned with vibrant vegetation," the Duke remarked, his voice a mix of awe and pride as his eyes roamed over the lush landscape, appreciating the intricacies of the clan grounds' design.
"If only the rest of Mandalore could mirror this beauty," the Duchess replied, her tone tinged with a wistful melancholy as she gazed at the stark, barren expanse that characterized much of their home world.
Varn and Elyse soon joined their esteemed guests, enthusiastically offering a tour of the picturesque surroundings. As they passed the training grounds, the two called to Rayden, who was absorbed in his practice, and introduced him to the trio.
Rayden had not anticipated meeting Bo-Katan and her illustrious family today. Yet, he summoned the manners and etiquette his mother had instilled in him, greeting them with a polite nod and a warm smile.
Having just finished working on his hand-to-hand skills, beads of sweat glistened on his brow when Lexi approached, her eyes sparkling in friendly concern as she handed him a towel, having seen him greet the trio covered in sweat.
While his parents engaged in earnest discussions with the Duke and Duchess, Rayden trailed behind Bo-Katan and Lexi. The two girls, immediately finding common ground, started chatting animatedly, their laughter mingling in the soft afternoon air.
At seven years old, Bo-Katan stood as a fascinating enigma—slightly older than Rayden but younger than Lexi—her energy infectious, drawing Rayden into a whirlwind of complex emotions. He wrestled silently with his thoughts regarding Bo, acutely aware of her eventual allegiance to Death Watch and the chaos she would help unleash upon their people. Yet he also knew her path would lead to redemption, and that she would take on a more nuanced role later in life.
Should he confront her with violence, allow her to traverse her own journey toward absolution, or perhaps bring her into his life in an unconventional way? These thoughts swirled in his mind like a tempest.
"I suppose I'll cross that bridge when I come to it," Rayden concluded, allowing himself to breathe. There was no need to overthink a future shrouded in uncertainty. He resolved to navigate each moment as it unfolded, trusting the Force's guidance.
—
After the tour, members of Clan Knight bid a final heartfelt farewell to their old home. Members of House Kryze beganto settle into their new surroundings gradually.
The air was thick with unspoken emotions as knight clansmen boarded either their personal ships, Kom'rk-class fighters, or the Gozanti cruiser—prepared for their journeys ahead.
The Duke, curious, sought to learn the details of their new living arrangements, but his inquiries met a stony silence. Varn and the others exchanged furtive glances, intentionally keeping their plans veiled from the members of House Kryze, a strategy born from caution.
To safeguard themselves from potential threats, the clans had implemented a stringent protocol that prohibited direct jumps into the Arcadia Nebula. Instead, they opted for a series of random hyperspace jumps, meticulously scanning their ships and surroundings for any trace of trackers before finally attempting a return.
Though it was a minor inconvenience, they deemed it essential to keep their location concealed for as long as possible. Their ambitions were to secure the entrance of the nebula and the system inside it before daring to face any hostile actions.
Rayden boarded the Star Hawk, nestled into the seat in the cockpit with his parents, while others sat in the troop section. It was finally time for him to see the new system after all these months. This also marked his first venture beyond the confines of Mandalore.
As the ships ascended slowly, lifting off into the vastness of space, a profound mixture of emotions swirled within Rayden. He glanced back at the planet he had called home for the past five years, a wave of feelings stirring within him—sadness, longing, and a tinge of bittersweet nostalgia.
But as the world of his childhood shrank behind him, he turned his gaze to the boundless void of space.
He was acutely aware that back on Earth, only a few hundred souls in all of human history had ever ventured into the cosmos. Yet, here he was, embarking on a new life in an entirely new galaxy, hopping between planets as if they were mere states in the US.
It felt surreal—a quickening pulse of adventure and hope ignited within his heart at the thought of exploring the billions of planets scattered across the galaxy, each holding untold mysteries and experiences waiting to be uncovered.
After several hours of random jumps and thorough scans of their surroundings, the fleet finally finalized a course toward the mouth of the nebula.
An hour later, having found just enough time for a brief meditative session, the ships exited hyperspace. What greeted them was an awe-inspiring vista: massive clouds of luminescent dust and swirling plasma, swirling together in a breathtaking dance, forming the enigmatic tapestry of the nebula.
The destination lay just before them. A distinct opening in the nebula was visible. A few navigation buoys helped create a path into the clouds.
At the nebula's entrance, construction activity was evident: ships and droids flew through space, welding metal beams together.
A skeletal framework of a space station was being built at the mouth of the nebula. RA Industries had utilized a loan from the IGBC to purchase haulers and acquire the schematics for construction droids.
Using the blueprints for the droid production line from Rayden, they produced the first generation of construction droids. This strategy allowed them to reduce labor costs and time by sourcing all materials through the Acadia system.
The droid blueprint that came with the production line was initially designed for mining droids. These droids were promptly produced and deployed on Pyrovex, the molten world, to begin collecting metals and minerals.
A basic refinery was constructed to produce at least 15% of the materials required for the space station, significantly reducing costs.
Rayden watched the construction through the transparisteel window.
"Magnificent, isn't it, dear? A lot can be accomplished in just a few months when everyone is working hard," Elyse said with a smile, noticing Rayden glued to the window, observing the progress.
"Don't forget the droids. Once we produce a few thousand more units, it won't be long before the station is operational," Varn interjected.
Turning his head, Rayden asked, "What will we use the station for, besides guarding the entrance?"
"That's a great question, dear. Once the station is complete, we will station a few hundred people to act as a skeleton crew for now. However, when we planned the station, we made sure it could eventually accommodate 30,000 people, with room for growth."
"Once word gets out about the Arcadia system, merchants, bounty hunters, criminals, and many others will come here. So, we designed the docking area to include a warehouse district right next to it, followed by a trading area for easy access to the warehouse."
"This will be followed by restaurants, shopping, and entertainment districts, with the housing district after that. At the center will be the station's administration and security zones. We also plan to include a few shipyards in case our ships need repairs or we need to build new ones. Oh, and we can't forget the hangars for starfighters as well."
"Wow, Mom, that's incredibly ambitious! How long will it take?" Rayden said, amazed by the project's thoroughness.
Varn addressed the question as the Star Hawk flew past the construction site. "Based on our current pace, it will take around six years. We're about a quarter of the way done with the skeleton of the station, but as we build more droids and possibly hire more personnel, that should speed things up."
"What about defenses? Since it's also meant to guard the entrance, what do we have in terms of firepower?" Rayden asked excitedly. What guy doesn't like big guns and turrets that will blow anything in their path to bits?
Varn chuckled. "There will be multiple layers of redundant shielding, with the main shield matching a capital ship's strength. That will go online once we complete the skeleton and main command area. For core parts of the station, such as the shield and power generator rooms, we will construct those with beskar."
The Star Hawk finally reached the entrance of the nebula and slowly followed the pathing buoys.
"We'll also have automated turrets to create kill zones in those hallways. Only authorized personnel will be allowed near these areas. The hangars will be able to hold four squadrons of fang fighters, totaling 48. We'll also have about 25 heavy and medium turbolaser batteries, along with 60 point defense emplacements, five proton torpedo launchers, and seven tractor beam emitters."
"Damn, this station already sounds like a tough nut to crack. Beskar rooms? Capital ship shielding? So many emplacements for a station housing 30,000 people!" Rayden was stunned by the amount of armament this station would hold.
The five clans were not holding back in making this a bulwark of defense. This already sounded like a Golan II defense station, with its extensive defenses.
But what can you expect from a warrior people? If we are going to defend something, we make sure it's well-defended.
Elyse laughed when she saw his stunned face. "This is to protect our new home, dear. This station is already toned down; you should have heard what the others wanted to do." She shook her head just thinking about it.
"Like what?" he questioned.
"Multiple capital-grade shield generators, triple the amount of heavy and light turbolasers, enough hangar space to hold 20 squadrons, and about 30 proton torpedo launchers. Not to mention 200 point defense systems. Seriously, they were getting out of hand, even suggesting setting up a minefield all around the station."
There was silence. Rayden had no words to describe the ridiculous proposals he had just heard. The only ship he could think of that would come close to what they proposed would be a Lucrehulk after the Trade Federation retrofitted them.
Speaking of Lucrehulks, Rayden's mind wandered. 'The Battle of Naboo is less than a decade away. Maybe in a few years, I could visit Naboo and get to know young Padmé, earning her trust in case of emergencies. That way, when she becomes queen and the Trade Federation invades, she could seek me out for help.'
'Then I could bring some clansmen to take advantage of the battle to hijack the Lucrehulks that are blockading the planet. Consider it our payment.' Rayden began picturing that exact scenario, along with a few personal rewards Padmé might give him.
"Hehe." Rayden was lost in a daydream, his thoughts drifting like clouds, when Elyse snapped her fingers right in front of his face, yanking him back to reality.
Her eyes narrowed slightly, the playful glint replaced by a touch of seriousness. "I don't know what you were thinking about, but you'd better stop it." For a fleeting moment, she sensed a dark pull, a whisper from the shadows, but just as quickly, it vanished.
"Sorry, mom," Rayden mumbled, bowing his head in apology. The sincerity of his words tugged a smile onto her lips as she reached out to tousle his hair, earning a playful scream of protest from him.
"That's enough, Elyse." Varn interjected, stepping in before she could turn their son's hair into a chaotic mess. "Look, we've arrived."
The Star Hawk emerged from a swirling tunnel of dust and gas, entering a vast pocket in the nebula.
After hastily fixing his tousled hair, Rayden turned his gaze out the window. What he saw took his breath away: the nebula opened up like a cave with a G-type star in the middle.
The star illuminated the dust and gases, producing mesmerizing colors across the spectrum.
As he continued to fly, he got to see each of the planets in this relatively new star system.
"Hmm, the system gave me coordinates to this location, so is it a few million years old or only a few months old?" That thought popped into Rayden's head before he tossed it aside. "No use trying to figure it out. The star system is here, and that's good."