The chamber was silent except for the low hum of machines. Jango Fett stood stripped of his armor, clad only in the bio-suit as he stepped into the transformation pod.
"Are you sure about this?" Shepard asked, his voice calm but edged with concern.
Jango gave him a grin that carried both defiance and loyalty. "I watched one of your Spartans toss me around like a training cadet. You really think I'll sit back while they get stronger than me?" He rolled his shoulders. "I trust you, vod. Do it."
Shepard keyed the sequence."Then brace yourself. This won't be pleasant."
The process began.
Pain lanced through Jango's veins as nanites rewrote his biology. Muscles tore and rebuilt stronger, bones thickened, his senses sharpened until he could hear the pulse of the machines and the rush of blood in his own ears. His heart thundered like a war drum as fire coursed through his every nerve.
Minutes felt like hours. Jango clenched his jaw, refusing to scream, refusing to falter.
Then the pain ebbed, leaving only power.
When the pod hissed open, Jango stepped out sweat-drenched, trembling, but alive. Shepard watched carefully, scanning the readings. Perfect adaptation. Zero complications.
"How do you feel?" Shepard asked.
Jango flexed his fists, a slow, dangerous smile spreading across his face."Like I've been caged my whole life. And someone finally opened the door."
The test came sooner than expected. Reports reached Mandalore of a pirate fleet raiding Outer Rim trade lanes, capturing colonists to sell into slavery.
Shepard saw opportunity.
"Take twenty Spartans," Shepard ordered. "Crush them. Leave survivors to spread the story. The galaxy must learn Mandalore does not tolerate parasites."
Jango donned his new enhanced Mjolnir armor, its plating infused with beskar, jetpack roaring as he led the strike team aboard the Prowler.
The pirate flotilla never stood a chance.
Spartans descended like war gods, plasma blades cutting through hulls, upgraded rifles tearing through shields. Jango himself breached the flagship, his shield catching turbolaser fire as he tore through corridors, slavers falling one by one.
By the time the battle ended, the fleet was ash and the captives freed. The pirates who fled carried only terror with them.
When Jango returned, his armor still scarred from battle, Shepard stood waiting.
"The galaxy heard you today," Shepard said. "They'll whisper our name with fear soon enough."
Jango removed his helmet, sweat dripping from his brow but eyes alight with fire."And pride. Don't forget that. You've built something, vod. Something no one else has."
Shepard allowed himself the faintest smile."Then let's make it official. From this day forward, every Spartan, every fleet, every Mandalorian will serve not just to protect our world, but to purge the rot from the galaxy when we choose. This is the way we rise."
And so, the Mandalorian Doctrine was born: neutrality in politics, but overwhelming force against those who dared prey on the weak.