The Arrival 20 The Challenge

The Star Forge had opened a hanger sized hole to the surface of the ice. This would allow all of the new s.h.i.+ps the Forge would create and easy escape to the surface. Turing back to take on last look at the Forge. Jack took this second to clear his mind. Knowing that once they left this hanger things would come to a sudden change, but it had to happen and there was no turning back.

Without hesitation Jack turned and entered the s.h.i.+p with the rest of his crew. The s.h.i.+p roared to life as it shout into the sky. At its current speed it would take them about an hour to reach the clan headquarters, but before they arrived Jack needed to set the table. Contacting Lin, Hans, and Sam he informed them of his groups return to civilization,and what his next steps were going to be.

All three knew what was at stake with Jack's gamble. If it worked Earth would be lead by an Earth Mandalorian. If he fail...well there would be no one left of his group to complain. After confirming The other spec ops support. He prepared him self for the call of his life. Jack took a breath before he hailed Sharia, and soon her firgured flickered to life." Jack..this is a little unexpected what can I do for you."

For a long moment Jack said nothing. Sharia could tell something was different about the boy just before she could ask what was wrong he spoke. " I want to proclaim my self Mand'lor I will arrive at the headquarters in 15 mins. I will take all challenges to my claim for the next week. Also those two elders and their sons I am coming to kill all four of them after my week challenge. Tell them to clean their necks and wait for my blade."

Sharia was shocked, he was proclaiming himself Mand'lor, and would take on challenges to his rule for a week. This was unheard of, normally when the new Mand'lor was chosen after the old one stepped down or die. The leader was normally chosen from the council of elders. Though now that she thought about it their was nothing stopping him from actually doing this. As he was a member of the Darkhide clan and it was within his rights to do this.

"Do you know what this means...if this is a joke I will turn my ears from this and pretend you send nothing."

Sharia had to make sure this was a very sensitive matter, but Jack had not waiver once he only stared at her. She could almost feel the convection in his stare. "Very well I will inform the council but be prepared you are an native member of the clan. Normally you would receive the support from the clan for your bid.

Do not expect any support from them in fact expect a great many of your challenges to come from the clan itself." Jack laughed," Good I would not have it any other way, and Commander you own me a fight for what you did to my pervious leader. I won't kill you but you will pay for what you did be prepared." With that Jack ended the holo call and his body visibly relaxed.

'The dice have been rolled Jack...there is no turning back now only after this will the people of Earth be free to use what we know.' Jack turned and started walking to the bridge where Trish was currently piloting, he need to calm his mind for what he knew was about to be a stressful week.

Sharia stood there not really sure what had just happened. This boy had just welcomed a fight from the elder Mandalorians of the clan and the had openly challenged her himself. She didn't know if he had b.a.l.l.s or was just ignorant of what he had just done.

Well it's not like she could stop it at this point so she just sent the recording of the video to all the different clans around the planet. Their response was instant and exactly as she had expected. Anger fury and, rage as mad as the thought of a native becoming Mand'lor they really couldn't do anything to stop it expect bet him in a duel and claiming the t.i.tle themselves.

Many of the clans sent her messages stating they would bring the strongest warriors to challenge this pretender in the next two days, but it was the Darkhide clan member that had clearly stated they would wait at the landing pad of this mongrel and deal with him before he dishonored the Darkhide clan. Though she would have wanted to warn Jack the rules of the challenge would not allow her to.

Eles even if he completed the challenge some would be about to say he received outside help thus not fit to lead the Mandalorian people. So all she would be able to do was watch and hope that he some how managed to survive. While Sharia had been lost in thought a member of her staff had come an informed her that Jack's s.h.i.+p had landed at the HQ pad near the roof.

Sighing to her self she told her staff to insure that no one other than the clan would be allowed in the building for the next few hours. Hopefully no one would see this type of clan infighting. It didn't take long for her to reach the landing pad. She was greated by many of the clan elders. However everyone's eyes where glued on the s.h.i.+p in front of them.

The design of it was something they had never seen before. In fact if it had not been for the fact that the s.h.i.+p had been transmitting its transponder codes. The Radar would not have even picked it up. While they had been gawking at the s.h.i.+p the cargo bay slowly opened. After the ramp lowered 21 figures made their way out of the s.h.i.+p followed by a young male and an older female.

Who had been Anakin and Shmi they made their way to the side of the s.h.i.+p to stay out of the way of the battle they both had been told was to come. Shmi having just accepted Jack as her son and Anakin's older brother was worried for her son. Though after have the situation explained to her earlier she k ew this had to be done. In order for her son's people to be free.

Jack slowly made his way in front of his men and removed his helmet. This last month had hardened his face. Gone was the highschool boy of old his face looked weather like an old war veteran. His piercing glaze shot though the crow. Freezing everyone in place. No one spoke for fear that an all out war would happen the moment it did.

However the silence did not last long. An elder who had been with the clan for 40 year couldn't take it anymore."JACK! Bring your a.s.s down to me right this second! You think just because you are now apart of the clan that you can just do what you want! Let me...te..l yo..u!" The elder stared in horror as he clutched his neck trying to gasped for air.

He was staring directly at Jack who had his hand raised as he slowly choked the life out of the man with the force. To add insult to injury Jack raised the man into the air and pulled hi. toward himself until he was grasping the man with his hand. With the man still in the air Jack turned to the crowd, "I Will Be Mand'lor! Those who get in they way will end up like this fool here." And without a second though Jack crushed the mans neck and threw his body off the roof.

Turning back to face the stunned Mandalorians Jack smiled and simply said, "Who's next?"