RISE AGAIN ─ star wars

XIII. Trade

One week later...

Chapter Thirteen
Leera

The people of Mandalore have been surprisingly supportive of my ascension to the throne. I have a theory that they are just so exhausted that they would accept any ruler over Gideon, but I'll take the support however I can get it.

Mandalore is now free of the Empire, but most of the galaxy still remains in their clutches. The few planets who aren't, are dividing their attentions between helping free the others and trying to fix their broken people and broken worlds. Mandalore has not had an army in decades, but like Taris, we have a group of volunteers who are training and preparing to help destroy the rest of the Empire. Those that have chosen to stay behind, are just as tired and starving as they were under Gideon's rule. My new friends and I are trying to rectify that.

For months now, Leia and Ragnar have been working with Chancellor Padmé Amidala to fix the trade routes throughout the galaxy, especially the ones connected to Taris; Bretta and Cardellia. Like Taris, Mandalore heavily relied on trade in the reign of the Republic, but that changed when the Empire rose to power. They exercised control in all areas, one of which was supplies. All trade ports were closed down and the Empire supplied all food and other supplies to each planet in the galaxy. They made sure that each planet was reliant on the Empire, probably used it as insurance for possible rebellion. With them gone, Mandalore has no income of supplies. Neither does Taris, or so many other worlds. We have what's left of the supplies from the last shipment provided by the Empire, but that's it.

The Empire damaged so many planets that used to be rich in resources, but they must have kept some sustained, or else where did they get their supplies from? This is a question we need answered, and Chancellor Amidala has been working on it. She's also been working with the leaders of freed planets to start replenishing natural resources and see if there are any goods that could possibly be used or traded. It's a pain staking process. I just hope that it resolves itself soon, for all our people's sakes.

After finishing a meeting via hologram with Aylin, who is officially the senator for Mandalore and has moved to Coruscant to see to those duties, I wander up into my new bedroom and collapse onto my bed, exhausted despite it being still early in the morning. I didn't sleep all that well last night, though I never sleep well any night, it doesn't matter that I'm sleeping on an actual mattress and not a small cot on a cramped ship any longer.

My new room, called the Duchess's Suite, is beautiful. It has deep blue wallpaper, purple carpeted floor, a large four post bed that's so big five adults could fit in it, and matching wooden furniture that consists of a dresser, a desk, and a chest to put items in, though I have never had any items to call my own, apart from my blaster. I've never even had a room to call my own.

I've never had a home.

A knock sounds at the door, and I mumble for the person to enter. I'm not surprised to find Raymen standing in the doorway. Somehow he always manages to find me when I'm in distress, it's like he has a radar for it.

I wave my hand in the air in a beckoning motion. "Will you join me?"

A faint blush brushes his cheekbones as he nods, shutting the door behind him. He crosses the room and lays down on the bed next to me, our shoulders gently touching, both of our gazes on the ceiling of the room.

"I feel like such an imposter living in this room." I admit.

"You shouldn't. You're duchess of Mandalore, and this is the Duchess's bedroom."