After Vadir attended several meetings of the Outer Rim Alliance (ORA), Kote was quite satisfied with the internal environment of the Alliance; all were relatively weak planets that needed his protection.
Before the Outer Rim Alliance, most of these planets were oppressed and forced by the Trade Federation and various other giant corporations to sign unequal treaties. But once they joined the Outer Rim Alliance, negotiations became relatively equal, and inter-planetary trade became cheaper, free from the Trade Federation's arbitrary pricing.
However, there was still a conversation waiting for him—an invitation from his Cousin. He didn't even know how to respond, but he had no choice but to brace himself and head to Mandalore.
On Mandalore, as Kote walked through the streets, the Mandalorian people enthusiastically welcomed him.
The more this happened, the more Kote felt a sense of alarm. He had already posed a significant threat to his Cousin's rule. The number of warmongers, who had previously been suppressed, was growing, and even within his own organization, there were more and more warmongers, and even extremists. Fortunately, his military power already transcended everyone else's, and his prestige was the highest on Mandalore.
But the more this happened, the more radical people became. In the hearts of the Mandalorian people, there was always a desire to rule the Galaxy and to crush the Republic and the Sith.
But this was the true essence of the Mandalorian people; their current dormancy was merely a period of accumulating strength.
Arriving at the palace, only Satine sat on the throne, looking at the darkening sky outside. She could no longer restrain the emotions of the Mandalorian people, just like the setting sun about to descend.
"You've arrived, Kote. I've been waiting for you for a long time," Satine said, turning to look at the newcomer as she heard Kote's footsteps.
"There have been too many Trade Federation matters recently, so it delayed me a bit," Kote replied, naturally sitting on a chair below.
"Is it to purchase Trade Federation warships?" Satine asked directly.
Kote lowered his head but immediately raised it again; he was not wrong. "Yes, but Cousin, didn't you agree that I am Mandalore's sharpest sword? This is all for Mandalore's revival! Do you still remember what I told you back then?"
"But what if the Republic finds out? Do you think you alone can contend with the entire Republic! Seven hundred years ago, it was the Republic that destroyed Mandalore. I don't want to see disaster repeat itself!" Satine worried about her Younger Male Cousin and the future of Mandalore.
"But not developing an army and fleet only means watching helplessly as we are destroyed! We must fight back and make everyone pay their due price!" Kote would not abandon his ideas.
"How is this any different from Mandalore back then! I believe we have changed. Is war the only way to resist? Have you seen our people...?" Satine looked at the increasing number of radicals.
"War is coming soon, Cousin, we cannot avoid it! Radicalism is our nature! It shows that our people still remember their hatred, still remember our dream!" He strongly disagreed with his Cousin's current desire to hide.
"Then tell me, where is the war? The conflicts in the Galaxy right now have not reached that level. Don't be so stubborn, Kote, and stop building new ships." Satine pleaded.
Kote shook his head. "It can't be stopped anymore, Cousin. Before this, I thought you agreed with my ideas. It seems I was mistaken."
Kote stood up and walked out. "If this is the case, I can only disobey you, Cousin. Forgive me, Cousin, you will eventually know how correct everything I've done is." Kote didn't want to argue further, because it was useless.
Satine had intended for them to resolve this issue together, but she hadn't expected it to turn out this way, even leading to a degree of division between them.
"Could it be that war is truly coming soon? Is my approach wrong? After thousands of years of war, do we not even have a few decades of peace?" Satine was unsure. Perhaps both of them were correct, but one side in this Galaxy would always be wrong. At least for now, Satine's approach was not suitable for Mandalore.
Back on the shuttle, Kote sighed helplessly. Could it only come to that? The worst-case scenario: a split.
However, before that, he had to make more preparations. So, he called the head of the Mandalore shipyard.
"You called for me, Duke Kote?" Al-Saxon, the head of the Mandalore shipyard, inquired.
"Does the shipyard still have the blueprints for ships from its heyday?" Kote asked.
"Which kind are you referring to, blueprints for frigates or cruisers?" Al-Saxon didn't know which type Kote meant.
"Of course, the blueprints for Mandalorian cruisers. Have you ever redrawn them?" Kote didn't know if the shipyard's designers had made new designs.
"Of course, we have, but they were never put into production. And in the environment of that time and subsequent years, we didn't have the capability to build them. And now, the Duchess has forbidden this research. Are you looking to restart this project?" Al-Saxon asked quietly.
"Exactly. Give me a quote, but absolutely no one must know. It must be built in secret. This is all for Mandalore." Kote told him not to be cautious; there were no listening devices on his ship.
"Then it will be seventy million credits. We need to update them with the latest technology. I won't ask what this is for, but I know Governor Kote is doing this for Mandalore, and so am I. Everything for Mandalore." Al-Saxon gave his quote.
Kote nodded. This was less than he expected; he had thought it would be at least a hundred million.
"The money will be transferred to the shipyard's account by the Vadir government. Build twenty ships first. When the first one is built, send me a message, and I will give you the address then. Be very careful." Kote said to Al-Saxon in front of him.
"I understand, Governor Kote. I've been waiting for this opportunity!" He finished speaking and left, starting to find people to prepare for the construction of these twenty Mandalorian cruisers.
Next was finding the current Commander of the police force, Leon Eldar. After receiving Kote's communication, he immediately headed to the spaceport where Kote was. Walking into the shuttle, he saw Kote waiting for him.
"What's happening, Commander? Do you need to deploy the police force around?" Leon Eldar, as the chief of police personally promoted by Kote, naturally fully obeyed Kote's orders. His Family, like the Saxon Clan, was a vassal clan under the Vizsla Clan.
"No need. I only need the police force to expand and undergo a semi-militarization process, and to engage in more military cooperation with Free Mandalore to familiarize themselves with ship and starfighter operations." Kote stated his objective. He now wanted Mandalore to begin restoring its militarized forces, right under his Cousin's nose.
"Are we preparing to invade somewhere, Commander?" Leon asked.
"No, it's to realize the dream of us Mandalorian people. This opportunity is about to arrive." Kote told Leon his purpose.
"This is the Righteous Path! I will help you, Commander." Leon had already thought about how to proceed with the expansion.
"Be very careful. Don't let Cousin Satine discover this. She won't allow it." Kote still urged caution.
"I understand." With that, he left the spaceport.
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