- "No Mandalorian soldier should have to fight an aruetii's war for the price of a day's food. No Mando'ad should have to fight at all, except to defend Manda'yaim, his home, or his family, or because he wants to. We have to stop being the tool of governments that don't care if we live or die so long as we do their bidding."
- ―Venku Skirata
Kadikla was a Mandalorian nationalist ideological movement that arose in the years after the Yuuzhan Vong War, and the aftermath of the Yuuzhan Vong's assault on the Mandalorian's cultural homeworld of Mandalore. Headed by the Mandalorian soldier Venku Skirata—often known under the nickname and alias of Kad'ika—kadikla was described by those familiar with the concept as a "Mandalore-first" movement. Kadikla advocated the need for Mandalorians to band together and put the needs of the planet Mandalore and its people over those of the individual, establishing Mandalorian space as a strong, independent state in which every Mandalorian could rely. Several Mandalorians supported the kadikla movement, including Goran Beviin, Graad, members of Clan Skirata, and numerous others. Mand'alor Boba Fett was swayed into a tepid support following a meeting of the Mandalorian clans in 40 ABY, during and after which he issued several edicts that aligned with kadikla ideals in pursuit of bettering Mandalore.
Overview
- "You got a better idea? Oh, wait—is this going to be the all-day diatribe on kadikla self-determination and statehood?"
- ―Baltan Carid
Kadikla was an ideological movement that advocated a more nationalist stance for the Mandalorian warrior clans. While the clans had a history of banding together in times of need, the Mandalorians had largely been against the organized government and bureaucracy present in states such as the Galactic Alliance, due to their independent and often nomadic culture.[1] Known colloquially as a "Mandalore-first" movement, proponents of kadikla preached that while their nomadic traditions had served the Mandalorians well in the past, a strong, central, Mandalorian nation would be to the benefit of all,[2] providing the nomadic Mandalorians a powerful citadel upon which they could rely and fall back upon,[1] one the aggressive factions of the galactic community would be remiss to attack. The goal of kadikla was to provide the members of the warrior clans—often employed by foreign powers as bounty hunters and mercenaries—greater opportunities for self-determination.[2] Instead of hiring out their services to outside agencies that cared little for the soldiers within their employ, often out of a desperate need for credits to provide for oneself and family, kadikla promoted the idea that a Mandalorian should never be forced to fight in order to make ends meet, establishing domestic opportunities for income. A Mandalorian soldier need only fight to protect him or herself, their family, and homeworld; mercenary work was still considered acceptable means of acquiring income, so long as it was the choice and preference of the individual, rather than a necessity of last resort.[3]
History
- "We need to make sure we're warriors with a citadel to defend, so we can pick our battles and not rely on the whims of aruetiise. Foreigners. It's the spirit of the times, like I said."
"And who's driving this spirit of the times?"
"Nobody, really. But there's this guy called Kad'ika that we're all hearing about. Thinks it's time we looked after ourselves—really looked after ourselves. Not just gather in the clans and unite when we're threatened, but build Mandalore itself into something new." - ―Goran Beviin and Boba Fett
Named for the movement's founder, Kad'ika—the life-long nickname and alias of the soldier Venku Skirata—kadikla found its roots[2] in the ideas passed along to Skirata from his paternal grandfather, Kal Skirata.[4] A veteran mercenary who had worked in the employ of a number of criminals and corporations,[5] the elder Skirata developed strong views on Mandalorian self-sufficiency[4] that he passed on to his grandson.[2]
During the invasion of the galaxy by the extra-galactic Yuuzhan Vong species, the alien invaders launched an assault on the Mandalorian's cultural homeworld of Mandalore in 29 ABY.[6] Though the Mandalorians were able to repel the Yuuzhan Vong attack successfully, the planet and its people had suffered significantly, to the point that Mandalore continued to bear the scars of the battle more than a decade later. It was in the aftermath of this devastation that kadikla began to take root.[2] Molded by his grandfather's philosophy,[4] Venku Skirata began speaking before groups of Mandalorians, spreading the ideals of kadikla across Mandalore and making a name for himself, the movement gaining traction in a community ravaged by the Yuuzhan Vong.[1] Skirata was supported by the members of his clan,[2] and came to sway a large number of Mandalorians,[1] winning over the likes of the Mandalorian supercommando Goran Beviin, and other influential members of the culture such as Neth Bralor and Graad. Graad, himself, became a vocal supporter of kadikla, known amongst his peers for breaking into lengthy discussions on the movement's merits.[2]
In the year 40 ABY, a meeting was held at MandalMotors Hall in Keldabe, the capital city of Mandalore, wherein Mandalorian clan chieftains, CEOs, and other prominent Mandalorians met with Boba Fett, the reigning Mand'alor—traditional leader of the Mandalorian clans. Discussing the state of Mandalore and Mandalorian affairs, kadikla principles were offered both by Neth Bralor and Graad, though the movement was derided by Baltan Carid and a number of their fellows at the meeting. Despite the dissenting opinions of Carid and a few others, Fett took an interest in the ideals of kadikla Graad put forward, and subsequently made several decrees in line with the movement, including recalling two million Mandalorians from around the galaxy to replenish Mandalore's shallow population. Venku Skirata praised Fett's decision when the two soldiers met weeks later,[2] though Skirata continued to speak before gatherings of clan leaders on the ideals of kadikla in the hope that the movement might gain greater acceptance.[3]
Behind the scenes
Kadikla was first introduced to Star Wars canon via an indirect mention in the second entry in the Legacy of the Force novel series. Entitled Legacy of the Force: Bloodlines, the novel was authored by Karen Traviss and published August 29, 2006. The movement was later named in Traviss' subsequent entry in the Legacy of the Force series, Legacy of the Force: Sacrifice, published a year later on May 29, 2007, before appearing again in the penultimate novel in the series, Legacy of the Force: Revelation published February 26, 2008.
Appearances
- Legacy of the Force: Bloodlines (First mentioned) (Indirect mention only)
- Legacy of the Force: Sacrifice (First identified as Kadikla)
- Legacy of the Force: Revelation