Canderous Ordo

Biography

Early life

Canderous Ordo, a Human male, was born into Clan Ordo on the Mandalorian planet of Ordo. His formative years coincided with a period of significant advancements in Mandalorian technology, particularly the refinement of Basilisk war droids. In that era, young warriors demonstrated their abilities in actual combat against unknown enemies across various worlds. At the age of thirteen, Ordo underwent his verd'goten, the traditional Mandalorian rite of passage signifying the transition to adulthood, and earned the privilege of piloting his own Basilisk. Ordo retained vivid memories of nearly every battle he fought in, including his inaugural one, which involved an eighty kilometer descent through the atmosphere of an enemy planet atop a Basilisk war droid. During this descent, he skillfully evaded self-guided projectiles and beam weapons, with minimal armor for protection. His achievements in that battle brought him considerable honor and recognition, placing him among the most promising young warriors of his clan.

Following the defeat of the Mandalorian Crusaders and their Sith allies during the Great Sith War in 3996 BBY, Mandalore the Ultimate recruited him into the Neo-Crusaders, assigning him the role of a battle tactician rather than a foot soldier.

At some point before 3963 BBY, Ordo and a group journeyed through the asteroid belts of the Crispin system in Wild Space to hunt down pirates and smugglers who used the frozen methane gas shells of the main belt as cover. Ordo targeted a small asteroid with a thermal detonator, triggering an explosion of the outer layer of frozen gas, which destroyed the hidden ships. However, the asteroid began to rotate and launch thermal projectiles that easily penetrated Mandalorian armor. The vessel mysteriously escaped before the Mandalorians could retaliate. They tracked the vessel to the edge of the galaxy but were forced to abandon their pursuit when the ship entered the Intergalactic Void.

Mandalorian Wars

By the time of the Mandalorian Wars, Ordo had risen to the rank of commander and played a key role in leading the Mandalorian's aggressive campaign. In the thirteen years leading up to their invasion of the Galactic Republic in 3963 BBY, the Mandalorians amassed resources from conquered worlds just beyond Republic jurisdiction. Ordo participated in numerous battles throughout the wars, with one of the most notable being the First Battle of Althir, where he triumphed over an Althiri fleet that was ten times the size of his own. This victory earned him command of an entire section of his clan. During the battle against the Althiri, Ordo's initial strategy involved a feint towards the flanks of the Althiri fleet to draw them out and weaken their formation. He intended to have the majority of his forces attack from the rear and secure a victory. However, when the Althiri split their fleet in two, exposing their center, Ordo capitalized on the opportunity. He broke formation, eliminated the enemy commander, and swiftly brought the battle to an end, minimizing further losses. However, this decision left part of his own forces vulnerable, resulting in significant casualties. The sole survivor of that stand, another Mandalorian named Jagi, harbored resentment towards Ordo, believing him to be a glory hunter, and sought revenge.

During the Mandalorian Wars, the Mandalorian forces were widely feared and reviled for their indiscriminate and brutal tactics, which often resulted in the complete destruction of entire worlds. While Ordo did not take pleasure in annihilating worlds for its own sake, he believed that the Republic's tactics, such as positioning their bases within major cities, left Mandalore with little choice but to raze worlds like Serroco as a form of provocation. Ordo expressed his disappointment with the weakness of the Republic forces, viewing their tactics as cowardly. Despite the Republic's eventual response, the Mandalorian advance's brutal efficiency overwhelmed Republic defenders, allowing them to continue carving a path through Republic territories. With the Republic on the verge of collapse, a Jedi Knight named Revan and his followers defied the Jedi High Council's orders for neutrality and assumed command of the Republic war effort. In Revan, Ordo finally encountered the worthy opponent and challenge he had been seeking. Ordo was deeply impressed by Revan's tactics, which he found similar to those of the Mandalorians in their efficiency. Under Revan's leadership, the war's momentum soon shifted in favor of the Republic. Revan's ferocity, tenacity, and subtlety earned him Ordo's profound respect. Despite the continual losses suffered by the Mandalorians against Revan's forces, Ordo was pleased to have found a conflict that tested his skills, even as the Mandalorians were pushed to the brink of defeat.

As the conflict drew to a close, Ordo found himself among two fleets that filled the space surrounding Malachor V, where the Mandalorians had committed all their forces in a final attempt to defeat the Republic. Unbeknownst to Ordo and the other Mandalorians, Revan had deliberately lured them to Malachor V as part of a carefully laid trap. As the fleets engaged in battle, a Jedi General commanding the Republic fleet activated the Mass Shadow Generator, a superweapon that decimated a large portion of both fleets and devastated the planet's surface. Ordo was among those who managed to escape the mass shadows and survive the battle. In 3960 BBY, the Mandalorians surrendered unconditionally. Mandalore was personally slain by Revan, and the remaining Mandalorians were stripped of their weapons and armor and exiled to the Outer Rim. Before the end of the Mandalorian Wars, Ordo had married Veela, a fellow Mandalorian, but he left her behind when he departed from Clan Ordo and went into exile. With nothing but the honor of having fought in the war, Ordo became a mercenary, wandering the galaxy in search of new challenges. He eventually settled on the planet Taris, working as an enforcer for the local Exchange boss Davik Kang, but soon found his new occupation unsatisfying, as it offered no challenges worthy of his abilities.

Jedi Civil War

One year after the conclusion of the Mandalorian Wars, as Revan embraced the mantle of Dark Lord of the Sith and initiated his own crusade against the Republic, Ordo had established himself as the most renowned Mandalorian mercenary in the Taris sector. By 3956 BBY, he had spent forty standard years fighting across the galaxy. Ordo had grown increasingly disillusioned with his life as Kang's enforcer, a role he found monotonous and lacking in honor. Reduced to little more than hired muscle, Ordo typically performed simple tasks that required little of his skill, such as intimidating uncooperative clients who owed Kang money or salvaging useful equipment from Taris' Undercity. Dissatisfied with the mundane nature of his current existence, Ordo yearned for new challenges and opportunities that would allow him to utilize his talents.

By this time, Revan's Sith Empire had achieved numerous victories against an already weakened Republic. Revan himself had been betrayed by his Sith apprentice Darth Malak and captured by the Jedi. The Jedi Council then altered Revan's memories and programmed him to serve the Republic as a soldier. The war had even spread to Taris, and the Republic warship Endar Spire was destroyed by Malak's forces above the planet. Ordo was unaware that the amnesiac Revan had been aboard the Spire and was among the few survivors, along with Carth Onasi, a Republic captain who had served in the Mandalorian Wars. Ordo encountered Revan while collecting payment from the local gang known as the Black Vulkars for Kang in the Lower City, but he did not recognize his former adversary. Ordo was later sent on a salvage mission by Kang into the Undercity, where most of the Republic escape pods had landed. Ordo was hesitant to lead Kang's inexperienced men into the Undercity and was frustrated to find that the pods had already been stripped of anything valuable by local gangs. While continuing the search, his group was ambushed by rakghouls, deformed mutants native to the Undercity. During the fight against the rakghouls, Ordo encountered Revan again, who was also trying to reach the escape pods in search of Bastila Shan, the Jedi Knight who had commanded the Endar Spire. With Revan's help, Ordo's group successfully fought off the rakghouls, although Kang's men suffered significant losses. Ordo informed Revan of his findings at the pods before leaving and advising Revan to do the same.

After the failed salvage mission, Ordo decided to end his employment with Kang and began preparations to leave the planet by stealing Kang's personal starship, the Ebon Hawk. He soon realized that leaving Taris would be more challenging than he had anticipated, as Malak had established a blockade around the planet while conducting his own search for Republic survivors. The only way to bypass the blockade was with the correct launch codes, which could only be obtained from the local Sith garrison. Ordo purchased the utility droid T3-M4, which was capable of bypassing the garrison's security, but knew he was too well-known to personally storm the base and left the droid at the shop until he could devise a better plan. He found his solution when he learned that Revan had successfully rescued Shan from captivity, wiping out the Black Vulkars in the process. Impressed by his recklessness and combat skills, Ordo chose Revan for his plan to bypass the blockade and escape Taris. Ordo met with Revan in Javyar's Cantina in the Lower City and offered him a deal: Revan would retrieve the launch codes, and in exchange, Ordo would get them into Kang's compound to steal the Hawk. Revan agreed, and Ordo instructed him to obtain T3-M4, who could bypass the base's security.

Working with Revan

Ordo waited for Revan to obtain the launch codes and soon heard about his attack on the Sith garrison. Revan and Shan returned with the codes, and Ordo took them to meet Kang. Ordo vouched for Revan, claiming he was a potential employee for Kang's operations, granting the group free access to the Exchange base. Ordo led the group to Kang's personal hangar just as an impatient Darth Malak ordered Taris bombarded. Unfortunately for Ordo, Kang and another of his enforcers, the bounty hunter Calo Nord, were also trying to escape, and Revan and Ordo were forced to deal with them first. After Kang was killed, Nord tried to detonate a thermal detonator but was crushed by debris as the bombardment continued. Ordo narrowly escaped with the rest of Revan's companions aboard the Hawk as the city was leveled around them. Having experienced more combat and excitement than he had in years, Ordo decided to continue traveling with Revan and contribute his experience to the group. The group decided to meet with the Jedi Council on Dantooine because Shan needed to report on recent events and her concern over Revan's memories and Force-sensitivity gradually returning. The Council decided to re-train Revan in the Jedi ways and assigned him the task of finding the Star Forge, a superweapon being used by Darth Malak against the Republic. During the journey, Ordo aided Revan with his tactical insight and combat experience, although he often disapproved of Revan's more compassionate actions.

While searching for the Star Forge, Ordo often entertained Revan with stories of his past battles. He later explained that he hoped to continue finding battles worthy of his skill while traveling with Revan, something he could not do under Kang or any other employer. Ordo also expressed his opinion of the Republic's weakness and believed that the galaxy would have been much better off under Mandalorian rule. Ordo also kept a supply of stimulants and offered them for use by the rest of the crew, although he personally disdained using such substances. As part of their goal of locating the Star Forge, Ordo traveled with Revan in search of a series of Star Maps, each containing a partial set of coordinates to the Star Forge. This journey took them to the worlds of Tatooine, Kashyyyk, Manaan, and Korriban, and the crew faced near-constant interference from Malak's forces.

Eventually, Ordo was inadvertently reunited with his former comrade Jagi, who was now a Hutt-employed mercenary. Still harboring a grudge against Ordo for what he perceived as abandoning his men during the Battle of Althir, Jagi challenged Ordo to a duel in the Dune Sea of Tatooine to answer for his choices. Ordo refused to tolerate the insult and was determined to kill Jagi to preserve his honor. Revan insisted on accompanying Ordo to the duel site and managed to convince Jagi that Ordo had saved many more lives with his decision, despite the death of Jagi's unit. Overwhelmed by shame for his actions and having lost his purpose in life, Jagi committed suicide, greatly shocking and traumatizing the normally stoic Ordo. Despite this, Revan's actions had earned Ordo's loyalty, and Ordo expressed his gratitude for Revan's help.

At one point during their travels, the Ebon Hawk was ambushed by Admiral Saul Karath of the Sith Navy and taken aboard the Interdictor ship Leviathan. Revan, Onasi, and Shan were separated from the rest of the crew and detained separately for interrogation, but the three arranged for another crew member to release them. After being freed and releasing the rest of the crew from their cells, Revan, Onasi, and Shan went to the bridge to deal with Admiral Karath and the tractor beam that had captured them. Meanwhile, the others followed Ordo to secure the Ebon Hawk. Fighting his way to the docking bays, Ordo's leadership ensured that the rest of the crew reached the ship without any casualties, and they escaped as soon as Revan and Onasi returned.

After escaping the Leviathan's weapons range, Revan explained to the crew that he had encountered Darth Malak while returning to meet with the crew and that Shan had been captured while giving Revan and Onasi a chance to escape. Revan then confessed that Malak had informed him of his true identity as a former Jedi Knight and Sith Lord. Ordo was pleasantly surprised, and his loyalty remained unchanged due to his high level of respect for Revan's prowess in the Mandalorian Wars. Proud to serve with such a powerful warrior, Ordo expressed his willingness to follow Revan anywhere he commanded. Ordo continued traveling with Revan, their search soon leading to the planet of Rakata Prime in the Unknown Regions, where the Star Forge was located. Revan and his team boarded the Star Forge as the Republic fleet launched an assault on the Rakatan superweapon. Fighting through heavy Sith resistance, Revan succeeded in rescuing Shan and slaying Malak in single combat.

Mandalore the Preserver

Following Malak's fall, Revan's fragmented past began piecing itself back together, revealing a menace lurking in the Unknown Regions. Understanding that the Republic was too weak to withstand an assault, Revan started bolstering its defenses before venturing out to face the danger alone. Revan sought Ordo's assistance once again, aiming to unite the scattered Mandalorian clans and revive their strength to support the Republic's cause. Despite his doubts about the clans' immediate reunification, Ordo agreed to accompany Revan in the search for Mandalore's mask, believing it would legitimize Ordo's authority in the eyes of the Mandalorians. Although Ordo wanted to reunite their old companions for one final adventure, Revan opted to only bring T3, recognizing everyone's other obligations, especially with Bastila expecting a child.

Revan and Ordo journeyed to Rekkiad, an icy planet in the Outer Rim, where the Mandalorian clans had converged in pursuit of Mandalore's Mask. Given the lingering animosity some Mandalorians harbored towards Revan, Ordo advised him to conceal his identity and avoid using his lightsaber. Upon locating his clan, Ordo received a hearty welcome from his fellow clan members, though his wife, Veela, still held onto some resentment for what she perceived as his abandonment of her and the clan after the war. With the aid of Revan's newly recovered memories, Clan Ordo pinpointed the hiding place of Mandalore's Mask, and Ordo began to mend his relationship with his wife. However, Revan was compelled to ignite his lightsaber during a skirmish against a rival Mandalorian clan, leading Veela to uncover his true identity.

After the clan successfully retrieved Mandalore's Mask, Veela and a few other clan members demanded Revan's death for his actions against the Mandalorian people and urged Ordo to join them. Ordo refused to betray his friend and was forced to kill his wife in the resulting battle. Before departing to continue his quest for the Sith Empire, Revan revealed the truth about Mandalore the Ultimate and his Sith allies to Ordo: the Sith had orchestrated the Mandalorian Wars, manipulating the Mandalorians into invading as a test of the Republic's strength to facilitate their own eventual invasion. He warned that if the Sith returned, they would either destroy the Mandalorians or use them to further their long-standing conflict with the Jedi. Upon hearing this revelation, Ordo claimed the mask, assumed the title of Mandalore the Preserver, and pledged to reunite the Mandalorian clans and stand with the Republic against the Sith, should they reappear.

While Ordo was working to reunite the Mandalorian clans, he encountered a dying Taung who identified himself as the true Mandalore, asserting that the individual known as "Mandalore the Ultimate" was an imposter. Before passing away, this anonymous Mandalorian entrusted his armor to Ordo, requesting that he safeguard their traditions. Ordo donned the armor, incorporating the mask Revan had given him. After integrating the Taung's clan into Clan Ordo, he returned to Dxun, a Mandalorian outpost located on one of Onderon's four moons, to begin the process of reuniting the Mandalorians. Only a select few knew the true identity of the new Mandalore, as he never removed his armor and helmet in public, not even while sleeping, according to rumors. Using Dxun as his base of operations, the new Mandalore embarked on the challenging task of restoring the clans to their former glory. He recruited individuals from various backgrounds, including mechanics, scouts, and mercenaries, who served clients throughout the galaxy. Inspired by Ordo's vision of a resurgent Mandalorian influence, numerous clans joined forces and rallied behind him on Dxun.

Around three years after Revan tasked Ordo with reuniting the Mandalorians, Ordo crossed paths with another figure from his past in the Mandalorian Wars: Meetra Surik, also known as the Jedi Exile. Surik was among the many Jedi who had sided with Revan against the Council's wishes and commanded the Republic fleet during the final battle at Malachor V. In the years following Revan's disappearance, the Republic had continued to weaken due to the costly wars against the Mandalorians and the Sith. The Sith, under the leadership of a new triumvirate of Sith Lords, seized the opportunity to quietly rebuild their power, ultimately launching a devastating attack that eliminated the majority of the remaining Jedi in the galaxy. Surik was one of the few survivors and was in the process of locating the Jedi Masters who had gone into hiding after the purge.

Her pursuit of Jedi Master Kavar led her to Onderon, which was currently blockaded by military forces loyal to Onderonian General Vaklu, who was trying to establish Onderon's independence from the Republic by severing all contact. Surik's ship was attacked by Vaklu's forces, and the damage sustained during the battle forced her to land on Dxun. The Mandalorian camp's sensors detected Surik's arrival, and Ordo was curious as to why she possessed the Ebon Hawk, a ship last seen with Revan. Determined to uncover the truth, Ordo dispatched Mandalorian sentries to greet Surik and her companions outside the camp and escort them to him. Ordo recognized Surik and decided to observe her to understand her intentions. When Surik requested transportation to Onderon, Ordo agreed to take her on the next supply run, provided she proved she would not be a liability. By completing various tasks for the Mandalorians in the camp, Surik earned a reputation among his warriors, and Ordo concluded that she had proven her worth.

Travels in the Company of Meetra Surik

Ordo honored his agreement and began preparing his shuttle for the journey to Onderon. During his preparations, Ordo was approached by one of Surik's companions, the enigmatic Jedi Master Kreia. She revealed that she had also been Revan's teacher long ago and now requested his loyalty to Surik. Ordo was initially angered by Kreia's disrespect towards his people, whom she dismissed as broken and scattered, but she also acknowledged the loyalty he had shown to Revan and promised to explain why her former apprentice had not taken Ordo with him when he departed for the Unknown Regions, as long as Ordo ensured Surik's safety. Ordo was puzzled that the old woman knew about him and Revan, and resolved to keep a close watch on her in the future.

Before they could depart, Sith assassins attacked the Mandalorian camp, having tracked Surik to Dxun. With the assistance of Surik and her companions, Ordo repelled the initial assault before expediting the shuttle's launch, leaving the remaining Sith for his Mandalorian forces to handle. Upon arriving in the city of Iziz, he directed Surik to an acquaintance of his, Doctor Dhagon Ghent, whom he believed was in contact with Kavar. Although Ghent was being held by local authorities as a suspect in the murder of Captain Sullio, an officer of the Onderonian military, Ordo and Surik were able to prove his innocence after investigating the individuals and evidence surrounding the crime scene. In gratitude, Ghent arranged for a message to be smuggled to the Iziz Royal Palace, where Kavar was hiding under the protection of Queen Talia.

While traveling in Iziz, Ordo and Surik observed that the population was largely divided between those who supported Queen Talia's policies and those who supported General Vaklu's. As Talia's cousin, Vaklu aspired to seize control of Onderon and was secretly undermining Talia's rule. While Surik disagreed with Vaklu's questionable morality, Ordo was impressed by his tactics and ambition, and suggested that Surik would be better off supporting the general. They also encountered another veteran of the Mandalorian Wars, Captain Bostuco, who had fought against the Mandalorians during their occupation of Onderon. Ordo took offense at Bostuco's assertion that the Onderonian military had driven the Mandalorians off-world, insisting that the Jedi were responsible, while also stating that Mandalorians never yielded ground to any Onderonian soldiers. Eventually, Kavar responded to the message and agreed to meet with Surik. Ordo was pleased to meet the Jedi Guardian, whose tactical and combat skills were renowned among the Mandalorians. They assumed Kavar would have led the Republic forces in the Mandalorian Wars, although Kavar ultimately opposed Jedi intervention in the conflict. General Vaklu's forces soon interrupted their meeting, forcing Ordo and Surik to return to Dxun. Before departing, Kavar promised to contact Surik again. Upon their return to Dxun, Ordo decided to join Surik against the Sith to prevent their influence from spreading, as well as to search for more Mandalorian clans. After joining Surik's group of followers, Ordo traveled to worlds such as Nar Shaddaa, Dantooine, and Korriban as part of Surik's ongoing search for the Jedi Masters.

After a while, Kavar sent Surik another message, requesting her assistance against General Vaklu, who had since launched a military coup to seize power from Queen Talia. While Ordo respected Vaklu's ambition, he agreed to support Queen Talia upon learning that Vaklu's forces were receiving aid from the Sith. Returning to Dxun once more, Ordo was informed that the Mandalorian camp's sensors had detected a significant amount of Sith activity in another part of Dxun. Surik divided her crew into two groups, with some of her companions leading Mandalorian forces to eliminate the Sith presence on Dxun, while Surik herself planned to return to Onderon to aid Kavar and Talia. On Dxun, Surik's group and the Mandalorian forces discovered that the Sith were gathering around the ancient tomb of a Sith Lord, utilizing the area's dark side energies to amplify their power. The Mandalorians and Surik's companions successfully defeated the Sith forces in the tomb, subduing many high-ranking Sith in the process. Meanwhile, Surik utilized a Basilisk War Droid provided by Ordo to travel back to Onderon. The Basilisk's presence significantly impacted the morale of Vaklu's troops and aided Surik in her effort to break through the siege of the Royal Palace. With Kavar's assistance, Surik ultimately succeeded in defeating Vaklu and rescuing Talia.

Later, Ordo distinguished himself in the Battle of Telos IV, leading his forces alongside Carth Onasi, now an admiral in the Republic Navy, in engaging the Sith fleet commanded by the Sith Lord Darth Nihilus. Believing that the Republic's forces were insufficient to repel the Sith assault, he rallied his Mandalorians to reinforce the defense of Telos IV, confident that his soldiers were superior to any force the Republic could muster. He boarded Nihilus' flagship, the Ravager, with his troops and confronted the Sith Lord in battle alongside Surik and Nihilus' former Shadow Hand Visas Marr. Through their coordinated efforts, the Sith Lord was slain, depriving the remaining Sith forces of leadership. Ordo also arranged for several proton bombs to be planted on the ship, which destroyed the Ravager, enabling Onasi's forces to eliminate the surviving vessels. After Nihilus' defeat, Ordo's suspicions about Kreia were confirmed when she revealed her true identity as the Sith Lord Darth Traya. Ordo joined Surik in pursuing her to Malachor V, although he was reluctant to return to the site of the Mandalorian's greatest defeat. Surik successfully defeated Darth Traya, and Ordo parted ways with her shortly after, continuing his mission to restore Mandalorian power.

Passing and its Enduring Impact

According to Kreia's predictions, Ordo's future would be filled with continued conflict. As a result of these battles and Revan's mandate to reunite the Mandalorians, Ordo and the Mandalorians would eventually regain some of their former strength and reestablish the Mandalorians as a significant force in galactic affairs. Ordo's success in reuniting the scattered clans was crucial in restoring the Mandalorians to prominence after their defeat in the Mandalorian Wars.

Roughly three centuries after Ordo traveled with Revan and Surik, the Mandalorians were divided over which side to support in the Great Galactic War. While most Mandalorians followed an Imperial puppet Mandalore and backed the resurgent Sith Empire, a faction of Mandalorians led by Jicoln Cadera remained loyal to Ordo's legacy and believed the Mandalorians should support the Republic. Cadera and his faction were ultimately destroyed by Mandalore the Vindicated, who had killed the puppet Mandalore the Lesser. True to Darth Traya's predictions, Ordo eventually perished in battle, and his skull ended up in the possession of the Sith Empire by 3642 BBY. Displayed before a green-gold–colored banner bearing the mythosaur skull sigil, a smuggler who later became known as the "Voidhound" discovered the skull on the Imperial ship King's Ransom during the Cold War; the skull had a piercing wound. A holostatue of Ordo was erected in the Leisure Garden section of Axial Park in Coronet City on Corellia, alongside statues of Revan and his other companions, in remembrance of their deeds.

Clone trooper Null-11, an Advanced Recon Commando in the Grand Army of the Republic during the Clone Wars, was given the name "Ordo" by Kal Skirata in honor of the legendary Mandalorian warrior. Around the rise of the Galactic Empire, the MandalMotors ground military division created a heavy assault vehicle similar to an AT-AT walker, naming it the Canderous-class assault tank in honor of Ordo.

Character and Attributes

Ordo, embodying the values of the Mandalorians, lived for combat. He sought honor, believing it could only be attained through conflict with a worthy adversary. In his youth, Ordo had dark hair, which later turned gray due to the hardships of a life dedicated to battle. He was always impressed by displays of strength and favored combat over diplomacy. Ordo admired Revan for his aggressive strategies during the Mandalorian Wars and felt no resentment or anger at being defeated by such a skilled opponent. His defining characteristics were ambition, discipline, aggression, and loyalty. Ordo typically spoke in a rough, serious tone and was very direct in expressing his opinions and thoughts. When prompted, Ordo was often willing to share stories of his involvement in various conflicts, taking pride in his tales of success. Whenever he encountered war veterans, he would often inquire about the battles they had fought in or their opinions of the Mandalorians, hoping to hear accounts from his former adversaries. He was often disappointed to find that many on the Republic's side did not share his fondness for the past. As Ordo realized that most did not perceive the past conflict in the same way, he became disillusioned after the defeat of the Mandalorians. He once expressed this feeling to Revan, explaining that he felt he was no longer the Mandalorian he once was.

While Revan and Ordo gradually became friends, Ordo maintained a professional demeanor and always referred to Revan as his employer. Although he initially only intended to ally himself with Revan as a means of escaping Taris, his respect for the former Sith Lord grew as he accompanied him, even before he learned of his true identity. Despite becoming estranged from his people and culture while serving Davik, Ordo remained true to the Mandalorian ways and chose to stay with the crew of the Ebon Hawk, believing that their adventures would bring much-needed glory and honor to his diminished pride. Even though he was quite distant to the rest of Revan's companions, Ordo slowly came to respect the programmed persona of Revan. Despite providing Revan with stimulants when asked, Ordo personally believed that a true warrior should develop their own strength and not rely on such aids. When it was revealed that the amnesiac Jedi was indeed Darth Revan himself, Ordo was, unlike the rest of his companions, greatly pleased. Ordo willingly pledged his loyalty and allegiance to the former Sith Lord, firmly believing that his service to Revan would bring him all the battles and glory he sought.

After assuming the mantle of Mandalore the Preserver, Ordo led the reunited clans with strict discipline, reflecting his views of the Mandalorian ideals. By choosing Dxun as his base of operations, Ordo forced the Mandalorians to contend with the dangerous jungle daily, in addition to the typical rigorous training. His troops respected him implicitly, often displaying a willingness to die rather than face public shame for their failures, and followed his orders without question. He maintained his strong focus on honor as a leader and would not assist Surik until she proved her worth among the Mandalorians. As a leader, Ordo always maintained a calm and composed demeanor, even when leading troops into battle. When events did not go as planned, his experience allowed him to adapt to new circumstances. One of Ordo's most prominent traits was his loyalty, both to the Mandalorian way and to those he followed. Years after Revan's departure, Ordo's loyalty remained unwavering, and even when he disagreed with Surik's decisions, he never did more than briefly express his opinion before following her lead.

Gear

As a fully trained Mandalorian soldier, Ordo was resistant to Jedi mind tricks, as his experience on the battlefield allowed him to shrug off most mind-altering effects; fear-inducing Force powers and weapons that would normally incapacitate most combatants had minimal impact on Ordo. He possessed great physical and mental endurance, as well as strategic and tactical skills, which he demonstrated on numerous occasions both in war and as a mercenary. During the Jedi Civil War, his cybernetic implants were limited but allowed him to regenerate minor wounds and recover much faster than normal. His regenerative ability also allowed him to briefly enter a catatonic state to heal more severe injuries.

As of 3951 BBY, however, his implants included selective ability boosters that Ordo could activate as needed without fear of damage, providing temporary increases in areas such as strength and stamina. His weapon of choice from the latter part of the Mandalorian Wars onward was a prototype heavy repeater that never went into general production. However, when he became leader of the Mandalorians, he was known to wield a common repeating blaster rifle. Also, during that time, he wore Mandalorian battle armor which he maintained in excellent condition. The years of combat began to take their toll on Ordo in his later years, and he revealed to Surik that his weakening body had become increasingly reliant on his armor and implants to function. Despite his aging, Ordo never avoided combat and continued to lead his troops from the front lines.

Behind the Curtain

Canderous Ordo is a playable character in the computer and video games Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and its sequel Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords, although he is credited as "Mandalore" in the latter. He is voiced by John Cygan in both games and was created by BioWare. For Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords, he was written by Michael Chu. Although his birth date is unspecified due to the lack of canon sources on Mandalorian time measurement, Ordo was set to be sixty-three Mandalorian years old as of 3951 BBY. Ordo, along with Zaalbar, Carth Onasi, Bastila Shan, and Mission Vao, was inspired by James Ohlen's work on roleplaying campaigns for West End Games.

His name can be loosely translated from Mando'a as a combination of "kando," meaning "important, weighty," and "ruus," meaning "rock." With a Force alignment score of 30, he is the only playable organic character to have a default dark-side alignment. He and the Wookiee bounty hunter Hanharr are the only organic party members in The Sith Lords who cannot be trained in the ways of the Force. Game files include a Mandalore model without the helmet that is never used in the actual game. However, in one particular cut element, Surik can ask T3-M4 if he knew Mandalore, in which T3 and Surik react as if T3 is showing a hologram, but the droid actually displays nothing.

Due to the mechanics of the game, Ordo's official presence during any part of either game when he isn't a mandatory companion is not definitively known. When traveling alongside Surik, Ordo has the opportunity to encounter other Mandalorian clans on Dantooine and Nar Shaddaa. With Surik's help, Ordo has the ability to persuade these two groups to join his forces located on Dxun. However, not all Mandalorians immediately accept Ordo's rule, and Esok, who leads a group of Mandalorian mercenaries stationed on Dantooine, will try to seize the Mandalore title and engage the player in battle. Because players are able to choose the order in which they visit planets, Ordo's presence during these encounters is uncertain, making its canon status ambiguous.

In the non-canonical dark side playthrough of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Ordo, with the exception of Bastila Shan (who has already turned to the dark side), is the only non-droid party member to follow the reborn Darth Revan without hesitation. If Revan fails to convince Jagi during their duel in the Dune, Ordo will be compelled to personally eliminate Jagi and his henchmen. Moreover, in The Sith Lords, a dark side aligned Surik impresses Ordo, leading him to trust her more and eventually discuss his experiences with Revan more openly. Within the Knights of the Old Republic Campaign Guide supplement for the Star Wars Roleplaying Game, Ordo's title is revealed to be Mandalore the Preserver.

The real-time strategy game Star Wars: Empire at War: Forces of Corruption makes reference to Ordo through the Zann Consortium's Canderous-class assault tank. This assault tank also makes an appearance in the Fate of the Jedi novel series.

The armor worn by "Mandalore the Preserver" served as the design foundation for the armor of all Mandalorian miniatures (excluding Mandalore the Indomitable) featured in the Star Wars Miniatures expansion Bounty Hunters.