Galen
“Didn’t some king get sacrificed on New Holm?” Galen asked on the Command deck of the ‘Long Serpent’ as the starship and fleet made their last jump into the system.
“King Paden ‘Tree Feller’ Dawn Aegis,” Lord General Cinder replied. “Last member of House Dawn Aegis to be proclaimed king of the Wanes after the death of his father, but forced into exile with his followers.” She said calmly as the Command Deck came to life around her.
“He and his followers discovered the world more than six hundred years ago,” The Lord General continued. “The world and system suffered from a sever famine because of the influx of new settlers. Paden was blamed, and sacrificed to please the Ancestors. Burned alive in his own home. They say the famine did end a year or so after his death,” she said coldly.
“Also the ancestor of House Ash of Clan Dawn,” Techno-Mage Vanir added.
“If his children had been in that home with him, who knows how history would have changed. Perhaps Highpass would have never been united. Sure wouldn’t have been a Hakon ‘Fairhair’ Ash Dawn,” another added.
Galen nodded as he stared at the holographic display over the command table console. The system was lightly settled. Thirty five on the world of New Holm itself, while the minor world of Darwen held barely two hundred thousand. The Star Fortress of Vox Outpost had a respectable population of fourty thousand while the minor world of Golden Springs had less than fifty thousand. All together the display claimed there was less than seventy five million scattered throughout the system, and on the various starships which were passing through.
“General Dyer, bring us into orbit of New Holm. Commander Overton figure out if there is anything worth trading here. Bring on what supplies we need, but make it quick. I don’t want to remain here any longer then needed.” The Lord General said.
Galen wondered if there were still Ash Dawn’s on New Holm. If cousins or other kin of Frea, a not so friendly member of the Jom he had trained with, were still on New Holm and called it home. As far as he knew the Ash Dawns were spread around much of the western systems of Highpass. Mostly in the Westmark, and eastmark sectors.
“Yes ser,” the general replied to the Lord General.
The ‘Long Serpent’ and rest of the fleet must have had close to full stores. It required a large about of supplies to feed and maintain just the ‘Long Serpent’ though, and a week could eat up many of them. Still, like all Furse starships, trading or warships alike, the ‘Long Serpent’ had large gardens, and whole compartments filled with animals for livestock to keep the drain on basic needs to a minimum.
“Any reason for departing so quickly?” Galen finally asked.
“We are running behind. Spent more time on Kingsworth than expected,” The Lord General said calmly. “The Ironspring is also not a sector I wish to linger in,” she told him but spoke just as calmly. “They are just as likely to attack ships from the Kingdom of the Wanes even though the sector is meant to be under their banner than they are to attack ships from Highpass.”
“More likely to attack ships from Highpass,” General Dyer said. “They are a rebellious people. Mostly keep to themselves, but they don’t like outsiders.”
“We will offer them gifts as payment,” The Lord General replied.