Galen
Galen boarded the shuttle which would bring him to the Starcarrier class Super Carrier starship ‘Long Serpent’ in orbit of the world of Jom. It was the largest known warship in Furse Space. The legendary starship of King Rodger Ash Dawn, and captured by Galen’s own father in the Battle of Creek. It was large enough to support two full legions, where most Starcarrier class starships were large enough to support only a single legion.
Galen had said his goodbyes to his friends within the 32nd legion and those in other legions which were still on Jom, and not on some contract for the Order. He had said his farewell to his friends, many he had known since childhood, those who had been wards of the Jom like him. Friends such as Prince Edmund Lynch Aegis, oldest living child of King Harwyn of the Kingdom of Fist, and Cassandra Tyr before their departure with the 10th legion on a contract in Bolgar Space.
There were many friends Galen had grown up with who he had been forced to say his farewells to. Wards from dozens of noble houses from a dozen worlds throughout Furse Space, and even some from Bolgar and Fabian Space. Wards kept by the Jom to ensure their families loyalties and obedience. Friends of low both who proved themselves strong of character and skill, and were admitted into the Jom based on merit like them all.
The Jom had maintained peace with the major factions of Furse Space for generations. Wards were but one means that allowed them to control the powerful kingdoms of the Furse. Few could withstand the might of what should have been a small and unimportant world on the edge of Bolgar Space.
Galen thought of his Borca companion Rascal as the shuttle made its way off world and towards the waiting starship. He had long since been boarded onto a shuttle, and departed for ‘Long Serpent’ with the last of the animals and livestock. The ‘Long Serpent’ had more stables than most ships because of its size, but even so the cost to ferry Rascal from Jom to Worthgard would have been more than Galen could afford if it were not for his father, the Lord of Worthgard and Lord Protector of Highpass.
Most animals on board the ‘Long Serpent’ were livestock like on most ships. Animals which could be used to refresh food stocks in the dead of space, but companion animals such as the famous Borca of Furse Space could be transported for a price.
In a way Galen felt bad for Rascal. The two of them were bonded. He had been just a boy when his mother had gifted him his greatest friend. They had journeyed through Furse Space together as his father and mother fled Highpass with him and him and their supporters. When he had become a ward of the Jom, Rascal had remained by his side.
They had made their home on the world of Jom, and among the local Borca herds, Rascal had thrived and forged his own pack of wild untamed Borca and dozens of Borca from other members of the Jom. It was the only home that Rascal likely remembered, and knew. Now he was being taken from it, only to be trapped in the cramped quarters of a starship for months of travel among the stars.
Rascal had once fit in Galen’s own arms when they had made that first journey. Now the great beast was larger than most, and even with Galen on it’s back he was one of the fastest on the world of Jom. He had grown large and strong on Jom, and thrived better than Galen himself.
Galen smiled at the thought of Rascal as a small pup. He had finally stopped growing and his floppy ears were now bigger than Galen’s own head. When Rascal shook those great big ears it was enough to knock Galen off his feet if it hit him. Enough to hurt, and something he had learned to watch for as the Borca often shook his full head and body.
Galen hated when he had to leave the world of Jom, and leave his companion behind. He had never been able to take him off world until now. On training missions or on any of the few contracts he had fulfilled with the 32nd Legion. He looked forward to each, and every return to the world of Jom as Rascal waited and showed his excitement on his return. He always wondered what Rascal would think if he fell and never returned.
Galen thought of the first time he had arrived on Jom. He couldn’t recall how young he had been when they had left the Kingdom of Highpass, and later came to the world of Jom. He must have been seven, perhaps eight years old when he had become a ward of the Jom. His father, mother, and their supporters had fled Highpass in exile after the death of his grandfather.
Galen’s grandfather had been killed by his own friend, and thrall as they hid from the forces of Rodger Ash Dawn who had returned to claim the kingdom of his ancestors. Galen’s grandfather’s head had been presented to the soon to be King Rodger Ash Dawn by that thrall who had hoped such an act would be enough to save him.
That thrall had been mistaken though, as King Rodger had the thrall put to death for the crimes of betraying his sworn lord. They had fled to the Kingdom of the Wanes before they had reached the world of Jom years later.
Galen had been handed over to the Jom shortly after that. It had also been the last time he had seen his mother. His mother and father made a name for themselves as they raided throughout the Old ruins of Furse Space before they left Furse Space all together to raid in the Dragon’s Head Nebula with King Harwyn Lynch Aegis years later. His mother had died in battle there against the Commonwealth, although their forces had defeated King Oswald.
Galen let out a sigh at the thought of his mother. She had been the heir and firstborn of King Harwyn Lynch Aegis. She gave birth to Galen the same year as her own brother was born. Prince Edmund was more than just his uncle though, he was a friend with the bond that only those who were wards to the Jom could understand.
Galen was also an Aegis, that ancient clan, and famous clan which had founded many kingdoms throughout Furse Space, and the Empire itself. House Worth had long ruled as kings in their own right in Highpass. Kings of Worth, and their worlds had stretched from what was now the Kingdom of Highpass to the worlds which made up part of the Kingdom of the Wanes before they had become subjects to the First King of Highpass.
Galen’s father might have sworn loyalty to King Harwyn, his father in law, and Galen’s own grandfather, but it was Erik Worth who ruled Highpass as Lord of Highpass, king in all but name. It was Erik Worth Aegis, and his forces who had boarded the ‘Long Serpent’, and defeated the forces of King Rodger Ash Dawn. King Rodger was said to have been killed in that very battle, but his body was never found. Hakon Ashworth had fought in that battle before he joined the Order of Jom.
Galen let out another sigh as the shuttle made its way onto one of the many hangar bays of the ‘Long Serpent’. The day would come when Galen would pledge his own loyalty to his grandfather, or perhaps even his own uncle and friend Edmund. He had no issues with that and had always accepted it. He would rule as lord of Highpass, king in all but name and the Empire would be one step closer to reuniting.
The shuttle landed on the flight deck of the hangar bay. Galen waited until the all clear before he stood, and grabbed the small duffel bag with his personal belongings. He made his way to the back ramp with the other passengers on the shuttle, and climbed down the lowered ramp for those on board to disembark.
“Galen Worth,” he heard his name called from a waiting officer in a standard dress uniform of the Imperial Guard of Highpass which looked like that of the Imperial Guard of Jom but for the colors. The officer stood on the flight deck next to the lowered shuttle ramp, and she stared at Galen as he made his way down the ramp.
“Yes?” Galen asked as he looked at the officer, and saluted after a moment.
“Thane Hale,” the Thane said casually, but returned the salute. “Lord General Cinders set me to escort you.”
“Escort?” Galen asked her, puzzled.
“Escort, tour guide, honor guard,” the Thane replied. “The Lord General wished for me to show you the ‘Long Serpent’, help you get settled in before you report to her.”
“I see,” Galen replied. “It’s been some time since I’ve been on this ship,” he told Thane Hale.
“Yes, I read that in your file. Fourteen years I believe,” Thane Hale said matter of factually. “Please this way Retainer Worth, I’ll show you to your quarters, and after that to the command deck to meet with the Lord General before we leave for the Calraida System on the other side of the Old Ruins.”
Galen nodded and followed the Thane as she led him out of the hangar. “Peaceful crossing?” he asked her as they walked through corridors. The Old Ruins was a haven for pirates and raiders, although a far cry from the Skoll threat which had created the Old Ruins with the destruction of dozens of worlds. It had been over four hundred years since any Skoll had been sighted in the Old Ruins or the Settled Worlds of Mann. Many questioned if the Skoll were nothing more than myths and legends created to frighten children.
“Yes,” Thane Hale replied. “Although it would be suicide for most to attempt an assault on the ‘Long Serpent’, let along the the rest of the fleet,” she told him.
Galen nodded. The ‘Long Serpent’ was escorted by a standard sized Star Carrier class Super Carrier, the ‘Ironclad’, two Space Dragon class carriers ‘Ark’, and ‘Laughing Titan’, as well as twp Hammer class Battleships, the ‘Red Banshee’, and ‘Hellhound’.
“Have you made many crossings?” Thane Hale asked.
Galen nodded his head. “Not many though. Mostly close to Bolgar Space on contact with the Jom.”
“Yes,” the Thane responded as she led him through more corridors of the ‘Long Serpent’. “I have read your record. Impressive for one so young. Although that is to be expected from someone admitted into the ranks of the Jom, and the son of Lord Worth.”
Galen suppressed the low growl that often came out when compared to his father. “Thank you,” he managed instead. The Thane couldn’t have been more than a few years older than himself.
“Here we go,” Thane Hale said as she stopped in front of a door, and then hit the door panel next to it to open the sealed hatch. “Your assigned quarters.”
Galen walked inside and looked at the single bed quarters, and looked back to the Thane almost in disbelief. Single quarters were rare on a starship. Even officers, even junior officers like a Thane were quartered with their retinue. Space was a luxury that most ships could not afford.
“The Lord General wished to set you up with one of the guest quarters,” Thane Hale said, seeing the confusion on his face.
Galen let out a sigh, and tossed his duffel bag on the lone bed. That was one thing which didn’t happen in the ranks of the Jom. Most of the Jom with the sons and daughters of lords, great and small, as well as kings. The only rank which mattered to the Jom were the ones you earned, and he didn’t like the feeling of special treatment.
“Shouldn’t keep the Lord General waiting, should we,” Galen said, and looked to the Thane who tilted her head, and then nodded. It was going to be a long trip to think about the first meeting of a father he hardly knew other than rumor, and the odd message which had mostly ended after the death of his mother.
