[Cyness Minor, Northern Mountain Range] Cody's foot was pounding and had it propped up on a pillow, his head resting on the couch inside his new ship. "Sleep when your dead, cousin," said Joth. "There's another ship landing, and it's a big Destroyer Class." Cody forced his eyes open and looked at the blurry figure of his cousin framed against the bright exterior of the open hatch. The pine scent of countless seasons of the great pine trees laying their needles on the forest floor created a heavy musk drifting into the ancient ship and made Cody want to curl up and sleep. He had been greeting the arriving Daraian refugees for three days now and was exhausted. The refugee ships were pouring in at an alarming rate and food was becoming an issue. Cody picked up the microphone headset and slipped it on. "I have to go greet some more refugees," Cody told Lyra. "I'll be fine," said Lyra, "but try to find some audio and optic sensors. I want to be able to see what's happening." "I'll find some," said Cody. "I'm sure there must be some on one of those ships." Cody removed the headset and hopped to the hatch, his foot was still too tender to put any weight on. "I'm coming, Joth," said Cody as he awkwardly climbed out of the hatch with his cousin's help. The meadow he had chosen in the northern mountains was a bustle of activity. Refugees were setting up tents, children were playing, and the adults huddled in groups trying to decide what to do next. Cody, with Gani's help, had hooked the cradle box into the antique rocketship and under Lord Cyness' suggestion, moved to the northern mountain range to receive the incoming refugees there. Lord Cyness felt it would be better if the first thing the new Daraians saw were House Eagles Capitol. House Eagle's Capitol consisted of Lyra's rocketship surrounded by tents, and stacked piles of crates full of food and clothing, but it was in a grassy meadow in the middle of the mountains and the Daraians would feel much more at home than stepping out of a ship to find a barren desert. Cody had gone a little crazy with renaming everything. He renamed the mountain to Eagle Mountain, the meadow was Eagle Meadow, his ship was Eagle One, and there was a large boulder near the center of the meadow that Cody had painted the words, Eagle Rock. Lord Cyness instructed Cody to ensure every arriving refugee swore fealty to House Eagle, so far no one had refused. The first refugee ship that had arrived was a smaller frigate and the Captain had knelt before Cody without hesitation and swore his fealty. The other refugees had followed his example and House Eagle was growing quickly. Cody used his crutches and hobbled his way toward the makeshift landing platform the new Destroyer that had landed was sitting on. The ramp of the Destroyer would be lowered soon and the new refugees would see their new world for the first time, their journey of terror and hardship was almost at an end. Cody took his position on a wooden platform that Gani'Cy had built for Cody to greet arriving refugees. Cody watched as a side hatch opened and several of the crew jumped out to secure the engines and prepare to lower the ramp. Trails of smoke drifted from the Destroyer’s engines as they cooled and water condensation dripped from the hull. A man in the uniform of a Captain jumped out of the side hatch and walked around to the back of the Destroyer and barked several orders. The ramp of the Destroyer lowered and Cody saw the multitude of dirty faces waiting inside the cargo hold. The ramp touched the ground and the Captain motioned to the small faces watching him. The children, led by several equally dirty faced Daraian adults and crew members, led the children tentatively down the ramp and toward Cody. Lord Cyness had made Cody dress in a ridiculously ornate uniform of a Daraian Lord. The cape of the uniform billowed softly in the breeze behind him. Cody felt silly, but Lord Cyness had said the uniform was important. The Captain stopped in front of Cody and looked up at the young Daraian Lord. "My Lord," the Captain began. "We are all that remains of House Starling, there are just over 60,000 survivors on board my ship. I obeyed your command and have come, will you give us shelter." Cody looked down at the haggard face of the Captain. The hardships and horrors he must have endured to save so many of his people were nothing short of heroic. "Captain," said Cody. "House Starling will swear fealty to House Eagle as a vassal House." Cody gave no room for argument, he needed all the Daraians to be united. "We have no Lords left to swear House fealty," the Captain said. "We are a defeated and destroyed House. The names of our ancestors will be forgotten." "Kneel Captain," Cody commanded. The Captain knelt, expecting to be forced to forsake his House and bury the banner of House Starling in the dirt of this alien world. He already knew he would obey, his House was gone and his House Lords killed ensuring he could escape with as many survivors as possible. The Captain would kneel in the dirt and accept whatever humiliation this young Lord would sentence him to for the sake of his people. "I, Lord Eagle, grandson of Lord Ari of the Cynessian House Ari, nephew to Prince Malice of Demonia, native born to Dara, Lord on three worlds, do hereby raise you noble Captain, to the position of Lord Starling, Lord of House Starling." The Captain stared in shock at the young Lord that stood over him. Lord Eagle was large for a Daraian, the Captain guessed the young man must already be nearly four feet tall. When fully grown, this young Lord would be an imposing figure and would tower over other Daraian men. This powerful Lord was merciful and may be what his people would need to survive. "My Lord," Lord Starling placed a fist over his heart. "House Starling swears fealty to House Eagle as a vassal House and will place House Eagles streamer above our House banner." Cody handed the man a rolled up parchment. "This is the charter for House Starling to build a village along the shore of the ocean, with the mountains to your back. The land is given to House Starling in trust for House Eagle." Cody jumped down from the wooden platform and hopped over to Lord Starling. "My Lord," said Lord Starling. "You are injured?" "It's getting better," Cody said and shrugged it off. "That's enough formalities for now, let's get your people some food and medicine." Cody waved Joth over and laid a hand on his cousin’s shoulder to steady himself. "This is Lord Joth'Cy," said Cody. "He is acting as 2nd Lord to House Eagle and will show you where you can stay until you are ready to take House Starling to your new village site." Lord Starling looked at the parchment, something felt wrong about this plan. "We are pioneers, my Lord," said Cody. "There are no bulldozers, but there is plenty of lumber." Cody pointed at the trees, "I'll give you a week or so to get your people settled in, but you need to get your ship in orbit as soon as you can to keep us defended." "Do we have an Admiral to coordinate our ships for defense?" asked Lord Starling. Cody put a finger on his chin and thought for a moment. "Excellent idea, Admiral," declared Cody. "You have the biggest ship that has arrived so far, so you get the job." The Captain took Cody's arm to help him walk toward the kitchen tent that was already dispensing food to the new refugees. "I'll gather the other ship Captains and form House Eagle's fleet," said Lord Starling. Lord Starling watched his new Lord hobble around the kitchen tent, greeting people, smiling, and making everyone feel welcome. Lord Eagle is the most amazing young Lord I have ever met, thought Lord Starling, he made my House a vassal House without taking away my pride, if anything he gave me my pride back. "Yep, he has that effect on everyone he meets," a young man said, reading the expression on Lord Starling's face. Lord Starling turned to face the young man, he appeared to be in his young twenties. The face was hard and the young man's eyes were the kind of eyes that could stare down a rattlesnake. "Howdy, I'm Gani'Cy, acting 1st Lord to House Eagle." "An honor to meet you, my Lord," said Lord Starling. "You will be dealing with me mostly," Lord Gani explained. "We are sending Lord Eagle back to the Academy to finish his education, he will need it." An officer in a torn uniform handed the Captain a bowl of soup. The Captain thanked his navigation officer and instructed him to go eat. The Captain, and new Lord of House Starling, watched his navigation officer move off and disobey the order. The young officer continued handing out bowls of food to the children of House Starling. He wouldn't eat until all their young charges had been fed. Lord Starling turned back to Lord Gani and sipped on the bowl of soup. "Lord Eagle appointed me the Daraian Admiral, does that stand true?" "If my cousin hadn't, I would have," said Lord Gani. "I have sent word to all the Captains to meet at the big command tent, we have to get our fleet in orbit." Lord Gani and Lord Starling walked together toward the large tent that was being used as a command center. Children darted around them playing and laughing as they walked together. The cool mountain air felt good on the Captains face after being cramped in the oxygen starved ship since the attack on Dara. "I have one other thing to say first," Lord Sparrow stopped and faced Lord Gani. "Lord Eagle is young and couldn't have done this alone, it is obvious that House Cyness is behind him." Lord Gani quickly explained how Cody had saved the planet from nuclear attack and the subsequent discovery of his heritage. "I see," said Lord Starling, "but you are only telling me part of the story. I was next in line for a battleship and am quite versed in politics, my Lord." Lord Gani surveyed the Captain's face, wondering how much of the situation he had truly guessed. Gani kept silent and let the Captain decide whether he wanted to tip his hand. "If I discover you are manipulating my Lord Eagle," said Lord Starling. "I will take our young Lord and leave this world. House Eagle already dwarfs your House in military superiority, and I would not hesitate to deploy the might of my Destroyer against any enemies of that amazing little Eagle." "I assure you, we are not manipulating him," answered Lord Gani, surprised at how quickly Cody had captured this Captain’s heart. Gani underestimated Cody’s talents and the threat of military actions against House Cyness if Cody was being manipulated startled Gani. Lord Starling glanced back at the kitchen tent. He saw Lord Eagle tickling a small Daraian child while other children danced around waiting for a turn to be tickled. "Oh bird feathers," said Lord Starling. "You are not thinking of...?" "Yes, we are," Gani interrupted. "I can see your plan," said Lord Starling amazed, "but several prominent Princes are already being groomed for that position," Lord Starling pointed out, “and he would have to be a Prince to compete, and to become a Prince he needs the title of Lord on four worlds, and to have subjugated four Major Houses.” "We believe it can be done," Gani insisted. “When the Kitsune find out, they will send a legion of Ravens to assassinate him,” stated Lord Starling. “The only thing you have going on here right now is amateur politics.” Lord Gani's face was expressionless as he talked with Lord Starling. "I have given you the entire truth,” said Gani. “What do you intend?” “I disagree with your plan,” said Lord Starling. “You intend to plunge that boy into the political intrigue of the Alliance. He will live a life of lies, plots, assassination attempts and endless plays for power. I only spoke with him for a few minutes, but can feel the power of the wind under his wings, and there is a presence to that young Eagle that can not be denied. I can assure you that the Daraians are with you, however, even being here a few minutes I can see the faults to this plan. Lord Gani’Cy stopped outside the tent and looked in the eyes of the Daraian. House Cyness was over it’s head and Gani knew it. This man had torn apart his father’s plan within moments, what would the Major Houses be able to do?” “What do you propose, my Lord?” asked Gani. “This is a much needed rest stop on our journey, but this is a dying world,” said Lord Starling. “You have two possible industries here, salt and fish. If I allow the Daraians to settle here, we will be following House Cyness to the grave.” Lord Starling looked back at his young naïve lord playing with the other children, he would not allow this to happen. “I have already guessed the location of the Academy,” said Lord Starling. “I have all the classified star charts on my ship. I was able to determine it’s location in about five minutes. They went to Cypheus Major. It’s an extremely large world, plenty of resources, and there is enough room there for House Eagle and House Cyness.” Gani shook his head. “My father already considered that plan,” said Gani. “We do not have the ability to move our population. We are stuck here on this world. This was a good world to hide from the Over Lords when we came here, but it was a one-way trip. We used our ships to build the first settlements. My father hoped the Daraians would breathe life into this world.” “I’m sorry, son,” said Lord Starling. “You can’t breathe life into a corpse.” “Then you will leave and House Cyness will perish,” said Gani and hung his head. He had failed his father and his House had no more options. Lord Starling looked at the young man and placed a hand on his shoulder. “It is not a pleasant feeling to know your House is defeated,” said Lord Starling. “I had given up hope, even when I received the command to come here I knew it was a futile gesture.” Lord Starling gestured toward Cody. “That young man over there rolling in the dirt with the other children in that beautiful Daraian Lords uniform that you probably spent a months ration of food on to impress me has given me back hope.” Gani wondered where the Captain was going with this. He tried to keep his poker face about him, but this man had deftly walked around him like the amateur at politics he was. “I scanned the planet before I landed,” said Lord Starling. “You do have the means to make it off this dying rock. I counted at least two-hundred haulers moving around the desert.” “Those salt haulers are not space worthy,” protested Gani. “Nonsense, how do you think they got here in the first place,” said Lord Starling. “My grandfather was one of the engineers that built those things and convoyed them here. I can have my crew go over them and make necessary repairs.” “There still isn’t enough ships,” said Gani. “The Daraians will transport the rest of your population,” said Lord Starling. “Though it may take several trips, that really is not an issue.” Gani wasn’t sure how his father was going to take this turn of events. Lord Starling read the blank expression on the young man’s face easily. “Go to my ship and use the Com Center to contact Lord Cyness and tell him what I will be doing. House Cyness will go with us. It’s time to leave this coffin for our new world.” Lord Starling called Cody over and together they walked into the tent where the other ship captains where waiting. “Admiral on Deck,” shouted a junior officer. “Word had spread fast who their new Admiral was.”