"I'm good, just have some things on my mind." Rayden laughed off her teasing as he focused on the end of the speeches.
"We have another announcement to share with everyone as well." Varn quieted everyone down before turning to each of the other leaders and nodding his head.
"After a lot of talking and negotiations, we have decided to form a house to better protect ourselves. The clan that will lead us will be..." Most clansmen were shocked to hear they would be forming a house, and their ears perked up to hear which clan would be chosen.
"Clan Knight," Varn announced. To affirm his words, Veyra, Camren, Ravik, and Drenar all pledged their clans to Clan Knight.
It took a moment for everyone to react, but then joyous cheers erupted as they realized they were now a united house. It is always better to have more allies than enemies.
Once they finished with the last announcement, each clan leader took a torch and walked to the giant stack of wood and other materials prepared for burning.
They stood an equal distance from one another, and together they announced, "Let the party start," as they threw their torches.
A giant, blazing fire ignited as everyone cheered and began to dance. Along the edge of the area, tables of food from each clan were set up.
Everyone mingled and got to know each other, knowing that their clans would be collaborating more closely in the future and that it was important to have friends they could trust.
Rayden and the other kids from each clan had their own little area where most of them gathered. They played, chatted, and bragged to each other about their clans.
The night passed in a joyous atmosphere. Rayden danced with Lexi, which earned a few teasing comments from Elyse and Veyra.
The food was delicious and disappeared quickly as everyone ate, drank, and partied to their hearts' content.
====
The following morning, dozens of men and women could be seen walking around with hangovers as they sluggishly moved about.
Rayden, Lexi, George, and the others were sitting and laughing at how funny the hungover adults looked.
Remembering how it felt to be hungover, Rayden was glad he was too young to drink at the moment.
They were given a few days to rest as a reward for the hard work they put into the competition.
"Ray, my mom told me that we would leave in a few days," Lexi said sadly as she shared the news with Rayden. She was enjoying her time here with him and the others and didn't want to go back home.
"You do?" He knew she would be leaving after the competition, but he was also sad to see her go.
"Then before you go, let's make the most of our time left." He jumped up and extended his hand to her.
Stunned, she looked at his hand, and then a sweet feeling blossomed in her heart as she grabbed it, and they walked off together.
George and the others watched this blatant display of affection. "Um, George…" Jacob was about to say something before George raised his hand.
"Let them be. But seriously, they just acted like we weren't even here," George shook his head.
—
"Ray, what about the others?" Lexi asked once she realized they had left their friends behind.
"What about them?" He knew it was a bit of a jerk move to leave them, but he could always get together with George and the others later.
He only had a few days left with Lexi, and who knew when they would meet again? It could be a few weeks, a few months, or even a year.
So it was better to enjoy this time now than to have regrets about missing it.
"We can hang out with them tomorrow," he reassured her.
—
The following day, Rayden and Lexi rejoined the others to make up for having ditched them earlier.
They went to the training ground and engaged in some light training together, turning it into a game.
About two hours into their training game, a guard approached Rayden and Lexi. "The Alor is looking for you both. He said to meet in the meeting hall."
"Thanks," Rayden nodded to the guard and turned to the others. "Sorry, guys; it looks like my dad is looking for us. We'll play another time. Lexi, let's go."
Lexi nodded and turned to say goodbye as she left with him.
As they walked, they speculated about what Varn could want from them. Rayden was one thing, but why would he call Lexi as well?
They exchanged theories until they reached the door to the meeting room.
Once inside, they realized it was not just Varn in attendance, but also the other clan leaders.
"You're both here; good. Take a seat," Varn said.
Rayden sat beside his mother, while Lexi sat with hers. They were the last to arrive and wondered what this meeting could be about.
The other leaders shared similar thoughts; Varn would not share anything until everyone was present.
Standing up, Varn placed a data chip into a console on the table. "Now we can start. The other day, we discussed the possibility of starting a company and whether each clan should stay where they are or move together as one."
Camren interrupted, "I still think we should stay where we are. Kweving Heights is a fine location, but I don't believe it could accommodate all our clans and any others that might join us in the future."
Veyra added, "Yes, our clan grounds are in a nice location, well hidden, and I don't see the need to move."
Drenar's gruff voice cut off Veyra as he made his point: "Where would the headquarters for this company be? We need to move to one place not only to better manage the company but also to protect each other in case of Death Watch attacks."
Ravik emphasized the importance of proximity. "If any one of us is attacked, it would take a while for reinforcements to arrive, and by then, it would be too late."
As everyone began to voice their opinions, the discussion veered off course. To regain control, Varn slammed his gloved fist on the table. "I'm not here to rehash the conversation. We'll just keep going in circles if we do."
Everyone stopped talking and waited for him to continue.
"Some new information has come to my attention that I believe will not only bring prosperity to the clans but to all Mandalorians."
What could prompt him to make such a bold claim? Curiosity spread across everyone's faces.
He pushed a few buttons on the console in front of him, and a holo projector activated, displaying a star system.
It resembled any other star system: a star, a few planets, some moons, and an asteroid belt. From what could be seen, there was only one habitable planet, a gas giant, a frozen planet
world, and a molten world within the system.
"What's so special about this system, Varn?" Ravik asked, as it looked ordinary to him.
"Based on some coordinates we found on a data chip, this is an unclaimed, uninhabited system at the edge of the Mandalore sector. It is located within a nebula with only one route in and out."
That caught their attention, and everyone took a closer look at the system. Being in the Mandalore sector means it belongs to the Mandalorian people by default. The fact that it is uninhabited means they could claim it without any issues.
"Two days ago, I sent a scout team to survey the system. I initially believed it was home to pirates or smugglers, but I was mistaken."
Rayden was curious about what information his father would share, suspecting that he was deliberately prolonging the explanation because it must be something significant.
"Starting, we have an ice planet situated at the farthest edge of the system," Varn said, gesturing as the projector zoomed in on the remote, gleaming orb. "This planet appears to be a typical ice world, characterized by a surface encrusted with thick layers of frozen water and methane. Preliminary data suggests that while nothing particularly remarkable has been uncovered so far, it holds significant potential as a valuable resource for ice and water mining operations."
"Next, we have a barren planet," Varn continued, switching to the next image. The hologram displayed a small, desolate sphere about 5 kilometers in diameter, its surface predominantly composed of jagged rock and swirling dust. "This planet possesses a minimal atmosphere, composed primarily of trace gases, providing little to no shelter from external factors—again, nothing of notable interest is found here so far."
"Now, let's focus on the asteroid belt that encircles the heart of the system," Varn said, as the hologram shifted to show a dense cluster of rocky debris. "Rough estimates indicate that this belt spans approximately 1 AU in width and 0.72 AU in thickness. Initial scans have already identified several dwarf planet-sized asteroids within this vast swath of material." He paused, allowing the weight of his words to sink in.
The display then showcased a comprehensive list of minerals found within the belt. "Traces of valuable resources such as carbon, gold, bronzium, aluminum, titanium, duralium, granite, lanthanide, doonium, and lommite have been detected, showcasing the potential for immense wealth."
Camren and Drenar exchanged excited glances, their expressions reflecting the wonders of opportunity as they surveyed the expansive asteroid belt stretched before them. It was a treasure trove beyond imagination, and they could already envision the vast fortunes awaiting them once mining began.
"Since this system is nestled within a vibrant nebula, the unique environmental conditions have facilitated the formation and accumulation of these minerals," Drenar exclaimed, slapping the table enthusiastically, his eyes locked on the asteroid belt, which beckoned to him like a siren's call.
Varn smiled, pleased to witness their enthusiasm. 'That isn't even the best part,' he thought, stifling an amused chuckle as he prepared to unveil the next component of their exploration.
"Now, we shift our focus to the gas giant," Varn announced, revealing a magnificent sphere on the display. It loomed large, boasting an impressive diameter of 120,000 kilometers. Its swirling surface appeared cloaked in a golden gas that shimmered invitingly, reminiscent of a vast desert of sand from a distance.
Encircling the gas giant was a magnificent ring system composed of icy particles and rocky fragments, while about a dozen moons orbited gracefully in its shadow. The sheer scale and beauty of the gas giant left an awe-inspiring impression.
"A few of the moons have rudimentary atmospheres, but they are largely barren and lifeless. Our scans indicate that the gas giant harbors a small habitable zone, where the atmosphere is not only breathable but also possesses temperatures remarkably similar to those found on Beipin," he continued, his voice filled with excitement.
"And just like Bespin, we have discovered a rich deposit of Tibanna gas," Varn added, a triumphant smile spreading across his face as he observed the astonished expressions painted on everyone's face. Even Elyse, Torin, and Rayden had dumfounded looks, their eyes wide with disbelief.
Varn had deliberately kept the scouts' findings under wraps until this pivotal moment, eagerly anticipating the chorus of reactions that his revelation would invoke—one stunning bombshell after another.
"I don't need to explain the monumental significance of Tibanna gas to all of you. Just this gas giant alone could provide enough fuel for starships and weaponry to sustain an armada for thousands of years," he declared, his tone brimming with enthusiasm.
"But that's not even the most crucial discovery we've made." Varn adjusted the projector, shifting the focus to a molten world that hung on the screen like a fiery jewel. It bore a striking resemblance to Mustafar, measuring a staggering 4.2 kilometers in diameter, and glowed ominously under its sun.
"Wait, you skipped over the habitable planet!" Veyra interjected, her voice tinged with impatience, as she longed for more details about the promising world they had yet to explore.
The others nodded in agreement, their expressions mirroring Veyra's frustration. It was clear to everyone that Varn was drawing out the suspense for his own amusement.
"I have to save the best for last, don't I?" Varn teased, relishing the dramatic tension in the room before shifting gears to elaborate on the molten world. "As with any other molten planet in the galaxy, this one boasts an abundance of valuable minerals and metals ripe for harvesting.
"This and the asteroid belt can easily become the foundations for a vast industrial industry." Varn voiced the idea everyone was having.