Michael Houghtaling

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HRH Michael, Duke of Silverfall

HRH Michael Zuko, 6th Duke of Silverfall, TC* QC KCS KoE KE DSC* DCM NGC DFC ADC(P) PC, Also known as Michael Houghtaling and Cage. A flag officer in the Tyrin Royal Navy and Field Marshal during the 2nd Azuli war. He is best known for taking command of the defense of Tyrin during the Battle of Alkirk, and for leading the Battle of Grafton. He was a favorite of both King Derrod and his daughter Queen Emilie, and was made both Lord High Marshal and Field Marshal.


History

Born on the planet Grafton 3 (locally known as "Earth" or "Terra"), it is known that he spent some time in local Military Service. He then left Grafton aboard the ship Sapphire Star with friend AJ Olsen, and it is rumored became the pirate and assassin known as "Cage" and they are credited with the assassination of Boran Jarrett, a crime boss from Sicelei. They were know to frequent the pirate planet Tal Haliim, and had regular work from a crime boss there known as Kotu. Around this time they were joined by a young engineer, Milani et Sura, and a medic, Niraya Petton.

During this period their ship Sapphire Star was attacked by a larger pirate ship, the Royal Fortune, and their ship was critically damaged. With little hope, AJ and Mike repelled the Fortune's boarding party and boarded the Fortune, killing all but the pilot and capturing the larger ship. They recruited the pilot, Kai, and Royal Fortune became their new base of operations.

They were then hired by the dead Boran Jarrett's son, Tercei Jarrett, to transport his sister Tarya Jarret (who he had become romantically involved with) and the kidnapped Princess Emilie of Tyrin, but instead returned her safely home to Tyrin, imprisoning Tarya Jarrett and recruiting her bodyguard Vada Laney to their crew. On this return trip to Tyrin the Royal Fortune was attacked by several Azuli ships. They fought off the ships, and used a ruse to chase them off by using one of Fortune's drones to simulate an incoming warship.

In gratitude for the safe return of his daughter and fighting of the Azuli, AJ and Mike were commissioned as officers in the Royal Navy and knighted into the Order of the Sword. Once in Naval Service, they were recruited for a secret stealth mission which resulted in the destruction of a secret Azuli research base in the Draal system, and capture of the Phairon assault ship prototype. After turning over the Pharion, the Royal Fortune was sent back to Tyrin, halfway through the journey they received a distress call from the Grafton system, and diverted to investigate as they were the nearest ship by at least a day. The distress call was from a Royal Navy scout, the TSS Mistral which had been docked while doing a routine inspection of an unmanned weapons depot, HM Naval Anchorage Rook in orbit of Grafton-5. Rook had been captured by Azuli, and while Mike took a team aboard to locate survivors from Mistral and combat the Azuli, and for the first time came face to face with a Syth warrior.

With Azuli routed, Fortune and Mistral headed for home. As a result of their successes, they were promoted and Mike was given command of the Frigate TSS Paladin with AJ as his XO, and command over a small squadron of ships. They were also elevated to the nobility, with Mike granted a peerage as Viscount. They were assigned to return to the Grafton system to patrol it and determine what the Azuli interest in it was. At Grafton they discovered a secret base created by an unknown race that had been long abandoned hiddin inside and asteroid. After defeating the base's defense system they discovered that the base contained an advanced sensor and mapping system, and the system alerted them to a large number of Azuli ships that were massing at Grafton-8.

Mike then gave AJ command of the corvette TSS Swift, as her commander had been killed by the alien defense system, and the small group, consisting of Frigate Paladin, Corvette Swift, and the gunboats Hope and Fury engage the 14 ships that were drifting under low power in orbit of Grafton-8. The surprise attack was a success, with all ships in the Azuli force destroyed or captured as prizes of war, with no ships lost from the Tyrin force and few casualties.

The impact to their careers after the battle of Grafton was significant; AJ was elevated to Viscount Archer and promoted to Captain, and given command of the cruiser TSS Astute, his longest command. Mike was given command of a full squadron with Astute as his flagship, and placed under the command of Vice Admiral Morland, a brilliant tactician who was leading the forward battle. Admiral Morland dispatched them deep into an area of Azuli space known as The Marches, where they conducted a highly successful campaign against Azuli shipping, and conducted raids against production facilities. During this time Astute took heavy fire, and AJ took shrapnel to his face that resulted in a scar he would carry for the remainder of his life.

So impressed was His Majesty with their success, that he promoted Mike to Lord High Marshal and AJ to Lord High Admiral, giving them civilian command of the entire armed forces, with the intent of cycling them out of military service so they could focus on coordinating the war effort. In addition, Mike was elevated to a Duke, while AJ was elevated to the title of Earl.

Before their military service could officially end, the Azuli attacked Tyrin. Aboard Astute they joined in the fight to repel the attack. King Derrod succumbed to injuries sustained in Astute's sick bay, and the new Queen Emilie, distraught over her father's dead, appointed Mike military command of the Infantry and AJ military command of the Navy - with her first command to them being, "Repel this attack as best you see fit is your first order, and the complete destruction of the Azuli war machine is your second.". In his new position as Admiral of the Fleet, AJ immediately promoted Mike to the rank of Rear Admiral, enabling him to take command of the defense.

In recognition for his actions at the Battle of Alkirk, Mike was styled as "His Royal Highness", elevating him to a Royal Duke, confirming Queen Emilie's intent to marry him, and he was awarded his second Tyrin Cross.


Titles and Honors

  • Lord High Marshal of the Tyrin Empire
  • 6th Duke of Silverfall
  • 1st Earl Grafton
  • 1st Viscount Zuko
  • Field Marshal, Royal Tyrin Infantry and Marines
  • Rear Admiral, Royal Tyrin Navy, Inactive

Styled as: His Royal Highness Michael, Duke of Silverfall, Earl of Grafton and Viscount Zuko, Tyrin Cross for Valour, Queen's Cross for Gallantry, Knight Commander of the Most Honourable Order of the Sword, Knight of the Most Noble Order of Emilie, Knight of the Most Excellent Order of the Tyrin Empire, Lord of Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, Personal Aide-de-Camp to Her Majesty, Lord High Marshal of the Tyrin Empire, Field Marshal of the Royal Tyrin Infantry and Marines, Rear Admiral of the Royal Tyrin Navy


Service History

  • Field Marshal, Royal Tyrin Infantry and Marines
  • Rear Admiral of the Red
  • Commodore, Strike Group 42
  • Commanding Officer, TSS Paladin F133
  • Commanding Officer, TSS Royal Fortune


Awards, Honors and Decorations

Knight Commander of the Most Honourable Order of the Sword Knight of the Most Noble Order of Emilie Knight of the Most Excellent Order of the Tyrin Empire Tyrin Cross w/ bar Queen's Cross Distinguished Service Cross x2 w/ "V" device Distinguished Conduct Medal Naval Gallantry Cross Distinguished Flying Cross Wounded Lion w/ bar Gold Lifesaving Medal Azuli War Medal Azuli Campaign Medal w/ "GRAFTON" and "MARCHES" bars Tyrin Valorous Unit Commendation King's Meritorious Unit Citation Royal Navy Meritorious Unit Citation Mentioned in Dispatches x2 Marine Commando Leadership Ribbon Marine Special Warfare Badge Command in Space Insignia


Campaigns and Actions of Note

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