Editing Jeremy Rankin

Rankin's mother insisted on keeping him at home longer than usual for young aviator candidates. His grandfather had been the first captain for [[Celeritas]] and his uncle had apparently been the second, so it was assumed that he would automatically inherit the post.

However, Celeritas could not tolerate him and left active service for a captainless training position. Celeritas blamed Rankin's upbringing for giving him "strange notions" and thought that "he ought never have been been an aviator, much less a captain", but did not fully state his objections. Rankin was reassigned to courier duty at the age of 12, harnessing a [[Winchester]] named [[Levitas]]. His treatment of Levitas alternated between abuse and neglect, proving himself no gentleman at heart.

Captain Rankin initially befriended [[William Laurence]] after Laurence was treated coldly by other [[aviator]]s.  Laurence noticed that Rankin was similarly ostracized, and believed Rankin's noble birth was the cause.  However, once Laurence discovered that Rankin's treatment of Levitas was the reason for his unpopularity, he regretted befriending Rankin and distanced himself thereafter.  

Rankin did prove himself useful by advising Laurence on where to buy jewellery for Temeraire in Edinburgh.  He told Laurence that it is amazing how jewellery restores a dragon's spirits, saying that whenever his beast became sulky, he would bring him a bauble "and he is at once all happiness again; just like a temperamental mistress." Levitas was never seen proudly displaying any precious gifts from his captain, so it is unknown what Rankin may have given him.

After Levitas died at the [[Dover covert]] from an injury following a reconnaissance mission, Admiral [[Lenton]] chose to send [[Hollin]] - on Laurence's recommendation - to harness a [[Winchester]] about to hatch rather than to place another dragon in Rankin's hands.  

Rankin was later sent to New South Wales and was given the command of an egg. He arrived on the [[HMS Beatrice]] within a few weeks after Laurence and Temeraire arrived on the [[Allegiance]], and at first refused to speak to Laurence.  [[Jane Roland]] sent a letter to Laurence on the ''Beatrice'' in which she said that Rankin only got the chance at another egg because of his family's political influence, and that she rather hoped he would drown in transit. She suggested giving him the first egg they had out of [[Arkady]]'s [[feral]] band since he had experience with them in the field.  

During the pursuit, the third egg hatched. At first, Rankin tried to give priority to [[Drewmore]] and [[Blincoln]], who had come with him on the ''Beatrice''. Both men had seniority to [[Forthing]], whom Laurence and Granby had previously agreed was a better candidate, but Granby was not present to enforce the decision and Laurence had no military standing.