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“Jill,” Lady Hawthorne came into the library where Jill was researching her paper on government, “Just got word from Evac Command, Lamile is bringing the kids home.” “I thought it wouldn’t be until tomorrow.” Jill commented. “So did I,” Lady Hawthorne replied “Are you guys ready.”
She had decided to let Jill manage and organize the reception of the children that Lamile was bringing in. She had reviewed the young woman’s plan. Delores was satisfied that Jill’s plan would work. Though she was surprised at who had done most of the planning.
“We’re ready; Mitch and Gene have got things ready.” Jill answered. After the punishment detail she had worked with both kids to make sure they never walked tours again, and then turned them loose on getting things ready for when Lamile brought the kids she was escorting in. Mitch and Jill had worked with Sergeant Green and the IRS medics to set up a receiving operation to make sure that the kids were properly in processed. This would be the largest influx of kids they would get so far. Maybe the largest they would ever get. Jill wanted the operation to go perfectly.
“Oh the Queen has asked that your honors platoon be at the palace by 1900.
Sergeant Green has a bus ready for you.” Delores said.
“How soon on Lamile,” Jill asked.
“They should be landing in about half an hour.” Delores said.
“Looks like I need to get busy,” Jill said closing up her books and standing up. She left the library and asked the School Mistress to get the reception team to the school’s landing pad. She also asked that the honors unit be turned out for a palace job. It would be the first time that they had ever gone to the palace as a unit.
“Are we ready,” Jill asked seeing Gene and Mitch putting the finishing touches on the reception area as she walked onto the pad.
“Almost Colonel,” Mitch said, “just waiting for the Medics to get in place.”
Jill looked around and saw the medic team from the Recovery setting up their stuff. Nodding Jill turned to her cadets.
“Okay cadets listen up!” Jill called, “the landing pad officer says we have three landing craft coming our way. They are loaded with about a thousand kids between them. When they come off the Elsies they will be a bit lost. Our job is to get them off the pad and to reception. There’s about a thousand of them so we have to be fast and efficient; but not cold. Remember they have been on the road for over a month and many of them have lost parents and are trying to avoid the authorities. So when they get off the landing craft, I want you to make them feel welcomed. They are part of us after all. Just be gentle and take your time. Major Atomi is with them, she is in charge of the detachment.” “We’re ready Jill,” Mitch said. She had most of the older cadets ready to go.
“Okay Mitch,” Jill said as the first landing craft came in.
It settled to the pad and began to unload. The kids came down out of the landing craft looking a bit lost and bewildered. Mitch went right to work forming them into two lines towards where her helpers were ready to take their names and ages. Jill was surprised that these kids appeared in better shape than what they had found the kids in, when they first came to the school.
“I want any brother and sister groups to come up to me.” Mitch called. “Just step out of line and come here.”
Several of the kids stepped up to Mitch.
“Okay,” Mitch called, “if you follow me, we’ll get you started.”
A couple of adults were walking the line forming the smaller kids into a separate line to move them off the pad. As they did Alan tried to stop them, “Who are you and where are you taking these little guys?”
“I am Mrs. Jasper,” the older woman said, “We want to get the little guys to the cafeteria while we process them.”
Alan was plainly upset. Jill was about to say something but Mitch beat her to it.
“Hello,” Mitch came up to Alan, “I am Sergeant Mitchum. Is there something I need to know?”
“Lamile is on the last transport and she wouldn’t be happy about separating out these guys.” Alan replied.
“You are?” Mitch asked.
“Alan Penrose,” the kid answered looking down a bit to the girl standing next to him. “Why?”
“Alan we are trying to get you guys all sorted out.” Mitch said, “Major Atomi didn’t know what we were going to do here; but if you give me a second I’ll see if I can raise her.”
“Okay,” the young man said.
“Mr. Penrose I understand your concern,” Mitch replied taking out her com,
“Wanderer this is Sergeant Mitch please respond.”
“This is Wander,” the strange girl’s voice came from the communicator.
“Wanderer I have an Alan Penrose with me, he wants to talk with you.” Mitch said handing the device to the young man.
“What’s going on Alan? It’ll be several minutes before I will be down.” Jill heard Lamile’s voice on the device.
“They are separating the little guys out of our group,” Alan replied.
“It’s okay Alan! They won’t hurt them,” Lamile called, “I have promises that we’ll be okay.”
“Are you sure,” the young man asked.
“Is there a blond nearby that goes by the name of Jill,” Lamile asked.
“I am here Lam,” Jill spoke up.
“Are you going to take care of my kids,” Lamile asked.
“I am going to take care of all my kids. Lady Hawthorne and Dad will have my scalp if I don’t,” Jill answered.
“Alan you can trust Jill and her people.” Lamile responded. “Sergeant Mitch, Alan is one of my lieutenants. Work with him.”
“Aye-aye major!” Mitch responded, “Mr. Penrose if you will come this way I will show where the kids are going to be for a while.”
Mitch escorted the young man and a group of kids, both little guys and brother and sisters to the dining hall. As they entered the dining hall and were seated Sergeant Lucas’ team made sure each kid had a cookie and a class of milk. That eased Alan’s fears a bit.
“All we are trying to do Mr. Penrose is to make sure that they are taken care of.” “It’s Alan, Sergeant Mitch,” the boy said.
“Alan,” Mitch said with a radiant smile, “It is Mitch. Let’s get back to your kids.
We need to get back to the pad.”
“Okay,” Alan followed the girl out of the dining hall. But not before taking a cookie himself.
Things were in full swing on the landing pad. The cadets and the adults were segregating the children into age appropriate groups and walking them up to other adults and young people who were taking their names and getting them registered. All the older children ages 12 to 18 were being given a package about the corps of cadets and how to join them. As they left the name takers, several more cadets worked to form them in to squads and lead them to where Millie Green waited with several adults and cadets to get them outfitted in clean new clothes. Then they took them to the dormitories where they were told to get rid of their existing clothing. Many taking their first shower in months.
Children who were sick or injured were escorted to academy medics. There the medics checked the kids over and treated them as needed. Between treating them, the kids who acted as medics on the Long March, discussed what they knew about the children who were sick.
“I don’t know what I expected,” Lieutenant Carnaye told Lady Hawthorne as he and the others were waiting for the last landing craft to land. “But I certainly didn’t expect those kids to tell me what kids were sick and what they did to help them.”
“It was mostly first aid stuff,” Lady Hawthorne replied. “They were not as dirty as I expected either. I don’t know if it was Lamile Atomi, or what; but those kids were in better shape than I would have expected.”
“Yes,” the medic commented as the last landing craft landed and the ramp open. A single thonian female was seen at the top of the ramp. As Lamile beg
an to walk down the ramp, the kids who were still being processed began to clap and cheer. Soon the cadets helping the kids joined in as did the adults. Jill let it go on as she walked up to her friend and hugged her fiercely.
“You ever scare me like that again I will kick your butt!” Jill spoke to her best friend.
“Not a problem,” she held her friend at arm’s length to look at her, “I am so glad to see you! You don’t know how much your message meant to me! I was so worried about Carlin.”
“He’s been worried about you too,” Jill replied, “you’ll see him soon.”
Mitch came up and whispered in her ear. “You have that other detail colonel. I can finish up here.”
“Okay Mitch,” Jill replied then turned to her friend, “Lamile we’ll catch up. This cadet commander stuff can be a royal pain. Since Mitch is needed more than I am here, I have to take the honors unit on a job.”
“We’ll catch up,” Lamile responded then said, “Is there a place I can get cleaned up. Mom said something about needing to be at Serenity at 20.”
“This way Lamile,” Lady Hawthorne called and took her young friend to change into clothes suitable for court.
###
It had been an unpleasant thing. But it had to be done. Once she had sentenced the officer to Dungeon, the prison world; the Queen, General Qoum, Marshal Wilson and Lord Mercer left Serenity’s landing pad and walked to the audience chamber where a very special event was to take place. The Queen had become quite impressed with what Lamile had accomplished, how she had gone about it, and the way the adults who had been watching over her reported about her activities.
Unknown to Wilson, the Queen had asked that his aid bring his coronation sword to the audience chamber, as the four of them walked in his aid handed it to him. Puzzled Marshal Wilson buckled it on. As they walked in to the chamber proper, a young voice called out, “Room! Atten-hut!”
Wilson turned towards the voice and saw some cadets from the corps of cadets standing at attention. It was the honors platoon from the academy. Behind them stood Lady Hathaway and several of the retired and active duty NCOs who were the corps instructors and advisors. Standing in front of the cadets was his daughter standing at rigid attention. As her father and the Queen passed she fired off a salute and called, “The Queen’s Own Royal Corps of Cadets reporting as ordered your majesty.”
The Queen looked to her left and saw a company of Black Guardsmen, militia officers and enlisted men and women who had been working behind the scenes to help Lamile, also standing at attention.
“As you were,” The Queen responded.
As the assembled personnel from the various military organizations and the Mounties went to the at ease position, the Queen looked to General Alphine and nodded, saying “General Alphine will you join me on the dais please.”
“Certainly your majesty,” The Princess joined the small parade to the throne.
When they got there Mylea now in her dress uniform was standing with General Langtree as well. When the Queen reached the throne, she turned and nodded to the doorman.
The doorman was standing before the great ceremonial doors to the throne room. He opened the door. With the door opened he slammed down his baton on the floor calling, “It is with great honor, I present to this assembly of Cadets, Officers, and dignitaries, Miss
Lamile Atomi, Wanderer and Rescuer of the One Thousand.”
Lamile timidly stepped into the throne room as the Senior NCO cried out, “Room Atten-hut! Hand Salute!”
With those simple words every man and woman in uniform, either that of Trena or that of other star nations came to attention and saluted the young woman who was now very uncomfortably approaching her sovereign. She saw her mother, her Uncle Mike, General Langtree, and Princess Carroll all standing at attention and saluting her. It took her breath away to see her mother, and her Uncle Mike honoring her this way.
Once at the throne, the NCO called “Return!” and the military personnel present slipped into at ease.
“Well Miss Atomi,” Queen Agatha addressed the teenager standing before her, drumming her fingers on the large ornate throne’s arm, “What do you have to say for yourself?”
“Say for myself,” the young woman muttered.
“Yes,” the young queen replied trying hard to suppress a smile, “You have a lot to account for. The Crown has noticed your work of the last month or so and it has been brought to our attention that your efforts have saved the lives of over a thousand children. What do you say for yourself?”
“Majesty, I just couldn’t let those children be left behind.” Lamile finally found her voice.
“I see,” the Queen continued to drum her fingers on the arm of her throne. “You scared the crap out of your mother and worried the death out of me.” Agatha continued, “You have impressed the daylights out of General Alphine. What are we going to do with you young lady?”
“May I your majesty,” Lisa who had been waiting with Lamile outside the throne room, had joined the group on the dais.
“Go ahead,” The Queen said.
“It is obvious to one and all that this child, uh excuse me, young lady has accomplished much in the last month. But that she needs some strong guidance. My good friend, Mylea, her mother, and I have spoken for hours about her just and deserving pun... uh reward. We have come up with a solution should Lamile be willing.”
“I trust this will be strenuous and fit the err results of her work.” Queen Agatha asked according to the script.
“Oh indeed your majesty! May I approach,” Lady Wilson asked.
The Queen nodded, and Lisa appeared to whisper into the sovereign’s ear. The noble woman spoke into Queen Agatha’s repeating what they had discussed over the last few weeks. This was for show; the decision of what to do with Lamile had all been worked out a week or so ago. They were only waiting for Lamile to get her kids to Trenaport. The Queen appeared to vigorously shake her head, then Lisa spoke again and the Queen nodded. Lisa stepped back.
“Lamile Atomi!” The Queen finally said, “Although your mother has threaten to send you to beast week at the Black Guard Academy, or make you think you were there for scaring the crap out of her. Her friends have convinced her that this might be too rough on the Black Guard.” that brought a chuckle from the assembled Black Guardsmen, “General Qoum seems to think you would be a problem in the Trena Militia Academy, and your uncle Mike seems to think that you would drive his instructors nuts at the police academy too. So we have come up with a fitting punis...err reward for your service to the crown.”
Lamile gulped a bit. She knew she was in deep trouble with her mother that there would be a private session that would be anything but pleasant for either of them. But she had no idea the Queen was going to extract some flesh too.
“Kneel, Miss Atomi,” The queen commanded standing up from the throne and turning to Marshal Wilson, “Your sword Lord Wilson!”
“Aye,” an astonished Wilson drew his sword. No one had told him what was about to happen. The Queen and his wife had kept what they had been planning very close to the vest.
She took the sword from his hand and turned to the young woman who knelt in front of her.
“By the power invested in me by the House of Lords, and the people Trena, I commission you Lady Atomi, of the Queens Own Royal Corps of Cadets. From this day forth, you will associate yourself with the orphaned, and the rescued children of Trena who find their way to the corps.” She danced the sword lightly on each shoulder of the young woman.
“Your majesty, I swear a blood oath of fealty to the crown and the children who are now in my care.” The young woman said having read about the Trena knighthood ceremony in her high school civics class. “I serve at the pleasure of the crown.” “Rise!” the queen said sternly.
The young woman did as instructed. Wilson unbuckled his sword’s belt and approached the young woman. He quickly placed the belt around her waist draw
ing it tight. Then took the sword from the sovereign’s hand and gave it to Lamile, “Lady Atomi, This is my commissioning sword. This sword was given to me by General Alphine on the circumstances of my commissioning as a Knight Commander of the Earth Empire. May you never draw it in anything other than in the defense of your commission!”
“Aye,” the young woman took a step back and as she had seen her uncle Mike and Mother do on more than one occasion brought the sword sharply up in front of her face and sharply down again saluting him before holstering the weapon. Wilson saluted the young woman and said softly, “Turn and face the room Lamile. You need to say a few words.”
The young woman nodded and turned to face the assembly. At first she was at a loss for words. Then shuddered a bit and seemed to pull herself together.
“I don’t know what to say.” Lamile started, “I had some extraordinary help.” She noticed that several of the kids from the march who were now in the back of the room. “Alan and Rhonda, to name two of my lieutenants, I owe a great debt to the Black Guardsmen who shadowed me and the kids making sure no harm came to us. To General
Langtree, who somehow managed to get food to us without it looking that he had. To Chief Atomi, my mother, who let me do this thing, though as a few have said, she must have wanted my scalp for causing her so much worry. I also want to say thank you to a very special person. Lord Wilson. He has been my uncle ever since I was born, between his example of leadership, and my mother’s care of me I would never have even attempted this.
“We all owe a duty to those who need help.” Lamile said passionately, “Lord Wilson and my mother have shown me over the years what it means to have a duty, and obligation to people. I only hope that over the next few years as I set forth on the adventure that her majesty, my family, and friends have started me on; that I can do as well they have tried to teach me. So we can get back to the business of getting our people off world let me finished by saying Uncle Mike has taught me that it is people dummy, and therefore it is you the assembled officers, enlisted people, adults and children alike that make Trena great, and will make Home even greater as we work to get every last mother child out of danger.”