“Also,” The Queen said, “You’ll have a pardon from me to reinforce the Empire’s. We have you both covered Michael, and Lisa.”
“I hope so” Lisa commented, though she wasn’t convinced. As it turned out though that would be the least of their problems.
###
“The repercussions of Lady Wilson’s interview are being felt to this day,” General Jones commented as they continued their discussions of Lady Wilson’s interview, “the Queen’s Home Emergency Response Team came about as a result of that interview. Today in this academy we have second and third generation of biopeople as students. Who have never known what it meant to have repay their creators for their very creation.
“As you will learn in other classes,” the general continued, “This one interview changed the universe. Although many biopeople had been conditioned to never say anything about the Ebio Corporation, some biopeople who had escaped from either EBio or their contract holders started to turn states evidence in the Empire. Their testimony helped to bring the company down.”
“But Lady Wilson’s interview seemed almost benign,” Princess Lisa commented,
“She didn’t talk about the real evils of Ebio.”
“What she did,” a biogirl in the front of the class spoke up, “was to start the rebellion on a couple of planets like Trojack. When the company feared that Lady Wilson would be interviewed by the Imperial Bureau of Justice, they began to jump ship. Although the Empire suspected what the real mission of containment and alignment was, they couldn’t do anything until Lady Wilson cracked the wall of secrecy a bit. It gave them a reason to swoop down into EBio headquarters on Earth and arrest the security contingent.” “But it still didn’t get Hozenbur,” Someone commented. “No it didn‘t,” the general replied. “No it didn’t!”
Chapter 23: Help from a Strange Quarter.
“I have always been impressed with how my people came to help Trena,” a young cadet, a biogirl from Trojack, was talking with a couple of cadets prior to the start of class, “The turmoil that my people were facing when the company left Trojack was amazing. Roy had been part of the shadows. He had been part of a group of biopeople who had been rebelling against the company on Trojack even before Lady Wilson’s interview. When the company left Trojack, the planetary manager left Roy in charge. Yet with all the stuff that was going on; Roy sent firefighters, police officers, and other people to Trena to help the Marshal.”
“Of all the people who helped us; the people from Trojack” The general had walked in on the end of the girl’s statement, “helped us in a great time of need. They provided… well let me tell you their story….”
###
As she waited for things to start in the throne room Jill reviewed what had happen to bring her to the throne room with the honors platoon from the academy.
She had been called to her father’s office and was surprised to see the Princess there, with the Queen, Lord Mercer and her grandmother.
“Jill,” The Princess started, “This is Trudy. She is from Trojack. One of the worlds you own.”
“Hello,” Jill said not understanding what was going on.
“Hello Miss Jill,” The woman a Gamma biowoman replied.
“Jill we talked earlier what might happen should the worlds you own want their independence.” The Princess said.
“That’s right,” Jill said starting to understand.
“It seems that some company personnel ceded the world of Trojack to the biopeople living on it. The only problem is, that since they were not authorized to do that by you there is some question of Trojack’s sovereignty.”
“I see,” Jill said then turned to the Galactic Council Representative, “Councilor, how do I let them have the planet.”
“Do you cede control of Trojack to the people who live on that world?” the councilor asked.
“I cede my control of the Planet Trojack to the people of Trojack.” Jill replied. Then realizing that she shouldn’t be so fast to release the planet to just anyone she asked, “I assume that she has been checked out?”
“Yes,” Lord Mercer replied, he had spoken with Kellogg earlier and had verified that Trudy was part of Trojack’s underground.
“Miss Wilson,” the gamma biowoman said, “We thought we would have to fight for our independence. We were certain you wouldn’t give it to us!”
“Miss Trudy,” Jill said softly, “All I have done is to give you a planet that your people run already. You’ll have to fight to keep your independence. That may be a lot harder than me signing the planet over to you.”
“It may at that,” shocked that the young girl understood the dynamics of what was going on.
Trudy watched in awe as first the young girl before her and the Princess of Earth, and then the older woman who had said nothing during the meeting, signed the title of Trojack over to the people of Trojack. Jill handed the title of the world to her.
“Ambassador Trudy,” The Galactic Councilor said, “The Galactic Council would like to send a representative to Trojack. We would like to start the process of Trojack joining the Galactic Council.”
“That will be up to Roy,” The biowoman said, “My mission is to help Queen Agatha get her people to safety. Roy was adamant that because Trena and her people have always been a safe harbor for my brothers and sisters during the company era that we need to help them.”
The door keeper slamming his baton harshly down on the throne room floor brought Jill back to reality. She and her honor platoon were standing as part of the honor guard for the Ambassador of Trojack. She and the platoon came to attention as the door keeper called, “Presenting Her Excellency, Trudy, Clone Gamma, T500 -124 Y. The first Ambassador to the Court of Trena, from the Free World of Trojack.” He slammed the baton down again, and stood aside to let the thirty year old, with the blonde shoulder length hair into the throne room. Queen Agatha, sitting on the throne watched the young woman approach her. This was the first ambassador to present her credentials to the kingdom since the beginning of the evacuation.
Trudy was a short husky and rather plain woman who vaguely looked like Lisa Wilson. There was a vague family resemblance. It surprised the Queen that a Gamma bioperson, a bioperson designed to be a sexual plaything, would be the representative to her court. This had surprised the Queen. She had expected a Delta bioperson, such as Francine or Lisa. Knowing that the Deltas were the top of the line, she assumed that the recently emancipated world of Trojack would send a delta as their ambassador. She was also greatly surprised that any world would present their ambassador to her, especially one who was in fear of being taken back over by EBio.
“Welcome to Trena,” The Queen greeted the ambassador. Standing beside her was her Marshal, Michael Wilson, and her Foreign Minister Lord Kenworth. This was a special audience with the few ambassadors still on Trena, and a few handpicked nobles in the throne room including Duke Horton. Though getting smaller in number with so many foreign nationals having left the free world there were still some fifty ambassadors in the audience chamber.
“Thank you for allowing me to present my credentials your majesty.” She stepped forward and stood three feet from the queen. She presented a parchment to the Queen that held her diplomatic orders and a greeting from Roy. As the Queen took the parchment she reflected that even in this day of electronics, computers and such, credentials and other official documents were committed to paper. Even such papers like parchment that been superseded by modern paper.
This was a mere formality. The credentials had already been presented in private to Lord Kenworth and the Evacuation Command earlier in the day. The Queen at first didn’t want to hold this audience as she thought it was a waste of time. Jill had been in her father’s office when Kenworth and Wilson both insisted that Queen Agatha should have it. Her father put it succinctly, “They are a newly independent world who may become a great trading partner of our new world. We don’t want to alienate anyone at this tim
e.” Reluctantly the queen agreed to the audience.
“Thank you for coming to our assistance.” Queen Agatha said bringing Jill back to reality, “Considering the turmoil Trojack must be in I find it unusual that your manager would send an expedition to Trena at this time.”
“I found it strange also majesty,” the young woman said, “but Roy put it to me this way. Trena has always looked out for our people. Your people have always accepted my people. Not as escaped biopeople; but as human beings. You have accepted our people into your culture, and society. Most, if not all have become citizens of Trena. You didn’t turn your back on our people when they came to Trena in need, so how can we on Trojack turn our back on you in your hour of need. My mission, your majesty is to assist you in getting every last mother’s child off your world. The people of Trojack are at your service.”
“The people of Trena welcome your assistance Madame Ambassador.” Queen Agatha replied. “Ladies and gentlemen of the Trena Diplomatic Corps, and the Court of Trena; I present to you the Ambassador from Trojack.” The Queen stepped out of the throne, and stood with the biowomen in the reception line. It was a little intimidating to stand with the ruler of a world and be presented to diplomats from across the galaxy. As a biowoman she might have been present at such gatherings but never presented formally to the nobles and upper class at court. Especially as a gamma clone she had been designed and trained as a sexual companion. She stood with the queen as she was presented to the diplomatic corps and nobles from Trena. The last people in line were Captain Kellogg of EBio’s Containment and Alignment, who unbelievably was escorting an elegant looking delta biowomen.
Trudy bristled when she saw the notorious company officer. She turned to the queen and asked, “What is that man doing here? He’s a closer from EBio!”
“Was a closer for the company,” Marshal Wilson spoke softly, “Right now he is one of my special project officers. His current task is to hunt down and bring to justice, Captain Martha Hozenbur. He enjoys a crown pardon, and we have an understanding.”
“I harm anyone he cares about,” Kellogg injected, “there won’t be enough left of me to blot.”
“But he’s a closer,” The woman said, “How can you trust him?”
“Trudy how many of the clones you have in that three hundred man force are ex company security. Almost all,” Wilson said, “Yet we are not going to sanction them or prevent them from stepping onto Trena. We think they may be of some help.”
“Mr. Kellogg,” Trudy said, “I have read your file, and I know what you did for the company. It’s a good thing Lord Wilson is vouching for you. Or I would kill you where you stand.”
Kellogg nodded, and it was time to say his piece, he didn’t quite trust these clones. “My number one vocation and life’s work is to see that the biopeople who have sought refuge on Trena never be apprehended by the company. My friends and I will start a storm the likes you have never seen if you turn out to be a bad actor.”
“I see that puts us all on the same page,” Lady Gray said pleasantly.
“Ambassador,” Trudy replied, “can I meet with you at some time. I have a message for Maxwell and his justice department.”
“What type of message,” Princess Carroll joined her father’s ambassador.
“As I was departing Trojack,” The gamma biowoman spoke, “The security police were packaging several company officers for transport to Earth. They are being charged with crimes against my people in the Empire. I have a letter for your father asking his help in bringing these criminals to justice anywhere we can find them and try them.”
“We will send your letter to Maxwell. On behalf of the Empire let me extend our heartfelt sorrow as to what has happened to your people over the years. I wish also to say that the Emperor has been working hard behind the scenes to stop the abuse to clones, and just couldn’t get things to happen.”
“I cannot tell you how many nights Dad and I have discussed how to free the clones.” the princess said, “now with EBio’s CEO helping to shut down the containment unit, and Lady Wilson’s interview we have the best shot in years of helping you and your people.”
Jill who was standing with her platoon witnessed the confrontation and wondered just what the bioperson had on Kellogg. She didn’t know anything about him except that he seemed to be working behind the scenes to help find Captain Hozenbur. She also saw how the Princess handled the information and tucked it away.
Kellogg’s statement sobered the biowoman from Trojack a bit. Then she looked to the tall and imposing figures of Lord and Lady Wilson who were standing with a tall Trena Mounted Patrol Officer who stood 10 inches taller than her. “Lady Wilson, on behalf of the people of Trojack, I wish to extend our heartfelt thanks to you and your husband for the courage you have exhibited over the years in helping our people. I also wish to offer my sincere condolences on the death of your father Marshal. He, like yourself, has a special place in the bioengineered community.”
Wilson was silent for a moment, then spoke softly, “Thank you.”
“I guess I should mingle,” Trudy said, as Francine, Kellogg’s companion came up with a drink for Kellogg. She just couldn’t believe that a biowoman would be seen with a closer. Especially Kellogg!
“Come along Kell,” Francine said. Seeing the puzzled look on the biowoman’s face, she spoke to the woman from Trojack, “You don’t have to worry about Kell. He’s quite a reformed closer. He has done almost as much as Lady Wilson has, to make sure our people don’t come to grief.”
With that the couple walked away from the party, Kell taking Francine’s arm. Shortly Trudy was wandering through the crowd. Her mission had several parts to it. One of them was to make diplomatic contact with as many diplomats to begin Trojack’s entry into the community of Star Nations.
###
“Lady Hawthorne,” the school mistress intruded into Lady Hawthorne’s quiet review of the grounds. She was enjoying a quiet stroll by herself. Her kids were somewhere about being entertained by the cadets or being looked after by her kid’s nanny. She looked around the grounds amazed at the progress that was being made by the cadets, and all the adults who were spending time at the school. A day didn’t go by when some off duty group of Militia men, Imperial Marines, Imperial Space Navy, Interstellar Rescue Service or Thonian MPs, came in and helped out. Occasionally someone from the palace staff would show up. But what was interesting is that they seemed to know when they were needed and what they could do for the school. She had a good idea who was making things happen.
She didn’t know how Sergeant Millie was getting it done. But she was. She spent a lot of her off duty time at the academy. She had managed to wrangle a transfer to Princess’ staff so she was on Trena and didn’t have to commute between the planet and her ship. She had even conned the navigator off her old ship to teach a math class every day. A librarian from the House of Commons had begun teaching a history course, a couple of Combat Engineers had started up a shop class teaching the kids how to work with tools. And of course every retired imperial marine or militia man on the planet seemed to be on the place teaching what they could and what it means to be in a military unit.
She hadn’t thought the kids would be happy about all the discipline, and all the school work that was coming at them. But they thrived on it. Many of the kids had never received much attention from the adults in their life. The adults at the school were lavishing attention on the kids, and the kids were responding. Even a couple of the hard case kids that had been one step from juvenile hall, were working hard to stay in the corps.
It amazed her that the kids were coming around like the way they were. Now as she walked the grounds in quiet meditation, enjoying the results of her hard work and the hard work of the people who had bought into this super project of hers she was interrupted by the schools AI.
“Go ahead School Mistress,” Delores answered.
“We have a landing craft in bound with twenty
five fire fighters aboard. The Crown wants us to house them.” The school mistress responded.
“Why us,” Delores asked, “I know we got the room, but certainly there is some place else they could house these guys.
“Ma’am some of these guys are not that much older than our cadets and they shouldn’t be that much trouble. They’ll be mostly a self-contained, I had a long conversation with EmerServ, the fire department’s AI, and I am happy they won’t hurt my children.” Lady Hawthorne snorted over the use of “my children” by the School Mistress, “In fact it might be nice to have these young people on the campus. We have a lot of adults in uniform but no young adults who have been cadets or like cadets. They could be a good resource to Colonel Wilson, and Major Atomi.”
“Okay tell the duty officer,” Lady Hawthorn replied, “Advise Colonel Wilson of the arrival so her officers can deal with the situation. I’ll walk over to the landing pad.”
When she got to the pad, a squad of cadets had formed up to offer honors to the arriving fire fighters, as well as an NCO from the Navy, who was acting as flight line chief for the school this week. The landing craft came in and gently settled to the ground. The front ramp opened as the chief made sure the craft was safe, out walked twenty people. They were all wearing coveralls that had the legend of the Trojack Fire Department over their left chest. They walked to where Lady Hawthorne was standing, the oldest one, a young man of almost 25 spoke, “Mistress, we were told to report to a Lady Hawthorne, or a Colonel Wilson at the academy.”
“I am Lady Hawthorne,” Deloris said as the cadets came to attention, “one second please, come with me for a moment. Just you,” Delores was learning fast the ways of the military. Millie had been a big help to her.