Driverless transports were standing by in the docking ring when the Mawcett personnel emerged from the ship. The base hospital was a short, five minute ride from the ship and waiting orderlies escorted everyone to rooms where their examinations would be conducted.
As expected, everyone was declared fit for duty, except the three Marines who were still recovering from wounds received in action against the Tsgardi. Jenetta and Eliza were held overnight for additional testing, but at least they were permitted to stay in the same room. Jenetta was determined to see that no 'special' testing was performed on Eliza.
The women were not restricted from watching the vid news or reading newspapers, as had been the case preceding Jenetta's court-martial, and they were also permitted to have visitors. Their first visitor arrived on their first evening in port.
Lt. Commander Zane Spence had been waiting anxiously for the workday to end, and hurried over to the hospital as soon as he could. The handsome six-foot one-inch JAG officer walked into the room smiling but froze upon seeing two Jenettas. The two women were dressed in hospital gowns that gave no indication of their identity. Sitting on the same bed at the time, they laughed at the expression of dismay on his face as he looked from girl to girl.
"Jen?" he said uncertainly.
Jenetta and Eliza glanced at one another before both beamed brightly and answered, "Yes, Zane?"
"Wha–– what is this?" Spence said as he ran his right hand lightly over his short blond hair, a sure indication that he was feeling some discomfort.
Both girls said simultaneously, "What is what?"
Zane just stood there looking from one girl to the other.
Finally the women took pity on him and Jenetta said, "I'm here, Zane. This is Eliza, my sister."
"Sister? You don't have a sister. Do you?"
"I do now; two in fact."
"I don't understand," he said as he moved closer to the bed.
"The secret will be out soon so I'll tell you. While responding to a distress call from archeologists on Mawcett, I was cloned— twice. The process created two identical copies of me, and Eliza is the second copy. Christa, the first, was captured by Tsgardi Raiders and is their prisoner at present."
Spence just shook his head as if he couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Why is it you always have the most fantastic stories that I've ever heard in my life. I'd think that you'd injured your head if Eliza wasn't sitting there in front of me. You say you have another copy; one that's been captured by Raiders?"
"Yes, we've named her Christa, and she was captured by Tsgardi Raiders while acting as a decoy to help us accomplish our mission. I'm glad that you're here. I need a lawyer to help me protect Eliza."
"Protect her? Protect her from whom?"
"Protect her from whoever would try to take her away. We need to establish her identity and rights under Galactic Law."
Zane looked at Eliza as he thought. "Where did you get your name, Eliza?"
"I named myself, after my great grandmother."
"Your great grandmother?"
"Yes–– well, Jen's great grandmother, who is also my great grandmother."
"I'll have to look into this. Since human cloning has been outlawed for more than two-hundred years, I'm real fuzzy on that area of law."
"It's nice having a friend in the Judge Advocate General's office," Jenetta said, smiling as she looked up into his penetrating blue-green eyes.
"Don't feel too glad. I suspect this is going to get real messy before it gets better. It will probably have to be decided by the Galactic Alliance Council. There're only the two clones, right?"
"No. The archeological group on Mawcett accidentally activated the machine months ago. They have seventy-seven clones on the planet; seven each of the eleven scientists. There are sixty-three Terran clones and fourteen Nordakian clones, in addition to Christa and Eliza."
"Seventy-seven others? Two different species? Oh my God. Change messy to catastrophic. Uh, are they still making them?"
"No, that was my mission; to turn off the equipment and dismantle it."
Zane scowled. "But you felt obligated to test it out on yourself?"
"I did not!" Jenetta said indignantly. "I was drugged, and cloned without my consent while I was unconscious. I was opposed to the process, but–– I'm not unhappy now that I've experienced what it's like to have sisters. My brothers each have three brothers, but I was an only girl. It's wonderful to have two sisters."
"I'll start reading up on it tomorrow." Zane's scowl changed to a smile. "Right now I want to hear all about your trips to Earth and Nordakia."
Zane spent the next three hours with Jenetta and Eliza. He didn't leave until visiting hours were over and the nursing staff passed through the rooms clearing stragglers. The nurse refused to accept his story that he needed more time there because he was counsel to the two women and was taking depositions and collecting important information. He promised to start investigating the legal situation first thing in the morning, as the nurse gently pushed him out the door.
The following afternoon, Jenetta and Eliza were released from the hospital. Ordered to report to the base commander's office, they sat and stared at the austere off-white walls in the uninspiring outer office of Admiral Holt until the Admiral's aide told them to go in.
As they approached the admiral's office, the doors opened to reveal the enormous, lavishly decorated room. A SimWindow, currently displaying an animated panoramic view of the ship building docks in orbit around Mars, filled the wall behind an ornately carved desk that appeared to come from a different era. Admiral Holt, Admiral Margolan, and Captains Gavin and Kanes were sitting at the Admiral's magnificent oak conference table. Both Jenetta and Eliza walked up to the table and came to attention.
The Admirals looked back and forth between the women for a full minute, scrutinizing their faces closely, before Admiral Holt said calmly, "At ease, ladies. Welcome back, Commander. I could tell you were here because my com line hasn't stopped buzzing for an instant."
"Good afternoon, sirs. I'm sorry, Admiral. It wasn't my decision to clone myself, but I don't regret having two new sisters and I support them one hundred percent. One has even sacrificed her freedom, and perhaps her life, to prevent the cloning technology from falling into Raider hands."
"Rest easy, Commander. Captain Gavin has explained how it came about and no responsibility for the act is being directed your way. Our problem is how to handle this matter and what to do about Eliza. The Galactic Alliance Council is already discussing the matter in closed door sessions. They don't have just the problem of your two clones, Commander, but also the seventy-seven other clones from Mawcett."
"Yes sir," Jenetta said.
"For the time being, Eliza will be housed in the Bachelor Officer Quarters," Admiral Holt said. "She'll remain here on Higgins until the matter of her status and citizenship is settled. Eliza, you're excused for today. My aide will give you your BOQ room assignment. For the present, you're to continue wearing a Space Command officer's uniform, without insignia. That's all."
Eliza braced to attention and said, "Yes sir," before turning and leaving the room.
"Captain Kanes is trying to pick up the trail of the Tsgardi Raiders," Admiral Holt said to Jenetta, "and the Prometheus will follow up on any leads. We're not going to let Raiders get away with kidnapping our people, even those whose status is in doubt."
"Yes sir," Jenetta said.
"Commander, Captain Gavin has passed on your request that the computer core be turned over to the Nordakian Royal Family. An engineering examination has reveled that the core itself doesn't contain any technology beyond current levels so I've approved its presentation to the Nordakians, once all cloning and advanced technological information files have been expunged."
"Thank you, sir."
"I understand that you've written a manuscript about the sociological evolution of the original society on–– Dakistee?"
"Yes sir. Eliza and I compiled it from the
historical information and media reports that we found in the computer."
"As long as it doesn't contain any classified technological information, I'll approve its release. Captain Kanes' people will look it over and then you can release it when you're ready."
"Thank you, sir."
"I've read through your reports on the actions of your people at the base on Mawcett and approved the medals and commendations that you've recommended."
"Yes sir. Thank you, sir."
"Finally, Captain Gavin has forwarded a commendation for your excellent handling of an extremely difficult and dangerous situation on Mawcett. I've added my approval and forwarded it to Space Command HQ."
"Thank you, sir. Thank you, Captain."
"You've been released from the hospital so you're to report back aboard the Prometheus in time for your next duty shift. You're dismissed, Commander."
"Thank you, sir. Good day, sirs."
After the doors had closed behind Jenetta, Admiral Holt said, "She doesn't look any the worse for wear."
"No," Gavin agreed, "she doesn't. I can't tell you how astonished I was to find her and the entire staff of the archeological camp still alive when I arrived back at Mawcett. I felt sure she'd never leave the scientists to the mercies of the Raiders, but I never imagined she'd find a place to hide them right under the Raider noses."
"She's amazingly resourceful," Kanes said. "I felt that she might survive, but I would have put the odds that she could save all the dig site people at about one in ten thousand. They may not have smelled very good after weeks of living in the sewers, but every one of her charges were healthy, except for the Marines injured or killed in early combat. I also expected her to destroy the cloning equipment to prevent it from being of any use to the Raiders, so I was even more surprised that she was able to both dismantle it without destroying any developing life forms and keep it from falling into their hands."
"Our very young looking Lt. Commander is a remarkable officer," Holt said, looking at the two captains. "And— now we have three of her."
* * *
Eliza was waiting for Jenetta outside the Admiral's office when she emerged and they walked together to the BOQ. Locating Eliza's assigned quarters in the junior officer's wing, they sat down to talk in their unique verbal shorthand. The quarters weren't as spacious as Jenetta's aboard the ship, but no one expected a very junior officer's quarters to compete with those of a senior officer. Still, they were more than adequate for one person. The room contained a gel-comfort bed, small circular table with two chairs, computer workstation, sofa, closet, built-in dresser, and attached bath. No pictures or ornaments decorated the light-cream colored walls of the single room or bath, leaving one with the impression of drabness. Even the light-brown wall-to-wall carpeting covering the deck was dull.
"Approve the core?" Eliza asked.
"Yup."
"Book?"
"Yup."
"That all?"
"Nope. They approved the medals and commendations. They also gave me another commendation."
"Staying here?"
"No, I have to be back for my watch tonight so I'll have to leave right after dinner to get a few hours sleep."
"It'll be strange sleeping alone after sharing your quarters for the past month."
"I know. For me too."
They received a lot of double takes later, as they walked together to the officer's mess for dinner, although most people on the base had heard the rumor of the cloning by now. After they'd eaten, Eliza walked with Jenetta back to where the ship was docked and they said good night. They'd already made plans to have dinner together the following day.
Jenetta hurried aboard and was able to get four hours sleep before rising to go on duty.
* * *
"Does anyone wish to review any of the reports again?" Admiral Moore asked of the other nine admirals sitting around the large horseshoe shaped table in the great hall where the Admiralty Board held their regular sessions. His aide and two clerks sat dutifully behind him, as was the case for each of the other admirals, but the gallery seating was empty for this session.
The report from Admiral Holt had just finished playing on the full wall monitor behind him. The admirals had previously viewed reports from Captain Gavin and Captain Kanes, and the debriefing of Lt. Commander Carver.
"Carver again," Admiral Hubera grumbled. "I thought that we were finally done with her after she received the Tawroole medal from the Nordakians. She was supposed to fade back into the fabric of Space Command. Isn't that what you said, Richard?" he posed to Admiral Moore.
"That was my expectation," Admiral Moore said.
"And now she's brought us a whole new set of major problems. I have to say one thing about her, she never does things in a small way. When she creates a problem for us, it's always a major crisis."
"Donald, Commander Carver didn't create this problem," Admiral Moore said. "I remind you that there were already forty-four clones on Mawcett before the Prometheus even arrived there. Commander Carver not only managed to deactivate the equipment, she disassembled it without damaging it or destroying any developing life forms. That she prevented it from falling into the hands of Raiders, and saved the entire civilian expedition at Loudescott from being captured, killed, or enslaved, is a remarkable achievement."
"All she did was cower in an underground bunker while our brave Space Marines died on the surface to protect her silly as…"
"Cower?" Admiral Hillaire shouted, jumping up from his seat while loudly and angrily interrupting Hubera's latest tirade. "She was directing the defense of the base from the command post, not cowering. If you'd ever been in action you'd understand the difference."
Admiral Hubera jumped to his feet as well. "Just because I've never been in battle doesn't mean that I'm ignorant of how a commanding officer should behave!"
"If you knew anything about commanding men and women in battle, you'd know that it's no longer done from horseback while waving a sword and inviting the enemy to blow your silly head off your shoulders with a cannonball!"
"Gentlemen, gentlemen, please," Admiral Moore said.
Both men calmed and retook their seats, but continued to glower at one another.
"Donald," Admiral Moore said, "your disdain for Commander Carver is well known to the members of this Board. You don't have to ingeminate your position every time her name comes up."
"That's the problem, Richard. Her name keeps coming up, and coming up, and coming up. Whenever there's a major problem, you can almost depend on finding Carver embroiled in it somewhere."
"Commander Carver is an exceptional line officer and occupies a critical position in the command hierarchy aboard one of our most powerful battleships. It reasons that she might be involved whenever the Prometheus responds to trouble. She didn't create the problem on Mawcett, and cannot be blamed for any of the events that transpired there. Our job now is to resolve the thorny issue of what to do about the clones."
"Since the equipment has been dismantled," Admiral Platt said, "and there will be no further clones, why don't we just officially acknowledge their existence and recommend citizenship be issued on Earth and Nordakia?"
"The Council is discussing the issue and will announce their decision at the appropriate time. Right now I'm referring only to the two clones of Commander Carver. If we make them Space Command officers, people might come to the ridiculous conclusion that we were behind their creation." Looking quickly at Admiral Bradlee, the Director of SC Intelligence, Admiral Moore said, "Uh, we weren't behind the attack on Commander Carver and the creation of her clones, were we, Roger?"
* * *
There was little for Eliza to do except wait for something to happen. Jenetta had given her a credits card so money wasn't a problem, especially with food, basic clothing, and housing being provided by Space Command. She occupied her days by spending long hours in the base gym, swimming, running, and sharpening her kick boxing skills. Evenings were spent polishing and re-po
lishing the historical text that she and Jenetta had written.
Called into the hospital twice more to undergo physical and psychological examinations, Eliza passed all with flying colors, just as Jenetta had passed hers.
On the seventh day following the Prometheus' arrival at Higgins, the Mentuhotep arrived. A light destroyer, the Nelson, named after the English admiral Horatio Nelson, mortally wounded at Trafalgar while defeating the Spanish and French fleets, had arrived to take up the newly established duty station over Mawcett and staff the outpost there. The Mentuhotep had been ordered to bring the seventy-seven clones to Higgins. The eleven archeologists chose to come along also, to see that their clones received proper treatment. Space Command made arrangements to house the entire group in the civilian section.
That same day, the Nordakian Queen's cousin, Ambassador Tlekulva, visited Jenetta aboard the Prometheus to make arrangements for the dinner party that Jenetta had agreed to while on Nordakia. He was escorted to a conference room to wait while Jenetta was notified of his presence.
"My Lady," Ambassador Tlekulva said, holding his closed hand to his chest and bowing his head, "we are honored by your presence. It's indeed fortunate that you have returned when you have. After you graciously agreed to permit us to honor you at a dinner party, we scheduled it for two weeks from this coming weekend. I feared that we would have to cancel when you were diverted to Mawcett, but you've arrived here in time after all. That is, if you can still attend that Saturday?"
"I'm sure that Space Command will release me from my official duties for that evening."
"Wonderful. Handmaidens will arrive several hours before the beginning of the party to help you prepare."
"That's not necessary, Mr. Ambassador. I have my Nordakian uniforms and can dress on my own."
The ambassador looked shocked. "Uniforms? My Lady, this is a State dinner."
The Clones of Mawcett Page 23