The Clones of Mawcett (40 page)

Thousands of cargo containers seized by the Raiders also required examination, first to determine if they were empty or still contained stolen cargo such as unprocessed ore or manufactured goods, and then to see if they contained identification that would allow them to be returned to their proper owners. Of course the insurance companies that had paid off on their loss would have to be involved. It would have been so simple if the computer files hadn't been destroyed. Jenetta could have used ten times the number of crewmen that she had been able to borrow from the ships in the task force. Worse, people would soon begin to disappear as they were recalled to ships preparing to leave the base.

Spending part of an evening reading the latest quarterly report from her chamberlain on Obotymot drove Jenetta's depression to new lows. Estate expenses continued to mount dramatically as the crown paid her twenty-five full-time servants their full wages, plus paid for all supplies and maintenance costs necessary for a palace she had never even seen. Since it was expected that the estate wouldn't produce any income for decades, she might wind up so deeply in debt that it would take all of her five thousand years to clear it up. She and Eliza had established a foundation to help her people on Obotymot through profits funneled from the book sales, but so far it only amounted to a drop in the bucket.

As she tried to think of ways to keep from sinking further and further into debt, she was struck with an inspiration. While a captive on Raider-One, she'd learned of a parasite removal ray in the detention center. Simultaneously depressing buttons on either side of the bathroom mirror bathed the prisoner in a beam of light that killed any harmful parasites that might have established a home on the body. The ray had the unique side effect of removing all body hair not protected by a special shower cap, but the person's eyes had to be shielded with a special set of goggles as the light could reportedly destroy them in a nanosecond. Jenetta, not warned of the effect on body hair, had been surprised to find all hair below her neckline, missing. Her legs, with weeks of growth, were suddenly silky smooth again. That was welcome, but she'd been dismayed by the sudden absence of all pubic hair.

Jenetta couldn't recall ever hearing of any such product on the market, and wondered if the idea had ever been patented. She found an engineer who would, in his free time, disassemble one of the devices and through reverse engineering completely document its construction and operation. She paid him from her own credits accounts for his work. When he presented the plans to her, she filed a patent application for the device. Any profits earned from licensing manufacturing rights would go directly into the foundation she'd set up to help her people on Obotymot. The Raiders had intercepted the first convoy of food and medicine being sent to the colony after the meteor strike, so it seemed only fitting that something developed by the Raiders be used to help alleviate the suffering on the planet.

Six weeks after taking the asteroid base, the first non-military ship arrived. Having learned of the new base via company dispatch, a freighter altered course slightly to stop and have a look. A year earlier everyone had dreaded passing through this area of space, but now it was looked upon as being one of the safest parts of the galaxy. That was understandable, since sixteen SC warships were still moored inside the asteroid base while they performed their repairs.

Approach control directed the ten-kilometer long freighter to a parking orbit on the backside of the asteroid so it would be out of the traffic pattern for ships entering and exiting the base. At the full ten-kilometer length allowed by Galactic Alliance regulations, the freighter was much too long to be easily accommodated inside the asteroid, although it could fit inside and even turn around.

Arriving at the base a couple of hours later, a shuttle from the freighter was directed to one of the habitat's numerous flight bays. As they disembarked, the captain and his party were escorted to the Port Officer to present their manifests. Lieutenant Sayars was currently functioning as Port Officer, as well as wearing a dozen other hats in the under-staffed operation.

After examining the required holo-tube lists of items being transported, Sayars said, “Welcome to Space Command Base 8647, Captain Werner. Your ship is our first visitor. What can we do for you?”

“The company ordered us to stop and have a look after learning that Space Command has established this as a permanent base. We'll probably be establishing a hub operation here, as we do at most SC bases. Is there any chance of getting some supplies? We've been in transit for two and a half months and we have another nine and a half months before we reach Vinnia. The selection of fresh foods at Eprikal was limited, and we've already eaten our way through most of what we were able to procure.”

“You'll have to speak to the base commander about that. We're not really set up to re-provision ships yet.”

“Are you short on supplies?”

“No, not as far as I know. There were over eight thousand Raiders operating from this base so the supply inventory is  enormous. It's simply that I'm not authorized to dispense them. As I said, your ship is the first to stop here and we're still getting things set up. The Base Commander will have to handle all requests until such time as an operational procedure is established.”

“I understand. And where might I find the Commander?”

“Computer, where's the Commander?” Sayars said, after touching the face of his Space Command ring with his left forefinger.

Via the CT implanted behind his left ear, he heard the computer respond with, “The Commander is in her office.”

“Sayars, out. The Commander is in her office, sir. Would you like to be taken there?”

“Yes, thank you.”

Sayars motioned to an aide who then arranged for a Marine to show the Captain and his party the way.

When Captain Werner's group reached the Commanding Officer's outer office, Jenetta's aide notified her that a freighter captain was requesting an audience. She had him admitted to her inner office and stood to greet him. Captain Jeffrey Werner, at five-foot eight-inches, was shorter than Jenetta, but he appeared fit and intelligent. His brown hair was closely cropped in a military style haircut.

“Welcome, Captain,” Jenetta said. “I was notified that a freighter had arrived in orbit.”

“Thank you, Commander. I'm sorry to bother you but I understand that you have to approve the sale of any food supplies, personally.”

“Oh? Well, I'm sure that we can accommodate you. You were probably sent here because we haven't established a procedure for the sale of supplies yet. We're still getting things organized.”

“So I understand. Then it would be possible to get supplies?”

“Surely, if we have what you want. Prepare a list of items that you'd like and we'll see what we have in inventory.”

“My first officer has a list. She's in the outer office.”

Jenetta said aloud, “Computer, have my aide send in Captain Warner's first officer.”

A few seconds later the door opened and the first officer entered the office.

“Gloria!” Jenetta immediately exclaimed loudly with obvious delight.

“Jen!” Lt. Commander Gloria Sabella responded.

In seconds, the two women were hugging and laughing.

“How have you been?” Jenetta asked as they separated.

“Wonderful, how are you? When did you get the extra stripe? Are you really the Base Commander here? How did that happen? You're so tall! You're taller than I am.”

Both women suddenly remembered the Captain, who was watching with an amused smile on his face. “Don't mind me, ladies. You're obviously old friends.”

“Captain,” Gloria said, “this is my very good friend, Jenetta Alicia Carver. I'm sure that you're familiar with the name.”

The Captain stood a little straighter at hearing the name. “Indeed I am. I didn't realize you were that Carver, Commander. I should have expected to find you at the middle of this latest victory. It's an honor to meet the person who has made so much of the galaxy safe for us freight jockeys.”

“And I didn't realize that your ship was the Vordoth. It was my first command, you know. I hope that you and Gloria can join me for dinner tonight?”

“I'm sure that you have other friends aboard the Vordoth from the way they always speak of you when your name comes up in the news. Perhaps you'd like to join us?”

“Thank you, Captain. I'd love to visit the ship again.”

“Fine. 1800 hours?”

“I'll be there. I could use a little break. Since the battle, all I've done is work. Leave me your list and I'll let you know tonight what we have.”

Gloria handed Jenetta a data wafer containing the list and the two women hugged again before she and the captain left the office.

The_Clones_of_Mawcett

Chapter Nineteen

~ November 24th, 2270 ~

The shuttle arrived at the Vordoth fifteen minutes early. As soon as the small ship had moved to its designated parking location and shut down its engines, crewmembers flooded into the bay. A huge crowd was waiting when Jenetta emerged from the small craft. They cheered wildly and surged forward to greet her as she walked down the ramp.

Jenetta smiled and greeted most of the crewmembers by name. She had gotten to know them when she was asked to take command of the vessel after a Raider attack had left the freighter without a captain. Although essentially just a passenger on that trip, she'd been the only Space Command officer on board.

Gloria came to her rescue and cleared a path for her, leading her to a shipping carton from which she could address the group. Jenetta knew that she wasn't going to get out of the bay until she said something, so she stepped up and turned to face the group.

“Thank you for that very warm reception. It's wonderful to see all of you again. A lot has happened in the three and a half years since we worked together to begin ridding the galaxy of Raiders. As you know, our latest engagement has denied them another base of operations. We destroyed twenty-six warships here, and further reduced their personnel numbers by some eight thousand.” Jenetta had to pause as a cheer went up, then continued with, “Almost a third of which are in custody on board the space station. This area of space should now be as safe as the area where Raider-One was located. Space Command has appropriated the asteroid and designated it a permanent base, so it will remain a safe haven in this part of space for travelers. We're happy to welcome the Vordoth as the first visiting ship, and I'm delighted to be back among all of you, even if my visit will be a short one. Thank you.”

Stepping down from the shipping carton amid loud applause and cheers, Jenetta was pulled towards the corridor door by Gloria as she waved to her admirers. A lift delivered them to the deck where the officer's lounge was located, and they were met by the Captain and Jenetta's closest friends aboard the ship. Lt. Commander Rebecca Erikson - the ship's doctor, Lieutenant Charley Moresby - the ship's chief engineer, Senior Freight Operations Chief 'Gunny' Rondell - the retired Space Marine Master Gunnery Sergeant, and Leah Brewster – a former slave that Jenetta had rescued from a detention cell in Raider-One, greeted her every bit as enthusiastically as had the crew in the flight bay. After completing therapy to remove the conditioning performed by the Raider jailers, Leah had been offered a position on the Vordoth as a traffic specialist. She now coordinates cargo shipments and deliveries. Jenetta smiled and hugged each of them.

“Jen, you've grown so tall,” Rebecca said, “that I might never have recognized you.”

“It appears that I've finally stopped growing now that I've slightly exceeded the predicted five-foot eleven-inches, doc. I still eat like a teenager, but the hunger pangs aren't as bad as they were between meals before, unless I've been working out.”

“Congratulations on your promotion, Commander; and for becoming the Base Commander of this brand new Space Station.”

“Thanks, doc, but I'm only an interim Base Commander, here until relieved by the permanent administrator; probably in three or four more months.”

“Is that good or bad?”

“Definitely good! You know me; I want to be out in space, not meeting and greeting dignitaries or negotiating with vendors for concourse space. I'll leave that to the administrative types who've never developed proper space-legs.”

“Where will you go after you leave the station?” Charley asked.

“Back to the Prometheus, I hope. Captain Gavin told me that this is just a temporary reassignment.”

“Maybe you'll get your own ship now,” Leah offered.

“No, I don't think so. Only officers with the rank of Captain get command of the kind of ship that I want. A Commander can become captain of a quartermaster ship, troop transport, outpost barque, research craft, hydrogen harvester or tanker, diplomatic corps yacht, or other non-combat vessel, but never a warship. I'd rather be the second officer aboard the Prometheus, than the captain of any one of those vessels.”

“They should just make you a Captain and put you where you deserve to be,” Gunny Rondell said, “in command of a battleship.” Gunny Rondell had been one of Jenetta's most loyal and ardent supporters since she had captained the Vordoth.

“Thanks, Gunny, but you know they can't just promote that way. As it is, I was surprised to find I was on the Promotion Selection List for Commander. I was a year short on time for the minimum 'three years in grade' as a Lieutenant Commander qualification, so they obviously included me with the ten percent that are allowed to be considered for early promotion.”

“Jen,” Gloria said, “tell us about Mawcett. We heard you were one of the ones that were cloned.”

“Yes, I was. I have two sisters now. Both look exactly like me and have all my memories. If they were here with us now, you couldn't tell us apart.”

“Where are they?”

“Eliza is on Higgins SCB. I don't know where Christa is. The last we knew, she was a prisoner of Tsgardis working for the Raiders. One of the reasons, as if we needed any more, for our taking this station was our search for her. We know that she was aboard the Boshdyte when it left orbit around Mawcett. We intercepted it on its way here but Christa wasn't aboard, thank heavens!”

“Why 'thank heavens'?” Rebecca said in a surprised voice. “I thought you wanted to find her.”

“I do, but the Boshdyte captain chose to fight instead of surrendering. Our gunners targeted the engines, but the ship swerved and the hull was breached. All aboard died of asphyxiation. If Christa was in their brig, she would have perished.”

“Oh.”

“How could they both have all of your memories,” Charley asked. “I don't understand.”

“The cloning equipment makes identical, full-sized replicas, and since the human mind is essentially a chemical computer, the cloning machinery duplicates it. They don't have all my new memories, just the memories that I had at the time that I was 'recorded' by the equipment. Christa is seven days older than Eliza, so she has seven more days of newer memories than Eliza.”

“How did it feel to be cloned?” Leah asked.

“It didn't hurt or anything— and I don't even remember it. At first I was upset that it happened, but then I came to consider them as my twin sisters. Because they both came from me, we think alike and can even finish each other's sentences. Now that we're apart though, we're developing unique memories from our new experiences.”

“Where do you think Christa is now?” Gloria asked.

“I really expected her to be on the Boshdyte. But it arrived here weeks later than expected, so it might have stopped somewhere to drop her off, or perhaps she was transferred to another ship when they met up in space. I just don't know.”

The group moved to the officer's dining room when the officer's mess attendant, Anthony, came into the lounge to announce that dinner was ready.

Over a delicious meal, they continued to talk about Jenetta's adventures during the past three and a half years, and the Vordoth crew eventually drifted into telling her of their travels since then. Of course their travel had been comparatively dull thanks to the improved situation with the Raiders, but they had some amusing anecdotes of things that had happened aboard ship during the recent voyage or while loading and unloading. The Vordoth had picked up a full cargo assembled at Vinnia and taken it to the cargo hub at Eprikal, a planet located just inside the Frontier Zone. There they had dropped the cargo and picked up another to be taken back to Vinnia. Except for a two-week layover at Eprikal, they had been on the ship the entire time. Taking more than two years, the run was one of the longest round trips that the freight company asked of their regular employees. Longer trips were performed by employees who either brought their immediate families along, or who had no family ties and slept much of the trip away in stasis sleep.

 After dinner, the group returned to the lounge for a few more hours of conversation before Jenetta had to return to the base. She gave Captain Werner a data wafer that contained a list of the supplies the base could provide and then said goodbye to everyone. As with all close friends, hugs and kisses were the only way to convey the feelings of sadness at parting. Gloria walked with her to the flight bay.

“See you at Higgins, I guess,” Gloria said.

“I hope so. I'm not sure how long I'll be here. It depends upon how long it takes for my replacement to arrive and then what transportation I can get to Higgins. How long will you be there?”

“We'll have at least a month layover after we drop cargo. Then no more roundtrip runs of over twenty months for three years.”

“Look up Eliza when you get to Higgins. She'll be as happy to see you as I am, and she'll love having company.”

“But I don't know her.”

“Yes you do. She's me, remember. Don't think of her as just my sibling, but as a twin who was with us every single time we were together.”

Gloria shook her head. “It's all so strange. How do you do it?”

“I was dismayed at first also, but you'll be amazed at how quickly you'll adapt to the situation. It'll seem like you're with me. You'll only have to keep track of which twin you're with. For example, she'll obviously remember none of what we talked about today since she wasn't here, but she'll remember every other conversation we've ever had before today. And if you're the least bit slow in dropping your cargo, you might find her pestering you to take a few rides on the maglev sleds.”

Gloria grinned at the reference to Jenetta's infamous early morning sled rides through the freighter's cargo spine at top speed. She shook her head again a couple of times, then wrinkled her brow. “It's difficult to imagine, but I'll look her up as soon as I have a chance.”

“Good. Will you be coming to the station tomorrow?”

“I doubt it. If I know the Captain, he'll want to get underway just as soon as we get the supplies. We'd better say goodbye here.”

After they hugged and said their goodbyes, Jenetta boarded the shuttle. Gravity was decreased in the airlock as soon as it was depressurized, and the shuttle backed out slowly, then turned and headed for the base. The evening with friends had been a tonic, wiping away all the stress that she had been feeling for the past few months. Tomorrow, much of it would return, but for now Jenetta felt wonderful.

The Vordoth left its stationary orbit around the asteroid after picking up its supplies early in the morning. Jenetta knew when the ship was leaving but problems elsewhere prevented her from going to the control center to watch its departure on the screens. With each new day came new problems, but the people that Captain Gavin had sent were a great help, and they enabled her to keep a handle on everything. She wondered what would happen when they had to leave, but she didn't have time to dwell on that problem just then.

* * *

“The new base, which we've named Dixon, is now fully operational,” Admiral Burke said to the other nine admirals seated at the large horseshoe shaped table in the Admiralty Board Meeting Hall at Supreme Headquarters on Earth. “Commander Carver, by all accounts, is doing an exceptional job as base commander, despite the problems of personnel shortages.”

“They're on their way, Raymond,” Admiral Ressler said. “She'll just have to make do until they can get there.”

“She hasn't complained, Shana,” Admiral Burke said, “and I'm sure that she knows we'll be sending the people as quickly as possible.”

“Carver can't remain as base commander once the base is re-designated as StratCom-Three,” Admiral Hubera stated, “because regulations require an officer with the rank of captain. I can't understand why the Officer Selection Board even named her to the early promotion list for Commander.”

“Captain is a recommended rank, Donald, not a required rank,” Admiral Hillaire said. “Commander Carver already meets the 'minimum rank' qualification for command of a Space Command Base. You know full well that we didn't have any experienced base commanders among the task force crews; someone who could jump in and assume command of Dixon. We didn't expect to take this base intact and weren't prepared with a waiting staff. Carver was the only experienced commanding officer available for the assignment. We can't delay the StratCom designation change.”