TA37

==Chapter 37 - The Armada==
Unity City, Terra
Sol Star System
Wolf Empire
3170
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"I'm here to collect the body, sir."
The young officer standing in the Morgue wore the Khaki-and-blacks of a Kowloon Coast Guard Lt. Commander.  Her nameplate said "K Falcone-Ngo".
"Relationship to the deceased?"
"Genetic-Parental, Sir." Karen said, holding her position of attention, "First generation pairing, Hue facility, Kowloon. She acknowledged me after basic training, Sir."
Alaric felt a little bit of a surge of impressed, "What is the other half of your gene-parentage?"
"Pershaw, sir." she answered.
"Distinguished lines.  You are aware of Proper Clan Protocols, Quiaff?"
"Sir, I was raised as an adoptee under the Falcone general-purpose name in a kibbutz on the border of Hue Province. I am aware of Clan Protocols including Legacy Rights.  Are you aware of Kowloonese practices with regards to the return of military personnel under foreign flag, sir?"
"I am aware. Which weighs heavier for you?"
"Sir, I am Kowloonese, Sir."  she held the position as the First Lord circled her slowly, inspecting every inch of her uniform.
"How old are you, Lieutenant Commander?"
"Twenty Five, sir." she held discipline under the scrutiny of the Wolf personnel here.  "I was decanted and placed with my foster family in July of 3145."
"Giap Island Naval Training Academy grades one through twelve. Spider moon Coast Guard Academy, second in class, graduation cycle One, Thirty One Sixty five.  First assignment KCGS Ivar Trung, specialty Radioman, Officer's school in Thirty-one sixty eight. Placed fourth in Navigation Exams, command track, first command KCGS Alois Green, you skipped a few levels."
"Sir, I was supposed to be taking my ship to Anchor Point Station, and got diverted here. It's three months to bring her home before we can sail again to relieve Coast Guard patrols from the Ninth.  Sharon Ngo contributed genetics and a little bit of advice to my career and my career choices, but she was hardly the model of a good parent. I'm closer in most ways to the Finklesteins, the nice normal-not-at-all-noble people who raised me. They are who were there to support me growing up.  I met her exactly two times in my life and now. I have to bring her home to her family and they are waiting.  Can we get on with this?"
"Of course." Alaric said, "The body will be released to your custody."
"Thank you sir." she said.
''
"Provided you win a small contest. we are Clan here, and you share more than one heritage." he told her.
Her eyes narrowed, but she remained ice-still.
"What is the contest, Sir?"
"There is a request for her legacies. Since you, being a holder yourself are best tasked to defending it." he explained.
"So who do I have to beat up?" asked Karen
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