BeyHop Chpt 14

==Beyond Hope- Chapter 14 - Winter Movements==
<<Previous Chapter - Return to Story Index - Next Chapter>>
----
”There is a great debate about how so many human inhabited worlds seem to have their largest city in a region where the 25th of December is winter for that region. This is no great mystery. We are humans after all, and the great bulk of the human population that left Old Earth came from the northern hemisphere. So really. we were just looking for familiar worlds that reminded us of our ancient home.”-Professor Emmanuel Vinnettero, PhD AnthropologyUniversity of Donegal
===Journey is just beginning===
----
KSCG Elizabeth Cameron
Tharkad System, Federated Commonwealth (Lyran State)
3054
----
Discontinuity 
They called ahead to Tharkad control from Gibbs, and got a lane assignment before arriving.
"That, is a Fox class." Derek asserted.
“A truly new Warship. Heh. It’s actually surprising and refreshing at the same time,” Jane Cameron said.
“They obviously wanted to make a statement.” Helena Cameron nodded.
"Yeah, 'pull over and let the AFFC inspect your ship'," Liz commented. "You're going to be okay with that, Jane? Because it's too late to back out if you're not."
“Yeah. I expected them to insist on sending over a pilot and observation crew.”
The shuttlecraft from the Fox approached and the fighter escorts peeled off as it entered Jane's docking web signal. "They're using ALS at least, so I don't have to worry about denting the coatings in my bay."
“Okay, we all prepared for this. Everyone at attention, and away from your stations. Let’s make them feel at ease.” Helena stood and engaged her magboots.
"Aw, and I was going to do something stupid…" Liz Ngo's tone was teasing.
"Please don't." 
The officer leading the boarding party was in full mess kit, and had a list. "Elizabeth Ngo, Her Majesty requests your immediate presence. Also the Ship's Mistress, uhm… 'Helena Drillson'. The rest of you can wait here, or ride down with us, but those two I'm under orders to expedite."
"My reputation precedes me…" Liz struggled out of her harness and used her cane as a hook in null-gee to get situated. 
"In a way it does." Helena noted
She held out her hands like she was expecting to be cuffed.
"Not that way." the officer told her. "While the invitation is non-optional, you are not a prisoner of the Throne."
"Grandfather would be so pleased to hear that," Liz quipped.
“Let’s get moving then shall we?” Helena said sharply. “I’ll be fine Jane, Jacob.”
----
They boarded the small craft that then angled for a Scout class ship idling nearby. A jump from the Nadir to the L1 between Tharkad and its moon, Marsden, shaved most of the week of transit right off.
Elizabeth's vomiting was taken care of by airsickness bags and a portable vac. "TDS?" the Hauptmann overseeing their trip asked.
"Ja." Liz admitted.
Helena had become so accustomed to Liz’s episodes and helping with the clean up she was moving almost robotically to help her friend.
"If I'd known…" he said apologetically.
"You knew enough to have the bags and the vac ready to go in case one of us got sick, it's all good," Liz assured him. "Very good, actually, very detail oriented, Hauptmann. The little details taken care of solve the big details by nature."
“You have a good friend there,” he added. “Not many people would be willing to help clean up the results of TDS.”
"If I didn't, travel would be intolerable," Helena laughed just enough to show it was a polite jest.
The shuttle shifted into an approach configuration and dropped toward Tharkad.
Helena grabbed their bags and helped Liz to her feet.
“How immediate are we talking? Don’t even have time to change. The five minute but still formal dress, or can we actually get properly cleaned up and dressed?” Helena asked.
“I’ll buy you ten.”
“Thank you.”
----
===Audience with the Archon===
Royal Palace, The Triad
Tharkad, Federated Commonwealth (Lyran State)
3054
----
To maximize their time, they requested they be allowed to share a changing room, which the guards were willing to accommodate.
Much as Helena had become well practiced at helping Elizabeth with her TDS, Elizabeth had grown desensitized to all the scars and other signs of healed injuries Helena was now putting on display as they helped each other dress and do their makeup.
“Been a long time since I had to dress up. I wish I had thought of doing a suit instead of a dress.” Helena smiled as she finished touching up Elizabeth’s mascara.
“Same. And a dress suits you.” Liz complimented.
Helena popped another anti-anxiety pill.
“Slow down on those. Don’t want you overdosing,” Elizabeth chided.
“Also don’t want me freaking out. As it is, I feel like I’m about ten seconds away from crawling into that corner there and curling into the fetal position.”
“Breathe. You’re on Tharkad. Everyone is wearing Lyran blues. No one is going to harm you.” Liz noted
“You’re right. I can do this.” Helena stated to herself more than Liz.
They followed their escorts to the throne room.
The pair of Battlemechs were certainly imposing but to Helena it just seemed like ridiculous overcompensation.
“Presenting her Royal Majesty, Melissa Steiner-Davion. Archon, Duchess Tharkad,” the Court Herald announced as everyone bowed or went to one knee.
“As requested, Duchess Elizabeth Ngo of Kowloon and Baroness Helena Drillson of Spider Moon.” the Herald resumed once Melissa sat in her throne.
Helena and Elizabeth straightened up as neither could really kneel.
“You two have managed to stir up quite a bit of fuss. Now I have to decide what to do about it.” Melissa’s face and tone were stone.
“Highness, if I may?” Helena spoke up first.
“You may.”
“This is all really my fault. The ship is mine. I just wanted to ensure secrecy as such finds have a nasty habit of attracting the wrong kind of attention.” stated Helena
“Noble of you. But that does not explain the violation of the Militia Act that I have been informed of now does it, Duchess Ngo?" Archon asked.
Elizabeth reached up, and held her hands one hand-width apart, palms up. "You're going to have a weighty pile to put on the charge sheet," Liz stated. "One salvaged Mako class Corvette, two Type-51s in mothball, one Corps of wet-naval assets ranging from every Coast Guard station on every river and bay on two continents, plus the aircraft that provide them air-cover. I've been breaking the Militia Act since before I was born, Your Majesty. Your mother knew it when Grandfather was doing it, so if I'm going to Blackgate, might as well go with everything on the table. It's not like I'll last long once I'm there, either… but Helena Cameron isn't covered under the Militia Act, and the Militia Act doesn’t limit HER armsmen. One of whom happens to be the sentient core of the warship currently steaming for a parking space with the other guests."
"It's a Caspar?" She asked.
"SHE is the mind of Elizabeth Jane Cameron, Eldest daughter of Simon Cameron, forced into that condition by Stefan Amaris, and the guest of me in the Kowloon system since 3053, Your Highness. If we're doing this, we do it right, you get to hear all the dirt, not just what some monger-of-rumors trying to cover his ass said."
“Let’s talk in private then.” Melissa said.
----
===Stipulations of Service===
----
They moved to a small conference room with no eavesdroppers.
"There are some who think you're going to try for a secession, or worse," Melissa stated.
"I'm dead by forty!!" Elizabeth scoffed. "Jesus, that would be a ****** waste of time! I have enough difficulty keeping up with one point five billion people in a single binary star system! I wasn't even supposed to inherit! I never got the classes!! What would I do with a trillion people, one hundred thirty different spoken languages, over two hundred competing religions, or for chrissakes what kind of a dog's dinner would I be trying to deal with Democracy Now, Order of Cincinnatus, Free Skye, the Tamar refugee community, not to mention the Feddie expats? I'd be totally screwed!! I've got between five and ten years before I have to stay so ****** high I might not be able to form coherent words!!" Lizzy shook her head, "There is no 'win condition' for me in a coup, Highness. No point where what I'd get, or accomplish, is worth the cost of betraying a family my grandfather spent five years in Blackgate protecting!"
"So explain." Melissa asked.
"I'm doing what's necessary for the realm, Highness," Lizzie said. "On the way here, I was witness to a Bandit force escaping from a world they shouldn't have dared to approach. We couldn't stop them, because the response wasn't there to stop them. That happens daily along the Periphery. It's why my end of the realm, despite being free from most of the fighting of the last four Succession Wars, is dirt-bottom poor and in decline. If the Realm is fighting an invader and can't devote the resources, then someone has to, or there's no realm left to protect… And to do that, then that someone has to have the resources to do it."
"And you're marshaling resources." Melissa finished.
"I'm not trying to get a waiver to go to Pandora, now am I?" Liz bounced back. "I have to do what I can, while I can, and I won't live to see the benefits. But if I do it right, if I do it effectively, then when your son finally puts the MechWarrior outfit away and starts governing, he'll have a better realm in better shape to govern with more wealth to fight the realm's enemies and more stability to make the realm unattractive to attack. Highness, forty percent of our nation is under a foreign boot. If the industries and the training don't get better, that's going to turn into fifty, then seventy, then ninety, and then one day. They will read about 'the Lyrans' in a history book the way we read about the Terran Hegemony!"
From this angle, Helena saw her fear, it wasn't fear of being punished, it was fear of something more abstract.
“That explains you Duchess. But your friend here…”
“I’m a stranger out of time. Even if I were to go back to Terra, it would not be the Terra I left. So I have no home except the one I make for myself. So I’m helping Elizabeth.”
"And you, Elizabeth? What are you getting out of Helena?" Melissa demanded.
"She's capable and she's committed… and she has a reason to commit." Liz said bluntly, "That means that what I'm doing will continue on after I'm gone, she's my best bet, Highness. She gets it and she doesn't have a reason not to."
“I’m not looking to carve a new Terran Hegemony out of your realm. I’m willing to do what you ask of me to prove it.” Helena offered.
Melissa looked skeptical, then, "Alright then," she stood up. "Swear your fealty to the Federated Commonwealth, right here, right now."
“I swear I will support and defend the Federated Commonwealth against its enemies, foreign and domestic. I will answer the Archon’s call. What you command of me I will do. I only beg that you command me to be humane and not a rabid animal.”
Melissa nodded, "Your offer of fealty is accepted…you may want to rework the wording for the public ceremony, Baroness Cameron…and for you, Elizabeth…"
"Ich Bin Lyraner." Liz said sullenly.
"Yes. I'm aware of your nationalist urges. Very aware. I'll expect you to give the text of the oath you forwarded last July in public…and you'll turn over your home-grown Navy to AFFC oversight, I'll let you keep the law enforcement and disaster relief functions, but the combat assets belong to the realm, understand? I want to see a nice Lyran Fist on that Mako when you send it to duty at Coventry next year."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"And any others you might churn out of your experiment. I'll be assigning someone to oversee the transition. Am I clear?"
"Very Clear, your Majesty."
"Good. I'm glad we have this settled…now, as for your complaint about Duke Diego's conduct…"
"Majesty?"
"Elizabeth has forwarded several hundred complaints to my office on behalf of peasants on Arluna-quite outside her normal realm of authority…You will have investigating officers report to Lohengrin immediately, with detailed briefs on this topic, including physical evidence and witness reports. I expect full cooperation from your people, Elizabeth. Make that very clear."
"Yes Majesty."
"Oh, and I want progress reports on your 'marshalling resources' project, detailed ones." Melissa told her, "You will see to it, Duchess."
"Of course, majesty."
"And finally, after the ceremony Christmas Eve, you will report before six AM local time to the Marsden Medical Center for a medical evaluation, and possibly to voluntarily accept inclusion in a medical trial to treat your neurological degradation. Maggie couldn't convince you to go, but I am the Archon, and you will obey young lady. Call it 'stress testing your subordinates', and stop trying to argue your time limit with me. Am I clear?"
"Yes, your Majesty."
"Alright , you two may go, I understand Dinh's apartments in the Capital have been refurbished and are fully stocked."
“Yes Majesty.” Helena nodded.
Royal Guardsmen escorted them to a covered parking garage, and Liz actually 'jumped' in startlement when a 20 year old classic Gieneh-Mercedes limousine with the Kowloon flag on the door rolled up, a length of heavenly paintwork and polished chrome that looked somehow more 'wealthy' than the current model Executive vehicles parked in the distance.
"Your grandfather's?" Helena asked.
Liz nodded, "Yeah…someone's been taking care of it."
“Nice.”
“You seem a lot more relaxed than I expected at this point.”
“Yeah. She didn’t demand I marry one of her sons.” Helena nodded.
"She could've had me sent to Blackgate like my Grandfather, I broke enough laws getting here." 
“And I’d be a co-conspirator on almost all of them.”
"You didn't really spot them did you?" Liz asked, "When we were walked out, the guys waiting."
"What about them?"
"Precentor Dow from Comstar." Liz said, "See, I have a guess here, I think if you'd balked, or she didn't think you were who you are? You'd have been handed to the last vestigial government agency of the Old Star League-the Ministry of Communications, aka Comstar. She had that as her option if she didn't like your answer. I'd be off to prison, and you'd be off to Unity City as a prize."
“I’ll never go back to Terra. It’s not home anymore.” Helena stated.
"Don't say 'never' Helena." Liz cautioned, "I never expected to be the Duchess, I never expected she'd go this light on me for what I was doing."
“Maybe. Maybe we’re just waiting for the other shoe to drop. Because without a doubt we also made a lot of enemies doing what we did.”
"Enemies? That's how you keep score, nobody ever accomplished anything being universally loved." Liz commented, "It's right in Tranh Truk Ngo's diary."
“Yeah. It is. Still I feel like I need a shower, or even better a bath.” Helena said.
Elizabeth secured her cane, and herself in one of the passenger seats, as Helena sat across from her in the other, the doors hissed shut, and the vehicle moved out.
“You did great in there.”
“I still sweated like a pig.” Helena held up her hand, trembling, "See?"
"Me too." Liz said, as the vehicle crossed an avenue crusted with ice, and passed into a series of walled-off mini-estates.
"I was going to sell the Condo." Liz noted, "the upkeep is expensive for a reason-it's one of the ways the Archon flexes on Nobles. I was going to get a split level house in the suburbs…but never got around to it…"
“To be honest that almost sounds nice to me right now. A quiet suburban life. No one to bother me, no pressures.”
"They're building me a housing development outside Nha Tranh, full network capable, a whole LOT of suburban houses, mostly for staff and people who work for me, but it's a shell game. Evelynn's making them build the houses to bunker specs."
“Which will ruin the best part for me. But I know I’m not destined for a quiet life. My name prohibits it.”
"Yeah, I know, sorry about dragging you into this."
“It was unavoidable. We both know the power of names and the destiny that it forces on those who have names of power.”
'Yep, but we can pretend, Helena. I can pretend that I'll get enough done, that I can do the things I always wanted to do, and you can pretend you're going to have a normal life."
“Hmmm. Maybe we should elope before Melissa has a chance to think about it and demand binding us to her realm through marriage to her sons.”
"Find a man, I'm not…that way, and being what I am?" Liz shrugged, "he'd have to be a lot of fun, and not go glassy-eyed bored when I start enthusing about certain topics-the problem is, most of the really smart ones are either married to someone else. Or gay…or too old and too much of a gentleman to make an exception. Jakob being a prime example of a prime man who is just unreachable right now."
“You might have a shot once you’re eighteen.”
"Eighteen in February, it's December." Liz complained, "Which is honestly too young for a prime man, especially with my issues. There's no 'working through' my death sentence, despite what the doctors are telling Her Majesty. I don't have time to have that life, I won't last long enough, and god help me if I get pregnant, because it accelerates the decay. YOU will be dating an falling in love while I'm still a virgin."
“Heh. If I ever become whole enough to do something like that again in my life I will be quite surprised. My cracks run deep and even if filled I’ll always know they are there.”
"And MY cracks will go un-filled by anything that isn't battery operated or using a power pack." Liz cracked bawdily, "So you still have more chances than I do."
“Careful making that joke in front of Jane. She is technically battery operated.”
"I'd have to buy an imported 'Swingin' Stan' from Dustball and get it tuned for her." Liz giggled. "Two meters Tall and the ads say he's built like a bodybuilder…with attachments!"
“Ugh.” Helena stuck out her tongue.
"Oh come on, it's funny!"
“Sorry. It still brings up bad memories, but hey it didn’t make me shrivel up and start crying. So progress.” Helena gave a slight smile.
Liz nodded, "Progress!! Let's see what Granddad left in the wet bar…"
-----
===Rough Morning===
The Kowloon Extension
Tharkad City
Helena tossed and turned in bed from the nightmares before she finally admitted she wasn’t going to sleep this night.
She dressed and went to her terminal to at least get some work done.
Dawn came and shortly after her alarm. She silenced it then went to the kitchen.
The Kowloon Extension would have been a 'provincial residence' when she was a girl-the sort reserved for successful officers in the SLDF's 'Mechwarrior branch, or minor Baronets. The staff were largely unobtrusive, hired, and locals whom must have been raised in servant families, given their efficiency at simply being furniture for the residents.
Not actual furniture, but more like something cut into the environment.
Elizabeth's rooms were nearby, and the girl came out of them to breakfast wearing actual Pyjamas.
"Hey, heard you up last night…" Liz yawned, "Jump lag got you too?"
“Yeah.” Helena lied. “Toast, bagel, or english muffin?”
"Bagel…and not sure what the sausage is, but it really has a sharp zing to it."
“Heh. Sure. I think I can handle that.” Helena got the meat out of the fridge and started cooking.
Liz laid a worksheet on the table and started on it as she ate her pre-breakfast. "Hmmm…heh…she'd freak…"
"Liz?"
"Oh, just thinking about a white-elephant gift…"
“Well it is Christmass soon, so what else would you get an Archon?”
"Yeah, but this one might get me tossed out the airlock." Liz chuckled, "not for the Archon, for your sister. She's always popping with the entendres."
“Ah, yeah. Sometimes I do wonder if the transfer went right with how bad she is in that regard.”
On the display…well, liz brought it up. "Swingin' Stan, the Synthetic MAN!" she giggled, "Network compatible, but I think their market might be gay guys."
“Oh yes. Do it!” Helena laughed.
"Oh god I'm going to hell for this…" Liz input a credit code and punched 'order'.
“Here you go.” Helena handed a plate to Elizabeth.
"I'm a terrible human being." Elizabeth admitted, digging into her food. 
“I’ve met worse.” Helena smiled. "What did you buy with it?"
'Full custom features, including the rather silly looking leather outfit with the funny cap." Liz told her, "Hopefully, Jane's going to have a good sense of humour about this…"
“Whip too?”
"No whips, but the ad says the skin does return to 'original tone' after you're done whipping it." Elizabeth chuckled. "yikes…."
“Good. She might actually get carried away with that.”
"Oh gawd, I'm a pervert…" Elizabeth shook her head, "Yikes."
“No you’re a teenager riled up on hormones. There’s a difference.”
"...and drugs! Don't forget the drugs!" Liz cackled.
“Oh yes.” Helena fetched her own pill organizer as she set down her plate. “Can’t forget mine. Today is going to be a challenge.”
"No doubt. You and I both have…" Elizabeth tapped her P-mail, "vouchers. Gagnon's on Friedrichstrasse. Last time I was there, it was with Daphne, Penny and Maggie. Apparently we're to get 'properly attired' for the Archon's Christmas Shindig…see?"
“******. Okay. It’s okay. I’ve been fitted for a dress before. I don’t have to be stressed about it.” Helena did her breathing exercises.
"They're going to make me wear heels, I just know it." Liz muttered, "Screwed up left knee and all."
"They won't make you wreck your damaged leg with heels." Helena assured her. "Anywhere that is and I quote from the voucher 'by invitation only' without a price list? Isn't going to put you in anything that can actually result in aggravating an injury-too much of how these places run, is on reputation among the upper crust." Helena said. “Hell I wouldn’t be surprised if they fitted me for a dress when I was a little girl on one of the few visits to Tharkad I made way back when and I was just too young to remember.”
"Vouchers came from…her Majesty." Elizabeth observed, "Okay, so probably safe."
“Yeah if someone is planning a kidnapping plot, they’re not being very smart about it.” Helena looked at one of the servants. “Are they Moshe?”
"Damn, I thought I had you fooled there." Moshe cracked, "What gave me away?"
“Took me a while. But it was the shoes.” Helena teased.
“You just guessed didn’t you?” He chuckled.
“Yeah. I mean I knew you’d be one of them but which? I knew I could only rule out based on a few variables but yeah completely guessed otherwise.” Helena laughed.
“True, I can't actually make myself shorter and there’s only so much I can do to make myself taller before the distance between joints starts becoming obvious.”
“Well I know you’ll be watching nearby so I know I’m safe.”
“He came with us didn’t he?”
“The right uniform and posture and they didn’t even do a head count so I didn’t even have to replace someone, just slipped right in and no one even noticed.” Moshe smiled.
“You know we just might be doomed if he and Sithers do get serious and they do contract.” Liz chuckled.
“Yup.” Helena laughed too.
Moshe just quietly slipped away but if the girls could see his face they’d see he was blushing.
----
<<Previous Chapter - Return to Story Index - Next Chapter>>
14