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Chapter 22 - Self Configuring Modular Robot[]
It's called a...
..."Field Trip". One might also give it the correct name. "Months of travel by dropship along a circuit route".
The field trip began with a notice delivered to New Avalon.
Routing 24313418/c11423
Origin: Tharkad, Triad, Office of the Archon Katrina Steiner
To: Ngo, Elizabeth Anne
CC: Davion, Hanse, Steiner-Davion Melissa
RE: This notice is to inform you that your Grandfather, a personal supporter of mine for decades and a good man, has died. Per his request, I have stepped in to assure that the provisions of his last will and testament be carried out. Dinh Ngo was a loyal son of the Commonwealth, and suffered a lot protecting My late husband and myself during our period of exile prior to the replacement of my predecessor, He was a strong advocate for reform in the Commonwealth, and a strong, decent Ducal lord.
As per his request, specific portions of the will have been delayed until you can be in attendance, I have, however, taken specific steps to assure a continuity of governance, including releasing Lieutenant Patrick Ngo from his enlistment contract early, and prorating his Academy time as time-served toward his national emergency duty, with the remainder being shifted to domestic issues in the Kowloon system.
You are still very young, Elizabeth, but there are duties that must be observed, even for a very young person in Fosterage. To wit, as my subject, and a Baroness of the Realm, you are to report first to Tharkad, and swear your allegiance, following which, you are to continue on to your home system to observe and learn the processes of your inheritance.
To Hanse, my son in law: I approved this fosterage situation, and would like to see it continued, but I understand if this presents some complications to your grand strategy. I recommend you see this as an opportunity to further expand your educational efforts with your special group. I suggest you enable this post-haste, if you do not, then I will assert my rights as Sovereign of the Lyran Commonwealth, and have Lady Ngo, Lady-in-waiting Doons, and the other students of Lyran origin escorted by military personnel.
Dinh was a personal friend, I owe his memory this much.
Katrina
So, accompanied by Her Majesty Melissa Steiner-Davion, and with Victor on his way to the Nagelring for his freshman year, the kids, and their tutors, were loaded aboard a ship for a 'field trip' to Tharkad, followed by Kowloon, with some stops along the way.
Welcome to August, 3045.