Chapter 54: Investiture

The following day, notes from his discussions with Sir George in hand, Wilson walked the few blocks over to the U.S. embassy building. He had a meeting scheduled with the deputy assistant Secretary of State for Trade Policy and Negotiations, who was leading the U.S. team, and the commercial attaché from the U.S. Commercial Service of the Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration, the trade promotion arm of the U.S. government. During the meeting, he learned about the current status of the trade talks. Before he had left for London, he had gotten an extensive briefing with State and Commerce Department officials in D.C. Now, thanks to Sir George, he had a very good idea of where the stumbling blocks in the talks were likely to be. These were primarily cultural and nationalistic issues, not substantive economic ones, he sensed.

And personal issues too, he learned, a short time into the meeting. Wilson’s new sense, the one Tamara called his human-lie-detector ability, told him that Commerce’s commercial attaché was out to make a name for himself. Wilson had already dealt with misguided and know-it-all junior officers when he was a Marine NCO, so he knew many ways to respectfully modify or redirect that kind of attitude.

While Wilson was thus occupied, Emma was keeping busy with videochat sessions with the roll-out team at EEC Energy Solutions, making sure that all was on schedule. Isabella had taken Tamara and Nadine for a quick sight-seeing drive around London and Andrew was spending the day with his grandfather. Peter, on the other hand, was visiting the Electrical Engineering Department at Imperial College London. Peter’s graduate school advisor was a collaborator with a faculty member at the ICL on nanotechnology- and microsystems-based detector and actuator devices, and Peter had planned to visit him. His preliminary doctoral research project idea was control systems for the incorporation of micro-power sources using Tamara’s accumulator design into tiny self-powered actuators for use in robotics and prosthetics technologies.

They were all together again in the late afternoon as they got ready for dinner.

“You look disturbed, Emma,” Isabella remarked. “Is there something wrong?”

Emma looked at her. “Possibly. It’s not absolutely certain, but very likely, that we’ve been a target of some industrial espionage.”

Sir George stood up and angrily said, “Tell me what happened and I’ll have the entire MPS and Cambridgeshire police crew on it.”

Emma giggled at him. “Brilliant. You can do that, I’m sure.”

Sir George snorted. “My best mate, Simon Armstrong, was my roommate in uni at Oxford; he’s the father of Home Secretary Patty Bolling—Patricia, that is. My daughter’s family and Isabella and I are close friends with the Armstrongs and Bollings. Her department oversees policing in the U.K. To be sure, I can do that. What happened, do you know?”

“My engineering division head told me that some components of an energy-storage unit cell are gone missing. One component is the micro-porous polyvinylidene difluoride sheet which contains the embedded SET-based circuits and generates the increased electron flow. Another component is the electrically conductive polymer semiconductor doped with the superconducting formula. Those components are part of the core of the energy-storage unit and a set of them is missing. The third part is the control circuit, which activates the cell and that part is only added when the units are assembled; they’re fabricated as units are assembled and immediately added, so there weren’t any to nick.

“The component sheets are kept in vacuum-sealed sleeves and have to be kept absolutely clean, and the assembly needs to be done in an ultra-clean environment, because any impurity introduced into the storage matrix will cause it to break down and the stored energy will escape all at once. That happened in my lab back at Hopkins when Tamara built the first accumulator; that first version had an impurity in one component, the device got overcharged during a thunderstorm, and it blew up part of my lab.

“One of the tech assistants hasn’t showed up for work for a week and he had access to the polymer sheet storage room. They suspect that he took the sheets. But he didn’t have access to the clean facilities and doesn’t know about the cell-assembly protocol. The local police were notified and they’re looking for him but he apparently had a fabricated identity. That’s all we know now.”

“The charging control circuit is the critical part,” Tamara said. “Without it, there’s no regulation of the energy going in or out. You can’t reverse-engineer the polymer sheets to figure out how to build a proper charging circuit either. You know, if that dude plays around with the sheets, gets them into the right configuration, and tries to pump power into that setup, he’ll get it overcharged and it’s gonna go bang. Those sheets are lots bigger than my original version too, so any damage will be extensive. Like a lightning strike.”

“Yep, they’ve already told that to the bobbies,” Emma said. “The officials know that the danger only comes if the perps try to make a device from the sheets. So they are taking the theft seriously and involving something called a ‘special branch.’”

“That’s good,” Sir George said. “They’re already on it then. So I don’t need to have Patty mobilize the troops. Everything else is ready for the roll-out?”

“It is. I’m excited about it, too.”

The investiture ceremony was on the following day. Sir George arranged for two limos which took the whole group, dressed in their formal clothes, to Buckingham Palace. Checking their credentials and identification went quickly since Sir George was known to many of the staff. Soon it was time for the ceremony to begin and officials opened the doors to the Throne Room and people began filing in. The queen was waiting there with a group of officials and she nodded to her head protocol officer that she was ready to begin. As people were showed where to stand, a palace official brought the first honoree to the queen and the ceremony began.

After a few people had received their honors, it was Emma’s turn and an official came to her and led her forward. She smiled her radiant smile at the queen as she curtsied and the queen offered her hand, which Emma briefly held with her thumb and forefinger, then released it, all the while smiling at the queen.

“Ah, greetings, Dr Emma Elizabeth Clarke. You are as engaging as your late charming and elegant grandfather. We recall him and your brilliant grandmother with fondness. We are quite honored that your parents chose our name for your middle one and we are so very sad that both of your parents perished in their service to our nation. But you, my dear, have brought honor and economic prosperity to the British homelands through both your science and your entrepreneurship. Our advisors tell us that you are introducing your new energy device. Very soon, is it not?”

“Yes, Your Majesty, the device will be unveiled and demonstrated in Cambridge late next week. Representatives of the Crown were invited.”

“And you plan to install your energy storage units in sites around the country thereafter?”

“That is true, Ma’am. The result will be a dramatic decrease in the cost of energy to consumers.”

“Most admirable, my dear. So young, yet so accomplished. You are a credit to the United Kingdom and we are delighted that you chose to remain closely tied to our nation, even though you grew up overseas. Dr Emma Elizabeth Clarke, we appoint you Dame Grand Cross of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. Let all present acknowledge this honor and let us accord Dame Emma our thanks for her service to the Crown.”

After receiving the award, Emma curtsied and said, “Ma’am, I am more honored by this recognition from my sovereign than by the recognition from my peers at the Nobel Foundation because this honor represents my help to my country.”

The queen nodded and said quietly, “Well said, my dear, and our great thanks.”

There were a number of other honors intervening and then it was Tamara’s turn. A chamberlain had previously moved her to a position close to the queen, and when the previous recipient was led away, Tamara found herself approaching England’s monarch. Tamara saw that the woman was quiet but radiated an exceptional amount of personal power. What was unusual was that Tamara could not sense any emotional overtones other than a strong feeling of duty and pride in her office. This person has a will of steel, Tamara sensed.

She curtsied and lightly touched the queen’s hand and the queen smiled at her.

“Welcome, Miss Tamara Nadine Alexandre. It’s so refreshing to have so many young people selected for honors on this occasion. And you are the student of another extraordinary person, Dame Emma Clarke, who we just had the pleasure of honoring. We understand that it is your remarkable inventions, together with Dame Emma’s theoretical work, that led to the creation of the new energy industry in our country.”

“That’s correct, Your Majesty; Dame Emma was the inspiration for my work.”

“How modest and polite, my dear. We also understand that you have developed devices to improve medical diagnostic equipment. Do you plan to continue such work in your future?”

“My early childhood was in Haiti, Ma’am. I vowed that when I grew up, that I’d find a way to help poor and disadvantaged people everywhere.”

“What an admirable goal, my dear. You are well deserving of our honor. Therefore, we appoint you Dame Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. Let all present acknowledge this honor and let us accord Miss Tamara Alexandre our thanks for her service to the Crown.”

Tamara received her award and as she touched the queen’s hand again, she said, “I so appreciate this honor, Ma’am; it shows me that my work will contribute to the wellbeing of people in many countries.”

“Thank you, my dear. How well spoken you are.”

Tamara rejoined her little party then and received quiet congratulations from the others and a very brief kiss on the cheek from Peter. They continued to watch the others receive their awards and then President Gerston was presented to the queen. After a very friendly exchange with the queen, he retired and a young woman was led forward and Tamara gasped quietly.

Peter whispered, “What?”

“She has such power ... talk later.”

When the next person was brought forward, it was Sir George’s turn to gasp quietly and Emma looked at him with a questioning expression.

“He very strongly reminds me of someone I knew fairly well,” he whispered to her.

Soon after a number of others were honored for their achievements—including two who couldn’t be older than high-school age—the ceremony was over and the honorees and their guests were invited to the reception. Both Emma and Tamara were congratulated by the others in their party and Sir George got busy greeting and introducing people whom he knew to those in Emma’s group. Between he and Isabella, they knew a lot of people.

On the way to the ballroom, Sir George saw an official whom he knew and motioned to him. The man came over to him, greeting him.

“Hallo, you old workaholic. Can’t stay away from the action, can you,” he said as they shook hands.

“Indeed not,” Sir George answered. “But I’d like to introduce you to someone special. Dame Emma Clarke, it gives me great pleasure to present to you the Right Honorable Bruce Harning MP, our new secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero. Mr Secretary, I present Dame Emma Clarke; she was just honored by the queen.”

Harning nodded his head to her and took her hand. “Honored, Dame Emma.”

“Likewise, Mr Secretary,” Emma said.

“I wanted you both to meet; I know your department is sending representatives to Cambridge for the unveiling of EEC Energy’s power unit. I’m certain you didn’t connect Dame Emma with that company.”

Harning looked at her in surprise. “Oh, pardon me for my ignorance, Dame Emma ... of course I knew of a Dr Clarke but I didn’t make the connection.”

She chuckled, “You certainly aren’t alone. I’m not offended.”

“Yes, my department has been in detailed negotiations with your company about the number and siting of your energy-storage farms. We want to know your manufacturing capacity and plans for providing the U.K. with units.”

“Yes. We will address those issues with your department right after the demo of the first unit,” Emma told him.

“Let’s move to the reception hall, dear,” Isabella interrupted. “Business later.”

“Certainly. Shall we?”

He offered her and Emma his arms and they walked toward the ballroom. They were able to circulate a little but Sir George wanted to introduce Wilson to some trade officials he had seen among the group in the room, but Tamara was keeping an eye out for that young woman she had seen getting her own knighthood honor; she wanted to meet her.

“She simply radiated power, darling,” she told Peter. “Such amazing charisma. She was a lot like Emma and Sam too. And the guy who followed her was also powerful but in a different way. Internal power, very much like Dad has. I hope they’re still here; I’d like to meet them.”

Some of the crowd in the ballroom had thinned out by now and Sir George noticed a small group of people diagonally across the room, partly hidden by a column. He saw that Prime Minister Grayson was with them and so was that young man whom he thought looked so familiar but couldn’t place.

“Wait just a moment, Emma my dear, and friends. There’s someone over there who brings back memories,” he said and started to walk over to the other group.

Emma and the others followed a bit behind, curious about what Sir George was up to. That’s when Tamara saw that the two young people whom she wanted to meet were in that group too. Sir George approached the group but stood respectfully at a distance away, waiting for a moment to politely interrupt. He had noticed that President Gerston was also among them; of course he knew the president from his time as the British ambassador to the U.S. As he approached, he heard some of their last few words.

Gerston was speaking to the prime minister. “ ... Perhaps something simple like world peace?”

Grayson laughed at the comment. “We’ll need to get together to discuss that, Mr President. And find another country for them to which they can export their rebellion.”

Then Grayson noticed Sir George approaching as the people in her group laughed at her words.

“Welcome, Sir George,” she called to him. “Come join us if you will. I’m certain that President Gerston remembers you well.”

Gerston smiled and said, “Absolutely. Greetings, Ambassador Marshall, good to see you,” and reached out his hand as Sir George touched the PM’s hand and then shook Gerston’s.

Meanwhile the young man in the PM’s group, the one who Tamara thought had a presence like her dad, was looking at Sir George with an expression of recognition.

“Pardon me?” the young man interrupted. “Sir George Marshall? I remember you, sir. You knew my parents, Audrey Boniger and Paul Coris. In Hong Kong and then from Mom’s Thailand posting too. I’m Kevin Coris.”

Sir George smiled widely. “Ah, yes. It’s Kevin. Paul Coris indeed. I thought that you looked familiar; you’re the spitting image of your dad. Dreadful, what happened to them. Sorry for your loss.”

Kevin nodded, “Thank you.”

Grayson had recovered somewhat, and said, “Well, obviously it’s a small world for diplomats, Sir George and Mr Coris. But, Sir George, I see you have your own entourage hanging back there, including some of our other honorees. Please ask them to join us and we’ll do the introductions.”

“Madam Prime Minister,” Gerston commented, “I doubt many introductions will be needed. To me, at least, I recognize most of our newcomers; I’ve had the personal pleasure of honoring some of them myself.”

“Is that so?” Grayson said, smiling. “So let’s get this sorted then; Mr President, I know Sir George and Dame Isabella Marshall; would you please introduce your compatriots then?”

Gerston grinned at her. “Certainly, Ma’am. My Stateside friends, I present to you the Right Honorable Eleanor Grayson GCMG, prime minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; Mrs Prime Minister, it’s my distinct pleasure to introduce to you Dr Emma Clarke and her spouse...” he paused as Sir George whispered in his ear, “Dr Andrew Marshall. I have not had the pleasure of meeting them previously but I certainly know of their distinguished achievements. And with them is a most extraordinary family, the Alexandres, whom I honored just two months ago with Presidential Medals of Freedom. Prime Minister Grayson, I’m honored to present Major Wilson Alexandre, Dr Nadine Alexandre, and their daughter Miss Tamara Alexandre. I’m sorry, but although I’ve met the young man, I...”

“Peter Winsberg, Mr President,” Tamara interrupted. “My close friend, as you’ll recall.”

“Ah, yes. Thank you, Tamara. Mr Peter Winsberg. Madam Prime Minister, I wasn’t aware that the queen would be honoring Dr Clarke—Dame Emma, and Miss Alexandre, but I cannot think of any others so deserving. I would have loved to have had Dame Emma’s energy startup company founded in the United States. Now shall I introduce my other citizens in our own little group here or would you like that honor?”

Grayson chuckled. “You’re doing fine, Mr President. Why don’t you continue?”

“Certainly, my lady. Sir George and Dame Isabella Marshall, Dame Emma Clarke and Dr Marshall, Major and Dr Alexandre, Miss Alexandre, and Mr Winsberg. First, I’m pleased to introduce my dear First Lady Rita Gerston; his Excellency, the U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom Charles Wixom and Mrs Marjory Wixom; and our deputy chief of mission, Minister-Counselor Warren Porter and Mrs Barbara Porter.”