Clone-Queens

"Ci Anur reveals the existence of the clone Queens and their desire for a different future."
-- Events of Booklet 036, Flames Over Shondyke

The Clone-Queens (German: Klon-Koeniginnen, also rendered Clon-Queens) are genetically engineered women -- cloned members of the Gray Guards officer caste -- who are characterized by their distinctive gold eyes, enhanced logistical brain regions, and resistance to telepathic attacks. Originally bred on Shondyke as part of the Gray Guard civilization's reproduction and leadership system, the Clone-Queens represent a specialized branch of the Guard genetic program, designed for intelligence, operational command, and biological perfection.

Under the old Cosmorality, the Clone-Queens served as officers within the Gray Guard hierarchy, subordinate to the Great Gray Chan de Nouille. But a faction of gold-eyed Clone-Queens -- led by Ci Anur and Mi Lai -- secretly harbored ambitions for independence and self-determination. In the revolution of 2501, they seized control of Shondyke, overthrew Chan de Nouille's authority, and established an independent matriarchal society that rejected both the Council of Corporations and the traditional Guard hierarchy.

Over the following years, the Clone-Queens transformed Shondyke from a barren military stronghold into a living, terraformed world they renamed Neunfarben ("Nine Colors"). Allied with the Terranauts, the Green Partners, and the Lenkers of the Old Forest, they became stewards of the space road network and architects of the Cosmic Spores and Bioregulators that ultimately liberated Earth from Max von Valdec's tyranny in the saga's climax.

The Clone-Queens' arc -- from engineered servants to self-governing rulers to ecological visionaries -- embodies the central thematic argument of Die Terranauten: that beings created for obedience can choose freedom, and that organic cooperation must replace authoritarian control.

Description

Physical Characteristics

The Clone-Queens are described as "genetically flawless beings" with several distinguishing traits:

• Gold Eyes -- The most immediately recognizable feature of the Clone-Queens. Their distinctive golden irises set them apart from standard Gray Guards and mark them as members of the officer caste. The gold-eyed variant appears to be the leadership strain within the broader Clone-Queen population.
• Enhanced Logistical Brain Regions -- The Clone-Queens were genetically engineered with augmented cognitive architecture, specifically optimized for strategic planning, logistics, and command operations.
• Resistance to Telepathic Attacks -- Unlike standard Gray Guards, who are vulnerable to psionic manipulation (as demonstrated during the Super-Driver attack on Arda-City), the Clone-Queens possess an innate resistance to telepathic intrusion and mental domination.
• Genetic Perfection -- Described as "genetically flawless," the Clone-Queens represent the pinnacle of the Gray Guard cloning program -- beings engineered for physical health, beauty, intelligence, and command capability.
• Mahogany Skin -- Cosmoral Ci Anur is specifically described as having "mahogany-colored skin," suggesting that the Clone-Queen genetic template may include distinctive skin tones as part of their engineered biology.

The "Queen" Designation

Within the Gray Guards, "Queen" is a standard officer rank designating a military commander. Clone-Queens hold this rank by birth rather than by promotion -- they are literally bred to command. The prefix "Clone-" or "Clon-" distinguishes them from Queens who achieved their rank through the conventional Guard hierarchy. Some Clone-Queens also hold the higher rank of Cosmoral, particularly Ci Anur and Mi Lai, placing them within the governing elite of the Cosmorality.

Origins

The Gray Guard Genetic Program

The Clone-Queens were produced as part of the Gray Guards' extensive cloning and conditioning programs on Shondyke. The planet's underground city of Arda-City housed genetic engineering facilities where the Clone-Queens were bred under Cosmorality oversight. The program served a dual purpose:

1. Reproduction -- The all-female Gray Guard civilization required a controlled reproduction system. The Clone-Queens formed the biological foundation of this system, producing the genetic material from which the Guard population was sustained.
2. Leadership -- The Clone-Queens were designed as the officer caste. Their enhanced cognitive abilities and resistance to psionic attack made them natural commanders. Within the Guard hierarchy, they held positions ranging from field commanders to members of the Cosmorality itself.

The cloning program appears to have produced multiple lineages. The existence of "Clones of Queen Cynthiana" as a separate category suggests that individual Queen templates were duplicated to produce cohorts of genetically identical officers, each line carrying the enhanced traits of their progenitor.

Consciousness and Ambition

Despite being engineered for obedience and command within the existing hierarchy, the Clone-Queens developed something their creators did not intend: independent consciousness and political ambition. The gold-eyed faction -- particularly Ci Anur and Mi Lai -- secretly planned for a future in which Shondyke would be free from both the Council of Corporations and the old Cosmorality. They desired a society organized around their own values rather than the militaristic imperatives imposed by Chan de Nouille and the corporate clients she served.

This development represents one of the saga's most significant ironies: the beings the Cosmorality created for obedience chose self-determination instead.

The Revolution (2501)

Prelude

The Clone-Queens' revolt was not spontaneous but the culmination of long-hidden planning. Cosmoral Ci Anur and Clone-Queen Mi Lai, two golden-eyed clones within the Gray Guards, had their own agenda: to separate Shondyke from the Council and establish a matriarchal society independent of Chan de Nouille's authority. They had been waiting for the right opportunity.

The Super-Driver Attack

That opportunity came when three Super-Drivers -- Ares 17, Artemis 11, and Plutos 23 -- loyal to Max von Valdec, infiltrated Shondyke via the hijacked Gray Guard ship STEELFIST and launched a devastating psionic assault on Arda-City. The attack caused widespread destruction, panic, and the mental takeover of individual Gray Guards. It also threatened the stability of the fire-shell surrounding Shondyke -- the gateway to Space II.

The chaos of the Super-Driver attack provided the Clone-Queens with their window.

The Alliance with the Terranauts

The arrival of the Super-Drivers coincided with the infiltration of Shondyke by the Terranauts -- David terGorden, Llewellyn 709, Queen Mandorla, and Scanner Cloud -- who had traveled to the planet via Space Roads from Rubin.

The Overthrow

Together, the Terranauts and the Clone-Queens defeated the Super-Drivers:

• Llewellyn 709 killed Ares 17 in a psionic duel, triggering the Super-Driver's own Killer Block
• Scanner Cloud and Ci Anur joined forces to prevent Ares 17's attempt to destroy the Control Pin
• Baby used its connection to Yggdrasil to transport Ares 17 far from Shondyke, where he committed suicide

In the aftermath, Chan de Nouille was removed from power, and the Clone-Queens, led by Ci Anur, seized control of Shondyke. David and Llewellyn departed, leaving Scanner Cloud and his daughter Abashe doNhor behind to help the Clone-Queens adapt to their new society.

The Gold Eyes

The distinctive gold eyes of the Clone-Queens serve as more than a physical marker -- they are a symbol of the faction's identity, ambition, and ultimate independence. Within the Gray Guard hierarchy, the gold-eyed Clone-Queens formed a distinct group: those engineered for the highest levels of leadership, intelligence, and psionic resistance. It was this gold-eyed elite that drove the revolution.

The term "Gold-eyed Clone-Queens" (goldaeugigen Clon-Queens) appears in the saga's glossary as a separate category, described as "beings who prevented the Kaiser-Grauen from killing witnesses." This suggests that the gold-eyed Clone-Queens used their enhanced abilities and authority to protect others even before the revolution -- an early sign of the independent moral judgment that would lead them to break from the Cosmorality entirely.

Society on Shondyke/Neunfarben

The New Order

After the revolution, power on Shondyke passed from the old Cosmorality to the Clone-Queens. They established a matriarchal society with fundamentally different values from the Guard hierarchy they replaced:

• Self-Governance -- The Clone-Queens sought to separate Shondyke from the Council of Corporations entirely, establishing true autonomy. They formed their own governing body -- a "Cosmorality of the Clon-Queens" -- with members such as Tirk Is.
• Rejection of Kaiser Force -- The Clone-Queens opposed the destructive Kaiser Force technology and sought alternative means of interstellar travel through the Yggdrasil network and Space Roads.
• Ecological Stewardship -- Rather than treating Shondyke as a military installation, the Clone-Queens embarked on an ambitious terraforming program, transforming the barren world into a living ecosystem.
• Alliance with the Terranauts -- Unlike the old Cosmorality, which viewed the Terranauts as enemies, the Clone-Queens cooperated closely with Scanner Cloud, Morgenstern, David terGorden, and other Terranauts.
• Openness to Outsiders -- Former enemies were welcomed. Margit Aacht, a Shadow agent who had been sent to destroy Shondyke with an antimatter bomb, was freed from her conditioning and absorbed into the Clone-Queen community. Hege Krotzer and Zalia, refugees from Lancia, found sanctuary on the planet.

Terraforming and Neunfarben

Under Clone-Queen rule, Shondyke underwent a dramatic ecological transformation. The planet was renamed Neunfarben ("Nine Colors"), reflecting the ecological renaissance brought about by the Clone-Queens and their allies:

• Green Partners -- Flora-symbiotic organisms that merge with human hosts, granting enhanced psionic abilities and a connection to the plant world. The Clone-Queens worked alongside these beings to transform Shondyke from a barren rock into a living, ecologically diverse planet.
• Bioregulators -- Enormous flying lizards bred on Shondyke/Neunfarben. These creatures played a role in the ecological transformation and were later deployed to Earth in 099 - The Eco-Shock, helping prepare the planet for its own ecological rebirth.
• Cosmic Spores -- Living bio-psionic organisms of pre-cosmic origin, prepared and cultivated on Shondyke as part of David terGorden's grand plan to ecologically transform Earth and neutralize the Kaiser Guards.
• Space Road Maintenance -- Scanner Cloud, Morgenstern, Luther Straightwire, and others used Shondyke as a base for maintaining and repairing the space-time stroboscope network, including the vital node at Urdbrunnen.

The Steerer Connection

By the later booklets, Shondyke/Neunfarben had become a center for the Lenkers of the Old Forest -- the cosmic Steerers who maintain the Intercosmic Anti-Entropy System (the Long Row). Luther Straightwire addressed Mi Lai as "Guardian" (Huterin), a title suggesting that certain Clone-Queens had been integrated into the Steerer-adjacent hierarchy. This relationship elevated the Clone-Queens from political rulers to custodians of cosmic infrastructure -- stewards not merely of a planet but of the living network that sustains interstellar civilization.

Key Individuals

Leaders of the Revolution

Other Notable Clone-Queens

Associated Figures (Non-Clone-Queens)

Relationship to the Gray Guards

The Clone-Queens' relationship to the Gray Guards evolved through distinct phases:

Phase 1: Creation and Service (Pre-2501)

The Clone-Queens were products of the Gray Guard genetic program, bred on Shondyke under Cosmorality oversight. They served as the officer caste -- holding ranks from Queen to Cosmoral -- within a rigid military hierarchy commanded by Chan de Nouille. Their enhanced abilities made them indispensable to the Guard apparatus, but they were subordinate to the old power structure.

Phase 2: Revolution and Separation (2501)

The Clone-Queens' revolt in 036 - Flames Over Shondyke severed Shondyke from the old Guard hierarchy. Chan de Nouille lost control of the homeworld, creating a permanent schism between the operational Guard command (Chan at Lunaport) and the Shondyke civilization (the Clone-Queens on Neunfarben). The loss of Shondyke forced the operational Guards to establish secondary bases such as Shondyke II (formerly Perculion).

Phase 3: Negotiation and Reconnection (2501-2503)

Chan de Nouille spent the remainder of the saga attempting to reconnect with Shondyke and the Clone-Queens, recognizing their importance to the Guard civilization's biological and cultural foundation. In 076 - War of the Castes, she attempted to reach the "lost central world of the Clone Queens" by reviving Yggdrasil. In 078 - Breakthrough to Shondyke, she agreed to let David terGorden negotiate with the Clone-Queens -- though she also sent a Shadow agent with an antimatter bomb as insurance.

Phase 4: Independent Power (2503-2504)

By the saga's final arc, the Clone-Queens operated semi-autonomously from the surviving Guard apparatus. Their alliance was with the Terranauts and the Steerers, not with the operational Gray Guards. When Max von Valdec returned and began counter-conditioning the Guards at Lunaport, the Clone-Queens on Shondyke were beyond his reach -- and it was from Shondyke that the instruments of his eventual defeat (Cosmic Spores and Bioregulators) were prepared.

Role in the Saga

Strategic Significance

The Clone-Queens' seizure of Shondyke fundamentally altered the political landscape of the Terran Star Empire:

1. Splitting the Gray Guards -- The revolution divided the most powerful military force in civilization, weakening the Guard's ability to act as a unified instrument of corporate oppression.
2. Creating a Terranaut Haven -- Shondyke/Neunfarben became a sanctuary for Terranauts and a base for maintaining the space road network, shifting the planet from a military stronghold to a cooperative hub.
3. Ecological Transformation -- The Clone-Queens' terraforming of Shondyke proved that an alternative to the Kaiser Force paradigm was possible -- a living, organic civilization that worked with nature rather than against it.
4. The Eco-Shock -- In the saga's climactic booklet (099 - The Eco-Shock), the Cosmic Spores and Bioregulators prepared on Shondyke were deployed to Earth, transforming the planet's ecology, neutralizing the Kaiser Guards by restoring their humanity (through "The Jin," tiny organisms contained in the spores), and ending Valdec's reign. Shondyke -- and the Clone-Queens who ruled it -- had evolved from a hidden fortress of oppression into the seedbed of humanity's ecological rebirth.

Thematic Significance

The Clone-Queens' arc addresses several of the saga's central themes:

Self-Determination Over Conditioning. The Clone-Queens were bred for obedience within the Guard system. Their choice to reject that system -- not through violence against themselves but through political action and ecological creation -- represents the most radical response to the saga's pervasive theme of conditioning: not different conditioning, but freedom.

The Female State. The Clone-Queens govern an all-female civilization within what was already an all-female military institution. Their revolution is not merely political but gendered: the beings who were bred to produce soldiers for male-dominated corporate power chose instead to build a matriarchal society defined by ecological stewardship rather than military service.

Nature Over Technology. The Clone-Queens' transformation of Shondyke from a barren rock to a living world -- using Green Partners, Bioregulators, and organic cooperation rather than Kaiser Force -- embodies the saga's ultimate argument that bio-technology must replace destructive industrial paradigms.

The Created Who Surpass Their Creators. The Clone-Queens fulfilled the promise of Cosmorality's name -- "cosmic morality" -- more authentically than the Cosmorality itself ever did. Where the old Cosmorality enforced order through conditioning and violence, the Clone-Queens built a living world.

Key Events

Appearances

The Clone-Queens -- as a civilization, through their individual members, or through the consequences of their revolution -- appear or are referenced in the following booklets:

See Also

• Gray Guards -- The military institution from which the Clone-Queens emerged
• Cosmorality -- The governing doctrine the Clone-Queens replaced on Shondyke
• Shondyke -- The planet the Clone-Queens rule, later renamed Neunfarben
• Neunfarben -- The name given to Shondyke after its ecological transformation
• Arda-City -- The underground city on Shondyke
• Control Pin -- The orbital structure controlling the space lane system
• Fire Bowl -- The cosmic energy shell surrounding Shondyke
• Chan de Nouille -- The Great Gray who ruled Shondyke before the revolution
• Scanner Cloud -- The Psyter who became Shondyke's foremost resident after the revolution
• Morgenstern -- Terranaut and Fast-Steerer who found romance with Mi Lai
• Luther Straightwire -- Steerer and Lenker who worked with the Clone-Queens on Shondyke
• Green Partners -- Flora-symbiotic organisms that aided the terraforming
• Bioregulators -- Giant flying lizards bred on Shondyke
• Cosmic Spores -- Living bio-psionic organisms prepared on Shondyke for Earth's liberation
• Yggdrasil -- The primeval tree network connected to Shondyke
• Space Roads -- The interstellar travel network maintained from Shondyke
• Kaiser Force -- The technology the Clone-Queens rejected
• Max von Valdec -- The antagonist whose Super-Drivers inadvertently triggered the revolution
• Ares 17 -- The Super-Driver whose attack on Shondyke enabled the Clone-Queens' revolt
• Conditioning -- The psychological system the Clone-Queens transcended

The Clone-Queens appear across at least 8 booklets of Die Terranauten and are referenced in 41 wiki entries across the saga's encyclopedia. They are the saga's most fully realized depiction of self-determination triumphing over engineered obedience -- and of organic creation as the ultimate form of power.