Helena Rudolf was a captain in the International Fleet and was responsible for testing children for the Battle School program.[1] She was first introduced in "The Polish Boy".
History[]
The Polish Boy[]
Helena Rudolf came to the Wieczorek family's house in Poland to test their sons. The father insisted he watch the test, but the woman said he could not. As she tested the brothers, John Paul Wieczorek left his lessons and went to the kitchen to watch the test. When she was finishing up with Andrew Wieczorek, Helena spoke to his mother to ask how old he was, but since he was 5 he could not take it. Helena noticed that John Paul was actually reading but his mother insisted he was playing. Helena explained that someone would have to come back and test him when he turned 6 in 3 weeks so his parents gave in. John Paul and Helena discussed the book he was reading about St. John Paul II, and they debated the existence of God. After the test, Helena was very excited, as he was what she had come here looking for.[1]
Afterward, she met up with Colonel Sillain where he denounced her for showing her excitement and stated that he believed women should not do testing because of such emotions. Helena brushed it off. Sillain said that it would be ironic if the commander of the fleet turned out to be the seventh child of noncompliant parents. Helena told Sillain to come see John Paul when he turned six.[1]
On his sixth birthday, Sillain and Helena went back to John Paul's house to test him again. Sillain asked John Paul a question but he answered in Polish. When he continued to do so, Sillain got up and began to leave. When Helena came over, John Paul spoke to her in Common. John Paul explained that he did not want to be tested by a man who thought his family was scum. John Paul's father entered the room and told him to do what they asked. John Paul said he would answer Sillain's questions if Helena stayed.[1]
Later, they gathered with a dozen experts and military leaders in a conference room in Berlin, and they all were blown away by John Paul's ability. Hyrum Graff explained that although his score was not the very best, his negotiating ability impressed him. Jawaharlal Chamrajnagar said that it showed the wisdom of opening Battle School to noncompliant nations, but he noted the problem that there was no indication that the boy was willing to go. As they understood that they needed to convince his family, Chamrajnagar suggested that Helena be the one to do the job. As they debated more, Chamrajnagar received information from the Polemarch that they should bring in John Paul, as time was growing short before the Fleet arrived at the Formic Homeworld. The group affirmed that Graff and Helena should be the ones to convince him to come to Battle School.[1]
When Helena and Graff returned to the household, his mother and father had brought their friend Magdalena Teczlo, a lawyer, to sit with them, though she could not practice law as she was noncompliant. Graff asked if he could see John Paul with his parents present and they accepted, but when he noted that Magda was in his space she left the house. John Paul sat down and Graff began to explain to him about Battle School. John Paul implied that it would be unfair to leave his family on Earth to struggle while he was in battle School. Graff suggested that they could persuade the Hegemony to lift the sanctions on his brothers and sisters. His parents said that it could not happen since the neighbors would be suspicious. John Paul stated that he wanted to leave but not go to space. Graff and Helena suggested that they move to a city and send no more than two of their brothers and sisters to any one school so that no one will know that their family was noncompliant. Graff said that the Fleet would go to great lengths to get John Paul into Battle School, because they believed that in their house he would be wasted, quoting the Bible verse about casting pearls before swine. John Paul's father got up in rage to punch Graff, but Graff blocked the blow easily. John Paul's father said that he would not let his son leave, but Graff threatened him with imprisonment for striking a Fleet officer. They discussed sending the family to America.[1]
As they walked back, Helena and Graff discussed the population laws. Graff admitted that John Paul would probably not go to Battle School, but thought it for the best as he would be past his peak when the Fleet arrived. Graff said that if John Paul married someone with good genes, his child could be the commander they needed.[1]
Personality[]
Trivia[]
- Helena was from Germany.[1]