by T J Bryan
Abel thought a moment before replying, "The crew of the Ragnarök is to be excluded from the actions we are about to take. Captain Karrlson must continue to drill the crew and hold to the planned departure date in December. Those crew members who are within days of qualifying for any ship position on any of our ships are also exempted."
Abel looked intently at both Helen and Emmitt. "Are we in agreement?"
Both nodded their heads in the affirmative.
"We will assign four crew member trainees to each remaining constabulary officer. I want them to appear armed. I want them visible. That means patrolling and not sitting in the station. They are to wear our ship suits, but without colors. Helen can we outfit these patrol crews in some color we do not use. Something intimidating?
Helen thought a moment, "Black should do. Black shorts and tank tops over the silver suits. That should be intimidating."
"If we have a choice then select crew members who have large or extended families. Perhaps those that are the most gregarious and talkative. We don't want any misunderstanding to lead to violence. If a crew member sees a family member of close friend, then that family member is more likely to behave than riot."
"You said the crews should appear armed?" asked Emmitt.
"Yes. My intention is to issue two plasma rifles to each squad. Yes, yes, I know they don't know their behinds from pointy end of a plasma stream. At this moment that is unimportant, but we must address this issue soon. No, two crew with plasma rifles, and the power packs for those rifles are to be carried by the Police Officer lead, or whomever we select to lead the squad. The plasma rifles are to remain uncharged unless all hell breaks loose."
Abel paused a moment, "Now we must address three critical issues in our support of the police for the next month. First we must insist that martial law and the use of OCN crews on patrol will cease three days after the election. Our squads everyday interactions with the citizens must reinforce this stand. In thirty days we return to our ships and resume training. It is critical to set the expectation that our participation in military rule will soon end. Second, we have spent all of our energies and resources in stressing shipboard skills required of the command con of a ship. We have done nothing to organize our crews as a disciplined force capable of many tasks. The confusion and chaos of forming squads and assigning leads on the dock yesterday demonstrated a real failing in our plans. I take full responsibility for this failing. It never occurred to me that we needed anything other than civilians trained to fly a ship. Now we need a military to both support our ships and our Commonwealth."
Helen spoke, "We are in agreement. And the third point?"
"I want you to select our more mature crew members and begin weapons training. Plasma rifles should be a good start."
"Abel we have several hundred plasma pistolas on hand. We removed them from the Greayson vac suits shortly after I almost shot you. They are currently stored on the Iceland. Perhaps we should train on those as well."
"Good idea Helen. I think all our crews should know how to use small arms, but I don't want everyone issued such weapons in the normal course of ship duty. Perhaps we need a locker near the main hatch with the Captain in charge of issuing weapons in an emergency."
Both Helen and Emmitt agreed.
"When is the Ragnarök expected?"
Emmitt responded "She was notified when the riots first broke out. I think tomorrow between 18:00 and 23:00. We have been in contact with Captain Karrlson and she is fully informed. Our last update was about an hour ago."
Helen stood, "I'm going to return to the Iceland and I will send another update from there. Abel do you still have that pistola? The one you used on the Temple steps?"
"No, I gave it back to Farn to return to the police arms locker."
Helen reached into her waistband an pulled out a plasma pistola taken from a Greayson vac suit. "Here," She said handing the pistola to Abel. "Don't leave home without it." Helen stood to leave.
Abel stood as well. "I'm going to the police station and begin a thorough search for Piet Peters. Undoubtedly he knows who is behind this coup although I doubt he himself is our primary conspirator. The man may be full of anger and frustration, but he lacks the imagination or the psychopathic drive for power. We need to find him before someone decides he knows too much."
Abel's vid-com chimed and he answered. The call was from Sergeant Sandy Thorstein. "Abel, we have a lead on Piet Peters. He's hiding at the home of his wife's sister over by distribution center one. He is apparently injured."
Abel continued talking to the sergeant as he rushed out the door and toward distribution center one. "Who gave us the tip?"
"Seems his wife's sister does not want him. I rather doubt anyone does. But he is badly burned. Seems he tried to stop the fire and looting at the distribution center and was thrown into the fire for all his efforts. Peters is a strange man."
As Abel passed the Colegium Hospital grounds Thorstein gave him the house coordinates. 15 Wolf Lane with a cross path of Elliot's Walk.
As Abel arrived it was the darkest of the night. In the darkness Abel saw Sergeant Thorstein and two OCN crew. They were standing outside the house waiting for Abel. "Your sure about this Sergeant. This is the right house?"
"Yes, Positive. I live only six houses down Elliot's."
Abel drew his pistola. He did not hesitate and stepped forward and opened the unlocked door. Inside the sitting room he found a rather older woman with worry etched upon her face. She held in her hand a bloody rag and upon the lounger lay the badly burned body of Piet Peters. Abel scanned the room and indicated to the sergeant to check out the remaining rooms. Moments later he heard Thorstein shout "Clear. All clear. No one is here."
The older woman, whom Abel assumed was Piet's sister in law was wringing her hands. "He tried to stop them. I saw him try to stop it. The fires and all. But they would not listen. They just laughed and then several of them hit Piet and then tossed him into the flames, Laughing they were. Laughing."
Abel stepped forward to evaluate Peters. His chest and hands were badly burned, but it was his face that Abel found most shocking. Second and third degree burns he realized. Abel tabbed open his vid-com and ordered up an EMS crew code three. Piet was unconscious and his breathing labored. With the burns around his mouth and nose Abel knew that his lungs were badly damaged. Piet would be dead unless they could get him to the hospital within moments. But then again Piet might well be dead by morning regardless of expert emergency medical care.
Standard police procedure would be for the EMS crew to transport the patient to the hospital and any follow up police work would wait until the medical staff had performed an evaluation. However Abel understood that Piet Peters probably 'knew too much.' Abel motioned to the crew members to follow him and the EMS to the hospital. Sergeant Thorstein, who looked exhausted, Abel directed to return to her home for rest.
Abel looked up at the false sun and could see just the beginning of a soft glow. Sunrise he thought. It must be approaching 05:30 when day began in the Habitat.
EMS began to move Piet on their slider gurney. They attached fluids after a lengthily attempt to find a vein. The burns were horrific and the remnants of Piet's clothing was adhering to his burns. Finally a vein was found and the crew rushed to the hospital. The entire hospital staff had been called in as a result of the riots and injuries and it took Abel a moment to find a doctor to attend to Piet. As he stood in the ER and looked around it was clear to Abel that the medical staff was overwhelmed, Never had so many been injured and there were simply not enough doctors, nurses, and staff to cope. As Abel looked for help he saw Dr. Auber racing down the hall toward another patient on a gurney. Rather than interrupt Abel waited as Dr. Auber conversed with an intern. Finally she backed away from the patient, wiped her forehead, and pulled off her blue surgeons gloves. She saw Abel standing next to Piet.
"Who is this?" she asked motioning toward the burn victim.
"Piet Peters."
Dr. Auber made a face and shook her head. Then after a moments pause began to examine the unrecognizable Peters. After less than two minutes she shouted "Code Blue." An orderly who had been attending one of the walking wounded rushed to the gurney and together with Dr. Auber pushed the gurney down the hallway and through several hatches and finally into a large room filled with perhaps a dozen 'doc-boxes' One was unoccupied and quickly Piet was shuffled into the glass enclosure as Dr. Auber activated the machine.
Auber looked at Abel, "So this is the idiot that started all this?"
"If you mean the riot, well yes, he was that idiot. However the other atrocities are another matter. I think Peters was a tool to someone else."
Auber looked intently at Abel, "Atrocities? What Atrocities?"
Before Abel could respond the 'doc-box' chimed having completed its' diagnostics. Auber turned toward the vid screen and shook her head reading the diagnostic data. The she reached up and pushed the 'execute' button that would set the machine to its' lifesaving work. That is assuming Piet could be saved.
"Now what about atrocities, other than the obvious that has filled this hospital?"
Abel carefully explained the torture and murder of the Chairman and execution killing of seven of the Executive Committee as well as the murder a number of Assembly Members and their families. Auber was shocked. The hospital staff had been so busy dealing with the night's broken bones, broken heads, and burns that she had heard nothing. Auber shook her head in disbelief.
"Abel there is nothing I can do while the box works its' miracles. I'll be back in an hour. It does not look good."
"Thanks Fryedis. I see a folding chair over there I think I sit here and make sure we are not interrupted while the machine does whatever it is going to do." Abel grabbed the chair and placed it next to the 'doc box' as Dr. Auber returned to the emergency room and the chaos of the night now turned morning. Recognizing how tired he had become Abel sent a message to Emmitt to provide two crewmembers to replace him as soon as practical. Abel was not about to leave Piet alone. Soon he had fallen asleep.
Abel awoke after a very short sleep. Dr. Bjorn Haverson was attending to the 'doc boxes' one at a time. As Abel stood Bjorn checked the status of Piet. He stood a long moment before the vid screen. Then shook his head as he turned to toward Abel. "There is a lot these units can do Abel, but the prognosis on Peters is not good. He might last three days. He might go this instant." Bjorn turned to attend to another machine and patient who had a better outlook.
Abel stood and stretched as two crew members arrived he recognized as from the Iceland. They were nervous but were attired in black shorts and tank tops over their silver ship suits. Abel instructed them to watch over Piet Peters. At no time was Piet to be left alone, and if one of the crew needed facilities the other must remain. He emphasized to them that Piet was in great danger of assassination, and no matter what their personal attitudes were toward Piet, Piet was critical to the investigation of the coup. The two crew looked more frightened after Abel's instructions than before. If Piet was moved to another ward, they were to follow. Never, never leave him alone he said in the most authoritative tone he could summon through his exhaustion.
Chapter Thirty One
Jamon System - OCN Iceland - Year 3245. October 3 ET: 12:30
Abel awoke and found himself sleeping in the supercargo area of the OCN Iceland. He felt horrible and even worse as he reviewed the previous days madness as he showered and dressed before heading up to the bridge mess. There he found Helen waiting as the lunch break began and the mess filled with both qualified crew and trainees.
"You look like crap." Helen said.
"I feel like it." Abel walked to the food prep and ordered black coffee and nothing else. He simply did not feel like eating right now.
"Piet Peters died this morning about 10:00. I already informed Wain. My crewmen stayed with Peters until the end. Seems all was quiet and then he had some kind of seizure. It was pretty ugly I'm told. Happened just after the Judicar and Alos Dekker visited to see if they could question him. But he could not speak and died shortly after they left."
"Arne and Alos had visited? Just before he died of a seizure?"
"Seems that way. Are you surprised? I understand his prognosis was grim to say the least."
"Helen can you have the two crewmen meet with me after lunch. I'm curious as to what occurred."
"Abel, he died. That's it."
"Just the same humor me. I want to talk to those crewmen."
After lunch Abel met with the two crewmembers and had each separately tell him the sequence of events leading to Piets death. The stories were the same but with several details of difference which to Abel meant they were telling the truth. When stories by witnesses are exactly the same, even down to the phrases chosen, then they are undoubtedly lying.
The Judicar had arrived about 09:00 and attempted to speak with Peters but Peters kept going in and out of consciousness. They also said that Dr. Auber kept infusing Peters with massive doses of pain killers. The Judicar had remained at Peters bedside for about twenty minutes repeatedly trying to get Peters to talk. Then about 9:20 Alos Dekker arrived and the two of them clearly wanted to talk in private. They asked the two crewmen to leave, but they refused. The crew had informed both the Judicar and Dekker that they had been ordered to remain with Peters at all times and that they would do so. They told Abel that Alos seemed upset at the order but the Judicar seemed not to care. The two remained at Peters bedside for another fifteen minutes. before the Judicar left followed about five minutes later by Dekker. Then a few moments later Peters had an awful seizure. Dr. Auber arrived and tried to revive him but it was hopeless. She pronounced him dead at 09:55
Abel thought about the visit by Arne and Alos then reached for his vid-com and tabbed on Dr. Freydis. After a long while she answered and Abel could see she was still in the ER working patients. She also looked exhausted.
"Ok Abel. What do you want. Make it fast."
"I want an autopsy on Peters."
"Why? I know what killed him."
"Yes, yes. The burns. But I still want an autopsy."
Freydis looked at Able like he was mad, but exhaustion overruled her concern. "Ok, I'll put him in the freeze, but Abel we can't get to this for another week. We simply do not have the time."
"Fine Dr. Auber, It can wait a week. Oh, and could you not mention my request for an autopsy to anyone."
Again Dr Auber gave Abel a dirty look, but responded, "Yeah, if you insist. Now I must go." She terminated the call.
The second and third cup of coffee had done nothing to ease Abel's exhaustion and he knew he was of no use to anyone without another hours sleep. He retired to a room in the supercargo, lay down, and was soon asleep.
He awoke with a start as Helen stood above him smiling. "Wake up Abel, I have something to show you."
Abel shook his head and realized that he had been asleep for over six hours, and he didn't feel any better than before he fell asleep.
"Come," said Helen as she moved out the door and down to the cargo deck, through a series of hatches and airlocks to emerge in the Marine section of the Iceland. Against the portside bulkhead was a narrow room perhaps eight meters wide and 200 long. Six crewmen stood in a row firing plasma rifles. He stepped closer to see that one or two were actually hitting the targets at 100 meters. The others had much to learn. "I wish we had Farn to help train in plasma rifles," commented Helen. "But she is too critical to the crew of Ragnarök. We will just have to learn by trial and error."
"With a ship full of instruction manuals there must be some course outline or program to train in rifle use?"
"I'm afraid not Abel. There is no documentation on any of the personal weapons systems. Even that Marine Armour lacks documentation. I think it was a Greayson safety measure. Without instructions the personal weapons systems could not be taken over and used by non-Greayson crew. Think boarders, or mutiny, or theft. No. No documentation at all."
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br /> "But this is not why I wanted you down here. Lets go down another deck."
Soon Abel passed the vacant Marine barracks and onto the cavernous training deck. Standing in the middle of the deck some hundreds of meters away Abel saw two Marine Armour units standing rigidly in repose. Abel and Helen walked quickly across the deck and Abel took a long look at the silent armour. The armour was a kind of black on black thought Abel. It seems to reflect no light, but on the chest was the golden sunburst and sword of the Greayson Navy. Above the sunburst Abel could make out the name Legio XXV. Abel found himself looking up toward the black on black helmet that towered almost a meter above his short five foot two frame
"I have never seen a black like that," he commented to Helen. "You could shine a torch at it and you would see nothing. About the only way to tell where or what it is, is by looking at the way it blocks everything behind it."
The two armoured units began to move and Abel was startled as both units simultaneously saluted. Abel looked carefully at Helen.
"Go ahead return the salute Abel."
Abel who was not fond of saluting or military bearing returned the salute.
The two armoured units turned and at an astonishing speed ran three hundred meters down the exercise area and returned. The speed running was easily three times that of the fastest runner Abel had ever seen. Then unannounced both units jumped to the high vault thirty meters above. Then both units dropped to the deck and began of all things cartwheels ending in a handstand.
Abel just stared as the two units approached Abel and Helen, and began to remove their helmets. Jerry Renner appeared first and followed by Wain Peters.
