"Oh shit!" The Marine started backing up. Dragging the cart and Padre with him toward the platform’s edge. His mouth trying to talk but nothing came out but a bunch of babbling getting Mark’s attention as he backed toward the edge of the ramp.
“Marine attention! Mark barked.” The Marine came to attention. “You will take the cart of remains down to the morgue Corporal. Now!” The Corporal looked at Mark and back at Mickey. “Move it Corporal! Now!” The Corporal started pushing the cart around Mickey on into the lock staying as far away from Mickey as possible.
Captain Summers said from beside the canopy of the scout. “I won’t take away the damn medical equipment for Ensign Abraham’s sake but you can forget everything else. I would even take the damn fighter but as stupid as you people are turning out to be, I don’t need to waste my time.” She climbed over the low rim of the cockpit and flopped down into the seat. “You will never be able to repair it and it will serve as a reminder of what you could have had if you had even a little fucking common sense.” Wailing. “You let a fucking billion credit Human Controlled AI die. Of all the….” The canopy closed shutting off her screams.
The scout car slide off the ramp behind the Corporal, cart and the Padre still reading the book oblivious to all round him, even as one of its engines was still starting. Watching the scout ship lift up and away as the second engine kicked up to power allowing the scout to rapidly fade into the distance as Mark’s brow wrinkled up. “What was that about saving England?” Shaking his head. “Well; at least she left the fighter. I just hope Captain Meyers comes through with the repair parts, but I don’t think we will be seeing her again Mickey. It is a shame. I was just starting to like her. How is the Admiral doing?”
Another priest on her way out onto the ramp stopped in front of Mark and took his hand into both of hers. "Bless you Mark for finely enabling us to put these souls to rest. It was a tragedy what happened here and only you had the courage to right this wrong. Thank you for saving Dian's life. May the lord continue to walk with you."
"What? I am the one that took her up to orbit and got us ambushed and the one that was stubborn chasing after the bad guys that got her hurt in the first place. It was all, my fault mother."
"No my son. It was Godstar's will and your destiny that these things happened for it was his plan. Much good has already come from your actions today and much good will continue to happen. Dian getting wounded today may have saved hers and all our lives as well as putting these pore souls to rest. Just look around you.” Her gaze looked around the ramp and lock for a few seconds before returning to Mark. “All these soles put to rest. I also know that because of you; Dian will become a great Doctor when only a week ago she was headed for an uninspired life as a medic if she did not drop out of that too. Probably going to another ship as soon as she turned of age where she would be a stranger without any opportunity to advance her medical abilities. Her studies were flagging as she wondered around lost. You gave her purpose and her life. You need only trust in the all-mighty lord son and continue with your righteous work. Peace be with you son." She kissed his hand and then turned and walked on out onto the ramp.
The marine with the cart of boxes that had been following the Priest continued to look at Mark for several seconds then turned and started pushing his cart out onto the ramp following the Priest and then stopped touching his earphone then said. "Thanks; I did not really want to walk all the way out there anyway. It is late and I am headed for my bunk." Turning his cart around, he pushed it into the lock and stopped. Turning around he walked up to Mark. "Commander Sir. They are working on the last body now. There is nothing else you can do here sir." Then turned back toward the cart.
Mark turned his head to look at the marine. A little smile crossing his lips. "Thank you Sgt. but there is always something… They may be done out there soon but they can never get all the remains. I just can’t believe how many small pieces of remains are left that are too small to cut out. Hell we will probably never be able to get all the remains out even if we had a dozen dedicated teams working on it for years." Stopping he shook his head then turned back to stare out the ramp at the cutters, the reclamation crew and clergy standing next to them. “No we can never get them all. No, I will stay here until they are done and check one last time for any we can recover. And then what? You can’t take a step anyplace in the damn lock without stepping on remains. How do you guard against that?” Shaking his head. “No I will stay and do my best.” Looking around at the Sargent staring at him. “Go Sargent. No sense in you losing sleep too.”
"Sir. More Remains Sir. I thought we had every scrap of remains sir. I don’t see any and I helped. We even had those English scanners that really look close."
Mark looked over at the Sgt. shaking his head sadly. "Mickey; is there any way you can show this Sgt. what I am seeing as far as remains go?"
"I can show him a representation of the remaining remains by projecting a simulation on the bulkheads, deck and overhead using the work lights. It will look like what you see to anyone that looks. Though it would look better if there were not so many work lights still blazing washing the display out."
Mark turned around looking down the dozen big holes still flood lit in the mostly empty lock with their reflected light off the deck lighting up most of the locks bulkheads and overhead. Mark walked over to the nearest group of floods and started shutting off the self-powered lights on the tops of the rods sitting on their magnetic basses. Plunging that section of the lock into darkness.” Turning to the Marine. “Start shutting off the work lights down the lock. “He took one of the light stand rods and placed one of Mickey's button slides on top of the 1/4 inch lens of the flood light and pointed it straight up. Taking the flood light stand down 50 feet from the hatch he set it up to one side of the center grate and said. "Light it up Mickey." As he turned the flood lit back on.
The Marine now a hundred feet down the lock turned around from the set of work lights he had just shut off as the bulkheads, deck and overhead lit up with a blue covering of various brightness with the vague outlines of people scattered around in the haze in that end of the lock. "Mickey give each body remains a different color please."
Hundreds of people's frozen outlines erupted around that end of the lock clear for all to see. Mark looked up at the Sgt. "What you are seeing Sgt. is the molecular remains of those who died in this lock blasted and leached into the metal by the 20mm gun fire from the weapons of one of our own shuttles. After 20 years the remains have leached so deep into the mettle that they can never be removed. No Sgt. we have gotten only a small portion of the remains out of this lock. The rest are here until the ship is scrapped and these decks and bulkheads are melted down."
Mark suddenly felt like hitting something or crying. Neither of which he wanted to do in front of the Marine.
For something to do he walked down the lock and continued turning out the flood lights and adding slides to one every 50 feet down the long lock alternating from side to side as he made his way, shaking his head as the frescos jumped out at him each time he turned off a group of flood lights or converted another. He finely reached the end of the lock past the wrecked fighter and turned around and could not breathe. The lock stretched out before him lit by only the 4 original 20 year old dim emergency lights and the glowing naked bodies (since cloths could not leach) of hundreds of women, children and men of all ages in possess taken by surprise or trying to escape or hide from the hell that took place in the lock.
"Mickey, can you turn off those few lights. Even as dim as they are they are obscuring parts of the lock and interfering with the fidelity of the scenes." The 4 lights blinked out but with the light from hundreds of bodies glowing, the lock was lit from end to end especially around the cut out craters.
“Mark, with all the projectors scattered down the length of the lock, I can render a three dimensional representation of each of the remains. It would bring them to life again for all to see.”
Shr
ugging his shoulders. “Ya sure Mickey. Why not?”
The whole lock came to life forcing Mark to grab onto the tail of the fighter to keep from falling as tears came to his eyes.
Finally Mark started walking up the middle of the lock again marveling at the unbelievable detail that made it impossible for Mark to breathe without incredible effort. He slowly walked back up the lock being careful to go around each of the life like bodies, taking in every square inch of bodies that jumped out at him in horrible 3 dimensions. The effect of the dozen floods Mark had converted to laser like transmitters was beyond belief.
As he stepped up to the hatch the Sgt. closed his mouth and asked. "Is this for real sir." When Mark did not answer right away he looked out at the flashing cutter then back into the lock. "Ah. What happened here anyway?"
Mark finely took his eyes away from the cathedral for a second and took a deep breath. Asking himself the same question. Suddenly realizing that it was late and he was tired and more than disappointed at the Captain's answer. "A tragedy and disgrace that the ship will have to live in dishonor with until the second coming Sgt. A humiliation that we should guard with our lives, never allow the ship to forget and let happen again." Mark turned his head and starred at the marine hoping the marine would take that as an answer since he still did not know why hundreds of women and children and crewmen were slaughtered there.
"Yes sir. I will join you and never let them forget sir."
Mark turned back to the ramp and the cutter that looked even brighter now. It was late and he wanted to go to bed but his mind was still turning and he still needed to scan the ramp without all the people getting in the way. There was no sense in making everyone stay up half the night just because the damn hatch was still open. "Call it a night Sgt. I have the watch." Hopefully there would not be need for a second before they got the ramp withdrawn and the hatch closed. "Hopefully the second coming won't take too long." Mark tried to make a joke about them getting the hatch closed but the Marine did not smile.
The Sgt. took a deep breath swallowed and sternly said. "Don't worry Sir. I will take the second watch sir."
Mark smiled sadly at the Sgt not understanding what he had said. "Thanks. Now go and get to some rack time. Revile comes early." Seeing that he had a while to wait, he turned around and started walking slowly down the lock trying to figure out what had happened trying not to look at the scenes to closely to keep from getting sick but not being able to stand in one spot any longer on tired legs. He could not help but walk up and down the lock several times while he waited for the workers to finish out at the end of the ramp thinking and trying to stay awake. The Marine who had wanted to see what remains could possible remain, had left in a hurry with his cart as Mark looked at the fighter wreckage for a few seconds before turning to start walking back up the lock. Mark passed several other marines pushing carts and priests besides them marveling at the horrible story told in the lights as he walked from one end to the other trying to stay awake and still half in shock at what he could see.
And then Mark finished a round, pausing to look at the workers almost finished. He heard heavy footsteps running up behind him and the Sgt. appeared beside him.
Glancing at the Sgt. in the dim light. "Ah what… Sgt. The hatch is back that way. Call it a night." And then noticed the Sargent was in full battle armor with his weapon and it was loaded.
"Like you said sir. Hopefully the second coming will not take forever." The Sgt. said determined. "Until then. I will stand ready to relieve you sir at the end of your watch."
Too tired to even try to understand what the Sgt. had meant with his mind still trying to make sense of other things he simply said. "Thank you Sgt.”
Mark found his gaze wondering away from all the death and up to the clear black night and the stars. He was soon zooming up to see the satellites orbiting the planet as the space station crept by. Able to pick out the restaurant's little bubbles hanging below reminded him sadly of Dian. Realizing that he would have to put her behind him whether he wanted to or not, his gaze wondered out along the band of asteroids forming the outer ring around the gas giant hidden behind the planet he stood on. Millions of rocks and dust patches reflected the light from the distant red sun now far below the horizon. His gaze seemed to be repeatedly drawn to one nondescript particular patch of the ring that he found most interesting and he could not figure out why. Though one speck seemed to be different than the rest. Seemed to be radiating heat as it orbited so far above. But he knew it was much too far away to be true even for Mickey’s fantastic abilities.
But finely, with his legs hurting from standing and no sign of the cutters finishing soon he turned and headed down the lock. Taking his time in no hurry as walking slowly seemed to work the cramps out of his legs. The Sargent walking slowly back down the lock behind him with his weapon at Port Arms across his chest.
At the other end Mark thought about leaving and coming back to finish the next day but he just could not make himself leave. Knowing that if he found something, he would need the last cutting team to remove the remains. After a few seconds with his legs growing restless again Mark yawned. Hell they have to be done soon, he thought to himself. Then turned around and almost bumped into the Marine standing at attention with his weapon at Port Arms. Shaking his head. “Please Sargent. I have this. Go get some sleep. Revile is only a few hours away and if you don’t get some sleep, you won’t be worth shit when you are needed.”
The Marine side stepped still at attention then turned smartly 90 degrees as Mark started his slow walk back up the lock. His eyes locked forward to keep from seeing the death around him. Stopping at the main hatch again as the Marine Sgt. stepped up beside him. Mark watched the cutters for a few seconds. Then he looked back out at the Asteroid ring until his tired legs started hurting again. Looking at the Sargent again. “Please Sargent. I have this shift. Go get some rest for…” Mark started to say tomorrow but realized it was way too late in the morning and tomorrow was already there. Shaking his head as his thoughts turned to his new job rebuilding the fighter everything else he needed to do that tomorrow morning, which was so few hours away. “Besides as big as his new job was looking…” He turned around suddenly seeing the carnage again and frowned again. “I doubt I will be getting much sleep anyway for a very long time.” Looking at the Sargent. “That is an order Marine.”
Then turned around and slowly walked back down the lock. The Sgt. watched him slowly walk away down the lock and raised his com to his lips.
------------------------------
The last body was cut out at the end of the ramp and the cart, trailed by every clergymen on the ship started its slow procession to the ship’s morgue for finale identification.
The line of marines had grown out along each side of the ramp forming what Mark figured was an honor guard for the last victim. Over the last half hour, the Marines had slowly arrived each dressed for battle with their weapons. Each marine gasping in horror as they entered the lock gazing around the reliefs until they were able to move again. Then after stopping at attention in front of Mark; they would saluted him saying, "I will stand with you sir." Then continue out taking their place along the ramp as Mark continued to walk slowly up and down the lock. More to stay awake while not thinking of all the death around him than anything else as he waited so he could finish and go to bed himself.
A hundred marines lined the sides of the ramp and stood at port arms facing each other as the cart slowly made its way toward the lock. Each coming to attention and holding their weapons out at arm’s length as it passed then falling in behind the procession. By the time they reached the lock a hundred marines were slow marching in perfect step behind them creating a body feeling thump that shook the whole lock with each step as 100 heavy armored feet tapped the deck at the same time every two seconds.
Mark having stopped at the edge of the ramp when the procession had started, saluted the cart as it passed him and then waited for the procession to pass an
d then started his slow walk out the ramp so Mickey could check for any additional remains that could be recovered. His mind on other things as Mickey did her work. Finely he reached the end of the ramp.
"You can turn around now Mark. I could not find any additional recoverable remains. The English have developed very good sensors for the job."
Mark sighed with relief, (he could finely go to bed), and turned around. "Lock control you can retract the ramp now I have finished my sensor sweep. The ramp is clear of remains." The ramp started to slowly slide back into the lock and Mark finely noticed that the marines had lined both sides of the lock's platform support rail trench cover, leaving the 20 foot gap of the articulated cover between them to slowly slide toward the far end of the lock as it disappeared below the deck onto its storage roller. Looking like statues with their weapons at Port Arms. "Mickey what is going on here? I am too tired to get involved with anymore crap tonight or should I say morning. It is 3 in the morning for crying out loud and I think I got all of 4 hours of sleep the night before."
"I do not know Mark, though I have detected a tremendous amount of com traffic amongst the marine enlisted ratings an hour ago as they started arriving."
"What do you mean com traffic? Did you listen in to any of it?"
"Yes Mark since it was mostly from each marine to other marines as they arrived and saw your frescos. It seemed to be mostly their impressions of the lock and a recording of the little speech you gave the Sgt. when he asked you what happened here and the Fresco. Then telling them what they were doing."
"What? That is stupid. I didn't say anything because I didn't and still don’t know anything."
With the help of the sliding ramp, Mark quickly reached the lock's hatch opening. “Lock Control. You can close Number 3 lock’s hatch now.” As the big end of the ramp started to raise, closing the hatch. Mark started walking down the center toward the other end of the lock and the personnel exit hatch thinking about his bunk. As he approached the first marine, he realized that it was the Sgt. that he had first talked to. Mark started to say something to the Sgt asking him what was going on when the Sgt. snapped to attention and saluted Mark.
Tramp Wars: The Enemy Page 94
