‘Colda reputedly spent the night sedated in his quarters. Medication was administered in front of witnesses upon his arrival at Command following his forced expulsion from Med, shortly after midday.’ Quartermaine stopped to pass a sealed plastic bag containing a small vial across to Aesca. ‘Apparently he did not recover until this morning.’
‘This would do the trick,’ she confirmed.
He continued. ‘Karron, no longer a captain, was not on duty last night. His appearance in that section was fortuitous, just chance that he and his companion were in the vicinity. His explanation for approaching the scene was that, not being on duty, they were not part of the ordered Security response and could therefore respond freely. It is not an explanation I accept.’ Those two, I might not leave to Nata, thought Quartermaine.
‘The caretaker, Donen was reported to be on late duty at the Box. That is yet to be confirmed.’ Quartermaine resumed his slow progression around the room.
‘Steamsetter, the serviceman, was returning from a repair call to the loading facility at ground level at the eastern end of the storage section. The call was logged in, as was his departure from the east wall service centre. The repair was tested remotely on his signal, logged in five minutes before his emergency call. He appears to be the closest person known to be officially in that section at the time of the murder. Supply were three floors above on an evening shift preparing a load-out for the marines. No other movements were recorded, however, the mid and upper corridors are routinely used as a route to the transport section and the workshops further along the wall. None of the corridors are monitored.’ Quartermaine stopped by the table. He placed his hand on the shoulder of the body.
‘As for Briodi, her known movements were limited to Med, between the psych eval room and the scout's room. She had official sessions with Donen, the caretaker from the Box, and Trahern in the morning. Her altercation with Colda took place around midday. Most of the rest of the day was spent with the scout, with short trips back to the psych room. She left the scout’s room during the evening meal period. I was not aware of her destination. I believe Aesca and I were the last to see her alive … with the exception of her killer or killers, that is.’
Beside him, Aesca reached for Briodi’s other shoulder then spoke softly. ‘I told her to get some food and rest. She said she had something to check on first. In the psych room, I think. I had patients to see and my wards to put in order. I should have made her accompany me or should have consigned her to a bed myself.’
The Armourer cut across the doctor’s quiet words. ‘You see Trahern as a suspect?’ he asked Quartermaine.
Quartermaine did not answer, pointing to Nata instead. The investigation was his. Quartermaine had faith in the small man. His mind was sharp and if the inquiry became dangerous he was the best equipped of them all to handle it. With the welcome assistance of the Scholar, a resolution was sure. He, himself, had other tasks, as did the rest. Time to move to those, he thought. He stepped back from the table.
‘While I am here, I will take reports. Nata, what progress on the attempt on the Scholar?’ Quartermaine bowed formally to the tall man by the wall in a delayed greeting. This man is not mine, he reminded himself. The others would know his ways. He did not want to give offence.
‘I do not know their identity and present position, but the two in question are of the PlanCon force. This much I discern from my observations on the day, brought to mind by another of your queries, directed to me by the Armourer.’ Nata moved to the wall and turned to address them all, a move which drew a slight smile from the Scholar.
‘The question concerned traces of Houses,’ he announced. ‘PlanCon personnel were tested in unarmed combat upon their entry to the Guard. Two general levels of ability were observed, a basic competence common to paramilitary groups, and an expertise evident of an elite unit. This was to be expected. What was unusual, was that there were three styles exhibited by about equal numbers in the elite group. The hands of three masters. A result of isolation or segregated training was my theory at the time. In response to the present query, I checked the Planetary records. Their personnel were all processed through one training facility where there was no great emphasis on unarmed combat and instruction was basic. No masters are recorded to have taught there or at other locals.’ He paused for effect.
‘In light of recent developments, I now believe we see a contribution from three Houses. In a short time I will be able to identify these specifically.’ Nata focused on the Commander. ‘That is the answer to one of your questions. The other arose from this contemplation. During the testing there were a number of subjects that attempted to hide their ability. This is difficult when under duress and I made it near impossible. At the time, I did not think much of it. Some men prefer to dissemble. Now I believe the attempt was meant to be strategic. To hide assassins in our midst. The movement of the two who shadowed the Scholar match my memory of two of these. Not faces, movement only. I have viewed all of the personnel that have transferred out of PlanCon and they are not of this group. The numbers in PlanCon are great and I have yet to note them in my search. It is also possible that they are keeping out of my sight.’
Quartermaine made a note to himself to ask Nata for conclusions only in future. ‘Did you find a comparable separation of abilities?’ he asked the Armourer.
‘An elite, certainly, but I was not able to break it on style or weapon preference,’ answered the Armourer.
‘The PlanCon Great Hall,’ said Celene, stressing the ‘great’, ‘is in the form of a T. Their command occupies a raised dais where the three arms meet. I believe the elite will be found on the end of each arm closest to the dais. They will outline their loyalties for us. The long arm will be Colda’s House.’
‘Use that,’ said Quartermaine. ‘I want unit designation and names. I will know my enemy.’ He paused and glanced sideways at Aesca. Now we go down a difficult path. ‘While we are talking of skill, has anyone noticed a decrease of ability that could be caused by needling? Nata?’
‘No, not in those I instruct,’ answered Nata.
‘Armourer?’ asked Quartermaine, before Nata could continue.
‘No, also,’ said the Armourer picking up on Quartermaine’s brevity.
‘Celene?’
‘I have referred seventeen people to Med for testing, though I doubt any are true candidates.’
‘Aesca, have you found any evidence or noted symptoms?’
Aesca was slow to answer. ‘Yes. We checked deaths back for five years so far, those we have adequate scans for, that is. We have two with damage that could have been caused by needle laser. Of the debilitated, we have one confirmed, Commander Wiles. For recent patients, we have only managed to go back six months, but thankfully, we have none so far in that group.’ She stopped to look at their faces. ‘These earlier cases all had time on the Rim or were involved in policing actions in the Arm. The damage doesn’t have to have been done here on Base.’
She does not want to believe this, not here and for this length of time, not in people under her care, thought Quartermaine. They are under my care also, Aesca. ‘And symptoms? You saw Tracka-dan. Any others noted and yet to be tested?’
‘Dan’s symptoms mimicked age related dysfunction,’ Aesca answered defensively in response to his tone. ‘I don’t blame my staff for not picking them up.’
‘And how would it affect a young person? What would that look like, Aesca?’ he asked.
There was silence in the room. Tears came to the medic’s eyes.
‘I’m sorry. I haven’t checked her scans for that. I wasn’t thinking. I will do it now.’ She turned to lay a hand on Briodi’s shoulder.
‘No, later. Now you will all get some rest,’ ordered Quartermaine. ‘I saw marines outside. They are escorts?’ he asked.
‘Michael is with me,’ said Aesca quietly. ‘Tollen and Spence are here for Celene. The others stay nearby in case of need.’
‘Keep those three with you. The o
thers you will probably lose. The Rim has hotted up. Another marine contingent heads out tomorrow.’ Quartermaine turned to the Armourer. ‘Better get your head down soon. They’ll need you for outfitting by the end of the day.’
Quartermaine had Celene in the corner of his eye. She had been quiet, too quiet. Her head had lifted when Aesca identified her escorts but that had been her only movement. He had expected her to intervene when he bullied the medic. That she hadn’t told him there was more on her mind. The Specialist was one of the few people on Base that would blatantly disregard his orders. He could not afford that kind of complication now.
‘Specialist Celene, you have something to add?’ he asked, in the same hard tone he had used with Aesca. Her eyes narrowed. She’s angry. Good. I can use that.
‘We can cut short this procedure,’ stated Celene, pointing to the body with her left hand. ‘Pull in the suspects and I will find the truth.’
‘Suspects? The only one with clear motive has been accounted for,’ said Quartermaine dismissively. He was fishing, trying to keep her angry enough to get a feel for her direction.
‘Don’t put too much faith in Colda’s alibi,’ said Celene. ‘The Houses have bred in a resistance to drugs, mainly to poisons but other medications are affected. An old House like Colda’s would have many immunities. I doubt he was sedated for long.’
The comment drew an interested look from the Scholar.
So it’s Colda she wants, thought Quartermaine. I would have thought Trahern from her comments yesterday. ‘This business of suspects is for Nata,’ he stated. ‘He will reason this out. Security will make it difficult for it to happen again. You and yours have your own job to do. There is madness in this act, controlled or not. You psychs are not observers. You are responsible for the mental health of the Guard. You will come into contact with this aberration again. I want all your people, including you, to wear vest stunners from now on. And push, I don’t care if you break people on this. We are heading into hard times and I will not have unsound personnel.’ There, now I’ve ordered her to do exactly as she wants. Maybe that will get some obedience.
*
Tollen waited with Mad Mike and Spence outside the body room. Steamsetter, the serviceman who had found the young psych, was there also. He had come with Quartermaine. The Commander hadn’t stopped for a word or greeting, just gave the marines a quick scan while he waited at the door then motioned to Steamsetter to drop off with them. All business now. Good, thought Tollen. About time he got off his arse. Two is two too many.
Steamsetter moved to the door and back again. His nervousness showed. Well, he’s gone through a lot, thought Tollen, and this would be new for him, accompanying Quartermaine. Doesn’t know how to wait, though. Marines excelled at waiting. You couldn’t fight if you couldn’t wait. Have to help him calm down a bit. Burns up too much energy fretting. ‘Yo, Steamsetter, you got anything besides that pipe wrench?’ he asked.
‘Umm. No,’ said the embarrassed serviceman, sliding the wrench behind his leg. ‘I had nothing else and the Commander said to come along as his guard, for protection.’
And not just for the Commander, thought Tollen. Security would not be too happy about this man dropping two of theirs. That they were in the wrong would only make it harder to take. ‘The wrench is fine. Might be a little awkward close in, though. I’d swap it for a piece of pipe when you get the chance.’
‘I could ask for a stunner or a belt weapon, I suppose,’ said Steamsetter.
‘No, the Sarge is right,’ said Mike, joining in. ‘A piece of pipe, not too long, about the same as that wrench.’
‘Yah, see, you don’t want something they understand. They’re trained to that other stuff.’ Tollen ran his hand back through his short peppery hair. ‘But a pipe, hell, who knows what you will do with a pipe?’
The serviceman looked doubtful.
‘You’re fearsome with that wrench … two trained Security men down in seconds, that’s in everyone’s mind now,’ said Mike.
‘But I didn’t fight them. I don’t know what I did,’ admitted Steamsetter. ‘I didn’t think.’
‘That’s the best way. On the Rim you often don’t have time to think. You just do,’ said Tollen.
‘How do you think the Sarge here has lasted all this time?’ asked Mike.
‘Yeah …,’ Tollen started to speak but stopped as what Mike had said sunk in. He turned with a scowl for the big marine. But their chivvying had worked. The serviceman was smiling now, at ease. Mike had picked up well on that. Spence probably hadn’t heard any of it. When the Specialist was around, she filled his world, even if there was a wall in between.
‘Anyway, don’t worry about it,’ said Tollen. ‘You will be fine, and remember you have Quartermaine with you. He’s a dab hand at close combat.’
‘You’ve got some size,’ offered Mike. ‘If you get a serious attack, grapple and pull them off balance. You tangle them up and Quartermaine will do the rest.’ Mike turned his regard back to Tollen. ‘He’s fair pissed off right now, the Commander,’ said the big marine. ‘He’d welcome someone having a go at him.’
‘The only one on Base madder than him is Aesca, but she’s like that most of the time anyway.’ Let him try to deny that, smiled Tollen.
‘Be that as it may, I think Steamsetter and I drew the long straws on this one,’ said Mike.
That took the smile off Tollen’s face. I can’t deny that. The Specialist would pull a hair from the devil’s arse then say ‘What?’ to his face while he roared. Well, if that’s what she wants to do, I’ll stand beside her.
Minutes went by in silence. They were all waiting easily now.
‘A dull pipe,’ said Mad Mike. ‘Not a shiny one.’
More time passed.
‘And hit it hard against something a few times to make some dents. That’s the look you want,’ added Tollen.
The silence returned, to be broken minutes later by Quartermaine coming out the door. ‘Those you are escorting are to get some rest. That’s an order,’ said the Commander without stopping. ‘Steamsetter, let’s go, we’ve got work to do.’
*
Celene was the last out the door. She motioned to Mike to go into the room. Aesca was still inside working. Securing the body.
Aesca had asked her if she wanted to have Briodi released for her funeral service. Celene had declined. Not until I am sure that her killer will not attend.
Tollen and Spence moved to stand on either side of her. They take this escort business seriously, she noted.
‘Do they carry them sticks in the Inner Belt?’ asked Tollen, with a nod down the corridor to indicate the Scholar.
‘No, that’s something Nata has given him,’ answered Celene. The appearance of the tall Scholar with his staff had struck a cord in her also at first sight. ‘He looks like a sage of the ancients with it, doesn’t he?’
‘I don’t know about that, but he could knock you off your feet at four metres,’ returned the old marine.
Oh well, to each his own, thought Celene. ‘You would just have to avoid the strike, Sergeant, or not encourage it in the first place.’
‘I’m not a dodgy sort of fellow,’ grumbled Tollen. ‘Not much misses me. I get most of it full on.’
What are we talking about here? Celene asked herself. Out loud, she asked Tollen, ‘Something troubling you, Sergeant?’
‘Nah, I just want to know if we’re going after someone.’
‘You heard Quartermaine,’ she said.
‘Yeah, that was an order, and I know how you take orders.’ He turned to her, fixing his eyes on hers, kind eyes with crow’s feet at the edges, eyes that have seen a lot, sad eyes at the moment. ‘It’s like this. I owe Tracka-dan and you owe that girl in there, so if you want to go for someone, we go. But you have to be sure. This won’t get to the Brig. You front him, I’ll take him down and Spence will get you clear.’
He means Colda, thought Celene, but it would be the same if it were anyone else. There wa
s no pretence here. This old soldier would be true to his word. Celene sought her other escort’s eyes. Spence smiled. He would follow her.
‘Escort me to my quarters. I will rest as ordered. But I will not have the two of you in with me.’ This escort would have to stop. With these two potent companions she would be tempted to force events. Quartermaine is clever, she realised. If he had forbidden direct action, I would be taking it right now.
‘Looks like you miss out, Spence,’ said Tollen as they started off.
The sense of what he said did not reach her busy mind until they were halfway down the corridor. She laughed. They are making a marine out of me, including me in their jokes. How did I earn that respect? And this devotion? she added pensively, glancing at Spence.
CHAPTER 22: COLDA’S ALLIES
Colda was pleased and allowed it to show. His happiness raised nervous smiles on those attending him. Ha, they fear me now. Well they might. To convert disaster to gain, what a true son of my House I am. Confidence hummed through his being. All on my own, no assistance from these aides and associates. He knew his enemies now, all of them.
To be paraded incapacitated, a laughingstock, on the order of a junior female. In the past he could not have borne that thought. But he was much stronger now. All events turned to his advantage. The girl was dead, murdered horribly by a person or persons unknown. A mystery. So much for those that offend him.
The reason for his earlier loss of control? Why, he had known something was wrong at Med. Something involving the Grey. He had tried to take charge of the situation, to mediate to prevent harm. But that harridan, the mad doctor, frustrated his well-intentioned intervention for reasons of her own, employing the power of her position. Even so, it had required force, stunners and drugs to subdue him in the end. … So a life was lost, in the very corridors of Base and the Commander of Base was doing nothing about it.
This version of events was being disseminated even now across all of Base. A more detailed and official record was encapsulated in his psych review completed only hours ago. His tame psych, Sussex, had finally proved to be worth his suppers. I must not let the Senior Psych near me. The Specialist is the most dangerous at this moment. Colda started rocking his upper body forward and back. In his concentration he did not see the concern on the faces around him. Provocation. Whether I defend an accusation successfully or not, there would be provocation. There would be death, determined by whoever had planned best. I can not take that risk. Not with these allies. He did not allow himself to identify gender, even in his thoughts. He must retain control.
The Return of the Grey Page 15