Death Haunts the Stars

by Jeffrey M. Fortney

  Charlotte Hanson stepped slowly into the room, resplendent in her white dress and veil. James Rivers had always felt that Charlotte looked beautiful, but today he thought she looked positively radiant!

  The wedding song faded away as Charlotte reached her position beside her husband-to-be. James took Charlotte's right hand in his left and they turned as one to face Father Wilkes. The chaplain gave a short benediction, welcomed the attendees, and began the wedding ceremony. The ceremony moved along smoothly...until Bradley reached into his pocket to extract the wedding band. At first, James thought Bradley's look of shock and dismay were another of the man's practical jokes being played upon his best friend. Then he realized Bradley really couldn't find the ring! After what felt like an eternity...but was in fact a matter of only a few seconds...a look of relief came over Bradley's face and he drew the ring from the pocket.

  As he passed it to James, Bradley whispered, "The thread must have snapped with me fiddling with the ring on the way here! Scared the sh...crap out of me!" Bradley flicked an apologetic smile at Father Wilkes on the off chance that the chaplain had heard his faux paus.

  As he said his vows, James slid the ring onto Charlotte's finger. Then Charlotte repeated her vows and slipped a ring onto James' finger.

  Finally, Father Philip Wilkes smiled broadly and said, "You may kiss the bride!" The attendees broke into applause as James and Charlotte drew closer and kissed. After an all too brief kiss, James and Charlotte turned toward the assemblage and Father Wilkes said, "Ladies and gentlemen, may I present Captain James and Doctor Charlotte Rivers!" Minutes later, the applause died out and Commanders O'Reilly and Bradley left their positions and moved to spots about 10 feet from the Rivers, stopped about six feet apart, turned, and faced one another.

  "Company! Fall in!" O'Reilly called out loudly. Eight other Terran Colonial Fleet officers stepped forward from the crowd and fell in line with the executive officer and security officer, four on each side, facing one another.

  O'Reilly placed her right hand on the hilt of her sword and ordered, "Draw!" Everyone reached over and gripped their swords and drew them about six inches from their scabbards. At the command, "Swords", each officer pulled their sword smartly from their scabbard and pointed its tip at the floor. "Present...arms!" The tips rose upward sharply until the blades were held vertically in front of each officer's face then extended upwards at a 45-degree angle to form the ceremonial "Saber Arch".

  Smiling, James and Charlotte left their places before the dais and walked to the Captain's Table while passing under the arch. As they approach the far end, the two officers there lowered their blades to block their path. The voice of LTCDR Ainsley Truscott came from the speakers hidden around the room, "Ladies and gentlemen, the officers and crew of the TCV Conestoga proudly salute Captain and Doctor Rivers!" The guests applauded wildly and the two officers raised their blades, allowing the Rivers to pass.

  Once James and Charlotte were seated at their table, each of the "Saber Arch" officers stepped forward to offer their congratulations. As the officer who had been standing to Bradley's left approached the captain, James reached forward and took hold of the right sleeve of the officer's uniform. Pleased to find no damage, James accepted the officer's congratulations. When Bradley stepped forward, James said to him, "Been practicing, eh?" Bradley smiled and nodded before sticking his hand out to shake his captain's hand.

  The formal dinner went smoothly with Commanders Bradley and O'Reilly offering toasts to the newlyweds. After the main course was finished, the chef rolled out a large wedding cake. James and Charlotte carefully cut two small slices and daintily fed each other the first bites. By mutual agreement, they avoided smearing the cake in each other's face. "Cowards!" Bradley whispered at them so only they could hear. More cakes were rolled out and each guest was given a slice of wedding cake for dessert.

  After dinner, the dining hall was quickly cleared of most of the tables and chairs to allow room for another dance. Meaghan O'Reilly stepped into the center of the hall and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, thank you again for attending Captain and Doctor Rivers' wedding this evening. Let's invite them to the dance floor for their first dance as husband and wife!" As the guests clapped, the lights dimmed and James escorted Charlotte onto the dance floor. They paused for a moment to thank O'Reilly as they passed her.

  Once they reached the center of the dance floor, music began to pour gently from the speakers around the room. James and Charlotte melted into each other's arms and began to move gracefully across the floor. The crowd admired their dance skills and applauded again. But James and Charlotte saw only each other and barely heard the music to which they danced, so lost were they in a world of their own. Their danced lasted several minutes and, once finished, they left the floor to more applause.

  James and Charlotte sat at a table set aside for them. The table was piled high with cards and letters from their friends, the crew, and the passengers. As they sat reading the congratulatory missives, people would stop by to congratulate them.

  An hour later, Captain and Doctor Rivers quietly left the dance. Meaghan O'Reilly met them at the door and presented them with a bottle of champagne. The Rivers thanked her for the gift, each giving her a kiss on the cheek before making their way to their 'new' quarters.

  They paused at the doorway and gazed at the ribbon and bow taped across it. They found an envelope attached to the ribbon. Charlotte pulled the envelope from the ribbon and opened it. The card inside congratulated the Rivers on their wedding and wished them the best for their future together. It was signed by Pat Deckard and every member of the Engineering Section.

  James pulled the ribbon from the doorway, placed his hand on the scanner to open the door, then swept Charlotte up into his arms. "Missus Doctor Rivers...allow me to carry you across the threshold to your new home," James said as he carried her into their quarters.

  Chapter 4

  Ship's Log

  Terran Colonial Vessel Conestoga

  Earthdate: 16 October 2219

  Commander Meaghan O'Reilly, In Temporary Command

  Day: 024

  Executive Officer Meaghan O'Reilly's Command Log:

  Captain Rivers held a special Captain's Mast this morning before relinquishing command temporarily. Captain and Doctor Rivers are on shipboard leave for the next seven days. Of course, they are both available in the event of an emergency. The members of the senior staff have agreed that short of a catastrophe, we are not going to interrupt their 'honeymoon'.

  During the Captain's Mast, Captain Rivers sentenced Crewmen Holcroft and Shields to 7 days in the brig. The Captain wants this sentence to serve as harsh punishment for these two and a stern warning to the other members of the crew about inappropriate behaviors.

  We've had two more incidents of juveniles trespassing in sensitive areas of the ship. Per Captain Rivers' standing orders, the juveniles have been sent to the brig and their parents have been notified. Commander Bradley and his Security personnel are working with Commander Deckard and the Engineering staff in making another sweep of the Conestoga to look for trespassers and anything out of the ordinary.

  Following the Captain's Mast, James Rivers returned to his upgraded quarters to find his new wife admiring the many changes that had been to their home aboard ship. After a long hug and kiss, he joined her in thoroughly examining their renovated rooms.

  "Pat Deckard and his team did a great job!" Charlotte said as she looked around her new living room. "I love the large closet for me and having two private offices off the living room will certainly be helpful for both of us."

  James nodded his agreement. "The offices really are a nice touch! I'll pass along our thanks to Pat and his Engineering staff," he said to Charlotte.

  "So, what would you like to do today, husband-mine?" Charlotte asked.

  James wiggled his eyebrows and grinned.

  "James Rivers, you are incorrigible!" Charlotte responded.

  **********

  Else
where, Mac Bradley was cursing under his breath...again. Damned kids! They think playing their silly games in the access spaces and maintenance corridors is a hoot. They don't realize the danger they're putting themselves...and everyone else...in every time they pull a stunt like this.

  Bradley backed out of the cramped access space, snagging the right sleeve of his coverall on a protruding bolt and ripping a six-inch gash in the material. "Damn it!" Bradley swore out loud this time.

  "Mac? You okay?" asked Commander Pat Deckard, the Conestoga's Chief Engineer. "What happened?"

  "Tore my sleeve...again!" replied Bradley. "Your personnel must have the record for the most damaged clothing aboard this, or any other, ship."

  Deckard chuckled then replied, "No...we just know the location of every nut, bolt, and protrusion throughout the ship. Plus, we're not clumsy oafs like you!" Deckard couldn't resist teasing his friend.

  "Pat, is there any way we can lock off these space better?" Bradley asked.

  "Not without welding the access hatches shut. Which could be dangerous if Engineering needs to get into any critical areas in a hurry," Deckard answered. "Is there any way you could station additional security personnel at the critical access hatches?"

  "I'll look into it, Pat, but no promises at the moment. I need to see how many places we're talking about and how many people it'll take...allowing for rotation of personnel. Let's put our heads together later and see what we can work out," Bradley replied. "Well, I think this equipment bay is clear. Let's check the next one." Deckard grunted his agreement and led the way.

  The two officers were part way through their inspection of the next compartment when Bradley's comm unit shrilled. "Bradley," he answered.

  "Commander, this is SGT Turkel at the Security Watch Desk. We've received a report of an emergency in the Delacroix quarters."

  "Copy! I'm on my way!" Bradley responded then stowed his comm unit. He turned to Deckard and said, "Guess you'll need to finish this by yourself, Pat. See ya later."

  "Take care, Mac!" Deckard called out to his friend as Bradley raced off. The engineer shifted his flashlight to his left hand then used his right hand to open the access cover on a large tool storage cabinet. Finding it empty, he closed the cover and moved on to another part of the compartment.

  A few minutes later, Commander Bradley entered the Delacroix's quarters. Two security officers and two medics were already on the scene. Jean-Pierre Delacroix was sitting in his desk chair, his body leaning forward, and his face down upon the keyboard of his laptop. Papers were strewn across the desk; some covered in what looked like spilled tea, if the tilted tea cup was any indication. Angelique Delacroix was sitting on the couch across the room, talking with one of the Bradley's security officers. Bradley glanced over at the senior medic, Lieutenant Kathleen Sutton, who was just finishing her examination.

  Lieutenant Sutton returned Bradley's gaze, then stepping over to him, said, "Based on my preliminary examination, he's been dead about two hours. There are no signs of violence or trauma, so it may have been a stroke or a coronary. We'll know more when we finish the autopsy." Bradley nodded his thanks to Sutton then signaled Lieutenant Bill Parsons, the security officer who had been talking with Mrs. Delacroix, to join him by the door to the quarters.

  "What's up, Bill?" Bradley asked softly.

  Parsons turned his back to Mrs. Delacroix and replied in a low voice. "Mrs. Delacroix told me she left their quarters about 6:00 a.m. to go jogging in Cargo Bay One. Lately, Mr. Delacroix had been working on some new chemical process and was writing up a report on his laptop when she left. After jogging, Mrs. Delacroix went to the dining hall for breakfast, spoke with some friends, and returned here about 10 minutes ago. She found her husband in the chair and hit the emergency alarm."

  "Thanks, Bill," said Bradley. He pulled a chair over in front of the grieving woman. Sitting down, Bradley said, "Mrs. Delacroix, I'm Commander Mac Bradley, ship's security chief. I'm sorry for your loss. Ma'am, I'd like for you to accompany me to the Med Center for now. Let's have the doctors check you over to make sure there's nothing you or your husband may have been exposed to here in your quarters."

  Angelique Delacroix nodded blankly and accepted Bradley's assistance in standing up. Bradley guided her from the room, nodding to the medics and security personnel to finish their work.

  **********

  Commander Bradley escorted Mrs. Delacroix to the Med Center. While medics took the woman to an examination room, Bradley took a moment to speak with Dr. Celeste Cahill, the ship's Acting Chief Medical Officer. Cahill was of medium height and build with short, black hair. Her dark skin stood out against her white hospital uniform. The doctor was a good friend of the Rivers and Bradley and rumor had it that Pat Deckard and the good doctor were more than just good friends. I hope it's true, thought Bradley. Celeste and Pat are both terrific people and they deserve every happiness! Hey! Maybe we'll be having another wedding aboard the Connie soon!

  Bradley described what had been found in the Delacroix quarters and that the medics would be arriving soon with the husband's body. Before leaving, he asked the doctor to notify him when the autopsy was complete and what was found. Before going to check on her patient, Dr. Cahill assured Bradley he'd be kept in the loop.

  Bradley returned to the Delacroix quarters just as the medics finished strapping the body, inside a body bag, to a gurney. Kathleen Sutton walked up to Bradley and said, "We're ready to take Mr. Delacroix to the Med Center if you'll clear us to do so, Commander."

  The ship's security chief looked at LT Parsons and raised an eyebrow as a question. Parsons nodded his assent and Bradley told Sutton it was okay to remove the body from the room. Sutton and her fellow medic maneuvered the gurney and corpse through the doorway into the corridor beyond then proceeded down the corridor to a nearby elevator to take them to the Med Center.

  "Bill," said Bradley, "have you found anything else?"

  "No, sir!" Parsons replied. "There's no evidence of violence or foul play. Everything points to death by natural causes. Do you suspect something?"

  Bradley shrugged. "Nothing definite...call it a hunch. The Delacroixs had a quite an argument a few days ago. It might not be anything but...then again. Well, for now collect any evidence you think necessary, send it to the labs, then write up your report. I've got to get back to the search of the restricted areas...with Commander Deckard. Thanks, Bill...Sam. I'll check back with you later." With that, Bradley left the Delacroix quarters again. He pulled his comm unit from his pocket and commed Pat Deckard, asking his location. The ship's chief engineer gave Bradley his location.

  "Copy that, Pat," said Bradley, acknowledging Deckard's location. "I'll be there shortly."

  Fifteen minutes later, Bradley located Deckard as the engineer was exiting from another access tunnel. Bradley handed his friend a bottle of cold fruit juice. "I figured you could use a cool drink after climbing around the ship like this."

  "Thanks, Mac!" Pat said accepting the bottle and opening it to take a drink. "Ah, that's good. Thanks again."

  Bradley looked around the cramped compartment. "Find anything?" he asked.

  "No," answered the engineer. "Just more empty compartments. What happened with the Delacroixs'?"

  Bradley thought a moment before answering. Deckard was not a gossip and word would get out fast enough. "Jean-Pierre is dead. His wife found him collapsed over his keyboard. Medics said he'd been dead for a couple of hours."

  Deckard grunted, which caused Bradley to look quizzically at his friend. "What's that mean?"

  Deckard took another sip of his juice then spoke. "Remember the fight they had the other day?" He paused as Bradley nodded to answer the question. "Well, Angelique was staring at Dereck Wofford when Jean-Pierre caught her."

  "Yes, I saw it myself," said Bradley, "and the argument that followed."

  "Well," Deckard continued, "it's fairly common knowledge that the Delacroixs have...uh...had an open marriage. She's tried to proposition se
veral of my crew...both male and female. Lower ranking deck hands...almost like she was...'slumming'. I had to remind my crew of the Fleet regulations about crewmembers fraternizing with colonists. I think some of them may have already violated the regs but I have no proof."

  Bradley listened intently as Deckard described Mrs. Delacroix's behavior. Nothing conclusive, Bradley thought, hearsay really...but enough to make me question whether this was just a heart attack or stroke. Think I'll have a chat with Dr. Rivers...uh...Dr. Cahill. Gotta remember that James and Charlotte are on their honeymoon!

  "Thanks, Pat! I'll add this to my report and talk with the docs about the autopsy," said Bradley. "Shall we finish this little inspection tour, ol' buddy?"

  Deckard nodded and replied, "Sure! This compartment is empty. We just have the next two compartments and we'll have finished our part of the inspection. We get done soon enough, I might have time to get cleaned up and join a certain someone for dinner, if she's available."

  "Excellent!" Bradley responded. "We get done early, I get to swing by the Security Office...and the Med Center...then, maybe I'll get to take a quick shower before grabbing a bite to eat." The two men finished their examination of the compartment they were in and proceeded to the next one, with Deckard locking the hatch once they were through.

  The new compartment held an array of large tanks, recycling units and piping. Bradley looked around the room before his shoulders slumped and he said, "Ah, crap!"

  "Precisely!" Deckard said cheerfully. "Welcome to Waste Recycling Unit 4, Commander Bradley!" Human waste products from throughout the ship flowed through the pipes until they passed into the first stage recycler. From there, they went on to the next recycler where the waste was broken down further, purified, and so on it was finally converted into potable water and other chemicals. The room has a certain...aroma...about it, thought Bradley sourly as he swung his flashlight beam into the dark recesses of the compartment.