Edge World

by Michael Guinn

  “But why? It doesn’t make any sense. The team came to this planet to do something and I am sure that wasn’t to sit in a warehouse while its members are gradually killed off,” Tracy complained.

  “It smells to me too,” Yuri said. “This is something bigger than a couple of murders in the City and a couple of caravans attacked. I don’t know what is going on, but I think this could all tie together somehow. Let us go see Captain Santos if she is back and then Captain Carlos. The more heads we can put together, the more likely we will solve this puzzle.”

  There was a security Officer at the OSI aircar compound, something Tracy had never seen before. She and Yuri show their badges and I.D. and were permitted to land. As they approached the Officer Tracy realized she had never seen him before. And he seemed so young.

  “Are you one of the new Officer class,” she asked him? I thought you had another week before you graduated.”

  “Yes, Investigator. They did a hurry up graduation to get more officers on the roll. We didn’t even get the two weeks break other new officers have received in the past. Most of us are taking the place of more experienced officers in some of the less critical jobs, to start.”

  “Carry on, Officer,” Tracy said as she and Yuri entered the building, having a laugh between themselves over the earnest new officer. Tracy immediately saw Lt. Owens, Lt. Adams and Lt. Baker in the main conference room looking at an area map. When Lt. Baker saw Townsead and Yugoslav he motioned for them to join the group.

  “Are you still working those murder cases in the City,” Lt. Baker asked Sgt. Townsead?

  “We have been, although progress is slow. It appears that the Traders Association may be involved in at least one of the murders,” said Sgt. Townsead.

  “We may have to reassign you, but give me a brief on what you have found.”

  Townsead proceeded to lay out everything she knew about the two murders, particularly their connection to the jungle tribesmen and the Traders Association.

  “In conclusion Investigator Yugoslav and I decided our next move would be to inform Captain Santos and Captain Carlos, head of the Atlanta City Militia.”

  “The problem is we found a patrol aircar that had exploded between here and Chief Onn’s village.” Lt. Baker said. “We don’t know for sure that it is the Captain’s patrol aircar, but it doesn’t look good. We have sent a forensic team out to the site and are having all of the Patrol aircars carefully searched. We found a large number of explosives in one that was to be set off after the aircar had traveled fifty kilometers, just about the distance from here to the crash site. It is not known if someone was trying to kill the Captain or just anyone who took out the next patrol aircar.”

  “Do we know who the culprit might be and where did they find the explosives,” Sgt. Townsead asked, in shock over the possibility that Captain Santos had been killed.

  “There are tons of explosives used by the miners that can be obtained by anyone with a little effort. One of the garage mechanics hired recently hasn’t shown up for work today and is not at his residence. His background checked out when we hired him, but he is from one of the jungle tribes so there could be a tie-in. We have a stop and detain warrant out on him right now.”

  “And Captain Santos”, Tracy asked, not sure she wanted to hear the answer?

  “As I said,” Lt. Baker said with some heat, “We don’t know anything other than we found the remains of a patrol aircar that had exploded and we have sent a team to investigate. Would you…”

  Lisa, the supervisor of control central rushed into the room.

  “The comm system are going on and off. We don’t know what is happening,” Lisa almost shouted?

  “Are you talking about the static, Lisa?”

  “No, the whole system is coming on and off. One of the techs say there is a pattern developing but he doesn’t know what it means. And yes, when it comes on the static is still there, worse than ever.”

  “Damn,” Lt. Owens said, “everything falling apart and now no communications at all.” Lt. Owns was actually the night supervisor but had come back to headquarters when he heard about the aircar crash.

  “What does Sgt. Lanos have to say about the men he sent out to Satellite Control,” Lt. Owens continued? “They should be back here by now.”

  “According to Lanos, right after he sent the officers to Satellite Control Island, a storm moved down from the north polar regions isolating any flights in the north ten percent of the continent. But that is now over and the officers should have reported to headquarters, in person since the comm networks are still unusable. Lanos is starting to worry and so are the rest of us. I checked with the agency that staffs Satellite Control and with the Militia and was told shift change would not occur for another week.”

  “Did anyone ask why they haven’t done anything about the static,” Lt. Owens asked?

  “The Militia Officer was told that no one had complained about the static and until they received a complaint they weren’t going to do anything.”

  “That is totally ridiculous, Lt. Baker. They must have had thousands of complaints. They have to know there is a problem and yet refuses to fix it?”

  “You are right and it is probably more than just one or two. The Militia Officer believes, and I agree, that someone paid the agency under the table to do nothing. I talked with Captain Carlos this morning and he said he was sending a team to follow this up. I told him we would help if we were needed, but this was before news of the aircar crash. Thankfully we got those new recruits on-board. I have been switching them out with veteran officers at every non-critical assignment I can find. Unfortunately it looks like we could use two or three times as many officers than we received in this class.”

  Investigator Townsead, I was going to send you out to the crash site but now I am going to give you a choice of that or heading a team out to the Satellite Control Island. I want that team to go with heavy weapons.”

  Every officer in the room paused at that statement from Lt. Baker.

  ‘Heavy weapons’ meant the carrying of laser firearms, both hand weapons and rifles. Only law enforcement agencies were permitted to keep and use such weapons. Possession by any other citizen resulted in working for the government on public projects for a minimum of five years. Usually building streets and roads.

  “Captain Santos isn’t here to give the release codes on those weapons,” Lt. Owens finally said.

  “I was given the codes by Captain Santos before she left headquarters. In fact, she does that every time she leaves the City. They are in a sealed pouch of course. I have never had to use them but we have officers disappearing and I am not sending any more out without adequate protection. I will advise Captain Carlos of my action when I do.”

  “Why don’t you send Sgt. Onn out to the crash site,” asked Investigator Townsead? “She is the most knowledgeable of the jungle tribes of any officer in OSI.”

  “I would, Sgt., but Onn left with Captain Santos in the patrol aircar.”

  Lt. Adams broke the silence after this statement. “I was uneasy when you mention heavy weapons, Lt. Baker, but not now. It looks like someone is picking off officers that know the jungle tribes and we need to put a stop to it. It also sounds like this whole communication snafu is part and parcel of the plan, whatever the ‘plan’ may be. Handicap us with no communications just when we need them most.”

  “I think I had better go out to the crash site,” said Townsead. “It has been a long time since I had any training with heavy weapons and I am sure there are others here more suitable.”

  “All right, take a veteran and two recruits with you. I sent two forensic officers out an hour ago so with six of you together you should be relatively safe. Lt. Owens, you should go get some rest. It is only going to get worse tonight.”

  “I am doing fine,” Lt. Owens replied, “I will sack out here on one of the bunks in a little while. I live too far to get here quick enough if it all comes apart.”

  “Then wo
uld you send a patrol aircar out to the last known location of the caravan that we are escorting, Lt. Owens? We can’t afford to have eight men on that wild goose chase. Make sure you send at least four officers. Two can be recruits if you like. I don’t want any less than four officers on any of these assignments.”

  “Certainly. Lt. Adams, could you pick me out two of the best recruits. You are more familiar with them than anyone else.”

  “I have a couple in mind already, Lt. Owens,” Lt. Adams replied. “There are quite a few new recruits that can empty a boot without reading instructions on the bottom.” This got a small chuckle from the officers present, but no one was less than serious.

  “Lt. Adams, inform Sgt. Lanos that he is to take a team of six veterans, carrying heavy, out to Satellite Control Island and find our other two officers. Have them take the armored patrol aircar, just in case. Give it a good inspection before you use it.”

  “It may be hard to find six veterans, Lt. Baker. As fast as we can pull them into headquarters there is some critical need elsewhere.”

  “If necessary, use two recruits, but not more than two. They may have had the most recent training in heavy weapons but they don’t have the experience to know when to use them. I will be down at the armory in a few minutes as soon as I talk to Captain Carlos.”

  As soon as the office cleared, Lt. Baker got on the comm to Captain Carlos. Surprisingly the Captain wasn’t in his office. Lt. Baker had not talked recently with Captain Carlos, but had gotten the impression that he seldom left his office. However, it was just a few minutes before he was on the comm with Lt. Baker.

  “Yes, Lt. Baker, what can I do for you on this fine afternoon?”

  “It sounds like you are having a far better day than I am Captain Carlos.”

  “Rain, wind, murders and disappearances, it could always be worse.”

  “Yes, and it is about to. Captain Carlos, I am informing you in accordance with the Protocols that I am releasing heavy weapons to a limited number of our officers and may decide on further such action if needed.”

  Captain Carlos sat and looked out of the screen at Lt. Baker for several minutes. In a hoarse voice he asked why Lt. Baker was issuing the release instead of Captain Santos.

  “Captain Santos left headquarters day before yesterday with one other officer. She did not return as expected and there has been a crashed patrol aircar, apparently caused by a bomb, discovered between Atlanta City and the village of Chief Onn. I have taken command pending confirmation of the status of Captain Santos.”

  “My God,” Captain Carlos exclaimed. “What in hell is happening? Murdered researchers, attacked caravans, death of law enforcement officers.” Captain Carlos shook himself a little and then settled down. “Is there anything we can do to help? I know we are short-handed but I will pull some officers off less important cases if you need them.”

  “I might take you up on that if things get worse. We are using some of our new recruits to fill in to free more veteran officers.” Lt. Baker knew there was some danger in mentioning the recruits to Captain Carlos. The Captain thought he should get some of them. But law enforcement agencies and officers would work together when attacked, even when there had been some discord earlier.

  “One thing you could do is lean heavily on the agency staffing the Satellite Control Center. We think the static that has cut off all our long-distance communications is tied in with everything else. We have two officers missing we sent to the island and that is where I am sending my first heavy team. We believe there have been some payoffs in that agency to look the other way when communications when down. But be careful, we know whom ever is behind this is quite willing to kill to get what they want.”

  “All right,” Captain Carlos replied, “I have two officers in-route to that agency right now. I will try and stop them until I can send additional officers. I am not going to release my heavy weapons at this time, but by God I will if I start losing officers. Keep me informed of anything regarding Captain Santos. I will comm you what we find out from our communications imps, and WE WILL find out, I can guarantee that.”

  Lt. Baker sat for several very long minutes after getting off the comm with Captain Carlos. Finally he heaved himself out of his chair and walked down to the armory. Lt. Owens was there along with the six officers that would be making the raid on the island. And raid it would be thought Lt. Baker. I am afraid our two officers are dead but we have to try. Then get the satellite comm system back up and running. He walked up to the heavily armored door behind which the heavy stunners and rifles were stored. Three times a year two technicians check their condition under the watchful eye of a senior officer. As he punched in the code, Lt Baker had a dismal thought. This was the first time the heavy weapons locker had been opened with the intent to use the weapon. What is this world turning into, he thought bitterly?

  Chapter 12

  Late in the morning Tamara and Kristina were eating a huge breakfast that Vann’s wife, Therme had prepared for them when Vann brought a young man near their own age into the house.

  “This is your cousin Ethan, girls,” Vann said as he introduced Ethan to Tamara and Kristina.

  “Hi, girls, I remember you coming with your mother to the village quite a few years ago,” Ethan said. “Is your mother with you this time too?”

  “No!” Tamara said testily. “She isn’t with us. We are old enough to travel here by ourselves.”

  Van had some doubts about that but he kept quiet until he found out exactly why the girls were here.

  “In fact,” Tamara continued, “she doesn’t know we are here and we want to keep it that way.”

  “Why are you here then,” Ethan asked.

  “A very good friend of ours left a week ago to try and get certain jungle plants for a school project. His name is Charlie and up to a few weeks ago someone from here was collecting the plants and selling them to Charlie. Apparently that person has disappeared and Charlie came looking for the plants he needs,” Tamara explained.

  “Charlie said he would be back in three or four days, but he wasn’t,” Kristina put in. “We are worried and couldn’t think what else to do but to come and try to find him.”

  “It is a very big jungle and easy to get lost if you don’t know what you are doing,” Van put in. “Without more information I don’t even know where you should start.”

  “Charlie paid someone to collect the plants he needed so someone here has to know something about Charlie,” Kristina said. “He wasn’t stupid. Charlie said he was going to try and hire someone else to help do the collecting since he was well aware he wouldn’t find anything by himself.”

  “In that case you are right. He had to have talked to someone here since you said his goal was to obtain certain jungle plants. You don’t know who he was dealing with before, do you? Maybe if we can identify this person it would be a good place to start. Unfortunately, girls, I am scheduled to take a riverboat to Southport this evening so it will be close to two weeks before I can get back to help you. Ethan, what are your thoughts on this?”

  “Do you girls know the description of the plant or plants that this Charlie was using,” Ethan asked?

  “Sure, we handled the dried plant many times when we were feeding Charlies experimental sorties,” Tamara replied. “It was just one plant growing a foot high with serrated reddish-brown leaves. There also were small blue flowers at the end of sturdy stalks.”

  “I am pretty sure Charlie didn’t know which part of the plant contained the active ingredient because he was feeding his sorties the whole plant, including the roots,” Kristina put in.

  “What kind of effect was Charlie expecting from these plants,” Vann asked a little gruffly?”

  Even Vann’s wife looked startled at Vann’s tone of voice while the other three just looked at him in confusion.

  “Charlie was fairly secretive about his project, but he did mention he was getting sorties who lived half again, or even twice as long as his control animals,
” Tamara finally said.

  Vann was definitely scowling at this point. “I know the plant you are talking about,” he finally said. It is called death’s tongue and is totally banned in all of the jungle tribes. If one of the tribes was harvesting it for Charlie and got caught with it that would explain his disappearance. At the least he would have been banned from the jungle and possibly even put to death. The same thing might have happened to Charlie and could happen to your girls if you pursuit it. I will take you back to the landing where you can catch the afternoon shuttle back to Atlanta City.”

  Everyone was staring at Vann in complete disbelief.

  “What in the world are you babbling about Vann,” Therme asked in total disbelief. “I have never heard of anything called ‘deaths tongue’ and certainly no ban on any of the flora and fauna of the jungle. Just who said it was banned? You know as well as I do that every jungle tribe have some rules and regulations, usually all different, so a total ban on a plant makes no sense at all.”

  Vann seemed a loss of words for a minute, and then said “the ban was imposed by the medicine men. They are the closest to any wide-spread government that exists in the jungle. I don’t know why that plant was banned: most of us in the tribal council were told about the ban three years ago, and since then no one has tried to break it.”

  “Well we aren’t members of any of the jungle tribes so this so-called ban doesn’t include us,” Tamara said with some heat. “And if anything has happened to Charlie it is going to be for the worst for whoever is involved.”

  “Thank you for your hospitality but we had better leave now before you are accused of breaking some rule or other,” Kristina said somewhat coldly. Are you coming with us Ethan or do you think it is too dangerous?”

  “I am of age and haven’t been told about any such ban so of course I am with you,” Ethan said.

  Therma was looking like Vann like he was going to be sleeping in the dog house for some time to come, even if they didn’t have a dog.