Koban (29 page)

“Good afternoon Maggi. How did your evening go with the committee
work? I presume Lady Cahill had some proposals and committee heads to present.”

“Yes…,” She said slowly. “I do have to thank you for giving
her
that
wonderful idea, Tet.” She gave him an accusing look. “I had to dismantle
everything she thought she had accomplished.”

“We needed to keep her busy and out of our hair.” He said this
contritely.

“Oh, I’m not being critical, and I know it was a spur of the
moment notion. It
was
wasn’t it? Or did you intend to do things by committee?”
She hoped he hadn’t thought that.

“Never. I’d sooner invite a Krall to just kill and eat me. It’s
a dumb way to organize a war. But I knew it would be a job Lady Cahill would relish,
and think important enough to jump on right away while she had a captive audience.”

“You can drop her ‘Lady’ designation with me. We came damned
close to blows last night, and she showed real ‘balls’ fighting back, which I didn’t
give her credit for having. In the end, I gelded her, of course. Oops. I probably
shouldn’t say that in male company.” They both shared a chuckle.

Then, in a tone laced with her outrage, she started ticking off
items with her fingers. “That dim witted ‘People Manager’ as you called her, proposed
establishing committees for developing new advanced weapons, forming a diplomatic
mission, designing uniforms, a code breaking and encryption section, a draft board,
a ROTC unit for our surviving teenagers, and a group to draw up a military code
of conduct.”

Fisher was shaking her head in angered amazement as she listed
them, lifting a finger for each of them, while Mirikami tried and failed to choke
back increasing laughter at each new committee description.

“Wow. I’m really… really…sorry… Maggi.” He managed to squeeze
out, his face turning red with the effort of suppressed laughter. He had a mental
image of her outraged expression last night. His shoulders were still shaking a
minute later. Maggi didn’t help, what with her finger taps and sour look, waiting
for him to get over his self- induced mirth.

He eventually slowed the shoulder shaking, his face recovering
its normal Spacer’s pallor. Finally, he was ready to continue, trying to look serious
despite his moist eyes. How long had it been since he last found anything so funny?

He took a deep breath to even his breathing. “I do apologize
for that outburst Maggi. There has been little to find funny recently. But did you
get any real help from anyone?” He patted her hand to show he was over his little
fit.

“From two people, both were yours by the way, and veterans with
limited military experience. Of course, Cahill had completely brushed off their
ideas.

“One was Ms. Jorl’sn, previously in a Naval ROTC unit in College,
before spending a few years paying back her education cost as a Navy flyer, working
as a shuttle pilot for a Marine Unit. She proposed we study small unit actions by
using ship library war documentaries, and search library records for old training
films.”

Mirikami nodded, saying, “Roni is a good officer, and I knew
of her previous shuttle pilot experience. That’s why she’s one of my pilots. However,
I doubt she has much combat experience, if any, but certainly some training. I wish
we could use her flight experience some way, but I doubt we get to keep our two
shuttles on Koban. Films aren’t going to actually train anyone, but her idea has
some merit.”

“I thought so too. She is now recruiting help for her record
search. I hope you don’t mind my taking that prerogative.”

“Not at all Maggi. While under Clanship tow we have few shipboard
duties, and even those will only last a short while longer, until we land on Koban.
She knows how to use our friend’s resources; if the records exist in our huge library,
she should find them. Who was the other crewperson?”

“Motorman Johnson had some weapons training in a militia unit
on a New Colony planet; I forget which one. He had heard we would get pistols and
rifles, something like what we saw the Krall boarding party carry and use. He thought
we could start teaching weapons use, safety practices, and general maintenance procedures.
Perhaps set up a few virtual firing ranges using game systems in the entertainment
lounges. I doubt we’ll have much time on ship, but we might get a real firing range
set up on Koban, if Telour is serious about wanting us to fight effectively.”

“Johnson is another committee head?” he asked smiling.

“Yes indeed.” She smiled back.

“There were about a half dozen people with martial arts training,
which I doubt can be useful against the speed and strength of a Krall. Nevertheless,
I set up a make-work group for them anyway, if only to keep people busy and to feel
like we are moving in a positive direction. I created a larger exploratory group
to find out what else we might do. I’m sure the people already on Koban have put
some thought into this subject under the duress of facing actual fights to the death.
I hope they have better ideas for us. We are slim to none on any sort of infantry
experience.”

Mirikami was about to agree, when he heard Jake’s voice in his
ear. “Captain, we have had a fatality in stairwell three, between decks 6 and 7.”
He held up his hand to forestall a question from Maggi, as she saw his expression
turn grim.

“I bet we both wonder if we have any Krall close by or listening
to us,” He blurted. He knew they would have been warned of electronic monitoring
or proximity of a Krall, but he wanted to alert Maggi, and reassure himself.

Both heard the reply. “There are two Krall on deck 8, located
in their designated eating locker and not close to you. There is no electronic monitoring
of your dining room.”

He had stood up quickly, but didn’t want to blunder into a situation
blind. “We both want to know what happened, and who died.” It was an odd question
to ask aloud, if overheard, but they weren’t under surveillance. The remark had
the intended effect of galvanizing Fisher, who also quickly rose.

“Lady Isadora Bodkin was killed by a Krall Warrior on staircase
three, as she was climbing to deck 7. A Krall warrior, named *****,” there was a
noticeable blank as the ultrasonic version of the warrior’s name was spoken, “was
descending rapidly from higher decks and struck her, causing severe injury to her
left leg. The warrior then struck her again and crushed her skull. She has a severe
head injury that I can see on camera, and which I predict was fatal. Her body has
slipped back towards deck 6. The warrior continued its descent to deck 3…, and is
now rapidly leaping up staircase 2, and has passed deck 4.., now 5.., 6..”

 Stop, Mirikami ordered. They had heard the air swish faintly
as the warrior passed, glimpsing him flash by as they ran towards the central lifts.

“What was the Krall doing before striking the Lady?”

“It has been rapidly climbing and descending the four side staircases
in turn. It has done this six times, and has started another descent now in staircase
one.”

Mirikami stopped at the com station between the lifts and pressed
the code for a ship wide broadcast.

“Attention, all personnel, this is an emergency. Exit from any
stairwell immediately. Do not use them and stay well clear. At least one Krall warrior
is racing up and down them at high speed, and we have had one person seriously injured.
Any available Medical trained crew should to report to the entry point for Staircase
three, at both decks 6 and 7, but
do not
enter the stairwell. I’ll have more
information in a few minutes when I arrive there myself. Mirikami Out.” Then he
switched off.

“Are the lifts safe to use?” He asked of the air.

“Both are in use by humans at present, and I have never observed
a Krall in one of the lifts,” was the reply. Mirikami realized Maggi hadn’t heard
that.

“Maggi, we can use the lifts to deck 6. When we know we can get
to her body safely, we can pull her off the steps.”

Mirikami used his override code to summon a lift. When they made
their exit, a Steward could be seen trotting towards staircase three, with a medical
kit in hand.

“Branson,” Mirikami shouted, as he recognized the man. “Be sure
to stay away from the stairwell.”

The Steward turned, in confusion. “Sir, I can see arms hanging
down the steps, and blood. Can’t I just lift him and lower him down?”

“It’s a woman Robert, and I’m pretty sure she’s already dead.
Killed by a Krall. I don’t want anyone to join her.” He was also running to the
stairwell as he talked.

“I wonder where that Krall is now.”

“Pardon, Sir?” Branson asked.

Jake’s reply came over Branson’s question. “The Krall has stopped
racing on the stairs, and has gone to their eating area on deck 8. Telour spoke
to him just before he stopped.”

“Never mind Robert, we can get her down now. I believe she’s
dead, but let’s be gentle just in case.”

Multiple other people had arrived, and several crowded up the
stairs to help them lift the limp form and carry her down. They laid her still body
on a lounge couch, which Jake had leveled for that purpose. The AI would be measuring
her biometrics, but the deeply depressed top of her skull and visible brain tissue
made a diagnosis a forgone conclusion.

Mirikami saw that her left leg had suffered a compound fracture.
That wound probably happened when the speeding Krall first hit her as it raced down
the stairs. Seeing she was seriously injured, and thus worthless as a captive, it
probably bashed in her head, and continued on its run.

Noreen arrived by the second lift, having also been advised by
Jake of the events. Following close behind her as she got off was a short chubby
man.

Maggi spotted him and quickly ran to him, calling his name, “Rafe.
Please wait there.”

She stood in front of him and tried to prevent the man from approaching
any closer. Maggi had seen the bashed in skull, the face where internal pressure
had forced the eyes to protrude, gray matter and blood oozing through the woman’s
red hair.

Rafe was Lady Bodkin’s consort. Maggi knew them both, having
recruiting them for the Midwife Project. She was an agricultural crop scientist
from Brussels, a New Colony. In addition, Rafe researched harmful genetic mutations
in humans that were exposed to higher than Earth levels of cosmic ray damage on
Brussels. They had been together for decades, unable to marry when they first fell
in love due to genetic based laws; Rafe was born a victim of one of the random mutations
he now researched. They were much closer than many married couples were with reproductive
contracts.

Maggi was aware Rafe had been black listed when still a boy,
blocked from reproduction due to a congenital heart defect he carried, among other
unspecified problems, and thus Lady Bodkin couldn’t marry him back then. When the
male population increase was deemed adequate, some of the restrictive laws were
rescinded. Rafe and Isadora saw no need to make any change in an already full and
happy life. A Krall had just made a permanent change for them.

Rafe suspected immediately, from a glimpse of short red hair
he had seen that it was probably Isadora. Few women aboard had red hair. When Maggi
intercepted him, he knew it was she, and knew that it must be bad. As he called
his consort’s name he was about to push past Maggi, but Noreen also realized who
he must be. She turned back to help restrain him, offering condolences, which affirmed
his worst fears. He suddenly sagged to the floor, tears flowing, groaning as he
began to sob in deep chest heaving gasps.

Speaking softly, as if to the group near him by the body, Mirikami
asked, “Does anyone know where Telour is right now?” He ignored the negative replies
of those around him.

“Telour is in the Drive Room.” The answer came from Jake.

He wondered how he was going to explain how he just happened
to “find” Telour in the Engineering department so quickly. The resolution came when
Branson shouted there was a com call for the Captain.

Going to the wall unit he lifted the hand set.  “Captain Mirikami.”

It was Telour. “Come to your Drive Room.” That was all he said
and disconnected.

He walked to where Noreen, Maggi and others were trying to comfort
Rafe. After a few quiet words with Maggi about the man being Isadora’s consort,
he knew enough to offer his own sympathy.

“Rafe,” he realized with a twinge of guilt that he didn’t even
know his last name, since it wasn’t his wife’s family name of Bodkin if they never
married. “I’m so sorry for your loss. As I understand what happened, this was an
accident on the part of the Krall warrior, who was not seeking to kill anyone. It
was apparently exercising at what we would consider breakneck speed, leaping up
and down the outer stairwells. Isadora had the bad luck to be climbing the stairs
as the Krall leaped down from deck 7, striking her with killing speed and force.”

He didn’t know if the accidental part was accurate, in view of
a Krall’s lightning fast reflexes. However, he certainly knew a deliberate killing
blow had come after the supposed accident. There wasn’t reason to hurt the man more
by telling him his life’s love was indifferently dispatched, as damaged goods, merely
because her leg was broken.

“I’m on my way to speak to Telour, the ranking Krall left aboard.
We have to find a way to prevent such accidents in the future.”

As Noreen and Maggi quickly glanced up from the sobbing man,
he felt like a huge hypocrite, knowing what the Krall intended for their future.
He shrugged for their benefit, since Rafe was slumped on the floor, looking down
at his clenched hands. It wasn’t as if everyone aboard hadn’t discussed their frightening
prospects constantly, but pretending that this one death was entirely unintentional
might help the poor man accept it easier.

He spoke to Noreen, and to Branson, who had come over as well.
“Use ropes or tape, or whatever you come up with, but cordon off every stairwell
entry and spread the word. The Krall never use the lifts, so we will stay clear
of the stairs and use only the lifts. It will slow our movements between decks,
but we aren’t going to be on the ship very much longer, I suspect. I’m headed to
engineering now, where Telour presently is located, and who just summoned me.”