Starship Armstrong - Season 1

Part 44 - The Mind of Dr. Kang (II)

There were, theoretically, no soldiers aboard the Armstrong. There were, however, a great deal of ex-soldiers aboard the ship, and when you hand an ex-soldier a weapon it can be very difficult to tell the difference.

Mitzner, who in particular had a quite dubious claim to the "ex" in her title, rounded up the nearest crewmen she knew from back when the Armstrong was a warship and armed themselves. There were some basic ion rifles hidden in compartments on the bridge. Weapons were acceptable, just not soldiers.

The group headed for Kang's lab, sweating. All they knew about what they were about to face was that McAfree couldn't find the words to describe it before it silenced her, and that Dr. Kang had made it. It was enough to give even these seasoned ex-soldiers a sense of looming dread.

The livable area of the Armship is deceptively small; the majority of the ship's interior is not pressurized. Much sooner than anyone would have liked, they arrived at the door to Dr. Kang's lab. Mitzner pressed the button for the door. It was, predictably, locked.

"Armstrong," said Mitzner "Override the lock on this door, on my authorization."

"Error," replied a just-barely-artificial voice "This lock has been separated from the ships systems."

"Cut power then," said Mitzner, rolling her eyes.

"Error," replied the ship "This lock is not connected to the ship's power web."

"Kang!" Mitzner said his name like a curse word "I don't even care then. Okay boys we're shooting the door to pieces. And if some important equipment gets damaged in the process, well then that's just the way life goes sometimes when you're an asshole mad scientist who has no respect for security protocol."

Dr. Kang's voice come on over the intercom, except it wasn't. There was a mechanical edge to it, like the Armstrong's voice.

"The second the first particle bolt hits that door," it said "I will start killing hostages. I have three. Do you think you can get through that door before I can kill them all? I know I could. How much do you know about the doors on a Magellan-class? There's a trick to where to shoot."

"What the hell do you want, Dr. Kang," said Mitzner "And who is the third hostage?"

"I'm not dealing with you, you're just the captain's attack dog," said Dr. Kang's voice "You lack the authority to make the negotiations I want. I was merely informing you what the consquences of shooting my door down will be. Now that we understand each other you do what you think is right."

Mitzner's finger trembled on the trigger, but she lowered her weapon.

"Hold your fire," she sighed.

* * *

Captain Littlecrow paced in front of in the command throne of the Armstrong, Mitzner's voice came over the comms.

"Captain?" she said.

"Go ahead," said Littlecrow.

"Dr. Kang has sealed himself in his lab with hostages," said Mitzner "I'm assuming McAfree and Wagner but he claims to have another. He wants to talk to you. I realize this isn't a good time to say I told you so about Kang, but later on I'm going to do it."

"I'm coming down there," said the Captain.

"Captain?" said Mitzner "Why not have him page you on the bridge?"

"I'm not going to let this maniac think he scares me," said Littlecrow.

Littlecrow was badly disappointed in Dr. Kang. She had almost started to warm up to him but he finally showed his true colors. She should have guessed something like this would happen eventually.

"Commander Gibson, you have the bridge," said Captain Littlecrow "I'm going to go join Lieutenant Commander Mitzner."

Littlecrow jogged to the lab as soon as she was out of sight of her crew.

Mitzner and her ex-soldiers were waiting by the door, just salivating over it.

"Captain," said Mitzner, nodding.

"Can you hear me Dr. Kang?" asked Captain Littlecrow.

"Loud and clear, Captain," came Dr. Kang's approximate voice "I do hope you're here to negotiate in good faith and not make bluster and threats. If necessary I'm willing to kill a hostage to prove I'm serious. I'll kill Wagner right now."

"There's no need to kill anyone, I'm perfectly aware of your seriousness," said Captain Littlecrow "What is it that you want?"

"I want the Armstrong," said Dr. Kang's voice.