Star Law: A Marshal Cole Series

Chapter 3

Two crew were using a cutting tool on the cabin door. Under normal circumstances the door slid to one side and could be accessed via a wall panel if need be. However, that was impossible with the safe wedged in the door preventing movement. Chung was supervising the crew handling the door.

Cole was watching video of the corridor when a maid passed by just in time to see the cabin door of 105 caved out. His brow furrowed as he looked at the timestamp.

"That was when the safe hit the door?" Miguel asked.

"Uh huh," grunted Cole. "Not long after that ship crew arrived to investigate and have been here ever since."

"There must be another way in and out the cabin then," Miquel said.

Boz, the captain's aid droid chimed in on the subject. "There is only one door in and out of the ship's passenger cabins."

Cole turned to Boz. "I want you to dig up the specs for this entire deck. I'm interested in crawlspaces, ventilation shafts and electronic access panels."

Boz's eyes lit up. "This ship's decks can also change configuration with TransForm technology or break down and build up using nanites."

Cole nodded. The break down and build up nanites also known as BDBU allowed ships to change to meet the needs of the shipping line. The exoskeleton of the ship remained the same but the inside could be re-arranged. As long as it wasn't support structure, walls could move, rooms constructed, furnishings built. "I want to know what the specifications of that cabin are and if there have been any changes."

Volks raised an eyebrow. "Clever, you think changes were made to make it possible for this attack to take place? False walls, new doors?"

"We know nothing at the moment. But we need to look not just at this cabin but the ones surrounding it including above and below. Check for evidence of changes."

Cutler stepped forward. "In my experience BDBU can't be used unless the ship is stationary as it draws power from main engines. However, I'll have engineering look at any energy spikes."

Cole crossed his arms, his brows furrowed in thought. "The big question," he began "is how much time we have."

Cutler glanced over to his first officer Chung where her team was still cutting though the door. She took the lead in answering the question. "I say another hour to cut and clear the door and whatever time Doc Kripisov needs to retrieve the body and do forensics."

Volks exhaled dismissively. "He meant how much time before we arrive planet-side."

Chung raised an eyebrow in confusion but Cutler seemed to understand and replied: "Seven days."

Miguel blinked. "What does that mean? Why is the time important?"

"It means the Marshal is telling me that we have seven days to solve this puzzle," answered Cutler. "After that, we disembark passengers. The answers might disappear at that time forever."

"Yes, that's correct," replied Cole. "We will have to work fast and efficiently."

"What else will you need to get the investigation started?" Cutler asked.

"I don't know the ship but I'll need to get to various parts of it, access information as I go on. Given the size and scope and hours the investigation might take, I suggest Volks and I take shifts. None of us will be able to work days straight."

Volks nodded. "After the body is secured and forensics done, the doc will be in autopsy for a time. I'll catch some rest then and let my team take statements and start gathering some of the data we've requested."

"Good," replied Cole. "This ship is equipped with a Crime Investigator?"

"Data was already being fed to CICI when we sent the orb in," said Kripisov. CICI referred to a Computer Intelligence Crime Investigator. It was a sub-routine of the ship's main Artificial Intelligence and was able to gather all evidence of a crime and look for clues that might otherwise be buried by data. The program could reconstruct a crime scene which was often helpful in determining who was responsible for the event.

"Volks, there's a lot to cover," began Cole. "We just don't know where this investigation will take us. We'll need witness lists, crew statements and hours of video. We'll also need passenger, crew and cargo manifests.

"And the blueprints and engineering specs?" Boz the droid asked.

"All if it," answered Cole.

"Once autopsy and forensics are done, you will even have more to look at," Doctor Kripisov added.

Volks' face was tight. He knew this was going to be more complicated than sweating a suspect till he got what he wanted. "We have a lot of crew sitting waiting to make statements now."

"I saw that. We should take names with statements to follow," said Cole. "Most of them have been up all night and likely witnessed not much of anything. Then we can dismiss them and not clutter this section of the ship. We'll follow up when we actually have a timeline for the victim."

"I'd appreciate that," Captain Cutler said. "I still have a ship to run. It is early morning now and this corridor will be teeming with people soon. There will be talk. Scuttlebutt applies equally to a passenger ship as a military one. We'll need some sort of public statement."

"The standard statement is that there's been a death and that cause is unknown," Volks said. "Homicide is not mentioned."

"Good, you handle this through Commander Chung. That way we'll have the whole crew on board when passengers ask," relied Cutler. "Is there anything else before I head to the bridge?"

"Yes, I'll need someone seconded to me for the duration of the investigation; someone who knows the station. I'd like that person to be Miguel Rodriguez."

"Me?" gasped Miguel.

"Done," said Cutler before Miguel could say anymore. "I'll assign someone else to his duties. So if there is nothing further, I'll head to the bridge. Remember everyone the timetable. Coordinate your efforts, don't trip over one another and communicate."

The crew all answered with an "aye, captain" while Cole just nodded his head. And with that Cutler was gone leaving Boz behind. Chung continued cutting into the cabin with the engineers and Dr. Kripisov prepared her medical and forensic team.

This left Cole and Volks along with Miguel awkwardly standing there. "What now?" asked Volks. It was obvious he was still sullenly resentful but he was also looking for the marshal to take the lead.

"Well, the Captain is right. Let's coordinate. The doc knows how to do her job and will retrieve the body and gather forensics. As per the captain's instruction, you process the witnesses here so we can recall them later once we establish a timetime. I'll take Boz to security and we'll begin to see who our victim is and gather evidence from the time she came aboard. All information put through to CICI. At some point, we'll meet and hear Dr. Kripisov's autopsy report."

Volks nodded his head. The sour look he had never really disappeared "I'll make a public statement in the next hour that there's been a death on board. It will simply say we don't know the cause."

"Won't many people think murder?" Miguel asked.

"No," replied Volks. "If we appear calm, most people don't assume that. They take their cues from us. Speculation will happen but most will think accident, old age or suicide unless they see us running around panicking."

"He's right, Miguel," said Cole. "And in truth, till we hear it from Doc Kripisov, we don't know what the cause of death is."

And with that Volks departed the corridor back to where crew members being held for questions remained. Cole was led away by Miguel for the security offices.

As Miguel ushered Cole back to the Central Plaza, more people appeared to be waking up and moving about. The open area in the center of the ship had bridges, crossovers and balconies where passengers were relaxing, sipping coffee or headed off to the variety of restaurants on the ship. High above on a pedestrian bridge a young girl watched with hawk-like intensity as Cole and Miguel headed for the lift. Cole stopped, stiffened and looked up. But there was nothing to see.