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Joseph Thomas
The entire left wall in the central corridor of level
two, of the ship destined for storage of food and
supplies, was stained with blood. A thread that began
almost at the door of the elevator was lost across the
hall and almost to the end. One of my soldiers had
found this while doing his patrol routine of the
facilities. The alarm sounded off automatically. The
general who came behind me was faster and pulled
the gun he had in his waistband. Soldiers who heard,
my call were there already. We decided to follow the
traces of blood to the end and see that we found there.
I took the lead between my body the empty hallway.
My mission was also caring for the General and his
life. With signs I gave my soldiers orders to make
silence, caution in this cases is a fundamental
ingredient, I asked my staff for a secure channel thru
my intercom, I needed drawings of the floor plan sent
to me, the possible exits on that side of the ship.
Hopefully we could find the cause of this.
I took from my pocket a refractor and in seconds I
could study the floor plans. Then I gave three of my
men the order to block the only exit available, if the
responsible was still here, he could only exit where I
had sent my soldiers or where we were. Now we just
needed to follow the traces of the red spots and see
where they took us.
We followed the trail of blood to the end of the
hallway it bent to the right. And finally right again
when we finally got to the end we stumbled upon an
image that could not be more heartbreaking. Dr. Hans
lay slain on the floor. His neck was completely
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Apol o 918 The trip of no return
severed. His white coat was completely soaked in his
own blood, his eyes wide open, clear signals of the
struggle in his last minutes of life. On the stacked
boxes in the warehouse we noticed the evidence of a
pitched battle. They were all scratched it was obvious
it had been a big struggle. Then I thought maybe the
murderer of Dr. Hans could be hurt, beaten, with
some scratches. I sent one of my soldiers to the ship
hospital to alert doctors, mainly to Dr. Estevez. I gave
orders that if someone were to seek medical attention,
should communicate to me immediately.
General Pot also gave orders to shut down the entire
second level of the ship. Before removing the body,
we called in forensic specialists to check for evidence
throughout the area and find some clue. After the
general gave his orders, he stood up and gave me his
direct orders.
- Colonel, make sure no one enters this place until the
blood and body have been removed, I do not want the
civilian population on the ship to know about this, I
expect you in my office in 10 minutes. - He turned
around, put his gun in his waist holster, and left
horrible scene.
I left two soldiers in charge of watching the scene of
the crime. Things were getting difficult for me in this
mission, just in 24 hours we had two deaths. I could
not even imagine how, but obviously the enemy had
penetrated somehow.
I ordered one of my corporals to organize greater
vigilance in the most desolate part of the ship. We
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would no longer make rounds. From now on I
wanted two soldiers in each area. After I finished
giving my orders, I left for the general’s office. Once
there the man was sitting on his bed, shirtless,
noticeably tired. I sat opposite him and waited for him
to start talking.
- What do you think of this, Colonel?
I did not want to cause unnecessary alarm- I stated,
but I'm pretty sure we've been penetrated. Somehow
the selection process with the civilians population, the
enemy managed to infiltrate some of their men in the
ship. How many of them, or who they are, I do not
know, but they are among us.
- What is your plan then, Colonel? What do you think
we should do?
- First thing is to ask back home, information and
procedure used to select civilians and compare it with
our records, this way we might find some clue. If
identities were stolen, then those civilians are still
back home. We must get in touch with the FBI and
try to find them. I already gave orders to strengthen
surveillance in all parts of the ship. The forensics
experts are now trying to find traces that lead to the
murderer. Hopefully that gives us results. I also think
that their goals are senior leaders and scientists. The
first incident with the girl could be a fluke. According
to her the man repeated a phrase in Arabic.
- So from now on Drs. and everyone who has high
rank within this ship should be moved to another
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Apol o 918 The trip of no return
level, organize them in different rooms and increase
their surveillance, also station soldiers in laboratories,
in the hospital and in the control room where flight
captains are.
- It will be done Coronel, I think it is also time to
inform the other two ships on what happened, they
must have a report on this incident, but no one can
doubt that they are probably also infiltrated. That
could create chaos. I think it's best to be prepared.
- Ok. Contact the colonels of the two ships through a
secure channel and report on what happened. Now
ask earth to send files with all the information used,
mainly civil DNA. We can compare them to what we
have here and that can help us uncover these terrorist.
A knock at the door interrupted the general. It was
agent Robert, head of the CSI with the initial report
on what they found at the scene of the murder.
Without asking he began to speak.
- The person who murdered Dr. Hans is a trained
professional. We did not find a single trace of
anything, all the blood belongs to the Dr. His neck
was cut with a sharp object, small knife or razor. The
murder weapon was not found at the scene. We are
confident that the Dr. was wounded first in the
elevator. He had a cut behind his right cheekbone,
this occurred first but it was not the cause of death.
The initial study indicates that the body had been
struggling and tortured before death.
It is possible that the murderer wanted to know
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something and used torture, he could have killed him
in the elevator and did not. Dr. Hans tried to defend
himself. All the scratches on the boxes match the
remains found in his nails. The death was caused by a
severe cut into his aorta and this was lethal blow, this
killer knew where he needed to cut. We have also
concluded that it looks like it had to be a strong man,
because he dragged his victim, the Dr. physically a
tall man and nearly six feet tall and weighing around
200 pounds. Then the murderer had power to control
that weight, or more than one. As I said earlier it is a
professional, he wore gloves and mask. We could not
find a trace of hair, nor a drop of sweat, or anything
by the murderer.
The general stood up unexpectedly, nobody expected
him to do that, sat in front of his computer. His back
to us, contacting urgently with the FBI. The image
appeared on the screen, it was the image of an agent,
he greeted the general and began to speak.
- What can I do for you General? How are things up
there?
-Hello,
agent
Starry,
I
requested
personal
communication with you because I need to report an
extremely serious situation here, I can only trust the
Colonel Paul and his men, we had two major
situations here, I can tell you that we have been
infiltrated by the enemy. A man named Jarod Huken
tried to kill a girl. He was caught trying to open a few
panels in the wall, about an hour ago we found the
body of Dr. Hans beheaded. We think that enemies
could be impersonating other identities and are within
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us. I need you to send me a list of all missing or found
bodies on American soil in the last thirty days that are
not victims of war. If possible send these records with
medical reports, DNA. Social security and criminal
history records. I have to stop this dangerous situation
as soon as possible.
The man on the screen noted in astonishment as the
general spoke. When the General finished explaining
what happened, he responded:
- Do not worry, General, you can count on my
discretion. I will send those files as soon as possible.
Give me a few hours to get them ready.
- Remember Starry, that you need total discretion. I
do not know how or where was this operation
infiltrated, you will not comment on what I just asked
you OK?
Starry nodded with military gesture to the general.
The screen went off the in the air, the General closed
it then returned to us, and give us instructions. He
started by Agent Robert.
- Agent Robert, re-check again the scene of Dr. Hans
death. Find something, anything, give me at least a
clue. Again check the body again. Do the retinal test.
Perhaps we find something there. Use all necessary
resources. I want to see back here with results in four
hours. I do not want one more death on this ship. – He
said, the officer got up and left right away. The
general and I were alone again. The General slumped
in his chair and slammed his fist on his desk, I never
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Joseph Thomas
would have expected this reaction from this man that
I admired so, I dared not mention a single word. He
looked up to me and started talking.
- Paul. It was the first time he had called me by my
first name –I need you to take charge of checking the
records that agent Starry agent sends. Make sure you
reinforce security on all fronts, and all specialists in
this ship, do not leave it in the hands of anyone else.
Do it yourself personally. We do not know what will
happen with this. I prefer a thousand times a thousand
battles on land than this uncertainty. You take charge
of the research and catch the enemies among us. - The
general's words got to me, they seemed so very
human, I could feel this strong military man that had
commanded armies had collapsed under the pressure
of all that had happened. I walked to where he was
and put my right hand on his shoulder. I found in me
encouraging words and a smile, I said.
- Everything will be fine, have faith in God,
everything will be fine.
- I know -was his answer, this is why you were
chosen among many, we have walked a bit of life
together and I know who you are and what you are
capable of giving. I am an old man now. I also know
that if tomorrow I’m not here, this mission will be in
good hands.
I removed my hand from his shoulder and with my
right hand took his and expressed:
- Do not say that. You and I will return and liberate
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Apol o 918 The trip of no return
many battles together.
- No, son. My body is tired now.
The general's eyes were beginning to moisten, a bad
feeling about this came to my mind. I decided to
change the subject and asked.
- General, forgive my indiscretion. There is
something I want to ask you, out of curiosity. May I?
- Colonel, said. Of course, what do you want to
know?
- Why is the President not on this ship?
- No captain abandons his ship, nor his sailors
because, Colonel, would you leave your men if an
operation goes wrong or becomes dangerous?
- No – I quickly replied.
- Yesterday, when we boarded this ship, the President
was in the secret hangars, I asked him a thousand
times to come with us, but he showed his courage by
strongly refusing. His wife and two children are
somewhere in a safe place this massive of iron
machine. Just myself and their secret service know
where they are. But the president stayed behind to
command his troops. From here I can only send
blessings and wish that everything on earth goes well.
That is a brave man.
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Joseph Thomas
With nothing to say after his answer, I asked for
asked permission to leave, I'm convinced I’m a
Colonel of a country and armed forces always ready
for anything in order to defend freedom.
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Joseph Thomas