Day 11, Midday, Chair Room & Environs - Attn Collins
Up in the jumper bay, John arrived and headed for the closest jumper. They really needed to find someplace else with the detectors so they didn't have to run up here every time they needed on. He slipped the device into his pocket and pulled his sidearm to check it just as Bates emerged from the transporter.
"Something wrong, sir?" he asked. He was already decked out with a tac vest and a P90, and John remembered that he'd scheduled himself to do a patrol this morning.
"We've got two extra people showing up on the city's sensors," John explained, snapping his sidearm back into place. For a moment he considered stopping at the armory for a rifle of his own, but decided against it. "The only area there's anyone out of place is down near the chair room. It's probably just a couple of geeks, but I want to check it out."
"I haven't seen anyone in our areas who shouldn't be there, sir," Bates replied. "It's possible they might be in the Athosian sector, though."
"They'd have noticed," John said. He caught Bates' skeptical look, and said, "Why would they lie about something so easy to catch them on?"
The marine frowned but reluctantly nodded. "If we don't find anything odd, we should ask Dixon to check on the stores, see if anyone's pilfering food."
"Good idea." John stepped into the transporter and touched the control panel. A moment later they emerged on the level above the chair room and headed for the stairs. John pulled out the detector and saw three other signs on the level, two in chair room itself and another out near the edge of the tower. John signaled for Bates to follow him, and the silently crept down the hall. The door ahead was open and he could hear someone moving inside. Cautiously, he peer around the side of the door and saw someone in an expedition uniform with his back to the door.
John looked at Bates and shrugged, then called out, "Doctor Collins, that you?"
"Something wrong, sir?" he asked. He was already decked out with a tac vest and a P90, and John remembered that he'd scheduled himself to do a patrol this morning.
"We've got two extra people showing up on the city's sensors," John explained, snapping his sidearm back into place. For a moment he considered stopping at the armory for a rifle of his own, but decided against it. "The only area there's anyone out of place is down near the chair room. It's probably just a couple of geeks, but I want to check it out."
"I haven't seen anyone in our areas who shouldn't be there, sir," Bates replied. "It's possible they might be in the Athosian sector, though."
"They'd have noticed," John said. He caught Bates' skeptical look, and said, "Why would they lie about something so easy to catch them on?"
The marine frowned but reluctantly nodded. "If we don't find anything odd, we should ask Dixon to check on the stores, see if anyone's pilfering food."
"Good idea." John stepped into the transporter and touched the control panel. A moment later they emerged on the level above the chair room and headed for the stairs. John pulled out the detector and saw three other signs on the level, two in chair room itself and another out near the edge of the tower. John signaled for Bates to follow him, and the silently crept down the hall. The door ahead was open and he could hear someone moving inside. Cautiously, he peer around the side of the door and saw someone in an expedition uniform with his back to the door.
John looked at Bates and shrugged, then called out, "Doctor Collins, that you?"