The Diego Diaries: Forensics (dd6 519)

-0-Consulate

They talked to all the diplomats who were shocked and appalled by the news. Being that they were shepherds of the relationship directly among Earth's many governments, they discussed their fears of what might transpire from this, the first real criminal act by a human on world. Being assured that this was 'the way things happen sometimes', the bots left with no more information than they had when they came.

Gathering outside as the humans watched them, Springer listened to their findings and commentary. Dobbs was making an effort to be friendly and he had friends here including the two soldiers who were stationed here as part of their N.E.S.T. duty as Beta squaddies. Those two were both on rotating duty for two days at N.E.S.T and thus weren't here to speak for themselves.

"This is getting to be maddening," Springer said as the bots nodded. Prime had gone ahead with Ratchet and the others to Unidad to talk to the humans since Dobbs spent the most of his time there. Carly had been given the heads up and had checked which humans Dobbs had been friendly with, all of them it would seem connected to the farm. "Earth 1 is next, then N.E.S.T, then we find Prime."

Everyone nodded, transformed and drove out toward Earth 1. Springer watched them go, then mounted up with the others and began to head out cross county to Earth 1 which could be seen faintly glowing inside their sloping crater nearby.

-0-Unidad

Prime knelt with Carly, Sam and Les Hadden. They spoke of Dobbs coming here, usually going straight to the farm to assist with the cows and horses, then chatting with a hand or whoever was there at the time. He liked being in the green sward that made up the facility. Carly was doing a run of Dobb's appearances here to see where he went, what he did and who he talked to. Prime already had it from Thrasher and Invincible but didn't mention that. The less the humans knew about the buildings around them, the better.

The hands who had chatted with him only gave them conversational things based on the work they were doing and the county life both had grown up living. He was here because he liked the animals and it reminded him of Earth. There was little else to tell.

By the time the group had arrived from Earth 1 minus Springer and Drift who were on their way to N.E.S.T. HQ, the story was pretty much the same. Thanking everyone and admonishing them about leaving or sending word to Earth, they all walked outside to gather.

"Forensics are about to wrap up at Earth2. They'll run the evidence they have and report in the morning. No one knows nothing. It just seemed that Dobbs was branching out to other facilities for their diversion and little else. So far anyway," Hercy said as Kup nodded. "He kept it on simple things and didn't confide in anyone. When the reports are in maybe we can pull the mercs in for more official interviews."

Prime nodded. "I agree as well. The two soldiers under suspicion are at N.E.S.T HQ. Drift and Springer can get their statements and have the facility check their whereabouts over the past two orns. I want to know what they might have to do with this if anything."

Hercy nodded, then with the posse in hand walked to the horses and mounted up. They galloped up the sloping road and disappeared into the night. Prime watched them go, then turned to his mechs. "Ratchet, when will you have the autopsy completed?"

"I can do it now. We're using noninvasive procedures to do it considering their organic state and the fact that Earth would probably erupt if they thought we were 'probing' them," Ratchet said.

"Then let us go and see what the body can present," Prime said as he walked toward the road, transformed and drove up it. The rest followed into the night as the humans in the habitat watched them go.

-0-N.E.S.T. HQ

They came through the big doors of the habitat air lock, then waited for the humans to equalize things. Walking out, a grim looking Lennox followed by the others greeted the bots. They had driven ahead and arrived, waiting for the mechs to join them. Standing in the Ops Center behind the window, the two strikers who were given the task of guarding habitats in rotation with the rest of the garrison waited.

Springer and Drift watched the humans walk into their space, then knelt. "We need to know where everyone was during the time in question, Lennox."

Will nodded, then turned to the group watching him with solemn expressions. "What's the log say, Fig?"

Fig held a datapad with all the comings and goings of the garrison in front of him. "Everyone who was on duty is and was. Only a handful left the building and all of them have been accounted for on the grid. No one met up with Dobbs, not us and not you," he said turning to Colin Anderson and Horst Mueller who had assignments at the Consulate as on site security. They were also the two who were flagged as possible spies for the Family. They were given extra oversight by the system.

"Where were you two? You didn't go to the Consulate today?" Will asked.

"We're off duty today and tomorrow," Colin Anderson of Australia said. Horst Mueller of Germany and his partner at the Consulate nodded. "We went to Sciences this morning, then came back and played cards in my room all afternoon."

Fig nodded. "The logs back that up."

"You're the closest to the mercs. What can you tell me about who might have a grudge against Dobbs and who might have been close to him outside of the other mercs?" Will asked. "He was spending time wandering around among the habitats outside The City."

"He liked the farm," Horst said. "He liked to go to Earth2 and Unidad to hang out with the animals and the farm life. He liked the space of Unidad because it felt like being home on Earth to him. He was from somewhere in the farm country … I don't know where."

"Texas," Epps said.

"Yeah. He said that. I don't know much about America. He liked cows and farming. He hung out there and wanted to spend time in the gardens at the Hu-An Habitat. He made a few friends among the farming scientists," Horst said. "I don't know much but I played cards with him a few times, me and Colin. He was okay and friendly enough for a mercenary."

Some of the soldiers nodded. "He was okay for a merc," one of the other soldiers said.

"Does anyone have a clue about fights or arguments with others? Who might have had a beef with him? Did he have any outstanding accounts with anyone?" Epps asked.

They thought, then most shook their heads. "I didn't hang out with them much, Sarge. The schedule is pretty tight," Trevor said. "I also don't like mercenaries. These mercs were also problematic at Diego. They don't like the bots and don't have a problem telling the world about it either."

The soldiers nodded in agreement.

Springer stood up, then frowned. "We have a murder and no one can tell us about any arguments they might have had or bad feelings. Frag this."

"Maybe forensics can drop a dime on this," James Brooks-Spencer said. "What about Earth? How are you going to let them know?"

"We aren't until the investigation is complete. For now, you have limited access to the outside world, you, Sciences and The Resort. We want a soldier to accompany any tour by The Resort until further notice. No one is to be told about this or we're going to have to cancel vacations. We don't want any tourists to miss their vacation so a news black out is in effect. The Tower, Resort, Sciences and N.E.S.T. HQ have new rules and limited autonomy but for senior officers. Come to Ops Center at 0900 hours to get the word from Prime and the newest word on the investigation. No one goes out without a partner and only in a limited manner."

"We'll be there, Springer," Morshower said as he stood with his aides, Fulton and Bowers. "We are resolved to get to the bottom of this."

"We are, too, Glenn," Springer said grimly. "For now, the Consulate, Earth 1 and 2 and Unidad are locked down. We're not willing to risk anyone's life until this is solved. I can't tell you how disheartening and disconcerting it is to have someone die here from your community. We put major store in our relationship and our duty to the Earth and this is a blow to us personally."

"We understand," Morshower said. "We will hold the line in the human community."

"And we will protect and help you," Drift said.

"0900, Ops Center," Springer said as he rose and turned to the door. "We have to go. There's a lot to do about this."

Everyone nodded and walked inside the center as the big doors closed to let the bots out. They stepped out and walked onward to their horses and The City as night began to intensify into the early morning.

Morshower stood with Bowers and Lennox, the others with them solemnly silent. He turned to the group. "We are the front line here, all of us. We have a duty to protect every human no matter who and what they are or were. This is a knife thrust into the heart of our community and unity as a group. We are going to get this bastard or bastards but we need you to be on top of your game. Our people depend upon us here and on Earth to do our best work."

They murmured agreement, then Trevor stepped closer with a worried expression. "Do you think a human did this, General?"

Morshower stared at him a moment, then shook his head. "I hope so, Sargent. I truly for the sake of everything and everyone hope so."

Dawn would break shortly and but for buses carrying oblivious tourists on their regularly scheduled tours and a N.E.S.T soldier, there would be no humans on the street today. It would be the first time that happened in years and it would be noticeably odd to everyone.

-0-TBC 11-12-18 edited 11-24-18