Free Battlecruiser Alamo - 7 - Battlecruiser Alamo: Sacred Honor by Richard Tongue Page A

transports.”
     “I’ll do my part, sir.”
     “I know. Good night, Corporal, and try and get some sleep,” he said, as the two of them continued down towards the elevator. Cooper jogged for a moment more, waiting until he heard the door close, then returned to Matsumoto’s door, his mind made up. He couldn’t risk bringing anyone else into the loop without overplaying his hand, and if she was the saboteur, they needed to know about it.
     Pulling a toolkit out of his pocket, he started to work, clipping the probe by the door and working a series of buttons and controls. The trick was not only to get through the lock, but in such a way that the occupant wouldn’t know that anyone had interfered. He struggled to come up with an excuse for breaking in should Matsumoto actually be inside, but he dismissed that possibility. She wouldn’t just be asleep in her cabin – she was either on the bridge, or she was somewhere else on the ship.
     The door slid open, and he quickly took a step in, his eyes opening wide at what he saw – Matsumoto’s body lying on the deck, a pool of blood trickling away into the carpet. He automatically took a step back, shaking his head at what he saw, and started to look around for any clue, any evidence. Her terminal was on, the local database flashing that it had been formatted; a computer expert could recover the data, but that was going to be beyond h is limited talents.
     Just as he was reaching for his communicator, the door opened again, and Lane was standing at the threshold of the door, reaching for her pistol. As he turned, she drew it, pointing the gun at his chest.
     “Keep quite still, Corporal,” she said. “One move and I will shoot you.” Reaching down for her communicator, she continued, “Security team to Matsumoto’s quarters. Urgent.”
     “I was about to call,” he replied, but she shook her head.
     “Why, Corporal?”
     “I didn’t do it, ma’am. I found the body…”
     “After breaking in? I saw you working outside.”
     “Damn it, Lieutenant, I can explain…”
     “And you will, Corporal. I assure you of that. Under interrogation, most likely.”
     The sound of running feet echoed from outside, and Cooper found himself looking into the horrified faces of Orlowski and Duggan, weapons drawn, pointed at him. They glanced at Lane, who fixed him with a steely gaze.
     “Take him into custody.”
     “Ma’am, are you sure?” Duggan said. “This all seems like some sort of mistake.”
     “No mistake, Private. I found him over the body.”
     Orlowski knelt down beside Matsumoto’s corpse, “Still warm. She didn’t die long ago.”
     “Corporal, if you confess now it will go a lot easier on you.”
     “I didn’t kill her!”
     Shaking her head, she motioned him out of the room, stepping into the corridor. Most of the sleeping officers had been wakened by the commotion; Captain Marshall was waiting outside.
     “What happened, Lieutenant.”
     “Corporal Cooper murdered Matsumoto, sir. I don’t know why.”
     “Lieutenant, it wasn’t me!”
     Raising a hand, Marshall turned to Cooper, “What happened, Corporal. Your version.”
     “I went into her room, and found her body on the floor, exactly as it is now. I was just about to raise the alarm when Lieutenant Lane walked in.”
     “And why were you in her cabin?” 
     “I was trying to find her, sir.” The two men locked eyes, and Cooper knew that Marshall believed his story – but he also knew that at least for the moment, he couldn’t admit it. A shout came from inside the cabin, and Orlowski walked out.
     “She was killed by a standard low-velocity bullet, sir. Could have been anyone from ship’s stores.”
     “The RFID will give you the serial number, Private,” Lane said. “Who checked it out of the armory?”
     Looking down at the deck, he replied, “According to the records, Corporal Cooper,