Murder Scene

Shit. That’s a lot of blood. Pools of it. On the floor, splashed across the curved white walls. The blood has already dried to a dull rust color, disconcertingly similar to the rocks and sands of your home planet. . . .

The chamber is large, round, with a clean, hard look unlike the rest of the station. Four barnacle-like doors lead in and out of the place. They’re identical to the ones you’d encounter on a Jelly ship. “All the comforts of home,” you mutter as you focus on the crumpled body lying smashed against the seam between floor and wall.

Several of the embassy staff mill about by the entrance, along with several Marines and a UMC doctor. Two Jellies and a woman in a white skinsuit stand near the body, close enough to observe, not so close as to disturb. The woman turns, and you feel a slight shock as you recognize Major Tschetter. Or rather, former major. She wasn’t in the UMC anymore. Not officially, at least.

You hesitate, unsure of what to do first.