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 shell-like doors lead in and out of the place. You recognize the style; it’s the same as the Jelly ships. “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. Among them is 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 any more. Not officially, at least.

You hesitate, unsure of what to do first.