Winston Chronicles: Qob/Tranquility Universe: Tired Eyes

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Tired Eyes

 

 

Sunset Precinct HQ

12 hours after the “Garage Shootout”

 

Deputy Al Knorr was exhausted. The only thing that kept him going was a constant replenishment of caf. The Garage Shootout was an utter disaster, forcing him to make trips to the Sunset Precinct Headquarters and the crime scene numerous times in an armored “Bessie.”* “Bessies” were designed for riot control not for comfort. The unnerving item was that he still felt unsafe being in the armored vehicle. But it was part of the job he decided to take on when the frantic calls from Fire Dispatch “Lawmen Down!” He had no clue how many had indeed lost their lives at the time. The number of dead was still unclear.

 

He was currently in an annex room at the headquarters of a Guardian precinct that just lost itsSheriff, Deputy, and the bulk of its experienced Lawmen. Knorr refused to use the deceased Sheriff’s office, despite being better equipped to handle the situation. It just didn’t feel right, and it appeared to be a wise move appreciated by the Guardian staff present. He chose the annex for his Command and Control center with the staff moving in what he needed in terms of communication and other hardware.

 

Despite being exhausted, Knorr had to continue working. This precinct took a huge emotional hit. Some Vulcans in the Guardian force were able to control their emotions. He envied that ability. The rest were a mess, and all Knorr could do was show some form of leadership. He also had reported this to Guardian HQ; this was far beyond what one precinct could handle.

 

Until the Marshall of Tranquility City deemed the incident contained, Deputy Knorr was going to have to remain here along with the additional assets borrowed from the Latinum District. Upon her arrival, he presumed he would be relieved to return to his home district.

 

Knorr was about to doze off when his “long-arm”* Lawmen Parson arrived in the annex. He was Latinum Precinct’s best shot, or in older earth terms: Sniper. Parson clearly had new opinions and observations to report.

 

“Sir, you alright? You look-”

 

“I look like targ fodder, I know Parson. I’d like your report please. The Marshall is on her way and she certainly will want a detailed briefing.”

 

“Marshall Savoy? Frak! Makes sense,” the lawman responded. “Deputy, I did my best with what was available. Since the building did not survive the attack. I had to do some estimates at exactly where the shots were taken with that... Thing of a weapon that kid purportedly used. I would be more useful if I had a chance to look at that slugthrower.”*

 

“Two Precincts’ tech engineers are studying it right now,” Knorr replied rubbing the sleep from his eyes. “The report I received from them was it was a slugthrower of unique design, something not seen before. I’ve been told we might need a fleet engineer to figure it out.”

 

“Alright, sir. What I can tell you is based on the remains of the attackers. The ‘suspect’”-

 

“Witness,” corrected Knorr.

 

Parson corrected himself. “The witness fired shots ranging from 10 meters to about 30 on moving targets. Hitting targets from that range many lawmen can do. The fact that they were all headshots, in close quarters; shows the witness has some skill. I’d be curious as heck to see how far that rifle can fire. The extreme velocity of the rounds impacting Nausicaan skulls created an utter forensics ‘spatter’ mess of a crime scene. Finding all the rounds from the slugthrower are taking some time. Some were found embedded in adjacent structures, literally putting craters in adjacent buildings. That slugthrower’s muzzle velocity from what I ascertain, is the fastest I have ever seen.”

 

“Sir, I highly doubt the kid fired that weapon,” Parson concluded shaking his head. “I base that on accuracy of the shots, and the type of weapon fired. Most likely the Lawman who also survived killed the attackers.”

 

“Lawmen Benson did not claim credit for shooting the Nausicaans. He testified that he witnessed the kid fire four shots. Usually most lawmen who observe something like that are quick to say they did it trying to get the credit. Benson is not doing that. He insists the young witness took the shots.”

 

Parson had to ask. “Permission to speak with the witness?”

 

“Denied.” Knorr replied immediately. “The minor lost his father in the attack, and based on what I saw I could tell he’s in a state of shock. We are awaiting a trauma specialist to debrief the minor; she is enroute with the Marshall.”

 

“Hey, is it true a Klingon survived as well? The reason I ask, it is possible the shooter was a Klingon. That would also explain things from my end.”

 

Deputy Knorr looked at Parson and shook his head. “We are not talking about the Klingons in the situation until the Marshall arrives. Is that understood Lawmen Parson?”

 

Parson took the hint. “Yes sir. Am I to remain here to assist the Marshall in a possible brief?”

 

Al Knorr had not thought of that. Fatigue was taking its toll. He still had to figure out the ODRI failure issue that vexed him. “Yes, you being a ‘long-arm’, she might need your opinion on how the heck not one Guardian shot killed a Nausicaan, and a civilian killed them all. That weapon will be available for her and anyone she brings to analyze. I will leave the decision to interview witness by yourself, in the hands of the Marshall.”

 

The temporary desk comm set up for Deputy Knorr’s lit up. The Deputy answered the Comm bluntly. “Knorr speaking”

 

The Comm broadcasted a young female’s voice: “Deputy, the Fire Chief has arrived and he’d like to brief you on the fire that burned down the garage”

 

Knorr finished another cup of coffee and responded. “Inform the Fire Chief that Marshall Savoy will be arriving shortly and he might want to ‘dot the i’s and cross the t’s’ to his brief. And I think all of us will have do just that given this tragedy. That will be all.”

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Bessie - Guardian slang for Multipurpose heavy vehicle used by the Guardians of Tranquility City, modified for various uses. Including Law Enforcement, Firefighting among others. Other worlds of Bull’s Head use them for mining vehicles and tanks.

 

long-arm- Tranquility City Guardian slang used for a sniper.

 

Slugthrower- A weapon that fires a projectile rather than a beam, like a phaser or disruptor.

Rarely used since their firepower was limited by the amount of projectiles the

weapon carried.

Edited May 1, 2012 by Mitar Precip