The Red Button

Posted on Fri Dec 13th, 2019 @ 10:00pm by Gill Anderson & Skyplex Administration Scarlett Wilson

Mission: Opening Shop
Location: Deck Six - Dockmaster's Office
Timeline: 17:00 (Following CDF Encounter)

Gill practically kicked open the door to Scarlet's office, completely oblivious to the screams of indignation following him into the room. His face a picture of molten fury and his fists in white knuckled balls he marched up to her desk and released his ire,

"What the actual fuck were you thinking allowing those paramilitary wanna be Lien Mohn apes onto this station!? They have commandeered my jail, which I might add is Alliance property! They have incarcerated and by the sounds of it tortured a female prisoner without consultation or supervision and I am sure I do not have to tell you that the Coolac men treat their women like crap, how the hell do you think they will treat one of ours given the chance! and that... that is not all!! When I confronted that arrogant hwen dan they call a Colonel he tells me to my face... to my fucking face! that he does not recognise my authority and threatened to throw me... ME!! into the fucking brig."

His rage spent Gill stood there wide eyed and out of breath. A small corner of his mind cowering from the inevitable storm of shit he was about to receive for that little performance.

Following Gill's eruption Moria peered around him with a pained grin. "Seems you got a visitor Boss. Hold the calls I assume." she snuck back away from the door as Scarlett waved her away. As the door closed Scarlett brushed hair back from her eyes and locked eyes with the Marshal. "Let's slow down for one minute here and run me through your list one at a time." She took a deep breath and gestured to the Marshal, "Have a seat Marshal Anderson. Now what the Gorram hell happened?"

Gill recounted his meeting with Daytona step by step. Opening with the casual arrogance of his approach, moving on to the unlawful imprisonment of an unknown resident of the station and climaxing with the Coolacs open rejection of Alliance authority and the threats made against Gill an Alliance Marshall, not to mention the refusal to allow access to said jail cell.

Gill took a deep breath to calm himself, "Miss Wilson I am sorry. I am sorry we got off to a bad start this morning. I am sorry for bursting in on you like this. I am truly sorry. But Scarlett if this continues these goons will give me no choice but to go back to my ice box of an office and hit the big red button that brings in the cavalry, and I really do not want to do that. You.. really do not want me to do that."

Scarlett was enjoying the Marshal's apology up until that last bit. They had gotten off on the wrong foot, but he could pull the Skyplex license and shut the station down with one wave. She stood up form her chair and shook her head. "I assure you Marshal, I really dont want you to do that either unless the station is on fire. It seems our security chief is taking a little too much latitude on his authority. I assure you, the Coolac Defense Forces were highly recommended for sensitive security. They report efficiency ratings that are off the charts. I assure you, this is an Alliance Station, and you are in charge here. I told Chief Savage that exact thing earlier. This probably just needs to be talked out. Why do they have a jail? Our regular security never had a jail. Perhaps we should have a sit down with Chief Savage and talk this out. I'm sure there must be some misunderstanding here."

"Fine.. fine." Gill agreed raising his hands, "...and you should know I have no intention of pulling rank at every turn. I press that red button I lose my job, but there is a line that can not be crossed and this Daytona character skipped right over it and pissed all over my boots to mark his territory. The Jail however is not a negotiation, mall cops do not incarcerate, they detain and then they wait for the law to turn up and take over.

"Scarlett kept nodding. "Agreed. This station requires careful cooperation with our local Alliance representatives such as yourself, just like we need to balance half a dozen unions and contractors. I am certain the Security Chief did not mean to besmirch your footware. The Jail is yours, none of us have authority to detain and hold people if you and your deputies are on the station. You are the law, sir." Scarlett stood and pulled a long sleeve plaid shirt from her coat rack and pulled it on over the T-shirt she had on. "Let's go get to the bottom of this."

They got off he elevator at level 6 and made their way to the cells where one of the Coolac officers stood guard. "G...Gods its freezing down here." Gill stammered rubbing his arms. "W..what the h..ell"

"Jeez, I thought you were exaggerating this morning. Its freaking freeezing in here." Scarlett said pulling her flannel shirt a little tighter about her.

The Coolac Security officers didnt seem to notice or care, their planet was notoriously frosty. Scarlett walked right up to the main desk where a woman was stationed. "Excuse me Ma'am would you summon Chief Savage please. Station Administrator Wilson and Marshal Anderson to see him."

Kempsey stared back at the raving redheaded female and her escort. "The Colonel is attending to important matters at the moment. If you come back later...."

Scarlett held up her hand and immediately interjected. "I suggest you get him down here. In the meanwhile, you will turn over control of the Jail to the Marshal here."

"I am not authorized to allow that Ma'am." the woman replied back.

Scarlett gave the woman a grim smile. "I apologize, you thought I was asking. The Marshal will be opening the jail now, unless you wish to be placed under arrest." Scarlett looked over her shoulder at Marshal Anderson. "I'm sorry that was your line wasn't it."

"It was, but as long as the results are the same you are welcome to deliver it." he replied with a grin, he turned to the security guard then as he casually removed his cuffs from the rear of his belt.

"You heard the lady." he growled, "I'm reaching about the end of my patience."

Grudgingly the woman unlocked the outer door to the cells and moved off at pace to contact her superiors. "Much obliged." Gill said to her back as he stepped into the ice box of a jail. He checked the ambient temperature on the Cortex display and swore. It read minus two degrees.

"Go shi!" he hissed, "Which cell is she in?." He glared back through the door, "Which fucking cell!?"

"Three." came the response and suddenly he was running. Coming to a halt outside of cell three he punched the release code on the door and flung it open.

"Medic!" he screamed out as he threw himself to his knees before the huddled form of a woman. "Get a medic down here now!" she had been tied and gagged and then left to freeze in sub zero temperatures. Her skin was blue and icy to the touch as he snatched the cloth gag from her mouth.

Scarlett ran to the cell door looking in on the scene. Her hand went to cover her mouth in shock. Gill's shouting brought her back to the here and now. She pulled out her Cortex. "Administrator Wilson to Medical. I need a trauma team to the jail. Immediately!" Setting her Cortex back in its holder she looked back on the scene looking for somewhere to help, but not having one.

"Oh my god," he half whimpered as he brushed frost dusted hair from her wide open eyes. She looked terrified. He recognised her now. Samantha Keller, a single mother. He could see the face of her three year old daughter Stella Rose. Gods what had happened here? Gill tried to grab her, to lift her to the cott but mortis had set in and she was rigid. He shivered violently as he scrambled back and got to his feet taking ragged breaths of grief and rage.

Without looking to see who could hear he called out.... "Get... fucking... Dakota down here now!!" he had drawn his pistol.