Ghosts of Mars

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1

For weeks, rumors have

spread across Mars...

from outposts to settlements...

from town to town.

Something that had been buried for

centuries has just been uncovered.

And as this mysterious force

moves across the southern valley...

it leaves behind only silence...

and death.

Take your seats, please.

I just talked with the Cartel.

They're concerned that the rumors

are getting out of control.

They'd like to make a statement

in two hours.

Some of you may not know

we've had another incident.

At 1520 hours yesterday,

a freight train...

Trans Marineris 74 Yankee...

returned from the southern valley

on autopilot.

Get to your security stations now!

Let's move.

Initial reports indicated

it was a ghost train.

It appeared no one was aboard...

until a single survivor was

discovered in the rear compartment.

Call for a med tech backup.

Lieutenant Melanie Ballard...

second officer,

first squad of escort police.

They were assigned

to transfer a prisoner...

from the jail at Shining Canyon Mine

back here to Chryse.

Lieutenant Ballard was taken

to hospital under guard.

She had superficial wounds, but was

in otherwise good physical condition.

However, traces of an illegal

substance, tetramonochloride...

were found in her system.

Bring her in, please.

Lieutenant Ballard,

please be seated.

Do I get a lawyer, or don't police

officers have rights these days?

Representation by counsel

won't be necessary.

Your rights are protected

by the Matronage.

You can speak freely.

- Then I'm not being charged?

- Sit down, Lieutenant.

This is a discovery hearing...

and your presence is required

as ranking officer.

I want your after-action report.

Where's the rest of your team,

the prisoner you picked up?

What happened at Shining Canyon?

Last Friday at 1750, we were

slamming through a dust storm...

on the edge of the southern valley.

74 Yankee was an ore hauler...

servicing the mines

in the outer sector.

My squad was hitching a ride

into Shining Canyon.

You beat me.

- Looks like you played tarts before.

- No, I've never done this.

Let's spin 'em again.

One down and one up.

F*** me! The five of bats.

You got the wheel up.

What's your wager?

Five bucks.

Helena? Hey.

Sorry.

Weather station's tracking a huge

storm across the southern sector...

and we're right under it by now.

- What's the mark on it?

- 3,200 kliks.

We should be there by 1800.

Just let me know

if you need anything.

You high?

F***, Helena, it's just clear.

I'll be straighter than this track

long before we hit the canyon.

You better be. This prisoner

transfer is no sleepwalk.

- We're picking up James Williams.

- You mean "Desolation" Williams?

Cooling his heels

in the Shining Canyon jail.

Deep solitary.

- What's the charge this time?

- Murder.

The man's been up on murder three times.

He gets off every time on self-defense.

It's different this time.

Sounds like he finally went psycho.

Beaucoup corpses, all mutilated.

Williams shows up at the mine

with some bizarre-ass story.

Sends three officers to the medevac

before they locked him down.

- You starting to see the picture?

- And all we got is you, me...

and this new guy Jericho

and a couple of rookies?

What do you think

of Sergeant Jericho?

I was hoping we'd get a good,

solid woman we could count on.

I don't know.

I guess we'll see.

Well...

I need you straight, Melanie.

Don't worry about that,

Commander.

I'm as straight as they come.

Such a shame.

Check on

our transfer schedule.

Shining Canyon.

Shining Canyon,

this is Trans Marineris 74 Yankee.

They ready for us?

This storm's really kicking up a mess.

I can't get through to the tower.

Here's your coffee, Mr. McSimms.

Three sugars and two whites.

Just the way you like it.

You want some?

No, thanks.

How long?

About 40.

Shining Canyon.

Shining Canyon, this is

Trans Marineris 74 Yankee.

ETA, 40 minutes.

Everybody check your equipment.

I don't want any surprises.

Is everything all right,

Lieutenant?

I couldn't help but notice that charming

little scene with the queen bee.

Yeah, well, you know how

the service is, Sergeant.

She figures if I want to make captain,

I'll have to pay the price.

Thing is, I don't give a damn

about wearing another bar.

It could be that.

Or maybe she just has

good taste in women.

Sergeant, you are

seriously out of line.

I'd hate to spoil my record.

All right. I know you think

you're some pretty tough hombres.

You've had the best training.

You have the best gear.

You probably think this is

some routine prisoner transfer.

But that's what I want

to bang into your heads.

There's nothing routine

about this prisoner.

We are here to pick up

James "Desolation" Williams.

I want you all jack-ready

and double tough.

Officers, you can disembark here.

What time is departure?

We need at least half an hour

to secure our prisoner.

We got about

a four-hour turnaround...

and we'll be back

at this spot at about 2200.

You can re-board any time after that.

See if you can raise

the yard master, will ya?

Ed? Ed, you out there?

Rookies, use your breathers.

We're not gonna have air like Earth

for ten more years. Let's go.

- God, I hate this thing.

- You'll get used to it.

Two years ago, we were still

wearing full-face breathers.

It takes about a month to get over

the headaches out here.

So this is Shining Canyon?

God, what a dump.

- First time in the boonies, rookie?

- Standard layout.

Just another shitty boomtown

like all the others.

Seen one, you can go home.

You're always cold,

you can't get a decent shower...

and they don't tell you

that a one-year contract here...

equals two years' Earth time.

You gotta read the fine print.

Where is everybody?

Yeah. Friday night,

the place should be packed.

A whole 12 hours before sun up,

and there's money to burn...

whores to f***

and drugs to take.

Instead, we got a graveyard.

Maybe they're all inside,

spending their money.

Mel, I'll get us squared away

at the rec-fac.

You and Sergeant Jericho

check in at the jail.

Save some hot water for me.

Where were you before Chryse?

Utopia.

It's the arse end of the universe.

A penal camp full of

work-amnesty cutthroats.

Sounds nasty...

but you seem to be

holding together all right.

What you see is nothing.

I have numerous

hidden talents.

Need some help with that?

You're persistent, aren't you?

I've changed a few minds

in my time.

There's not many

of us breeders around.

I'd hate to miss a chance

to give it a go.

What do you say?

Hello!

Anybody here?

Officer to front desk.

Well, hello, Mr. Williams.

No one seems to be about.

What do you make of it?

I don't know.

Do you want me to pop the lock

and ask the prisoners?

What do you mean, pop the lock?

That's a level-eight security door.

I've got a mystical way with

locks and mechanical objects.

There isn't a machine on Mars

that doesn't love me.

How about we check with

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