a preliminary evaluation in the shuttle bay when the explosion breached the outer starboard hangar door,” Senior Assistant Engineer Barrett said. “Five of them were part of a high school apprentice program. All were lost, their bodies unrecoverable.”
Father Joseph muttered a small prayer and, out of the corner of his eye, saw the Pope do the same. He noted that the Captain and Engineer shared the same facial expression and the same posture. They were angry.
“Other casualties?” the Engineer asked Barrett, who stood at the podium in front of the Engineer’s large main conference room.
“The explosion was localized and did not extend beyond the bay. However, the Emergency Response crews suffered from exposure to gases and smoke after the secondary doors closed the shuttle bay. These injuries were mostly due to poorly fitted helmets being put on too quickly and not made secure. We’ve updated the drill manual to direct team members to check each other’s seals before leaving ready rooms. That’s the worst, aside from the murders.”
“Mr. Barrett!” the Engineer snapped.
“I apologize and withdraw the comment, ma’am.”
Joseph could see Barrett was not repentant and couldn’t blame the man one bit. The Senior Assistant Engineer only said what everyone in the room was thinking.
Joro stared Barrett down. “Mr. Barrett, why weren’t the inner doors in place?”
The Senior Assistant Engineer dropped his eyes to the pad. “They should have been. I can only assume the bomber deactivated the inner doors when they placed the bomb, and the prep crew either didn’t notice or didn’t care. I have personally reviewed all shuttle bay hangar doors, both that day and before this meeting, and have confirmed all inner and outer doors are in place.”
“Thank you, Mr. Barrett.” Joro turned to Moira. “Chief Badge?”
Moira Murphy stood to take Barrett’s place at the podium, and Joseph used the time to assess the room. The Captain, Engineer, and Pope sat at the end of the U-shaped conference table with the Captain occupying the center seat. Joseph found this odd as the conference room was in the Back. He assumed the Engineer would sit there. The Assistant Engineers took most of the remaining seats at the table, though the First Officer took a seat close to the Captain.
Bertie, Tomika, and Joseph sat behind their respective bosses, and Tomika studiously avoided talking to Joseph or even looking at him. Her pain over their separation still ran deep, he knew, and he again kicked himself for underestimating her emotions.
I told myself over and over that we were two ships passing in the night, even though I knew I was lying to myself. I cared for her more than I wanted to admit. Than I want to admit.
I was wrong about my feelings, and I was wrong about hers. She cared for me more than I was ready to believe.
What else am I wrong about?
Joseph was deeply disturbed when he realized he was staring at the back of the Pope’s head.
Moira laid her tablet on the podium and adjusted the microphone. “Engineer, Captain, Your Holiness. Our investigators have learned the bomb was placed in the lower left corner of the starboard outer door. When it exploded, the force impacted the door and pushed it outward. Between the bent outer door and the seconds needed for the inner doors to close, the Burners working in the hangar had no chance.”
After a pause, she continued. “Our analysis of the explosion site continues, but it appears the bomb was placed at the bottom of the door versus being attached or welded. Most of its substance and individual parts went into space. We’re leaning toward organic materials.”
“Really?” the Pope asked.
“Yes, sir. Organic bombs made of fertilizer are simple to create. The Back has numerous manna farms that would fit the bill. And you know our recent history with organic bombs in the Front.” Moira had the grace to look apologetic towards Charles as she spoke the last sentence.
“Security?” the Captain asked. “Cameras, guards, and everything?”
Moira’s back stiffened. “Sir, the hangar bays were in the process of being activated for Landfall. No monitoring was in place.” Joseph could tell she took the question personally. “That is no longer the case. All bays have been emptied until we can verify their safety, and Badges are patrolling the Back’s sensitive areas, both physically and virtually. Engineer, if I may?”
“Yes?”
“My immediate recommendations. Increase virtual surveillance. Lock the doors and require visible ID cards in sensitive workspaces. Activate the Badge Reserve Corps.”
Joro looked at Charles, who nodded.
Joseph raised an eyebrow. Interesting.
“The first two recommendations are approved.” Joro’s words caused a wave of reactions among the Assistant Engineers, though Barrett’s face was unreadable. Joro waited until the muttering stopped. “Send me the numbers and personnel impact for the last recommendation.”
Moira nodded. “I hear the Engineer.”
“Anything else?”
“No, ma’am. Questions from the room?” Hearing none, Moira took her seat.
“Silva, please stand,” Joro said.
A squat woman with a severe visage stood at the end of the room, exuding confidence and professionalism.
“You and your Emergency Response team’s actions and reactions are to be commended. Yes, there were things we all could have done better, but I know you well enough that those mistakes will not be repeated.”
“You have my word, Engineer,” Silva said.
“Thank you.” Joro leaned forward, her elbows on the table. “As the first responder on site, what should you like us to know?”
“I take responsibility for the seals on the helmets, ma’am. That mistake shows we need more training time. We were probably going to do more fire drills as we got closer to Landfall, but now is better than later.”
“So ordered. Barrett, please take the lead.”
“I hear the Engineer.”
“May I express a personal opinion, Engineer?” asked Silva. When Joro nodded, Silva continued. “This was a planned and vicious crime. The killer didn’t care who they hurt or how many. I want to be alone with that person for two minutes.” She shook her head and unclenched her fists, trying to get herself under control. “I apologize. I’m upset.”
“I would hope so. And I understand.” Joro looked at the Captain and Pope, who both nodded before standing as one. “Silva, the Triumvirate honors you and your team for your bravery and dedication to Salvation. Thank you.”
Silva bowed from the waist. “We serve Salvation.” She sat.
“Engineer, may I say something?” the Captain asked.
“Yes, sir. Room, up!”
Everyone popped to their feet.
“Thank you, everyone. I’ll keep this short. My condolences to the families and friends of those we lost yesterday. Please let them know that if they need anything, they only need to ask. I will make it happen.” He paused. “We’re being challenged here on a whole different level, but this will not be the first time. As we get closer to Landfall, there will be more trials and hard decisions. Impossible decisions. What I require from everyone is that they make those decisions that most benefit our mutual future. It’s not a cliché—we’re doing everything today, tomorrow, and next year for the survival of the human race. Govern yourself accordingly, both professionally and personally. The Engineer believes in you, and so do I.”
“As do I,” the Pope interjected.
“Thank you, gentlemen,” Joro said.
The Pope raised his hand.
“Yes, Your Holiness?” she asked.
“May I speak privately with you two, please?”
“Yes.” She looked around. “The floor is open. Anything else? No? Clear the room, please. Thank you.”
Father Joseph followed the crowd out the door. Finding himself behind Tomika in the hallway, he touched her elbow. “Can I have a minute?”
She didn’t look back. “Go to hell.”
“Please.”
Tomika spun on him. “I said—” She stopped and took a deep breath. “Okay, one minute.”
“I’ll be quick. Your anger has placed me in a purgatory that I deserve. I am praying every day for forgiveness, but that will never come if I don’t explain the circumstances of my departure.”
“Rejection, you mean.”
“No.” The passion in his reaction surprised him. “Every part of me wanted to stay with you… no, be with you forever. I wanted that future with you so much.”
“What happened, then?”
He couldn’t meet her eyes. “I was a coward. I am a coward. I have a small comfort zone, and the priesthood is a comfortable place where I can live a life of realistic expectations without risk. The Pope offered me a chance to make a significant difference to everyone on the ship, and he has lived up to that promise. A life… with you…”
“A life with a woman?”
“Yes. Nothing would be predictable or simple or safe. I was scared. I ran. I’m still running, it seems.”
Tomika studied him, and Joseph wondered if she was pitying him. “You said you were raised in the Basilica orphanage. Was that a lie?”
“That was the truth.”
“You’ve never lived with love, have you?”
“Yes. I mean, no. I don’t understand what you mean.”
“I know you don’t. That’s the problem.” Tomika breathed out. “I was raised with my mother, my brother, and my grandmother. My mother’s and grandmother’s partners came and went, but we all knew we were always there for each other. We supported each other. We yelled at each other. We believed in each other. We loved each other. You never lived in that situation, and I think you’ve missed out on real love in exchange for whatever you think is your higher mission.”
“When you put it that way, I might have made a bigger mistake than I first thought.”
“I know you have, Father. I don’t care what plans your God or Pope have for you. You and me, we could be together right now, but that will never happen because you wanted to be safe. You missed your chance for your best life, your best happiness, and I can’t help but feel sorry for you.”
The priest opened his mouth to reply when he felt someone approach from behind.
“Care to tell us what’s going on in there with the Triumvirate, Father?” the First Officer asked.
“You’ll know when they come out,” he said. “His Holiness is registering the first formal complaint about Landfall.”
“As in?”
“As in, he doesn’t think we should leave the ship. He believes this latest incident will foster more violence and deaths. He feels mankind is best served by staying aboard.”
“What do you think, Father?” Tomika asked.
Joseph knew she was furious and braced himself. “I work for the Pope.”
“Well, this is what I think.” She spat the words at him. “Fifteen people are dead. All of them had loved ones and good friends. I went to school with two of them. They were murdered by someone who believes violence is the answer to life’s problems.” She shook her head. “But it won’t work. We will get Home. We will make Landfall. And fuck whoever killed my friends. Let them try their worst. Let them try to dictate to us. It’s not going to work because we do not fucking negotiate with terrorists.”
She stepped closer, putting her face inches from his. “And if I find out that they are getting official support from anyone on this ship, I will personally hunt those supporters down and eviscerate them, no matter who they are. I will put their heads on spikes near our first landing site and piss on the ground around them. Tell that to your boss.”
She spun on her heel and stomped off.
Joseph pulled out a handkerchief to wipe his face clean of her spittle. “That was rather to the point, wasn’t it?”
Kathy snorted. “I agree with her one hundred percent.” She deliberately looked below his waist. “Except it won’t be their heads when I catch them.”
She met his eyes again. “Have a nice day, Father.”
She turned and followed Tomika, leaving Joseph with his thoughts.
They’re not wrong, are they? Is that why I am having doubts?