Gravewalkers: Dying Time Read Online Free Page A

verge of striking her then turned his spite
on Critias. “What a delightful virago of an assistant you have
earned yourself, captain; it truly never does shut its face. It’s
such a tragedy that I’m too busy to socialize with you two all day
long. Unfortunately, I need to get back to work maintaining my
unbroken record of exceeding expectations.”
    Critias was far from
finished with his interview, “That’s something of a coincidence
then, Colonel Walker, because I also never fail to exceed lofty
expectations. Grand Marshal Wayne personally ordered me to come
here and do this inspection of your operations and he will not be
disappointed in me for any lack of due diligence. According to the
reports I have received, you have had zero infections, an
impressive list of damaged vehicles, one accidental death, and thus
far delivered some seventy kilotons of clean premium salvage into
orbit. You have indeed exceeded your quotas impressively, colonel.
I am just here to make sure that you didn’t purchase your successes
by cutting corners from the safety regulations. The little people
do the dying when the big people get drunk on ambition.”
    The colonel sustained his
irritation, which was an accomplishment, “Once the Council of
Governors approves this operational strategy, I’ll be ready to
duplicate this type of installation in capital cities all over the
planet, so it’s critical that we not lose pace. My output figures
have already won the blessing of the Reclamation
General.”
    Critias cautioned the
colonel, “It’s more critical that Grand Marshal Wayne approves of
your operation for it to ever even enter debate at the Council of
Governors. Lack of cooperation may require me to recommend that the
Grand Marshal put your entire show on hold while a dozen marshals
perform a proper inspection.”
    The colonel threw up
consolatory hands, “That won’t be necessary. I’m prepared to
cooperate in any way that will facilitate your confidence that
operations here are being administrated by me with the strictest
professionalism and regard for safety.”
    Carmen was about to open
her mouth again, but Critias cut her off with a pointed finger to
shut it. He commanded, “Access the computer records; see if you can
find anything out of the ordinary.” It was an order, so she was
powerless to disobey.
    “ Perhaps one of my
technicians would be better suited to help you with the data
records,” Colonel Walker offered. “It may be beyond the skills of
your thuggish prostitute.”
    “ I am most certainly not a
pillow-bot,” Carmen complained. She let the thuggish part slide in
that she was rather proud of her combat-grade-five titanium
skeleton.
    Critias ordered, “Go! One
more outburst and I’ll unplug you.”
    Carmen went over then
propped her bightstaff aside so she could sit at a computer
terminal to do the job. She could access all the computer records
by internal modem, but much preferred doing it slowly by presenting
herself as a regular human person with an office job, a person who
could perform far better than any one of them ever could. When
sitting comfortably, she grumbled, “You of all people should know
that I don’t have any plug, master, not like you had any trouble
finding my input sockets your first day.”
    Critias made sure she was
occupied with her task before he asked Walker, “Tell me about your
one accidental death, colonel. How did it happen?”
    “ Friendly fire,” the
colonel answered with a sour expression for the unfortunate mishap.
“During an operation where we were culling the numbers of the
infected along the perimeter, teslaflux-cannon shrapnel struck one
of my men in the head.”
    Critias saw no wisdom in
such a strategy, “You use cannons on infected along the perimeter?
Does that mean that the shredded bodies of ghouls are painting your
entire fence-line in contaminated filth?”
    The colonel shrugged over
that minor detail, “It means the infected are in fewer active
numbers