Engines under Ursus Podcast Episode 3

In Systems, Fowler requested Walt’s logs from the computer but none appeared on the holographic screen. He listed the change history and saw that all of the logs had been deleted the day after his accident.

“You have backups?” asked Fowler.

“No,” replied Mezzler, accessing the admin services. “The backups were purged too. Whoever deleted themg has been thorough.”

“Can we see who deleted the logs?” asked Fowler.

“Sure,” replied Mezzler but his face dropped when he saw that the changes had been made by Walt the day after his accident. “Looks like someone used his account.”

Fowler nodded. “Okay, which Console made the changes?”

Mezzler made the request. “They were deleted in Walt’s office.”

Fowler looked up. “Search the personal locators database and find out who was in Walt’s office at that time.”

Mezzler sent the request.

“Just one employee,” replied Mezzler as the name appeared on the screen.

“Okay, we’ve got our man,” said Fowler, standing up.

“Not really,” said Mezzler as the holographic picture appeared of a female employee. “That’s Kay Brunner, Walt’s assistant.”

“Don’t know her,” replied Fowler.

“She’s new. With us only a couple of months,” answered Mezzler.

Fowler looked at her photo. “What’s her brief?”

“She’s a consultant. We kept her on to help Walt investigate the N-Teks. She specialises in your area,” Mezzler wiped his brow.

“Okay, let’s meet her.”

Kay was examining N-Tek samples with an electron microscope when Fowler and Mezzler walked into her office without knocking.

“Can I help you?” she asked, annoyed by the unexpected intrusion.

“This is Tom Fowler,” said Mezzler. “He’s come on-board to help out with the N-Tek problem.”

“I’d like a moment with Kay on my own,” said Fowler.

Mezzler grimaced and left the office, leaving the door ajar. Fowler walked over to the door and closed it over completely.

Fowler made direct eye contact with Kay. “I’d want to know why you deleted Walt’s personal logs.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking…”

Fowler cut across her and folded his arms. “Before you say anything, I know what really happened to Walt. I think you do too.”

Kay was taken aback by Fowler’s directness. “Who are you working for?”

“Sandra has given me permission to interview anyone I like. I need to know what Walt found out.”

“Delcass told me I was the only one assigned to the N-Tek problem,” said Kay defensively.

Fowler took a deep breath. “What was in the logs Kay?”

“I didn’t read them. They were personal,” she replied. “I cleaned out his account using his password. Delcass asked me to.”

Fowler sighed inwardly. There is was, that name again. Even now Delcass was working behind his back trying to undermine him from a distance.

Fowler sighed. “What else did Delcass say to you?”

“Nothing,” replied Kay evasively.

Even now, Fowler could see the distrust in Kay’s eyes. She had another piece of the jigsaw and wasn’t willing to give it up.

“I want to see your work schedules over the week before the accident.”

Kay gave them to him reluctantly and sat down, looking upset and annoyed. Fowler took them up and paged through the worksheet. “What brought you to Ursus?”

“We wanted to take some samples from a new dig.”

Fowler looked at the location. “In the Basalt Valley?” He shook his head. “That’s a preserved site. No-one’s allowed dig down there.”

Kay looked surprised as if it meant something to her. “Oh, you’ve been there before?”

Fowler nodded. “I did some studies of the ruins for my PhD. I was looking for a link with the N-Teks on Erstol but I ran out of funds. So, what did you find Kay?”

Kay shrugged her shoulders. “Nothing.”

Fowler shook his head. His voice was getting harsher. “What were you looking for?”

She looked away evasively. “Walt never said.”

Fowler knew she knew she wasn’t going to tell him anything more. “Thanks, you’ve been a big help,” said Fowler, throwing the schedule on the table and left the office. As he opened the door, Mezzler was leaning into it, trying to listen to their conversation.

Fowler walked past Mezzler, feeling his blood pressure rising again.

“Where to now?” asked Mezzler.

“I’m going to see Delcass,” said Fowler. “You coming along?”

Mezzler swallowed hard. “No, I’ve a couple of things to do first. See you later.” He reached for his pager as he walked away and pressed a button.

The door to Delcass’ office was wide open. “Come on in,” said Delcass, ”I’ve been expecting you.”

Fowler walked into Delcass’ office and looked around it. Nothing had changed in the three years since he had been in the tank. Everything was cold and efficient in the vice president’s spacious office.

“I need some transport. I’m going to Ursus,” said Fowler.

“Why?” asked Delcass. “You’re not thinking of trying to run out on us already are you?”

Fowler had expected a comment like that from Delcass and paid no heed to it. “No, I keep my word,” smiled Fowler, recalling Delass’ speech to him three years before that the company would do all it could to protect him when his NTek experiments were uncovered. It had all been a pack of lies. The memories lay heavily on Fowler’s mind. “I want to follow up on some work Walt did.”

Delcass smiled wryly. No-one talked to him the way. Only Fowler did and it still irked him. He pursed his lips a little. “You haven’t changed a bit, Fowler.” There was a clear coldness in Delcass’ voice.

“Thanks,” replied Fowler emptily and walked around the office, looking at the technical journals which Delcass had in place to impress all those who entered his office. The books had clearly never been read. Delcass displayed a hologram of the top floor of Erstol where craft were coming and going and looked up some details.

Fowler looked into the trash can by the book shelf and saw a wolf’s Mask in it. “Been to a fancy dress lately?” asked Fowler.

“My son’s birthday. You know how the kids like to dress up,” replied Delcass. ”Take the company Shuttle. It’s all yours. Enjoy your wild goose chase.” Fowler looked away and left the office. As the door closed, he heard Delcass’ sardonic voice. “Don’t forget Fowler. The clock is ticking. You’re not out of the Tank yet.”

Fowler resisted the urge to slam the door.