Page 166 - The Perpetrations of Captain Kaga

Investigating the Mystery of the Talking Plant
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He was interrupted by the entrance of the medic, a small furry
marsupial with plenty of pockets. A portable Languex strapped to its
shoulder instantly interpreted its high burbling speech.
“Commander Quex, I have completed my post-mortem and
investigation into the circumstances of the accident. The Tzigian died
at roughly 0200 this morning of internal injuries suffered when the
gravity in his room rapidly increased to approximately ten times that
of his native planet. The body is being removed to the exobiology
section pending further instructions. I might add, sir, that it would be
very instructive for us to perform an autopsy upon this creature. I
have never before seen such a complex specimen of coelenterate
divergence.”
Quex looked pained. “Please, Corporal,” he said, weighing his
words carefully, “I think we should wait until the ethnologists tell us
what is appropriate.”
“Yes, sir,” said the medic, and left the room looking somewhat
disappointed.
Quex walked over to his desk and gazed down at it distractedly.
Abruptly he looked up and said, “Excuse me, gentlemen, I must
prepare a report for GHQ concerning this tragedy.”
Lugo guided Kaga out of the Commander’s office and into the
PKU post beyond the reception area. He showed Kaga where he
could stow his gear, and pointed out the various communications
facilities. Then they walked into the central structure via a connecting
door that required PKU identity to open. Lugo was explaining the
layout of the building as they went along.
“...so the opening was held out here in the main hall; quite
impressive, eh? All these starmap projections and replicas of historic
holograms... Each of these side rooms contains an exhibit of both the
commercial and ethnological aspects of one planet. They are very well
done, I think; the Center has a permanent staff which assembles and
mounts the displays. Each round of five or six representations stays up
for as long as it takes to organize the next group. The PKU supplies all
the necessary data, materials, and, of course, arranges for each planet
involved to send an emissary for the opening ceremony. Poor
Bulakko! He was the most gregarious of the bunch we have now; it’s
really a shame he won’t be returning to Tzigi with all that he’d learned
here.”

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