Hostile Takeover (audio story)

***Hostile Takeover*** was the second story in the audio anthology *The High Frontier 1*, produced by Big Finish Productions. It was written by Rossa McPhillips and introduced Lynsey Murrell in the role of Alice Okoro.

## Synopsis

A crashed shuttle with no passengers or crew on board. The murder of a gangster. The kidnapping of a space station union leader. What connects all three cases? As Nathan’s team investigate they encounter Alice Okoro, a corporate investigator for Wolfe International. What is her agenda? Is she there to hinder or help the Star Cops?

## Plot

Engines roar, Shuttle MTZ1986 is heading on a collision course with the Icarus station. The Controller of the station, James Winfield, is trying to warning the moon shuttle, but is failing to get a response. Fellow colleague, Kathy Marshall, enters the room and he updates her. They both wonder what on Earth the crew of the shuttle is doing. Meanwhile, back on the shuttle, no-one at all seems to be present. With three minutes until impact, Winfield suggests they use the laser to shoot it off course. Marshall acknowledges that if they precisely shoot the laser at one of the engines, they could alter the course of the shuttle. Marshall shoots the starboard engine, sending it off-course and away from them. Winfield informs her that its new trajectory is the Moon. Marshall orders him to warn Moonbase.

In the ISPF office, Paul Bailey is checking the computer. He calls Nathan Spring over to see his findings. Jacob Depard has been flagged as one of the people aboard the latest Earth shuttle arrival. Bailey reminds him that Depard has a long criminal record, mainly for robbery and violence, but most importantly it states that he was pinned as the leader of the Red Core. Spring recognises the Red Core as one of the nastiest crime gangs in Western Europe. Bailey recalls a turf war had between the Red Core and the Collier Gang. Bizarelly, Bailey explains that Depard is here for leisure, having booked himself into a Lunar Tour. Finding that Depard has booked himself into the Southern Habitation Block, Spring suggests they pay him a visit and remind him to remain on best behaviours. Before he can continue, he gets a call through. He turns on the screen. From the screen, Colin Devis calls Spring to the control centre. Spring reluctantly allows Bailey to handle Depard on his own and rushes off.

Spring now understands the situation with the out-of-control shuttle. Devis informs him that the crash site will be an unpopulated part of the Moon. A klaxon blares out. The shuttle crashes. Spring asks Devis to join the responders in the hope of finding a course. Devis tells Spring that he will update the Icarus. Spring realises that the Icarus is the station that Pal Kenzy's making her way to. Marshall is suprised to find that Winfield called in the Star Cops following certain recent circumstances. Meanwhile, on the Moon, Bailey pays Depard a visit. With no answer, Bailey forces his way in and finds blood. From the shadows, a man jumps out, assaulting Bailey. Slightly wounded on the floor, Bailey calls for Spring, but to no response. He then spots something that was dropped.

Spring later informs Bailey that he's obtained a couple of cracked ribs. Bailey informs him that Depard wasn't a threat at all. But his killer *was*. Bailey further states that with the room being dark and the killer being fast, he didn't get a good view of his face, *however* hopes that the mobile phone he dropped will give them a clue. It's clear that the phone belonged to Depard but Spring hopes that there may be the killer's DNA on it. Spring orders Bailey to the medical centre before even considering allowing him to check the phone.

At the crash site, Devis notes that it'll take weeks to look through the mess. He's then approached by a woman named Alice Okoro, who is very much taking charge of the situation. She claims to be the Senior Investigator and Head of Corporate Security of Wolfe International. Okoro continues to explain that Wolfe International owns Moon Tours, therefore she has first rights to sift through it. Devis is having none of it and informs her that the Star Cops and the rest of the Moonbase crew will investigate first. Okoro informs Devis that there are no bodies within the shuttle because the shuttle was empty.

Winfield welcomes Kenzy aboard the Icarus. Winfield introduces himself as Station Manager. Kenzy gets to business regarding the missing crewmate Mark Robinson. Winfield explains shortly after his disappearance, a photo of Robinson with a masked person was shared to the local network, which makes Kenzy escalate it to a kidnapping. Meanwhile, the dispute between Devis and Okoro is continuing as Okoro helps herself to the "evidence". Devis calls out to some suited up person who appears to be helping themselves to something. When he approaches the person, the person physically assaults him. With Okoro at Devis' side, they watch as the person takes Devis' Moon Rover. Devis commandeers Okoro's Moon Rover but Okoro insists on joining him.

Winfield explains to Kenzy that Robinson was last seen heading to his quarters six days ago and was never seen again. Kenzy seems to think that him being the trade union leader was important, since he'd recently rallied the team together not long before his disappearance to get them to strike over pay. But Winfield states that the trade unionists reckon the management has a hand in his disappearance. Kenzy asks what their actual jobs are on the station, and Winfield is more than happy to show her. Meanwhile, Devis and Okoro are nearly on top of the Moon Rover thief. They get rammed by him. They watch as the thief and his stolen vehicle drive head first into a crevice, crashing on impact. Upon inspecting the crashed vehicle, Okoro informs Devis that the person is dead. Devis wants to know what he stole from the crash site. He pulls the stolen object out and Okoro recognises it as a remote drive - this spooks her. Devis realises that she recognises it. Devis puts it to her that this bloke wasn't the only one nicking from the crash site, as he noticed bits of debris in her own vehicle. He informs her that he's taking the remote drive back to Moonbase and once they're there, she's going to provide them with proper answers in regard to her real reason for being there and who this bloke is, and should she refuse, he reminds her of 'obstructing a police investigation'.

Back at Icarus, Winfield explains that the space station is in a fixed orbit, and that means part of their path leads them to two hundred thousand pieces of junk, made up of but not exclusively including dead old satellites and bits of metal. It's their job to get rid of it and keep the space lanes clear. Mark Robinson had the task of supervising that job, using the laser. Kenzy notes just how huge it is, comparing it to the astronomical telescope at Perth Observatory. Winfield explained that Robinson himself never operated it, but oversaw the team of engineers who did. Winfield explains that the laser carves up bigger pieces of metal and then pushes the pieces towards the Earth's atmosphere where they burn up. Kenzy asks whether the ray could be used on a person, and Winfield suggests she try using it on the desk. When she does so, it does nothing to it. Entering the room, senior engineer Kathy Marshall enters and explains that it's programmed to disabled its heat setting should it be fired in an enclosed space. Kenzy suggests she introduces herself at the next union meeting.

One deck below, Marshall is hosting the union meeting, which is turning quite rowdy. Kenzy enters but isn't treated to an overly warm welcome by Marshall, who suggests she introduces herself. Later, over coffee, Kenzy starts her interview with Marshall. Marshall explains that rather than make money from the salvaged rare metals and minerals from the junk, they can only destroy it due to the environmental aspect of the company's contract. Despite Marshall's hostility, Kenzy informs her that she's about to search Robinson's room with a fine toothcomb and then organise another station-wide search. Kenzy reminds her that the airlock cameras don't show Robinson leaving the station, which therefore means he's still here. And if he's still here, Kenzy is certain she'll find him and his kidnapper.

Bailey pulls Spring over for a conversation, who is preparing for the Moonbase Procurement Committee. Bailey informs him that he's just finished his search through Depard's phone and had noticed the same phone number reappearing. Turns out that Depard was communing almost daily with Mark Robinson. Spring finds it almost unbelievable that a gang leader was murdered on the same day a shuttle almost collides with a space station, and a daily contact of whom has gone missing. Devis swaggers into a room holding Okoro. He finally knows that she's Captain Alice Okoro, ex-military police. This makes him more suspicious of her knowing the identity of their deceased runaway - Vernon Knotts, formerly Corporal Knotts of the Parachute Regiment. Devis puts it to her that she recognises him before they were working together on the salvage of that wreckage, something which she vehimentally denies. Okoro explains that her last contact with "Knottsy" was roughly five years ago, where he had contacted her to tell her that he was leaving up the army to set up a mercenary unit, recruiting all ex-military, and asking her whether she'd like a job. He presents to her further documents showing that Knotts was putting together a team of twelve ex-military personnel and that one of them was assigned Shuttle MTZ1986. Okoro summises that they were clearly on a mission to Icarus Station. Devis explains to her that their shuttle nearly collided with Icarus. Devis shows her a photo from Knotts' remote drive of a man, but Okoro doesn't recognise him. Devis boils it down to why would a group of mercenaries have their hands on one of Okoro's company's shuttles, something that Okoro would also like to know.

Devis also wishes to know why someone who works for the Earthside part of Wolfe International would be on the Moon and hastily getting to the wreckage of that shuttle before the ISPF. She tells him that she was made aware that the shuttle was missing and that her mission was to find out what had happened to it. She states that the shuttle was taken out for routine maintenance two weeks ago but a spec audit found that it had never turned up at the workshop. She further explains that she kept it from the police because the surprise audit revealed it to be an inside job. Winfield welcomes Kenzy into his office. Despite not having found anything useful during her search, she tells Winfield that she's had an interesting catch-up with her boss. She asks him whether he knows Jacob Depard. She explains that Depard was the leader of a gang called The Red Core and that his death is likely related to Robinson's disappearance. She informs him that a scan of Robinson's finances shows that he was doing *very* well for himself. She then asks if the entries for Robinson's laser usages could be faked, should anyone such as Robinson want to claim an artifact rather than destroy it. Kenzy asks him to bring a copy of the time logs for the laser's usages with them as they go to check the laser again.

In the laser room, Winfield flicks on the light, explaining they're in the night cycle. Thinking it to be rather a good thing, Kenzy goes about trying to find the operating software for the laser. Kenzy's theory is proven right. Robinson had been filling in the records incorrectly on purpose. The position of the laser on both sets of records don't add up. It was impossible for him, in the first example, to destroy the titanium from one of the dead space stations as it wasn't in the correct position to do so. As Kenzy states that she's ready to open a case, a gun shot is heard and Winfield falls to the ground. Kathy Marshall makes her way in. Marshall informs Kenzy that The Red Core are old news, and that she works for The Collective. As Marshall was speaking, Winfield has been moving closer to the laser. With it pointed in her direction, Winfield blinds her with it, and Kenzy grabs her gun. Marshall explains that during the seize of power by the Collective, Robinson picked the wrong side. Kenzy demands to be taken to him.

Devis and Spring discuss the possible collaboration between Okoro and Knotts. Devis' own opinion is that she was genuinely surprised to see Knotts, and that her not recognising the photo of Robinson he showed her was genuine. Devis explains that the mission objective was to locate and extract their "person of interest", which Devis has no doubt to be Robinson. Spring goes on to explain that the mission to rescue Robinson was funded Earthside by a company known to be a front for The Red Core. Spring explains that it still leaves them with the question of what happened to the passengers of the shuttle, remembering the reports of blood and weapon discharge. Box pipes up, telling Spring that the DNA from Depard's phone matches Torsten Arthurton, a 43 year old US national, and a contract killer. One recent reports suggests he was recently hired by the Collective, which Devis instantly recalls as the name used by Xander O'Brien in his last warning before his death.

Kenzy forces Marshall to input the code to the room locating Robinson. When they enter, Kenzy notes the hostage taker has gone and Marshall is shocked to find Robinson shot dead. Marshall explains that everyone in the union leadership was in on the entire plan. She explains the The Red Core would tell them which items to save from destruction and that the union leaders would falsify the records. But once the Collective wanted in on the action, they refused, leading to the Collective taking Robinson hostage. At the time, Marshall had switched sides but asked the Collective to not harm Robinson.

Spring enters the interview room and greets Okoro. He allows her to leave, considering her a useful hand in their investigation and *very* lucky to not be charged with obstruction. With her about to lecture him, he threatens that the Star Cops will keep digging in the hope of finding anything incriminating against her. Should they find a connection between her and the Collective, she'll be arrested. Outside of the question room, Devis explains Kenzy's situation to Spring, including Marshall's link to the Collective. Devis states that they are due to arrive at Shuttle Station 1 in the next twenty minutes, and then Moonbase in another twenty.

Later, Spring meets Kenzy and Marshall at the airlock. He asks Kenzy to wait outside while he talks to Marshall. He asks Marshall what Robinson's relationship to Depard was. Marshall explains they were close mates from school, and Mark had worked for him on-and-off for years. Marshall explains that she knows this because her and Robinson were in a relationship once. Marshall goes on to state that the Collective didn't just want certain people dead, rather they wanted The Red Core. Spring likens it to a conglomerate, an organised crime circuit buying up other organised crime circuits. Kenzy wonders whether that's behind the name, the Collective. Marshall continues to explain that she would occassionally speak to a representative of the Collective who instructed her. She never knew his name but referred to him as the Viking, due to his long beard and long, blonde hair. However, she states he was American. He shows her a picture of Arthurton, and she claims that he's the same guy. Spring tells her that she'll need to give evidence against him in court, and that they'll provide her with protection at all times. Devis pops his head through the door and Spring sends Marshall to the detention area while they wait for Bailey's arrival.

She turns to Spring and asks him who would know they'd spoken should she choose to speak. As Spring is answering, a gun shot is heard and Marshall falls to the ground. They see Arthurton fleeing and Spring and Devis chase after him. Kenzy stays behind to look after Marshall. Before dying, Marshall apologises.

Arthurton takes a hostage and demands the Star Cops drop their weapons. Spring states that's not going to happen and that, on Moonbase, he's got nowhere to run. Arthurton states he has a Moon Rover waiting for him and friends everywhere who can help him. As Arthurton counts down to his kill, he was shot from behind by Bailey. Reflecting later on, Spring states that they've lost one Collective informant but at least they took out another hitman. Spring is left confused as to who betrayed Marshall and sent Arthurton. The only people who truly knew about the transfer to Moonbase were himself and Devis. They then realise that Okoro was in the vicinity during that conversation. Spring asks Bailey to trace every movement of Alice Okoro on the Moon and in Moonbase, and warns everyone to remember the name "The Collective".

## Cast

* Commander Nathan Spring - David Calder
* Inspector Colin Devis - Trevor Cooper
* Acting Chief Superintendent Pal Kenzy - Linda Newton
* Inspector Paul Bailey - Philip Olivier
* Alice Okoro - Lynsey Murrell
* James Winfield / Torsten Arthurton - Graham Vick
* Kathy Marshall - Bullie Fulford-Brown

## References

* Kathy Marshall and James Winfield's locking of horns comes from their differing views on their jobs. While Marshall represents the crew in her union, Winfield represents the interests of the company.
* Alice Okoro compares the crashed shuttle to the Mary Celeste, due to it having no passengers.
* Euro Credits are a currency on Earth. Marshall explains that millions of Euro Credits could be made from the material salvaged from old satellites.
* The chairman of Wolfe International is Russell Wolfe.
* Before his death, Jacob Depard led the criminal gang, The Red Core.
* Arthurton claims there are Collective infiltrators everywhere, even on the Moonbase.

## Continuity

* When Box informs them of Torsten Arthurton being recently hired by the Collective, both Devis and Spring recall it being the last warning of Xander O'Brien before his death. Later on, the two of them learn of the Collective's murder of Mark Robinson. They consider the previous deaths of O'Brien and Sonia Garrett. (AUDIO: *Dead Air*)