I went back down the car to the monitor display the moment I saw the two red lights shining amongst the green ones.
I slid open the display's glass cover and fitted my signet ring to the optical reader. The potent Inquisitorial authority codes loaded into my signet ring rapidly overcame Trans-Continental Line's confidence software and gave me access to the express's master system.
The monitor's little screen woke up, and flickered with user-friendly graphics and bars of data. I requested clarification of the red warning lights.
Alert code 88 decimal 508 – a systematic trigger of active brake units, cars seven through ten, forcing main brake arrest.
Alert code 521 decimal 6911 – irregular breach of door seal, door 34, car eight, lower.
I hurried along the upper deck of the train, heading for the rear. Some cabin doors opened and anxious faces looked out. 'No need for concern!' I called in my best Trans-Continental tone, backing it up with a gentle surge of will that slammed doors after me like a drum roll.
At car six, I had to go down to the lower deck because of the dining salon. Passing into car seven, I saw three train staffers hurrying down the companionway in the direction of car eight.
The lower hallway of car eight was bitterly cold and a gale was blowing down it. I saw six or seven rail employees pulling on foul weather gear and lighting flares as they jumped down out of the open wagon door into the night. Several more were grouped around the monitor display and one, a steward, saw me approach.
'Please go back to your cabin, sir. Everything's fine.'
"What seems to be the problem?'
'Just hurry back, sir. What is your cabin number? I'll bring along complimentary liqueurs in a few minutes.'
'The rear brakes have just thrown and door 34 is open/ I said.
He blinked. 'How did you-'
What's going on?'
'Sir, I want to guarantee your comfort, so if you'd just like to-'
I didn't have time for a debate. 'What's going on, Inex?' I asked, reading his name off his brass lapel badge and juicing my words with just a touch of will. A name always helped to enhance the mental coercion.
He blinked. The brake systems in the rear four wagons have engaged, which triggered an overall braking incident/ he said, quickly and obediently.
'Did someone pull the emergency rope?'
'No, sir. We'd have a source for that, and anyway the train's entire brake system would have fired simultaneously. We believe it's ice in the aft units/
That would cause a partial brake lock?'
'Yes, sir/
'What about the door?'