The fate of a Federal Officer (29/03/3304]
02 Apr 2018Archived
Previously in James' LogbookJames and Matt Horner finally managed to find the remnants of Cmdr Blasius Hajdu’s Federal Corvette, floating in the deep space in LHs 3006 system. They recovered an audio log from the destroyed bridge that contained recordings made by Hajdu himself (first part here). Now James, Matt and Prof. Goldstein gathered in the study of the latter in order to listen to the whole material
***
Prof. Goldstein’s Quarters
Freeport
LP 98-132 System (Federal Space)
“It's been more than one hour now.. they destroyed all the pods. All of them. Cassie, Adam, Rob... dead. Killed with coldi blood. At some point a Diamondback jumped in, but quickly was destroyed by the fighters. No hails, nothing. The pilot managed to escape, but his fate is sealed. They will kill him just like they killed the others.. Oh no.. (heavy breathing).. I turned off all the lights in here hoping that they won't find me... but one of the fighters is approaching my position...”
James looked at the people gathered around the table. Young Matt was leaning on its edge, hands clenched into fists so hard that his fingers got completely pale. Prof. Goldstein was sitting in his chair, head bent back, eyes closed, rock steady except for one finger tapping arythmically on the surface. The voice of Cmdr Blasius Hajdu on the audio log resumed after a minute or so.
“Alright.. he is gone. Thanks the Maker. I hope he didn’t see me... The fighter has no markings neither, they are pitch black just as the corvette. I wonder who sent them after me and why... was it because the undercover mission with the Empire I did for the Navy that someone misjudged and dubbed me a traitor? Or perhaps is it because of what I discovered with the Dragons of San Tu? And the quiet involvement of some Federal forces connected to someone high in Hudson’s administration and millions of dirty credits he is making there? Maybe my report about it was intercepted or snatched by somebody... and it that case it is better that the testimony reaches the wider public. As a Federal Navy Rear Admiral I cannot stand idly and watch as the highest echelons... what the...!?”
(A sound of an explosion, screeching of a metal, then warning sirens and CELESTE voice in the background):
“Warning! Canopy breached, 20 minutes of emergency oxygen supply remaining”
(There is a hint of panic in Cmdr Blasius’ voice now)
“What happened?! It doesn’t seem like if I was under attack, the fighters are docking with the corvette and about to leave! I need to check this.” A click of a recorder being turned off.
James looked around the room. Goldstein’s study was quiet. Matt’s eyes were wide open, his brows furrowed.
“There are two more recordings. Matt, are you sure you want to hear them?” - the young pilot didn’t hesitate. He nodded. Barrett pressed the button - “This entry was made 11 minutes later.”
“There are bad news and good news. The good news is that the corvette has left. The bad news is that multicannon ammo has cooked off and the explosions severely damaged the canopy on the bridge, took out the main power unit and sent me spinning through the debris field” - as he was talking, there were further sounds of collission and metal being bent - “I have less than 9 minutes of O2 supply, but I fear that the decompression will happen much earlier than that...” - a long pause - “I guess this is the end. The beacon is not working, nobody is going to find me here...” - the recording clicked.
James sighed and said: “And now the final part. I am sorry, lad.”
“The hull of the bridge is slowly giving way. This is it. I am not going to wait in the void until I suffocate. Who ever may be listening to this recording, please search out Commander James Barrett and pass it on to him together with the attached encrypted message. It was a honour serving with the Federal Navy and I hope, James, that you will be able to find out who has killed me. The answers lay with the Dragons of San Tu and the killer is somewhere high in the brass or even administration of the President” - a sound of cocking the gun was so loud that Horner jumped in his seat. They didn’t hear the shot, as Blasius turned off the recorder before pulling the trigger.
“The message he is referring to was the same which he sent me before”.
“My God..” - Matt was shocked - “I didn’t know my uncle too well, but.. and to know that he thinks it was someone inside the Federation...”
“I know, lad. Take your time, think it over, get back to me and tell me what you want to do. We will do one run to the ruins” - Goldstein nodded his head - “and then I will help you find out what happened”.
“If I may suggest something” - professor chimed in - “To unravel this you will need a help of someone within the Federation, ideally working close with the shadow president. If the investigation indeed leads you to someone in the administration, the opposition will be the first to jump on it.”
“Good thinking, prof.” - James got closer to Matt and put his hand on young commander’s shoulder - “Lad, we’ll get the bastard that did it. You have my word. Even if it is the president himself.