“Attention, all hands, prepare to exit jump in approximately two hours. All cargo teams on duty in one hour. We will be entering the Lanth system. We’ll be here an extra 6 hours as we take care of ship’s registration. All hands make sure your departments are ready for inspection by Safety Officers”
Arrived in the Lanth system. 195-1105 imperial. July 14, 5628 Earth year.
This planet is the ship’s home base. Consequently, a lot of inspection stuff is done here for registration renewal purposes.
http://wiki.travellerrpg.com/Lanth_(world)
This inspection is more of a safety kind of thing. Its not like, say, the army where all your crap is just so. More like an FAA airworthiness. Where you have to open up all the inspection plates so they can see inside and look at all the cables and workings.
Anyway, once the ship enters the system, besides the usual customs boat that comes out to meet it, there is another shuttle that dock with the ship. It has about 20 officials and they all spread out all over the ship. One of them is assigned to Hamilton. He wants to look at the jump engines and wants to hear everything Hamilton can tell him about the body found in Dinomn. (they have already gotten the police report) Meanwhile, they are observing how cargo is handled, procedures, equipment, all kinds of stuff.
The inspection for your department goes on with no problems. Everything is in order and passed with flying colors. The chief engineer was concerned, what with the investigation and all.
Afterwards, Hamilton is sitting in his cabin when phone next to Bill's bed rings. Rather odd since Bill is not currently on board. Many of the crew has a personal com link on their wrist comp. But Hamilton doesn't have a wrist computer. So he relies on the various phones scattered throughout the ship. The odd part is, if someone is calling him, why not call his extension instead of Bill's?
Hamilton looks at the display and whoever is calling is calling from off the ship.
Hamilton picks it up and says, "Hello."
He hears a voice say, "Efst a Heiminum." And then whoever it is hangs up.
Hamilton then goes looking for an inspector. He eventually finds them in the galley.
He says to them, "A strange thing just happened. I was resting, Bill’s phone starts ringing. Which is odd, because everyone knows he is not on the ship.
it said “Unknown Number” So whomever it is, is calling from off ship. Otherwise it would say “Bridge” or an extension number on the ship.I pick it up “Hello”I heard a voice say, “Efst a heiminum. “ click, & hangs up.
I thought should let one of you guys know, with the investigation going on and all”
One of the inspectors says,“ You should probably contact the Ministry of Justice. We’re just safety inspectors. We just certify that the ship is safe. Though, we did have to double check stuff just in case it was safety related. I heard it was a homicide.”
“Thank you. do you know how I would get a hold of the Ministry of Justice?”
Keep in mind, by this time the ship is hard docked to a space station for the inspection.
“Yes. Go up to the admin level. Level 8. It’s to the left. Though, not sure why the big deal on Efst A Heinimum. It’s not like you need a reservation. They are usually open. “
“Thank you. By the way, what does 'Efst A Heinimum’ mean anyway? or is it a place?"
“Top the the World. Pretty fitting name for a restaurant on a space station don’t you think?”
This is a big station. There are 60 levels. Some of the levels, such as the cargo and fuel storage-transfer points, are 5 “levels’ tall.
“Its a smallish place that specializes in Sword Worlder cuisine. Did you know we are the closet major Imperial world to the Sword Worlds border? Oh, if you go there, get some apfel küchen. It’s um, out of this world. hahahahha”
Hamilton leaves the ship and finds level eight and the MOJ office. There is a counter and four officers working at terminals.
Hamilton gets the attention of one of them and tells him his story.
“So, you’re on the Vanday? Hang on. Hey lieutenant, can you come over here please. And, you think there is a connection between the phone call and what happened? Can you tell the lieutenant what you told me?”
He starts typing something into his terminal.
Once again, Hamilton relates the story of what happened and his suspicion that it is related to the dead body found on board.
The Lieutenant says,“We just got the info on the investigation a couple of hours ago. We don’t really know much about this case. So, from what I gather, a body or parts of one turned up in your ship’s fuel tank. Your predecessor is a suspect. And now, someone phoned the ship apparently looking for your temporarily detained cabinmate and left the name of a Swordy restaurant? Correct? So are you thinking your cabinmate could be a suspect? ”
“I don’t know WHAT to think! I just thought I should let y’all’s know.”
The whole attitude of these guys is a bit dismissive. They are the law enforcement for most of this sub sector and seem to be preoccupied with what they think are pressing issues. Thank you for your concern citizen.
Hamilton leaves and decides to check out The Top Of The World for himself.
He finds it in the "food court" section of the station.
Despite the availability of food in nutrient rich forms. It isn’t very appetizing. People still love the way it looks, smells, and tastes. And many want to actually enjoy their food instead of just eating for sustenance.
It looks like a typical restaurant we would find in a current food court. Not a fast food booth. But a restaurant with a proper entrance and all. The facade looks impressive and even has what looks to be real wood!
He goes into the place. Its oddly quiet. Everyone raves about this place and yet, there doesn't appear to be anyone in here.
Hamilton goes and sits at a table. Looking around for a waiter or busbot. When suddenly, the napkin holder on his table explodes and goes flying! An instant later, he hears a sharp CRACK! sound.
Someone is shooting at him!
He dives under the table and much to his surprise, someone is already hiding under there.
Older man. full beard, but closely trimmed with a bit of grey in it. Salt and pepper so to speak. Also, slightly balding again, salt and pepper hair. he puts his index finger to his lips as he makes a silent SHHHHH at Hamilton. He has a big, heavy, beer mug in one hand. With the other, he points at the door and gets up…
and throws the glass, and yells, “RUN FOR IT!!!”
Hamilton catches a glimpse of someone standing up to take a shot. And they guy with him, nails the assailant, right in the forehead with the glass mug with a loud THUNK!!
Hamilton runs over to the guy who got hit and and is ready to pound on him until he is unconscious.
Hamilton gets there and his assailant is already unconscious. He’s got a big knot on his forehead. The other man has taken advantage of the distraction and made it out the door. And Hamilton becomes aware of someone else entering the room…
Hamilton frantically searches for the gun that was being used to shoot at him. The other man shoots several times and misses.
He finds it and returns fire! He hits him and he goes down!
Unfortunately, Hamilton has also been shot. And that's when things go dark.
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