automaton — an android controller — and they did not have to officially log in or out.
Well, that seemed logical. All the guests were projected to have arrived and been in their seats.
“Yet…” Regis pulled the spaceport log. Stiletto had reported being delayed leaving.
“So why did Via log out and MAT transfer away three minutes before the guest of honor was to arrive if Stiletto reported being delayed?”
The timeline didn’t match.
Regis read again the transcript of Lt. Commander Dirk Skeller’s statement.
The Observatory management announced the delay at 19:04 local and made the decision to show the documentary film to keep the guests occupied.
Yet, the tower controller logged off and transported away, knowing surely that one more vessel was due to land.
The time record of Chief Rocky transporting Skeller was 19:12. The first image from the Chief’s camera was 19:08.
The tub logged Doctor Dana Cartwright’s credentials and iris scan at 19:02 and Lt. Commander Skeller’s at 19:07.
“Fascinating…”
18:58 Via logged out
19:00 Via cleared the shuttle Stiletto to land
19:01 Via teleports away
19:02 Dana Cartwright security check
19:06 Stiletto crashes
19:07 Skeller security check
19:08 First image from Chief Antonio
19:12 Skeller tagged and transported
Regis pulled the crash siren log. Curious…
At 19:06 the siren was sounded manually.
Who pushed the button to engage the sirens if Via had already left?
The Automaton in the tower had no record of sounding the alarm.
“Curious…”
Regis scratched his chin. “Computer? Locate Commander Xavier Via?”
“Commander Via is off-world,” the mechanical voice of the Star Service Command computer returned.
“Computer? Locate Lt. Cmdr. Dirk Skeller?”
“Lieutenant Commander Skeller is off-world.”
Regis pursed his lips.
“Computer? Locate Doctor Dana Cartwright?”
“Doctor Cartwright is at coordinates 40°22 ′ 22 ″ north 105°31 ′ 9 ″ west. Elevation, 7522 feet. Contact?”
“Affirmative.”
Dana’s voice-badge signal interrupted her reverie. She reluctantly responded by tapping it.
“Doctor Cartwright, Investigator Regis of Star Service Command. Would you come to my office to answer a few questions?”
She declined, not so politely. “If you want to see me, come to mine.”
“Very well.”
The very slim Kentorian materialized inside a MAT bubble beside her bar table. It quickly dissolved and he took a furtive look around, deciding something he never revealed. He pointed to her drink and signaled the bartender, “Bring me one of those.” Then he sat on the barstool opposite her, set down his tote, and trained his silver eyes on her mismatched blue/brown ones.
Dana sipped her drink but said nothing. After his drink arrived, Regis began the interrogation, setting a padlet down on the table between them.
“You were at the Observatory before the shuttle, Stiletto , arrived?”
She nodded.
“Forgive me, Doctor. I must record your verbal answers.” He pointed to the padlet.
“Yes, Inspector. I was at the Observatory to attend the lecture,” Dana answered.
“Had you been inside?”
“No, sir. I stood on the upper level lookout to watch the moon rise.”
He asked more questions and she answered honestly, until Regis tapped the padlet and a still image from a surveillance camera filled the screen. “Do you recognize this man?”
She did. “He attempted to stop me from crawling under the wreckage.”
“He says you assaulted him.”
Dana scoffed. “He pulled on my boot and when he tugged on my hair, I gave him a swift kick. Should press charges for interfering with a first responder.”
Regis chuckled, “He’s a Star Service commander. Was acting as an usher for the lecture.”
“I don’t care if he’s god, he interfered with the performance of my duty,” Dana repeated.
“Do you recognize this man?” Regis showed her another still shot.
“No, sir.”
“He claims he walked
Well, that seemed logical. All the guests were projected to have arrived and been in their seats.
“Yet…” Regis pulled the spaceport log. Stiletto had reported being delayed leaving.
“So why did Via log out and MAT transfer away three minutes before the guest of honor was to arrive if Stiletto reported being delayed?”
The timeline didn’t match.
Regis read again the transcript of Lt. Commander Dirk Skeller’s statement.
The Observatory management announced the delay at 19:04 local and made the decision to show the documentary film to keep the guests occupied.
Yet, the tower controller logged off and transported away, knowing surely that one more vessel was due to land.
The time record of Chief Rocky transporting Skeller was 19:12. The first image from the Chief’s camera was 19:08.
The tub logged Doctor Dana Cartwright’s credentials and iris scan at 19:02 and Lt. Commander Skeller’s at 19:07.
“Fascinating…”
18:58 Via logged out
19:00 Via cleared the shuttle Stiletto to land
19:01 Via teleports away
19:02 Dana Cartwright security check
19:06 Stiletto crashes
19:07 Skeller security check
19:08 First image from Chief Antonio
19:12 Skeller tagged and transported
Regis pulled the crash siren log. Curious…
At 19:06 the siren was sounded manually.
Who pushed the button to engage the sirens if Via had already left?
The Automaton in the tower had no record of sounding the alarm.
“Curious…”
Regis scratched his chin. “Computer? Locate Commander Xavier Via?”
“Commander Via is off-world,” the mechanical voice of the Star Service Command computer returned.
“Computer? Locate Lt. Cmdr. Dirk Skeller?”
“Lieutenant Commander Skeller is off-world.”
Regis pursed his lips.
“Computer? Locate Doctor Dana Cartwright?”
“Doctor Cartwright is at coordinates 40°22 ′ 22 ″ north 105°31 ′ 9 ″ west. Elevation, 7522 feet. Contact?”
“Affirmative.”
Dana’s voice-badge signal interrupted her reverie. She reluctantly responded by tapping it.
“Doctor Cartwright, Investigator Regis of Star Service Command. Would you come to my office to answer a few questions?”
She declined, not so politely. “If you want to see me, come to mine.”
“Very well.”
The very slim Kentorian materialized inside a MAT bubble beside her bar table. It quickly dissolved and he took a furtive look around, deciding something he never revealed. He pointed to her drink and signaled the bartender, “Bring me one of those.” Then he sat on the barstool opposite her, set down his tote, and trained his silver eyes on her mismatched blue/brown ones.
Dana sipped her drink but said nothing. After his drink arrived, Regis began the interrogation, setting a padlet down on the table between them.
“You were at the Observatory before the shuttle, Stiletto , arrived?”
She nodded.
“Forgive me, Doctor. I must record your verbal answers.” He pointed to the padlet.
“Yes, Inspector. I was at the Observatory to attend the lecture,” Dana answered.
“Had you been inside?”
“No, sir. I stood on the upper level lookout to watch the moon rise.”
He asked more questions and she answered honestly, until Regis tapped the padlet and a still image from a surveillance camera filled the screen. “Do you recognize this man?”
She did. “He attempted to stop me from crawling under the wreckage.”
“He says you assaulted him.”
Dana scoffed. “He pulled on my boot and when he tugged on my hair, I gave him a swift kick. Should press charges for interfering with a first responder.”
Regis chuckled, “He’s a Star Service commander. Was acting as an usher for the lecture.”
“I don’t care if he’s god, he interfered with the performance of my duty,” Dana repeated.
“Do you recognize this man?” Regis showed her another still shot.
“No, sir.”
“He claims he walked
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