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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Shadowdancer" data-source="post: 1843947" data-attributes="member: 515">After finishing the depositions aboard the Oser, Lt. Darlow turns to one of the Marines. "Sergeant. I’m going to take these gentlemen to their ship and continue my investigation there. I’d like you and Petty Officer Simmons to stay here. I’ll take Sergeant Garcia and Corporal Uedi with me." With that, Darlow turns to the Bray Keaven crew and says, "Please come with me. Corporal Uedi will carry your weapons for you." The Naval lieutenant then leads the Bray Keaven crew to the returned ship’s boat. The ship’s boat undocks and heads towards the Bray Keaven’s starboard airlock. "Bray Keaven, Fallow’s Knife’s ship's boat. We will be docking momentarily on your starboard airlock. Please muster your crew just inside the airlock so that I can interview them and continue my investigation." -----Outside of the Bray Keaven, Martha rests for a moment before continuing her patch job. The long day is seriously getting to her, and the figures are starting to swim before her eyes. On the bright side, at least she knows that the patch job isn’t quite right yet. She is about to start again when she gets a message from Kevon asking her to return inside. -----When the ship’s boat docks (the boat waits until Martha enters the airlock first), the Sentry Naval and Marine personnel enter before the returning crewmembers. Meeting Kevon, Lt. Darlow says, "Thank you for your professionalism, sir. If we could, perhaps, go to your lounge, I’ll take your depositions there." Kevon volunteers to make the first statement: "For the record, my name is Lt. Cmdr. Kevon Holland, Imperial Navy Reserve. We observed a Hullen class scout/courier pass by at approximately 2224 hours about 10 thousand kilometers distance, on a course of 1-1-6-mark-8 at nearly 90 k-p-s," he begins. "We received the Oser’s distress signal two minutes later, and determined that it was the same vessel. "We immediately decided to render aid, as per Imperial law, and I broadcasted a general alert to all Imperial ships within the (paltry) range of our communications," the lieutenant commander continues. "RA-133 responded, indicating that they would relay our message to the Sentry authorities. We received a second transmission from RA-133 at approximately 2233, stating that the Fallow’s Knife was getting underway, with an ETA of two hours. "We decided to approach cautiously, keeping the Oser’s turret on the opposite side of our vector. Matching the scout’s tumble, we were easily able to dock without incident. Docking time was noted at 2235. "We made contact with the Oser’s crew shortly thereafter," Kevon explains. "While they briefed our people on the extent of injuries and damage, I noticed an intermittent reading on our sensors. I began to investigate the contact, whilst keeping an ear on the goings on across the deck. Kevon pauses for a moment to collect his thoughts and continues, "Mr. Vargas and I determined that the intermittent contact was an EVA trying to traverse the distance between the two ships. Almost immediately after our discovery, we heard someone from the Oser’s crew yell ‘Freeze!’ over our comms. "At this point, I acted as if the Oser’s crew were enemy combatants, as per Imperial Regulation sections IV-A-vii-cc-17 and 18," he states. "I fired the port turret on the EVA, vaporizing the combatant and cargo. The resulting flash indicated that the cargo was some form of explosive. "I then brought the port turret to bear on the Oser itself, but held fire as the two crews appeared to be negotiating," Holland adds. "After listening in on the discussion over comms, I decided that the Oser’s crew was going to resort to violence and decided to act. I had a shot at broadsides, and took it, after providing a brief warning over suit comms. "We traded laser fire with the Oser, both vessels taking damage, including our external comms," he reports. "I was able to score hits to their sensors and maneuver drive before the Oser’s crew surrendered. While the crew secured the vessel, I maintained a lock on the Oser’s engines and maintained comms with the Fallow’s Knife. "I hope that helps, Lieutenant." In the lounge, Martha awaits her turn to give her deposition. When Lt. Darlow gets to her, Martha’s statement is reasonably short. "Sir, I don’t think I can add any more to what my comrades have already said. We were about halfway to jump or so when the Oser sent out her falsified Signal GK. We arrived, and they began to make overt aggressive maneuvers against the Bray Keaven and her crew. Sensors indicated someone was taking a walk over to our vessel, carrying what later turned out to be a large explosive device. The conversation turned ugly inside, based on what I could hear over suit comms, so I started sending the feed back to your ships, which they in turn tried to jam. Next thing I know, everyone’s shooting and my ship is damaged. By the time the dust had settled, my work was pretty clear cut: fix the comms and then the hull. I’ve been working pretty hard on both, with limited success. I’m sure you probably have specific questions, but I can get you a copy of my diagnostic reports and the sensor data to confirm times and such. "What’s the penalty for sending a false Signal GK in this system, by the way?" Lt. Darlow takes depositions from Kevon, Martha, Vargas, and Aidan. He seems to be very respectful and pleased with Kevon’s recounting of his actions. Martha gives her depositions, and the lieutenant is pleased by the offer of sensor data and logs. He copies this information over to his handcomp to include in his report. Lt. Darlow does comment, "Transmitting the comms to us was a very clever thing, Ms. Smythe. We weren’t able to receive all of them clearly, but we could tell that pirates were attacking you, and it certainly makes clearing the Bray Keaven of any suspicion easier. "Oh, and the penalty for sending a false Signal GK is a significant fine and possibly imprisonment for a year or two. Not that it matters if these fellows are found guilty of piracy." The lieutenant also takes depositions from Vargas and Aidan. Vargas’ description of the events backs up Kevon’s statement. Upon hearing that Aidan armed himself and tried to go over to the Oser to help, Lt. Darlow scolds Aidan. "Sir. That was a rather noble, but foolish action upon your part. The crew of this good ship could have assumed that you were acting in conjunction with the pirates, and they would have been justified in taking hostile action against you. In fact, they can charge you with violating laws requiring compliance with crew instructions during an emergency if they so choose." Turning to Kevon, Lt. Darlow asks, "Sir? Would you like to charge Mr. Silver with not complying with crew instructions during an emergency?" His eyes falling directly on the lawyer, the lieutenant commander replies with a mischievous grin, "Mr. Silver would benefit from spending some time in the brig. However I think we have come to an understanding concerning his conduct whilst on board. Right, Mr. Silver?" Doing his best to look thoroughly chastened, Aidan says, "In reviewing some pages of the Galactic Legal Review I’ve come to understand the seriousness of my actions and will seek to refrain from such actions in the future. I shall be duly following all guidelines for my personal safety as laid down by the crew, as long as said actions do not endanger my person and are not illegal under the International Spacefaring Pact of . . . " Aidan trails off as the lieutenant’s eyes start to glaze over. "Errr, yes, well, let us just say that I’ll be doing my best not to get out of line." "That would be in everyone’s best interest, MISTER Silver," Ian interjects while maintaining an unusually expressionless, stone face. After verifying identifications and checking cargo manifests, Lt. Darlow concludes with, "Well, the evidence is pretty conclusive that the Oser transmitted a false Signal GK in order to trap you and relieve you of some of your cargo. I find the issue of exactly why to be a little curious still, but given your reputation following the Alief incident, I’m inclined to let things pass. "You are free to go. I could urge you to return to Sentry for repairs, but that’s up to you. You may be required to attend criminal proceedings against the pirates, and you’ll be notified if you’re needed when you return to Sentry. "By the way, if the Oser turns out to be stolen, you will receive a finder’s fee if the proper owners can be found. If the Oser belongs to one of the pirates, the ship will probably end up being yours after certain fees are paid. You’ll want to check with the Sentry Navy Office of Salvage and Prizes when you return." With that, Lt. Darlow motions to the Sentry Marines who return the crew’s weapons to them — unloaded. The lieutenant then gathers his group and departs the Bray Keaven. Shortly after the ship’s boat returns to the Fallow’s Knife, the patrol cruiser heads back to Sentry. A prize crew has evidently boarded the Oser since the damaged scout/courier also limps back towards Sentry. </blockquote>

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