
251-1109, 1
Lunion/Lunion (2124)
I have arrived at the Ducal palace at Duke Luis' invitation. I must admit that, after a few months of retirement at Argentill, I'm very happy for a reason to return to the buzzing activity of the capitol. The Duke's missive was notably vague about the reason for the summons. I do hope that His Eminence hasn't called me up just to audit some functionary's accounts again.
251-1109, 2
Lunion/Lunion (2124)
Well. The Duke's reasons for summoning me were far from trivial.
When I was admitted to the Court, it was all but deserted. No courtiers or hangers-on, no staff or functionaries. Aside from a few guards, I met alone with Himself, The Duchess of Mora, the three Viscounts of Lanth, and the lovely Lady Ansrea. While I have met all of them before, to meet with all of them face-to-face, at once, in what was clearly to be a confidential meeting was surprising. I could read the gravity of the situation on Ansrea's face, and I could only conclude that her inclusion in this much more prestigious group was meant as a pointed warning to me. I was about to be given an assignment that I would not be able to decline.
After the barest observances of forms and protocols, Duke Luis informed me that I have been selected to investigate the murder of a member of the Peerage on a planet outside of the Imperium, and that my investigation was to be of the utmost confidentiality. Duke Luis Himself stepped down to hand me the sealed scroll and told me to read it then and there.
I will record the Warrant's specific instructions and authorizations when I am given leave by its Sponsors. In the interim, I shall summarize:
The murdered noble was one Colonel Lloyd Robertson, which explained the interest and the pained look of Duchess Delphine. It is an open secret that she and Robertson had enjoyed a dalliance some time in the past. But clearly, this is about more than the Duchess' desire to see justice done for her ex-lover.
And indeed, there was much more afoot than that. The Colonel was killed in an atomic explosion on Darrian, and the nobles fear that not only was the explosion meant to kill the Colonel specifically, but that the author of this assassination is not just an Imperial, but a military officer; one tied with none other than Duke Norris of Regina, recently self-declared Grand Admiral of the Imperial Fleet of the Spinward Marches, and by all estimations, the future Archduke of the Domain of Deneb.
The fact that the Sponsors of my Warrant could all be considered potential rivals and/or future vassals of Duke Norris, does not escape my notice.
Were that the full story, it would be enough to trouble my sleep, but the Warrant and the nobles had much more to tell me.
Colonel Robertson was something of a hero in the Fourth Frontier War, and might have returned home to a promising political career, but he did not. Instead, he became something of a mercenary adventurer. I remember well the shocked gossip at the time. He became the leader of a group of so-called "Travellers." Apparently during their travels, the Colonel and his companions discovered a secret facility on the planet Wypoc/Lanth (2011). While details are sketchy, the facility seems to have been a psionic training institute run by a Captain Thaddeus Maarg of the Imperial Navy, and Robertson and his associates not only discovered the operation but compromised its security, rescuing (?) a zhodani psion called Professor Isis who had been held at the facility against her will.
Apparently, this encounter created a lasting enmity between the Colonel and Captain Maarg, and perhaps to a lesser extent, between the Artemis Group and Captain Maarg. Following this line of reasoning to its obvious conclusion; it becomes frighteningly possible that this Maarg is behind the detonation of a nuclear weapon on the sovereign soil of one of the Imperium's closest neighbor polities. Perhaps even more frighteningly, it may be that all of this has been done on the orders of, or at least with the tacit approval of Duke Norris.
Considering the legal and political complexity of this matter, it is quite understandable that the Sponsors of the Warrant wish for it to be investigated thoroughly but discretely. My Warrant gives me broad powers and authority to act on behalf of the signatory nobles, the Spinward Marches, and even, to a lesser extent, the Imperium itself. Unfortunately, the very secrecy required for the handling for such a potentially explosive matter means that Lady Ansrea, myself, and all of those involved in these events or the investigation could very easily become "loose ends" that would need to be dealt with if I make a false move. Even further, depending on what my investigation determines, it could create damaging scandals, or even outright conflict between the powers of the Spinward Marches.
So I leave as soon as possible for Darrian/Darrian (0627) to investigate the murder most foul of one Colonel Lloyd Robertson, and to retrieve a group of mercenaries, an escaped zhodani prisoner, and rogue naval Captain, all without tipping off the most powerful man in the Spinward Marches that my activities may discredit him even while he tries to win a war.
No pressure, though.
302-1109
TO: His Excellence Duke Luis Adorania Jesten of Lunion
CC: Her Eminence Duchess Delphine Adorania Muudashir of Mora; The Honorable Viscounts Equus, Extolay and Treece of Lanth; and the Lady Ansrea of Tenalphi
FROM: Sebastien Maddox, Esq.
RE: Investigation into the Murder of Colonel Lloyd Robertson (Ret.)
At Your Honors' behest, I have travelled to Darrian/Darrian (0627) to investigate the matter of the most foul murder of Colonel Lloyd Robertson on this planet. Having made myself known to the authorities here and secured their support and assistance in the matters at hand. Please see the attached forensic reports, eyewitness testimonies and other reports provided by the Darrian Confederacy.
I would like to point out to Your Honors the following key findings:
It is with some consternation that I note, as the Darrian Committee of Appeals noted to me, that I was the first official Imperial Representative to offer the Imperium's condolences and assistance after the tragedy at Sunny Point (sic). It occurs to your humble servant that a token of our support and assistance might be most beneficial to sooth any potential ...difficulties that might arise out of any real or imagined connections between the event and any citizens of the Imperium; as well as to remind our neighbors of the Imperium's benevolence and friendship.
On 303-1109, I attended the medal ceremony in honor of the Artemis group. Only three members of the crew officially attended. Each member of the Ares crew received a total of four commendations and were being honored for a number of significant contributions to the Confederacy. I shall also note that the presenters were notably vague about the nature of some of these contributions. This, in addition to the darrians' seemingly sincere respect for the Artemis group, suggests that the group has been of great use to the Confederate government in more than one confidential, important matter.
After the ceremony, I attended a luncheon in the honor of the Ares crew. I approached the attending honorees and introduced myself, arranging to meet with the leaders of the Artemis Group on 304-1109, on the high port, but not aboard their vessel - at their request.
We met for a modest luncheon in a rented hall, and I explained to the Artemis group that I was an unofficial representative of the peerage on Darrian to assist in the investigation of Colonel Robertson's murder. I offered them a "ticket" to assist my investigation and I implied that I might also be interested in investing in their company, as well.
My conclusions from our meeting:
Later in the evening, I received their acceptance, and I began sending them over forensics reports and other info about the fission event.
Today, I expect to board the Ares for the first time, to discuss our next steps in the investigation.
It is quite possible that we will have embarked from Darrian by the time you receive this communique, with our Itinerary taking us to Ator/Darrian (0729), Flammarion/Sword Worlds (0930) and Bowman/District 268 (1132). I will next formally contact Your Eminences when I have more of import to share.
Your Humble Servant,
Sebastien Maddox, Esq.
Lunion/Lunion (2124)
I have arrived at the Ducal palace at Duke Luis' invitation. I must admit that, after a few months of retirement at Argentill, I'm very happy for a reason to return to the buzzing activity of the capitol. The Duke's missive was notably vague about the reason for the summons. I do hope that His Eminence hasn't called me up just to audit some functionary's accounts again.
251-1109, 2
Lunion/Lunion (2124)
Well. The Duke's reasons for summoning me were far from trivial.
When I was admitted to the Court, it was all but deserted. No courtiers or hangers-on, no staff or functionaries. Aside from a few guards, I met alone with Himself, The Duchess of Mora, the three Viscounts of Lanth, and the lovely Lady Ansrea. While I have met all of them before, to meet with all of them face-to-face, at once, in what was clearly to be a confidential meeting was surprising. I could read the gravity of the situation on Ansrea's face, and I could only conclude that her inclusion in this much more prestigious group was meant as a pointed warning to me. I was about to be given an assignment that I would not be able to decline.
After the barest observances of forms and protocols, Duke Luis informed me that I have been selected to investigate the murder of a member of the Peerage on a planet outside of the Imperium, and that my investigation was to be of the utmost confidentiality. Duke Luis Himself stepped down to hand me the sealed scroll and told me to read it then and there.
I will record the Warrant's specific instructions and authorizations when I am given leave by its Sponsors. In the interim, I shall summarize:
The murdered noble was one Colonel Lloyd Robertson, which explained the interest and the pained look of Duchess Delphine. It is an open secret that she and Robertson had enjoyed a dalliance some time in the past. But clearly, this is about more than the Duchess' desire to see justice done for her ex-lover.
And indeed, there was much more afoot than that. The Colonel was killed in an atomic explosion on Darrian, and the nobles fear that not only was the explosion meant to kill the Colonel specifically, but that the author of this assassination is not just an Imperial, but a military officer; one tied with none other than Duke Norris of Regina, recently self-declared Grand Admiral of the Imperial Fleet of the Spinward Marches, and by all estimations, the future Archduke of the Domain of Deneb.
The fact that the Sponsors of my Warrant could all be considered potential rivals and/or future vassals of Duke Norris, does not escape my notice.
Were that the full story, it would be enough to trouble my sleep, but the Warrant and the nobles had much more to tell me.
Colonel Robertson was something of a hero in the Fourth Frontier War, and might have returned home to a promising political career, but he did not. Instead, he became something of a mercenary adventurer. I remember well the shocked gossip at the time. He became the leader of a group of so-called "Travellers." Apparently during their travels, the Colonel and his companions discovered a secret facility on the planet Wypoc/Lanth (2011). While details are sketchy, the facility seems to have been a psionic training institute run by a Captain Thaddeus Maarg of the Imperial Navy, and Robertson and his associates not only discovered the operation but compromised its security, rescuing (?) a zhodani psion called Professor Isis who had been held at the facility against her will.
Apparently, this encounter created a lasting enmity between the Colonel and Captain Maarg, and perhaps to a lesser extent, between the Artemis Group and Captain Maarg. Following this line of reasoning to its obvious conclusion; it becomes frighteningly possible that this Maarg is behind the detonation of a nuclear weapon on the sovereign soil of one of the Imperium's closest neighbor polities. Perhaps even more frighteningly, it may be that all of this has been done on the orders of, or at least with the tacit approval of Duke Norris.
Considering the legal and political complexity of this matter, it is quite understandable that the Sponsors of the Warrant wish for it to be investigated thoroughly but discretely. My Warrant gives me broad powers and authority to act on behalf of the signatory nobles, the Spinward Marches, and even, to a lesser extent, the Imperium itself. Unfortunately, the very secrecy required for the handling for such a potentially explosive matter means that Lady Ansrea, myself, and all of those involved in these events or the investigation could very easily become "loose ends" that would need to be dealt with if I make a false move. Even further, depending on what my investigation determines, it could create damaging scandals, or even outright conflict between the powers of the Spinward Marches.
So I leave as soon as possible for Darrian/Darrian (0627) to investigate the murder most foul of one Colonel Lloyd Robertson, and to retrieve a group of mercenaries, an escaped zhodani prisoner, and rogue naval Captain, all without tipping off the most powerful man in the Spinward Marches that my activities may discredit him even while he tries to win a war.
No pressure, though.
302-1109
TO: His Excellence Duke Luis Adorania Jesten of Lunion
CC: Her Eminence Duchess Delphine Adorania Muudashir of Mora; The Honorable Viscounts Equus, Extolay and Treece of Lanth; and the Lady Ansrea of Tenalphi
FROM: Sebastien Maddox, Esq.
RE: Investigation into the Murder of Colonel Lloyd Robertson (Ret.)
At Your Honors' behest, I have travelled to Darrian/Darrian (0627) to investigate the matter of the most foul murder of Colonel Lloyd Robertson on this planet. Having made myself known to the authorities here and secured their support and assistance in the matters at hand. Please see the attached forensic reports, eyewitness testimonies and other reports provided by the Darrian Confederacy.
I would like to point out to Your Honors the following key findings:
1) That the Darrians have determined that "ground zero" of the fission event was the Colonel's home.
2) The blast radius engulfed the domicile, leaving no hope of the survival of any persons present at the time of the event.
3) By all indications, the Colonel was home at the time of the event.
It is with some consternation that I note, as the Darrian Committee of Appeals noted to me, that I was the first official Imperial Representative to offer the Imperium's condolences and assistance after the tragedy at Sunny Point (sic). It occurs to your humble servant that a token of our support and assistance might be most beneficial to sooth any potential ...difficulties that might arise out of any real or imagined connections between the event and any citizens of the Imperium; as well as to remind our neighbors of the Imperium's benevolence and friendship.
On 303-1109, I attended the medal ceremony in honor of the Artemis group. Only three members of the crew officially attended. Each member of the Ares crew received a total of four commendations and were being honored for a number of significant contributions to the Confederacy. I shall also note that the presenters were notably vague about the nature of some of these contributions. This, in addition to the darrians' seemingly sincere respect for the Artemis group, suggests that the group has been of great use to the Confederate government in more than one confidential, important matter.
After the ceremony, I attended a luncheon in the honor of the Ares crew. I approached the attending honorees and introduced myself, arranging to meet with the leaders of the Artemis Group on 304-1109, on the high port, but not aboard their vessel - at their request.
We met for a modest luncheon in a rented hall, and I explained to the Artemis group that I was an unofficial representative of the peerage on Darrian to assist in the investigation of Colonel Robertson's murder. I offered them a "ticket" to assist my investigation and I implied that I might also be interested in investing in their company, as well.
My conclusions from our meeting:
-I was pleasantly surprised with the frankness of the group. Except for ex-Agent Charoux, of course. They were more than happy to take my money, of course, and just as predictably cautious of ...Imperial entanglements. I presented them with Your Honors' warrant, and they seemed relieved to note that His Eminence Duke Norris of Regina was not a signatory.
-The Artemis group seems quite convinced that Captain Maarg of the Imperial Navy is behind the fission event and the murder of Colonel Roberts. They were hesitant to discuss their reasons or evidence for this accusation, however, and promise a more full disclosure if they accept my "ticket."
-The Artemis group seems quite convinced that Captain Maarg of the Imperial Navy is behind the fission event and the murder of Colonel Roberts. They were hesitant to discuss their reasons or evidence for this accusation, however, and promise a more full disclosure if they accept my "ticket."
Later in the evening, I received their acceptance, and I began sending them over forensics reports and other info about the fission event.
Today, I expect to board the Ares for the first time, to discuss our next steps in the investigation.
It is quite possible that we will have embarked from Darrian by the time you receive this communique, with our Itinerary taking us to Ator/Darrian (0729), Flammarion/Sword Worlds (0930) and Bowman/District 268 (1132). I will next formally contact Your Eminences when I have more of import to share.
Your Humble Servant,
Sebastien Maddox, Esq.