The Never Ending Nightmare - Part 2

[DrDMatthews 0]

Aidan returns his attention to his tea, having been staring at it without drinking it for at least 20 minutes. He takes a sip of it before saying "Actually..both. Though admittedly the Cairo is foremost on my mind. The information that your grandfather had was a help..but it's also a hindrance in a way. I can't help but feel the missing Admiral was in on it somehow and I would dearly love to find the ba...him and find out what he knows, no matter what it took." He shakes is head and growls low in his throat "It's bad enough they died how they did but they deserve justice if not vengeance and that...Admiral stopped that. And how does an Admiral just up and disappear in the bloody first place?"

 

He raises his eyes to look into the Doctor's face. He says "There's a place near my home back on Earth called Rathcroghan. It was...is one of my favorite places in all of Ireland. It's an historic place..an ancient place. People lived, loved, fought and died on that place, everyone from the lowliest peasant to strong knights to Kings and Queens. My family..my clan has guarded it since time immemorial. Back when superstition was far more common then it is now it was said that the ghosts of all those that had walked Rathcroghan in ancient times were there still and the wind that blows across it was their voices trying to be heard. Even though I never have believed in such things, Rathcroghan most definitely has a haunted quality to it. That you're never exactly alone there even when there is nothing and no person in sight."

 

He sighs and closes his eyes before continuing "That is how the Cairo feels to me. That it's ghosts..that Fiona and all the rest are just waiting just beyond sight, waiting for something to be done to give them the peace they deserve..and the ones that killed them to justice."

 

Debbie didn't quite know what to say. She understood Aidan's frustration. A full blown investigation of the Cairo incident had been ordered and was already underway when someone pulled the plug on the inquiry. That someone was none other than Admiral Jacz Hosea, a well respected Starfleet veteran with over thirty years of service behind him. Debbie's grandfather actually knew Admiral Hosea personally and had always thought highly of him.

 

Less than a month after the incident, a brief report was released declaring the USS Cairo met her untimely demise as the result of an "unfortunate accident." The memo went on to commend the officers and crew of the Cairo for their service to the Federation and assured everyone that revised safety procedures would be instituted to prevent such disasters in the future. Hosea's signature was on the document.

 

Just days after the report was published, Admiral Jacz Hosea disappeared. An all out search was ongoing but after five months, there was still no sign of the Admiral. To add insult to injury, the Cairo herself was nowhere to be found. The three man investigative team had been ordered out of the area and the wreckage towed away by persons unknown. Efforts were now underway to locate the missing ship. Even more puzzling was the fact that the three men who had arrived prior to the inquiry's closing had all been transfered out of the fleet's accident investigation unit. They were now scattered across the galaxy.

 

Many in Starfleet, Virgil Matthews included, had serious reservations about Hosea's report on the Cairo. Virgil called it "pathetic." Very few had been given access to the ship but those who had actually seen the stricken vessel suspected there was more involved than an "accident." Of course, they were no longer around to discuss the canceled inquiry. Now that the derelect ship was missing, there was little chance of reopening the investigation.

 

Aidan Ridire and Debbie Matthews had been speechless at the news. They were among those who had seen Cairo up close and there was no doubt in their minds the ship had been sabotaged. It was bad enough Starfleet was lying to the families of those killed on the Cairo. In a twisted sort of way, Debbie could almost understand that. But there was no legitimate reason for Admiral Hosea to quash the official investigation unless.....

 

Debbie looked across the table at the Commander. "The information my grandfather provided has only led to more questions and those questions are even more disturbing."

 

Aidan nodded silently and Debbie turned her attention to her sandwich. She picked up the top piece of pumpernickel and inspected the roast beef inside then carefully placed the bread back on top of the meat.

 

"Do you think this crew is at risk?" she asked quietly.

 

Ridire glanced at her quizzically. She hurried to answer his unasked question. "Something rotten is going on. I don't know if Admiral Hosea is involved or an innocent victim."

 

Debbie and Aidan looked toward the door as a group of four officers entered the lounge. The doctor leaned a bit closer to Ridire and whispered. "But I do know this. Most everyone on this ship got up close and personal with Cairo. Maybe I'm paranoid but I don't want anyone on this ship to suddenly disappear without a trace."

 

Aidan Ridire made no effort to respond and that was for the best. Now that others had entered the lounge it was no longer safe to disucss the Cairo. One could never tell who was listening.