Prologue
My name is Nick Edwards. I'm a commander in the Galactic Federation. Recently, evidence that one of my captains may have been collaborating with terrorists and helping their plans came to light. Internal Affairs is awaiting more information, but they have asked me for all the information I have on the whole incident. I'm just awaiting input from a few people before I have the complete information to give to them. I'd like to think there's no way this man could have done such a thing, but unfortunately no one would put it past him. Not even me.
Chapter 1
Log 3451209 N-EDW1
Prepared all logs and information for IA investigation on stolen Plasma Artillery cannons. This has to be done covertly, as Captain Seely is the only one left alive to investigate, and I don't trust him. I don't want word of this getting out.
"Writing a publicly available log is a great way to accomplish that."
Nick turned around.
"Ivan, what the hell are you doing looking at my work?"
It was Commander Ivan Anderson of the GF. He and Nick had known each other a long time. They were both GF soldiers on the same squad years ago.
"Relax! I won't tell anyone. I just came to give you these logs you asked me to find."
Ivan handed over two hard copies of logs printed on GF letterhead. They both had to do with the stolen Plasma Artillery Cannons.
About a year previous, there had been a Space Pirate Frigate in the Talon system. Upon receiving a distress signal, bounty hunter Samus Aran entered the Talon system and saw the frigate, and began pursuit. After the crash, and a lot of fighting, she discovered that the Space Pirates used a substance called "Phazon" to enhance the abilities of certain members of their ranks. These enhanced creatures had stolen Plasma Artillery cannons mounted on their bodies, which had been seized while under the guard of the GF. They were guarded by Captain Seely, and two volunteers from Captain Exeter's squad, Crany and Angseth. Exeter's ship had crashed a few months ago, and only corpses and log entries remained of all of Team Bravo.
"IA's a real bastard, Nick. Be careful," warned Ivan.
"I'm not the one under investigation, though."
"They won't care. I doubt they'll keep this quiet during the investigation."
The phone on Nick's desk beeped. He picked it up.
"Edwards. Who is it?"
"Sir, we have an incoming signal on the ship we've been tracking. We've got to move out now before we lose it."
"I'm coming along. Is my ship ready?"
"Yes, sir," replied the soldier.
"I'm coming along," said Nick, "Go get Iverson and Bauer. We're moving out."
Although the prologue is in first person, the actual story is third person. Next to a log's number, there's a little letter code in square brackets. The first letter is the first initial of the log author, the next three letters are the first three letters of their last name, and the number is what position they are in the alphabetical list of people with the same letter code. N-EDW1 is Nick's code. I-AND1 is Ivan's code.