Lore

It’d be an understatement to say that this has been a really crappy week.

The cargo we picked up at Vespa was contaminated with… something. No one seems to know what, only that it makes folks sick. I mean, really sick. Doc Cordwain seems to think he can cure it with the medical supplies we have on board. That’s probably the best news I’ve had all day.

Lore

There’s a slight problem with Doc Cordwain’s plan.

You see, Ensign Bardlet’s locked himself in the med bay. He won’t come out, and he’s overridden the security protocols. Bardlet’s convinced that he’ll become infected and end up dead – or worse – if he lets us inside.

If I can’t convince Bardlet to open the med bay, things are only going to get more severe. And if he does let us in, I’ll probably shoot him on general principles for being such a moron.

Lore

Bardlet’s still in there, and sick folks have started dying. What’s worse, the infection seems to create some kind of alien parasite. You die, you burst, and out comes a terrible alien THING.

I’m not feeling real well. I’m pretty sure I’m a carrier now. I begged Bardlet for help, but he ignored me. He’s not sick, so he must’ve used some of our med supplies on himself. The greedy bastard’s going to come through this without a scratch, mark my words… unless the things get in there and tear him up.

Lore

I can feel it moving inside me. I should’ve stayed on Gateway… a nice, cushy office job, no aliens, no nutty ensigns… oh, well.

Doc Cordwain is dead. I killed the thing that crawled out of him, but there are more… so many more. The ship’s systems are functioning erratically. The containment shields aren’t stable.

I’m not going to let this thing kill me. I’ll kill myself, first. Seems to be the best way to go, anyway. Cordwain’s death was… unpleasant.

Navigator forgive me, and damn Bardlet to the void!

Captain Lairdell, signing off.