Starship One: Difference between revisions
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In 3305, a follow-up investigation was opened by the [[Federal Attorney's Office]]. It found that Starship One had been sabotaged shortly before it embarked on Halsey's grand tour.<ref name="Inquiry">[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/5f5ba22df6205f3148762781 GalNet: Inquiry into Starship One's Destruction Concludes]</ref> On September 18, 3306, the [[Federal Intelligence Agency]] arrested Chief Technician [[Rory Webster]], the lead engineer in charge of Starship One's maintenance, on charges of mass murder and treason. Webster reportedly ordered unauthorised modifications to the ship's Frame Shift Drive.<ref name="Arrest">[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/5f64d17f13f948281632094e GalNet: Arrest Made in Starship One Criminal Case]</ref> | In 3305, a follow-up investigation was opened by the [[Federal Attorney's Office]]. It found that Starship One had been sabotaged shortly before it embarked on Halsey's grand tour.<ref name="Inquiry">[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/5f5ba22df6205f3148762781 GalNet: Inquiry into Starship One's Destruction Concludes]</ref> On September 18, 3306, the [[Federal Intelligence Agency]] arrested Chief Technician [[Rory Webster]], the lead engineer in charge of Starship One's maintenance, on charges of mass murder and treason. Webster reportedly ordered unauthorised modifications to the ship's Frame Shift Drive.<ref name="Arrest">[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/5f64d17f13f948281632094e GalNet: Arrest Made in Starship One Criminal Case]</ref> | ||
During Webster's trial, which began on September 28 at the [[Federal High Court]] on Mars, the prosecution revealed that Webster had his subordinates install new power regulators on Starship One prior to its launch, an action that Webster convinced the first investigation was routine. In 3305, one of the engineers who had installed the replacement regulators realized that, like the [[Highliner Antares]] incident, the regulators could have adversely affected the Frame Shift Drive if they had been modified before use. This engineer contacted the authorities, which led to the opening of the second investigation.<ref name="Trial1">[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/5f71a5ce735d9f51a72f47ce GalNet: Starship One Trial Begins]</ref> On October 5, shortly before the trial's conclusion, Webster offered to confess and implicate the | During Webster's trial, which began on September 28 at the [[Federal High Court]] on Mars, the prosecution revealed that Webster had his subordinates install new power regulators on Starship One prior to its launch, an action that Webster convinced the first investigation was routine. In 3305, one of the engineers who had installed the replacement regulators realized that, like the [[Highliner Antares]] incident, the regulators could have adversely affected the Frame Shift Drive if they had been modified before use. This engineer contacted the authorities, which led to the opening of the second investigation.<ref name="Trial1">[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/5f71a5ce735d9f51a72f47ce GalNet: Starship One Trial Begins]</ref> On October 5, shortly before the trial's conclusion, Webster offered to confess and implicate the party who allegedly ordered him to sabotage Starship One on the condition that the death penalty be taken off the table at sentencing.<ref name="Revelation">[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/5f7ae6605e1f2e7fab6c0a7f GalNet: Revelation Halts Starship One Trial]</ref> The true apparent mastermind of Starship One's destruction was revealed to be Fleet Admiral [[Lucas Vincent]], who was arrested by the Federal Intelligence Agency on charges of conspiracy to commit murder and treason on October 9. Webster provided evidence that Vincent had ordered him to sabotage Starship One and backed up his order with threats. While Webster was given a lenient sentence of 20 years in prison, Vincent was placed in a secure facility to await his trial in the coming months. In addition to reportedly having several policy disagreements with then-President Jasmina Halsey, primarily over her aggressive military interventions in [[Kappa Fornacis]] and other systems, Vincent was also noted to be a personal friend of current President [[Zachary Hudson]]. Hudson did not personally comment on Vincent's arrest, but a spokesperson affirmed his confidence in the Federal court system.<ref name="VincentSaboteur">[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/5f8031b0b1c27315910a85d5 GalNet: Fleet Admiral Vincent Named as Starship One Saboteur]</ref> | ||
==Timeline== | ==Timeline== | ||
09 OCT 3306 | |||
*Fleet Admiral [[Lucas Vincent]], one of the [[Federal Navy]] chiefs of staff, has been arrested on charges related to the destruction of Starship One. The trial of Chief Technician [[Rory Webster]] was halted by a plea bargain to reveal who ordered him to sabotage Starship One's hyperdrive in 3301. An update on proceedings was delivered by [[Milandu Okoro]] of the [[Federal Attorney's Office]]: "Mr Webster provided evidence that Fleet Admiral Vincent directly commanded him to arrange for Starship One to suffer the same fate as the [[Highliner Antares]]. The orders were allegedly provided on a private channel, accompanied by threats discouraging Mr Webster's refusal. The trial concluded with the judge summarily convicting the defendant of aiding and abetting mass murder. Chief Technician Webster received a lenient sentence of 20 years in prison, in acknowledgement that he performed criminal acts under duress. The [[Federal Intelligence Agency|FIA]] has detained Vincent in a high-security facility, and he has been charged with conspiracy to commit murder and treason. However, the case is likely to take several months to come to trial." There was no comment from President [[Zachary Hudson]], who is believed to be a personal friend of Vincent. A spokesperson for his administration said: "As always, the President has full confidence in our court system to deliver justice."<ref name="VincentSaboteur" /> | |||
05 OCT 3306 | 05 OCT 3306 | ||
*The [[Federal High Court]] trial over the destruction of [[Starship One]] has been temporarily halted following a proffered confession from the defendant. Chief Technician [[Rory Webster]] is charged with mass murder and treason, with testimonials claiming that he ordered his engineering team to sabotage Starship One's hyperdrive systems. Crime correspondent [[Ethan Takahashi]] reported for The [[Federal Times]]: "Despite a spirited performance from the defence, highlighting the absence of a sufficient motive, Mr Webster visibly struggled in the dock last week as the technical evidence mounted. Several jury members nodded when the prosecutor called for the death sentence, should the accused be found guilty of slaughtering hundreds. The judge was about to begin her summation, when Mr Webster's defence counsel announced that the defendant now wished to change his plea to guilty and make a full confession in return for clemency, claiming that he had acted on 'orders from the top'. There was much discussion between the judge and legal representatives. Eventually it was agreed that the trial would be suspended while Mr Webster's testimony was taken by the [[Federal Intelligence Agency]], and then a suitable course of action would follow." The [[Federal Attorney's Office]] stated that a decision on resuming the trial is expected within a few days.<ref name="Revelation" /> | *The [[Federal High Court]] trial over the destruction of [[Starship One]] has been temporarily halted following a proffered confession from the defendant. Chief Technician [[Rory Webster]] is charged with mass murder and treason, with testimonials claiming that he ordered his engineering team to sabotage Starship One's hyperdrive systems. Crime correspondent [[Ethan Takahashi]] reported for The [[Federal Times]]: "Despite a spirited performance from the defence, highlighting the absence of a sufficient motive, Mr Webster visibly struggled in the dock last week as the technical evidence mounted. Several jury members nodded when the prosecutor called for the death sentence, should the accused be found guilty of slaughtering hundreds. The judge was about to begin her summation, when Mr Webster's defence counsel announced that the defendant now wished to change his plea to guilty and make a full confession in return for clemency, claiming that he had acted on 'orders from the top'. There was much discussion between the judge and legal representatives. Eventually it was agreed that the trial would be suspended while Mr Webster's testimony was taken by the [[Federal Intelligence Agency]], and then a suitable course of action would follow." The [[Federal Attorney's Office]] stated that a decision on resuming the trial is expected within a few days.<ref name="Revelation" /> | ||