The datascreen didn't respond. It wasn't supposed to. Kal cracked his knuckles and began to enter code…

"Stang!" Kal was not in the best of moods. He'd tried at least a dozen decryption codes and still this slaver's log refused to give up its contents. He sulked across to the autochef and dialled in yet another stimcaf. Sipping on the hot, bitter liquid, Kal mused that maybe he ought to make this one the last. He was starting to get wired, and it wouldn't do for the Chief medical Officer of the Hammer to be unfit for duty.

Turning back to the recalcitrant data, Kal stopped, and stared down into the cup. "Wow, this stuff is stronger than I thought! I'm starting to see patterns on the screen!"

Kal dropped the cup; it was suddenly of no significance. He wasn't hallucinating on too much strong stimcaf, the decryption had finally cracked the code.

Absently he keyed the comm panel. "Bridge, this is Kal, I'm in the main computer room. Captain, I've found something that I think you ought to see…"

"On my way." Kethan stretched out of the command chair and headed down to the computer room. "Aaron, you have the bridge."

********

"This is all I've managed to get so far, Kethan, sorry." Kal said pointing the view screen.

<<Personal Log>>
<<Dev Fort>>

Curse those Nova Dragons; they dog my every step, laying ruin to all my plans. Why did I hire them that one time? Why?!

First they vape the holding centre. Then I'm forced to destroy Site Bravo 4 on Blom III. I was lucky to escape with my life. Perhaps it was fortunate that my injuries were such that I couldn't report back to my master. Lucky for me Sordan knows the meaning of loyalty. When he got word to me that Nexus would have executed me had I survived the explosion. Ingrates! After all I had done for Nexus, they were going to repay a minor set back with a blaster bolt in the skull! Well curse them, too. They can rot with the Nova Dragons. I'll set up my own organisation. I have all the contacts, they'll never know until it's too late.

"Don't be hard on yourself, Kal, from what you've been saying it's a devious code. At least you have the key now. Get back to it, and see if you can dig anything else out."

Kethan left Kal to his work.

"So it wasn't a Nexus base we took down, after all." He thought. "Well, it was a nest of mynocks that needed cleaning…"