Christian-Sinne, LLC

Private Investigators

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Ijima Case

Missing Person

Case Summary

CS was contacted by Dr. Katsu Ijima to find her missing husband.  According to Dr. Ijima, her husband Dr. Jason Ijima, a researcher with the HIST department of zoology, had been gone on a field trip in The Wall area with three academic colleagues (Drs. Adriane Hathaway, Glen McGowan and Irvin Stockton), a graduate student (Nathan Rawley) and a Native guide (Rathbone Namul).  The expedition was to last seven days, and was due to return the day of Mrs. Ijima's visit to our office.  However, communications with the research team had been lost two days ago.  Although HIST put it to spotty communications, Mrs. Ijima was concerned because communications with Thor Station were still functionning.  The GEO Patrol at Thor Station had promised to lok into it, but Mrs. Ijima felt that without more urgent action, any help to an endangered expedition would arrive too late. CS was selected because agent Doyle was a member of a zoology CommCore list to which Dr. Jason Ijima also belonged and they had corresponded, and because CS had a cetacean operative.

Questioned on what she knew of the expedition, Mrs. Ijima mentioned that her husband had been researcher creatures called "bubble babies" in The Wall.  No sign of trouble with the expedition had been noticed in the transmissions before they ceased.  At least some of the researchers, including Hathaway and Ijima himself, had been experienced with the Poseidon wilderness, as was the hired guide.  The expedition had been collegial andd cooperative, with no designated leader.  A base camp had been set up in a cliff wall, and the transmitter was installed at the top of the cliff.  Mrs. Ijima supplied short bios of the team members, the expedition's last known coordinates, and the official packing list.

Agent Silverback obtained the names and CommCore codes for Rathbone Namul's guide service and for some of the relatives of the researchers.  A call to Nathan Rawley's father revealed that Hans Rawley was a member of upper management at Hanover Industries; Mr. Rawley had not talked to his son in about ten days, had not heard the team might be missing, and immediately wanted the base camp coordinates to send an HI boat.  On CS advice, Mrs. Ijima declined to authorize further communication with Mr. Rawley; it was felt that heavy-handed HI involvement might complicate and hamper rescue efforts.  Another message was left with the Namul Guide Service CommCore number.

Agent Doyle examined the research notes of Dr. Jason Ijima and pieced together some information about "bubble babies".  These creatures are described as having large, bubble-like heads from which they get their name, and gecko-like extremities.  There is some speculation that their eggs may be related to the creatures known as Bubble Arrays.  Bubble babies are thought to be communal organisms.

After collecting all the information and gear believed to be necessary and that was immediately available, the CS team left aboard the Sea Monkey.  After stops in GEO-maintained Thor Station and the Native village of Shady Sea, where they received faint clues regarding the Ijima Expedition, they proceeded through The Wall towards the last reported location of the expedition.  After a cautious search at slow speeds, the CS team located the wreck of the HIST research vessel, apparently abandoned as it sank with a gaping hole in its bow.  A detailed search by agents Bob abd Sinne revealed blood spatter, bullet holes, signs of struggle, and a video recording camera dissimulated within a skull on a bookcase.

(Case in progress)

Appended Documents

• Transcript of Ijima Recording: Entry 23, dated 2199/09/08

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Dr. Adriane Hathaway

Stocky older woman, Colonial.  Professor of botany at HIST, experienced researcher of the Poseidon wilderness.  Was a member of Dr. Jason Ijima's expedition.

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Dr. Jason Ijima

Independant researcher and HIST professor of zoology.  Recently reported missing, along with his fellow expedition members.

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Dr. Katsu Ijima

Attractive Colonial Asian woman in her (apparent) mid-thirties, teaching anthropology at HIST.  Wife of Dr. Jason Ijima, and CS client on the case.

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Dr. Glen McGowan

Tall, heavyset Colonial man.  Microbiologist working on privately funded research.  Was a member of Dr. Jason Ijima's expedition.

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Rathbone Namul

Native, working as a professional guide into the Poseidon wilderness.  Was accompanying Dr. Jason Ijima's expedition.

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Hans Rawley

Incorporate citizen, noticeable German accent.  Working in upper management at Hanover Industries.  Father of Nathan Rawley.

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Nathan Rawley

Graduate student of zoology at HIST, working under Dr. Jason Ijima.  Was a member of Dr. Ijima's expedition.  Young Colonial man, blond, athletic; son of Hans Rawley.

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Dr. Irvin Stockton

Colonial man of South African origin; black, with short hair.  Professor of geology at HIST.

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