Tragic News: Troop Transport, Siphon, found empty!

Kaas, Edgerspace -- Workers at the Kaas Asteriod Mining Installation discovered the Siphon, a B-Class Modified Fighter/Troop Transport ship, drifting unoccupied in the black of Edgerspace. The Siphon, a Free Lance Army mercenary vessel on a routine exploratory mission, was completely vacant of its crew, yet showed no sign of forced entry.

Law enforcement officials were not forthcoming with information, but rescue personel who were first to the scene were perplexed by what they say was digital vandalism. The SOS signal was replaced by an endlessly repeating sequence "AIUS". Upon entry, the primary console screens were also repeating this sequence and the computer responded "AIUS" to all queries. One high-level technician suspected that all the original data files had been removed or replaced; only life support and other essential ship functions remained intact.

Though the search for crew members is still underway, all escape pods and secondary transport vehicles were present in their docks. There was no evidence of any harm to any living thing aboard ship, but there are also no leads to where they may now be.

The ship, at the start of its journey, was well-provisioned with luxuries not often found this part of space. Though the ship's logs were unavailable, estimates based on the company's records of initial cargo and projected use are perfectly in line with the contents of the hold.