2061.05 - The Report

[Lane]

The final installment, continued from The Pipes, which was continued from The Water, which was continued from The Bones


The Report
May 16, 2061
His right hand on the railing steadied his climb up a short staircase, and into the warmth of the sun. Without turning to look at the field, he strode towards the elevator. The ride to the office level was brief, and without delay he entered the executive locker room for a hot shower and fresh. After preparing another cup of coffee, he sat down at his desk, and was finally ready to read.

The manila envelope had been sitting unopened on his desk for a few weeks. A suspected cyber attack after the 2059 Brewster Championship Series had kicked off a series of investigations within the front office. Internal investigation revealed tampering with the HR software LUMPER that resulted in a mass exodus of coaching staff throughout the organization. In the course of that investigation, other suspicious information arose. A full review and reorganization of physical security at the stadium was conducted, and a private investigative firm was retained. Investigators spent months at the stadium, interviewing staff, reviewing security footage, and scouring vendor logs. There were even whispers that investigators were traveling with the team on the road to take a closer look at league rivals.

Chemists from California State University Long Beach were consulted to conduct an independent review and retesting of quality assurance samples from the team’s water supplier. The water tank was drained and tested for contaminants. Sections of pipe were removed for further analysis, and even the dirt and grass in the bullpen was sampled and analyzed.

The investigation even went as far as to analyze blood samples volunteered from pitchers that would have ben exposed to the water in the preceding seasons.

Our general manager set his coffee on the desk, flipped open the envelope, and started to read.

Setting the report down with a sigh, his eyes moved across the desk to the antique matte black rotary phone to his left. He picked up the handset, and dialed the team’s owner. “Hey boss…yes I read the report…no surprises, pretty much what we expected…mhmm…yes…agreed…a fresh start somewhere new.”

He set down the handset, stood up, and turned to the window behind him. His eyes looked around the field, now resplendent under the midday sun. A mix of sadness, hope, and excitement flowed through his heart, knowing that the days here were numbered, and a new journey for the franchise was rising, just below the horizon.

[Krathan]

I enjoyed the ride. What does the future hold?

[RonCo]

Wow.

[Dington]

Damn. Gonna miss a team being in Long Beach.

[recte44]

There's just a lot of teams right in that same area.

[RonCo]

Too many wins in one area could trigger the big one.

[Jwalk100]

G-u-a-m. Guam!

[Trebro]

Beautiful set up and payoff.