Ellen died in a pirate raid on the OS&C ship she was riding down to Freeport 1. She was going to a conference down there to see about DSE and Planet: Sprague. They think it was Corsairs, but no one really knows. Aside from a Regret to Inform You letter and a settlement equal to half a year's pay, they didn't really care either. After all, DSE had plenty of engineers to replace my wife.
It left me with an eight year old daughter to raise by myself. Khiara was a beautiful girl, blue eyed and blonde haired. She also was afflicted with some exotic form of c=ancer of the brain. We had both been exposed when the coolant leak occurred, but, me being an adult, I recovered where she did not. I've spoken to Naval Architects and they all tell me the same story; it is against safety policy and regulations to run waste lines through the habitability modules. Unfortunately I couldn't prove it, and the medical records are sealed, go figure.
When Khia died because the c=ancer wouldn't go away after three surgeries, I came looking for you folks. Something needs to be done...