“I’m Axly McBride, and this is EBN Evening News. Our headlines today: Genesis Star expands the search for items from their research division. Spring migration believed to start in about a week. But first…

To astronomers, it’s NCO-97682A; to shippers and insurance agents, it’s a damage claim case; to everyone else, it’s a container-load of Easter bunnies falling from the sky. And colonists are not the only ones interested in these free toys. A recently published article in Scientific Calypsian says that the chemicals used in the stuffing may cause mutants to go bananas. “It’s catnip for mutants”, one scientist says, and warns that there may be danger in the wilderness when the stuffed bunnies fall from the sky.

From one creature to the next: the eomon and longtooth migration is expected to start at the end of the next week, and will continue for about two weeks. It will be a dangerous journey for them across the Calypsian outback, as carnivores usually prowl the migration paths looking for prey.

In other news, Genesis Star CEO Maximilian Wolfe, reported that most of Series 1 of the Genesis Star Visual Displays have been found, but that there are some Series 2 units still adrift. As an extra incentive to speed up looking, Genesis Star has decided to add one set of finders and amplifiers for both ore and enmatter to the prize that any finder of a Genesis Star Com Unit, Encrypted Holder and Visual Display will get.”

Shelly Nakajima: And now to the matter that made people talk last week: Genesis Star, the corporation that in a bold move made mining “chique” with their eMINE brand. With me here at the Genesis Tower is Maximilian Wolfe, CEO of Genesis Star Calypso. Welcome!

Maximilian Wolfe: Thank you.

SN: We’ve seen this new skyscraper for some time now. It’s a beautiful building, but what’s it for? We’ve just seen the atrium and the exchange.

MW: Parts of the building will be our offices when we expand. Other parts we would like to lease to the public, but we can’t say how and when.

SN: So you’re planning to expand your business?

MW: Oh yes. I mean, what corporation isn’t? I think it is time for Calypso to make some progress. We’ve been stuck in the frontier town dogma too long.

SN: At the inauguration, you mentioned a special drive for the new eMINE brand.

MW: Yes, we have two plans, Shelly! You don’t mind if I call you Shelly?

SN: Not at all, Mr. Wolfe…

MW: Please, call me Max.

SN: …Max. So what’s the drive?

MW: First, we’ll randomly release a number of blueprints to crafters to get local production going. That raises awareness of our products. Second, we release a number of tuned eMINE PG armor sets to the public in return for some lost packages from R&D. We’ll use the packages as tickets– get the tickets and turn them in, and you’ll get a tuned eMINE PG set.

SN: So what do we need to get?

MW: You need one Genesis Star Visual Display, two Genesis Star Encrypted Holders, and three Genesis Star Com Units.

SN: Can anyone get them?

MW: Sure, but they will probably be found by the miners.

SN: How many prizes are there?

MW: There are as many prizes as there are Visual Displays. Inventory says that we’re lacking ten of them, so there are ten prizes. When all ten Visual Displays are found, we’ll have a prize ceremony.

SN: And when will that be?

MW: (laughs) Damned if I know! That depends entirely on when they are found. When they are, we’ll announce a date for the ceremony.

SN: Last question: what will happen at tomorrow’s presentation?

MW: I’ll personally showcase the tuned unlimited eMINE PG. We’re proud of our work and our product, but there’s still room for improvement, and we’ll show what we can do tomorrow.

SN: Can we expect these improvements to be available to all in the future?

MW: (laughs) You’ve already asked the last question, Shelly. Anyway, that’s a question I can’t answer at the moment, because the decision is not made. It depends a bit on how the market receives this new line.

SN: Well, I guess we have to be content with that reply. Thank you, Mr. Wolfe… Max, for attending.

MW: A pleasure, Shelly.

After the inauguration ceremony at Genesis Tower in Twin Peaks and the revelation of the new eMINE brand, Genesis Star Calypso CEO Maximilian Wolfe has suddenly become one of the busiest people on Calypso.

EBN has managed to get a peek into his schedule. On Monday morning, Mr Wolff will attend an interview with Shelly Nakajima which will be broadcasted on Entropia Gateway, and on Tuesday at 18:00 UTC, there will also be a special presentation of the eMINE PG armor for miners in Genesis Tower.

Axly McBride: Despite promises from CDF, the orbs have not disappeared. According to CDF, “logistics disturbance” prevents the close-down, but not everyone buys that story. There are people blaming various parties, most often PGC, for sabotage. Others think that CDF are unable to close the orbs, that their scientists are wrong. Still others claim that there is a stand-off between Major Carramone, the High Commander of CDF, and the Office of Colonial Affairs on Earth.

As a guest in the studio, we have governor Dumpty. Governor, why is the close-down delayed?

Governor Dumpty: There is a reason for the delay, and I think that it’s the science. They’ve got it wrong, and they’re trying to fix it. The question is whether they can. I don’t think so. I hope they can, but I don’t think so.

AMB: What do you think of the rumours of a stand-off?

GD: No, I don’t think so. Carramone has mandate to run the defence as she sees fit, and it’s a long distance anyway. If she could, she would, and Earth wouldn’t be able to do anything about it.

AMB: Thank you, Governor. With us at the CDF headquarters, we have Shelly Nakajima. Shelly, what can you tell us?

Shelly Nakajima: Not much, Axly. CDF is closed-lips as always, and Major Carramone ran out of her office just a few minutes ago heading for Twin Peaks and the inauguration of the Genesis Tower. However, I would put my money on a power struggle with Earth or that there actually are problems with the logistics.

AMB: How is that?

SN: As Major Carramone stormed out, she shouted to an aide to… wait, let me quote her. She shouted “I don’t care what that slimy Earth worm says, get me a (beep) lorry that can (beep) handle the mud!”

AMB: So CDF could be telling the truth?

SN: Basically, yes, but I also think they’re not telling all of the truth. Something is going on here, and it’s almost impossible to dig anything out of anyone. Especially not the Major.

AMB: Thank you, Shelly.

In an open letter, the Duchev log collectors have expressed concerns about some aspects of CDFs actions in the recent past. I would like to respond to some of the allegations of the letter.

There is no secret mission to infiltrate the Calypsian government. CDF is, according to the contract of colonisation between the Federal Empire and private partners, the military branch of the Calypsian government.

The decision to study the Duchev logs was based on a strategic need to get an understanding of mutant activities, mindset and plans. To this end, the Duchev files have to be analyzed and correlated with several other sources. At no point, it was indicated that the intel gained would be shared to the public; the information we are looking for is of strategic nature, and thus there is every reason for secrecy, as is the matter of all military information of strategic significance. It should not come as a surprise to anyone that CDF would not be willing to share this information, in the same way that we would not share information regarding war plans, troop deployment et cetera.

CDF concedes to the point that the files should be open to the public for research, and not locked away. However, CDF believes that private corporations are even worse custodians of the files, as they only have interest in profit. They want return of investment, not open research. To them, the files would constitute a market opportunity.

CDF decided to buy the files in order to get unlimited access to them. For that, we offered what we considered to be a fair price. I do not agree with the Duchev collectors that the price is not fair, but it is not an impassable obstacle.

To that end, CDF makes this offer to the Duchev collectors:

• CDF gets access to the Duchev files.
• For this, CDF pays the aforementioned price plus one Isis LR53 (L) rifle, i.e. one set of Jaguar Foot Guards (Unlimited), one Ach-O Torment’s Tainted Whip (Limited) and one Isis LR53 rifle (Limited) for files #1 to #19; and one Ach-O Torment’s Tainted Whip (Limited) and one Isis LR53 rifle (Limited) for files #1 to #14.
• When analysis is complete, the files will be returned to their owners.

If these terms are not acceptable, the offer is withdrawn.

Major Jenny Carramone, High Commander CDF

In response to public inquiries about the orb close-down, CDF states that they are currently experiencing logistics disturbance that so far has prevented the successful closure of the orbs.

The CDF spokesman estimated that a new attempt would be made on Wednesday morning, UTC. “It will probably be a quiet affair”, the spokesman said. “According to our scientists, the orbs will be there one minute, and gone the next. If there is any danger, then it is the power vacuum that exists as the Umbranoids and Mulmuns were routed, so we can probably expect a rise in Thorofoid, Argonaught and Feffoid activity.”

Today, CDF published the following press release:

“The elimination of the mutant leaders Mulmun Demp and Mulmun Vigg had greater effect than anticipated. The mutants are routed, and we expect them to hide or disappear shortly.

CDF will use this opportunity to close down the orbs. Close-down is estimated to happen at around 10-11 MA time.”

One of the mutant leaders, Mulmun Demp, has been sighted in a mutant camp near Twin Peaks. CDF believes that he will try to make contact with another mutant leader this weekend, and urges colonists to keep an eye out for strange activities in that area. “It is imperative that Mulmun Demp is stopped before we lose track of him”, CDF high commander Major Jenny Carramone says. “This is our chance to get rid of the orbs, and it would be highly unfortunate if it slipped away.”

CDF will post an update when the whereabouts of the other leader is known. There is no intel on the identity of the other leader at this time, as they haven’t tracked any other leader coming into the area.

This morning, CDF high commander, Major Jenny Carramone, revealed CDFs plan for closing down the orbs to the public. Using telemetry data from the orbs and some field trials, CDF have created a device for closing them down. However, initial attempts have been unsuccessful.

“There seems to be a control mechanism that counters our attempts of closing the orbs” said Major Carramone, adding that CDF believes that the two helmets described in the Duchev files and in Ms Nakajima’s testimony is that control mechanism.

“The mutants have made a critical error” Major Carramone said, “as both helmets are on this side of whatever gateway the orbs are. If the helmets are removed from mutant possession, CDF will again attempt to use their device to close the gateway.”

The plan consists of two elements: first, the mutants must not be allowed to slip back through the orbs with the helmets. Second, the helmets must be tracked down. The second task requires manpower that CDF do not have; CDF intel indicates that the helmets is carried by an adjutant or servant when not in use, which makes it hard to identify the holder. Intel also indicates that the helmets are held by two different mutant clans.

“I hope that Calypso’s colonists will help” Carramone concluded. “Retrieve the helmets, and we’ll take it from there. We expect stiff resistance from the mutants, so be prepared.”

For security reasons, Major Carramone did not answer any questions about the nature of the device.

In a press release, CDF announced that they are looking for Dr Almon Duchev’s files. In order to make a proper analysis, they need both the known 14 files and the five new one CDF believes are circulating. In return for the files, CDF will give away some test samples from the exobiological research division.

Anyone that turns in a complete file set of the old Duchev file (files #1 to #14, covering log entries 10328 to 10356) will be awarded an Ach-O Torment’s Tainted Whip (Limited).

In addition, those that turn in a complete set of all Duchev files, both old and new ones (i.e. files #1 to #19), will get a special prize - a set of Jaguar foot guards (Unlimited) as well as an Ach-O Torment’s Tainted Whip (Limited).

These rewards will be given away in a special ceremony in the Genesis Star Tower in Twin Peaks, on Wednesday March 4th, 18:00 UTC. After the ceremony, this offer is closed.