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.”

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.

Some weeks ago, there was some commotion about the “Mutant Menace”. One that should know about this more than others is Shelly Nakajima, the EBN employee that won public fame with the piece on Carramone herself as well as reporting from mutant captivity. Welcome back, Shelly; it’s good to see you well again, and it’s good to have you back.

Shelly Nakajima: Thank you. It’s good to be back.

Axly McBride: Let’s start with something a little personal: Major Carramone has a special relationship with you. Can you describe it a bit more?

SN: I think Major Carramone has a special relationship with everyone. I’m grateful for the search-and-rescue team that she deployed to get me out, I respect her as a soldier, but I really can’t say I like her.

AMB: There were quite loud protests against CDF and its inability to find you. Conspiracy theorists even say that this was deliberate from Carramone’s part, and there are those that demand that Carramone steps down. What is your comment on that?

SN: I didn’t even know my newscasts were getting out at all. I did them to, uhm, stay sane, to give me, us, something to focus on. I hoped that the newscasts would be picked up and traced, but I really couldn’t tell. I certainly don’t know what kept the CDF, and to be honest, I don’t think I want to explore that.

AMB: One question that most of us have is “why”? Why were the mutants here? In your newscasts, your mention of Duchev and his files hints that you know at least something about it.

SN: It was deVries’ idea. He thought that there was a power struggle among the, uh… umbranoids, and that they needed, uh, some kind of regalia, to consolidate the power. At the end, deVries was, uh, rambling a lot, but he was quite consistent about dr Duchev’s files.

AMB: Those have been read and analyzed thoroughly.

SN: We just have fragments. DeVries showed me other fragments that I think haven’t been seen before.

AMB: Your newscasts from captivity are already a bit of a legend out here. They have been described as the most gruesome holovised events of all times, but what everyone wants to know is if you recorded anything else.

SN: We tried to document as much as we could. We didn’t know what to do with it, so in the end we just tried to report as professionally as we could and have it recorded for future reference. And when Jason d-died, I-I continued… I’m sorry. I continued alone.

AMB: We can stop now, if you want.

SN: No, I’m okay. I’m okay. [pause] There was one where… I was about to report of… some kind of leader, or champion, or something, for the Umbranoids when he suddenly entered the cattle pen where they held us. He grabbed me by the neck and lifted me, and I thought he would… would… He threw me aside into a corner, and then he… he… dragged Jason… [pause] That’s… when Jason was killed.

AMB: How did you know he was the leader?

SN: The others… they feared him and… you know, feared for him. As if he was, you know, important but taking… a big risk. They called… him Demp. He was the only one I heard the name of. He wore a helmet. It was… tusks and-and red eyes… eyeslits…

AMB: [softly] Do you want to stop?

SN: [nods]

AMB: Okay, we’ll stop now. Thank you, Shelly. I’m sorry I upset you.