“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.”

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.

Mutant leader's helmet, artist's impression

In response to this morning’s interview on Calypso Forum, CDF called for a press conference. A CDF spokesman confirmed that there are more than 14 of the so-called Duchev files in circulation. There seems to be reports of five more files, in addition to the 14 known files, that so far are not in CDF archives. He also confirmed that the mutant called Mulmun Demp is believed to be in charge of the mutant skirmishes on Calypso.

CDF also showed an artist’s sketch of what they believe that Demp’s helmet looks like, based on Ms Nakajima’s testimony and “other information”. As for the importance of the helmet or the specific content in the unknown Duchev files, CDF refuses to comment other than that “they are still collating data”.

Hello, I’m Axly McBride, and welcome to Calypso Forum.

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.

In a press conference this morning in response to the allegations of the so-called “mutant menace”, CDF high commander, Major Jenny Carramone, stated that the mutants have never posed a threat to Calypsian society. Although there were mutants in Hadesheim and some colonists were hurt, the only people in real danger were “irresponsible daredevils who ignored CDF warnings and went into the wilderness on their own”.

In related news, EBN reporter Shelly Nakajima was rescued late Sunday by CDF. In what is described as a brilliantly executed search-and-rescue operation, Special Forces and rescue paramedics located and extracted Ms Nakajima. She was immediately taken to the hospital in Hadesheim. She is exhausted, famished and dehydrated, and her condition is serious but stable.

Ms Nakajima has not been available for any comments as yet.

This is Shelly Nakajima. I’m somewhere in orb country. I really don’t know which orb. I don’t know where I am. I’m… I’ve managed to escape. We were moved to another area, and… we were attacked by someone. I hid beneath a dead Argonaught. They didn’t notice as they moved on, and then I was… alone.

I’m not too far from the mutants. I can hear them howling. They are still… running amok. If they find someone, they rip him to shreds. I saw DeVries as he… they killed him.

I’m sorry. I’m… close to an orb. It’s in my mind. And every time the mutants howl and roar as someone is defeated, I think, the orb… it’s whispering in my mind. Every time. Just… as Duchev said. The whispers… they are getting stronger.

I don’t know if anyone can pick this up, but if you do, please… Just… please. Help.