"Voice message comming in from Canterbury for the President. Patching through now. Isn't he still on the phone with Bataglia?"
"Yes, better beep it through though."
President's office:
"Yea, well, Lucious...but...yea...I know KNF are mobilising I just don't see why we need to spy on them...wait...Luc I gotta take this, let me call you back."
"Sir, sorry to disturb you but we have a call coming in from Planetform."
"Ok give it to me."
"Bob? yea how are the kids? Greeeatt, what can I do for ya?...Uh huh...well you know are contract only stipulates shipping, we can't break a Kusari blockade for you....what does that mean?...disaster clause?...wait wait wait... you mean to tell me that with all your contacts in the crown you can't get a measly police escort through Tau-31??...Bob I can fully understand the kind of strain your pet corporation is under right now but we can fight a fracking WAR for you!...MY ANSWER IS NO! WHAT DO YOU MEAN PENALTIES? All I know is we pulled your sorry excuse for a government subsidized company out of the Bankrupcy courts with the blood of hundreds of our own civilians...for what we are asking I think that's a fair price. But now you want more of our blood?....
...Bob, this is blackmail. And you know it....
...Fine then, but this time I'm getting it in writing. Coronado, black and white, signed and sealed, no butts and for fracks sake no more disaster clauses. And the next time you come to me looking for favors you better be on your knees begging for forgiveness to the people whos sons and daughters you are sending into that Ice trap in Tau-31 or so help me I will kick you out the nearest airlock!" SLAM
I hope this note finds you in good health. I'm writing to tell you that we may not be able to hold the line in Tau-31 during your operation. Recent uprisings in the borderworlds by HF and AW have forced me to deploy forces accordingly. I trust you will be able to defend yourself from the Kusari fanatics. I mean seriously, you have a battle fleet don't you?"
end message
"and a message from freeport 6, sender unknown"
"Mr. President,
Planetform has sold you out. They can't deliver on their promises and they are feeding you to the wolves in Tau-31. Terraforming is a government funded joke, and a collosal coverup by the crown to keep the citizens of Leeds under control-an ever lasting carrot on a stick which they'll never have, and die choking on their own fumes. Your advances in alien organism research has made them billions, which they spend on this war with the Kusari, arming blood dragons and GC for their dirty work. Some of us even think the Queen had something to do with your Discordian friend's unfortunate 'accident'
I can say no more, they are looking for me. I haven't slept in a bed for 2 weeks.
Do not try to trace my writing patterns or learn my identity, I'm merely returning a favor for a friend....
"Hello. Bill? Yea what can I do for you? UmmHmm.....yea Bill in English please...Cylon Virus? you're sure? How? What do you mean? We can't protect our own transports??? Well, maybe we can find replacements until the vipers are fixed...no no....the Bretonians are a bunch of tight wads when it comes to their Templars, same as the Libs. No, I'll have to call you back after I get my contact on Freeport 9. Don't worry bill, you'll have enough fighters for tommorow."
As we suspected, the old Terran "French" custom of the Sabot has been given its due again.
When Mama Dis first noticed the strange sideband algorithms in Colonial transmissions, we were hoping that it would be simply a "beat" frequency caused my miscalibrations of your main Comms transmitters.
Further investigations of the viral nature of the algorithms suggested the usual suspects, as you have already discovered independently.
Unfortunately, Dis has not been able to work out any "vaccine" for the virus at this end. As you know, we've also been working on a substantial "disease" here as well, thereby contributing the the Pistlewhiss factor significantly.
Due to our having to go "underground" as it were.. with various bounties and other enmities floating about, I fear that we are not in much of a position to assist in breaking the Harris blockade. You have one possible ally from our camp who has stayed suffiently "aneristic", and has lost her drab business attire for something a bit more.... black leather and spikes? She will be contacting you or the Trading Fleet if possible.
It certainly is Cusp time for us, Orrin; and it appears to be accelerating. Pray to those stuffy Gods of yours. I shall offer them smoke as well. Eris isn't able to help on this side without throwing is into an even wilder spin. However, if we make it through, She will be awaiting us on the other side with fresh pies. I shall take mine in the face and wear it gladly.