Interregnum

As is the case the cluster moves on...but New Buffalo is relatively remote, relatively low in technology, and relatively self-involved. So some news, important as it is, takes a while to get around. And when it gets there, it's usually garbled through the interpretation of intermediaries.

Local news faxes are reporting, apparently all related to the same incident.

On Uncle Aggie:

• Location unknown, rumored arrested
• "Aziz" had decoded and transmitted Galliard government data on something called "Project Clear Conscience"
• Agamemnon Aziz Coriad is being sought for treason charges by the Galliard Senate.
• "Aziz" is not being sought on any charges, as the Project is only hypothetical wargaming.
• Green Sun officials have offered political asylum to him.

Project Clear Conscience:

• At least ten different so-called "official" versions floating around - all are in a higher tech video/ algorithmnic format than New Buffalo technology finds difficult to translate or retransmit.
• It's some sort of officially-commissioned military plan, either currently underway, being seriously proposed, or meant as a training exercise.
• It is a realistic or unrealistic, but at least thought-out, re-colonization plan for Green Sun (or for Old Terra).
• Apparently, the cheapest way to do it is to gain control over the orbitals, and systematically annihilate surface points in a grid pattern, carefully calculated to maximize casualties.
• "At least 95+% death rate of local population(s) need to be achieved in a short time frame to guarantee sufficient long-term domination for colonial efforts to take firm root..." There is an engineering assessment on what kind of weapons, and in what number, would be necessary to do this.
• Apparently the cost would be astronomically high, but not necessarily out of the realm of possibility, given sufficient resources.

New Buffalo news take:

• Board meeting repercussions are still on the front page.
• See? You shouldn't move. It's dangerous out there. Those crazy folks.

Galliard take:

• Hard to tell; but certainly a rare public embarrassment.
• Official denials, some visible public support both for the denials and the Project itself.

Hammerhead take:

• Contemplative silence

Old Terra take:

• Outrage; minor violence reported against a few Galliard enclaves

Topiary take:

• Silence