If you’ve read the group-chat that I managed to capture the other day you’ll have seen that all the local Varati factions except the Varati Ring (who, to be fair only have about 5 real ships now) have decided to get behind our bid to build a lab for Dr Arcanonn in COL 285 SECTOR IX-T D3-43 – a project which marches ever closer to it’s final goal of gaining a commodities market due to unprecedented support from the community!

Well, after Palin’s revelations on Galnet, in which he gives details of his kidnapping by a mysterious armed group, Ursula Le Clarke, sworn enemy of the Canonn but an undoubted fellow female smart cookie, has aired some worrying thoughts about the kidnappers’ identities, and motives.

Let us hope that she’s wrong, is all I can say.

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From: [CSO Ursula Le Clarke (Varati Ring)|NFA|Type 6 Freighter "Arthur's End"]
To: [CSO Arthur Guin (Varati Independent Union)|Napier Depot|Varati]
CC: [VP (Operations) Philip Reynolds (Varati Blue Public)|Kagan Vision|COL 285 SECTOR IX-T D3-43]
CC: [Secretary of State Simmons Hamilton (Labour of Varati)|Keyes Landing|Varati]
Subject: Colostomy bags at the ready, boys.
Following our group chat the other day - I take it you've seen yesterday's Galnet right?

Professor Palin's talking about some double-hard super-scary team that grabbed his ship, prized it open like a tin-can, took him away and did unmentionable things to him.  Okay I made that last bit up - but you get the picture.

So: seen any weird DiamondBack Explorers around recently anyone?

These are the same people who we've been dealing with boys - you mark my words - and, if they keep to their word, we can expect a whole world of pain to come our way - even if they manage to get hold of Arcanonn when he transfers to his soon-to-be-built Research Lab.

You might all be sitting there thinking you're in the 'Big Cojone Club' - having left me in the lurch and sidled up to Doctor Arc.  But trust me: the Canonn will squash you all, and when they're done, our friends are going to come and wreak havoc, mopping up what they leave behind of the Canonn with your entrails.

So: fair warning, gentlemen.  It might not happen now, or even when that station goes live - but it will happen.

However, something is bothering me about all this: one of the questions Palin says they asked him.  'Why are you investigating the unknown artefacts?'

It just seems like a truly stupid question to me, unless the person asking is looking for a way to stop him from doing any further research for some reason other than a dogmatic opposition to it.  If that were the case, you would just kill Palin and have done with it.  It's what I'd do.

The fact they didn't, suggests they want to keep the boffins on-side for the future.  And why would that be important?

Now, we all assumed that they wanted to stop Arcanonn  and Palin because what he's been doing is dangerous for everybody - that's why we signed up.  But what if it isn't?  What if it's only dangerous for this kidnapper group?

I'm starting to wonder if they know far more about these so-called 'unknown artefacts' and barnacles than anyone else.  Enough, for example, to suggest that they might even be responsible for them.

Think about it - as alien as these things obviously are - there are things about 'em that don't fit: those bloody awful attempts at federation blink code that the artefacts produce, and that funny logo on the barnacles.  There's hints there of a man's touch, in my opinion.

I say that, because only a man would be stupid enough to leave such obvious clues in there.  I'd never be that careless.

I can't quite see the angle, yet, though - but there are precedents for this kind of thing - a certain 4 letter acronym that's an anagram of 'RAIN' springs to mind...

Oh bloody hell, that cow Verity is gonna leak this isn't she, like everything else I write.  De Rosa, D Luffy, Arcanonn and the rest of them are gonna think I've gone all 'tin-foil' and ask to marry me.

Well, if you're reading this, 'Canonneers' or whatever you call yourselves - I'm not on your side yet.

But I might be interested in having a chat after all...

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