Baron Meklan
by Cornelius Merryheart, exclusive for the GGG
The good news is that Aldahan LiQuan, leader of House LiQuan (HLQ), has been submitted to medical exams to determine the risks, if any, of his partial meklanization. The bad news is that the scientists in charge of these procedures failed to answer some very important questions.
According to the reports provided by the CIA, it has been confirmed that there is a firewall in LiQuan's head. But there are some conflicting statements that need further clarification. LiQuan had initially informed that, in case of a breach, his brain would be shut off by the firewall: "The technicians say that they have incorporated a firewall to the brainstem which should stop the nanites from completing the meklanisation process. If nanites are detected in the brain, the firewall will shut down the brain automatically, effectively killing the baron." The CIA doctors, however, make no mention to this failsafe feature and only point to the existence of a barrier to the nanites: "the firewall in the baron's mind consists of many ganglions that are treated at frequencies that will not interfere with typical neurological signals but will deactivate any nanites that attempt to pass along the nerve sleeves and into the brain of the Baron". They also imply that they don't fully understand the process taking place in LiQuan's head, acknowledging the presence of "a large build-up of nerve structures below some of these firewall ganglions", which they describe as puzzling: "They may be nothing more than improving reaction times for automatic actions such as pulling a hand away from a hot surface but the team think that there may be some local processing also involved."
So we still don't know how effective this firewall is, we still don't know if it will really shut down the brain in case some nanites manage to breach the barrier, we still don't know if the nanites can directly or indirectly influence LiQuan's actions, and we still don't know if despite not having a direct connection to the brain the nanites can still communicate with whatever external powers control Meklans, possibly transmitting valuable information about the Empire to the enemy. There are simply too many unknown factors at this point, and at best LiQuan is a very serious risk. He should be kept away from the Emperor and he should be kept away from any sensitive information about the Empire or the Commonwealth.
-o-
FET Exodus
by Ringo Baxter, exclusive for the GGG
Much seems to be changing in the Frontier Exploration & Trade (FET). First, Krazy Kastorian Kanji left the affiliation in an explosive manner, kidnapping the CEO and stealing precious assets and information. Then almost as fast as they were welcoming new recruits, older and more established members started to leave and retire.
We talked with Pahl Kantner, well known former FET trader and head of the Lost Planet Airmen, and asked him what made him decide to retire. He wasn't in a very good mood but agreed to a short declaration: "Ah was dismayed 'n disheartened by the recent turns o' events in the FET. Ah was distressed by the changes in attitude 'n direction o' the new FET. 'Nuff said!"
We also talked with Peregrine Lanner, another well known former FET member, who also decided to retire after a long time in the affiliation. He explained the situation in the FET with more detail: "The expulsion of Kanji pretty much coincided with the arrival of new affiliates with new ideas, perhaps more in keeping with FET's old school profile. I found myself arguing more and more against the suggestions being offered as to how FET should move forward."
The FET attack on the FCN also had, of course, a big impact on the way affiliation policy was perceived internally and externally. Mr. Lanner confirms this: "The Falconiangate incident pretty much sealed things. I am sure CEO Norozov would be the first to admit that the reaction to his mercenary actions against the FCN shocked him. I am not referring to the general anti-FET rhetoric that abounded after the event became public, that was political points scoring and was only to be expected. What made me realise that perhaps the operation had been a mistake was the reaction of our allies and in particular, the IMP Viceroy (at the time). Ike Kreiger is someone I admire greatly and for him to come out and virtually condemn us as being no better than the RIP, well that was the clincher. It was time to leave."
Many now await the next move from the FET. Will they try to reorganize and realign their goals with those of the Imperial Block? Or will they pursue a more daring line of work that seems to draw inspiration from the smugglers and mercenaries who originally built the affiliation?
-o-
