Johnston,

I now have information that leads me to believe that the corporate manipulation of the media is much more than an attempt to manipulate public opinion, but the start of an active effort to bring the Navy into the conflict against us by political means. We are still confident that the Navy wishes to remain as neutral as possible in this scenario, but they would be forced to intervene if commanded to do so by the Alliance Senate, and I think this is where the adverse propaganda is aimed. Over the past few years the Senate has grown increasingly weak and reactionary. They are more interested in maintaining their position than creating effective legislation. If the corporate propaganda swings public opinion against us, the Senate may force the Navy into action simply as a populist, vote-wining strategy.

On top of this, reports from the inner systems seem to indicate that a sizeable minority within the Navy are also lobbying for a remit to intervene on the side of the corporations. This minority is lead by one Grand Admiral Gregor Sykes, Commander of the Earth Defence Fleet, who according to my contacts is a nasty piece of work - highly politicised and extremely ambitious.

All this smells very, very suspicious. Call me paranoid, but perhaps our little uprising has been planned for some time, and we are just pawns in some big political game being played out in the core systems. Unfortunately all we can really do now is bide our time and see what transpires.

Speak to you soon,

Franklyn Hoffer