My take was that AS is on the P&H team. I think, now that I have had the advantage of your insights and the next group is called "Schmidts" which is definitely German to discard that in favor of the Japanese.
> Their unit is armed with some type of offensive or defensive weaponry and may be aggressive.
Yes, the reference to being a bully screamed that to me.
> Could this be what Bette has encountered?
If so, why shoot first? Also, I hate to perpetuate the sterotype but it fits so well... Does this mean they sent two types of J-Probes (Japanese Probes); one is the "regular defense-enabled probe" and the other is a miniaturized version?
> 2. The Schmidts are B&B (P&H's group). They are sending 6 more probes like "ours", and
> probably will try to commandeer "ours".
Again, I read that into it too. It fits with some of the comments we have read from P&H. They did talk about salvaging the probes which would suggest to me they intend to absorb any they can into their new force of probes. The new ones being described as very much like our own lends further credence to the notion that they originate with B&B.
> We may be able to turn this around on them if we can get Andrew and the rest to
> "convince" the B&B probes to change their codes.
A good idea if it can be pulled off. If I were B&B though, I would have eliminated the ability to change the access codes.
> 3. The Ling children are the Chinese/Argentine group.
Definitely. The reference to being a large family gave that one away easily.
This gives us some important information. We now know there are 3 Stage-3-type craft either already on their way or about to depart. Mars is going to become very crowded soon. We better start planning for it now.
Koala, Captain, Team Andrew