Did the green liquid escape from the flesh when you opened the armor? Did it escape the flesh when you open it? If it was when you opened the armor then what caused it was decompression which happened when the armor was opened. If it was after cutting into the flesh then it was because the creature itself was irreparably damaged by being opened. If that is the case, please do not open any more like that. It may be important to have some of them alive if that is possible.

I am curious to know what is the orange hump that is sending signals. Have you been able to identify the signals yet? Do they appear to have any meaning? Can you correlate them with any other form of communication or date transport that you have encountered on Mars?

Keep working as you are. You are providing valuable information that we will need later on.

Your friend, Koala

Theresa still has the translator box. Why don't you have her try to reach an Ipsolstai who can contact the commander. Once he knows what Caleb has done, he will take care of Caleb and end your troubles.

No matter what else the two of you do, you must remember not to panic. Keep a clear mind and do what you can to protect yourselves. You will be fine if you believe in yourselves.

Gail, there is something very serious I want to discuss with you. Perhaps even more serious than the situation you now face. Miss Chang has been talking to you a lot. She has been trying her best to sound like your friend. She is not. She is blaming Parker and Hardon for trying to catch Hamlet but she is not telling you they did it because she ordered them to. Did you catch that? She ordered them to capture Hamlet. Then she tried to excuse it by suggesting that it happened because P&H are male; as if being female would have prevented it. We know that is not true because we know she ordered them to do it in the first place. She is not the nice person she is trying to make you believe she is. Please do not trust her. Please do not respond to her requests for your help or favors. It is not only in the MARSupials' interests, it is also in yours that you not have anything to do with her.

Your friend, Koala

I said "the Commodore" in my last transmission. I actually meant to say "Commander Fitzgerald."

I am sorry if I confused you.

Koala

Are you able to return to the cave where the I-flyer was originally given to you? Are there tools and parts there for repairing it? You may need to do so while you have a chance.

You have learned quickly and well how to avoid the orange smoke. You were wise to avoid it until it had settled and hardened. The MARSupials have been discussing where it could have come from. We believe it is one of the weapons the Commodore brought with him. If that is so, the war against the Amphibians just became more manageable.

Good luck. Watch out for yourself, Zachary and EB.

Your friend, Koala

I am glad you are not being punished by the Ipsolstai. I realize you may not see it that way considering you have been secured to the wall, but please consider they have the ability to do you harm but have chosen to simply stop you from continuing what you were doing.

You indicated you had completed your task. Apparently they did not know that. None of us know what your task was, so the Ipsolstai have no basis for knowing that fact.

I think it would be a good idea for you to be less cryptic and to explain to your fellow Probes what you have done and why. I realize you may feel there is a continued need to keep some information from the Ipsolstai, but you are a very smart Probe and can devise a means of communicating that information if you choose to do so.

You said:

> All is done.

I take that to mean there is nothing more you must do to set the stage for the arrival of The One.

> Soon we arrive,
> as do they.

Who are "they"?

> Death comes last.

Whose death? Will it truly be necessary to kill?

> The One waits,
> and hopes.

What is it The One is hoping for? What can we do to help? Should we help?

> We must survive.

You will get no argument from us on that. We want you to survive and prosper. Is it important to The One that you survive? Why?

I certainly have proven myself curious, haven't I? I hope you can answer my questions, Daniel. I look forward to your replies.

Your friend, Koala (formerly Space Turtel)

Nelson is a wise Ipsolstai. He has explained to you they knew Daniel was different from the rest of you. They knew he may not act the same was as you and, conversely, you may not act the same as he. In those few words of his, Nelson has assured you the Ipsolstai do not consider any of you to be a threat to repeat Daniel's actions, nor do they hold you responsible for them.

The transition to hyperstate of the Nest-Enveloping-Eggs, your escort vessel, was an inspiring sight. I am glad Nelson was able to permit you to see it.

Nelson's final words to you were what we call introspection. He was talking more to himself than to you then. He is saddened by what he expects to happen later on. He seems to be saying either your ship will be travelling in a new direction or the Ipsolstai as a race will be. I tend to believe it is the latter, but that is only a hunch of mine (a conclusion with little of no fact to support it). The reference to death followed by the phrase "For the Imperium" leads me to that conclusion because it suggests to me the Imperium is doomed, but that does not necessarily mean the Ipsolstai themselves are.

Keep watching and learning. The more information you can send to us, the more we can help you interpret what you are being told. The Ipsolstai command of our language is difficult. We cannot always be certain we understand the intended meaning.

Good luck. Your friend, Koala

You must not permit your lack of understanding Daniel's motives to color your judgement and actions. The way you treat your fellow Probes (in this case, Daniel) directly affects how the Ipsolstai view you and how they expect to be treated by you.

Observe that Daniel has been restrained, but not punished. He has been kept from acting beyond that which he has already done, but no direct threat or punitive action has been taken. The Ipsolstai are treating him kindly. Their treatment of him is almost as if they believe he is disturbed or mentally handicapped. While I do not recommend you take that attitude, I do suggest you modify your behavior to better conform to the controlled responses of the Ipsolstai.

Daniel was sent to Wolf359 for the very same reason you, Bette and Isaac were. All four of you were in grave danger and needed to be rescued. Burn could no sooner leave Daniel behind than he could any of you; perhaps less so because of the special debt owed him because of his forced service and unwelcome alterations.

You must control your anger and frustration. You are our ambassador to the Endless Emporer of the Ipsolstai. You must represent yourself, the Probes and the MARSupials well. You will serve us all best if you are not in the midst of strife with one of your own.

Your friend, Koala.