Eastwing is sending a ship to Ennedi [s]to jump on the bandwagon[/s] to try and force their way onto the galactic stage, since they're half-convinced nobody takes them seriously.* They're also going to make [s]contact with the Fourth[/s] everyone cupcakes for reasons. But that ship is still a day or two out.

Meanwhile, there's a ship that's just made contact with Durandal's civilization, and another doing the same at Clock's civilization. Oh, and President Penelope Kate's frustrated at her nation's inane focus on ship-building rather than, you know, repairing the power infrastructure in their [i]capital city[/i].

[sub]*Hey, [i]I[/i] wouldn't take a race that dampens their weapon power because they've added so much extra stuff to make the lasers pretty seriously either.[/sub]