Wireless Broadcast by Governor Ward - Exodus +407

Men and women of the Myriad fleet, this is Governor Althea Ward. I have been shocked and disheartened by the behaviour of a handful of individuals during the violence and attempted mutiny which has taken place throughout the fleet over the past few hours. I am saddened to have to confirm that as a result of these acts of aggression there have been a number of deaths. At this stage we are not certain of the exact toll, but I'm afraid those killed include Captains Nestra Duvali and Nicteus Philemon and, as you have heard suggested in the Free Press Coalition broadcast just now, Commander Darius.

However, I am thankful and relieved that calm has now been restored throughout most ships, and Major Stanton has most deftly and capably dealt with this crisis as he assumes command of the Myriad, for which I offer my gratitude.

But I am aware that communication between the Augea and the rest of the fleet has not yet be restored, and I strongly urge those abord the Augea to reestablish contact with the Helios Refinery or the Myriad as soon as possible. Failure to do so is putting the entire fleet in jeopardy; as many of you will be aware, there has been a nuclear detonation in nearby space. This is a sure way to signify our presence to the Cylons. Therefore we must, as soon as possible, jump to the emergency coordinates already distributed to all ships. If we do not hear from the Augea immediately following this broadcast, we will be forced to either take the ship by force, or jump without it for the sake of the many souls aboard the other ships.

There are a number of other practical steps the fleet needs to take once we have jumped to safety. First, we need to address the acts of aggression committeed by some among us. I want to emphasise that although the attempted overthrow of the government was orchestrated by those calling themselves the New Believers, I do not wish to condemn everyone within that group. Violent acts were carried out by only a small number of New Believers, and also by some who do not belong to that group. It is the violent acts for which people are accountable; we do not punish citizens simply for holding certain religious beliefs. That said, I hope those involved in this new movement now realise the full consequences of extreme actions brought on by single-minded determination. I implore you to consider the myriad ramifications your actions may have in future. I am happy to discuss any proposals or problems you may have, as long as you are willing to communicate constructively and openly.

I want to make clear to everyone that capital punishment has no place in our fleet. Those identified as being directly involved in any of the violent attacks will undertake hard labour for a time proportionate to their actions; individual acts of retribution will not be tolerated.

We willl, of course, also need to appoint successors for the late Captains Duvali and Philemon. I feel it appropriate to coduct elections among the members of their respective ships. The appointees will be formally confirmed in office at the same time as Major Stanton, and I feel that this should take place soon. We may well have more difficult times ahead, and it is as well to be prepared.

Although this has been a difficult and distressing incident for everyone concerned, I look forward to working cooperatively with our new commander to create a cohesive and purposeful community. We have come this far, along many different paths and against all odds. I am confident that whatever situations lie ahead of us, we can rise to the challenge.