If my various duties were not enough to contend with, now I must deal with the tabloid press! I suppose they must exist everywhere in New Eden, like fedo. I cannot say that I am particularly surprised that they would take up a story that involved a gunfight in Izmaylovsky Park that involved the two largest noble families in Nakri, but I wish they had not done so. Aside from the concerns it will raise amongst the populace that the rivalry between my family and the Koval has spilt over into actual violence, those so-called journalists simply had to mention Ishta and start the rumour about her being Sasha's field wife.
I can only hope that it is dismiss as scurrilous gossip, but should it appear as though it is getting out of hand we shall have to do something. Of course, we cannot possibly announce the truth, not yet, so I am afraid Ishta may not be any happier with any press release.
It is not a good time for Ishta. Her insistence on my purchasing Saira has come back to haunt her. The foolish girl was caught selling illegal substances, her motivation apparently to make enough money to pay to get herself smuggled off the station and to the supposed freedom of the Federation. She claims she had not made a final decision on this idiotic adventure, merely wanting the option open to her. She can remain in her room until I decide exactly how to punish her. I think what infuriates and disappoints me more is that I was trusting her to keep the information on the viral agents being shipped to Mehatoor a secret, and Ishta had at least enough of a glimpse of the paperwork to pique her curiosity. There was no real information, of course, nor does Saira even know what all those numbers mean, but Ishta is insightful and she is bound to come to me with questions.
Dzerzhinsky also informs me that the same tabloid publication, Krasnaya Zvezda, has printed a story about our VORONA holding and various purchases. Fortunately, most will easily rationalise that given what this family does, but I would prefer as few eyes on us as possible.
All of our best work is done in the dark.
