Entry Forty-Two – Days after Geonosis, Two Hundred Sixty
The Miscaf working group continues to make progress apace. Thanks to diligent sampling and isolation efforts by Narchabol and the processing capabilities of Violet Admixture and the Mathematics Club we have plotted, sequenced, and categorized a selection of genetic fragments representing upwards of ninety-eight percent of those believed to be extant in the Coruscant population of the fungus. Combined with nucleus analysis we now have a complete genetic and developmental model in place.
At the same time, Dr. Risis, Takul, and I have managed to culture a non-infectious nearly-universal basic spore that will mimic the action of the Miscaf fungus and trigger antibody production across almost all species the fungus is capable of acting upon. I must commend Dr. Risis, who has phenomenal skill at nanoscale manipulation. She combines droid-like precision with unparalleled evolutionary artistry. I do wish she was less of a pompous, preening egotist though. The woman continually comments on the appearance of everyone she meets and offers an endless series of suggested 'upgrades' ranging from cosmetics to cybernetics to catastrophic surgical interventions. And of course, she's absolutely gorgeous herself, though I don't think her appearance is the least bit natural. It's infuriating.
Nevertheless, we are making progress. I've gotten close to a functional adaptation of the Rybet antagonist to human standard physiology. Once completed it can be blended with our hollowed-out fungus to form a vaccine testbed. I hope to start active vaccine cultures and stage one testing within a month.
Of course a great deal of work remains to be done, and I'm certain some unforeseen problem will arise, but I have real confidence now that this will work. A vaccine is not only possible, but we will produce one. It is nice to have some good news.
Other news is, as usual, mostly bad. Skywalker may have thrown back Grievous, for now, but supply shortages continue to be felt as fighting on Ryloth stretches into the longest continual conflict of the war to date. The planet remains under Separatist blockade, but word leaks out intermittently that clone holdouts and native partisans continue the struggle on the ground. Those partisans are conducting a tremendous amount of public relations work simply through their existence. The Twi'lek populace stands in solidarity with them, and as that community has many friends, they draw considerable support over to the Republic generally. Many species, unwilling to support what they see as a human-dominated Senate, are at least willing to stand with their lekku-bearing friends.
I have sent reporting on this matter to the Council, and replies indicate that the importance of Ryloth is well understood on a strategic level. Regrettably, it seems the Separatists know this equally well. A powerful fleet controls the system under the command of someone named Mar Tuuk. According to scuttlebutt Major Kayi learned from the Hutt Clan mercenaries here in the Bucket he's one of the Trade Federation's best and has won many battles in the Outer Rim.
It seems strange to think of the Separatists having skilled officers. They are corporations after all, accustomed to buying victory rather than fighting. It seems that the Outer Rim is truly lawless in many regions and whole sub-sectors acknowledge only force. I can take some solace that the Bucket has not yet crumbled so far. Redevelopment continues, but the mercenaries and police are better prepared now. Few riots have occurred since the initial explosion.
This has not made the suffering vanish, of course. Rioting is a second-order effect of displacement and the displacement continues. Poverty and homelessness have worsened significantly in response. Only a tiny number of volunteers, mostly humans, have accepted relocation offworld. The police, so far, are unwilling to force the issue and haul people bodily to relocation offices. I fear what would happen should they make the attempt. I suspect they do too, for it seems neither the street-level officers nor their leadership have any real desire to enforce those provisions. If the Chancellor insists he will need to use the Coruscant Guard. The whole of it.
Hopefully the issue will remain neglected until some other means to address the housing crisis can be found, though I have no idea how to house tens of millions of displaced persons from thousands of different species or where to find the money to do so. I suspect no one does.