The constant pulse transmission indicating Tobias Parkes was alive had gone silent. All previous transmissions indicated no trauma had taken place and stable health conditions from Parkes. The report from John Douglas' guard detail was long overdue. Mio Akiyama would have handled a failure of one of these two insurance systems, but both was a bit too much of a stretch for her.
If Parkes was killed the pulse transmission would have alerted her to some change just before death and just after it. If Douglas was killed the guard detail would have got a scrap of a message out. None of these things happened, and it cemented her thoughts.
"They're probably imprisoned with transmissions being jammed. Damn it! We've all heard reports about TAZ using violence and holding a gun to other Zoner's heads so this isn't a stretch." Akiyama sighed. She was hoping this summit would end peacefully and beneficially for Freeport 11.
She sent a high pulse transmission to the Ananke and then put Freeport 11 on high alert: Double guards at the scanners and all restricted areas locked down properly.
Communication Identification: Mio Akiyama, Acting Administrator of Freeport 11.
Location: Freeport 11, Omicron Delta System, Sirius.
Regarding: Tobias Parkes and John Douglas
This communication is visible to Order|, Phoenix, [TAZ] and other Zoners, except OSI.
Skarsi Wyrdmake and Dr. John Henry Holliday,
Our contact with Tobias Parkes and John Douglas has been severed. The manner of this suggests that the TAZ are responsible.
As per The Letters of Last Resort left behind as standing orders by Administrator Douglas and Parkes, this transmission is being broadcast to you and all relevant parties.
"The active presumption will be that Parkes and Douglas are being held against their will by the TAZ. This presumption will not be revoked until they can send a transmission off-base and outside of Baffin confirming otherwise.
Just like any other Freeport or Zoner group, Freeport 11 will not tolerate violence used against it's people.
You have 24 hours to guarantee safe passage of Parkes, Douglas and their entourage. Any deviance from this will be considered active aggression by the TAZ and will be met with equal force.
Any claim of a lockdown situation will be met with scorned disbelief and the notion that you intend to use the Freeport 11 citizens as political prisoners which will elevate the level of active aggression used in response."
I have broadcasted the transmission as per my standing orders.
I personally hope that this is a misunderstanding which can be cleared up as soon as possible. I am however unable to deviate from those last orders. I hope that your actions will prevent further violence and keep the peace, rather than start a war due to pride.