[This is not the first time this particular desk and view to kill, or this particular serious-looking secretary, has appeared on the network. But she's looking visibly more run-down than usual as she comes onto the feed. Everything is sharp and precise as always, but there's a certain fatigue in her features that contributes to the overall feeling of just being tired. When she speaks, though, her voice as as composed as always.]

Hello, everyone. I apologize for the delay in getting to this; we - that is, Factor Industries - have been working to ensure our response is coordinated and positive before we moved on any of our plans, and they're complete enough now that I can update you on the situation. Before anything else, I'd like to start by mentioning that we're very much aware of the situation in Shepherd's Haven, to say nothing of the one in New Los Angeles. I'll come back to the latter shortly, but I want to address the first point. We've done some initial investigations into the condition of the village, and into the attack itself. We're confident that everything can be restored to a livable state, though getting the resources together will be difficult, and getting them to the site moreso.

[A quick glance away; she must have notes.] Beyond the material damages, several Numbered were injured that we know of; they were taken to a nearby hopsital for treatment, and Mr. Factor is personally seeing that their needs are taken care of. The human element is, honestly, more worrying than the damage itself - while details are unclear on the whole, the rumors that one of the Numbered is the responsible party are hard to shake. We're committed to the project regardless, but it's concerning, based on the data available to us.

To that end, our current plans call for making contractors available to work that are trustworthy; the summer is very much on its way in that region, so work should be able to proceed smoothly once hands are available. The Numbered played a large part in getting Shepherd's Haven up and running in the first place, but there are certain talents few, if any, among you possess - I'm not sure I've met a licensed electrician, for example. I, myself, would be much more comfortable having a certified person on hand for that kind of work. Materials of good quality are similarly something Mr. Factor is prepared to help locate, in at least some quantity, for the most damaged structures. But the workmanship itself... [A short pause, a tiny frown.] Shepherd's Haven was built by all of you, as a Numbered community. Factor Industries may have had a hand in its construction, but we never took over the project. In order to maintain its continued independence, we believe it's best for the Numbered to continue to maintain the village and perform those construction tasks amongst themselves.

The reason for that largely lies in, generally, the kind of attitude the Numbered have toward situations like this. Often, there's a response when something happens, and the community unites against whatever the assailant was. That kind of unity is what's needed now. From the outside, it looks very much like one of the Numbered wanted to go on a crime spree against several of the others. And their efforts succeeded in a very real way. The sentiment on the network has been largely negative, from what I've seen, and that worries me - worries all of us. The strength in the face of adversity that the Numbered have displayed over the last several years, when everyone is working together, is truly impressive. That strength is something that needs to be brought to bear now, in a dark hour, to rally everyone behind a common banner. This crisis is simply another trial to be overcome, and the way to do that is through teamwork and solidarity. [After a second, Sonia smiles slightly.] I'm aware it's easy for me to sit here and preach these things to you, but I also know that the combined strength of the Numbered is enough to combat any threat, any time, any place. I believe, and Mr. Factor agrees, that the best way to address this incident is to acknowledge it, accept it, and move past it as a stronger community.

[Back to business, as her face slides back into a practiced non-expression.] Beyond that, I did want to briefly touch on the incident in New Los Angeles. We are aware there are monsters in the city, but we are also aware that there's a Numbered presence in the city as well, so for the moment, the company's stance is to maintain a "wait and see" approach. There's very little information to go on right now, so we can't do anything more concrete on that end. If something comes up, we'll be keeping an eye on the situation. We're keeping a close eye on Numbered politics in general at the moment; after the charity event in Locke City last month, we've noticed a more positive response in Locke itself both to the Numbered and to Factor Industries, which is good on a number of levels. Mr. Factor would like to extend his thanks to everyone that spoke at the event, and to everyone that came out - your presence was appreciated, and it was good to meet a few more of you in person. I can't promise another event like that any time soon, but it was something that we're not averse to doing again, since it was beneficial to all relevant parties.

[With a small sigh, and a tiny nod to herself, she turns her attention completely back to the camera.] That's all for now. If there are any particular questions, I'd be happy to answer what I can; time is a little shorter than usual today, as there's a lot that needs to be done. But this affects me, too. I'll do what I can to help. Good luck in your endeavors. [The camera cuts off.]

[Sonia Clarke's face greets the network again, and she's looking a good deal more personable this time.]

Hello, everyone. I imagine you've all had a difficult month. Those of us at Factor Industries are aware of the strange anomalies that have occurred, and we'd like you all to know that we're doing our best to get to the bottom of it. We've also taken into consideration the information that was shared with all of you by that informant, but you must understand, Factor Industries must take extra care that we don't appear to be propagating corporate sabotage.

But I'd like to talk to you about something more direct that we can do. As you know, Thunder Corp has already made an effort to dominate the narrative regarding the Numbered and Locke City. We'd like to change that. So, for that purpose, we've set up a charity event in Locke City benefiting people who suffered from the invasion to be held next week, on the evening of Sunday the 18th. We would like to encourage you Numbered to attend, in order to send a message to the city and show that there are ways you can support people without putting yourselves under Thunder Corp's banner.

There will be live entertainment, as well as guest speakers, and if you'd like an opportunity to be part of either group, please let me know and I will make certain you are added to the schedule. However, you should not feel you are expected to contribute, as showing up and socializing would already be more than enough.

Both Mr. Factor and I are hopeful you'll accept this offer. If you decide to attend, we'll have drivers on hand to take you from the activity center teleporter site to the dance hall where the event is being held. Rest assured, security and your personal safety will be our highest priority. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.

[Private message to Philip Santorini]

Hello, Mr. Santorini. We only spoke briefly before, but Mr. Factor wanted to personally approach you about the matter of the charity event. He recently attended one of your performances, and I must say, he was quite impressed with you as an actor. Since you're a "local son" of Locke, and your star is on the rise, we wanted to personally invite you to speak on behalf of the Numbered at the event. We know you currently reside in Gateway, but we both believe it would do a great deal to help convey the message we're trying to put out.

I look forward to your reply.