diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index bd6383ff69c75244eaf1b62ef3cc9c0fb91c5154..7cd635a516d953f796d6073610b0f4d6693e00db 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -20,12 +20,12 @@ build:
 	go mod tidy
 
 update_release:
-	GOFLAGS="" go get -u gitlab.com/xx_network/primitives@release
-	GOFLAGS="" go get -u gitlab.com/elixxir/primitives@release
-	GOFLAGS="" go get -u gitlab.com/xx_network/crypto@release
-	GOFLAGS="" go get -u gitlab.com/elixxir/crypto@release
-	GOFLAGS="" go get -u gitlab.com/xx_network/comms@release
-	GOFLAGS="" go get -u gitlab.com/elixxir/comms@release
+	GOFLAGS="" go get gitlab.com/xx_network/primitives@release
+	GOFLAGS="" go get gitlab.com/elixxir/primitives@release
+	GOFLAGS="" go get gitlab.com/xx_network/crypto@release
+	GOFLAGS="" go get gitlab.com/elixxir/crypto@release
+	GOFLAGS="" go get gitlab.com/xx_network/comms@release
+	GOFLAGS="" go get gitlab.com/elixxir/comms@release
 
 update_master:
 	GOFLAGS="" go get gitlab.com/xx_network/primitives@master
@@ -35,6 +35,6 @@ update_master:
 	GOFLAGS="" go get gitlab.com/xx_network/comms@master
 	GOFLAGS="" go get gitlab.com/elixxir/comms@master
 
-master: clean update_master build version
+master: update_master clean build version
 
-release: clean update_release build version
+release: update_release clean build version
diff --git a/api/client.go b/api/client.go
index 9068708d01307030a811065b810588d8614b677c..57abc071a3ebc62da7c9c8d23c6be02f7a3aa340 100644
--- a/api/client.go
+++ b/api/client.go
@@ -435,15 +435,16 @@ func (c *Client) StopNetworkFollower(timeout time.Duration) error {
 		return errors.WithMessage(err, "Failed to Stop the Network Follower")
 	}
 	err = c.runner.Close(timeout)
-	if err != nil {
-		return errors.WithMessage(err, "Failed to Stop the Network Follower")
-	}
 	c.runner = stoppable.NewMulti("client")
-	err = c.status.toStopped()
-	if err != nil {
-		return errors.WithMessage(err, "Failed to Stop the Network Follower")
+	err2 := c.status.toStopped()
+	if err2 != nil {
+		if err == nil {
+			err = err2
+		} else {
+			err = errors.WithMessage(err, err2.Error())
+		}
 	}
-	return nil
+	return err
 }
 
 // NetworkFollowerStatus Gets the state of the network follower. Returns:
diff --git a/api/version_vars.go b/api/version_vars.go
index fe6acf57e3e33481b9b788cdb7364301392d32e2..7ca866b7d96c690d27065573c80a38bd52916839 100644
--- a/api/version_vars.go
+++ b/api/version_vars.go
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 // Code generated by go generate; DO NOT EDIT.
 // This file was generated by robots at
-// 2021-04-16 13:10:29.436463 -0500 CDT m=+0.022389085
+// 2021-05-14 10:40:35.967865 -0700 PDT m=+0.035901934
 package api
 
-const GITVERSION = `6f9309c8 go fmt`
-const SEMVER = "2.4.0"
+const GITVERSION = `7db53dd8 update go mod`
+const SEMVER = "2.6.0"
 const DEPENDENCIES = `module gitlab.com/elixxir/client
 
 go 1.13
@@ -24,17 +24,18 @@ require (
 	github.com/spf13/jwalterweatherman v1.1.0
 	github.com/spf13/viper v1.7.1
 	gitlab.com/elixxir/bloomfilter v0.0.0-20200930191214-10e9ac31b228
-	gitlab.com/elixxir/comms v0.0.4-0.20210413160356-853e51fc18e5
-	gitlab.com/elixxir/crypto v0.0.7-0.20210412231025-6f75c577f803
+	gitlab.com/elixxir/comms v0.0.4-0.20210506164842-7a132fdd895a
+	gitlab.com/elixxir/crypto v0.0.7-0.20210514172618-7745b6e1c865
 	gitlab.com/elixxir/ekv v0.1.5
-	gitlab.com/elixxir/primitives v0.0.3-0.20210409190923-7bf3cd8d97e7
-	gitlab.com/xx_network/comms v0.0.4-0.20210413212014-5e898f41f33a
-	gitlab.com/xx_network/crypto v0.0.5-0.20210405224157-2b1f387b42c1
-	gitlab.com/xx_network/primitives v0.0.4-0.20210402222416-37c1c4d3fac4
+	gitlab.com/elixxir/primitives v0.0.3-0.20210514171434-8ec71ecbb058
+	gitlab.com/xx_network/comms v0.0.4-0.20210507215532-38ed97bd9365
+	gitlab.com/xx_network/crypto v0.0.5-0.20210504210244-9ddabbad25fd
+	gitlab.com/xx_network/primitives v0.0.4-0.20210504205835-db68f11de78a
 	golang.org/x/crypto v0.0.0-20210322153248-0c34fe9e7dc2
-	golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20210403161142-5e06dd20ab57 // indirect
-	google.golang.org/genproto v0.0.0-20210105202744-fe13368bc0e1 // indirect
-	google.golang.org/grpc v1.34.0 // indirect
+	golang.org/x/net v0.0.0-20210505214959-0714010a04ed
+	golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20210503173754-0981d6026fa6 // indirect
+	google.golang.org/genproto v0.0.0-20201030142918-24207fddd1c3 // indirect
+	google.golang.org/grpc v1.37.0 // indirect
 	google.golang.org/protobuf v1.26.0-rc.1
 	gopkg.in/ini.v1 v1.62.0 // indirect
 )
diff --git a/auth/request.go b/auth/request.go
index c43707904f835b19d1e64ba53cb4ec9fe550355f..a6b9ab7dcc765509017e4b0c5d8efe988e1d1c9b 100644
--- a/auth/request.go
+++ b/auth/request.go
@@ -55,17 +55,20 @@ func RequestAuth(partner, me contact.Contact, message string, rng io.Reader,
 	//lookup if an ongoing request is occurring
 	rqType, sr, _, err := storage.Auth().GetRequest(partner.ID)
 
-	if err != nil && !strings.Contains(err.Error(), auth.NoRequest){
+	if err == nil {
 		if rqType == auth.Receive {
-			return 0, errors.WithMessage(err,
-				"Cannot send a request after receiving a request")
+			return 0, errors.Errorf("Cannot send a request after " +
+				"receiving a request")
 		} else if rqType == auth.Sent {
 			resend = true
-		}else{
-			return 0, errors.WithMessage(err,
-				"Cannot send a request after receiving unknown error " +
-				"on requesting contact status")
+		} else {
+			return 0, errors.Errorf("Cannot send a request after "+
+				" a stored request with unknown rqType: %d", rqType)
 		}
+	} else if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), auth.NoRequest) {
+		return 0, errors.WithMessage(err,
+			"Cannot send a request after receiving unknown error "+
+				"on requesting contact status")
 	}
 
 	grp := storage.E2e().GetGroup()
@@ -102,11 +105,11 @@ func RequestAuth(partner, me contact.Contact, message string, rng io.Reader,
 
 	// in this case we have an ongoing request so we can resend the extant
 	// request
-	if resend{
+	if resend {
 		newPrivKey = sr.GetMyPrivKey()
 		newPubKey = sr.GetMyPubKey()
-	//in this case it is a new request and we must generate new keys
-	}else{
+		//in this case it is a new request and we must generate new keys
+	} else {
 		//generate new keypair
 		newPrivKey = diffieHellman.GeneratePrivateKey(256, grp, rng)
 		newPubKey = diffieHellman.GeneratePublicKey(newPrivKey, grp)
@@ -140,7 +143,7 @@ func RequestAuth(partner, me contact.Contact, message string, rng io.Reader,
 	/*store state*/
 	//fixme: channel is bricked if the first store succedes but the second fails
 	//store the in progress auth
-	if !resend{
+	if !resend {
 		err = storage.Auth().AddSent(partner.ID, partner.DhPubKey, newPrivKey,
 			newPrivKey, confirmFp)
 		if err != nil {
@@ -157,7 +160,7 @@ func RequestAuth(partner, me contact.Contact, message string, rng io.Reader,
 	if err != nil {
 		// if the send fails just set it to failed, it will
 		// but automatically retried
-		return 0, errors.WithMessagef(err, "Auth Request with %s " +
+		return 0, errors.WithMessagef(err, "Auth Request with %s "+
 			"(msgDigest: %s) failed to transmit: %+v", partner.ID,
 			cmixMsg.Digest(), err)
 	}
diff --git a/bindings/client.go b/bindings/client.go
index 6eafdc35a03be94ad9cfa547f5a0054f60072230..33ef281983799bab25a50663a71b151749ba3535 100644
--- a/bindings/client.go
+++ b/bindings/client.go
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ import (
 	"gitlab.com/elixxir/crypto/contact"
 	"gitlab.com/elixxir/primitives/states"
 	"gitlab.com/xx_network/primitives/id"
+	"gitlab.com/xx_network/primitives/netTime"
 	"sync"
 	"time"
 )
@@ -25,6 +26,8 @@ import (
 var extantClient bool
 var loginMux sync.Mutex
 
+var clientSingleton *Client
+
 // sets the log level
 func init() {
 	jww.SetLogThreshold(jww.LevelInfo)
@@ -96,7 +99,15 @@ func Login(storageDir string, password []byte, parameters string) (*Client, erro
 		return nil, errors.New(fmt.Sprintf("Failed to login: %+v", err))
 	}
 	extantClient = true
-	return &Client{api: *client}, nil
+	clientSingleton := &Client{api: *client}
+	return clientSingleton, nil
+}
+
+// returns a previously created client. IF be used if the garbage collector
+// removes the client instance on the app side.  Is NOT thread safe relative to
+// login, newClient, or newPrecannedClient
+func GetClientSingleton() *Client {
+	return clientSingleton
 }
 
 // sets level of logging. All logs the set level and above will be displayed
@@ -219,9 +230,9 @@ func (c *Client) StopNetworkFollower(timeoutMS int) error {
 // WaitForNewtwork will block until either the network is healthy or the
 // passed timeout. It will return true if the network is healthy
 func (c *Client) WaitForNetwork(timeoutMS int) bool {
-	start := time.Now()
+	start := netTime.Now()
 	timeout := time.Duration(timeoutMS) * time.Millisecond
-	for time.Now().Sub(start) < timeout {
+	for netTime.Now().Sub(start) < timeout {
 		if c.api.GetHealth().IsHealthy() {
 			return true
 		}
diff --git a/bindings/timeNow.go b/bindings/timeNow.go
index dbeda1696669f98b9a489990ced0f66f51c9757b..fc457b459ae43452a1920c26a8b9e24c53725d74 100644
--- a/bindings/timeNow.go
+++ b/bindings/timeNow.go
@@ -13,12 +13,12 @@ import (
 )
 
 type TimeSource interface {
-	NowMs() int
+	NowMs() int64
 }
 
 // SetTimeSource sets the network time to a custom source.
 func SetTimeSource(timeNow TimeSource) {
 	netTime.Now = func() time.Time {
-		return time.Unix(0, int64(timeNow.NowMs()*int(time.Millisecond)))
+		return time.Unix(0, timeNow.NowMs()*int64(time.Millisecond))
 	}
 }
diff --git a/cmd/root.go b/cmd/root.go
index ae852c8a1ec659c75497c712c95a99be3d05e096..7d017680700bfce74ed8c4f0613f3672e1ecf81d 100644
--- a/cmd/root.go
+++ b/cmd/root.go
@@ -62,7 +62,6 @@ var rootCmd = &cobra.Command{
 			recipientID, isPrecanPartner = parseRecipient(
 				viper.GetString("destid"))
 		}
-		fmt.Println(isPrecanPartner)
 
 		// Set it to myself
 		if recipientID == nil {
diff --git a/cmd/version.go b/cmd/version.go
index b781e502cb97afc8edd8c90300c8a9f1e5816969..68e3f78210a7de2e059d35d4a877204fc1c56f38 100644
--- a/cmd/version.go
+++ b/cmd/version.go
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ import (
 )
 
 // Change this value to set the version for this build
-const currentVersion = "2.4.0"
+const currentVersion = "2.6.0"
 
 func Version() string {
 	out := fmt.Sprintf("Elixxir Client v%s -- %s\n\n", api.SEMVER,
diff --git a/go.mod b/go.mod
index 5adeb654fcc0b32b1f52f368b5e54a416aeb98af..0625e9acabb938a6c7c1fa10d8e08b646f64f249 100644
--- a/go.mod
+++ b/go.mod
@@ -17,14 +17,15 @@ require (
 	github.com/spf13/jwalterweatherman v1.1.0
 	github.com/spf13/viper v1.7.1
 	gitlab.com/elixxir/bloomfilter v0.0.0-20200930191214-10e9ac31b228
-	gitlab.com/elixxir/comms v0.0.4-0.20210504172254-e591cfb12750
-	gitlab.com/elixxir/crypto v0.0.7-0.20210413184512-e41c09223958
+	gitlab.com/elixxir/comms v0.0.4-0.20210514193223-7efa4c966f23
+	gitlab.com/elixxir/crypto v0.0.7-0.20210514185043-7398614e9e43
 	gitlab.com/elixxir/ekv v0.1.5
-	gitlab.com/elixxir/primitives v0.0.3-0.20210427004615-c68ecf15fcf3
-	gitlab.com/xx_network/comms v0.0.4-0.20210409202820-eb3dca6571d3
-	gitlab.com/xx_network/crypto v0.0.5-0.20210405224157-2b1f387b42c1
-	gitlab.com/xx_network/primitives v0.0.4-0.20210419175212-11b843dd4791
+	gitlab.com/elixxir/primitives v0.0.3-0.20210514174939-fbba435364ed
+	gitlab.com/xx_network/comms v0.0.4-0.20210507215532-38ed97bd9365
+	gitlab.com/xx_network/crypto v0.0.5-0.20210504210244-9ddabbad25fd
+	gitlab.com/xx_network/primitives v0.0.4-0.20210504205835-db68f11de78a
 	golang.org/x/crypto v0.0.0-20210322153248-0c34fe9e7dc2
+	golang.org/x/net v0.0.0-20210226172049-e18ecbb05110
 	golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20210403161142-5e06dd20ab57 // indirect
 	google.golang.org/genproto v0.0.0-20210105202744-fe13368bc0e1 // indirect
 	google.golang.org/grpc v1.34.0 // indirect
diff --git a/go.sum b/go.sum
index 8dd7ece321e30d8dc552f474fe93c067a02de762..608786e20c6cce9b86db3173cd38459cdddb25a8 100644
--- a/go.sum
+++ b/go.sum
@@ -253,34 +253,14 @@ github.com/zeebo/pcg v1.0.0 h1:dt+dx+HvX8g7Un32rY9XWoYnd0NmKmrIzpHF7qiTDj0=
 github.com/zeebo/pcg v1.0.0/go.mod h1:09F0S9iiKrwn9rlI5yjLkmrug154/YRW6KnnXVDM/l4=
 gitlab.com/elixxir/bloomfilter v0.0.0-20200930191214-10e9ac31b228 h1:Gi6rj4mAlK0BJIk1HIzBVMjWNjIUfstrsXC2VqLYPcA=
 gitlab.com/elixxir/bloomfilter v0.0.0-20200930191214-10e9ac31b228/go.mod h1:H6jztdm0k+wEV2QGK/KYA+MY9nj9Zzatux/qIvDDv3k=
-gitlab.com/elixxir/comms v0.0.4-0.20210409192302-249b5af3dbc8 h1:k9BLWNw7CHwH4H3gNWA0Q/BXNg7923AFflWJtYZr5z4=
-gitlab.com/elixxir/comms v0.0.4-0.20210409192302-249b5af3dbc8/go.mod h1:/y5QIivolXMa6TO+ZqFWAV49wxlXXxUCqZH9Zi82kXU=
-gitlab.com/elixxir/comms v0.0.4-0.20210413160356-853e51fc18e5 h1:Q/+lhZpIDQdIKy9aXNCLkCk8AavFE7HAuaila0sv5mw=
-gitlab.com/elixxir/comms v0.0.4-0.20210413160356-853e51fc18e5/go.mod h1:0XsJ63n7knUeSX9BDKQG7xGtX6w0l5WsfplSsMbP9iM=
-gitlab.com/elixxir/comms v0.0.4-0.20210418162540-e8b5e8c46988 h1:MjMxUPNrTaJcWblWEFtDory8zNnOt9ACqZSK3E2s7hU=
-gitlab.com/elixxir/comms v0.0.4-0.20210418162540-e8b5e8c46988/go.mod h1:ld2cWRyYD9jxAFRR1FYAZce7FV25YMIjKUdCJF7Of44=
-gitlab.com/elixxir/comms v0.0.4-0.20210423203408-dc8bf3dbd86b h1:iie2Lsj/kMBi7io426X5rHONUtJdOr5bqSeCFBN22qY=
-gitlab.com/elixxir/comms v0.0.4-0.20210423203408-dc8bf3dbd86b/go.mod h1:ld2cWRyYD9jxAFRR1FYAZce7FV25YMIjKUdCJF7Of44=
-gitlab.com/elixxir/comms v0.0.4-0.20210429222550-0cbb396aaacd h1:goYpN2Zg0x/QxZt0OiyvZsgRlJyP/m9NH+vY8lLm65Y=
-gitlab.com/elixxir/comms v0.0.4-0.20210429222550-0cbb396aaacd/go.mod h1:ld2cWRyYD9jxAFRR1FYAZce7FV25YMIjKUdCJF7Of44=
-gitlab.com/elixxir/comms v0.0.4-0.20210504172254-e591cfb12750 h1:8r8XAvI7HXzhTk+wr0FGU6oFJLWZT0O1/4mheXMGx30=
-gitlab.com/elixxir/comms v0.0.4-0.20210504172254-e591cfb12750/go.mod h1:ld2cWRyYD9jxAFRR1FYAZce7FV25YMIjKUdCJF7Of44=
+gitlab.com/elixxir/comms v0.0.4-0.20210514193223-7efa4c966f23 h1:rXx1Pc6H72jZh94AH4CwFifZ5eCOZ/SfNIk7yP0vNZA=
+gitlab.com/elixxir/comms v0.0.4-0.20210514193223-7efa4c966f23/go.mod h1:pwfLDUtrurM8mDcU11QHtBgxhL6cb5Vf/R47zJ7enuQ=
 gitlab.com/elixxir/crypto v0.0.0-20200804182833-984246dea2c4 h1:28ftZDeYEko7xptCZzeFWS1Iam95dj46TWFVVlKmw6A=
 gitlab.com/elixxir/crypto v0.0.0-20200804182833-984246dea2c4/go.mod h1:ucm9SFKJo+K0N2GwRRpaNr+tKXMIOVWzmyUD0SbOu2c=
 gitlab.com/elixxir/crypto v0.0.3 h1:znCt/x2bL4y8czTPaaFkwzdgSgW3BJc/1+dxyf1jqVw=
 gitlab.com/elixxir/crypto v0.0.3/go.mod h1:ZNgBOblhYToR4m8tj4cMvJ9UsJAUKq+p0gCp07WQmhA=
-gitlab.com/elixxir/crypto v0.0.7-0.20210409192145-eab67f2f8931 h1:kY/qBfjrZTFHJnvM1IcxB03+ZQL4+ESUjV4I4kCxoE8=
-gitlab.com/elixxir/crypto v0.0.7-0.20210409192145-eab67f2f8931/go.mod h1:ZktO3MT3oNo+g2Nq0GuC3ebJWJphh7t5KwwDDGBegnY=
-gitlab.com/elixxir/crypto v0.0.7-0.20210412193049-f3718fa4facb h1:9CT5f+nV4sisutLx8Z3BAEiqjktcCL2ZpEqcpmgzyqA=
-gitlab.com/elixxir/crypto v0.0.7-0.20210412193049-f3718fa4facb/go.mod h1:ZktO3MT3oNo+g2Nq0GuC3ebJWJphh7t5KwwDDGBegnY=
-gitlab.com/elixxir/crypto v0.0.7-0.20210412195114-be927031747a h1:DSYIXSCWrwkyHUs2fJMliI4+Bd9h+WA5PXI78uvhCj4=
-gitlab.com/elixxir/crypto v0.0.7-0.20210412195114-be927031747a/go.mod h1:HMMRBuv/yMqB5c31G9OPlOAifOOqGypCyD5v6py+4vo=
-gitlab.com/elixxir/crypto v0.0.7-0.20210412231025-6f75c577f803 h1:8sLODlAYRT0Y9NA+uoMoF1qBrBRrW5TikyKAOvyCd+E=
-gitlab.com/elixxir/crypto v0.0.7-0.20210412231025-6f75c577f803/go.mod h1:HMMRBuv/yMqB5c31G9OPlOAifOOqGypCyD5v6py+4vo=
-gitlab.com/elixxir/crypto v0.0.7-0.20210413182603-9525e6071fa7 h1:V004OOQrZ6F0iH4BwjObFWbWWqzvKbXRd3Dv2UEz6AI=
-gitlab.com/elixxir/crypto v0.0.7-0.20210413182603-9525e6071fa7/go.mod h1:HMMRBuv/yMqB5c31G9OPlOAifOOqGypCyD5v6py+4vo=
-gitlab.com/elixxir/crypto v0.0.7-0.20210413184512-e41c09223958 h1:tjEWlRieizWKnHFV1Q0nNegHT5QJJf9hECiM7nJSbik=
-gitlab.com/elixxir/crypto v0.0.7-0.20210413184512-e41c09223958/go.mod h1:HMMRBuv/yMqB5c31G9OPlOAifOOqGypCyD5v6py+4vo=
+gitlab.com/elixxir/crypto v0.0.7-0.20210514185043-7398614e9e43 h1:YrHC861+C0DZPXXEV567TUUleFt35EMe55pvPztjnV8=
+gitlab.com/elixxir/crypto v0.0.7-0.20210514185043-7398614e9e43/go.mod h1:iL2uGUFjLT3Z97IjsCSSqmfRlSJ6Y/uIWEPZLEOKyys=
 gitlab.com/elixxir/ekv v0.1.5 h1:R8M1PA5zRU1HVnTyrtwybdABh7gUJSCvt1JZwUSeTzk=
 gitlab.com/elixxir/ekv v0.1.5/go.mod h1:e6WPUt97taFZe5PFLPb1Dupk7tqmDCTQu1kkstqJvw4=
 gitlab.com/elixxir/primitives v0.0.0-20200731184040-494269b53b4d/go.mod h1:OQgUZq7SjnE0b+8+iIAT2eqQF+2IFHn73tOo+aV11mg=
@@ -288,29 +268,23 @@ gitlab.com/elixxir/primitives v0.0.0-20200804170709-a1896d262cd9/go.mod h1:p0Vel
 gitlab.com/elixxir/primitives v0.0.0-20200804182913-788f47bded40/go.mod h1:tzdFFvb1ESmuTCOl1z6+yf6oAICDxH2NPUemVgoNLxc=
 gitlab.com/elixxir/primitives v0.0.1 h1:q61anawANlNAExfkeQEE1NCsNih6vNV1FFLoUQX6txQ=
 gitlab.com/elixxir/primitives v0.0.1/go.mod h1:kNp47yPqja2lHSiS4DddTvFpB/4D9dB2YKnw5c+LJCE=
-gitlab.com/elixxir/primitives v0.0.3-0.20210409190923-7bf3cd8d97e7 h1:q3cw7WVtD6hDqTi8ydky+yiqJ4RkWp/hkTSNirr9Z6Y=
-gitlab.com/elixxir/primitives v0.0.3-0.20210409190923-7bf3cd8d97e7/go.mod h1:h0QHrjrixLNaP24ZXAgDOZXP4eegrQ24BCZPGitg8Jg=
-gitlab.com/elixxir/primitives v0.0.3-0.20210427004615-c68ecf15fcf3 h1:fQZzwSDzFymbXlTPVCDTrnBkOhFAx4fACwZQHpmTVOY=
-gitlab.com/elixxir/primitives v0.0.3-0.20210427004615-c68ecf15fcf3/go.mod h1:h0QHrjrixLNaP24ZXAgDOZXP4eegrQ24BCZPGitg8Jg=
+gitlab.com/elixxir/primitives v0.0.3-0.20210514174939-fbba435364ed h1:iRNiL2PkHDgcPQt5qUlOtod0n0sSyaSNXN+AkmZ5ViA=
+gitlab.com/elixxir/primitives v0.0.3-0.20210514174939-fbba435364ed/go.mod h1:4pNgiFEQQ11hHCXBRQJN1w9AIuKa1HTlPTxs9UYOXFA=
 gitlab.com/xx_network/comms v0.0.0-20200805174823-841427dd5023/go.mod h1:owEcxTRl7gsoM8c3RQ5KAm5GstxrJp5tn+6JfQ4z5Hw=
-gitlab.com/xx_network/comms v0.0.4-0.20210406210737-45d1e87d294a h1:r0mvBjHPBCYEVmhEe6JhLQDc0+dCORf1ejtuZ8IbyKY=
-gitlab.com/xx_network/comms v0.0.4-0.20210406210737-45d1e87d294a/go.mod h1:7ciuA+LTE0GC7upviGbyyb2hrpJG9Pnq2cc5oz2N5Ss=
-gitlab.com/xx_network/comms v0.0.4-0.20210409202820-eb3dca6571d3 h1:0o9kveRSEQ9ykRh/hd+z9Iq53YNvFArW1RQ6ICdAG5g=
-gitlab.com/xx_network/comms v0.0.4-0.20210409202820-eb3dca6571d3/go.mod h1:7ciuA+LTE0GC7upviGbyyb2hrpJG9Pnq2cc5oz2N5Ss=
+gitlab.com/xx_network/comms v0.0.4-0.20210507215532-38ed97bd9365 h1:VjeUUy4hcc2uTOO5qZ0roJlGHySWJxN/G7bf1VnLfFM=
+gitlab.com/xx_network/comms v0.0.4-0.20210507215532-38ed97bd9365/go.mod h1:RkNZ0CjeXKRhEFdUeAdCAF6QuK8sO1j2bUg9oqK0OEA=
 gitlab.com/xx_network/crypto v0.0.3/go.mod h1:DF2HYvvCw9wkBybXcXAgQMzX+MiGbFPjwt3t17VRqRE=
 gitlab.com/xx_network/crypto v0.0.4 h1:lpKOL5mTJ2awWMfgBy30oD/UvJVrWZzUimSHlOdZZxo=
 gitlab.com/xx_network/crypto v0.0.4/go.mod h1:+lcQEy+Th4eswFgQDwT0EXKp4AXrlubxalwQFH5O0Mk=
-gitlab.com/xx_network/crypto v0.0.5-0.20210405224157-2b1f387b42c1 h1:4Hrphjtqn3vO8LI872YwVKy5dCFJdD5u0dE4O2QCZqU=
-gitlab.com/xx_network/crypto v0.0.5-0.20210405224157-2b1f387b42c1/go.mod h1:CUhRpioyLaKIylg+LIyZX1rhOmFaEXQQ6esNycx9dcA=
+gitlab.com/xx_network/crypto v0.0.5-0.20210504210244-9ddabbad25fd h1:jSY1ogxa2/MXthD8jadGr7IYBL4vXQID3VZp1g0GWec=
+gitlab.com/xx_network/crypto v0.0.5-0.20210504210244-9ddabbad25fd/go.mod h1:bAqc5+q2K9OXWceHkZX+VnneSKlsSeg+G98O5S4Y2cA=
 gitlab.com/xx_network/primitives v0.0.0-20200803231956-9b192c57ea7c/go.mod h1:wtdCMr7DPePz9qwctNoAUzZtbOSHSedcK++3Df3psjA=
 gitlab.com/xx_network/primitives v0.0.0-20200804183002-f99f7a7284da h1:CCVslUwNC7Ul7NG5nu3ThGTSVUt1TxNRX+47f5TUwnk=
 gitlab.com/xx_network/primitives v0.0.0-20200804183002-f99f7a7284da/go.mod h1:OK9xevzWCaPO7b1wiluVJGk7R5ZsuC7pHY5hteZFQug=
 gitlab.com/xx_network/primitives v0.0.2 h1:r45yKenJ9e7PylI1ZXJ1Es09oYNaYXjxVy9+uYlwo7Y=
 gitlab.com/xx_network/primitives v0.0.2/go.mod h1:cs0QlFpdMDI6lAo61lDRH2JZz+3aVkHy+QogOB6F/qc=
-gitlab.com/xx_network/primitives v0.0.4-0.20210402222416-37c1c4d3fac4 h1:YPYTKF0zQf08y0eQrjQP01C/EWQTypdqawjZPr5c6rc=
-gitlab.com/xx_network/primitives v0.0.4-0.20210402222416-37c1c4d3fac4/go.mod h1:9imZHvYwNFobxueSvVtHneZLk9wTK7HQTzxPm+zhFhE=
-gitlab.com/xx_network/primitives v0.0.4-0.20210419175212-11b843dd4791 h1:RSeT0tJiwRr1BuKsTCaulr+eJAxQHDl/r9ZMo4lN9mg=
-gitlab.com/xx_network/primitives v0.0.4-0.20210419175212-11b843dd4791/go.mod h1:9imZHvYwNFobxueSvVtHneZLk9wTK7HQTzxPm+zhFhE=
+gitlab.com/xx_network/primitives v0.0.4-0.20210504205835-db68f11de78a h1:Op+Dfm/Swtrs6Lgo/ro28SrCrftrfQtK9a3/EOoXYAo=
+gitlab.com/xx_network/primitives v0.0.4-0.20210504205835-db68f11de78a/go.mod h1:9imZHvYwNFobxueSvVtHneZLk9wTK7HQTzxPm+zhFhE=
 gitlab.com/xx_network/ring v0.0.2 h1:TlPjlbFdhtJrwvRgIg4ScdngMTaynx/ByHBRZiXCoL0=
 gitlab.com/xx_network/ring v0.0.2/go.mod h1:aLzpP2TiZTQut/PVHR40EJAomzugDdHXetbieRClXIM=
 go.etcd.io/bbolt v1.3.2/go.mod h1:IbVyRI1SCnLcuJnV2u8VeU0CEYM7e686BmAb1XKL+uU=
diff --git a/interfaces/IsRunning.go b/interfaces/IsRunning.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..5198434a8391a1de5c704f392f641fbaea50ae93
--- /dev/null
+++ b/interfaces/IsRunning.go
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+package interfaces
+
+// this interface is used to allow the follower to to be stopped later if it
+// fails
+
+type Running interface {
+	IsRunning() bool
+}
diff --git a/interfaces/params/message.go b/interfaces/params/message.go
index fbf9779829b939145cf7bc1277fa79b5617b826a..acecde4ef9861ab722ff05c7e645272f20d21694 100644
--- a/interfaces/params/message.go
+++ b/interfaces/params/message.go
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ type Messages struct {
 	MessageReceptionWorkerPoolSize uint
 	MaxChecksGarbledMessage        uint
 	GarbledMessageWait             time.Duration
+	// Use proxied (rather than direct) message sending
+	ProxySending bool
 }
 
 func GetDefaultMessage() Messages {
@@ -24,5 +26,6 @@ func GetDefaultMessage() Messages {
 		MessageReceptionWorkerPoolSize: 4,
 		MaxChecksGarbledMessage:        10,
 		GarbledMessageWait:             15 * time.Minute,
+		ProxySending:                   false,
 	}
 }
diff --git a/network/ephemeral/tracker.go b/network/ephemeral/tracker.go
index 2f19604c49faea57cb58b5cf7caf3476af4d9eab..9a1ca5e59682e4d2907bb7ac0ff46f5daca0b204 100644
--- a/network/ephemeral/tracker.go
+++ b/network/ephemeral/tracker.go
@@ -61,6 +61,12 @@ func track(session *storage.Session, ourId *id.ID, stop *stoppable.Single) {
 
 	for true {
 		now := netTime.Now()
+
+		//hack for inconsistent time on android
+		if now.Sub(lastCheck) <= 0 {
+			now = lastCheck.Add(time.Nanosecond)
+		}
+
 		// Generates the IDs since the last track
 		protoIds, err := ephemeral.GetIdsByRange(ourId, receptionStore.GetIDSize(),
 			now, now.Sub(lastCheck))
diff --git a/network/follow.go b/network/follow.go
index 259e9b2a0390f9f78fee741c1ba32f75e23dd660..d479547ea1b360f83e06973ae4c49fa15b9008f2 100644
--- a/network/follow.go
+++ b/network/follow.go
@@ -23,12 +23,14 @@ package network
 //		instance
 
 import (
+	"bytes"
 	"fmt"
 	jww "github.com/spf13/jwalterweatherman"
 	"gitlab.com/elixxir/client/interfaces"
 	"gitlab.com/elixxir/client/network/rounds"
 	pb "gitlab.com/elixxir/comms/mixmessages"
 	"gitlab.com/elixxir/primitives/knownRounds"
+	"gitlab.com/elixxir/primitives/states"
 	"gitlab.com/xx_network/comms/connect"
 	"gitlab.com/xx_network/crypto/csprng"
 	"gitlab.com/xx_network/primitives/id"
@@ -46,7 +48,7 @@ type followNetworkComms interface {
 
 // followNetwork polls the network to get updated on the state of nodes, the
 // round status, and informs the client when messages can be retrieved.
-func (m *manager) followNetwork(report interfaces.ClientErrorReport, quitCh <-chan struct{}) {
+func (m *manager) followNetwork(report interfaces.ClientErrorReport, quitCh <-chan struct{}, isRunning interfaces.Running) {
 	ticker := time.NewTicker(m.param.TrackNetworkPeriod)
 	TrackTicker := time.NewTicker(debugTrackPeriod)
 	rng := m.Rng.GetStream()
@@ -58,17 +60,23 @@ func (m *manager) followNetwork(report interfaces.ClientErrorReport, quitCh <-ch
 			rng.Close()
 			done = true
 		case <-ticker.C:
-			m.follow(report, rng, m.Comms)
+			m.follow(report, rng, m.Comms, isRunning)
 		case <-TrackTicker.C:
 			numPolls := atomic.SwapUint64(m.tracker, 0)
 			jww.INFO.Printf("Polled the network %d times in the "+
 				"last %s", numPolls, debugTrackPeriod)
 		}
+		if !isRunning.IsRunning() {
+			jww.ERROR.Printf("Killing network follower " +
+				"due to failed exit")
+			return
+		}
 	}
 }
 
 // executes each iteration of the follower
-func (m *manager) follow(report interfaces.ClientErrorReport, rng csprng.Source, comms followNetworkComms) {
+func (m *manager) follow(report interfaces.ClientErrorReport, rng csprng.Source,
+	comms followNetworkComms, isRunning interfaces.Running) {
 
 	//get the identity we will poll for
 	identity, err := m.Session.Reception().GetIdentity(rng)
@@ -98,20 +106,22 @@ func (m *manager) follow(report interfaces.ClientErrorReport, rng csprng.Source,
 		jww.DEBUG.Printf("Executing poll for %v(%s) range: %s-%s(%s) from %s",
 			identity.EphId.Int64(), identity.Source, identity.StartRequest,
 			identity.EndRequest, identity.EndRequest.Sub(identity.StartRequest), host.GetId())
-		result, err := comms.SendPoll(host, &pollReq)
-		if err != nil {
-			if report != nil {
-				report(
-					"NetworkFollower",
-					fmt.Sprintf("Failed to poll network, \"%s\", Gateway: %s", err.Error(), host.String()),
-					fmt.Sprintf("%+v", err),
-				)
-			}
-			jww.ERROR.Printf("Unable to poll %s for NDF: %+v", host, err)
-		}
-		return result, err
+		return comms.SendPoll(host, &pollReq)
 	})
+	if !isRunning.IsRunning() {
+		jww.ERROR.Printf("Killing network follower " +
+			"due to failed exit")
+		return
+	}
 	if err != nil {
+		if report != nil {
+			report(
+				"NetworkFollower",
+				fmt.Sprintf("Failed to poll network, \"%s\":", err.Error()),
+				fmt.Sprintf("%+v", err),
+			)
+		}
+		jww.ERROR.Printf("Unable to poll gateways: %+v", err)
 		return
 	}
 
@@ -154,50 +164,49 @@ func (m *manager) follow(report interfaces.ClientErrorReport, rng csprng.Source,
 
 		// TODO: ClientErr needs to know the source of the error and it doesn't yet
 		// Iterate over ClientErrors for each RoundUpdate
-		//for _, update := range pollResp.Updates {
-		//
-		//	// Ignore irrelevant updates
-		//	if update.State != uint32(states.COMPLETED) && update.State != uint32(states.FAILED) {
-		//		continue
-		//	}
-		//
-		//	for _, clientErr := range update.ClientErrors {
-		//		// If this Client appears in the ClientError
-		//		if bytes.Equal(clientErr.ClientId, m.Session.GetUser().TransmissionID.Marshal()) {
-		//
-		//			// Obtain relevant NodeGateway information
-		//			// TODO ???
-		//			nGw, err := m.Instance.GetNodeAndGateway(gwHost.GetId())
-		//			if err != nil {
-		//				jww.ERROR.Printf("Unable to get NodeGateway: %+v", err)
-		//				return
-		//			}
-		//			nid, err := nGw.Node.GetNodeId()
-		//			if err != nil {
-		//				jww.ERROR.Printf("Unable to get NodeID: %+v", err)
-		//				return
-		//			}
-		//
-		//			// FIXME: Should be able to trigger proper type of round event
-		//			// FIXME: without mutating the RoundInfo. Signature also needs verified
-		//			// FIXME: before keys are deleted
-		//			update.State = uint32(states.FAILED)
-		//			rnd, err := m.Instance.GetWrappedRound(id.Round(update.ID))
-		//			if err != nil {
-		//				jww.ERROR.Printf("Failed to report client error: "+
-		//					"Could not get round for event triggering: "+
-		//					"Unable to get round %d from instance: %+v",
-		//					id.Round(update.ID), err)
-		//				break
-		//			}
-		//			m.Instance.GetRoundEvents().TriggerRoundEvent(rnd)
-		//
-		//			// delete all existing keys and trigger a re-registration with the relevant Node
-		//			m.Session.Cmix().Remove(nid)
-		//			m.Instance.GetAddGatewayChan() <- nGw
-		//		}
-		//	}
-		//}
+		for _, update := range pollResp.Updates {
+
+			// Ignore irrelevant updates
+			if update.State != uint32(states.COMPLETED) && update.State != uint32(states.FAILED) {
+				continue
+			}
+
+			for _, clientErr := range update.ClientErrors {
+				// If this Client appears in the ClientError
+				if bytes.Equal(clientErr.ClientId, m.Session.GetUser().TransmissionID.Marshal()) {
+
+					// Obtain relevant NodeGateway information
+					nid, err := id.Unmarshal(clientErr.Source)
+					if err != nil {
+						jww.ERROR.Printf("Unable to get NodeID: %+v", err)
+						return
+					}
+					nGw, err := m.Instance.GetNodeAndGateway(nid)
+					if err != nil {
+						jww.ERROR.Printf("Unable to get gateway: %+v", err)
+						return
+					}
+
+					// FIXME: Should be able to trigger proper type of round event
+					// FIXME: without mutating the RoundInfo. Signature also needs verified
+					// FIXME: before keys are deleted
+					update.State = uint32(states.FAILED)
+					rnd, err := m.Instance.GetWrappedRound(id.Round(update.ID))
+					if err != nil {
+						jww.ERROR.Printf("Failed to report client error: "+
+							"Could not get round for event triggering: "+
+							"Unable to get round %d from instance: %+v",
+							id.Round(update.ID), err)
+						break
+					}
+					m.Instance.GetRoundEvents().TriggerRoundEvent(rnd)
+
+					// delete all existing keys and trigger a re-registration with the relevant Node
+					m.Session.Cmix().Remove(nid)
+					m.Instance.GetAddGatewayChan() <- nGw
+				}
+			}
+		}
 	}
 
 	// ---- Identity Specific Round Processing -----
diff --git a/network/gateway/hostPool.go b/network/gateway/hostPool.go
index 173ca2e2a691f94c0b78d4065e9d3bd9ece7ddda..ba8198da839c4e9d2693d866be165f6afaf08d47 100644
--- a/network/gateway/hostPool.go
+++ b/network/gateway/hostPool.go
@@ -5,8 +5,9 @@
 // LICENSE file                                                              //
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
-// Handles functionality related to providing Gateway connect.Host objects
+// Package gateway Handles functionality related to providing Gateway connect.Host objects
 // for message sending to the rest of the client repo
+// Used to minimize # of open connections on mobile clients
 
 package gateway
 
@@ -21,6 +22,7 @@ import (
 	"gitlab.com/xx_network/comms/connect"
 	"gitlab.com/xx_network/primitives/id"
 	"gitlab.com/xx_network/primitives/ndf"
+	"golang.org/x/net/context"
 	"io"
 	"math"
 	"strings"
@@ -29,8 +31,9 @@ import (
 )
 
 // List of errors that initiate a Host replacement
-var errorsList = []string{"context deadline exceeded", "connection refused", "host disconnected",
-	"transport is closing", "all SubConns are in TransientFailure", ndf.NO_NDF}
+var errorsList = []string{context.DeadlineExceeded.Error(), "connection refused", "host disconnected",
+	"transport is closing", "all SubConns are in TransientFailure", "Last try to connect",
+	ndf.NO_NDF, "Host is in cool down"}
 
 // HostManager Interface allowing storage and retrieval of Host objects
 type HostManager interface {
@@ -78,6 +81,7 @@ func DefaultPoolParams() PoolParams {
 	p.HostParams.EnableCoolOff = true
 	p.HostParams.NumSendsBeforeCoolOff = 1
 	p.HostParams.CoolOffTimeout = 5 * time.Minute
+	p.HostParams.SendTimeout = 3500 * time.Millisecond
 	return p
 }
 
@@ -125,6 +129,11 @@ func newHostPool(poolParams PoolParams, rng *fastRNG.StreamGenerator, ndf *ndf.N
 
 // UpdateNdf Mutates internal ndf to the given ndf
 func (h *HostPool) UpdateNdf(ndf *ndf.NetworkDefinition) {
+	if len(ndf.Gateways) == 0 {
+		jww.WARN.Printf("Unable to UpdateNdf: no gateways available")
+		return
+	}
+
 	h.ndfMux.Lock()
 	h.ndf = ndf
 
@@ -216,7 +225,9 @@ func (h *HostPool) getPreferred(targets []*id.ID) []*connect.Host {
 }
 
 // Replaces the given hostId in the HostPool if the given hostErr is in errorList
-func (h *HostPool) checkReplace(hostId *id.ID, hostErr error) error {
+// Returns whether the host was replaced
+func (h *HostPool) checkReplace(hostId *id.ID, hostErr error) (bool, error) {
+	var err error
 	// Check if Host should be replaced
 	doReplace := false
 	if hostErr != nil {
@@ -230,19 +241,17 @@ func (h *HostPool) checkReplace(hostId *id.ID, hostErr error) error {
 	}
 
 	if doReplace {
-		h.hostMux.Lock()
-		defer h.hostMux.Unlock()
-
 		// If the Host is still in the pool
+		h.hostMux.Lock()
 		if oldPoolIndex, ok := h.hostMap[*hostId]; ok {
 			// Replace it
 			h.ndfMux.RLock()
-			err := h.forceReplace(oldPoolIndex)
+			err = h.forceReplace(oldPoolIndex)
 			h.ndfMux.RUnlock()
-			return err
 		}
+		h.hostMux.Unlock()
 	}
-	return nil
+	return doReplace, err
 }
 
 // Replace given Host index with a new, randomly-selected Host from the NDF
diff --git a/network/gateway/hostpool_test.go b/network/gateway/hostpool_test.go
index 8181e6d49f0ea5522e8ae33eb6ac143516c45a26..49dcacf6b8231647b8c0cbc0ab6e6f84b0c7d126 100644
--- a/network/gateway/hostpool_test.go
+++ b/network/gateway/hostpool_test.go
@@ -359,10 +359,13 @@ func TestHostPool_CheckReplace(t *testing.T) {
 	oldGatewayIndex := 0
 	oldHost := testPool.hostList[oldGatewayIndex]
 	expectedError := fmt.Errorf(errorsList[0])
-	err = testPool.checkReplace(oldHost.GetId(), expectedError)
+	wasReplaced, err := testPool.checkReplace(oldHost.GetId(), expectedError)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Errorf("Failed to check replace: %v", err)
 	}
+	if !wasReplaced {
+		t.Errorf("Expected to replace")
+	}
 
 	// Ensure that old gateway has been removed from the map
 	if _, ok := testPool.hostMap[*oldHost.GetId()]; ok {
@@ -378,10 +381,13 @@ func TestHostPool_CheckReplace(t *testing.T) {
 	goodGatewayIndex := 0
 	goodGateway := testPool.hostList[goodGatewayIndex]
 	unexpectedErr := fmt.Errorf("not in global error list")
-	err = testPool.checkReplace(oldHost.GetId(), unexpectedErr)
+	wasReplaced, err = testPool.checkReplace(oldHost.GetId(), unexpectedErr)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Errorf("Failed to check replace: %v", err)
 	}
+	if wasReplaced {
+		t.Errorf("Expected not to replace")
+	}
 
 	// Ensure that gateway with an unexpected error was not modified
 	if _, ok := testPool.hostMap[*goodGateway.GetId()]; !ok {
diff --git a/network/gateway/sender.go b/network/gateway/sender.go
index dcfcdbb5b88a0be02b67f4f61dfcaa01c1169489..619581cd7c9d4289ef3a88faeff48eff2a67bb6d 100644
--- a/network/gateway/sender.go
+++ b/network/gateway/sender.go
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import (
 	"gitlab.com/elixxir/client/storage"
 	"gitlab.com/elixxir/comms/network"
 	"gitlab.com/elixxir/crypto/fastRNG"
+	"gitlab.com/elixxir/crypto/shuffle"
 	"gitlab.com/xx_network/comms/connect"
 	"gitlab.com/xx_network/primitives/id"
 	"gitlab.com/xx_network/primitives/ndf"
@@ -63,7 +64,7 @@ func (s *Sender) SendToSpecific(target *id.ID,
 					host.GetId().String())
 			}
 			jww.WARN.Printf("Unable to SendToSpecific proxy %s: %s", proxies[i].GetId().String(), err)
-			err = s.checkReplace(proxies[i].GetId(), err)
+			_, err = s.checkReplace(proxies[i].GetId(), err)
 			if err != nil {
 				jww.ERROR.Printf("Unable to checkReplace: %+v", err)
 			}
@@ -83,7 +84,7 @@ func (s *Sender) SendToAny(sendFunc func(host *connect.Host) (interface{}, error
 			return result, nil
 		} else {
 			jww.WARN.Printf("Unable to SendToAny %s: %s", proxies[i].GetId().String(), err)
-			err = s.checkReplace(proxies[i].GetId(), err)
+			_, err = s.checkReplace(proxies[i].GetId(), err)
 			if err != nil {
 				jww.ERROR.Printf("Unable to checkReplace: %+v", err)
 			}
@@ -97,7 +98,20 @@ func (s *Sender) SendToAny(sendFunc func(host *connect.Host) (interface{}, error
 func (s *Sender) SendToPreferred(targets []*id.ID,
 	sendFunc func(host *connect.Host, target *id.ID) (interface{}, error)) (interface{}, error) {
 
+	// Get the hosts and shuffle randomly
 	targetHosts := s.getPreferred(targets)
+	var rndBytes [32]byte
+	stream := s.rng.GetStream()
+	_, err := stream.Read(rndBytes[:])
+	stream.Close()
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	shuffle.ShuffleSwap(rndBytes[:], len(targetHosts), func(i, j int) {
+		targetHosts[i], targetHosts[j] = targetHosts[j], targetHosts[i]
+	})
+
+	// Attempt to send directly to targets if they are in the HostPool
 	for i := range targetHosts {
 		result, err := sendFunc(targetHosts[i], targets[i])
 		if err == nil {
@@ -105,25 +119,48 @@ func (s *Sender) SendToPreferred(targets []*id.ID,
 		} else {
 			jww.WARN.Printf("Unable to SendToPreferred %s via %s: %s",
 				targets[i], targetHosts[i].GetId(), err)
-			err = s.checkReplace(targetHosts[i].GetId(), err)
+			_, err = s.checkReplace(targetHosts[i].GetId(), err)
 			if err != nil {
 				jww.ERROR.Printf("Unable to checkReplace: %+v", err)
 			}
 		}
 	}
 
-	proxies := s.getAny(s.poolParams.ProxyAttempts, targets)
-	for i := range proxies {
-		target := targets[i%len(targets)].DeepCopy()
-		result, err := sendFunc(proxies[i], target)
-		if err == nil {
-			return result, nil
-		} else {
-			jww.WARN.Printf("Unable to SendToPreferred %s via proxy "+
-				"%s: %s", target, proxies[i].GetId(), err)
-			err = s.checkReplace(proxies[i].GetId(), err)
-			if err != nil {
-				jww.ERROR.Printf("Unable to checkReplace: %+v", err)
+	// Build a list of proxies for every target
+	proxies := make([][]*connect.Host, len(targets))
+	for i := 0; i < len(targets); i++ {
+		proxies[i] = s.getAny(s.poolParams.ProxyAttempts, targets)
+	}
+
+	// Build a map of bad proxies
+	badProxies := make(map[string]interface{})
+
+	// Iterate between each target's list of proxies, using the next target for each proxy
+	for proxyIdx := uint32(0); proxyIdx < s.poolParams.ProxyAttempts; proxyIdx++ {
+		for targetIdx := range proxies {
+			target := targets[targetIdx]
+			targetProxies := proxies[targetIdx]
+			proxy := targetProxies[proxyIdx]
+
+			// Skip bad proxies
+			if _, ok := badProxies[proxy.String()]; ok {
+				continue
+			}
+
+			result, err := sendFunc(targetProxies[proxyIdx], target)
+			if err == nil {
+				return result, nil
+			} else {
+				jww.WARN.Printf("Unable to SendToPreferred %s via proxy "+
+					"%s: %s", target, proxy.GetId(), err)
+				wasReplaced, err := s.checkReplace(proxy.GetId(), err)
+				if err != nil {
+					jww.ERROR.Printf("Unable to checkReplace: %+v", err)
+				}
+				// If the proxy was replaced, add as a bad proxy
+				if wasReplaced {
+					badProxies[proxy.String()] = nil
+				}
 			}
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/network/manager.go b/network/manager.go
index 31adb444767b544e7c6a62da9489631293dbdd8a..1cf065d691b44ca061404b426af7c26df965ca40 100644
--- a/network/manager.go
+++ b/network/manager.go
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ func (m *manager) Follow(report interfaces.ClientErrorReport) (stoppable.Stoppab
 
 	// Start the Network Tracker
 	trackNetworkStopper := stoppable.NewSingle("TrackNetwork")
-	go m.followNetwork(report, trackNetworkStopper.Quit())
+	go m.followNetwork(report, trackNetworkStopper.Quit(), trackNetworkStopper)
 	multi.Add(trackNetworkStopper)
 
 	// Message reception
diff --git a/network/message/garbled_test.go b/network/message/garbled_test.go
index 9d021ae488ed26717aade2d76d87ba688c7f9001..ab4919f16d674ea10a609ca6d0e46a442259789f 100644
--- a/network/message/garbled_test.go
+++ b/network/message/garbled_test.go
@@ -105,6 +105,7 @@ func TestManager_CheckGarbledMessages(t *testing.T) {
 	contents := make([]byte, msg.ContentsSize())
 	prng := rand.New(rand.NewSource(42))
 	prng.Read(contents)
+	contents[len(contents)-1] = 0
 	fmp := parse.FirstMessagePartFromBytes(contents)
 	binary.BigEndian.PutUint32(fmp.Type, uint32(message.Raw))
 	fmp.NumParts[0] = uint8(1)
diff --git a/network/message/parse/firstMessagePart.go b/network/message/parse/firstMessagePart.go
index 958a386992f161f007921476f52eb9749ea628bf..fa67b64411e0f2272178452eeb0a8deb91612271 100644
--- a/network/message/parse/firstMessagePart.go
+++ b/network/message/parse/firstMessagePart.go
@@ -9,92 +9,123 @@ package parse
 
 import (
 	"encoding/binary"
-	jww "github.com/spf13/jwalterweatherman"
 	"gitlab.com/elixxir/client/interfaces/message"
 	"time"
 )
 
-const numPartsLen = 1
-const typeLen = message.TypeLen
-const timestampLen = 15
-const firstHeaderLen = headerLen + numPartsLen + typeLen + timestampLen
+// Sizes of message parts, in bytes.
+const (
+	numPartsLen     = 1
+	typeLen         = message.TypeLen
+	timestampLen    = 8
+	firstPartVerLen = 1
+	firstHeaderLen  = headerLen + numPartsLen + typeLen + timestampLen + firstPartVerLen
+)
+
+// The current version of the firstMessagePart message format.
+const firstMessagePartCurrentVersion = 0
 
 type firstMessagePart struct {
 	messagePart
 	NumParts  []byte
 	Type      []byte
 	Timestamp []byte
+	Version   []byte // Version of the message format; always the last bit
 }
 
-//creates a new first message part for the passed in contents. Does no length checks
+// newFirstMessagePart creates a new firstMessagePart for the passed in
+// contents. Does no length checks.
 func newFirstMessagePart(mt message.Type, id uint32, numParts uint8,
 	timestamp time.Time, contents []byte) firstMessagePart {
-	//create the message structure
-	data := make([]byte, len(contents)+firstHeaderLen)
-	m := FirstMessagePartFromBytes(data)
 
-	//Put the message type in the message
+	// Create the message structure
+	m := FirstMessagePartFromBytes(make([]byte, len(contents)+firstHeaderLen))
+
+	// Set the message type
 	binary.BigEndian.PutUint32(m.Type, uint32(mt))
 
-	//Add the message ID
+	// Set the message ID
 	binary.BigEndian.PutUint32(m.Id, id)
 
-	// Add the part number to the message, its always zero because this is the
-	// first part. Because the default is zero this step could be skipped, but\
-	// keep it in the code for clarity
+	// Set the part number. It is always zero because this is the first part.
+	// Because the default is zero this step could be skipped, but keep it in
+	// the code for clarity.
 	m.Part[0] = 0
 
-	// Add the number of parts to the message
+	// Set the number of parts to the message
 	m.NumParts[0] = numParts
 
-	//Serialize and add the timestamp to the payload
-	timestampBytes, err := timestamp.MarshalBinary()
-	if err != nil {
-		jww.FATAL.Panicf("Failed to create firstMessagePart: %s", err.Error())
-	}
-	copy(m.Timestamp, timestampBytes)
+	// Set the timestamp as unix nano
+	binary.BigEndian.PutUint64(m.Timestamp, uint64(timestamp.UnixNano()))
 
-	//set the contents length
+	// Set the length of the contents
 	binary.BigEndian.PutUint16(m.Len, uint16(len(contents)))
 
-	//add the contents to the payload
+	// Set the contents
 	copy(m.Contents[:len(contents)], contents)
 
+	// Set the version number
+	m.Version[0] = firstMessagePartCurrentVersion
+
 	return m
 }
 
-// Builds a first message part mapped to the passed in data slice. Mapped by
-// reference, a copy is not made.
+// Map of firstMessagePart encoding version numbers to their map functions.
+var firstMessagePartFromBytesVersions = map[uint8]func([]byte) firstMessagePart{
+	firstMessagePartCurrentVersion: firstMessagePartFromBytesVer0,
+}
+
+// FirstMessagePartFromBytes builds a firstMessagePart mapped to the passed in
+// data slice. Mapped by reference; a copy is not made.
 func FirstMessagePartFromBytes(data []byte) firstMessagePart {
-	m := firstMessagePart{
+
+	// Map the data according to its version
+	version := data[len(data)-1]
+	mapFunc, exists := firstMessagePartFromBytesVersions[version]
+	if exists {
+		return mapFunc(data)
+	}
+
+	return firstMessagePart{}
+}
+
+func firstMessagePartFromBytesVer0(data []byte) firstMessagePart {
+	return firstMessagePart{
 		messagePart: messagePart{
 			Data:     data,
 			Id:       data[:idLen],
 			Part:     data[idLen : idLen+partLen],
 			Len:      data[idLen+partLen : idLen+partLen+lenLen],
-			Contents: data[idLen+partLen+numPartsLen+typeLen+timestampLen+lenLen:],
+			Contents: data[idLen+partLen+lenLen+numPartsLen+typeLen+timestampLen : len(data)-firstPartVerLen-1],
 		},
-		NumParts:  data[idLen+partLen+lenLen : idLen+partLen+numPartsLen+lenLen],
-		Type:      data[idLen+partLen+numPartsLen+lenLen : idLen+partLen+numPartsLen+typeLen+lenLen],
-		Timestamp: data[idLen+partLen+numPartsLen+typeLen+lenLen : idLen+partLen+numPartsLen+typeLen+timestampLen+lenLen],
+		NumParts:  data[idLen+partLen+lenLen : idLen+partLen+lenLen+numPartsLen],
+		Type:      data[idLen+partLen+lenLen+numPartsLen : idLen+partLen+lenLen+numPartsLen+typeLen],
+		Timestamp: data[idLen+partLen+lenLen+numPartsLen+typeLen : idLen+partLen+lenLen+numPartsLen+typeLen+timestampLen],
+		Version:   data[len(data)-firstPartVerLen:],
 	}
-	return m
 }
 
+// GetType returns the message type.
 func (m firstMessagePart) GetType() message.Type {
 	return message.Type(binary.BigEndian.Uint32(m.Type))
 }
 
+// GetNumParts returns the number of message parts.
 func (m firstMessagePart) GetNumParts() uint8 {
 	return m.NumParts[0]
 }
 
-func (m firstMessagePart) GetTimestamp() (time.Time, error) {
-	var t time.Time
-	err := t.UnmarshalBinary(m.Timestamp)
-	return t, err
+// GetTimestamp returns the timestamp as a time.Time.
+func (m firstMessagePart) GetTimestamp() time.Time {
+	return time.Unix(0, int64(binary.BigEndian.Uint64(m.Timestamp)))
+}
+
+// GetVersion returns the version number of the data encoding.
+func (m firstMessagePart) GetVersion() uint8 {
+	return m.Version[0]
 }
 
+// Bytes returns the serialised message data.
 func (m firstMessagePart) Bytes() []byte {
 	return m.Data
 }
diff --git a/network/message/parse/firstMessagePart_test.go b/network/message/parse/firstMessagePart_test.go
index 676723247fec562607d43f9a29dec827890c76a8..2411dd4a6896453f08d2fd02ae2dd15946f0f76c 100644
--- a/network/message/parse/firstMessagePart_test.go
+++ b/network/message/parse/firstMessagePart_test.go
@@ -18,16 +18,19 @@ import (
 // Expected firstMessagePart for checking against, generated by fmp in TestNewFirstMessagePart
 var efmp = firstMessagePart{
 	messagePart: messagePart{
-		Data: []byte{0, 0, 4, 53, 0, 0, 13, 2, 0, 0, 0, 2, 1, 0, 0, 0, 14, 215, 133, 90, 117, 0, 0, 0, 0, 255, 255,
-			116, 101, 115, 116, 105, 110, 103, 115, 116, 114, 105, 110, 103},
-		Id:       []byte{0, 0, 4, 53},
-		Part:     []byte{0},
-		Len:      []byte{0, 13},
-		Contents: []byte{116, 101, 115, 116, 105, 110, 103, 115, 116, 114, 105, 110, 103},
+		Data: []byte{0, 0, 4, 53, 0, 0, 13, 2, 0, 0, 0, 2, 22, 87, 28, 11, 215,
+			220, 82, 0, 116, 101, 115, 116, 105, 110, 103, 115, 116, 114, 105,
+			110, 103, 0, firstMessagePartCurrentVersion},
+		Id:   []byte{0, 0, 4, 53},
+		Part: []byte{0},
+		Len:  []byte{0, 13},
+		Contents: []byte{116, 101, 115, 116, 105, 110, 103, 115, 116, 114, 105,
+			110, 103},
 	},
 	NumParts:  []byte{2},
 	Type:      []byte{0, 0, 0, 2},
-	Timestamp: []byte{1, 0, 0, 0, 14, 215, 133, 90, 117, 0, 0, 0, 0, 255, 255},
+	Timestamp: []byte{22, 87, 28, 11, 215, 220, 82, 0},
+	Version:   []byte{firstMessagePartCurrentVersion},
 }
 
 // Test that newFirstMessagePart returns a correctly made firstMessagePart
@@ -37,24 +40,19 @@ func TestNewFirstMessagePart(t *testing.T) {
 		1077,
 		2,
 		time.Unix(1609786229, 0).UTC(),
-		[]byte{'t', 'e', 's', 't', 'i', 'n', 'g',
-			's', 't', 'r', 'i', 'n', 'g'},
+		[]byte{'t', 'e', 's', 't', 'i', 'n', 'g', 's', 't', 'r', 'i', 'n', 'g'},
 	)
 
-	gotTime, err := fmp.GetTimestamp()
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Error(err)
-	}
-	expectedTime, err := fmp.GetTimestamp()
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Error(err)
-	}
+	gotTime := fmp.GetTimestamp()
+	expectedTime := time.Unix(1609786229, 0).UTC()
 	if !gotTime.Equal(expectedTime) {
-		t.Errorf("Got time: %v, expected time: %v", gotTime, expectedTime)
+		t.Errorf("Failed to get expected timestamp."+
+			"\nexpected: %s\nreceived: %s", expectedTime, gotTime)
 	}
 
 	if !reflect.DeepEqual(fmp, efmp) {
-		t.Errorf("Expected and got firstMessagePart did not match.\n\tGot: %#v\n\tExpected: %#v", fmp, efmp)
+		t.Errorf("Expected and got firstMessagePart did not match."+
+			"\nexpected: %+v\nrecieved: %+v", efmp, fmp)
 	}
 }
 
@@ -83,10 +81,7 @@ func TestFirstMessagePart_GetNumParts(t *testing.T) {
 
 // Test that GetTimestamp returns the correct timestamp for a firstMessagePart
 func TestFirstMessagePart_GetTimestamp(t *testing.T) {
-	et, err := efmp.GetTimestamp()
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Error(err)
-	}
+	et := efmp.GetTimestamp()
 	if !time.Unix(1609786229, 0).Equal(et) {
 		t.Errorf("Got %v, expected %v", et, time.Unix(1609786229, 0))
 	}
diff --git a/network/message/parse/messagePart.go b/network/message/parse/messagePart.go
index 815544be80370e2c4f66482c903ae0cbe9e9ad92..01c514d7c33fe1654534a67aeaf8671744d93982 100644
--- a/network/message/parse/messagePart.go
+++ b/network/message/parse/messagePart.go
@@ -11,10 +11,17 @@ import (
 	"encoding/binary"
 )
 
-const idLen = 4
-const partLen = 1
-const lenLen = 2
-const headerLen = idLen + partLen + lenLen
+// Sizes of message parts, in bytes.
+const (
+	idLen      = 4
+	partLen    = 1
+	lenLen     = 2
+	partVerLen = 1
+	headerLen  = idLen + partLen + lenLen + partVerLen
+)
+
+// The current version of the messagePart message format.
+const messagePartCurrentVersion = 0
 
 type messagePart struct {
 	Data     []byte
@@ -22,62 +29,90 @@ type messagePart struct {
 	Part     []byte
 	Len      []byte
 	Contents []byte
+	Version  []byte // Version of the message format; always the last bit
 }
 
-//creates a new message part for the passed in contents. Does no length checks
+// newMessagePart creates a new messagePart for the passed in contents. Does no
+// length checks.
 func newMessagePart(id uint32, part uint8, contents []byte) messagePart {
-	//create the message structure
+	// Create the message structure
 	data := make([]byte, len(contents)+headerLen)
-	m := MessagePartFromBytes(data)
+	m := messagePartFromBytes(data)
 
-	//add the message ID to the message
+	// Set the message ID
 	binary.BigEndian.PutUint32(m.Id, id)
 
-	//set the message part number
+	// Set the message part number
 	m.Part[0] = part
 
-	//set the contents length
+	// Set the contents length
 	binary.BigEndian.PutUint16(m.Len, uint16(len(contents)))
 
-	//copy the contents into the message
+	// Copy the contents into the message
 	copy(m.Contents[:len(contents)], contents)
+
+	// Set the version number
+	m.Version[0] = messagePartCurrentVersion
+
 	return m
 }
 
-// Builds a Message part mapped to the passed in data slice. Mapped by
-// reference, a copy is not made.
-func MessagePartFromBytes(data []byte) messagePart {
-	m := messagePart{
+// Map of messagePart encoding version numbers to their map functions.
+var messagePartFromBytesVersions = map[uint8]func([]byte) messagePart{
+	messagePartCurrentVersion: messagePartFromBytesVer0,
+}
+
+// messagePartFromBytes builds a messagePart mapped to the passed in data slice.
+// Mapped by reference; a copy is not made.
+func messagePartFromBytes(data []byte) messagePart {
+
+	// Map the data according to its version
+	version := data[len(data)-1]
+	mapFunc, exists := messagePartFromBytesVersions[version]
+	if exists {
+		return mapFunc(data)
+	}
+
+	return messagePart{}
+}
+
+func messagePartFromBytesVer0(data []byte) messagePart {
+	return messagePart{
 		Data:     data,
 		Id:       data[:idLen],
 		Part:     data[idLen : idLen+partLen],
 		Len:      data[idLen+partLen : idLen+partLen+lenLen],
-		Contents: data[idLen+partLen+lenLen:],
+		Contents: data[idLen+partLen+lenLen : len(data)-partVerLen],
+		Version:  data[len(data)-partVerLen:],
 	}
-	return m
 }
 
+// GetID returns the message ID.
 func (m messagePart) GetID() uint32 {
 	return binary.BigEndian.Uint32(m.Id)
 }
 
+// GetPart returns the message part number.
 func (m messagePart) GetPart() uint8 {
 	return m.Part[0]
 }
 
+// GetContents returns the entire contents slice.
 func (m messagePart) GetContents() []byte {
 	return m.Contents
 }
 
+// GetSizedContents returns the contents truncated to include only stored data.
 func (m messagePart) GetSizedContents() []byte {
-	size := m.GetContentsLength()
-	return m.Contents[:size]
+	return m.Contents[:m.GetContentsLength()]
 }
 
+// GetContentsLength returns the length of the data in the contents.
 func (m messagePart) GetContentsLength() int {
 	return int(binary.BigEndian.Uint16(m.Len))
 }
 
+// Bytes returns the serialised message data.
 func (m messagePart) Bytes() []byte {
 	return m.Data
 }
diff --git a/network/message/parse/messagePart_test.go b/network/message/parse/messagePart_test.go
index 5ab1db0213c05a18f7615a836e627350a5879616..61ecc7467ff5c95dd2cf89830cacbb319cf9660f 100644
--- a/network/message/parse/messagePart_test.go
+++ b/network/message/parse/messagePart_test.go
@@ -15,17 +15,19 @@ import (
 
 // Expected messagePart for checking against, generated by gotmp in Test_newMessagePart
 var emp = messagePart{
-	Data: []uint8{0x0, 0x0, 0x0, 0x20, 0x6, 0x0, 0x7, 0x74, 0x65, 0x73, 0x74, 0x69, 0x6e, 0x67},
+	Data: []uint8{0x0, 0x0, 0x0, 0x20, 0x6, 0x0, 0x7, 0x74, 0x65, 0x73, 0x74, 0x69, 0x6e, 0x67, messagePartCurrentVersion},
 	Id:   []uint8{0x0, 0x0, 0x0, 0x20}, Part: []uint8{0x6},
 	Len:      []uint8{0x0, 0x7},
 	Contents: []uint8{0x74, 0x65, 0x73, 0x74, 0x69, 0x6e, 0x67},
+	Version:  []uint8{messagePartCurrentVersion},
 }
 
 // This tests that a new function part is successfully created
 func Test_newMessagePart(t *testing.T) {
 	gotmp := newMessagePart(32, 6, []byte{'t', 'e', 's', 't', 'i', 'n', 'g'})
 	if !reflect.DeepEqual(gotmp, emp) {
-		t.Errorf("MessagePart received and MessagePart expected do not match.\n\tGot: %#v\n\tExpected: %#v", gotmp, emp)
+		t.Errorf("MessagePart received and MessagePart expected do not match."+
+			"\nexpected: %#v\nreceived: %#v", emp, gotmp)
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/network/message/parse/partition.go b/network/message/parse/partition.go
index 0b690a5bef804dd269cd62cbcc0ecac6d2667439..e7fbbfd313379570d3ec522d23053fbd025456cf 100644
--- a/network/message/parse/partition.go
+++ b/network/message/parse/partition.go
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@ package parse
 
 import (
 	"github.com/pkg/errors"
-	jww "github.com/spf13/jwalterweatherman"
 	"gitlab.com/elixxir/client/interfaces/message"
 	"gitlab.com/elixxir/client/storage"
 	"gitlab.com/xx_network/primitives/id"
@@ -44,23 +43,23 @@ func (p Partitioner) Partition(recipient *id.ID, mt message.Type,
 
 	if len(payload) > p.maxSize {
 		return nil, 0, errors.Errorf("Payload is too long, max payload "+
-			"length is %v, received %v", p.maxSize, len(payload))
+			"length is %d, received %d", p.maxSize, len(payload))
 	}
 
-	//Get the ID of the sent message
+	// Get the ID of the sent message
 	fullMessageID, messageID := p.session.Conversations().Get(recipient).GetNextSendID()
 
-	// get the number of parts of the message. This equates to just a linear
+	// Get the number of parts of the message; this equates to just a linear
 	// equation
 	numParts := uint8((len(payload) + p.deltaFirstPart + p.partContentsSize - 1) / p.partContentsSize)
 	parts := make([][]byte, numParts)
 
-	//Create the first message part
+	// Create the first message part
 	var sub []byte
 	sub, payload = splitPayload(payload, p.firstContentsSize)
 	parts[0] = newFirstMessagePart(mt, messageID, numParts, timestamp, sub).Bytes()
 
-	//create all subsiquent message parts
+	// Create all subsequent message parts
 	for i := uint8(1); i < numParts; i++ {
 		sub, payload = splitPayload(payload, p.partContentsSize)
 		parts[i] = newMessagePart(messageID, i, sub).Bytes()
@@ -69,31 +68,25 @@ func (p Partitioner) Partition(recipient *id.ID, mt message.Type,
 	return parts, fullMessageID, nil
 }
 
-func (p Partitioner) HandlePartition(sender *id.ID, e message.EncryptionType,
+func (p Partitioner) HandlePartition(sender *id.ID, _ message.EncryptionType,
 	contents []byte, relationshipFingerprint []byte) (message.Receive, bool) {
 
-	//If it is the first message in a set, handle it as so
 	if isFirst(contents) {
-		//decode the message structure
+		// If it is the first message in a set, then handle it as so
+
+		// Decode the message structure
 		fm := FirstMessagePartFromBytes(contents)
-		timestamp, err := fm.GetTimestamp()
-		if err != nil {
-			jww.FATAL.Panicf("Failed Handle Partition, failed to get "+
-				"timestamp message from %s messageID %v: %s", sender,
-				fm.Timestamp, err)
-		}
-
-		//Handle the message ID
+
+		// Handle the message ID
 		messageID := p.session.Conversations().Get(sender).
 			ProcessReceivedMessageID(fm.GetID())
 
-		//Return the
 		return p.session.Partition().AddFirst(sender, fm.GetType(),
-			messageID, fm.GetPart(), fm.GetNumParts(), timestamp,
+			messageID, fm.GetPart(), fm.GetNumParts(), fm.GetTimestamp(),
 			fm.GetSizedContents(), relationshipFingerprint)
-		//If it is a subsiquent message part, handle it as so
 	} else {
-		mp := MessagePartFromBytes(contents)
+		// If it is a subsequent message part, handle it as so
+		mp := messagePartFromBytes(contents)
 		messageID := p.session.Conversations().Get(sender).
 			ProcessReceivedMessageID(mp.GetID())
 
diff --git a/network/message/parse/partition_test.go b/network/message/parse/partition_test.go
index 933db1a01d4e95605d44d7cf5f5dce4429f2a9b5..9351a1e77b7e80dfc74938fefe01203dd4f0b705 100644
--- a/network/message/parse/partition_test.go
+++ b/network/message/parse/partition_test.go
@@ -32,28 +32,28 @@ func TestNewPartitioner(t *testing.T) {
 			4096, p.baseMessageSize)
 	}
 
-	if p.deltaFirstPart != 20 {
+	if p.deltaFirstPart != firstHeaderLen-headerLen {
 		t.Errorf("deltaFirstPart content mismatch"+
 			"\n\texpected: %v\n\treceived: %v",
-			20, p.deltaFirstPart)
+			firstHeaderLen-headerLen, p.deltaFirstPart)
 	}
 
-	if p.firstContentsSize != 4069 {
+	if p.firstContentsSize != 4096-firstHeaderLen {
 		t.Errorf("firstContentsSize content mismatch"+
 			"\n\texpected: %v\n\treceived: %v",
-			4069, p.firstContentsSize)
+			4096-firstHeaderLen, p.firstContentsSize)
 	}
 
-	if p.maxSize != 1042675 {
+	if p.maxSize != (4096-firstHeaderLen)+(MaxMessageParts-1)*(4096-headerLen) {
 		t.Errorf("maxSize content mismatch"+
 			"\n\texpected: %v\n\treceived: %v",
-			1042675, p.maxSize)
+			(4096-firstHeaderLen)+(MaxMessageParts-1)*(4096-headerLen), p.maxSize)
 	}
 
-	if p.partContentsSize != 4089 {
+	if p.partContentsSize != 4088 {
 		t.Errorf("partContentsSize content mismatch"+
 			"\n\texpected: %v\n\treceived: %v",
-			4089, p.partContentsSize)
+			4088, p.partContentsSize)
 	}
 
 	if p.session != storeSession {
diff --git a/network/message/sendCmix.go b/network/message/sendCmix.go
index 2a7095843eb57c6f9af2af16ea9725fab0aac627..b608e8c6e2c62ace780a8ce8391f943ac1712bb1 100644
--- a/network/message/sendCmix.go
+++ b/network/message/sendCmix.go
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ const sendTimeBuffer = 2500 * time.Millisecond
 // Public manager function to send a message over CMIX
 func (m *Manager) SendCMIX(sender *gateway.Sender, msg format.Message, recipient *id.ID, param params.CMIX) (id.Round, ephemeral.Id, error) {
 	msgCopy := msg.Copy()
-	return sendCmixHelper(sender, msgCopy, recipient, param, m.Instance, m.Session, m.nodeRegistration, m.Rng, m.TransmissionID, m.Comms)
+	return sendCmixHelper(sender, msgCopy, recipient, m.param, param, m.Instance, m.Session, m.nodeRegistration, m.Rng, m.TransmissionID, m.Comms)
 }
 
 // Payloads send are not End to End encrypted, MetaData is NOT protected with
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ func (m *Manager) SendCMIX(sender *gateway.Sender, msg format.Message, recipient
 // If the message is successfully sent, the id of the round sent it is returned,
 // which can be registered with the network instance to get a callback on
 // its status
-func sendCmixHelper(sender *gateway.Sender, msg format.Message, recipient *id.ID, param params.CMIX, instance *network.Instance,
+func sendCmixHelper(sender *gateway.Sender, msg format.Message, recipient *id.ID, messageParams params.Messages, cmixParams params.CMIX, instance *network.Instance,
 	session *storage.Session, nodeRegistration chan network.NodeGateway, rng *fastRNG.StreamGenerator, senderId *id.ID,
 	comms sendCmixCommsInterface) (id.Round, ephemeral.Id, error) {
 
@@ -61,13 +61,13 @@ func sendCmixHelper(sender *gateway.Sender, msg format.Message, recipient *id.ID
 	jww.INFO.Printf("Looking for round to send cMix message to %s "+
 		"(msgDigest: %s)", recipient, msg.Digest())
 
-	for numRoundTries := uint(0); numRoundTries < param.RoundTries; numRoundTries++ {
+	for numRoundTries := uint(0); numRoundTries < cmixParams.RoundTries; numRoundTries++ {
 		elapsed := netTime.Now().Sub(timeStart)
 
-		if elapsed > param.Timeout {
+		if elapsed > cmixParams.Timeout {
 			jww.INFO.Printf("No rounds to send to %s (msgDigest: %s) "+
 				"were found before timeout %s", recipient, msg.Digest(),
-				param.Timeout)
+				cmixParams.Timeout)
 			return 0, ephemeral.Id{}, errors.New("Sending cmix message timed out")
 		}
 		if numRoundTries > 0 {
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ func sendCmixHelper(sender *gateway.Sender, msg format.Message, recipient *id.ID
 				msg.Digest())
 		}
 
-		remainingTime := param.Timeout - elapsed
+		remainingTime := cmixParams.Timeout - elapsed
 		//find the best round to send to, excluding attempted rounds
 		bestRound, _ := instance.GetWaitingRounds().GetUpcomingRealtime(remainingTime, attempted, sendTimeBuffer)
 		if bestRound == nil {
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ func sendCmixHelper(sender *gateway.Sender, msg format.Message, recipient *id.ID
 				"(msgDigest: %s) due to missing relationships with nodes: %s",
 				bestRound.ID, recipient, msg.Digest(), missingKeys)
 			go handleMissingNodeKeys(instance, nodeRegistration, missingKeys)
-			time.Sleep(param.RetryDelay)
+			time.Sleep(cmixParams.RetryDelay)
 			continue
 		}
 
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ func sendCmixHelper(sender *gateway.Sender, msg format.Message, recipient *id.ID
 			encMsg.Digest(), firstGateway.String())
 
 		// Send the payload
-		result, err := sender.SendToSpecific(firstGateway, func(host *connect.Host, target *id.ID) (interface{}, bool, error) {
+		sendFunc := func(host *connect.Host, target *id.ID) (interface{}, bool, error) {
 			wrappedMsg.Target = target.Marshal()
 			result, err := comms.SendPutMessage(host, wrappedMsg)
 			if err != nil {
@@ -203,7 +203,13 @@ func sendCmixHelper(sender *gateway.Sender, msg format.Message, recipient *id.ID
 				}
 			}
 			return result, false, err
-		})
+		}
+		var result interface{}
+		if messageParams.ProxySending {
+			result, err = sender.SendToSpecific(firstGateway, sendFunc)
+		} else {
+			result, err = sender.SendToSpecific(firstGateway, sendFunc)
+		}
 
 		//if the comm errors or the message fails to send, continue retrying.
 		//return if it sends properly
diff --git a/network/message/sendCmix_test.go b/network/message/sendCmix_test.go
index 04da108426dda151bec4777338fe4a0036366832..28a2cdbab74a68f12ce6e45814bde8ff521adcf1 100644
--- a/network/message/sendCmix_test.go
+++ b/network/message/sendCmix_test.go
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ func Test_attemptSendCmix(t *testing.T) {
 	msgCmix := format.NewMessage(m.Session.Cmix().GetGroup().GetP().ByteLen())
 	msgCmix.SetContents([]byte("test"))
 	e2e.SetUnencrypted(msgCmix, m.Session.User().GetCryptographicIdentity().GetTransmissionID())
-	_, _, err = sendCmixHelper(sender, msgCmix, sess2.GetUser().ReceptionID, params.GetDefaultCMIX(),
+	_, _, err = sendCmixHelper(sender, msgCmix, sess2.GetUser().ReceptionID, params.GetDefaultMessage(), params.GetDefaultCMIX(),
 		m.Instance, m.Session, m.nodeRegistration, m.Rng,
 		m.TransmissionID, &MockSendCMIXComms{t: t})
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/network/message/sendUnsafe.go b/network/message/sendUnsafe.go
index df7f05cb8df4ba368f3a3a19368dcb13214f7d49..19f7d5d5ce0bfe6dd14df77b76f0a21c824b2404 100644
--- a/network/message/sendUnsafe.go
+++ b/network/message/sendUnsafe.go
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ func (m *Manager) SendUnsafe(msg message.Send, param params.Unsafe) ([]id.Round,
 		return nil, errors.Errorf("Failed to send %v/%v sub payloads:"+
 			" %s", numFail, len(partitions), errRtn)
 	} else {
-		jww.INFO.Printf("Sucesfully Unsafe sent %d/%d to %s",
+		jww.INFO.Printf("Successfully Unsafe sent %d/%d to %s",
 			len(partitions)-numFail, len(partitions), msg.Recipient)
 	}
 
diff --git a/stoppable/single.go b/stoppable/single.go
index 8821db88eb4934a06db4f96484ef700b2c6beeff..2e8fa78a2a1c3f4f12752f045cb93c541da8412b 100644
--- a/stoppable/single.go
+++ b/stoppable/single.go
@@ -52,7 +52,6 @@ func (s *Single) Name() string {
 func (s *Single) Close(timeout time.Duration) error {
 	var err error
 	s.once.Do(func() {
-		atomic.StoreUint32(&s.running, 0)
 		timer := time.NewTimer(timeout)
 		select {
 		case <-timer.C:
@@ -61,6 +60,7 @@ func (s *Single) Close(timeout time.Duration) error {
 			err = errors.Errorf("%s failed to close", s.name)
 		case s.quit <- struct{}{}:
 		}
+		atomic.StoreUint32(&s.running, 0)
 	})
 	return err
 }
diff --git a/storage/partition/store.go b/storage/partition/store.go
index de601693828ccd159dbdaefad11139942df2c15c..52f7f330f06aa4887c64d991f3f384714073b3cb 100644
--- a/storage/partition/store.go
+++ b/storage/partition/store.go
@@ -8,11 +8,11 @@
 package partition
 
 import (
-	"crypto/md5"
 	"encoding/binary"
 	"gitlab.com/elixxir/client/interfaces/message"
 	"gitlab.com/elixxir/client/storage/versioned"
 	"gitlab.com/xx_network/primitives/id"
+	"golang.org/x/crypto/blake2b"
 	"sync"
 	"time"
 )
@@ -69,7 +69,15 @@ func (s *Store) load(partner *id.ID, messageID uint64) *multiPartMessage {
 }
 
 func getMultiPartID(partner *id.ID, messageID uint64) multiPartID {
+	h, _ := blake2b.New256(nil)
+
+	h.Write(partner.Bytes())
 	b := make([]byte, 8)
 	binary.BigEndian.PutUint64(b, messageID)
-	return md5.Sum(append(partner[:], b...))
+	h.Write(b)
+
+	var mpID multiPartID
+	copy(mpID[:], h.Sum(nil))
+
+	return mpID
 }
diff --git a/storage/reception/store.go b/storage/reception/store.go
index bd78f0b7682d3c06c2b47211f518729cb63cbfc1..08498aa5c0aa856727fe60c989419f2aeb18616a 100644
--- a/storage/reception/store.go
+++ b/storage/reception/store.go
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ package reception
 
 import (
 	"bytes"
-	"crypto/md5"
 	"encoding/json"
 	"github.com/pkg/errors"
 	jww "github.com/spf13/jwalterweatherman"
@@ -11,6 +10,7 @@ import (
 	"gitlab.com/xx_network/primitives/id"
 	"gitlab.com/xx_network/primitives/id/ephemeral"
 	"gitlab.com/xx_network/primitives/netTime"
+	"golang.org/x/crypto/blake2b"
 	"io"
 	"strconv"
 	"sync"
@@ -46,12 +46,11 @@ type storedReference struct {
 type idHash [16]byte
 
 func makeIdHash(ephID ephemeral.Id, source *id.ID) idHash {
-	h := md5.New()
+	h, _ := blake2b.New256(nil)
 	h.Write(ephID[:])
 	h.Write(source.Bytes())
-	idHashBytes := h.Sum(nil)
 	idH := idHash{}
-	copy(idH[:], idHashBytes)
+	copy(idH[:], h.Sum(nil))
 	return idH
 }
 
diff --git a/storage/utility/blockStore.go b/storage/utility/blockStore.go
index a405e9b966175b77f8a9803e2efbe72bf2cf27af..b29dcd12d56037d6e7d0622b1fbc47f8faea62b9 100644
--- a/storage/utility/blockStore.go
+++ b/storage/utility/blockStore.go
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ const (
 const (
 	bsBuffLengthErr   = "length of buffer %d != %d expected"
 	bsKvSaveErr       = "failed to save blockStore to KV: %+v"
+	bsKvInitSaveErr   = "failed to save initial block: %+v"
 	bsKvLoadErr       = "failed to get BlockStore from storage: %+v"
 	bsKvUnmarshalErr  = "failed to unmarshal BlockStore loaded from storage: %+v"
 	bJsonMarshalErr   = "failed to JSON marshal block %d: %+v"
@@ -218,6 +219,12 @@ func (bs *BlockStore) save() error {
 		return errors.Errorf(bsKvSaveErr, err)
 	}
 
+	// Save initial block
+	err = bs.saveBlock()
+	if err != nil {
+		return errors.Errorf(bsKvInitSaveErr, err)
+	}
+
 	return nil
 }
 
diff --git a/storage/utility/cmixMessageBuffer.go b/storage/utility/cmixMessageBuffer.go
index 6091c65bc59ee0836384d4a475a15f8c8f7a940e..8c67658932ab64e75d91e2272f3b94c9c90f6314 100644
--- a/storage/utility/cmixMessageBuffer.go
+++ b/storage/utility/cmixMessageBuffer.go
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@
 package utility
 
 import (
-	"crypto/md5"
 	"encoding/json"
 	"github.com/pkg/errors"
 	jww "github.com/spf13/jwalterweatherman"
@@ -16,6 +15,7 @@ import (
 	"gitlab.com/elixxir/primitives/format"
 	"gitlab.com/xx_network/primitives/id"
 	"gitlab.com/xx_network/primitives/netTime"
+	"golang.org/x/crypto/blake2b"
 )
 
 const currentCmixMessageVersion = 0
@@ -80,8 +80,14 @@ func (cmh *cmixMessageHandler) DeleteMessage(kv *versioned.KV, key string) error
 
 // HashMessage generates a hash of the message.
 func (cmh *cmixMessageHandler) HashMessage(m interface{}) MessageHash {
-	sm := m.(storedMessage)
-	return md5.Sum(sm.Marshal())
+	h, _ := blake2b.New256(nil)
+
+	h.Write(m.(storedMessage).Marshal())
+
+	var messageHash MessageHash
+	copy(messageHash[:], h.Sum(nil))
+
+	return messageHash
 }
 
 // CmixMessageBuffer wraps the message buffer to store and load raw cmix
diff --git a/storage/utility/e2eMessageBuffer.go b/storage/utility/e2eMessageBuffer.go
index b8de8f65d3219f662df87680d174aec47743b97f..259c6407a2c08c45b4f2e486182964031669b98c 100644
--- a/storage/utility/e2eMessageBuffer.go
+++ b/storage/utility/e2eMessageBuffer.go
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@
 package utility
 
 import (
-	"crypto/md5"
 	"encoding/binary"
 	"encoding/json"
 	jww "github.com/spf13/jwalterweatherman"
@@ -17,6 +16,7 @@ import (
 	"gitlab.com/elixxir/client/storage/versioned"
 	"gitlab.com/xx_network/primitives/id"
 	"gitlab.com/xx_network/primitives/netTime"
+	"golang.org/x/crypto/blake2b"
 )
 
 const currentE2EMessageVersion = 0
@@ -80,17 +80,19 @@ func (emh *e2eMessageHandler) DeleteMessage(kv *versioned.KV, key string) error
 // Do not include the params in the hash so it is not needed to resubmit the
 // message into succeeded or failed
 func (emh *e2eMessageHandler) HashMessage(m interface{}) MessageHash {
-	msg := m.(e2eMessage)
-
-	var digest []byte
-	digest = append(digest, msg.Recipient...)
-	digest = append(digest, msg.Payload...)
+	h, _ := blake2b.New256(nil)
 
+	msg := m.(e2eMessage)
+	h.Write(msg.Recipient)
+	h.Write(msg.Payload)
 	mtBytes := make([]byte, 4)
 	binary.BigEndian.PutUint32(mtBytes, msg.MessageType)
-	digest = append(digest, mtBytes...)
+	h.Write(mtBytes)
+
+	var messageHash MessageHash
+	copy(messageHash[:], h.Sum(nil))
 
-	return md5.Sum(digest)
+	return messageHash
 }
 
 // E2eMessageBuffer wraps the message buffer to store and load raw e2eMessages.
diff --git a/storage/utility/messageBuffer_test.go b/storage/utility/messageBuffer_test.go
index fc4de8be8dd5573520d02c9a35fae07593bb6a90..5e30960f9ccc3ad7060a876b7924fd3f0d8f3016 100644
--- a/storage/utility/messageBuffer_test.go
+++ b/storage/utility/messageBuffer_test.go
@@ -9,11 +9,11 @@ package utility
 
 import (
 	"bytes"
-	"crypto/md5"
 	"encoding/json"
 	"gitlab.com/elixxir/client/storage/versioned"
 	"gitlab.com/elixxir/ekv"
 	"gitlab.com/xx_network/primitives/netTime"
+	"golang.org/x/crypto/blake2b"
 	"math/rand"
 	"os"
 	"reflect"
@@ -48,10 +48,14 @@ func (th *testHandler) DeleteMessage(kv *versioned.KV, key string) error {
 }
 
 func (th *testHandler) HashMessage(m interface{}) MessageHash {
-	mBytes := m.([]byte)
-	// Sum returns a array that is the exact same size as the MessageHash and Go
-	// apparently automatically casts it
-	return md5.Sum(mBytes)
+	h, _ := blake2b.New256(nil)
+
+	h.Write(m.([]byte))
+
+	var messageHash MessageHash
+	copy(messageHash[:], h.Sum(nil))
+
+	return messageHash
 }
 
 func newTestHandler() *testHandler {
@@ -343,7 +347,13 @@ func makeTestMessages(n int) ([][]byte, map[MessageHash]struct{}) {
 	for i := range msgs {
 		msgs[i] = make([]byte, 256)
 		prng.Read(msgs[i])
-		mh[md5.Sum(msgs[i])] = struct{}{}
+
+		h, _ := blake2b.New256(nil)
+		h.Write(msgs[i])
+		var messageHash MessageHash
+		copy(messageHash[:], h.Sum(nil))
+
+		mh[messageHash] = struct{}{}
 	}
 
 	return msgs, mh
diff --git a/storage/utility/meteredCmixMessageBuffer.go b/storage/utility/meteredCmixMessageBuffer.go
index 719faa3883ebf6d47e5abf86931c3e9e1b8e0143..dd5ade5a31a51469587c4dd8a32d67f07b9c515e 100644
--- a/storage/utility/meteredCmixMessageBuffer.go
+++ b/storage/utility/meteredCmixMessageBuffer.go
@@ -8,13 +8,13 @@
 package utility
 
 import (
-	"crypto/md5"
 	"encoding/json"
 	"github.com/pkg/errors"
 	jww "github.com/spf13/jwalterweatherman"
 	"gitlab.com/elixxir/client/storage/versioned"
 	"gitlab.com/elixxir/primitives/format"
 	"gitlab.com/xx_network/primitives/netTime"
+	"golang.org/x/crypto/blake2b"
 	"time"
 )
 
@@ -77,9 +77,14 @@ func (*meteredCmixMessageHandler) DeleteMessage(kv *versioned.KV, key string) er
 
 // HashMessage generates a hash of the message.
 func (*meteredCmixMessageHandler) HashMessage(m interface{}) MessageHash {
-	msg := m.(meteredCmixMessage)
+	h, _ := blake2b.New256(nil)
+
+	h.Write(m.(meteredCmixMessage).M)
+
+	var messageHash MessageHash
+	copy(messageHash[:], h.Sum(nil))
 
-	return md5.Sum(msg.M)
+	return messageHash
 }
 
 // CmixMessageBuffer wraps the message buffer to store and load raw cmix