Officially unemployed

[Mr Fixit]

Stress can make otherwise nice people nasty, cranky, obnoxious, erratic. As the situation deteriorates the environment becomes more toxic, more people leave or are sacked, the pressure rises as the likelyhood of failure to perform and fulfill the contract increases. It becomes a deadly downward spiral.
It takes considerable courage and maturity to call a halt, pull the curcuit breaker in effect, 'fess up to one's sins and air all the dirty laundry, without things dissolving into a bitter slanging match.
I dont think that your former employers have that capability and as such that nice juicy contract will go wanting.

Mark