The Delegation

A delegation arrives at Boreas University After 'Rendezvous'

Boreas is a rather Earth-like planet that inhabits the fourth orbit of the star Iota Persei. Iota Persei is a bit younger and hotter than Sol, resulting in a relatively warm climate for the 9 billion or so people that call Boreas home. Boreas itself is wetter than Earth, with 78% of its surface covered with water. The upside is that there are plenty of spectacular beaches, watersports, and fishing for the locals and tourists. The downside is the humidity and frequent storms, but nothing's perfect, right? The reduced land area also means the population is somewhat crowded together but, so far, the slums and urban sprawls of Earth have been avoided by reasonably efficient planning policies. The early colonization was aggressive, with perhaps a billion people settling in the first 25 years, and surprisingly effective incentives for population growth have brought the population to a point that it rivals the core systems. Once the population and economic power of Boreas reached the level of nationhood, the Colonial Administration stepped aside and after some wrangling a planetary government was formed and Boreas became a member nation of the Terran Confederation it its own right.

And as a newly minted nation, Boreas sought to elevate its public institutions to a level befitting their status. Boreas University was no exception. Even during the Colonial Administration, it was respected by academics and scholars across human space, but with the advent of nationhood the University was able to elevate itself to among the elite universities in human space. And as is typical of top-flight research institutions, in addition to the usual collaborations among the educational and commercial communities, it often does classified work for various government agencies and military organizations. It was just one such contract that brought a small delegation of very serious-looking individuals to the Stettner School of Biological Sciences administration building and into Dean Rowan's office.

Dean Alfred Rowan has the look of a harried academic administrator. His silver hair, neat beard, rumpled suit, glasses, and classic school tie somewhat disguise the cunning academic politician that lives beneath this well-crafted fade. As soon as his receptionist opens the door to usher in the mysterious delegation, he instantly spots a potentially large funding opportunity and quickly rises and begins walking around his expansive desk with a welcoming smile and extended hand. As introductions are underway, the receptionist opens the doors to the private conference room on the side of the office and turns on the lights and quickly ensures everything is ready to receive the visiting delegation. All being in order, the receptionist quietly withdraws back to the outer office, making a subtle nod to the Dean on the way. Spotting the receptionist's nod, the Dean shepherds the visitors into the conference room and closes the doors behind them.

As everyone takes seats at the polished mahogany conference table, imported from Earth no less, Rowan looks around the table, surveying the delegation. Six men and women wearing conservative business attire and serious expressions sit around the table, each performing their own appraisal of the Dean. This appraisal is not strictly necessary, because long before they arrived on campus, they had reviewed both Rowan's and the University's credentials and security standing. Found to be acceptable and given the University's reputation for excellence and history of work with the Terran Military Forces and Terran Intelligence Service, the choice to proceed was obvious.

The Delegation

The leader of the delegation, who introduces himself as Tom Smith of the TIS, selects and opens a bottle of water from the center of the table, takes a sip and leans forward. Before Rowan can start the conversation, Smith opens with, "Dean Rowan, thank you very much for seeing us without an appointment." Before Rowan can demur with false modesty, he continues, "We know you're a busy man, but we have something that we hope Boreas University and specifically your department can help us with." Intrigued, the Dean quickly responds, "I'm sure we can help. Given that this is the school of Biological Sciences, I'm sure this will be a very interesting project." Rowan's head begins to fill with visions of a newly discovered animal or maybe a whole ecosystem, visions of new professorships and possibly a whole new post-graduate program, but why the secrecy?

"Sheila?" At this point one of the delegation, Rowan had forgotten her name, unforgiveable under normal circumstances, produces a data tablet from a briefcase he didn't remember her having and places it on the table in front of him. "Before we continue, you will need to sign a non-disclosure agreement." Smith continues, "Take a moment to review the document and acknowledge with thumbprint and video." Rowan numbly picks up the tablet and scrolls through the text. Standard boilerplate non-disclosure, but somehow it feels ominous. He places his thumb on the indicated place and looks into the camera on the tablet and voices his acceptance. The delegate retrieves the tablet with, "Thank you for your acceptance, Dean." Smith can see the wheels turning and moves to clarify, "As I know you are well aware, humanity has encountered lots of life in our explorations, but never an intelligent species." An icy trickle runs down Rowan's spine. Smith gives the Dean a second to anticipate the next phrase and continues, "Until now."

Taking another sip from the water, Smith moves onwards, "Now that the formalities are taken care of, I'll get to some details." Rowan, unusually at a loss for words, just nods. "You may have heard rumors of a military situation in the 51 Pegasi system involving rival mining factions." Again, a nod. "This is a cover story. There is in fact a military situation at 51 Pegasi and StKM 1-2065, but it is not a corporate dispute. On or about March 24^th of this year a large naval task force jumped into the 51 Pegasi system and the next day troops began landing on 51 Pegasi (c). Also, on the 25^th, another naval force jumped into StKM 1-2065 and began to land there as well. Local patrol units and law enforcement resources in those systems were woefully outmatched and were quickly destroyed, with a few ships able to escape."

Rowan tries to process this intelligence. Taking a sip, Smith gives him some time to come to grips with this consequential news. Rowan finally manages to re-engage his voice, "This is clearly an enormous development on many levels - what is it that you want the University to do?" And after half a beat adds, "And it's July 15^th! What's been happening since?" As visions of the University Presidency begin to form in Rowan's mind, as well as beginning to engage his dusty academic curiosity about the nature of the Enemy; What biology? What is the basis for cellular organization? Are they DNA based and what would that look like? Smith interrupts his reverie, "As for what has been happening, obviously we cannot discuss the details of any ongoing military operations but suffice to say a response is underway. As for what we need, we would like you to lead a classified working group consisting of your department, and other departments as you may deem necessary, to analyze the biology, physiology, language, social structure, and related information about the enemy themselves." Rowan feels himself on firmer ground now, "Absolutely. We will do everything we can to assist as best we can. As you know, we have classified facilities and laboratories on campus, and many of our professors and researchers have active clearances." Smith nods, "Yes, we are aware, although there may be additional security protocols required. But we'll leave that to the red tape gang, shall we?"

The Enemy Soldiers

Smith can see that the Dean is beginning to settle into planning mode and decides to break the last news before he gets too far along, "One more thing, possibly the most alarming thing, and certainly the most classified at this point: the invaders, they look human." Rowan freezes in mid-thought. He couldn't possibly have heard that correctly. After a second or so, he manages a weak "Wha?" Smith looks at another in the delegation, "George?" Another of the delegation produces another briefcase that Rowan didn't recall seeing previously and removes a small holoprojector. Placing it on the table, he powers it on. A video appears, showing four human females with blue skin and black hair, wearing combat armor of some sort, armed with assault rifles, advancing though a built-up area. Delegate George speaks up, "This image was captured on March 25^th on 51 Pegasi (c) by a sacrificial stay-behind drone, one of a few that managed to get deployed, and relayed to TMF Denali, a recon vessel that had managed to avoid Enemy attention. Denali, bless them, decided this one piece of intel was far more valuable than anything they could do at 51 Pegasi, and jumped to safety. As you can see, these soldiers, for all practical purposes, appear human. Are they? If so, how is a human force coming at us from outside of human space? If not, how did they come to look so much like us? Either way, the implications are staggering." George sits back in his chair and helps himself to a bottle of water while the Dean stares at the image. Smith picks up the ball, "So you see, there is much to do to help unravel this conundrum, and your university is uniquely placed to make a vital contribution."

The Dean rallies, "The first thing that must be done is to get a contract in place." Smith nods, "Yes, and to that end some of our colleagues are in the University business and legal offices right now with your President Chang, waiting on your word to proceed. Please call the business office now and inform them that 'Academy Green' will proceed. They will understand." As Rowan retrieves his phone from his pocket, George clicks off the holographic image, and as it happens, the jammer as well. A brief call later, the wheels of Academy Green are turning. After disconnecting, Rowan turns to Smith, "So that's settled. There are a few folks that I want to bring into the meeting now. They are cleared." Smith turns to Delegate Sheila, "Sheila, please go with the Dean to the reception area and verify credentials and get non-disclosures signed before they come in." Sheila rises and gestures towards the door. Rowan, taking his cue, stands and they walk out to the reception area while calls are made to the academics.

There they greet about a dozen researchers from various departments, all of whom have many questions to which answers are not immediately forthcoming. After about twenty minutes of general discussion and milling about, all non-disclosures are signed, and an air of scholarly excitement settles over the group as they move towards the conference room. Sheila ensures that all mobile devices are left on Rowan's desk as the assembled academics enter the conference room. The delegation has vacated their seats to ensure there is sufficient room for all the newcomers to sit. Smith repeats his briefing for the benefit of the new arrivals and is taken aback by the sudden explosion of academia at work. Theories, counter-theories, postulations, suppositions, and scholarly arguments of all kinds quickly consume the researchers. After ten minutes or so, a general theme emerges: Is this footage all the evidence you have?

Smith acknowledges their concerns, "I agree it is very sparse evidence. We also have more video footage, a few tangible artifacts, intercepts of Enemy communications, but as yet our cryptographic sections have not been able to break the encryption, but even if they can we have no idea what they might be saying. We also have imagery of a few of their vessels, but that is of limited value to your investigations." Saving the best for last, Smith continues, "There is one more item that will be of immense value to your investigations. In orbit around Boreas, a ship has the remains of an Enemy soldier killed in action." The room erupts in academic frenzy. Smith gives it a minute to run its course and then continues, "Please! Everyone! Calm down. The body is in a stasis chamber, so it has not degraded since it was recovered and will be delivered to a place of Dean Rowan's choosing. But I add this caveat: the Enemy has taken great care not to leave any casualties on the battlefield, presumably to deny us the opportunity to study them, but it might just as well be something they do. In any case, this is currently our only, er, sample available for study. Ideally there will be more, and hopefully a live prisoner or two at some point will help fill in linguistic and cultural details. I realize a sample size of one is hardly ideal, but this is not about peer review or publication at this point." A groan ripples through the researchers, and glancing toward Rowan, Smith throws a lifeline, "I'm sure there will be an opportunity for that sort of thing in the future. I'm also sure the Dean will see his way clear to counting your participation in this project as publication for purposes of tenure." The mood brightens considerably, and Smith continues, "My team will now depart and leave you to your work, but I wish to emphasize the extreme sensitivity of this project and related information. You will all be contacted by security officers in the coming days, so please give them your full cooperation. There will be TMF and TIS liaisons assigned to this project and they will be a two-way conduit for information and assistance. And with that I wish you all the best of luck." Smith turns and shakes Rowan's hand as he and the delegates exit the room as the academic discussion re-ignites.