Snippet #2816062

Kawandi stood at the end of the table with his hands folded in front of him, the Terrans’ demeanor betrayed a prior service, though it was hard to imagine the smaller man carrying a rifle and wearing a uniform. He noticed that those sitting across from him weren’t taking notes, or scrawling away at their tablets - all except for one of course. “Ah, I’d requested paper copies as well but the Colonel had … concerns about this research being compromised from a leak.” Kawandi started, then leaning forward as he continued to explain more.

“We believe there has been some sort of fungal contaminant that originated from another planet, possibly somewhere in the Garden or out here. I’ve not been able to determine an original genetic profile, only a post-mutation gene map. I do have one developing theory,” Kawandi said, quickly bringing up a display of background radiation commonly observed in the space around the Shore Planets.

“We’ve heard of genetic deteriorations brought about by background exposure through space travel, but this normally takes place through a much larger time frame, and often upon deliberate exposure to radiation. These crops were degraded from, we assume, one passing shipment through space … “ Kawandi stopped for a moment, before then looking back over to Irina. The woman quietly fished the device out of her ballistic vest, prying the strap loose to reveal the long cylindrical piece of equipment.

“Here is a digital copy of my data on both the compromised crop genes and the blight, as well as a physical specimen. What you’ll discover is that, I believe, the blight was native to a planet with a closely related crop species and formed a symbiosis with it before an infected yield was transported through space to be planted elsewhere - here in the Local Region, that is.”