Extracted Evidence from the HPE20 Experiment

First entered for the Times Magazine writing competition 2020.

Classified

Sender: Department of Investigation

Date: 25th October 2020

Recipient: Scientist General’s Office.

Subject: Investigation HPE20

Good Afternoon,

As requested, please find attached the correspondence between Drs. X and Y.

Unfortunately, a lot of their discussions were done in person and not recorded, we imagine to avoid implication in this, the forewarned inevitable. We have their testimony interviews but we believe they had discussions in advance and corroborated their stories.

What we do have is all the original hypotheses, Members’ diaries, weekly reports and the human interviews that were taken undercover, which, as you know, cannot be used for the safety of everyone involved.

The Members are home and in quarantine on site to ensure they have not brought back any human diseases.

As we feared, and now confirmed by Drs. X and Y, the subsequent outbreak caused by this experiment cannot be contained as easily as expected.

Advice has been leaked to world leaders on how to stop the virus — after all, we’ve known all along. But most are not listening, thinking they know best. A few are putting their people back into lockdown to try to slow transmission. We will report back at the end of the year as to the success.

Regards,

The Department of Investigation

Private + Confidential

Mission: Human Pandemic Experiment 2020 (HPE20)

Target: Worldwide

Sender: Dr. X

CC: Dr. Y

Date: 14th November 2019

Recipient: Group HPE20–10 Members

Dear all,

The time has come. Our preparation and planning can now be implemented.

As previously discussed, you know the zone you will be working in, and why you have been chosen to cover this area. Please find attached travel and secure communication information.

As per my previous correspondence, Dr. A was sent to Earth a few weeks ago and has successfully released the virus in the agreed zone. There is concern that suspicion has been aroused in the laboratory he has been planted in. We hope his cover has not been compromised and we can continue as planned.

You are all part of making history. All the health crises over the last few hundred years have given us valuable information — but this will be like no other.

Please remember to report your findings on a regular basis as instructed. Your skin injections, the final part of your disguise, will be given on the shuttle to Earth.

Good Luck — here’s to our success!

Dr. X

Sender: Dr. X

Date: December 30th 2019

Recipient: Dr. Y

Subject: Here we go!

Dr. Y

Dr. A informed me yesterday that he received information from his contact stating that the first case of “Pneumonia of Unknown Etiology” has been reported in Hubei.

It appears this is the start.

From now, I will report the information the Members send weekly.

They have all settled in well and aroused no suspicions on arrival.

Dr. X

Sender: Dr. X

Date: January 25th 2020

Recipient: Dr. Y

Subject: First Stage Complete.

Dr. Y

Good News!

Rather more quickly than expected, the pandemic has almost reached full world capacity — Dr. D reported the first case in Washington.

The human doctor who treated the first patients with the at-the-time unknown virus has died.

We will now begin to see some real data coming through.

Dr. X

Sender: Dr. Y

Date: May 1st 2020

Recipient: Dr. X

Subject: New Developments

Dr. X

This experiment is gathering momentum and may spiral out of our control if we are not careful. We could stop now, but I am intrigued to find out what we can still learn. As you have said, most places are starting to have more freedom after the imposed lockdowns. I am interested to see how this develops.

Depending on the outcome of my upcoming meeting with the Scientist General, we may need to terminate sooner than hoped as the department has some concerns. Drs. D, C and F in the Americas have reported an incredible rise in cases in all areas of the North and South Continent with some leaders refusing to accept the virus as a real threat. Fascinating!

Please come to my office as soon as possible and we can discuss how we continue.

Dr. Y

Sender: Dr. X

Date: May 20th 2020

Recipient: Dr. Y

Subject: Future

Dr. Y

I have updated the members and received their feedback. They are happy to continue as before.

It appears true numbers are not reported for fear of leaders being ridiculed. However, with the number of cases clearly rising sharply, some have commented on their safety.

It appears the Super Powers want to protect their status! Another hypothesis proved!

Dr. X

Sender: Dr. Y

Date: September 15th 2020

Recipient: Dr. X

Subject: Code Red

Dr. X

The Scientist General has interfered and will shutdown the whole experiment if we don’t act now. This could ruin our results for which the whole team has worked so hard. With regret, we have to terminate now.

Please start the paperwork to bring our Members home. They are our first concern. Afterwards, we can try to decide how we contain the pandemic.

Dr. Y

Sender: Dr. X

CC: Dr. Y

Date: October 1st 2020

Recipient: Group HPE20–10 Members

Subject: Home Time

Dear all,

The time has come to end this experiment. Please find your travel documents attached.

Thank you for your time, your support, your work and above all your incredible resilience.

Please send any final observations to me by Friday 2nd October and then make your way to the meeting point. The return journey is on 15th October 2020. A vaccine will be given when take-off has been completed and we are out of human air space.

Please remember there will be a two week quarantine to give your vaccine and skin ink reversal a chance to work.

You should all be very proud of what has been achieved. Our work will go down in history at home and around the galaxy.

Mission Accomplished!

Dr. X