The QED is a secretive new branch of Benevolent Dynamics, dedicated to researching the events surrounding and attributed to the Catastrophe. According to the corporation's PR department, this newly formed ‘think tank’ is entirely benign, seeking only to finally understand what caused the near extinction level event of the Catastrophe and, presumably, avert such a thing from repeating in the future.
However, whilst Benevolent Dynamics operates outside of governmental jurisdiction under the auspices of an independent technocracy, both governments have expressed alarm and suspicion at the formation of this group and their investigation. While neither government has the authority to impede this investigation in any official capacity, they have both declared that any citizens offering aid will be viewed as potentially criminal and may be subject to interviews.
Lending weight to governmental suspicion is the fact that the QED seem to operate on a highly secretive, if not clandestine, basis. Benevolent Dynamics refuses to divulge any names connected to the group nor have they released any reports of findings to date.
It has been reported that while the core members of the QED are comprised of scientists and researchers with varying areas of expertise, the bulk of their initial investigations are handled by field operatives who are out-sourced by Benevolent Dynamics. These operatives are, allegedly, vetted via an analytical process that quantifies various CORETECHS acquired metrics that pin-point certain characteristics above others. This, no doubt, also troubles the governments as they see such tactics as ‘fast and loose’ as such operatives cannot be tracked and reported on. It is highly likely that anyone identified as a field operative for the QED will most likely be detained and questioned at length.
There are those that feel, from a logistical standpoint, it does, perhaps, make a certain amount of sense to investigate the Catastrophe at this time. Infrastructure, economy, and even society to a degree have started to regain a foothold. But others fear that the QED are delving into knowledge that should best be left alone, or that what they discover may open up a colossal can of space worms. Perhaps this is merely the timeless fear of the unknown that our species has always struggled with. Or, maybe, it's something more.
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