<Reports from several Disease Control Centers across the world have noted significant increases in recoveries from serious diseases, including some previously incurable diseases. Most importantly there has been a small but statistically relevant increase in survival rates from Malaria in southern Africa and Egypt, and a significant number of cases where previously HIV-positive cases in Europe and America have shown a sudden recovery from the disease.>

<The HIV recoveries are of particular concern to our operation here as it is upon a combination of this virus and the disease humans call Influenza that we based our own viral bio-weapon.>

John and Shahim watched the room as this information was relayed, and to their surprise and relief the Council did not seem particularly worried by the AI’s comments. Hoping to avert further investigation John decided to play upon their lack of interest, “I am unclear why this is relevant to our mission here.” he said, “The virus is only a backup plan at best, a last resort. We have no intention of using it unless we are discovered, and so far, in over a year on the planet, we have successfully remained hidden. If you remember, we easily dispatched the only people who ever came close to discovering our presence when they stumbled on Agent Parikh’s capsule in India. The King’s Transom was sunk over nine months ago and there has been no further sign that the humans even suspect our presence since then.”

He let that sit out there, then decided to try and get an ally from the group’s most outspoken member, “Agent Lana Wilson and Shahim Al Khazar proved this even further with their investigation of the two survivors of the incident not three months ago.”

Ever happy to hear her name used, Lana spoke up, “I agree. So what if a few humans have recovered from a disease. It will hardly protect them from what is coming.”

The AI persisted, <Mission Parameter: If human’s show signs of technical improvements in critical areas, Council is instructed to act in order to suppress such technology. If this spread of immunity to noted communicable diseases is linked to a deliberate act by the humans, it clearly falls within one of the critical areas noted in our mission parameters, and as Arbiter of the Council we table a proposition that we look into these incidents.>

Not wanting to go too far out on a limb, John glanced at Shahim in the hope that he would offer up some point to support John’s and Lana’s statements. The other double agent took the hint.

“Arbiter,” said Shahim, “what numbers are we talking about here? Is this a large sampling or merely anecdotal?”