Discovery on Borneo

[Zentor]

The possibilities were endless.
Miles was feeling jittery with excitement. He paused a moment at his lab station, closed his eyes and exhaled slowly. He needed to calm down. Miles looked through his micro-analyzer once more to verify it was true. He’d done that already half a dozen times, each time amazed at what he saw.

He sat up and glanced around, knowing no one was there but checking anyways. The cramped metallic fabri-lab he worked in was empty and silent save the minute whirring of the centrifuge running across the room.

It’d been this way since the beginning.
Nine months ago, the Crayterian soldiers that had helped move his facility and equipment here to this remote spot on the island of Yvandros had done so with silent efficiency but a decided lack of enthusiasm, which stood in stark opposition with the giddy young scientist they were moving in.
But who could blame them? He mused to himself. This area of Borneo to the naked eye was as boring and uninteresting as there ever was. He was just one of a few dozen scientists tasked with establishing a more critical analysis of the biosphere that made up Planet Borneo.
It had been nearly 2 years since the planet was recolonized by the Republic and many settlements were fast becoming boom towns. It was a sight to see with so many diverse cultures coming to dwell under the Phoenix Flag of Crayter. Not only were there members of the Colonial Remnant, but former citizens of Kusari, Hispania, Bretonia, Liberty and more all choosing to stake their claim here on Borneo. Exciting times indeed. With the growing population, the Ministry of Research and Development has ordered the creation of a new scientific exploratory mission to fully map out the diverse, and sometimes deadly flora and fauna of the planet to divine suitable implementation into commercial and military applications.
Miles Orrenyn, fresh from post grad was one of the first to volunteer for the mission. Those that had briefed him were very solemn in their warnings that the local vegetation and overall biosphere would be hostile in some places, but it didn’t matter to him. This was the work he was made for.
In his time in near isolation, he’d studied and catalogued hundreds of observed micro organisms and species of plant life around Yvandros before he made this discovery. This one, he believed, was a game changer. It had the very potential to put Borneo on the map so to speak. Miles knew, however, he needed someone else to corroborate his findings and bring him back to reality... or confirm this enormous potential to be true. And he knew just the person.

Dr. Avatari Chattopadhyay, the senior microbiologist at Sabah Research Station, had been in their briefing before the expedition left for Borneo. She was well renowned for her work in isolating organisms making their way to Planet Yuma and investigating all manner of cellular-based life from across Sirius in her vast laboratory wing. Chattopadhyay was also well known for being a bristling conversationist and somewhat terse to get along with. For months now, Miles and the other scientists had been sending interesting bits of data gathered back and forth to each other, and often Dr. Chattopadhyay back in Coronado would interject with a snippet here or there, almost mocking in her tone.. Her responses were often critical and snappy, but the camaraderie in the group chats and vid calls felt by the other scientists was worth it.
Though he was somewhat reluctant to work with her, Miles knew there could be no other preeminent microbiologist in the Republic to go to. Miles keyed in her comms code in his data viewer and requested the call. A few moments later, the call window came to life with several items being brushed off the screen and the middle aged female scientist coming into view.

Hang on! she said hurriedly, as the screen jerked and whirled around the room she stood in as she was clearing wresting the comm viewer from the piles of stuff on the desk where it had been laying.
Dr. Chattopadhyay pulled off her lab goggles and brushed her hair back out of her eyes.
Dr. Orrenyn, I believe? What is it? She asked
Miles smiled and responded,
Dr. Chattopadhyay- he attempted
Please just call me Avatari she interjected, rolling her eyes, though trying not to be too obvious.
Avatari, ma’am, I wanted to present something to you and have you consult on it. It is truly remarkable, at least as I’ve observed so far. Something like this can have massive ramifications and the potential commercial uses seem numerous, I’m truly fascinated with its properties-
Miles, slow down Avatari said, irritation emerging on her face.
Miles cleared his throat and smiled awkwardly, realizing he was getting carried away. He started again:
Right. It is an extraordinarily unique cyanobacteria I’ve discovered dwelling on Yvandros in small isolated pools.

[Zentor]

After their short conversation, Dr. Chattopadhyay quickly requested a sample be sent to her immediately for further investigation. In closing, she said something about, “if she had the time”. Miles gathered all his data and notes on his findings and packaged up a cryo-stasis sample of the micro-organism and had them delivered to the main settlement and marked it for high priority shipment back to Yuma aboard the next available Crayter vessel. Two days later, Avatari confirmed receipt of the items and began her lab investigation and analysis of the sample. It was several additional cycles before he heard back from his colleague. At last she sent a quick message back to him:

Your analysis seems worth pursuing, something of value perhaps. I’ve begun initial genetic modification tests as I have a hunch based on the cellular membrane structure that this could be more than we think. It’s good you brought this to me. I’ve notified the Ministry of the discovery and am awaiting to hear back from Minister Case.

Miles could barely focus on his continuing duties back at Yvandros while he waited to hear more. All this time, putting on his isolation suit, trudging around the marshy wilderness taking samples of bacteria, fungii, yeasts, etc. Cataloguing endless species. This was indeed thrilling work, finding new forms of life nearly every day. His work was laying a foundation that would be built upon for untold generations, bringing progress and understanding to the Republic. It was what he always wanted to be a part of, but that single solitary species was like nothing he’d seen before. It was at face value, a thousand times more fascinating than each and every other sample he’d catalogued, though he knew this was probably not fair. Of the myriad of individual life forms on Borneo, undoubtedly hundreds if not thousands would have some practical application in the future.
Standing in his fabri-lab’s airlock, taking his iso suit off and spraying down before entering the main room, he heard his comms tab chirp with an incoming message. Miles hurriedly finished his doffing procedure, and trotted to the steel table his tab was sitting on. The formal letterhead of the Crayter Republic government adorned the top of the emessage as he read across:

Dr. Miles Orrenyn,
The Ministry of Research and Development has been notified of your recent findings in coordination with Dr. Avatari Chattopadhyay. The Ministry requests your presence in three days time on Yuma for review and presentation of your work. You will be contacted shortly by our staff to arrange transportation and arrival details.
Thank You for your Service.

[Zentor]

Flying over the depths of Yuma’s oceans and under its azure sky was refreshing. Although Borneo, too, was mostly water the planet didn’t have the same beauty Miles found in Planet Yuma. Pressing his face to the view port of the shuttle as he was transported planetside, he scanned the waters ahead, looking for the floating majesty of New Thessalonica. It slowly came into view, a city like no other, home to millions of people and the new, beating heart of the Republic. Its new, shining towers amidst a vast expanse of infrastructure, all perched in the middle of the sea 85 kilometers form the nearest “land”. It was an impressive feat of human engineering and he was proud to call it home. The transport dove down and headed for the center to the government landing pads and made touchdown.

Directed towards interior of one of the buildings that made up the capital complex, Miles Orrenyn strode through cool corridors and antechambers for several minutes before being let into a large conference room. The only one currently in the room was Dr. Avatari Chattopadhyay sitting quietly eyes closed with a vacant expression looking quite lost in thought. She didn’t hardly stir save her eyelids twitching slightly at his entrance and Miles seated himself across from her along the long heavy wood table. The wall opposite him was essentially entirely a window, though currently with its nanoshading set low to diffuse little light into the room.
Miles cleared his throat audibly and began to address his colleague. “Dr. Cha-”
“Don’t” Avatari interjected still not opening her eyes.
“Shouldn’t we review-” he tried
“Not necessary Dr. I assure you. You will present what you have and I will continue from there” she snidely responded.
He thought about this a moment, his nerves already on end, now being annoyed by Avatari’s hostility at them putting on a united front. Why would she do this? This benefits us all. It potential benefit is a celebration to the Republic? He wondered.
They sat there in silence for several more minutes before the Minister and his entourage joined them. Miles and Avatari stood as Ryo Case entered the room and they exchanged smiles and pleasantries before being seated quickly. Minister Case’s aide stood and addressed the room:

“We have received report from Dr. Chattopadhyay of the discovery of a micro organism on Borneo whose unique properties might have viable commercial application and that you, Dr. Orrenyn were the scientist who made this discovery?”

Miles shifted in his seat slight, licked his lips, “Yes the organism in question-”
“Is far more than Dr. Orrenyn has perceived, actually.” Avatari said, jumping in, “Dr. Orrenyn may have scratched the sample from the surface of Borneo but it has been the efforts of my lab on Sabah Research Station that have brought forth the subjects fascinating properties to which you speak of. Our experience in genetic mo-”.

Minister Case turned in his seat, a frown upon his face, looking at Avatari. “Dr. please, we will get to your work in a moment.”

The aide and Minister Case turned towards Miles and the aide gestured for him to continue.

Clearing his throat he continued, a slight tremor in his voice, “The organism to speak of is a cyanobacteria, essentially a type of algae, that is extraordinarily unique. The cells have an enormous concentration of lipids, perhaps 5-6 times higher than algae types catalogued before, and its cell membrane has quite a unique structure that quite frankly barely holds them together.”

Ryo Case looked a little expectant, not realizing the full potential of what he just said so he continued.

“Minister, this means that this cell, with very little effort could be processed into numerous commodities. Algae can be used in the production of biofuels, bioplastics, in health foods, as feedstock for agricultural use, as compressed industrial pellets for factory fuels, and as in terraforming by consuming CO2 and putting out Oxygen at astonishing speeds. You see, previous attempts at this application have always been hindered by how much effort, energy, and chemicals go into the processing aspect or using solvents to break down the cell membranes to extract lipids, but this unique cell has virtually no cell wall, and huge concentrations of lipids making commercial application much easier to pursue.”

Minister Case sat with a thoughtful expression, contemplating for several minutes in silence.
“Thats excellent news Dr. Orrenyn. The Republic needs something like this. Dr. Chattopadhyay, what is your role in this?”

Avatari straightened in her seat, “Dr. Orrenyn sent me his sample to corroborate his findings and offer further analysis of the organism. My team cloned the cell and began genetic modification tests and were able to increase the lipid concentration through gene editing.”

“Increase it further? By how much Dr.?” Case asked quickly.

“Approximately 4% sir.” Dr. Chattopadhyay added, though somewhat reluctantly.

“Well thats not nothing, Dr. Chattopadhyay. Excellent work. Dr. Orrenyn, I want you to cease your operations on Yvandros and form a team with your colleague and others that might move this forward. Alright, we have a lot to talk about. Jenkins, clear my schedule.”