Threshold Protocol

Chapter 2 : Deep Sync

13:00 – NBOA Briefing Room, Washington, D.C.
Date: Wednesday, October 18, 2028. — Two Days After Phase I Completion

Fluorescent panels buzzed softly overhead, washing the long mahogany table in a sterile white. Behind mirrored glass, analysts and aides from the National Biotech Oversight Authority observed in silence. Inside the room, five figures faced the head of the table, each with their own agendas: the Regulator overseeing ethical compliance, the Defense Liaison, the Chief Medical Office of the national health directorate, the NBOA Director herself-and Helena Vos.

She entered with quiet precision, dossier in hand, mask of composure firmly in place. Her coat was crisp, her gestures economical. As she reached the head of the table, her fingers tapped her tablet, and the room's holo-display shimmered to life.

VOS (measured, scanning the room):

"Thank you for convening. As of forty-eight hours ago, Phase I of the Threshold Protocol officially concluded. All twenty volunteers completed the primer infusion cycle. No adverse systemic reactions beyond the expected transient symptoms—two instances of mild headaches, resolved within six hours."

She advanced through curated data: infusion uptake rates, neuromuscular stabilization curves, and summarized metrics for the test cohort. No identifiers, just sanitized outputs. Especially for Subject A.

The Regulator, pen in hand, leaned forward.

REGULATOR (tone calm but firm):
"You referenced sub-threshold tremor activity. Where are the source EEG logs for that? Our ethics panel requires complete transparency."

Vos's throat tightened. That data had been marked internal only—segmented away after initial anomalies emerged in Subject A's scans. But she didn't flinch.

VOS:

"They're being compiled for full release. You'll have them by 10:00 tomorrow, unredacted."

CMO (even, clinical):

"I'm here for one reason only: to ensure we're not engineering trauma vectors. If we detect induced psychosis or neurochemical dependency—this ends. I'll revoke licensure myself."

VOS (unwavering):

"Every subject undergoes mandatory psychological evaluations at 24, 48, and 72 hours post-infusion. Any signs of destabilization are grounds for immediate suspension from progression."

The CMO studied her, then slowly rose from his seat.

CMO (curt):

"Psych profiles. In my inbox by end of day. No euphemisms."

He gestured to his assistant, then exited with the quiet weight of someone whose word could shutter entire divisions.

Vos exhaled subtly, tension ticking from her shoulders the moment the door latched shut.

NBOA DIRECTOR (voice low, authoritative):

"Dr. Vos, let's be clear. We are not here to push your schedule forward or slow it down arbitrarily. But we will not authorize Phase II until the anomaly logs and safety triggers are reviewed by an independent panel. Period."

A beat passed. Vos steadied herself.

VOS:

"Understood. The oversight panel will have everything it needs by end of day."

The Defense Liaison finally spoke.

DEFENSE LIAISON (blunt) :

"We need reliability data for augmented operatives. Not six months from now-six weeks. If this can't scale in time for field testing, then we need a pivot."