[Libertas Omnium Maximus]

As the Eirian delegate returned to her seat, Representative Harrison waited with bated breath for one of the dozens of other representatives present to pipe up. He tapped his foot methodically against the leg of his wooden chair in nervous anticipation. Harrison was far from the world’s leading expert on aerospace engineering—if he was, he certainly would not have been called upon to serve in his current capacity—but the prospect of proudly watching as a Maximusian astronaut boarded a launch vehicle headed for the first ever space station of its kind left the chemical engineer-turned-diplomat giddy with excitement. Harrison knew that a functional internationally manned and funded, low-orbit space station was years and at least a few billion dollars in the future, but the first real steps towards that future would have to occur in the hallowed halls of the LIDUN headquarters.

After it became clear that no other delegates wished to speak before hearing clarification on the nascent propositions being presented by Representatives Velite, Jokinen, and Harrison, the Maximusian delegate sought recognition from the chair to speak, and was accordingly given the floor. Harrison hoisted his sizable frame from his chair, arranging a series of notes hastily-scribbled on a pale-yellow legal pad before him, before flipping on his microphone to speak.

“Based on the statements made by the representatives from Eiria and Zongongia, it seems that a generalized mission objective, studying the long term effects of zero-gravity habitation on human spacefarers, can be reasonably assumed. With these guiding parameters in mind, we still need to address the structure of the body or sub agency tasked with researching, constructing, launching, staffing, and operating the space station. We also need to settle on something approaching a preliminary budget, as I strongly suspect funding will prove to be the ultimate constraint on this operation. In order to address either or both of these pressing concerns in an informed manner, I think a non-binding headcount of delegations willing to participate in this undertaking is in order. It goes without saying that the Maximusians are on board, and I gather the same can be said for the Zongongians and Erians, but I had hoped to see more interest in such a potentially era-defining undertaking. As a species, I believe we are on the precipice of a new frontier, but we need all hands on deck.”

Harrison paused for a few seconds after delivering what he hoped was a hard-hitting call to arms to his fellow representatives, many of whom, like Dr. Harrison, were men and women united in a passion for the sciences and a desire to promote the advancement of scientific research worldwide, beyond borders and above the din of petty international squabble.