Shortly after returning to Earth, we contacted the Dean and told him our suggested dates for the announcement and for the conference itself. Within a few hours he replied saying that he had discussed it with the other Grand Circle members, who had all agreed that those dates seemed sensible.

The mid-December date for the announcement was tight, but doable, we thought. But we had no time to lose. We had to review all past discussions on security, the Grand Circle's deliberations and the current world political and technological situation.

Following that, our next task was to compose a letter to all Heim residents and workers - a 'sales document' - explaining the purpose of the conference and why it would be in their interests to attend or contribute suggestions.

Lastly, to complete this initial stage of the process, we had to suggest the broad topics for discussion and fit them into ten sessions over a five -day period, hopefully with some logic that segues each session into the next.

Al this had to be done in the first few days of December, to give the Grand Circle time to review it before publication in mid-December.

Progress - early December

After much discussion and argument, Viccy and I had put together what we thought was a fairly comprehensive list of the security topic headers, which we have incorporated into a draft agenda.

We have also included below a draft of a 'letter' which, subject to Grand Circle approval, will to be transmitted to all Heim personnel's inboxes.

Letter of invitation.

To all Heim people,

In the third week of January 2026 the Grand Circle is arranging a conference to discuss security issues, with the intention of developing a Security Master Plan for now and the future.

This meeting is being called in response to the increasing frequency of questions and concerns, expressed by many of you, on a wide range of security issues.

Many of you who read our website pages will be aware of earlier discussions on a range of security issues. (A list of the relevant chapters is appended below.) The Circle believes that it is now necessary to consolidate and update these ideas, and others, into a coherent plan. A security 'umbrella' that guides future activities that ensure that we are as safe as we can be, today and tomorrow.

The Circle would like to encourage all of you to think about how secure you feel and what concerns, if any, that you have. If you feel that you have ideas to contribute or questions to be answered we encourage you to register for attendance at the conference.

It will run for the five weekdays in the third full week of January, starting on Monday 19th. There will be ten sessions - five in the mornings from 9 to 12 and five in the afternoons from 2 to 5. Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be provided.

The suggested discussion topics for each session are detailed in the attached agenda and a booking site has been set up on our intranet. If you intend to attend, would you please go to that site [sec.conference.booking]and register for the sessions you wish to attend.

The venue has not yet been set, as it will be subject to the number of expected attendees, so we would ask that you make your booking as soon as possible.

For those who cannot attend in person there will be the usual video-conferencing options available but we do believe that more will be achieved by personal attendance as discussions will probably continue outside the sessions - during meal times and in the evenings.

As soon as we have collated the numbers and selected an appropriate venue, we will advise those who have booked and ascertain your travel and accommodation needs, if any.

Thank you all,

The Grand Circle members.

Attached: Conference Agenda.

The discussion topics in this agenda are indicative, not restrictive. Actual discussions may diverge from these points, where useful and relevant.

Day 1 - Monday - January 19

Morning session
Discussion topic: Potential external security threats.

• Physical attack or invasion. Defences. Earth alliances?
• Data systems attacks, breaches.
• Accidental detection of the Heim worlds, or our outstation, by Earth probes.
• Feasibility of Earth initiated missile strike given current (known) technology.
• Risk of development of field drive capabilities that match the Heim drive.