Minerva – Part 1

I previously wrote that it was unclear when our organization switched names from The Foundation to Minerva.  That may have been a little premature.  It has been known for some time that before the War, they went by the former name, and that in most of the early records after the Long Winter use the latter.  The archiving of several dozen notebooks, memos and journals belonging to various researchers of little influence, while not adding much to the body of scientific knowledge, have revealed some important facts about the development of the organization we now know as Minerva.

The Environmental Department gave their final report to the Council today.  It seems the radiation levels have dropped enough to begin farming the valleys near the bunkers.  They were very professional, and kept internal politics out of it completely, but it didn’t take long for the Neo-Romans to plug it into their propaganda.  Some might find their speech of ideals and opportunities inspiring, but I’d rather we just stay to ourselves.  We’ve got enough trouble feeding ourselves without expanding and taking in more refugees.

-From the personal journal of Arkadiusz Siemowit, a Polish endocrinologist, circa February 2023.

Tensions are running hot.  The Neo-Romans have appointed their own Regency in opposition to the Council.  My lab and the rest of the geneticists have managed to stay out of it, but lots of people are starting to pick sides.  Unfortunately the Neo-Romans are attracting most of the weapons researchers, while the Council has mainly the liberal arts and sociologists behind them.  It doesn’t take more than common sense to see how this is going.  What do you think we should do?

-Excerpt from a personal letter to Slava Pavletic, written by Ryoichi Nishimura, circa May 2023.

It’s done.  The Council folded before it resorted to violence.  Good thing too.  We need every able-bodied person to get this first crop harvested.  Winter comes early these days.  I’m fine with the symbolism of their movement and everything, I just hope that the Regents don’t require an offering to their idol.

-From the personal journal of Ampelio Veronesi, an Italian anthropologist, circa August 2023.

While the name Minerva is not explicitly stated in these or any of the other records yet archived for this time period, it seems logical to me that the name change occurred in the summer of 2023 as part of the change of power between the Foundation Council and these Neo-Roman Regents.  As early as 2028 we have record of the Minervan Regency as the governing board.  Any student of ancient history will know that Minerva was the Roman goddess of wisdom and warfare, two principles that seem to fit our history rather well.  I am quite confident that these Neo-Romans were the source of the name, Minerva, and the source of the change in mission from the original Foundation.