Bertholdt Lipp is known throughout the world as Blipp due to his famous brand of telecommunications equipment that he developed in the late 2020’s. A host of landmark patents meant that, in 2042, the Blipp Corporation had its interests in fuel alternatives, food and, of course, CERN and the super G. Blipp is a giant of a man reaching almost 2m in height, his gentle manner belies a heritage that goes back hundreds of years - one of his ancestors reputedly was fencing champion at Heidelberg. Although sometimes referred to as detached, his pleasant manner is generally forgotten due to his intense work focus. The grinning exaggerated vision of Blipp that is pedalled to the media is a far cry from the real man. Famously difficult to get interviews with, Blipp’s admiration for Stein, opens a doorway for the journalist to be privileged enough to have an audience with him.

Adopted as a child, Jonathan Stein spends his spare time trying to trace the roots of his blood family. He travels to Switzerland frequently after learning of a young girl putting a child up for adoption in 1903. He has followed the trail from Eastern Europe to the States before finally coming to his birth in 2009.
After not making the grade as a world-class physicist, despite his huge potential, he set his sights on spreading the word of cutting edge science through his student news cast. Convinced that the world in 2042 is hurtling towards its bitter end, he sets about communicating his solution to the problem through his editorial. His success as a journalist has caught the eye of the telecommunications tycoon, Bertohldt Lipp thus gaining him access to an exclusive interview with the mogul.
He was lucky to be one of four, out of hundreds, to survive a C980 crash a mile from Newark Airport, but his new fear of flying puts a strain on his constant travelling.Stein has a healthy disrespect for authority and in particular the Fat Police who increasingly ration foodstuffs in his US homeland to stop food companies gaining more control than the government.

Full name Electra Ashcroft, affectionately known as Elsie, is the youngest of the three Ashcroft children. In the year 2042 she has just completed her first year at Cambridge University studying ancient history and, when not attending a stream of parties, shares her mother’s interest in languages and cryptology. Elsie spends her spare time helping her mother look after her brother, Lycian, whose M.S was diagnosed five years previously.In the year 2116 a letter is found written by an aged Elsie recalling the events of the Bugz contact in 2042.

Beautiful, elegant and understated best describe the head of PR at CERN and gatekeeper to the DG. After a childhood lavished with wealth, Gayle is very much at home riding and playing tennis or off piste skiing on the summit of the Swiss Alps, where the only remaining snow in Europe resides. Most are deceived by this stunning brunette’s appearance and demeanour and are surprised by her academic prowess and sharp intellect. Multi-lingual and known for her quick wit, even the most astute negotiator can recognise they are in for a battle when they cross swords with Gayle. People say the quiet ones are the most dangerous and it is certainly true in this instance.

Descended from a long line of Ashcrofts, one of which, Icarus William Ashcroft Senior, was Isaac Newton’s assistant on various scientific experiments.
Devoted to the family but ever consumed by the thought of bringing some credit to the Ashcroft name having inherited an ancient chest from his uncle, he has spent much of his life trying to research the contents and understand the Equations buried within.
He gained the prestigious post Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the age of 31, taking the chair once occupied by Newton and Hawking. From this position, whilst retaining his teaching commitments, he was employed by CERN as senior assistant to CERN’s Chief Scientific Officer in 2026 and seven years later was promoted to his superior’s position. His rapid rise to Chief scientific officer at CERN was deemed exceptional, and quickly began work for the Director General on the revolutionary twin beam collider.
Husband to Brooke, father to Sam, Lycian and Elsie.