Note: this is a major rough draft.

When the ship known as Rama returned from it's long trip from Earth with members of various species, the overseers weren't sure what to do with the human contingent.  But as is our way, we do not turn our backs on any of our guests.  After all, other species at the Node were rather barbaric at times in their own history.  Some of these species not only evolved beyond their own basic instincts, some of their members have become overseers themselves.  One day the human species will also have members among the overseers.  But not today.  Not yet at least.

Despite the failure involving the original Human colony, the incidents during the return trip has revealed much of the human species' basic behavioral patterns.  After the unstable individuals have been banished from the main group, the remaining individuals were permitted to continue their evolution along with the species that have already interacted with them on the Rama ship.  This inter-species coexistence not only survived reasonably well over the generations, it proved that humans could coexist and work with other species.

As is the policy of the Node, none of the residents are required to participate in normal Node activities.  The process is entirely voluntary and all species will be cared for.  They are after all guests of the Node and will be treated as such.  Many humans willingly became highly active participants in the Node's regular operations.  Some have even successfully obtained supervisory positions among the Node work crews, able to interact with different species at the Node with little or no apparent discomfort.  The humans have developed the necessary infrastructure required to greatly ease the migration of their young into Node activities.  They have even introduced a management hierarchy which bridges Node activities with their own, extending their basic sense of community and belonging.

Any individual exhibiting abnormal behavior among  the colony is evaluated beforehand by a committee chosen by the humans who make their recommendations on the course of action to take upon the abnormal individual.  The humans have shown both firmness and fairness in their recommendations to the point that the Node behavioral committee rarely needs to alter the original recommendations.

Humans are classified as a rapid evolving species.  They have the ability to change the course of their evolution in a very short period of time and adapt their behavior where it would benefit those around them the most.  The main disadvantage of this rapid evolution is that if a mistake is made in the course of their evolution, it could destroy the entire species.  Earth history has shown these "errors in evolution" to be a normal periodic occurrence.

So what about the human population of Earth?  How have they evolved in the years since a few of their members  left their planet?  Is the species still thriving or has a fatal calamity wiped them out?  Does the evolutionary patterns of the human population of the Node reflect the true evolutionary patterns of the human species?  Has exposure to the Node contaminated the results?

The cylindrical ship known as Rama is now being prepared for the journey back to Earth to answer these questions.  Its passengers will consist of four thousand human beings and a hundred beings from various species that have interacted with the humans over the years.  Their mission is is to travel back to Earth and study the current evolution of the human inhabitants.  It is imperative to determine at this time the full evolutionary potential of the species since previous studies have revealed they are very close to achieving space travel outside their own system.  If the humans succeed in achieving extended space travel, full disclosure protocols will be in effect and a diplomatic liaison may have to be established with the planet's inhabitants.

Even though inter-species interaction has been a success at the Node, only the human members of the team will interact directly with the humans inhabitants of the Earth.  Although the simple act of revealing the existence of other species in the Universe does not pose a problem by itself (Rama was already advanced exposure to this fact), there will be no mention of the existence of other species aboard Rama itself.  While Earth ships are docked alongside Rama, the non-human contingent will continue their observations and research in the deep recesses of Rama where their existence will be hidden from the humans of the Earth.

Three Node overseers will join the research team.  As a security measure, their identities will not be revealed.  If an incident occurs aboard the ship that is beyond the research team's capabilities to resolve on their own, the mission will be scrubbed and the ship will be sent back to the Node with all it's inhabitants put into deep hibernation.  If this is not possible, the destruction of Rama itself may be necessary.  This final decision will only be made by the overseers and can't be challenged.

All participating species including the humans have been made aware of these risks including the possibility of a self-destruct.  Nevertheless, ten thousand volunteers have come forward to be part of the mission.  In human time, Rama will reach the Earth in fourteen years.  The entire crew will be awakened in nine years to begin their initial observations and prepare for the eventual detection of the ship by the Earth three years before Rama's arrival.

The research team will be on their way very shortly.  All participants are saying their last goodbyes to their loved ones at this time.  Many won't ever see each other ever again.  It is a painful experience for all.  We wish them success in their endeavors.

Earth Exploratory Missions Committee, Node 4.