As this story begins, we find ourselves in a mid-size town, home to an aspiring university - already big enough to attract quite a large number of students - but too small to be of any importance to the international research communitiy and therefore lacking generous research funds. The university's top departments try their best to get around financial cuts and still do as much as they can to put their team onto the map of outstanding research facilities. Some smaller research groups, however, go down a different path. This is the reason why one day the following advertisement appeared in the local newspaper:
"Help wanted! Striving team of biologists in dire need of students (or the likes) to take part in new test series. Safety not guaranteed but reasonably paid - fame surely to come as well! Contact [***]"
Of course, most people would ignore such a dubious ad. However, there is (almost) always someone seeking an adventure...