Mike nodded as he jotted notes into a leather-bound notebook; mnemonic trick. If you wrote it down, it was easier to recall, "Let's assume that we are going to roll it out, and plan for if we need to do it fast, and if we have time to plan it more meticulously. If we do a NATO summit after the announcement, we are leaving the Russians and Chinese out in the cold. Security Council is an option, G10 is another option." But he was in a roomful of Republicans, and he could practically detect the temperature dropping at the mention of the UN. He glanced toward one of the staffers, an international law guy, "What's the consensus on international law governing first contact protocol?" The man, of an age with Mike, answered promptly, "Nothing but some guidelines created by non-governmental organizations. 1960's vintage suggestions to the UN, non-binding." He glanced back over to the table, "So we're in the clear on handling contact unilaterally," he said as he leaned forward. "However, an additional option is to negotiate with relevant powers to create a structure for cooperation in space for mutual defense and the interests of Earth. Take the lead, sure, but then create a consensus that gives us legitimacy to continue in that role." Mike, who had been a staffer for a Secretary of State, knew that this was easier said than done, that's why he flicked his pen as if to acknowledge that, sure, this was a huge undertaking and it would take an awful lot of time they might or might not have. That, of course, was the downside.