User blog comment:Kogath/Monster Hunter: World Discussion/@comment-6050823-20170921095445

Things You May Not Know About Astera, the Handler, General Commander, and Research Commission Leader

Astera (Japanese アステラ)
 * Astera is the home for all the investigators of the New World.
 * Researchers survey the ecosystem, hunters gather together, etc.
 * During the first forty years of the New World investigation, Astera was built.
 * Hunters can freely roam the New World and take quests.
 * Occasionally, monsters are brought back to Astera for researchers to study.

The Handler (Japanese 受付嬢)
 * The Handler works with hunters and summarizes the research info for them.
 * The Hunter's Guild recommended her for the New World investigation and she has high hopes for this mission.
 * She is considered quite clever.
 * Her belief: If you get lost, try eating! (Japanese 「迷ったら、食ってみろ！」. )

General Commander (Japanese 総司令)
 * General Commander leads the Research Commission.
 * Forty years ago, the first few teams investigated the New World. The General Commander was on one of those teams. He gave them teams bold orders and calm instructions.
 * He has a lot confidence in the Research Commission.

Research Leader (Japanese 調査班リーダー)
 * The Researcher Leader is the grandson of the General Commander.
 * He was born and brought up in the New World by the investigation team.
 * He is a young hunter who puts together the survey teams for field work.
 * From living so long in the New World, he has become a senior hunter. He knows all sorts of things about the New World.

Source: http://www.4gamer.net/games/384/G038421/20170921041/