In addition, Li told them to start the project at Nicole's ruined home district.
@AverageJoe: On that note: since your character appears to have been from the same District as Nicole, I suggest you too get involved in this event. Your character would've likely been horrified at the fate of his home District.
As Tasuku Hyoshida is older than Nicole, I think it's plausible he got recruited before Nicole. As such, I don't think he would know her, but he could recognize her surname as belonging to the house of exiled nobles that used to keep his home district under check.