by Neal Jones
Ben's arm was thrown over his eyes, and he gave no response.
Tom bit into his sandwich, watching the CMO. He swallowed, and then continued, "Angela wanted me to ask you if next Thursday was good for dinner? Stacey can watch the kids at your place."
"No," Ben said after a few moments. "I don't know. I'll ask Jen."
Tom chewed some more, and then set his sandwich aside. "Is everything okay between you two?"
"It's fine." His tone made it clear he didn't want to discuss any further.
Tom nodded, picking up his sandwich. But before he could take another bite, the door opened, and PO Varela appeared, looking mildly panicked.
"Doctors, we have a multiple incoming. A wedding party. Apparently several of the guests collapsed at the reception, cause unknown."
"Symptoms?" Tom stood, pushing aside his lunch.
"Vomiting, fever, headaches. Sounds like food poisoning."
"Fucking caterers," Ben growled, pulling himself to his feet. "Why can't people ever be happy with the dispensers? What bays do we have empty?"
"None." Varela stood aside to let Rosenberg and Rayburne pass and then fell in step beside them as they headed for the admin desk.
"Is it just me or has it been especially crazy around here lately?" Tom commented.
"Let's start clearing out the waiting rooms," Ben ordered. "Tell the families go upstairs to the hospital lounges if they insist on sticking around. Did dispatch say how many guests are coming?"
Varela glanced at her palm readout. "Last count was thirteen. No, wait, twenty-two now."
"Great," the CMO muttered as he paused at the admin desk. He took a moment to survey the scene. Since the admin desk was at the heart the ER, he had a good view of the treatment bays, the trauma rooms, and the temporary triage stations that had been set up a few days ago. Medical personnel moved quickly and efficiently in and out of the bays, and they also deftly navigated the patients who had taken up chairs along the walls at the edge of Exxar-One's massive trauma center.
"Tom, I want you take over this incoming. Move that group over there into the visitor's lounge and then set up another triage station. Zee, take inventory. Get me an updated list of supplies we need and send it to my 'net. I'm going upstairs to see if there's any personnel they can spare us to help down here."
"I screened them ten minutes ago," Rayburne said. "Their answer was the same as it was an hour ago. Still no."
"Yeah, well, I need to check on something else," Ben replied as he stepped around a gurney on his way to the exit.
( 4 )
The scene at the admin desk on the first floor of the hospital – two decks above the ER – was almost as chaotic as the one Ben had just left. Two nurses were busy with incoming calls, and Doctor Si'Kora was in the midst of a heated discussion with Doctor McMullen as various medical personnel weaved around them on their way to and from the rooms that lined the nearby corridors.
Rosenberg started for the admin desk, but then changed his mind and steered toward McMullen and Si'Kora instead. "Doctors, is there a problem here?"
Kaden turned. "Oh good. I was just about to screen you. N'Rys wants to start releasing patients with a home course of anti-virals instead of treating them here."
"You make it sound as if I'm sending them away at the moment of death," Si'Kora interrupted. "None of the patients are anywhere near that state. Most of them just need rest and plenty of fluids. They can do that in their quarters instead of here."
"There's more to it than that," Kaden retorted, holding out his palm so Rosenberg could see the holo-readout. "Have you seen today's incident report? We're being flooded here! It's been like this since Monday!"
"Yes, I know," Ben sighed. "I've seen the daily reports. How many rooms are available up here?"
"About two thousand, give or take."
"Good. That means decks thirty-two and thirty-three are available?"
Si'Kora nodded. "You're thinking of opening up more triage centers?"
"I have to. The ER is being swamped, and I need to figure out what it is that we've got on our hands. Walk with me, both of you. Kade, I saw your report yesterday. Are you sure that these symptoms are the same as the Sketh flu cases in sector seventeen from two weeks ago?"
"For some of the patients, yes. But most of them are displaying completely different symptoms. It's almost as if we have four or five different outbreaks occurring simultaneously."
"But none are yet fatal," Si'Kora added. "In my opinion, all we have is a particularly nasty strain of some form of influenza. Most of these patients can be treated in their personal quarters with a standard prescription of anti-virals and bed rest."
"I think we should also consider a grey level quarantine," McMullen suggested. "At least until we figure out what's causing all of this. And no, we shouldn't be sending patients home until we know for sure that the anti-virals will work."
"So we have yet to see a case of full recovery?"
McMullen and Si'Kora exchanged a glance as they followed the CMO into Si'Kora's office. "No, we haven't," the Chrisarii admitted.
Rosenberg waited for the door to shut and then activated its privacy lock. "I've been witnessing firsthand what's happening down in the ER, but I haven't had a chance to compare my data with what you two have gathered up here this week." He placed his palm on the download pad on Si'Kora's desk. Once the data from his 'net was transferred to her terminal, he activated the screen's holo-display. "These are all the cases admitted to the ER in the last three days."
McMullen walked around to place his palm on the download pad. All three of them watched as the numbers and categories changed.
"By the gods," Si'Kora muttered. "Seven??"
"This has gotta be a systems error." McMullen shook his head. "How can there not be a match for any of these symptoms?"
"They're different for every species," Ben observed. "And you're right. There has to be an error somewhere." He manipulated the holo-controls to shift the screen's view upward. "Here's a list of possible matches."
"No," Kade said, "it can't be Merr's disease. I've got several DrayH'M patients who would have responded to those anti-virals by now."
"I'll start a systems diagnostic." Si'Kora moved to the wall screen behind her desk.
"No," Rosenberg said grimly. "I don't think this is a systems error."
"But a situation like this isn't possible," McMullen protested. "Seven different alien species exhibiting seven different sets of symptoms, and none of them match a known disease? I've never heard of that many unexplained viral outbreaks occurring simultaneously."
"Neither have I. We'll need to confirm this data as soon as possible." Ben shut off the holo-screen. "Is there at least one of every affected species here in the hospital?"
"I think so." Si'Kora reached for her compad.
"And after we confirm the data? If we really are dealing with seven separate viral outbreaks, what then?"
Ben's commlink chirped before he could reply. "Rosenberg."
"It's Tom. You need to get down here, Ben. Whatever it is that wedding party is suffering from, it isn't food poisoning."
"I'm on my way." The CMO deactivated the privacy lock on the door and then paused at the threshold, glancing back at Kade. "We follow quarantine procedures, doctor. We've all been trained for this. We do our jobs. Is that clear?"
"Yes, sir," he replied.
Si'Kora nodded. "I have a list of available patients."
( 5 )
"No!" Ambassador Morryn slammed his fist on the table for emphasis. "I have already told you, Taelon, that we will not be ceding that sector back to the Federation at all. It is not negotiable."
"There's no need to raise your voice, Cenharrd," Zar replied calmly. "I understand the High Council's position on this matter, and I respect it. I was only trying to point out to you why parliament is insisting on at least adding that item to our agenda. I am under the same obligations that you are. The Kaluskon sector once belonged to the Federation. It
was invaded and seized in the first war between our empires over a century ago. The purpose of these talks is to create a lasting and stable peace between us so that you may eventually be accepted as a charter member of the Federation."
"I do not need a lecture on the history between our empires," Morryn snarled. "Nor do I need to be reminded of why we are here." He took a calming breath as he sat back, his eyes narrowing. "If the Chrisarii Alliance is going to be the 57th member world, then it shouldn't matter what star systems and sectors once belonged to whom. We're all going to be one happy Federation, are we not?" He smiled, displaying two rows of yellowed teeth.
Taelon returned his smile, wincing inwardly. "Perhaps this is as good a time as any for a recess."
"I couldn't agree more."
Both ambassadors stood, and Morryn's aide fell in step behind him as they left the room. Zar gave a tired sigh as she sat back down. Her assistant put aside her compad.
"Some tea, ambassador?"
"Yes, that sounds just right. Thank you."
As Idran accessed the menu of the food dispenser, Commodore Gabriel entered the room. "I just passed Ambassador Morryn. He didn't look very pleased."
Taelon gave him a wan smile. "It's been a difficult morning."
Idran handed her a steaming mug and then returned to her seat at the end of the broad table. Gabriel pulled out Morryn's chair and sat.
"I'm sorry to hear that. I don't envy your position at all."
Taelon gave a slight shrug as she sipped. "It's all right. This week so far has not been as difficult as I expected. Creating an agenda for these talks has not been anywhere near as hard as figuring out Morryn. He's being very…opaque. It's not easy to get a read of him."
Gabriel nodded. "At least he's here and he's talking to you. As long as we can keep that up, I think we'll be fine."
"How's the situation with Doctor Garrett and Captain Barnes?"
The commodore glanced at Idran. The aide took the hint and stood. "If you need me, ambassador, I'll be in the office across the hall."
"Thank you. Please activate the privacy lock on your way out."
After the door shut, Gabriel said, "It's not going well. As far as we know, Kiran is being held captive in either Xaric or Mykahrian space. Both Barnes and Doctor Garrett believe the Anli'Sar is responsible for his kidnapping."
Taelon set aside her mug and nodded. "I know a little about the current political state of the People's Union. I hope it's the Anli'Sar who have Commander Garrett and not Thrale's administration."
"That's why I wanted to get your take on this whole situation. Have you had any dealings with the Mykahrian government? What do you know of Sarvok Thrale?"
Taelon sat back, shrugging. "I'm afraid Captain Barnes knows more about the Mykahrians than I do. Not since we made first contact with them has parliament issued an invitation for peace talks. The Mykahrians made it clear they wanted to be left alone."
"But what about the viral outbreak thirty years ago? Parliament didn't use that opportunity to issue another invitation?"
"No, they did. And, initially, Malkris seemed open to the idea. But, of course, several months later, as soon as a cure was found, he changed his mind. Nothing else has been tried since."
"Damn," Gabriel muttered.
"I could make a few discreet inquiries for you. I correspond regularly with Ambassador Karrif, and he's been very interested in the Mykahrian situation ever since Sarvok rose to power."
The commodore's link chirped, and he nodded at Zar. "Yes, do that. Thank you." He rose, pressing his link as he started for the door. "This is Gabriel."
"It's Captain Barnes, commodore. Please meet me in my quarters as soon as possible."
"I'm on my way."
( 6 )
"Doctor," Gabriel greeted Amelia as he stepped out of the PTL.
"I take it that there's some news about my son," she said, falling into step beside him.
He nodded. "I hope so. Barnes hasn't spoken to me since Monday, and, from what Commander Navarr has told me, he hasn't left his quarters since then either." He gave her a sideways glance as they rounded the corner. "I was going to come visit this afternoon. I hear you've been sequestering yourself as well."
"Thank you," she said, forcing a smile. "I'm all right. I've been trying to lose myself in my work, but..." She trailed off, shrugging.
Gabriel nodded as he pressed the chime on the com panel. A moment later, the door slid aside.
The captain was seated behind his desk, and he motioned to the pair of chairs in front of it. "I received a communiqué two hours ago from ISD central office." He pressed key on his terminal and then swiveled his chair to face the wall screen behind his desk.
The ISD logo appeared, and then a video recording began to play. A Mykahrian male addressed the camera. "My name is Keltor Jisaad, and I am recording this message at extreme risk to myself and my crew. I'm giving you my real name and showing you my face so that you may understand the great risk I am facing if this message is intercepted by my government. My colleagues and I have taken Lieutenant Commander Kiran Garrett into custody, and I give you my word that he will not be harmed." He turned, motioning to someone off screen.
Amelia stiffened, inhaling sharply, as her son stepped into the camera's visual field. His appearance was somewhat disheveled, his face a little too pale, but otherwise he looked okay.
"Hello," he said. He paused, glancing off screen, and then looked at the camera again. "My name is Kiran Garrett, I'm a lieutenant commander in the EarthCorps Navy, and I am unharmed. I have not been otherwise coerced or tortured in any manner. Jisaad and his crew have treated me well, much better than the Xaric." He gave a weak smile. "There's a viral outbreak of unknown origin on the planet Dakthar in the Mykahrian home system. It is their second largest colony, and the fatality count thus far is around forty thousand. The reason that I was kidnapped was because Dakr'o Thrale's administration has not responded at all to this crisis; not like his father did thirty years ago. The Anli'Sar had no choice but to kidnap me in order to get the attention of the Federation." He paused, glancing at Keltor.
"All we want," Jisaad continued, "is for the Federation to send a team to Dakthar like they did thirty years ago on Callistar. At the very least, give us an acknowledgement that you have received this message." He paused, leaning closer to the camera. "Our families are dying, and Dakr'o Thrale has done nothing to aid the suffering! This was our only way of getting your attention. There are instructions on how to respond embedded with the source code of this message. You have my word that Lieutenant Commander Garrett will not be harmed. Please help us."
The screen went dark, and Barnes swiveled around to face Gabriel and Doctor Garrett. "That was intercepted yesterday by one of our relays in the Tirrsch system, near the Mykahrian border."
"And how has FCI responded to this?" Gabriel replied.
The captain hesitated. "As far as I know, they haven't."
"Excuse me?" Amelia leaned forward, her expression taut, her tone hard as ice. "What are they waiting for? Surely they possess the means and the necessary personnel to covertly enter Mykahrian space and retrieve my son. If the Anli'Sar can come and go when they need to, then FCI can also find a way past the security nets."
"I wish it were that simple, doctor."
"Why isn’t it?" Gabriel countered. "FCI conducts covert operations exactly like that all the time."
"It's not a matter of whether or not they can. It's a matter of whether or not they have the proper authorization to do so."
"Of course!" Amelia snorted, sitting back. "It always comes down to politics." She paused, gathering her composure. "FCI doesn't have the authorization because parliament doesn't want to start a galactic incident over the kidnapping of one citizen."
"No." Gabriel shook his head, puzzled. "That may be part of it, but there's more going on here than just a kidnapping. If it was only a matter of covertly infiltrating enemy space to retrieve one of our citizens, then a team would alr
eady be across the border." He turned to Barnes. "So what are you keeping from us? What's delaying a response to this distress call?"
"I told you, commodore, that I am not privy to the same sources of information as the FCI. I'm in the same shuttle as you regarding this matter. I know only what my commander chooses to share with me, and I share it with you. I've already asked him for more information, but he's ignoring my communiqués at the moment. We do know from the source code of the message that it's definitely the Anli'Sar who kidnapped Commander Garrett. In my opinion, that's good news. It means he's got a better chance of survival than if he was in the hands of Thrale's administration."
"I wouldn't be stitching the silver lining just yet, captain," Amelia said coldly. "For all we know, Thrale has already learned of the Anli'Sar's covert operation and dispatched a team to take care of this situation. Is there anything else you have to share with us?"
"No. That's all for now."
"Wait for me outside," Gabriel instructed the doctor. After she was gone, he said, "I hope you're telling us the truth, captain. If I find out that you've been deliberately withholding information –"
"You'll what? Report me to Admiral Hazen? Lock me in your brig?" Barnes shook his head. "I don't what it is you have against me, commodore, but, believe it or not, I am as eager as you to see Commander Garrett returned to Exxar-One safe and sound. We all are wearing the same uniform. We're all fighting on the same side here. What reason would I have to withhold information from you?"
"Fine," Gabriel sighed. He started for the door. "Let me know when you have something new to report."
"Yes, commodore."
Amelia looked up as Marc exited Barnes' quarters. He could see the stress in her eyes, in the taut lines of her face. She was struggling to keep her professional veneer, but the mask was starting to slip.
"I'm sorry," he said. "Barnes assured that he's telling us everything."
"It doesn't make sense," she sighed as they returned to the PTL. "The only reason I can think of for a delay in a rescue operation would be that the FCI – or parliament – is already secretly engaged in some other operation regarding the Mykahrians. But if that's true, what the hell could it be?"
