THE ALTIAN PLAGUE

by D M Arnold

  “Administering it is a different story,” Sirk remarked.

  “If we could predict which colony is the likely target and concentrate our efforts there,” Nyk replied, “it would reduce the administrative problems dramatically.”

  “How would we know which colony?” Kronta asked.

  “I believe there's only one that's the likely target -- Lexal. First, the population is small, but concentrated in several urban areas. Second, Mykko Wygann is universally unpopular in the HL.” He glanced sideways at Pring. “Most HL delegates would consider loss of Lexal a shame; but privately, would be grateful for the removal of a thorn. If The Seven attack T-Delta or Gamma- 5, for example, the HL reaction would more likely be horror and revulsion. It would turn sentiment away from The Seven's objectives. And -- finally, there's the animosity between Altia and Lexal -- the revenge factor. I think Lexal is tailor-made as the target.” Nyk poked his vidisplay. “Not coincidentally, 6639.102 -- the day after the ultimatum expires -- is Grand Assembly Day on Lexal.”

  “What is Grand Assembly Day?” Sirk asked.

  “It's the day public forums are held in all the cities. Business closes, the people congregate, hear speeches and petition their legislators. How convenient would it be to disperse the virus into the crowds to maximize exposure.”

  Pring nodded. “I think he's right -- Lexal is a prime target. If we plan on protecting Lexal, we can neutralize the first use of the weapon.”

  “We must also neutralize The Seven themselves,” Sirk replied. “Once they realize it's failed -- they'll turn it on another colony.”

  “Only if they believe the other colonies remain vulnerable,” said Pring.

  “Similarly, if word of a plan to protect Lexal leaks out,” Nyk added, “They'll change the target to an unprotected world.”

  “Hence the need for absolute secrecy,” Kronta interjected.

  “I think,” Nyk said, “we should not stop with the vaccination of Lexal. We should offer the vaccine to all the colonies.”

  “Absolutely,” Sirk replied. “Perhaps by the time they realize the initial attack has failed we can have the rest of the population protected.”

  “Sirk -- what do you know of The Seven's structure?” Kronta asked.

  “Very little,” he replied. “Although the group claims to be an Altian faction, we're beginning to believe their leadership may be headquartered elsewhere. For certain, their infantry is on Altia -- the privates and corporals. Where the colonels and generals are ... is anybody's guess. They could be right here.” He tapped the table with his finger.

  “On Floran, that is,” Kronta replied. “Not in this room.”

  “Precisely.”

  Kronta nodded. “We'll need the cooperation of Internal Affairs. I'll handle establishing the appropriate contacts. Is it agreed our first priority is protecting Lexal?” Kronta looked around the table. “We'll need the cooperation of Mykko Wygann and his regime.”

  Sirk snorted. “Good luck obtaining that.”

  “Nykkyo -- you can approach Wygann.” Nyk nodded.

  “Good. We all have work to do. We'll reconvene in two days to review our progress.”

  Sirk and Pring headed for the door. Nyk approached Senta and Helsyn. “Can we really make a vaccine?”

  “Yes,” Helsyn replied. “The decontamination serums ExoAgents use routinely contain vaccines. The problem is -- this virus is so multifaceted, we can't create a broad-spectrum vaccine that will protect a victim from all phases. Not, at least, in the timeframe allotted.”

  “What we must do,” Aahhn added, “is to create a vaccine to protect the victim at the most critical phases. In my opinion, those would be the phase one respiratory infection and the phase two immune system attack.”

  “I agree,” said Helsyn. “We can also make synthetic antibodies that can give temporary protection. Phase two will be the tricky one, though.”

  Nyk turned to Kronta as he slipped his handheld vidisplay into his xarpa. “Illya -- I apologize for that crack about Altian thugs.”

  “It's okay, Nyk.”

  “I'll need to bring Andra into this in order to approach Wygann -- through his wife.”

  “I have no problem with that. Her friendship with Princess Janna gives her a primary motive to work in our best interest.”

  “Don't you trust her, Illya?”

  “I trust an ax'amfin to behave in whatever manner suits her interests.”

  “Andra is a good woman. I don't know about other ax'amfinen, but she has always put duty first.”

  “Duty to whom? To the Hegemony or to that academy they're so loyal to? Nyk -- I like Andra. She's always been straight with me. Maybe she's an exception.” Kronta picked up a polymer case. “Is there anything else?”

  “Yes -- I think there's good evidence that The Seven have a cell operating on Earth.”

  “What sort of evidence?”

  “The virus has surfaced there, as either an accidental or intentional release into the Earth population. It happened about the time Marxo fell ill. There were thirty-four Earth cases -- all fatalities.”

  “That's not so bad.”

  “A single exposure transmitted to thirty-four random individuals, Illya. Earth authorities are better skilled at dealing with these then are we. At any rate -- all Earth victims were passengers on a flight from Tulsa to Kansas City -- or, they had contact with those passengers. Marxo was also on that same flight.”

  “So?”

  “Marxo had no business in Tulsa -- he was stationed in Scottsdale. I went through his draw account records -- looking for flights, hotels and so on, paid for with his draw card.”

  “What did you find?”

  “Not much -- but he did have numerous cash withdrawals both in Scottsdale and Tulsa. A couple times he slipped up and paid for hotel accommodations with his debit card. I think he was spending a significant fraction of his time in Tulsa. It explains the poor performance of the Scottsdale lab -- he simply wasn't there to do the work. His performance was so poor Seymor and I discussed sending him up. Add to this the fact that Zander kept his Earth home there, and we know he was involved in the original Ricin plot. The virus was tested on Earth. I think it's possible it was created or perfected there.”

  Kronta stroked his chin. “I doubt created -- but, I believe perfected and certainly tested there.”

  “There's more, Illya -- When we sanitized Marxo's lab, we found record of a telemessage transmitted from Altia. It was coded using Altian street codes. We believe the contents of the message read, pickup January 15, delivery January 18. Marxo contracted the virus and died on the nineteenth.”

  “Do you still have the message?”

  Nyk withdrew his handheld vidisplay. “I transferred a copy here.”

  Kronta looked toward the doorway. “Captain Sirk, you should have a look at this...”

  * * *

  Nyk sat across from Senta and scooped from a packaged dinner. “Nyk,” she asked, “do you have accommodations while you're here for this project?”

  “No. Not yet.”

  “You can stay here.”

  “Thanks, Senta. I know the rules -- stay in the guest room and don't bother you when you have company.”

  “I'll be so busy with this project I won't have time for company.” She pointed to his meal tray. “Are you done?”

  “Yes.” He handed her the empty package and she dropped it into the waste reprocessor.

  She stepped to a control panel, scanned her wrist and touched some controls. “Nyk, come here... Scan your wrist.” He pressed it to the control panel. “I've authorized your ID on the doorscan. You may come and go as you please.”

  He wandered into the apartment's living room and sat on a sofa. “So you think you and Helsyn can do this.”

  “Yes, but we have no margin for error.”

  “How long do you think it'll take?”

  “How long do we have?” she asked.

  “Well -- let's back-time it. It's twenty-nine days '
til the ultimatum ... twenty-eight, really, since today is nearly over. Let's assume it takes Lexal three days to inoculate everyone -- we're down to twenty-five. How long would it take the replication plants to gear up and manufacture a hundred fifty million doses?”

  “Assuming we deliver good molecular models...” She looked at the ceiling. “Five days.”

  “Thirty million doses a day? How big is a dose?”

  “Probably five millilitres or so.”

  He pondered. “That's 750,000 litres for a hundred fifty million doses ... three thousand barrels manufactured and delivered to Lexal.”

  “Hmm... Maybe we should budget ten days, including transportation.”

  “I'll bring this up at our next meeting. We need to figure the logistics of moving three thousand barrels to Lexal. Ten days to make and transport the vaccine and three to administer it. That gives you twelve days to develop it. Can you do that?”

  “We'll have to, won't we?”

  “What goes into a vaccine?”

  “Well -- vaccines work by stimulating the production of antibodies -- molecules the body produces to defend against infection. Antibodies tie up the virus so it can't attach to the target cell and reproduce.”

  He nodded. “I get it -- an antibody resembles the surface of the target cell. The virus attaches and is neutralized.”

  “Right. What we must do is to trick the body into forming antibodies that will attack the virus. Dr Helsyn tells me historically, a pathogen was grown and then killed or crippled. Unfortunately, we have no media in which to grow this virus.”

  “I don't think we'd want to grow it if we could,” Nyk replied.

  “Instead, we must synthesize molecules resembling the protein jacket. The immune system will believe the vaccine molecules are invaders and create the antibodies. Once they're in the bloodstream...”

  “...you're immune.” He nodded. “Very clever the immune system is.”

  “We can also create synthetic antibodies as a bridge until the natural ones develop. And, we'll throw in a good dose of immune system booster to speed up the process. I'll tell you, Nyk -- working with Dr Helsyn has been a thrill. I've learned so much.”

  “I'll bet he'll say the same about you. I was proud of your performance at the meeting today.”

  She smiled. “Why, thank you, Nyk. If I didn't know better I'd say you were coming on to me.”

  He chuckled and shook his head. “I'm not one for hollow flattery, Senta. I was proud of you. Despite the whole divorce business, I never lost my admiration for you. I've said it before -- I'd like us to be friends. Do you think that's possible?”

  “Possible ... yes.”

  “Good.” He yawned. “I'm going to turn in. I have to be up early tomorrow. I'm meeting Andra at the shuttleport, and then we take a ride to Lexal. We're meeting with Mykko Wygann and his wife.”

  * * *

  Nyk sat beside Andra as the shuttle swept across the Lexalese highlands and touched down at the shuttleport. “I didn't expect to return here so soon,” he said.

  “I've been here a couple of times since the insurrection. I like it here.”

  The craft stopped by the terminal building and the door opened. Nyk descended a flight of steps and onto the pavement. Andra joined him and they headed through the terminal to the groundcar lot. He hired a car and directed it to the palace.

  “It looks like they've repaired most of the damage,” he said to Andra as the car wound up switchbacks to the hilltop palace. It's also nice to see fewer guards on duty.”

  “Yes,” she replied. “Tensions have eased significantly.”

  “I wonder what our news will do to tensions.”

  The car parked and Nyk stepped out. He gave Andra a hand and led her toward a guard station. The guard spoke through a vidphone. “Someone will escort you.”

  Another member of the security force approached. “Follow me.” He led them into the palace and into a lift to an office.

  Nyk sat on a bench upholstered in a deep-pile blue velvet. Harsh light from the blue sun streamed through a window and across the floor. Andra stood, her hands clasped behind her back.

  The door opened and a stocky, late-middle-aged man entered accompanied by a tall woman with oat-straw white hair. She approached Andra, embraced her and they kissed.

  “I still can't get over how alike they are,” the man remarked to Nyk. He extended his hand. “Nykkyo -- good to see you again.”

  “Chancellor.”

  “Please -- it's Mykko.”

  Janna offered her hand. “Nykkyo.”

  “I read the briefing material you sent,” Wygann said. “We've heard the threats from this separatist group. We hadn't quite known how to interpret this planet-killer talk.”

  “A biological weapon,” Nyk replied, “a vicious disease, a plague that would undoubtedly kill the majority of a planet's population.”

  “And you believe Lexal is the target?”

  “Your world, Chancellor, is unfortunately the logical choice for demonstrating this weapon. We can't guarantee these terrorists will behave logically, but all indicators point to a first-use against Lexal.”

  “We had adjusted to a period of lessened tensions with Altia,” Janna added. “After the insurrection, the High Legislature ordered the scrapping of Altian perimeter defenses.”

  “Yes,"Nyk replied, “along with a restructuring of the Altian government and payment of reparations to Lexal. I'm familiar with the settlement.”

  “How does your task force expect to deal with this threat?” asked Wygann.

  “We are proceeding on several fronts. We have liaisons with security and intelligence forces in several areas and we are pursuing The Seven with all diligence.”

  “Given the nature of that organization, I doubt you'll make inroads before the expiration of their ultimatum.”

  “We're hoping for a breakthrough. On another front, we are in the process of developing a vaccine that would render their weapon useless. I've been authorized to offer it to you. If the virus is deployed against Lexal, your people would be immune -- assuming you could innoculate your entire population.”

  “Are you offering this to other colonies?”

  “We will offer it to the entire hegemony. As the likeliest target, Lexal is to receive the first shipments.”

  “Hmm...” Wygann looked toward Janna. “Get my security chief.”

  Janna touched a proximity pad. A tall young man approached. “Venn, Chancellor wishes to speak with his security chief.” The man snapped a bow, turned and left.

  Wygann turned toward Nyk. “Who all is on this task force?”

  “ExoAgency personnel, a couple of doctors... My wife -- my ex-wife, who's a genetics expert... A Mr Pring...”

  “Chief boot-licker to the president of the HL,” Wygann interjected.

  “A Captain Sirk of the Altian Security Force.”

  Wygann squinted “Do you really think his bunch is sincere about stopping The Seven?”

  Nyk nodded. “I do.”

  “Even if The Seven is secretly part of the Altian government?”

  “Certainly you don't believe that.”

  “Certainly I do. Who is this Captain Sirk?”

  “He's the Altian security force expert on The Seven.”

  “A captain ... their head man on The Seven -- is a mere captain.” Wygann shook his head.

  “I've seen him aggressively hunting their operatives on Altia,” Nyk replied.

  “They should be hunting the brains of the operation -- not the feet.”

  The door opened and an older man in uniform entered, bowed to Janna and saluted Wygann. “My security chief.” Mykko looked at him. “Tell me -- suppose we wished to inoculate every Lexalese... How quickly could we do that?”

  “Inoculate, Chancellor?”

  Wygann touched the inside of his elbow with his forefinger. “Give everyone a shot in the arm. How could we do that?”

  “I'll need to study this -- formulate a plan.”<
br />
  “How long would it take?”

  “The plan? A few days, Chancellor.”

  “No -- I need to know how long it would take to inoculate everyone if we were to press all our medical staff to the job. And, it must be done in total secrecy.”

  “Total secrecy, Chancellor?”

  “Total secrecy.”

  “I'll schedule a meeting with the Health Minister. When do you need this plan?”

  “Today,” Wygann replied. “Right after lunch is soon enough.”

  The security chief's eyes popped. “Right, Chancellor. I'll get on it.” He turned and left.

  * * *

  Janna held hands with Andra as Nyk walked with them in the palace courtyard. An enormous orange crescent hung low in the western sky. “Lexal Prime is especially beautiful tonight,” Andra remarked.

  “I'll say this,” Nyk said. “Your security chief is a devious fellow.”

  “He's the best,” Janna replied.

  “I think his plan will work.”

  Janna stopped at a bench near a fountain in the center of the courtyard and held her hand in the stream of water. “I hope your scientists can develop this vaccine in time. I have my doubts.”

  “Our best minds are on it,” Andra replied.

  Janna shook her head. “Is this to be the story of Lexal? To be a pariah colony everyone wishes to harm?”

  “Not everybody,” Nyk said.

  “Not you two, I know. We don't have a friendly ear in the entire HL.”

  “That will change,” Nyk replied. “Once the horror of what The Seven are attempting is understood -- it will turn opinion in favor of what you and Mykko have accomplished here.”

  “Or -- in a few days' time -- this world will become a wasteland. Nykkyo ... Andra -- If I don't have the opportunity again... Thank you for your efforts.”

  11 -- The Sequencing Lab

  Nyk led Andra into the conference room at ExoAgency headquarters. “You're in on this -- you might as well sit in the meetings,” he said. “We're a bit early.”

  Senta walked in and sat across from Nyk. One by one the others filed in. Kronta rapped the table with his knuckle. “We'll keep it short. Progress reports.” He looked toward Helsyn.