Five runabouts docked with the station, filled almost beyond capacity with every Starfleet member in the New Canada system--science and security personnel, Marines, even yeomen and maintenance crewmen, outfitted with biocontainment suits. Over a hundred Starfleet personnel, the last uninfected Starfleet personnel at large in the New Canada system.
Tarik addressed them via comm circuit from Sickbay. "Our first priority is to restore order--somehow. If you have to stun everyone on the station who can't control themselves, do so. But use no more force than necessary! These are our friends and family we're talking about. Our second priority is to restore vital systems. Watch-and-watch until everything is at least up to nominal and we get additional help from Starfleet. If you start to show any symptoms at all, report to the EMH. Now let's move, people!"
Tarik turned to Kassia. "What data do we have on this virus?"
Kassia handed him a PADD. "Everything the EMH and Dr. Cherrin--before he succumbed to the virus--was able to gather is right here."
"Excellent. I'll get this to the outside. We're under orders from the Surgeon General to send anything we get to Starfleet Medical and the Vulcan Science Academy. I've also spoken with the G'kar and their Science Commissariat is working the problem, along with Yukon Synthetics' R&DDivision."
"We do have someone in the system with specific experience with bio-engineered organisms," Kassia reminded him. "Lieutenant Wang, aboard the Ronin."
"Is he uninfected?" Tarik asked, suddenly remembering Wang's assistance with Corporal Benson and his past research.
Kassia sensed for a moment. "He appears to be isolated from the rest of the crew aboard the Ronin in his lab. He's worried, and under a lot of stress, but so far he's clean."
Tarik opened a comm channel. Lieutenant Ming Wang appeared on screen, looking much the worse for wear. [What can I do for you, Colonel? How's the station holding up?]
"About what you would expect. How is your research on this thing going?"
[I've found out that it's a retrovirus--it adapts itself to the host's immune system, which is why we're having so much trouble isolating it. This is like the HIV pandemic in Earth's 20th and 21st centuries, only much faster and much more socially disruptive. I've even been able to isolate some segments of its RNA.]
"Okay, you've given me the scientist's answer. I want the Marine's answer: how do we kill it?"
[That's a harder proposition. Dr. Hancock left some very thorough notes on his own case. It appears elevated epinephrine and norepinephrine levels will slow the progression of the disease in humans. Exactly the opposite happens in Vulcans due to the effects of pon farr. We've lost sixVulcans on the Ronin to this virus.]
The neomorphine was a better precaution than I thought. Romulans aren't that much different! "We have some additional data; I'm transmitting it to you now. Share your findings, Lieutenant. Starfleet Medical is on it now. But for the sake of all that's holy you must not leave your lab under any circumstances! Nor must you let anyone in!"
[Understood, Colonel. I'll keep you apprised.]
The comm terminated. Tarik sighed a heavy sigh. He was starting to feel a bit...unhinged...
"Lieutenant Piccolo, Sergeant Corran, it suddenly comes to mind that your unique biologies might give us a handle on dealing with this thing. I'd like you to report to the EMH for DNA sampling."
The two Marines nodded, both totally understanding, and left Sickbay.
Tarik immediately took Kassia into an unoccupied exam room for a few uninterrupted minutes...