“They don’t seem overly happy with us being here,” Matthys stated in a very dry manner. Caade had become used to it by now. The young nurse was very capable but his bedside manner and interpersonal relationship skills certainly were not a credit to the assumptions one would make of someone in the nursing profession.

“You’ve got to remember that these people are xenophobic in nature. I don’t know their reasons, but that is certainly at play here. They’re also going through a horrific time,” Caade replied as he took in the horizon of stretchers full of patients in an overflow warehouse that had turned into a hospital and treatment ward. His team were all in isolation gear, so he was certain that didn’t help their case either.

The Pathfinder had arrived to Ni’lan about three hours prior and his team had beamed down as much equipment as they could and began trying to treat and analyze what was happening to the Hulan. Caade’s differential was all over the place at present. The countless bodies he had examined presented with catastrophic cellular decay – the decimation moved right down to the nucleotide level and was reminiscent of something tearing the helix structure apart. It did not appear viral but rather mechanical in nature, something he had never seen.

Thankfully, one of the other physicians on staff had a passion and subspecialty in infectious disease, a rather fortunate turn of events considering the smaller size of Pathfinder’s medical team. Even with that advantage, though, the team was still very much in the dark about the pathology and mechanism of action in what was taking place. They could only offer pain relief and palliation support to those afflicted. 

Death continued to be the only certainty in the Ni’lan hospital system, even with Pathfinder’s help.

“Governor. I wish I was coming with better news but my team has not been able to identify what is causing this illness among your people,” Kqinara said this empathetically to the governor, who was on the other end of a visual call with her. She had wanted to speak with him in person by now but had only directed the necessary personnel for medical treatment permission to disembark Pathfinder. 

“Captain. I place no blame on you or your team for that. I am just grateful you are here and that more help is coming.” Governor Lanon replied. He appeared to be absolutely exhausted, with dark bags under his eyes and a weary expression on his face. 

“I wanted to ask, Governor. Earlier, actually.” Kqinara paused for a second. She wanted to get this right and have it not cause a defensive reaction. 

“We noticed a large Orion vessel in a nearby system when we were enroute to you. We also noticed a smaller vessel departing Ni’lan a little while before our arrival too. I’m just wondering what is going on there?” 

Governor Lanon groaned and rolled his eyes, “Yes. Our friends.” He was still not pleased that the Orions had all but abandoned them after this illness broke out. Lanon was careful in his response, knowing the Orion’s preferred to keep their mutual relationship private. However, due to their abandonment, he didn’t hesitate to explain when the captain questioned him.

“They helped us establish new trade routes for our sweet corn. The demand has increased fifteen fold since they came, we’ve been able to secure profits to help us expand and build our economy here on Ni’lan,” Lanon explained. It had been his deputy governor who had invited them into the fold, and it had paid off for them as a people so far, despite their inaction when illness spread. 

Kqinara nodded in reply. She didn’t want to push for more answers at this point but figured there was more to this picture. Whether the governor was privy to the workings or not, there was usually more than what appeared on the surface in working with the syndicate. 

“Thank you, Governor Lanon. I hope to be able to see you in person soon. I’ll be sure to update you on any new findings. Appreciate your time.”

“Transporting the patient now.” The deceased patient was transported from a stretcher five hundred meters away to the advanced biobed and scanner area that had just finished being set up by some Pathfinder engineers. 

The medical team had concluded something very usual taking place in their robust analysis of infected Hulan patients. Each infected patient seemed to have an unexplained increase in intravascular volume. It was the slightest increase and barely noticeable or significant as far as scanner results were, but enough that they had decided to conduct the highest detailed post-mortem possible with the equipment they had available.

Logistically, it would have been easier to just transport up to Pathfinder, but Caade and his team felt it best to continue the examination where they were. Too much was still unknown about this illness.

About twenty minutes later, Caade heard Matthys call for him – his tone much less drier than normal. It had a terrified tinge to it. He finished administering some analgesic to the patient he was attending to and quickly made his way over to where the post-mortem examination was being conducted. 

“Doctor Caade. You… need to see this..” The voice of Lieutenant Sh’Elia pleaded with him as he entered the examination area. 

On the large diagnostic display screen was a detailed viewing of an intravascular cross-section. It had been exposed to about every sensor scan available to them, all of which returned nothing remarkable except one which utilized a concentrated amount of radiation. Caade’s eyes widened, and his breathing shallowed. It took him only moments to register what was in front of him. 

“Get a secure channel set up to Captain Ehyver right away. Priority one.” He dared not share this information without assurance that it would be secure. Caade stood back and crossed his arms, he stared intently at the display screen. It was almost as if he was willing it to show something else to them all—some other reason behind what was happening. 

It didn’t, though.

In front of him was an undeniable view of what appeared to be borg nanoprobes.