Speaker 1: Hello, I'm welcomed stories all the time. Glad you are here.
Let's get into it. The Apocrates drifted through the dark
space between stars like a giant white whale. The massive
ship stretched over two kilometers long and was covered in
red crosses that glowed bright against its clean hull. Inside
the ship, thousands of people worked day and night to
save lives from across the galaxy. Doctor Atlenavaskus walked down
the main medical corridor, her boots making soft sounds on
the metal floor. She had been the chief medical officer
for three years now, and every day brought new challenges.
The ship's lights were dimmed during night shift, but the
medical bays never truly slept Somewhere. Someone always needed help.
Elena stopped at a window and looked out at the stars.
The outer room territories were dangerous places. Three different alien
empires were fighting each other, and smaller species got caught
in the middle. That was why ships like the Apocrates existed.
They went where others feared to go, bringing medicine and
I hope to anyone who needed it. The ship's computer
made a soft beeping sound. Billina touched a wall panel
and Captain Hayes's voice came through Dark. We got a problem.
The emergency signal coming in from Sector seven. Elena pressed
the talk button. What kind of emergency looks like a
ship got hit bad, multiple life signs, but they're getting weaker.
Thing is it's a Zephyrn cruiser, Elena felt, a stomach titan.
Zephyrin's were crystal based aliens who looked like living glass sculptures.
They were also at war with Earth and its colonies.
Helping them could get the Hippocrates in serious trouble. How
many survivors, she asked, scan show maybe sixty seventy beings
hard to tell with Zephyrn biology. Their ship is losing
power fast. Elena closed her eyes. The rules were simple.
The Hippocrates helped everyone, no matter what species they were on,
which side they fought for. But rules were easier to
follow when people weren't shooting at each other. Set cours
for the distress signal, she said, I'll prep the medical teams. Dark.
You sure about this command would be happy if they
fire and out. We're patching up the enemy. Captain. Our
job is to save leves. That's a friendship as people
on it who are dying right now. We can worry
about politics later. There was a pause, then Hayes said, understood,
changing course. Now we'll be there in two iOS. Billina
switched off the communicator and started walking fast toward the
main medical bay. She needed to get her teams ready
for something they had never done before. Treating Zephyrn's was tricky.
Their boarders were made of living crystoda could break like glass.
One wrong move and a patient could shatter into pieces.
The medical bay doors slid open as Elena entered. The
huge room was filled with beds, machines, and medical equipment
from a dozen different worlds. Doctor Kim was checking supplies
while nurse Peterson ran test on emergency surgical units. Listen up, everyone,
Elena called out, we have incoming casualties, sixty to seventies
Efrian survivors from a damaged cruiser. The room went quiet.
Doctor Kim looked up from his supply list. Seffrians. Elina,
we've never treated their species before. Their physiology is completely
different from anything we know. I know. That's why we
need to work fast and smart. Petersen, get me everything
we have von zephyryn anatomy him prepped the isolation units.
The crystal Bow does need different atmospheric pressure in iris.
What about the war, asked doctor Torres from across the room.
Last I heard the zephyrin Empire was pushing hard against
our border colonies. Elena looked around the room at her team.
These were good people who had signed up to help
others even when it was dangerous. The war is not
our problem right now. Dying people are our problem. We
took an oath to do no harm and to help
those who need it. That off doesn't come with a
list of exceptions. The team nodded and got to work.
Lina watched them move with a smooth efficiency that came
from years of practice. They had treated humans, of course,
but also Alterians with their four hearts, cape natives who
breed methane, and even the sluglike gastropods from the Vega System.
Each piecies brought new challenges. Humans had one advantage. They
were taff Humans came from a death world, a planet
where everything tried to kill them. That made them very
good at staying alive when things went wrong. It also
made them very good at keeping other people alive when
things went wrong. The ship's engines hummed louder. As they
picked up speed, Elena felt a slight pull of acceleration
and knew they were raising toward the damaged Stiffin ship.
Time was important Crystal Base life forms were fragile. When
they got hurt, they usually died fast. Doctor vasqus to
the bridge, came Hayes's voice over the ship speakers. Elena
made her way to the command's center. Captain Hayes was
a big man with gray hair and scars on his
hands from his days as a combat medic. He had
seen plenty of action before taking command of the Apocrateese.
What's our status, Elena asked. Dot Hayes pointed at the
main screen. It showed a long, elegant ship looked like
it was made of blue glass. Parts of it were dark,
and Elena could see holes in the hull where weapons
had hit it. The Ephyrian cruise a bright wind. Looks
like they ran into a car off patrol. Those lozo
bastards don't take prisoners, Billina studded the damage ship. The
coth were known for their brutal fighting style. They thought
mercy was weakness and healing. Your enemies were stupid If
they had attacked the ship. They probably expected everyone on
it to die. Any sign of the course ships negative
looks like they hit and ran. Probably thought they finished
the job. The Apocrates moved closer to the damaged cruiser.
Billina could see the ship more clearly now. The Zephyrins
built their vessels to look beautiful, with smooth curves and
crystal grouse that caught starlight. This one was a mess.
Huge chunks were missing from the hull, and internal like
flickered weekly for cracks in the walls. Hailing them now,
said the communications officer. The main screen changed to show
the bridge of the Zephyrine ship. The aliens who appeared
looked like they were made of blue green crystal. Their
bodies caught light and threw it back in rainbow patterns.
But these Zephrins were hurt. Ilina could see cracks running
through their crystal skin, and some were missing pieces of themselves.
The Zephyrine captain spoke in a voice like wind chimes.
The computer translated his words into English. Human vessel, this
is captain, resonance of the bright wind. We we did
not expect to see your kind here. Hayes stepped forward.
This is Captain Hayes of the medical vessel Apocrates. We
receive your distressed signal. We're here to help help. The
alien captain's crystel head tilted in confusion. But our peoples
are at war. Why would you help us, Billina moved
into view of the camera. Because you're hurt and we doctors.
War doesn't change that. The Zephyan captain was quiet for
a long moment. Then Ye said, we have many wounded,
some are breaking apart. If you truly mean to help us,
please hurry. We'll dock with your ship in ten minutes.
Hayes said, prepare you're wounded for transport. The screen went dark.
Lena looked at Hayes. Think it's a trap. Hay shrugged. Maybe,
but look at that ship. If it is a trap,
it's the most expensive one I've ever seen. The scidence.
The Zephriyn's aren't known for tricks. They're too proud for
that kind of thing. Elena nodded. Cephrians were warriors, but
they fought with honor. If they said they needed help,
they probably really needed it. I'm going over with the
first medical team, Elena said, Like how you are. You're
too important to risk those people are dying. Captain, I'm
the only one on the ship who has studied crystal
based biology. If anyone can figure out how to save them,
it's me. He's looked like he wanted to argue, but
he knew Lena was right. Fine, but you take a
full security escort deal. Helena hurried back to the medical bay.
Her team was ready. They had loaded emergency medical supplies
on to transport sleds and prepared portable treatment units. Doctor
Kim had found the files on zephyn anatomy and was
studying them on his tablet. What do we know about
their biology, Bilina asked, It's word, Kim said. The bodies
are made of living crystal that can grow and chain shape.
When they get hurt, pieces can break off. News is
that if we can stabilize the main crystal matrix, the
broken pieces can grow back. The bad news is that
if too much breaks off, the whole organism falls apart,
like a chain reaction. Exactly once it starts, it's hard
to stop. Elena felt the ship shadow slightly as the
dogging clamps engaged with the Zephyne cruiser. Okay, people, we're
about to make history. No one has ever tried to
treat this many Zephriyans before. Stay calm, work smart, and
remember that these people are counting on us. The airlock
doors opened with a Hissleina led her team through the
connecting tunnel and into the alien ship. The first thing
she noticed was the light. Everything inside the Zephyrine vessel
blowed with soft, colorful radiance. The walls, the floor, even
the air scene to shimmer. The second thing she noticed
was the damage. Last holes in the crystal wall shared
the dark space outside. Emergency barriers had been put up,
but they were failing. The ship was solely losing atmosphere.
The third thing she noticed was the Zephyrins themselves. They
were everywhere, and they were were hurt bad. Some had
large cracks running through their crystal bodice. Others were missing
arms or legs. A few were lying in pieces, their
crystal fragments scattered across the floor. One of the aliens
approached to Lena. This one was mostly intact, with only
small cracks in her crystal skin. She spoke in the
Windshim language, and Alina's translated turned it into words, I
am Helo clarity. I have been trying to treat the wounded.
But I do not know enough. We have never faced
damage like this before. Billina looked around at the injured Spherians.
How many wounded? Seventy three fifteen r quickly? They will
die soon if nothing is done. Show me the worst cases.
First Clarity led Elena through the ship to a large
room where the most seriously injured Depyrians were lying on
crystal platforms. Thelena had never seen anything like it. These
aliens were literally falling apart. She could see stressed fractures
spreading through their bodies like cracks in a windshield. Doctor
Kim set up the stabilization field generators. Doctor Torres stopped
four drops of crystal growth hormone. We sent everyone else
begin assessment of the wounded. Lena knelt next to one
of the dying Zephyrians. The alien was young, maybe the
equivalent of a teenager. Half of his left side was
missing and cracks were spreading toward his core. What's your name?
Elena asked softly. Harmony. The young alien whispered, Am I
going to die? Helena looked at the spreading cracks. By
all rights, this patient should already be dead, but she
has learned something important during her years in space medicine.
The universe was full of surprises, and sometimes the impossible
became possible if he worked hard enough, not if I
can help it, Elena said. She activated her medical scanner
and began to work around the room. Her team was
doing the same thing. They moved with calm efficiency, treating
injuries that would have been impossible to heal just a
few years ago. The Zephrians watched in amazement as the
humans worked save lives that their own healers had given
up on. This was what humans did best, Elena thought,
as she carefully injected crystal Growth's cerem into harmon his
damaged matrix. They took impossible situation and made them possible
through shio stabborn determination. The question was whether they would
have enough time to finish the job before someone else
decided to interfere. Elina worked for two IROs straight in
the young the frey named Harmony. The crystal growth serum
was helping, but slowly. She could see new crystal forming
at the edges of his winds, but the cracks were
still spreading faster than the healing could keep up. Doctor
Visquez called doctor Kim from across the room. I think
I figured something out. The crystal matrix response better to
harmonic frequencies. If we can match the right sound ways
to their biology, we might be able to speed up
the healing. Blena looked up from her patient. What kind
of frequencies? Each Sopherian seems to have their own resonance pattern,
like a musical note that matches their body. When I
played the right tone, the crystal growth increased by thirty percent.
How do we find the right frequency for each patient?
Doctor Kim held up a small device, modified medical scanner.
It reads their natural vibration and plays it back through speakers.
Leina is mild. This was why she loved working with hemans.
When faced with the problem they had never seen before,
they found creative solutions. Do it start with the most
critical patients around the room. The human medical team was
saving lives that should have been lost. Doctor Torres had
figured out how to use microlasers to seal cracks and
crystal skin. Nus Pedersen was using a magnetic field generator
to hold crystal fragments in place while they grew. Even
the security guards were helping carefully collecting broken pieces of
zephyring patients so the doctors could reattach them. The Cephrian healer,
name Clarity, watched everything with amazement. How do you do this?
She asked, Olena, your species is so different from ires.
How do you understand our good is well enough to
heal them? Lena White sweat from her forehead. We study
heart and we improvise. Humans are good at adapting to
new situations. But you have never treated our kind before.
Yet you work as if you have done this for years. Thus,
because healing is healing, Alina said, the basic principles are
the same no matter what species you're working with. Stop
the damage, stabilized the patient, and the body repair itself.
The details changed, but the gulf stays the same. Clarity
Crystal had tilted in a way that Elina had learned
meant curiosity. Your people are known as warrors, yet you
risk your lives to save your enemies. This does not
make sense to me. Elena looked around at her team.
They were tired and stressed, but they kept working. None
of them had complained about treating aliens from a hostile empire.
To them, this was just another day at work. Being
good a fighting and being good at healing aren opposites,
Lina said. Both require you to understand how about his
work and how to act fast under pressure. The only
difference is what you are trying to accomplish. Before Clarity
could respond, the ship's emergency alarm started blurring. Red light
flattered on the walls, and Elena heard Captain Hayes's voice
over the communicator. All medical teams, we have a problem.
Multiple ships dropping out of hyperspace. Looks like a Koruph
battle group. Elena felt her blood turn cold. The Korth
with the most aggressive species in this part of the galaxy.
They believed their showing mercy to enem Is made you weak.
If they found human healing zephrins, they would attack without
asking questions. How many ships, Elina asked into her communicator.
Six vessels, three destroyers, two cruisers, and one dreadnought. They
are moving fast and their weapons are charging. Billina looked
at her patients. Harmony was still critical but stable. Round
the room, other Zyphrians were getting better thanks to the
harmon achealing technique, but they still needed eyes of work
to be completely safe. Captain, how long until they reach us?
Twenty minutes may be less, Doctor Kin came over to Lena.
We need to evacuate. Get up people back to the
Hippocrates and run. Elina shook her head. We can move
these patients, yet half of them would die during transport, Elina,
If we stay here, we might all die the corathe.
Don negotiate. Elena looked at the Zephyn patients. Some were
starting to sit up as their crystal bodies healed. Others
were still lying in pieces, depending on humans medicine to
keep them alive. If the medical team left now, most
of these people would be dead within an ile. We're
not leaving, Elina said firmly. But Elina, we're not leaving,
she repeated. These people trusted us to save their lives.
That's what we're going to do. Billina activated her communicator.
Captain Hayes, this is doctor Vasquez. We're staying with our patients.
There was a long pause, then Hayes said, Doc, that's suicide.
The corarath will kill everyone on bull ships. Maybe, but
if we run now, our patients die for sure. At
least this way we have a chance. And another pause understood,
We'll do what we can to protect you. Elina knew
that was much the Apocrates was a hospital ship, not
a warship. It had shields on some basic weapons, but
nothing that could fight off six Corps military vessels. Clarity
had been listening to the conversation. Doctor, you cannot sacrifice
yourselves for us. We are enemies of your people, no
Elena said, right now, you are Patience. That makes your responsibility.
The Zephrinhila stared at Elena with crystal eyes that reflected
the emergency lights. I do not understand your species. You
don't have to understand us. You just have to let
us do our job. Billina went back to work on Harmony.
The young Zephyne was conscious now and his crystal body
was slowly rebuilding itself. The harmonic therapy was working better
than she had hoped. Doctor Harmony said, in his windshie voice.
The core other coming for us, aren't they? Yes, you
should leave us and save yourselves. We are already dead.
Our ship cannot fight, and theirs can. Billina adjusted the
harmonic frequency generator. You're not dead, not while we're here.
But why why riskuer loves for us? Our peoples are
at war? Billina thought about how to explain it. Do
you know what humans call our home? Planet Earth. I
believe we also call it something else, a death world.
Everything on our planet tries to kill us. The weather,
the animals, the plants, even the bacteria. For millions of years,
humans had to fight just to survive each day. That's
how terrible it was. But it taught us something important.
When everything is trying to kill you, you learn to value life.
Every day you wake up alive is a victory. Every
person who survives is a success. Elena made a small
adjustment to Ham in his treatment. That's why we became
good at medicine. We learned that life is precious because
we almost lost it so many times. But we are
your enemies. Right now. You are a patient with crystal
matrix failure who needs medical attention. Everything else is politics.
The ship shook as the Korreth Vessals moved closer. Leina
could hear weapons powering up in the distance. The enemy
was almost here all medical personnel. Came his voice over
the speakers. The Koraf commander is demanding we surrender al
Zeffry and survivors for interrogation. I told him to go
to hell. Bilina smiled. Despite the situation. Captain Hayes was
a good man who understood what the Apocrates stood for.
Doctor Vasquez came another voice over the communicator. It was
rough and sounded like gravel in a cement mixer. That
meant it was a Korra speaking. I am more leaders garn.
He will surrender the enemy wounded to us. Immediately, Elena
picked up a communicator. This is doctor Elena Vasquez, chief
medical officer of the Hippocrates. Under galactic medical neutrality laws.
These people are under our protection. Human laws mean nothing
to us. You have five minutes to comply, or we
will destroy both ships. These are not human laws. They
are galactic laws, recognized by all civilized species. Dekhorov laughed,
a sound like rocks grinding together. Civilized you heal our
enemies and call it civilization. You are weak, soft creatures
who do not understand war. Elena felt, angerising in her chest.
We understand war just fine. We also understand that some
things are more important than more. Nothing is more important
than victory. In five minutes, you will learn this truth.
The communication ended. Elena looked around the medical bay. Her
team was still working, but she could see the fear
in their eyes. They all knew what Korrath interrogation meant
the lizard Ians would touch if zephyrn survive us for information,
then kill them slowly. Doctor Ken came over to Elena.
What do we do? Elena checked her chronometer. They had
been working for almost three hours. Most of the zephyne
patients were stable now, but they still needed more treatment
to be completely safe. We keep working, Helena said, five
minutes or fifty minutes. These people need medical attention. Elena,
be reasonable, there's nothing we can do against six warships.
Elena looked at him. Kim, do you remember your medical oath?
Of course, first, do no harm a right? And what
would happen to these patients if we handed them over
to the korath. Kim's face went pale. They would be
tortured and killed. So handing them over would cause harm.
That means we can't do it. But staying here means
we I'll die. Elina shrugged. Maybe, but at least we'll
die doing the right thing. Around the room, the other
human medical personnel nodded. None of them looked happy about
the situation, but none of them Aggie Eater. They had
also worn the same oath, and they all knew stood
what it meant. The young Vivrian named how many tried
to sit up. Doctor, Please do not die for us.
We are not worth it. Billina gently pushed him back down.
That's not your decision to make. You're my patient, which
means I decide what you're worth, But no arguments. Right now.
Your job is to lie still in heel. My job
is to make sure you have the chance to do that.
The ship shook again as the Krath vessels moved into
attack position. Bilina could see the dark angular ships through
the windows. They looked like metal shocks circling winded prey.
Doctor esquess came Captain Hayes's voice, chorus, ships are powering weapons.
They mean business. Bileina picked up the communicator. Captain, are
you planning to fight them with what we've got? Medical
equipment and a handful of security guards. They've got enough
five PoTA level a city, So what's the plan. There
was a long pause, then Hayes said, Doc, I've been
thinking about what you said earlier about human's being. Could
its adapting to new situations? What do you mean? I mean?
Maybe it's time to show these courth bastards why you
don't attack a human hospital ship. Elena felt that chill
run damnspy, and she knew the tone in Hayes's voice.
It was the same turn he had used back when
he was a combat medic rite before he did something
crazy and dangerous. Captain, what are you plan in something
that's either going to save all our lives would get
us all culd Either way? It should be interesting. The
Korath commander's voice came over the speakers. Ken time is up.
Humans prepare to be boarded. Lena looked at her team,
then at the Zephim patients who were depending on them.
Whatever Hayes was planning, she hoped it worked, because in
a few minutes they were all going to find out
what happened when someone threatened a human medical crew who
had sworn to protect their patients. The war was about
to become very personal. First coreth boarding pods slant into
the hull of their Apocrates like metal fists. Elina felt
the ship shake and heard the screech of cutting tools
as the enemy soldiers began burning through the outer walls.
All medical staff. This is Hayes, came the captain's voice
through the speakers. Execute Protocol seven I repeat execute Protocol seven.
Ailina's eyes widened. Protocol seven was something they had discussed
but never used. It was the emergency plan for when
the hospital ship came under direct attack. She had always
hoped they would never need it. What is Protocol seven?
Asked healer Claarerty the Zephyrin, who had been watching the
humans work. You are about to find out, Lena said.
She growbed her medical kit and started moving toward them. Winded,
every one, listen up. We're staying with our patients, but
we're also going to defend them. Remember your training. Doctor
Kimloke confused, what training? We're doctors, not soldiers him. Think
about it. What do we know better than any one
else in the galaxy medicine exactly. We know how bods work.
We know how to fix them when they break. Lena
pulled a small device from her medical kit. It looked
like a normal surgical laser, but she had made some modifications.
We also know how to break them when we need to.
The lights in the medical bay suddenly changed from white
to red. Emergency power had kicked in, which meant the
main reactor was being diverted to other systems. Bilina knew
what that meant Hayes was turning their medical equipment into weapons.
Doctor Vasque was to engineering, Lena said into her communicator. Engineering.
Here came the reply. It was chief from hers, the
head of the ship's technical crew. How long until the
conversion is complete? Ten minutes for the big stuff. The
surgical lasers are ready now the MRI units need more time.
What about the radiation therapy equipment. That's the tricky one.
Give me fifteen minutes and I can turn it into
particle bean that'll cut through their shappama like paper. Lina smiled.
Hemans were very good at turning peaceful things into weapons
when they needed to. It was a skill they had
learned on their dangerous home world. The sound of cutting
tools grew louder. The Korath were almost through the hull.
Billina could hear their voices speaking in a harsh language
that sounded like rock scraping together. All patients who can move,
get behind the medical equipment. Billina ordered, everyone else, stay calm.
We've handled worse than this. That wasn't true, but Elena
had learned that confidence was often the best medicine. The
first hole appeared in the wall with a shower of sparks.
Billina could see a chorous soldier on the other side,
wearing heavy armor and carrying a weapon that looked like
it could punch holes in starship holes. Remember, Elina whispered
to her team. We know their biology, korath of weak
spots at the base of their scal and behind their
front leg joints. Aim for those areas. The wall exploded inwood.
Chorus soldiers poured through. They were big, standing over two
meters tall, with thick scales and teeth like knives. Their
armor was dark green and covered with spikes. Surrender humans,
shouted the lead soldier. Give us the enemy wounded and
you will not be harmed. Billina stepped forward, holding her
modified surgical laser. I'm doctor Elena Vesk's chief medical officer.
These patients are under medical protection. You have no right
to be here. The koath soldier laughed, writes, you speak
of rights while healing our enemies. You are either very
brave or very stupid. Maybe, b Elina said, but I'm
also very good at my job. She fired the surgical laser.
The beam was designed to cut through human tissue with
perfect precision against coarse scales. It worked even better. The
laser cut through the soldier's armor and hit the weak
spot behind his left shoulder joint. He dropped his weapon
and fell to the ground, paralyzed but alive. Now, Elina shouted.
Her medical team moved with the same efficiency they used
in surgery. Doctor Torres used a bone sought to cut
through another soldier's weapon. Nurse Peterson sprayed medical stative from
a hypodermic injector, hitting three corath in the face. Doctor
Kim used a portable X ray machine to blind the
enemy soldiers with radiation. The corath had expected to fight
doctors and nurses. They hadn't expected to fight people who
knew exactly where to hit them to cause maximum damage
with minimum effort. Fall back, shouted the course squad leader.
We grew up in the corridor. The enemy soldiers retreated,
dragging their wounded with them. Alina's team had won the
first round, but she knew more would come. Status report A,
Lina said into her communicator. Medical Bait, who was holding
came dop to Walsh's voice. We used the surgical robots
to tie up the boarding party. They were stuck in
the ventilation system. Medical be four here, said Doctor Paddell.
We turned the MRI machine into an electromagnetic pulse generator.
Fried all their equipment. They can't see, can't communicate, and
half their weapons don't work. Billina felt as sot to pride.
Her people were improvising brilliantly. They were turning their medical
knowledge into tactical advantages, engineering to all stations. Came Ramirez's voice.
Radiation therapy is online. Targeting the core command ship. Now
through the windows, Lena could see a bright blue beam
lance out from the Hippocrates toward the largest enemy vessel.
The beam was designed to deliver precise doses of radiation
to cancer patients. Against toustarship, it became a devastating weapon
that could cook the crew inside their own armor. Directed
on the corp a dread not reported Captain Hayes. The
shields are down and their venting atmosphere. The young Zephyrin
named how many tried to sit up. The humans are
fighting back, but your healers not warriors. Elena helped him
lie back down while keeping her laser rifle ready. Were
whatever we need to be to protect our patients, but
how your ship is not built for war? Elena pointed
at the medical equipment around them, how many What do
you think the stuff is designed to do? Heal the
second injured? Right? And what do you need to know
to heal someone? The young alien thought for a moment,
you need to understand how bod is work exactly. And
if you know how bod is work, you also know
how to make them stop working. Another group of coloth
soldiers appeared at the hole in the wall. This time
they moved more carefully, using shields and staying information they
had learned to respect the human medical team. Surrender now,
and we will make your desk quick cold. Their leader, Elena,
checked her surgic Olais's power level. Still good for another
twenty shots. Sorry, but we're kind of busy right now.
These patients need medical attention. Then you will die with them, probably,
but you'll die first. The course charged, Elena's team was
ready for them. Doctor Kim had raped a bone grow
of stimulator to work in reverse. Instead of growing bone,
it dissolved it. He hit the lead soldier in a
knee in The alien collapsed as his let bones turned
to powder. Nurse Peterson had filled her hypodermic injectors with
a mixture of medical drugs that would paralyze most species.
She moved like a dancer, dodging kreth claws while injecting
sedatives into weak points in their armor. Doctor Torres used
a surgical cutting laser like a sword, slicing through weapons
and armor with surgical precision. The Koroth couldn't get close
to him without losing pieces of their equipment. Elena coordinated
the defense while continuing to treat patients. She had learned
in medical school that doctors needed to be able to
work under pressure. This was just more pressure than usual.
Doctor Vasquez came Hayes's voice over the communicator. We've got
their attention. Three of their ships are focusing fire on us.
How are you doing down there? We're managing, Helena said,
while using her laser to cut through a Koroth's soldier's weapon.
Any word on a vacuiuation negative DEEPHN ship is too
damaged to move, and we can't transport your patient safely.
While under fire, Elen inducts a coreth energy blast scorch
the wall above her head. Then we keep fighting Dark.
I need to tell you something. The engineering crew has
been working on a special project. We're going to try
something that's never been done before. What kind of something
We're going to turn the entire medical bay into a weapon?
Elena felt her blood go cold. Captain, what are you
talking about? The medical scanners, the treatment bids, even the
life sport systems. Wher Miras thinks we can link them
altogether and create a field that will affect every living
thing in a fifty meter READI us. That's insane. What
kind of effect that depends on what we want it
to do. We could make everyone fall asleep, or paralyze them,
or dot dot dot dot Hayes paused, or we could
make them very, very sick. Elena understood what he was suggesting.
The h Apocrates could become a plaque ship, using its medical
knowledge to spread disease instead of curing it. It was
a terrible idea that violated everything she believed in its adopter.
It was also probably their only chance of survival. How
long do you need, Billina asked, twenty minutes? Can you
hold out that long? Billina looked around the medical bay.
Half her team was wounded, her supplies were running low,
and more Korthe's soldiers were gathering in the corridor, but
her patients were still alive, and that was what mattered
will Hold, she said. The Krath attack came from three
directions at once. They had learned from their mistics and
were using proper military tactics. Billina's team was outnumbered and
upgun but they had something the Korrath didn't have. They
had knowledge. They knew exactly how to hurt their enemies
with minimum effort. More importantly, they knew why they were fighting.
Billina stood over the wounded zephyrin named Harmony, her surgical
laser in one hand and a medical scanner in the other.
Behind her, Doctor Kim was using a bow and saw
to cut through Korthama. Nurse Pedisen was praying says to swell.
Doctor Torres provided cover with his cutting laser. They were
doctors and nurses, not soldiers, but they were all so
humans who had sworn an oath to protect their patients,
and humans Elena had learned, were very dangerous when they
were defending something they cared about. Fifteen minutes, Hayes reported
over the communicator. Elena looked at the advancing Choras's soldiers.
Fifteen minutes felt like a lifetime, but she had spent
her career saving lives to everyone else had given up
on if anyone could make the impossible happen. It was
a human medical team at the backs against the wall
and their patients depending on them. Let show them up.
Happens when you hadak a human hospital, Elena said, and
open fire. Elena ducked behind an overturned medical bed as
another energy blast scorched the wall where her head had been.
The Korath were getting smarter using military tactics. Instead of
just charging forward, they had brought heavier weapons in more soldiers.
Doctor Vesque's kim chief Ramiroz's voice through her communicator. The
field generator is almost ready, but I need to warn
you about something. What now, Elina asked, while reloading her
surgical laser. This has never been tested before. When we
are toivit, the medical feel it's going to effect everyone
in the area, humans, Sephrians, and coreth Billina felt her
stomach drop. What kind of effects? Best case everyone falls
asleep for a few iOS. Worst case dot dot dot
docosmir's polls. Let's just say we really don't want to
find out what the worst casees. Elena looked at her patients.
A Zefians were healing well, but they were still fragile.
A powerful medical field could kill them just as easily
as it could save them. How besise can you make it, Olina, ask,
not theerey. It's going to hit everything in a fifty
meter radius snow way to protect specific individuals. Alina closed
her eyes and made a decision that would haunt her
for the rest of her life. Do it, but dark
your patients. Chief. If we don't stop the korreth, my
patients die anyway. At least this way they have a chance. Understood,
charging the fuel generator. Now you have five minutes to prepare.
Elena opened her eyes and looked at her team. Doctor
Kim was behind a surgical table using a medical scanner
to target coreth weak spots. Nuris Petersen was crawling between patients,
checking their vital signs while dodging enemy fire. Doctor Torres
was at the main door, holding off another group of
attackers with his modified cutting laser. Every one, listen up,
Elena called out. In five minutes, this room is going
to become very dangerous for all of us. Yet the
patience as stable as possible and find hard cover. Doctor
Kim looked confused, what's happening? We're going to turn this
medical bay into a weapon. It might save us or
it might kill us all. Either way, it's better than
letting the cough torture our patients. Lena crawled over to
where Harmony was lying. The young superior was conscious and
his crystal body was almost fully healed. The harmonic therapy
had worked better than she had helped. Doctor Harmony said,
and his whin chime voice, what is going to happen
to us? Olina chet his medical readings. His crystal matrix
was stable, but still fragile. We're going to try something
that's never been done before. It might hurt. Will we die?
Billina was quiet for a moment. She had always tried
to be honest with her patience, even when the truth
is hard to hear. I don't know. Maybe then why
do it? Because the alternative is worse? Billina adjusted his
life support systems to maximum protection. How many I need
you to trust me? Can you do that? The young
alien's crystall eyes reflected the emergency lights. You have already
saved my life once. If you think this is our
only chance, then I trust you. Billina felt tears in
her eyes. This alien boy had more faith in her
than sheated in herself. Right now, all stations, This is Hayes,
came the captain's voice over the speakers. The court commander
is demanding surrender again. I told him we're busy saving
lives and he can wait his turn. Elena almost smiled.
Despite the situation, Captain Hayes never lost his sense of humor,
even when facing impossible odds. Engineering to medical kame Ramirez's voice.
Field generator is charged and ready, just say. When Elena
looked round the medical bay, our team was in position
behind whatever cover they could find. The Zephfrey impatients were
as protected as possible. The Koras soldiers were gathering for
another assault. Two minutes, Elena said into her communicator. The
Korath attack came early. Squaw of heavily armward soldiers burst
through the main door, firing energy weapons and throwing grenades.
Behind them came more troops, including some wearing special environmental
suits that Elena didn't recognize. They brought specialists. Doctor Torres
shouted over the noise of weapons fire. Those suits looked
like they had designed to protect against biological weapons. Elina
realized what that meant. The Korrath had figured out what
the humans were planning. They were prepared for a medical attack.
Chief for Miras, Alena said into her communicator. The Korath
know what we're doing. They have protection, maybe against normal
biological weapons, came the reply, but they've never seen anything
like this before, trust me, Doc. A Coath soldier in
environmental armor rounded Alna's cover and ain't his weapon at her.
The Lina doved to the side and fired a surgical laser,
hitting him in the weak joined behind his knee. The
alien went down, but as armor protected him from serious injury.
More soldiers poured into the room. Alina's team was being overwhelmed.
They had fought bravely, but they were do nut soldiers.
The co Ath were professionals who killed for a living.
One minute, Elena reported, Doctor Visquiz called Nurse Petersen from
across the room, harmon his readings are spiking. Something's wrong
with his crystal Matrix. Ellina looked at the young Zephrian.
His body was glowing brighter than before, and she could
see stress fractures appearing in his crystal skin. He's resonating
with the field generator. Doctor kimshodded, the medical field is
affecting him before it's even activated, Elena called toward Harmony,
dodging enemy fire. The boy's crystal body was vibrating like
a tuning fork, and the vibrations were spreading to the
other Zephyrine patients. Chief, we have a problem, Elena said
into her communicator. The field is interacting with Cephrian biology
in ways we didn't expect. What kind of interaction. Alina
watched as harmon his body began to glow even brighter.
The other Cephrians was starting to vibrate to their crystal forms,
resonating with some frequencies she couldn't detect. I think there
amplifying the field, Alena said, acting like living crystals in
a radio. That could be good or bad. A chorus
soldier appeared beside Lena and grabbed her by the arm.
She turned and fired her laser point blank into his face,
hitting a weak spot at the base of his skull.
He collapsed, but more were coming. Thirty seconds, Elena reported
dot The Zephrians were glowing so brightly now that it
hurt to look at them. The resonance was building to
dangerous levels. Elena could feel it in her bones, a
deep vibration that seemed to shake her apart from the inside.
Elena gasped, Harmony, something is happening to us. We can
feel dot dot dot everything. What do you mean? Every
living thing on both ships, every hobby, eat, every breath,
We are connected to all of it. Lena understood what
was happening. The medical field was using the Zephrians as conductors,
spreading its effect far beyond the intentive range. Instead of
affecting just the medical bay, it was going to hit
both ships chief aboard the field activation, Lina said. Too late,
came Ramirez's voice. It's already started. The field is building
power and I can't stop it. Elena looked around the room.
The chorus soldiers were still advancing, but some of them
had stopped and were holding their heads as if in pain.
The medical field was starting to effect them. Everyone take cover,
Elena shouted. This is going to be bad. The field
activated with a sound like thunder mixed with music. Elena
felt it washed over her like a wave of electricity
that went straight to her nervous system. Every nerve in
her body fired at once, sending signals that her brain
couldn't process. Around the room, the effect was immediate and dramatic.
The chorus soldiers dropped their weapons and fell to the ground.
There were reptilian bodies convulsive, but they weren't dying. Instead,
they seemed to be experiencing every sensation at once. This
Afrians glowed like small suns. Their crystal bodis channeling and
amplifying the medical field through them. Elena could feel the
effects spreading throughout both ships. Every living thing was connected
in a web of sensation and shared experience. Elena felt
dizzy and confused. The field was designed to effect biological systems,
and her human nervous system was being overloaded with him
from she could sense the heartbeat of everyone around her,
feel their pain and fear and confusion. But she could
also feel something else. The field wasn't just affecting their bodies.
It was affecting their minds, creating connections between different species
that had never existed before. Through this effort in resonance,
Elina could feel what the Korra soldiers were experiencing. Their pained,
their confusion, their fear, but also their memories, their thoughts,
their reasons for fighting. She saw through their eyes the
destruction of coarth colony worlds. She felt their anger at
losing family members to enemy attacks. She understood their belief
their strength was the only thing that mattered in a
hostile universe. But the Korrath were feeling her thoughts too.
They were experiencing her dedication to saving lives, her refusal
to abandon patients even when facing death. They were feeling
the human concept of mercy, the idea that healing enemis
could be enact of strength rather than weakness. The field
reached its peak intensity, Elina felt like her consciousness was
scattered across both ships, experiencing life through dozens of different
perspectives at once. She was here, human and Zephyryn and Coreth,
all at the same time. Then gradually the intensity began
to fade, the galling from the Zephyns dimmed, the overwhelming
flood of sensation became manageable. Lena found herself lying on
the floor of the medical bay, her head pounding, but
her thoughts clear. Around her, Corath's soldiers were slowly getting
to their feet that they weren't reaching for their weapons. Instead,
they were looking around with expressions of confusion and wonder,
as if seeing the world clearly for the first time.
One of them, a large warrior with scars covering his scales.
Approached to Lena slowly. His movements were careful, almost respectful,
human healer, he said in rough but understandable English. Aye,
we felt what you feel, the dedication to preserve life.
We did not understand before. Elina sat up carefully, her
head still spinning from the experience. Do you understand now?
The Koath warrior looked at the Zephyrn patients, who were
now sitting up and looking around in amazement. We felt
their pain when we attacked them. We felt her determination
to save them despite the danger to yourselves. We felt
dot dot dah pause, struggling with familiar concepts. We felt
what you call compassion. Elena got to her feet, solely
around the room. Her medical team was checking on patience
and equipment. The Koros's soldiers were helping them, moving with
the same careful efficiency they had used for destruction. What
happens now, Billina asked. The Koorath warrior looked at his soldiers,
then back at Lina. Now we learn you have shown
us something we thought was weakness, But feeling at ourselves,
we understand it is a different kind of strength. Billina
nodded and went to check on harmony. The young Zephyryn
was sitting up his crystal body, stable and healthy. Doctor.
He said, that was the most amazing thing I have
ever experienced. For a moment, we were all connected, all
the same, Elena smiled despite her exhaustion. Maybe that's what
healing really means, not just fixing bodies, but helping people
understand each other. The medical field had done more than
stop the attack. It had created something unpressed into in
galactic history. For the first time, different species had truly
felt what it was like to be someone else, and
that Elena realized, might be the most powerful medicine of all.
Three days after the incident, Elena stood in the main
conference room of the Galactic Medical Council station. The room
was filled with representatives from dozens of species, all wanting
to understand what had happened aboard their apocrates. The Korus
delegations sat on one side of the room, their dark
scales and sharp teeth making them look as dangerous as ever,
But Elena could see something different in their eyes. Now
there was a thoughtfulness that the handn't existed before. On
the other side sat the Zephyne representatives, the Crystal bodices,
catching the light and throwing rainbows across the walls. Harmony
was among them, fully healed in serving as a witness
to the events dought. At the center of the room
sat the human delegation, which consisted of Elena, Captain Hayes,
and Chief re Mirrors. They had been called to explain
their actions and face possible charges of violating medical neutrality.
The council chairmen, a tall, insectored being from the Mounti's cluster,
spoke in a voice like crossling leaves. Doctor Vasquez used
on accused of using medical equipment as weapons and a
dangering non combatant patients. How do you answer these charges?
Elina stood up. She had prepared for this moment, but
she still felt nervous. The future of human medical missions
might depend on what she said next. Sheriman, everything we
did was in service of protecting our patients. When the
Korrath forces threatened to take our patients for interrogation and execution,
we had two choices. Abandoned them to die or defend
them with whatever means we had available. But he used
medical equipment as weapons, said a representative from the Altar Union,
as violates every principle of medical neutrality, and Olena said
for me, we used our knowledge to protect lives. The
equipment was just tools. The important thing was our purpose.
War Leader Scarn, the chorus commander who had led the attack,
stood up. His massive formed dominated that side of the room,
but when he spoke, his voice was surprisingly gentle. I
must speak, he said. Before the incident, we believed that
healing enemies was weakness. We thought the humans were soft
and foolish. We were wrong. The room grew quiet. Elena
had heard that Scaran had changed since the medical field incident,
but seeing first hand was still surprising. When the human
medical field affected us, Skalm continued, we experienced something we
had never felt before. We felt the pain of those
we helped. We felt the dedication of those who heal
rather than harm. We understood that predicting life reply is
a different kind of courage than taking it. He turned
to look at Elena. Dodtor Vasquez and her teen did
not attack us. They showed us what we truly were,
and they showed us what we could become. Harmony stood
up from the different section. If I may speak, Chairman,
and I was dying when that human medical team found us,
not just my body, but my spirit. We had given
up up what these humans never gave up on us,
even when it men risking their own lives. The young
Zephyrn's crystal body chined softly as he spoke. What happened
on that ship was not an attack. It was healing
on a level we had never imagined possible. They healed
not just our bodies, but our understanding of each other.
The council chairman rustled his wings thoughtfully, Doctor Vasquez, this
medical field you created ka it be used again. Elena
looked at Chief for Muras, who shook his head slightly. Chairman,
what we did was unrepeatable. It required perfect conditions, equipment
that was damaged in specific ways on the unique biology
of the Zaffrey impatience to amplify the effect. We couldn't
create the same field again if we tried. And would
you want to ask the ultarian representative. Elena thought about
that question. The medical field had stopped the fighting and
created understanding between enemies, but it had also been incredibly dangerous.
Any of them could have died or suffered permanent brain damage.
No Eline said, Finally, what we did was a desperate
last resort. It worked but it could just as easily
have killed everyone involved. Medical treatment should be about healing,
not forcing people to think differently. But the results speak
for themselves, said a representative from the Century Republic. The
Cooth Empire has agreed to a cease fire with both
the Saphyrian Empire and the Terran Federation. They even requesting
medical exchange programs. Wore a lead. A scar nodded, we
have much to learn about healing. We wish to send
no young warriors to study with human medical teams, not
to learn new ways of fighting, but to learn new
ways of thinking about strength. Elena felt a mixture of
pride and worry. She was glad that the incident had
led to peace, but she was concerned about the implications.
She didn't want human medical knowledge to be seen as
a weapon, even a weapon for peace. Sherman and Lena said,
I want to make something clear. What happened on the
Hippocrates was not planned. We didn't set out to change
any one's mind or create understanding between species. We set
out to save lives, and we did what we had
to do to protect our patients. And that, said a
new voice from the back of the room. Is exactly
why it worked. Everyone turned to see who had spoken.
A figure in a simple brown robe walked down the
aisle toward the front of the room. Bilina didn't recognize
the species, but the being moved with a calm authority
that commanded respect, I am observer to have The figure said,
I represent the Philosophical Council of the Inner Worlds. We
have been studying the Hippocrates incident and we have reached
some interesting conclusions. Faced the assembly, Bilina could see now
that the being was vaguely humanoid, with gray skin and large,
dark eyes. The effectiveness of the human medical team did
not come from their equipment with any knowledge, though both
were impressive. It came from their absolute commitment to their purpose.
They were willing to die to protect their patients. That
level of dedication is rare in the galaxy. The observer
looked directly at Elina. Doctor Vasquez, and your team demonstrated
something that many species have forgotten, the idea that some
principles are worth more than your own life. Bolina felt
uncomfortable with the praise. We were just doing our job exactly,
Observer Tause said, you were doing your job even when
it would have been easier and safer to stop, even
when following orders would have meant abandoning your patience, even
when staying meant almost certain death. The observer turned to
address the full assembly. This is why the medical field worked.
It didn't force anyone to think differently. It simply allowed
them to feel what the humans felt. The dedication, the compassion,
the absolute refusal to give up on those who needed help.
War Leader Sconce spoke up again. Before the incident, we
thought compassion was weakness because we had never truly felt it.
We thought healing enemies was foolish because we did not
understand the strength they required. He looked around the room.
Now we know better. The humans showed us that protecting
life is the highest form of strength, not because they
told us, but because they lived it. The council chairman
rustled his wings again. This is all very philosophical, but
we still need to address the practical questions. Doctor Vasquez,
will you continue to operate in contested territories? Billina looked
at Captain Hayes, who nodded slightly. Yes, Chairman. The Hippocrates
will continue to provide medical aid to any species that
needs it, regardless of politics or military conflicts. Even after
what happened, you could have been kill Chairmen. People are
still getting hurt out there. They still need medical care.
The fact that it's dangerous doesn't change that. But you
will be more careful about using medical equipment as weapons,
Lena smiled. Chairmen, We didn't use medical equipment as weapons.
We used medical equipment to practice medicine. The fact that
it stopped the fighting was the side effect of healing,
not the goal. Observer Tow nodded approvingly, an important distinction.
The Shumans did not set out to create peace. They
set out to save lives. Peace was simply the natural
result of their actions. The council chairman called for short
recess while the representatives discussed their decision. Billina walked over
to where Harmony was sitting with the others Ephrians. How
are you feeling, she asked different Harmony said, the experience
changed all of us, not just physically but mentally. We
understand things now that we never understood before, good things
or bad things. Thoth. We understand pain better, which is bad,
but we also understand healing better, which is good. And
we understand that sometimes you must accept pain in order
to help others avoid it. Billina nodded. That's a hard
lesson to learn, but an important one, Doctor Vasquez, what
will happen to the Apocrates? Now, We'll keep doing what
we've always done, helping people who need help, even though
it's dangerous. Billina looked around the room. If all the
different species represented, some were allies, some were enemies, and
some were neutral, but all of them were capable of
getting hurt, and all of them deserve medical care when
they needed specially because it's dangerous, Elena said. The people
who need help the most are usually the ones in
the most dangerous situations. The council chairman called the session
back to order. After deliberation, we have reached our decision,
doctor Vascuoyez. The charges against you are dismissed. The Council
recognizes that your actions, while unusual, were taken in defense
of patients under your care. Elena felt relief for chover her. However,
the chairman continued, we are implementing new protocols for medical
ships operating in contested territories. You will be required to
carry neutral observers and maintain detailed records of any non
standard procedures understood Chairmen, we are also establishing a new
program for interspecies medical co operation. The Korrath Empire has
requested to participate as of several other species. Doctor Vesqu's
would you be willing to oversee this program? Elina looked
at or Leos Khan, who nodded respectfully. The idea of
teaching former enemies how to heal instead of heard appeal
to her. I would be honored, Chairman. As the session ended,
Lena found herself surrounded by representatives from different species, all
wanting to know more about human medical techniques. But what
struck her most was the look in their eyes. There
was a new respect there, not just for human medicine,
but for the principles behind it. Captain Hayes came up
beside her, so doc ready to head back out, Elena
looked at Harmony, who was talking excitedly with some of
the Korps representatives about crystal healing techniques. She looked at
Warldis Khan, who was asking Doctor Came about human anatomy.
She looked at all the different species in the room
working together instead of fighting. Yes, Elena said, let go
save some lives. As they walked toward the exit, Elena
thought about the new matter that had been painted in
the Hippocrates hull. We'll save your life even if it
kills you. It had started as a joke, but Elna
realized it was also the truth. Humans would go to
extraordinary lengths to preserve life, even when it put them
in danger, and sometimes, just sometimes, that stubborn dedication to
healing could accomplish what weapons and diplomacy could not. Bilina
smiled as they headed back to their ship. There were
probably people out there right now who needed help, and
the crew of the Hippocrates would be ready for them,
whatever the cost. After all, that's what doctors did to
heal people, even the ones who had been trying to
kill them five minutes earlier, especially those ones. And that
is the end. Thank you for listening.