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Speaker 1: Hello, I'm welcomed stories all the time. Glad you are here.

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Let's get into it. The Apocrates drifted through the dark

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space between stars like a giant white whale. The massive

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ship stretched over two kilometers long and was covered in

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red crosses that glowed bright against its clean hull. Inside

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the ship, thousands of people worked day and night to

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save lives from across the galaxy. Doctor Atlenavaskus walked down

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the main medical corridor, her boots making soft sounds on

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the metal floor. She had been the chief medical officer

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for three years now, and every day brought new challenges.

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The ship's lights were dimmed during night shift, but the

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medical bays never truly slept Somewhere. Someone always needed help.

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Elena stopped at a window and looked out at the stars.

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The outer room territories were dangerous places. Three different alien

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empires were fighting each other, and smaller species got caught

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in the middle. That was why ships like the Apocrates existed.

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They went where others feared to go, bringing medicine and

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I hope to anyone who needed it. The ship's computer

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made a soft beeping sound. Billina touched a wall panel

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and Captain Hayes's voice came through Dark. We got a problem.

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The emergency signal coming in from Sector seven. Elena pressed

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the talk button. What kind of emergency looks like a

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ship got hit bad, multiple life signs, but they're getting weaker.

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Thing is it's a Zephyrn cruiser, Elena felt, a stomach titan.

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Zephyrin's were crystal based aliens who looked like living glass sculptures.

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They were also at war with Earth and its colonies.

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Helping them could get the Hippocrates in serious trouble. How

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many survivors, she asked, scan show maybe sixty seventy beings

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hard to tell with Zephyrn biology. Their ship is losing

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power fast. Elena closed her eyes. The rules were simple.

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The Hippocrates helped everyone, no matter what species they were on,

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which side they fought for. But rules were easier to

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follow when people weren't shooting at each other. Set cours

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for the distress signal, she said, I'll prep the medical teams. Dark.

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You sure about this command would be happy if they

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fire and out. We're patching up the enemy. Captain. Our

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job is to save leves. That's a friendship as people

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on it who are dying right now. We can worry

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about politics later. There was a pause, then Hayes said, understood,

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changing course. Now we'll be there in two iOS. Billina

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switched off the communicator and started walking fast toward the

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main medical bay. She needed to get her teams ready

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for something they had never done before. Treating Zephyrn's was tricky.

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Their boarders were made of living crystoda could break like glass.

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One wrong move and a patient could shatter into pieces.

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The medical bay doors slid open as Elena entered. The

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huge room was filled with beds, machines, and medical equipment

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from a dozen different worlds. Doctor Kim was checking supplies

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while nurse Peterson ran test on emergency surgical units. Listen up, everyone,

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Elena called out, we have incoming casualties, sixty to seventies

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Efrian survivors from a damaged cruiser. The room went quiet.

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Doctor Kim looked up from his supply list. Seffrians. Elina,

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we've never treated their species before. Their physiology is completely

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different from anything we know. I know. That's why we

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need to work fast and smart. Petersen, get me everything

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we have von zephyryn anatomy him prepped the isolation units.

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The crystal Bow does need different atmospheric pressure in iris.

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What about the war, asked doctor Torres from across the room.

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Last I heard the zephyrin Empire was pushing hard against

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our border colonies. Elena looked around the room at her team.

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These were good people who had signed up to help

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others even when it was dangerous. The war is not

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our problem right now. Dying people are our problem. We

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took an oath to do no harm and to help

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those who need it. That off doesn't come with a

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list of exceptions. The team nodded and got to work.

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Lina watched them move with a smooth efficiency that came

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from years of practice. They had treated humans, of course,

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but also Alterians with their four hearts, cape natives who

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breed methane, and even the sluglike gastropods from the Vega System.

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Each piecies brought new challenges. Humans had one advantage. They

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were taff Humans came from a death world, a planet

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where everything tried to kill them. That made them very

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good at staying alive when things went wrong. It also

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made them very good at keeping other people alive when

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things went wrong. The ship's engines hummed louder. As they

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picked up speed, Elena felt a slight pull of acceleration

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and knew they were raising toward the damaged Stiffin ship.

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Time was important Crystal Base life forms were fragile. When

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they got hurt, they usually died fast. Doctor vasqus to

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the bridge, came Hayes's voice over the ship speakers. Elena

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made her way to the command's center. Captain Hayes was

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a big man with gray hair and scars on his

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hands from his days as a combat medic. He had

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seen plenty of action before taking command of the Apocrateese.

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What's our status, Elena asked. Dot Hayes pointed at the

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main screen. It showed a long, elegant ship looked like

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it was made of blue glass. Parts of it were dark,

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and Elena could see holes in the hull where weapons

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had hit it. The Ephyrian cruise a bright wind. Looks

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like they ran into a car off patrol. Those lozo

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bastards don't take prisoners, Billina studded the damage ship. The

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coth were known for their brutal fighting style. They thought

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mercy was weakness and healing. Your enemies were stupid If

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they had attacked the ship. They probably expected everyone on

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it to die. Any sign of the course ships negative

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looks like they hit and ran. Probably thought they finished

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the job. The Apocrates moved closer to the damaged cruiser.

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Billina could see the ship more clearly now. The Zephyrins

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built their vessels to look beautiful, with smooth curves and

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crystal grouse that caught starlight. This one was a mess.

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Huge chunks were missing from the hull, and internal like

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flickered weekly for cracks in the walls. Hailing them now,

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said the communications officer. The main screen changed to show

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the bridge of the Zephyrine ship. The aliens who appeared

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looked like they were made of blue green crystal. Their

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bodies caught light and threw it back in rainbow patterns.

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But these Zephrins were hurt. Ilina could see cracks running

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through their crystal skin, and some were missing pieces of themselves.

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The Zephyrine captain spoke in a voice like wind chimes.

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The computer translated his words into English. Human vessel, this

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is captain, resonance of the bright wind. We we did

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not expect to see your kind here. Hayes stepped forward.

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This is Captain Hayes of the medical vessel Apocrates. We

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receive your distressed signal. We're here to help help. The

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alien captain's crystel head tilted in confusion. But our peoples

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are at war. Why would you help us, Billina moved

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into view of the camera. Because you're hurt and we doctors.

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War doesn't change that. The Zephyan captain was quiet for

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a long moment. Then Ye said, we have many wounded,

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some are breaking apart. If you truly mean to help us,

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please hurry. We'll dock with your ship in ten minutes.

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Hayes said, prepare you're wounded for transport. The screen went dark.

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Lena looked at Hayes. Think it's a trap. Hay shrugged. Maybe,

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but look at that ship. If it is a trap,

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it's the most expensive one I've ever seen. The scidence.

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The Zephriyn's aren't known for tricks. They're too proud for

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that kind of thing. Elena nodded. Cephrians were warriors, but

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they fought with honor. If they said they needed help,

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they probably really needed it. I'm going over with the

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first medical team, Elena said, Like how you are. You're

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too important to risk those people are dying. Captain, I'm

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the only one on the ship who has studied crystal

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based biology. If anyone can figure out how to save them,

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it's me. He's looked like he wanted to argue, but

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he knew Lena was right. Fine, but you take a

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full security escort deal. Helena hurried back to the medical bay.

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Her team was ready. They had loaded emergency medical supplies

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on to transport sleds and prepared portable treatment units. Doctor

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Kim had found the files on zephyn anatomy and was

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studying them on his tablet. What do we know about

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their biology, Bilina asked, It's word, Kim said. The bodies

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are made of living crystal that can grow and chain shape.

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When they get hurt, pieces can break off. News is

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that if we can stabilize the main crystal matrix, the

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broken pieces can grow back. The bad news is that

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if too much breaks off, the whole organism falls apart,

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like a chain reaction. Exactly once it starts, it's hard

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to stop. Elena felt the ship shadow slightly as the

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dogging clamps engaged with the Zephyne cruiser. Okay, people, we're

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about to make history. No one has ever tried to

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treat this many Zephriyans before. Stay calm, work smart, and

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remember that these people are counting on us. The airlock

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doors opened with a Hissleina led her team through the

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connecting tunnel and into the alien ship. The first thing

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she noticed was the light. Everything inside the Zephyrine vessel

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blowed with soft, colorful radiance. The walls, the floor, even

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the air scene to shimmer. The second thing she noticed

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was the damage. Last holes in the crystal wall shared

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the dark space outside. Emergency barriers had been put up,

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but they were failing. The ship was solely losing atmosphere.

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The third thing she noticed was the Zephyrins themselves. They

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were everywhere, and they were were hurt bad. Some had

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large cracks running through their crystal bodice. Others were missing

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arms or legs. A few were lying in pieces, their

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crystal fragments scattered across the floor. One of the aliens

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approached to Lena. This one was mostly intact, with only

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small cracks in her crystal skin. She spoke in the

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Windshim language, and Alina's translated turned it into words, I

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am Helo clarity. I have been trying to treat the wounded.

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But I do not know enough. We have never faced

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damage like this before. Billina looked around at the injured Spherians.

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How many wounded? Seventy three fifteen r quickly? They will

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die soon if nothing is done. Show me the worst cases.

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First Clarity led Elena through the ship to a large

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room where the most seriously injured Depyrians were lying on

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crystal platforms. Thelena had never seen anything like it. These

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aliens were literally falling apart. She could see stressed fractures

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spreading through their bodies like cracks in a windshield. Doctor

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Kim set up the stabilization field generators. Doctor Torres stopped

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four drops of crystal growth hormone. We sent everyone else

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begin assessment of the wounded. Lena knelt next to one

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of the dying Zephyrians. The alien was young, maybe the

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equivalent of a teenager. Half of his left side was

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missing and cracks were spreading toward his core. What's your name?

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Elena asked softly. Harmony. The young alien whispered, Am I

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going to die? Helena looked at the spreading cracks. By

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all rights, this patient should already be dead, but she

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has learned something important during her years in space medicine.

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The universe was full of surprises, and sometimes the impossible

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became possible if he worked hard enough, not if I

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can help it, Elena said. She activated her medical scanner

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and began to work around the room. Her team was

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doing the same thing. They moved with calm efficiency, treating

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injuries that would have been impossible to heal just a

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few years ago. The Zephrians watched in amazement as the

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humans worked save lives that their own healers had given

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up on. This was what humans did best, Elena thought,

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as she carefully injected crystal Growth's cerem into harmon his

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damaged matrix. They took impossible situation and made them possible

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through shio stabborn determination. The question was whether they would

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have enough time to finish the job before someone else

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decided to interfere. Elina worked for two IROs straight in

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the young the frey named Harmony. The crystal growth serum

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was helping, but slowly. She could see new crystal forming

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at the edges of his winds, but the cracks were

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still spreading faster than the healing could keep up. Doctor

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Visquez called doctor Kim from across the room. I think

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I figured something out. The crystal matrix response better to

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harmonic frequencies. If we can match the right sound ways

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to their biology, we might be able to speed up

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the healing. Blena looked up from her patient. What kind

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of frequencies? Each Sopherian seems to have their own resonance pattern,

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like a musical note that matches their body. When I

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played the right tone, the crystal growth increased by thirty percent.

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How do we find the right frequency for each patient?

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Doctor Kim held up a small device, modified medical scanner.

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It reads their natural vibration and plays it back through speakers.

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Leina is mild. This was why she loved working with hemans.

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When faced with the problem they had never seen before,

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they found creative solutions. Do it start with the most

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critical patients around the room. The human medical team was

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saving lives that should have been lost. Doctor Torres had

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figured out how to use microlasers to seal cracks and

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crystal skin. Nus Pedersen was using a magnetic field generator

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to hold crystal fragments in place while they grew. Even

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the security guards were helping carefully collecting broken pieces of

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zephyring patients so the doctors could reattach them. The Cephrian healer,

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name Clarity, watched everything with amazement. How do you do this?

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She asked, Olena, your species is so different from ires.

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How do you understand our good is well enough to

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heal them? Lena White sweat from her forehead. We study

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heart and we improvise. Humans are good at adapting to

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new situations. But you have never treated our kind before.

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Yet you work as if you have done this for years. Thus,

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because healing is healing, Alina said, the basic principles are

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the same no matter what species you're working with. Stop

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the damage, stabilized the patient, and the body repair itself.

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The details changed, but the gulf stays the same. Clarity

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Crystal had tilted in a way that Elina had learned

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meant curiosity. Your people are known as warrors, yet you

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risk your lives to save your enemies. This does not

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make sense to me. Elena looked around at her team.

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They were tired and stressed, but they kept working. None

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of them had complained about treating aliens from a hostile empire.

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To them, this was just another day at work. Being

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good a fighting and being good at healing aren opposites,

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Lina said. Both require you to understand how about his

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work and how to act fast under pressure. The only

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difference is what you are trying to accomplish. Before Clarity

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could respond, the ship's emergency alarm started blurring. Red light

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flattered on the walls, and Elena heard Captain Hayes's voice

253
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over the communicator. All medical teams, we have a problem.

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Multiple ships dropping out of hyperspace. Looks like a Koruph

255
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battle group. Elena felt her blood turn cold. The Korth

256
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with the most aggressive species in this part of the galaxy.

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They believed their showing mercy to enem Is made you weak.

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If they found human healing zephrins, they would attack without

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asking questions. How many ships, Elina asked into her communicator.

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Six vessels, three destroyers, two cruisers, and one dreadnought. They

261
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are moving fast and their weapons are charging. Billina looked

262
00:14:18,919 --> 00:14:23,200
at her patients. Harmony was still critical but stable. Round

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the room, other Zyphrians were getting better thanks to the

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harmon achealing technique, but they still needed eyes of work

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to be completely safe. Captain, how long until they reach us?

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Twenty minutes may be less, Doctor Kin came over to Lena.

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We need to evacuate. Get up people back to the

268
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Hippocrates and run. Elina shook her head. We can move

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these patients, yet half of them would die during transport, Elina,

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If we stay here, we might all die the corathe.

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Don negotiate. Elena looked at the Zephyn patients. Some were

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starting to sit up as their crystal bodies healed. Others

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were still lying in pieces, depending on humans medicine to

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keep them alive. If the medical team left now, most

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of these people would be dead within an ile. We're

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not leaving, Elina said firmly. But Elina, we're not leaving,

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she repeated. These people trusted us to save their lives.

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That's what we're going to do. Billina activated her communicator.

279
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Captain Hayes, this is doctor Vasquez. We're staying with our patients.

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There was a long pause, then Hayes said, Doc, that's suicide.

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The corarath will kill everyone on bull ships. Maybe, but

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if we run now, our patients die for sure. At

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least this way we have a chance. And another pause understood,

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We'll do what we can to protect you. Elina knew

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that was much the Apocrates was a hospital ship, not

286
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a warship. It had shields on some basic weapons, but

287
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nothing that could fight off six Corps military vessels. Clarity

288
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had been listening to the conversation. Doctor, you cannot sacrifice

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00:15:54,399 --> 00:15:57,799
yourselves for us. We are enemies of your people, no

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Elena said, right now, you are Patience. That makes your responsibility.

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The Zephrinhila stared at Elena with crystal eyes that reflected

292
00:16:06,320 --> 00:16:10,360
the emergency lights. I do not understand your species. You

293
00:16:10,399 --> 00:16:12,919
don't have to understand us. You just have to let

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us do our job. Billina went back to work on Harmony.

295
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The young Zephyne was conscious now and his crystal body

296
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was slowly rebuilding itself. The harmonic therapy was working better

297
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than she had hoped. Doctor Harmony said, in his windshie voice.

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The core other coming for us, aren't they? Yes, you

299
00:16:28,279 --> 00:16:30,559
should leave us and save yourselves. We are already dead.

300
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Our ship cannot fight, and theirs can. Billina adjusted the

301
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harmonic frequency generator. You're not dead, not while we're here.

302
00:16:37,840 --> 00:16:40,120
But why why riskuer loves for us? Our peoples are

303
00:16:40,159 --> 00:16:43,399
at war? Billina thought about how to explain it. Do

304
00:16:43,480 --> 00:16:46,200
you know what humans call our home? Planet Earth. I

305
00:16:46,240 --> 00:16:50,399
believe we also call it something else, a death world.

306
00:16:50,679 --> 00:16:53,480
Everything on our planet tries to kill us. The weather,

307
00:16:53,679 --> 00:16:57,200
the animals, the plants, even the bacteria. For millions of years,

308
00:16:57,279 --> 00:16:59,799
humans had to fight just to survive each day. That's

309
00:16:59,799 --> 00:17:03,840
how terrible it was. But it taught us something important.

310
00:17:04,440 --> 00:17:07,799
When everything is trying to kill you, you learn to value life.

311
00:17:07,839 --> 00:17:10,359
Every day you wake up alive is a victory. Every

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00:17:10,359 --> 00:17:13,599
person who survives is a success. Elena made a small

313
00:17:13,640 --> 00:17:16,359
adjustment to Ham in his treatment. That's why we became

314
00:17:16,400 --> 00:17:19,119
good at medicine. We learned that life is precious because

315
00:17:19,119 --> 00:17:21,839
we almost lost it so many times. But we are

316
00:17:21,880 --> 00:17:24,720
your enemies. Right now. You are a patient with crystal

317
00:17:24,759 --> 00:17:28,400
matrix failure who needs medical attention. Everything else is politics.

318
00:17:29,000 --> 00:17:32,960
The ship shook as the Korreth Vessals moved closer. Leina

319
00:17:32,960 --> 00:17:36,039
could hear weapons powering up in the distance. The enemy

320
00:17:36,119 --> 00:17:39,400
was almost here all medical personnel. Came his voice over

321
00:17:39,440 --> 00:17:42,960
the speakers. The Koraf commander is demanding we surrender al

322
00:17:43,039 --> 00:17:46,119
Zeffry and survivors for interrogation. I told him to go

323
00:17:46,160 --> 00:17:50,160
to hell. Bilina smiled. Despite the situation. Captain Hayes was

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00:17:50,160 --> 00:17:52,400
a good man who understood what the Apocrates stood for.

325
00:17:53,079 --> 00:17:56,400
Doctor Vasquez came another voice over the communicator. It was

326
00:17:56,480 --> 00:17:59,359
rough and sounded like gravel in a cement mixer. That

327
00:17:59,480 --> 00:18:02,440
meant it was a Korra speaking. I am more leaders garn.

328
00:18:03,039 --> 00:18:06,440
He will surrender the enemy wounded to us. Immediately, Elena

329
00:18:06,480 --> 00:18:10,079
picked up a communicator. This is doctor Elena Vasquez, chief

330
00:18:10,119 --> 00:18:14,279
medical officer of the Hippocrates. Under galactic medical neutrality laws.

331
00:18:14,319 --> 00:18:17,440
These people are under our protection. Human laws mean nothing

332
00:18:17,440 --> 00:18:20,000
to us. You have five minutes to comply, or we

333
00:18:20,039 --> 00:18:23,920
will destroy both ships. These are not human laws. They

334
00:18:23,920 --> 00:18:28,920
are galactic laws, recognized by all civilized species. Dekhorov laughed,

335
00:18:28,920 --> 00:18:32,960
a sound like rocks grinding together. Civilized you heal our

336
00:18:33,039 --> 00:18:36,319
enemies and call it civilization. You are weak, soft creatures

337
00:18:36,319 --> 00:18:40,000
who do not understand war. Elena felt, angerising in her chest.

338
00:18:40,720 --> 00:18:43,799
We understand war just fine. We also understand that some

339
00:18:43,880 --> 00:18:46,839
things are more important than more. Nothing is more important

340
00:18:46,839 --> 00:18:49,519
than victory. In five minutes, you will learn this truth.

341
00:18:49,599 --> 00:18:53,680
The communication ended. Elena looked around the medical bay. Her

342
00:18:53,680 --> 00:18:55,680
team was still working, but she could see the fear

343
00:18:55,680 --> 00:18:58,839
in their eyes. They all knew what Korrath interrogation meant

344
00:18:59,400 --> 00:19:02,240
the lizard Ians would touch if zephyrn survive us for information,

345
00:19:02,319 --> 00:19:05,359
then kill them slowly. Doctor Ken came over to Elena.

346
00:19:05,960 --> 00:19:09,480
What do we do? Elena checked her chronometer. They had

347
00:19:09,519 --> 00:19:12,599
been working for almost three hours. Most of the zephyne

348
00:19:12,599 --> 00:19:14,960
patients were stable now, but they still needed more treatment

349
00:19:15,000 --> 00:19:18,720
to be completely safe. We keep working, Helena said, five

350
00:19:18,720 --> 00:19:22,279
minutes or fifty minutes. These people need medical attention. Elena,

351
00:19:22,559 --> 00:19:26,240
be reasonable, there's nothing we can do against six warships.

352
00:19:26,559 --> 00:19:29,960
Elena looked at him. Kim, do you remember your medical oath?

353
00:19:30,559 --> 00:19:34,559
Of course, first, do no harm a right? And what

354
00:19:34,599 --> 00:19:36,559
would happen to these patients if we handed them over

355
00:19:36,599 --> 00:19:39,799
to the korath. Kim's face went pale. They would be

356
00:19:39,839 --> 00:19:42,440
tortured and killed. So handing them over would cause harm.

357
00:19:43,079 --> 00:19:46,000
That means we can't do it. But staying here means

358
00:19:46,000 --> 00:19:49,400
we I'll die. Elina shrugged. Maybe, but at least we'll

359
00:19:49,440 --> 00:19:52,160
die doing the right thing. Around the room, the other

360
00:19:52,240 --> 00:19:55,359
human medical personnel nodded. None of them looked happy about

361
00:19:55,359 --> 00:19:58,160
the situation, but none of them Aggie Eater. They had

362
00:19:58,160 --> 00:20:00,319
also worn the same oath, and they all knew stood

363
00:20:00,359 --> 00:20:02,960
what it meant. The young Vivrian named how many tried

364
00:20:02,960 --> 00:20:06,039
to sit up. Doctor, Please do not die for us.

365
00:20:06,359 --> 00:20:09,400
We are not worth it. Billina gently pushed him back down.

366
00:20:09,960 --> 00:20:13,640
That's not your decision to make. You're my patient, which

367
00:20:13,640 --> 00:20:17,559
means I decide what you're worth, But no arguments. Right now.

368
00:20:17,599 --> 00:20:19,880
Your job is to lie still in heel. My job

369
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is to make sure you have the chance to do that.

370
00:20:22,160 --> 00:20:24,359
The ship shook again as the Krath vessels moved into

371
00:20:24,359 --> 00:20:27,720
attack position. Bilina could see the dark angular ships through

372
00:20:27,720 --> 00:20:30,920
the windows. They looked like metal shocks circling winded prey.

373
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Doctor esquess came Captain Hayes's voice, chorus, ships are powering weapons.

374
00:20:36,200 --> 00:20:40,400
They mean business. Bileina picked up the communicator. Captain, are

375
00:20:40,440 --> 00:20:43,759
you planning to fight them with what we've got? Medical

376
00:20:43,759 --> 00:20:46,880
equipment and a handful of security guards. They've got enough

377
00:20:46,880 --> 00:20:50,119
five PoTA level a city, So what's the plan. There

378
00:20:50,160 --> 00:20:53,319
was a long pause, then Hayes said, Doc, I've been

379
00:20:53,359 --> 00:20:57,119
thinking about what you said earlier about human's being. Could

380
00:20:57,119 --> 00:21:00,880
its adapting to new situations? What do you mean? I mean?

381
00:21:01,160 --> 00:21:03,119
Maybe it's time to show these courth bastards why you

382
00:21:03,160 --> 00:21:06,079
don't attack a human hospital ship. Elena felt that chill

383
00:21:06,119 --> 00:21:08,160
run damnspy, and she knew the tone in Hayes's voice.

384
00:21:08,160 --> 00:21:09,799
It was the same turn he had used back when

385
00:21:09,799 --> 00:21:11,839
he was a combat medic rite before he did something

386
00:21:11,880 --> 00:21:14,119
crazy and dangerous. Captain, what are you plan in something

387
00:21:14,119 --> 00:21:15,839
that's either going to save all our lives would get

388
00:21:15,880 --> 00:21:18,240
us all culd Either way? It should be interesting. The

389
00:21:18,319 --> 00:21:22,839
Korath commander's voice came over the speakers. Ken time is up.

390
00:21:22,920 --> 00:21:26,559
Humans prepare to be boarded. Lena looked at her team,

391
00:21:26,680 --> 00:21:29,079
then at the Zephim patients who were depending on them.

392
00:21:29,359 --> 00:21:32,319
Whatever Hayes was planning, she hoped it worked, because in

393
00:21:32,359 --> 00:21:34,160
a few minutes they were all going to find out

394
00:21:34,200 --> 00:21:37,359
what happened when someone threatened a human medical crew who

395
00:21:37,359 --> 00:21:40,319
had sworn to protect their patients. The war was about

396
00:21:40,359 --> 00:21:43,759
to become very personal. First coreth boarding pods slant into

397
00:21:43,759 --> 00:21:47,039
the hull of their Apocrates like metal fists. Elina felt

398
00:21:47,039 --> 00:21:49,039
the ship shake and heard the screech of cutting tools

399
00:21:49,039 --> 00:21:51,640
as the enemy soldiers began burning through the outer walls.

400
00:21:52,359 --> 00:21:55,079
All medical staff. This is Hayes, came the captain's voice

401
00:21:55,079 --> 00:21:59,960
through the speakers. Execute Protocol seven I repeat execute Protocol seven.

402
00:22:00,599 --> 00:22:04,319
Ailina's eyes widened. Protocol seven was something they had discussed

403
00:22:04,359 --> 00:22:07,400
but never used. It was the emergency plan for when

404
00:22:07,400 --> 00:22:11,160
the hospital ship came under direct attack. She had always

405
00:22:11,200 --> 00:22:14,039
hoped they would never need it. What is Protocol seven?

406
00:22:14,599 --> 00:22:17,240
Asked healer Claarerty the Zephyrin, who had been watching the

407
00:22:17,319 --> 00:22:20,400
humans work. You are about to find out, Lena said.

408
00:22:21,079 --> 00:22:24,720
She growbed her medical kit and started moving toward them. Winded,

409
00:22:25,559 --> 00:22:28,640
every one, listen up. We're staying with our patients, but

410
00:22:28,680 --> 00:22:32,279
we're also going to defend them. Remember your training. Doctor

411
00:22:32,359 --> 00:22:37,559
Kimloke confused, what training? We're doctors, not soldiers him. Think

412
00:22:37,599 --> 00:22:39,920
about it. What do we know better than any one

413
00:22:39,920 --> 00:22:45,119
else in the galaxy medicine exactly. We know how bods work.

414
00:22:45,799 --> 00:22:48,200
We know how to fix them when they break. Lena

415
00:22:48,279 --> 00:22:51,039
pulled a small device from her medical kit. It looked

416
00:22:51,039 --> 00:22:54,200
like a normal surgical laser, but she had made some modifications.

417
00:22:54,519 --> 00:22:56,240
We also know how to break them when we need to.

418
00:22:56,880 --> 00:22:59,079
The lights in the medical bay suddenly changed from white

419
00:22:59,079 --> 00:23:01,960
to red. Emergency power had kicked in, which meant the

420
00:23:01,960 --> 00:23:05,519
main reactor was being diverted to other systems. Bilina knew

421
00:23:05,519 --> 00:23:09,119
what that meant Hayes was turning their medical equipment into weapons.

422
00:23:09,559 --> 00:23:13,920
Doctor Vasque was to engineering, Lena said into her communicator. Engineering.

423
00:23:13,960 --> 00:23:16,839
Here came the reply. It was chief from hers, the

424
00:23:16,839 --> 00:23:19,359
head of the ship's technical crew. How long until the

425
00:23:19,359 --> 00:23:22,920
conversion is complete? Ten minutes for the big stuff. The

426
00:23:22,960 --> 00:23:26,839
surgical lasers are ready now the MRI units need more time.

427
00:23:27,400 --> 00:23:31,559
What about the radiation therapy equipment. That's the tricky one.

428
00:23:32,079 --> 00:23:33,960
Give me fifteen minutes and I can turn it into

429
00:23:34,000 --> 00:23:37,599
particle bean that'll cut through their shappama like paper. Lina smiled.

430
00:23:38,279 --> 00:23:40,759
Hemans were very good at turning peaceful things into weapons

431
00:23:40,759 --> 00:23:42,880
when they needed to. It was a skill they had

432
00:23:42,960 --> 00:23:46,079
learned on their dangerous home world. The sound of cutting

433
00:23:46,079 --> 00:23:49,119
tools grew louder. The Korath were almost through the hull.

434
00:23:49,640 --> 00:23:52,079
Billina could hear their voices speaking in a harsh language

435
00:23:52,079 --> 00:23:55,480
that sounded like rock scraping together. All patients who can move,

436
00:23:55,559 --> 00:23:59,960
get behind the medical equipment. Billina ordered, everyone else, stay calm.

437
00:24:00,079 --> 00:24:03,359
We've handled worse than this. That wasn't true, but Elena

438
00:24:03,359 --> 00:24:06,279
had learned that confidence was often the best medicine. The

439
00:24:06,319 --> 00:24:09,480
first hole appeared in the wall with a shower of sparks.

440
00:24:10,119 --> 00:24:12,599
Billina could see a chorous soldier on the other side,

441
00:24:12,720 --> 00:24:15,079
wearing heavy armor and carrying a weapon that looked like

442
00:24:15,079 --> 00:24:18,599
it could punch holes in starship holes. Remember, Elina whispered

443
00:24:18,640 --> 00:24:21,920
to her team. We know their biology, korath of weak

444
00:24:21,960 --> 00:24:23,839
spots at the base of their scal and behind their

445
00:24:23,839 --> 00:24:28,279
front leg joints. Aim for those areas. The wall exploded inwood.

446
00:24:28,359 --> 00:24:31,480
Chorus soldiers poured through. They were big, standing over two

447
00:24:31,480 --> 00:24:34,599
meters tall, with thick scales and teeth like knives. Their

448
00:24:34,720 --> 00:24:38,400
armor was dark green and covered with spikes. Surrender humans,

449
00:24:38,480 --> 00:24:41,599
shouted the lead soldier. Give us the enemy wounded and

450
00:24:41,680 --> 00:24:44,920
you will not be harmed. Billina stepped forward, holding her

451
00:24:44,960 --> 00:24:49,200
modified surgical laser. I'm doctor Elena Vesk's chief medical officer.

452
00:24:49,799 --> 00:24:52,880
These patients are under medical protection. You have no right

453
00:24:52,920 --> 00:24:56,039
to be here. The koath soldier laughed, writes, you speak

454
00:24:56,039 --> 00:24:58,319
of rights while healing our enemies. You are either very

455
00:24:58,319 --> 00:25:01,920
brave or very stupid. Maybe, b Elina said, but I'm

456
00:25:01,960 --> 00:25:05,319
also very good at my job. She fired the surgical laser.

457
00:25:05,920 --> 00:25:07,839
The beam was designed to cut through human tissue with

458
00:25:07,880 --> 00:25:11,839
perfect precision against coarse scales. It worked even better. The

459
00:25:11,960 --> 00:25:14,000
laser cut through the soldier's armor and hit the weak

460
00:25:14,039 --> 00:25:17,240
spot behind his left shoulder joint. He dropped his weapon

461
00:25:17,240 --> 00:25:21,079
and fell to the ground, paralyzed but alive. Now, Elina shouted.

462
00:25:21,599 --> 00:25:23,960
Her medical team moved with the same efficiency they used

463
00:25:23,960 --> 00:25:26,880
in surgery. Doctor Torres used a bone sought to cut

464
00:25:26,880 --> 00:25:30,400
through another soldier's weapon. Nurse Peterson sprayed medical stative from

465
00:25:30,400 --> 00:25:33,839
a hypodermic injector, hitting three corath in the face. Doctor

466
00:25:33,880 --> 00:25:36,000
Kim used a portable X ray machine to blind the

467
00:25:36,119 --> 00:25:39,319
enemy soldiers with radiation. The corath had expected to fight

468
00:25:39,359 --> 00:25:42,400
doctors and nurses. They hadn't expected to fight people who

469
00:25:42,440 --> 00:25:44,640
knew exactly where to hit them to cause maximum damage

470
00:25:44,640 --> 00:25:48,119
with minimum effort. Fall back, shouted the course squad leader.

471
00:25:48,680 --> 00:25:51,640
We grew up in the corridor. The enemy soldiers retreated,

472
00:25:51,720 --> 00:25:54,480
dragging their wounded with them. Alina's team had won the

473
00:25:54,480 --> 00:25:57,759
first round, but she knew more would come. Status report A,

474
00:25:57,839 --> 00:26:01,119
Lina said into her communicator. Medical Bait, who was holding

475
00:26:01,400 --> 00:26:04,720
came dop to Walsh's voice. We used the surgical robots

476
00:26:04,720 --> 00:26:06,960
to tie up the boarding party. They were stuck in

477
00:26:06,960 --> 00:26:10,720
the ventilation system. Medical be four here, said Doctor Paddell.

478
00:26:11,359 --> 00:26:14,559
We turned the MRI machine into an electromagnetic pulse generator.

479
00:26:15,119 --> 00:26:18,839
Fried all their equipment. They can't see, can't communicate, and

480
00:26:18,960 --> 00:26:22,759
half their weapons don't work. Billina felt as sot to pride.

481
00:26:22,839 --> 00:26:26,480
Her people were improvising brilliantly. They were turning their medical

482
00:26:26,519 --> 00:26:31,480
knowledge into tactical advantages, engineering to all stations. Came Ramirez's voice.

483
00:26:32,000 --> 00:26:35,319
Radiation therapy is online. Targeting the core command ship. Now

484
00:26:35,920 --> 00:26:38,160
through the windows, Lena could see a bright blue beam

485
00:26:38,240 --> 00:26:40,880
lance out from the Hippocrates toward the largest enemy vessel.

486
00:26:41,359 --> 00:26:43,960
The beam was designed to deliver precise doses of radiation

487
00:26:44,039 --> 00:26:47,759
to cancer patients. Against toustarship, it became a devastating weapon

488
00:26:47,759 --> 00:26:50,440
that could cook the crew inside their own armor. Directed

489
00:26:50,480 --> 00:26:53,279
on the corp a dread not reported Captain Hayes. The

490
00:26:53,359 --> 00:26:56,680
shields are down and their venting atmosphere. The young Zephyrin

491
00:26:56,759 --> 00:26:59,079
named how many tried to sit up. The humans are

492
00:26:59,079 --> 00:27:03,000
fighting back, but your healers not warriors. Elena helped him

493
00:27:03,000 --> 00:27:05,960
lie back down while keeping her laser rifle ready. Were

494
00:27:06,000 --> 00:27:08,599
whatever we need to be to protect our patients, but

495
00:27:08,720 --> 00:27:12,400
how your ship is not built for war? Elena pointed

496
00:27:12,440 --> 00:27:15,240
at the medical equipment around them, how many What do

497
00:27:15,279 --> 00:27:17,599
you think the stuff is designed to do? Heal the

498
00:27:17,640 --> 00:27:20,279
second injured? Right? And what do you need to know

499
00:27:20,319 --> 00:27:23,160
to heal someone? The young alien thought for a moment,

500
00:27:23,920 --> 00:27:28,640
you need to understand how bod is work exactly. And

501
00:27:28,759 --> 00:27:30,519
if you know how bod is work, you also know

502
00:27:30,559 --> 00:27:33,160
how to make them stop working. Another group of coloth

503
00:27:33,319 --> 00:27:35,799
soldiers appeared at the hole in the wall. This time

504
00:27:35,880 --> 00:27:39,119
they moved more carefully, using shields and staying information they

505
00:27:39,119 --> 00:27:42,359
had learned to respect the human medical team. Surrender now,

506
00:27:42,400 --> 00:27:45,680
and we will make your desk quick cold. Their leader, Elena,

507
00:27:45,759 --> 00:27:49,000
checked her surgic Olais's power level. Still good for another

508
00:27:49,039 --> 00:27:52,319
twenty shots. Sorry, but we're kind of busy right now.

509
00:27:52,920 --> 00:27:57,119
These patients need medical attention. Then you will die with them, probably,

510
00:27:57,240 --> 00:28:01,279
but you'll die first. The course charged, Elena's team was

511
00:28:01,319 --> 00:28:04,000
ready for them. Doctor Kim had raped a bone grow

512
00:28:04,000 --> 00:28:07,359
of stimulator to work in reverse. Instead of growing bone,

513
00:28:07,400 --> 00:28:09,640
it dissolved it. He hit the lead soldier in a

514
00:28:09,680 --> 00:28:11,799
knee in The alien collapsed as his let bones turned

515
00:28:11,799 --> 00:28:15,519
to powder. Nurse Peterson had filled her hypodermic injectors with

516
00:28:15,559 --> 00:28:19,119
a mixture of medical drugs that would paralyze most species.

517
00:28:19,799 --> 00:28:23,079
She moved like a dancer, dodging kreth claws while injecting

518
00:28:23,160 --> 00:28:26,480
sedatives into weak points in their armor. Doctor Torres used

519
00:28:26,480 --> 00:28:29,240
a surgical cutting laser like a sword, slicing through weapons

520
00:28:29,240 --> 00:28:32,400
and armor with surgical precision. The Koroth couldn't get close

521
00:28:32,440 --> 00:28:35,920
to him without losing pieces of their equipment. Elena coordinated

522
00:28:35,920 --> 00:28:39,279
the defense while continuing to treat patients. She had learned

523
00:28:39,279 --> 00:28:41,279
in medical school that doctors needed to be able to

524
00:28:41,279 --> 00:28:45,200
work under pressure. This was just more pressure than usual.

525
00:28:45,880 --> 00:28:49,200
Doctor Vasquez came Hayes's voice over the communicator. We've got

526
00:28:49,240 --> 00:28:52,640
their attention. Three of their ships are focusing fire on us.

527
00:28:53,160 --> 00:28:56,079
How are you doing down there? We're managing, Helena said,

528
00:28:56,079 --> 00:28:58,640
while using her laser to cut through a Koroth's soldier's weapon.

529
00:28:59,200 --> 00:29:04,000
Any word on a vacuiuation negative DEEPHN ship is too

530
00:29:04,039 --> 00:29:06,480
damaged to move, and we can't transport your patient safely.

531
00:29:06,519 --> 00:29:09,960
While under fire, Elen inducts a coreth energy blast scorch

532
00:29:10,039 --> 00:29:13,279
the wall above her head. Then we keep fighting Dark.

533
00:29:13,400 --> 00:29:16,119
I need to tell you something. The engineering crew has

534
00:29:16,160 --> 00:29:19,160
been working on a special project. We're going to try

535
00:29:19,200 --> 00:29:22,039
something that's never been done before. What kind of something

536
00:29:22,599 --> 00:29:25,039
We're going to turn the entire medical bay into a weapon?

537
00:29:25,519 --> 00:29:28,759
Elena felt her blood go cold. Captain, what are you

538
00:29:28,839 --> 00:29:32,240
talking about? The medical scanners, the treatment bids, even the

539
00:29:32,279 --> 00:29:35,359
life sport systems. Wher Miras thinks we can link them

540
00:29:35,359 --> 00:29:37,559
altogether and create a field that will affect every living

541
00:29:37,599 --> 00:29:40,880
thing in a fifty meter READI us. That's insane. What

542
00:29:41,039 --> 00:29:44,039
kind of effect that depends on what we want it

543
00:29:44,079 --> 00:29:46,880
to do. We could make everyone fall asleep, or paralyze them,

544
00:29:47,000 --> 00:29:49,640
or dot dot dot dot Hayes paused, or we could

545
00:29:49,640 --> 00:29:54,200
make them very, very sick. Elena understood what he was suggesting.

546
00:29:54,799 --> 00:29:57,400
The h Apocrates could become a plaque ship, using its medical

547
00:29:57,440 --> 00:30:00,200
knowledge to spread disease instead of curing it. It was

548
00:30:00,200 --> 00:30:02,960
a terrible idea that violated everything she believed in its adopter.

549
00:30:03,680 --> 00:30:06,680
It was also probably their only chance of survival. How

550
00:30:06,680 --> 00:30:11,359
long do you need, Billina asked, twenty minutes? Can you

551
00:30:11,400 --> 00:30:14,359
hold out that long? Billina looked around the medical bay.

552
00:30:15,079 --> 00:30:17,319
Half her team was wounded, her supplies were running low,

553
00:30:17,400 --> 00:30:20,480
and more Korthe's soldiers were gathering in the corridor, but

554
00:30:20,559 --> 00:30:22,680
her patients were still alive, and that was what mattered

555
00:30:23,240 --> 00:30:26,240
will Hold, she said. The Krath attack came from three

556
00:30:26,240 --> 00:30:29,400
directions at once. They had learned from their mistics and

557
00:30:29,400 --> 00:30:33,160
were using proper military tactics. Billina's team was outnumbered and

558
00:30:33,279 --> 00:30:36,200
upgun but they had something the Korrath didn't have. They

559
00:30:36,200 --> 00:30:39,200
had knowledge. They knew exactly how to hurt their enemies

560
00:30:39,200 --> 00:30:42,400
with minimum effort. More importantly, they knew why they were fighting.

561
00:30:42,920 --> 00:30:45,680
Billina stood over the wounded zephyrin named Harmony, her surgical

562
00:30:45,759 --> 00:30:48,039
laser in one hand and a medical scanner in the other.

563
00:30:48,640 --> 00:30:50,680
Behind her, Doctor Kim was using a bow and saw

564
00:30:50,680 --> 00:30:54,079
to cut through Korthama. Nurse Pedisen was praying says to swell.

565
00:30:54,119 --> 00:30:57,119
Doctor Torres provided cover with his cutting laser. They were

566
00:30:57,119 --> 00:31:00,119
doctors and nurses, not soldiers, but they were all so

567
00:31:00,200 --> 00:31:02,640
humans who had sworn an oath to protect their patients,

568
00:31:02,920 --> 00:31:05,759
and humans Elena had learned, were very dangerous when they

569
00:31:05,759 --> 00:31:10,160
were defending something they cared about. Fifteen minutes, Hayes reported

570
00:31:10,200 --> 00:31:13,839
over the communicator. Elena looked at the advancing Choras's soldiers.

571
00:31:14,440 --> 00:31:17,240
Fifteen minutes felt like a lifetime, but she had spent

572
00:31:17,279 --> 00:31:19,599
her career saving lives to everyone else had given up

573
00:31:19,599 --> 00:31:22,519
on if anyone could make the impossible happen. It was

574
00:31:22,559 --> 00:31:24,640
a human medical team at the backs against the wall

575
00:31:24,720 --> 00:31:27,480
and their patients depending on them. Let show them up.

576
00:31:28,000 --> 00:31:30,480
Happens when you hadak a human hospital, Elena said, and

577
00:31:30,599 --> 00:31:34,200
open fire. Elena ducked behind an overturned medical bed as

578
00:31:34,240 --> 00:31:36,799
another energy blast scorched the wall where her head had been.

579
00:31:37,319 --> 00:31:40,440
The Korath were getting smarter using military tactics. Instead of

580
00:31:40,519 --> 00:31:45,200
just charging forward, they had brought heavier weapons in more soldiers.

581
00:31:45,480 --> 00:31:49,279
Doctor Vesque's kim chief Ramiroz's voice through her communicator. The

582
00:31:49,319 --> 00:31:52,279
field generator is almost ready, but I need to warn

583
00:31:52,279 --> 00:31:56,039
you about something. What now, Elina asked, while reloading her

584
00:31:56,039 --> 00:31:59,839
surgical laser. This has never been tested before. When we

585
00:31:59,880 --> 00:32:02,240
are toivit, the medical feel it's going to effect everyone

586
00:32:02,240 --> 00:32:06,160
in the area, humans, Sephrians, and coreth Billina felt her

587
00:32:06,160 --> 00:32:10,079
stomach drop. What kind of effects? Best case everyone falls

588
00:32:10,079 --> 00:32:12,160
asleep for a few iOS. Worst case dot dot dot

589
00:32:12,240 --> 00:32:14,960
docosmir's polls. Let's just say we really don't want to

590
00:32:15,000 --> 00:32:17,200
find out what the worst casees. Elena looked at her patients.

591
00:32:17,240 --> 00:32:19,319
A Zefians were healing well, but they were still fragile.

592
00:32:19,319 --> 00:32:21,480
A powerful medical field could kill them just as easily

593
00:32:21,519 --> 00:32:23,799
as it could save them. How besise can you make it, Olina, ask,

594
00:32:23,920 --> 00:32:25,839
not theerey. It's going to hit everything in a fifty

595
00:32:25,880 --> 00:32:28,880
meter radius snow way to protect specific individuals. Alina closed

596
00:32:28,920 --> 00:32:30,720
her eyes and made a decision that would haunt her

597
00:32:30,759 --> 00:32:33,680
for the rest of her life. Do it, but dark

598
00:32:33,759 --> 00:32:36,920
your patients. Chief. If we don't stop the korreth, my

599
00:32:37,039 --> 00:32:41,359
patients die anyway. At least this way they have a chance. Understood,

600
00:32:42,160 --> 00:32:45,480
charging the fuel generator. Now you have five minutes to prepare.

601
00:32:46,160 --> 00:32:48,759
Elena opened her eyes and looked at her team. Doctor

602
00:32:48,839 --> 00:32:51,279
Kim was behind a surgical table using a medical scanner

603
00:32:51,279 --> 00:32:56,039
to target coreth weak spots. Nuris Petersen was crawling between patients,

604
00:32:56,079 --> 00:32:59,599
checking their vital signs while dodging enemy fire. Doctor Torres

605
00:32:59,640 --> 00:33:01,599
was at the main door, holding off another group of

606
00:33:01,599 --> 00:33:05,319
attackers with his modified cutting laser. Every one, listen up,

607
00:33:05,359 --> 00:33:08,319
Elena called out. In five minutes, this room is going

608
00:33:08,319 --> 00:33:11,119
to become very dangerous for all of us. Yet the

609
00:33:11,119 --> 00:33:14,559
patience as stable as possible and find hard cover. Doctor

610
00:33:14,599 --> 00:33:19,000
Kim looked confused, what's happening? We're going to turn this

611
00:33:19,160 --> 00:33:21,079
medical bay into a weapon. It might save us or

612
00:33:21,079 --> 00:33:22,839
it might kill us all. Either way, it's better than

613
00:33:22,920 --> 00:33:25,359
letting the cough torture our patients. Lena crawled over to

614
00:33:25,359 --> 00:33:27,599
where Harmony was lying. The young superior was conscious and

615
00:33:27,640 --> 00:33:30,119
his crystal body was almost fully healed. The harmonic therapy

616
00:33:30,119 --> 00:33:32,119
had worked better than she had helped. Doctor Harmony said,

617
00:33:32,119 --> 00:33:33,880
and his whin chime voice, what is going to happen

618
00:33:33,880 --> 00:33:37,000
to us? Olina chet his medical readings. His crystal matrix

619
00:33:37,039 --> 00:33:40,000
was stable, but still fragile. We're going to try something

620
00:33:40,039 --> 00:33:43,839
that's never been done before. It might hurt. Will we die?

621
00:33:44,240 --> 00:33:47,119
Billina was quiet for a moment. She had always tried

622
00:33:47,119 --> 00:33:49,079
to be honest with her patience, even when the truth

623
00:33:49,119 --> 00:33:53,319
is hard to hear. I don't know. Maybe then why

624
00:33:53,359 --> 00:33:57,200
do it? Because the alternative is worse? Billina adjusted his

625
00:33:57,279 --> 00:34:00,759
life support systems to maximum protection. How many I need

626
00:34:00,759 --> 00:34:03,960
you to trust me? Can you do that? The young

627
00:34:04,000 --> 00:34:08,079
alien's crystall eyes reflected the emergency lights. You have already

628
00:34:08,079 --> 00:34:10,519
saved my life once. If you think this is our

629
00:34:10,519 --> 00:34:13,639
only chance, then I trust you. Billina felt tears in

630
00:34:13,679 --> 00:34:16,519
her eyes. This alien boy had more faith in her

631
00:34:16,519 --> 00:34:19,920
than sheated in herself. Right now, all stations, This is Hayes,

632
00:34:20,000 --> 00:34:23,400
came the captain's voice over the speakers. The court commander

633
00:34:23,440 --> 00:34:26,760
is demanding surrender again. I told him we're busy saving

634
00:34:26,840 --> 00:34:29,840
lives and he can wait his turn. Elena almost smiled.

635
00:34:29,840 --> 00:34:33,360
Despite the situation, Captain Hayes never lost his sense of humor,

636
00:34:33,400 --> 00:34:38,480
even when facing impossible odds. Engineering to medical kame Ramirez's voice.

637
00:34:39,199 --> 00:34:43,199
Field generator is charged and ready, just say. When Elena

638
00:34:43,239 --> 00:34:46,199
looked round the medical bay, our team was in position

639
00:34:46,760 --> 00:34:50,079
behind whatever cover they could find. The Zephfrey impatients were

640
00:34:50,119 --> 00:34:53,400
as protected as possible. The Koras soldiers were gathering for

641
00:34:53,440 --> 00:34:57,800
another assault. Two minutes, Elena said into her communicator. The

642
00:34:57,880 --> 00:35:02,159
Korath attack came early. Squaw of heavily armward soldiers burst

643
00:35:02,199 --> 00:35:05,199
through the main door, firing energy weapons and throwing grenades.

644
00:35:05,880 --> 00:35:09,320
Behind them came more troops, including some wearing special environmental

645
00:35:09,360 --> 00:35:13,280
suits that Elena didn't recognize. They brought specialists. Doctor Torres

646
00:35:13,280 --> 00:35:16,199
shouted over the noise of weapons fire. Those suits looked

647
00:35:16,199 --> 00:35:20,559
like they had designed to protect against biological weapons. Elina

648
00:35:20,679 --> 00:35:23,639
realized what that meant. The Korrath had figured out what

649
00:35:23,679 --> 00:35:26,760
the humans were planning. They were prepared for a medical attack.

650
00:35:27,519 --> 00:35:31,039
Chief for Miras, Alena said into her communicator. The Korath

651
00:35:31,119 --> 00:35:34,679
know what we're doing. They have protection, maybe against normal

652
00:35:34,679 --> 00:35:38,119
biological weapons, came the reply, but they've never seen anything

653
00:35:38,199 --> 00:35:42,079
like this before, trust me, Doc. A Coath soldier in

654
00:35:42,199 --> 00:35:45,159
environmental armor rounded Alna's cover and ain't his weapon at her.

655
00:35:45,719 --> 00:35:48,199
The Lina doved to the side and fired a surgical laser,

656
00:35:48,280 --> 00:35:50,559
hitting him in the weak joined behind his knee. The

657
00:35:50,639 --> 00:35:53,800
alien went down, but as armor protected him from serious injury.

658
00:35:54,360 --> 00:35:58,000
More soldiers poured into the room. Alina's team was being overwhelmed.

659
00:35:58,599 --> 00:36:00,960
They had fought bravely, but they were do nut soldiers.

660
00:36:01,559 --> 00:36:03,599
The co Ath were professionals who killed for a living.

661
00:36:04,119 --> 00:36:08,360
One minute, Elena reported, Doctor Visquiz called Nurse Petersen from

662
00:36:08,360 --> 00:36:12,239
across the room, harmon his readings are spiking. Something's wrong

663
00:36:12,280 --> 00:36:15,440
with his crystal Matrix. Ellina looked at the young Zephrian.

664
00:36:16,039 --> 00:36:18,239
His body was glowing brighter than before, and she could

665
00:36:18,239 --> 00:36:21,880
see stress fractures appearing in his crystal skin. He's resonating

666
00:36:21,920 --> 00:36:26,119
with the field generator. Doctor kimshodded, the medical field is

667
00:36:26,119 --> 00:36:29,920
affecting him before it's even activated, Elena called toward Harmony,

668
00:36:30,039 --> 00:36:33,480
dodging enemy fire. The boy's crystal body was vibrating like

669
00:36:33,519 --> 00:36:36,559
a tuning fork, and the vibrations were spreading to the

670
00:36:36,559 --> 00:36:40,440
other Zephyrine patients. Chief, we have a problem, Elena said

671
00:36:40,440 --> 00:36:44,239
into her communicator. The field is interacting with Cephrian biology

672
00:36:44,239 --> 00:36:47,960
in ways we didn't expect. What kind of interaction. Alina

673
00:36:48,000 --> 00:36:50,320
watched as harmon his body began to glow even brighter.

674
00:36:50,920 --> 00:36:54,639
The other Cephrians was starting to vibrate to their crystal forms,

675
00:36:54,639 --> 00:36:58,039
resonating with some frequencies she couldn't detect. I think there

676
00:36:58,079 --> 00:37:00,960
amplifying the field, Alena said, acting like living crystals in

677
00:37:00,960 --> 00:37:04,119
a radio. That could be good or bad. A chorus

678
00:37:04,159 --> 00:37:06,599
soldier appeared beside Lena and grabbed her by the arm.

679
00:37:07,280 --> 00:37:09,719
She turned and fired her laser point blank into his face,

680
00:37:09,840 --> 00:37:11,599
hitting a weak spot at the base of his skull.

681
00:37:12,119 --> 00:37:15,719
He collapsed, but more were coming. Thirty seconds, Elena reported

682
00:37:15,760 --> 00:37:17,760
dot The Zephrians were glowing so brightly now that it

683
00:37:17,840 --> 00:37:20,159
hurt to look at them. The resonance was building to

684
00:37:20,239 --> 00:37:23,320
dangerous levels. Elena could feel it in her bones, a

685
00:37:23,320 --> 00:37:25,920
deep vibration that seemed to shake her apart from the inside.

686
00:37:26,760 --> 00:37:30,880
Elena gasped, Harmony, something is happening to us. We can

687
00:37:30,880 --> 00:37:34,239
feel dot dot dot everything. What do you mean? Every

688
00:37:34,280 --> 00:37:36,920
living thing on both ships, every hobby, eat, every breath,

689
00:37:37,400 --> 00:37:40,360
We are connected to all of it. Lena understood what

690
00:37:40,400 --> 00:37:44,559
was happening. The medical field was using the Zephrians as conductors,

691
00:37:44,719 --> 00:37:48,199
spreading its effect far beyond the intentive range. Instead of

692
00:37:48,239 --> 00:37:50,320
affecting just the medical bay, it was going to hit

693
00:37:50,360 --> 00:37:55,079
both ships chief aboard the field activation, Lina said. Too late,

694
00:37:55,400 --> 00:37:59,719
came Ramirez's voice. It's already started. The field is building

695
00:37:59,719 --> 00:38:02,280
power and I can't stop it. Elena looked around the room.

696
00:38:02,599 --> 00:38:05,239
The chorus soldiers were still advancing, but some of them

697
00:38:05,239 --> 00:38:07,320
had stopped and were holding their heads as if in pain.

698
00:38:07,840 --> 00:38:11,280
The medical field was starting to effect them. Everyone take cover,

699
00:38:11,440 --> 00:38:14,679
Elena shouted. This is going to be bad. The field

700
00:38:14,760 --> 00:38:18,039
activated with a sound like thunder mixed with music. Elena

701
00:38:18,119 --> 00:38:21,119
felt it washed over her like a wave of electricity

702
00:38:21,159 --> 00:38:23,679
that went straight to her nervous system. Every nerve in

703
00:38:23,719 --> 00:38:26,119
her body fired at once, sending signals that her brain

704
00:38:26,159 --> 00:38:30,000
couldn't process. Around the room, the effect was immediate and dramatic.

705
00:38:30,639 --> 00:38:33,000
The chorus soldiers dropped their weapons and fell to the ground.

706
00:38:33,079 --> 00:38:37,159
There were reptilian bodies convulsive, but they weren't dying. Instead,

707
00:38:37,320 --> 00:38:40,440
they seemed to be experiencing every sensation at once. This

708
00:38:40,559 --> 00:38:43,400
Afrians glowed like small suns. Their crystal bodis channeling and

709
00:38:43,440 --> 00:38:46,719
amplifying the medical field through them. Elena could feel the

710
00:38:46,719 --> 00:38:50,360
effects spreading throughout both ships. Every living thing was connected

711
00:38:50,360 --> 00:38:53,599
in a web of sensation and shared experience. Elena felt

712
00:38:53,599 --> 00:38:57,599
dizzy and confused. The field was designed to effect biological systems,

713
00:38:57,679 --> 00:38:59,840
and her human nervous system was being overloaded with him

714
00:38:59,840 --> 00:39:02,920
from she could sense the heartbeat of everyone around her,

715
00:39:03,039 --> 00:39:05,519
feel their pain and fear and confusion. But she could

716
00:39:05,519 --> 00:39:09,199
also feel something else. The field wasn't just affecting their bodies.

717
00:39:09,840 --> 00:39:13,199
It was affecting their minds, creating connections between different species

718
00:39:13,239 --> 00:39:16,480
that had never existed before. Through this effort in resonance,

719
00:39:16,639 --> 00:39:20,320
Elina could feel what the Korra soldiers were experiencing. Their pained,

720
00:39:20,320 --> 00:39:23,920
their confusion, their fear, but also their memories, their thoughts,

721
00:39:24,000 --> 00:39:26,679
their reasons for fighting. She saw through their eyes the

722
00:39:26,679 --> 00:39:30,039
destruction of coarth colony worlds. She felt their anger at

723
00:39:30,039 --> 00:39:33,760
losing family members to enemy attacks. She understood their belief

724
00:39:33,800 --> 00:39:35,800
their strength was the only thing that mattered in a

725
00:39:35,840 --> 00:39:39,639
hostile universe. But the Korrath were feeling her thoughts too.

726
00:39:39,800 --> 00:39:42,679
They were experiencing her dedication to saving lives, her refusal

727
00:39:42,719 --> 00:39:45,639
to abandon patients even when facing death. They were feeling

728
00:39:45,679 --> 00:39:48,280
the human concept of mercy, the idea that healing enemis

729
00:39:48,320 --> 00:39:51,159
could be enact of strength rather than weakness. The field

730
00:39:51,199 --> 00:39:54,760
reached its peak intensity, Elina felt like her consciousness was

731
00:39:54,760 --> 00:39:57,920
scattered across both ships, experiencing life through dozens of different

732
00:39:57,960 --> 00:40:01,400
perspectives at once. She was here, human and Zephyryn and Coreth,

733
00:40:01,440 --> 00:40:04,639
all at the same time. Then gradually the intensity began

734
00:40:04,719 --> 00:40:08,440
to fade, the galling from the Zephyns dimmed, the overwhelming

735
00:40:08,440 --> 00:40:12,039
flood of sensation became manageable. Lena found herself lying on

736
00:40:12,039 --> 00:40:13,960
the floor of the medical bay, her head pounding, but

737
00:40:14,000 --> 00:40:17,239
her thoughts clear. Around her, Corath's soldiers were slowly getting

738
00:40:17,239 --> 00:40:20,920
to their feet that they weren't reaching for their weapons. Instead,

739
00:40:21,039 --> 00:40:24,400
they were looking around with expressions of confusion and wonder,

740
00:40:24,480 --> 00:40:26,599
as if seeing the world clearly for the first time.

741
00:40:26,800 --> 00:40:29,519
One of them, a large warrior with scars covering his scales.

742
00:40:29,559 --> 00:40:33,360
Approached to Lena slowly. His movements were careful, almost respectful,

743
00:40:33,960 --> 00:40:37,599
human healer, he said in rough but understandable English. Aye,

744
00:40:37,800 --> 00:40:40,039
we felt what you feel, the dedication to preserve life.

745
00:40:40,639 --> 00:40:43,840
We did not understand before. Elina sat up carefully, her

746
00:40:43,840 --> 00:40:47,039
head still spinning from the experience. Do you understand now?

747
00:40:47,639 --> 00:40:50,039
The Koath warrior looked at the Zephyrn patients, who were

748
00:40:50,039 --> 00:40:53,119
now sitting up and looking around in amazement. We felt

749
00:40:53,119 --> 00:40:55,880
their pain when we attacked them. We felt her determination

750
00:40:55,920 --> 00:40:58,840
to save them despite the danger to yourselves. We felt

751
00:40:58,840 --> 00:41:03,039
dot dot dah pause, struggling with familiar concepts. We felt

752
00:41:03,079 --> 00:41:05,599
what you call compassion. Elena got to her feet, solely

753
00:41:06,199 --> 00:41:08,679
around the room. Her medical team was checking on patience

754
00:41:08,679 --> 00:41:12,000
and equipment. The Koros's soldiers were helping them, moving with

755
00:41:12,079 --> 00:41:15,159
the same careful efficiency they had used for destruction. What

756
00:41:15,280 --> 00:41:19,719
happens now, Billina asked. The Koorath warrior looked at his soldiers,

757
00:41:19,760 --> 00:41:23,079
then back at Lina. Now we learn you have shown

758
00:41:23,159 --> 00:41:26,480
us something we thought was weakness, But feeling at ourselves,

759
00:41:26,639 --> 00:41:29,480
we understand it is a different kind of strength. Billina

760
00:41:29,519 --> 00:41:32,320
nodded and went to check on harmony. The young Zephyryn

761
00:41:32,400 --> 00:41:35,599
was sitting up his crystal body, stable and healthy. Doctor.

762
00:41:35,719 --> 00:41:38,239
He said, that was the most amazing thing I have

763
00:41:38,280 --> 00:41:41,360
ever experienced. For a moment, we were all connected, all

764
00:41:41,400 --> 00:41:45,440
the same, Elena smiled despite her exhaustion. Maybe that's what

765
00:41:45,519 --> 00:41:49,079
healing really means, not just fixing bodies, but helping people

766
00:41:49,159 --> 00:41:52,159
understand each other. The medical field had done more than

767
00:41:52,159 --> 00:41:55,480
stop the attack. It had created something unpressed into in

768
00:41:56,199 --> 00:41:59,840
galactic history. For the first time, different species had truly

769
00:41:59,880 --> 00:42:02,480
felt what it was like to be someone else, and

770
00:42:02,519 --> 00:42:05,599
that Elena realized, might be the most powerful medicine of all.

771
00:42:06,119 --> 00:42:08,320
Three days after the incident, Elena stood in the main

772
00:42:08,360 --> 00:42:11,719
conference room of the Galactic Medical Council station. The room

773
00:42:11,800 --> 00:42:14,880
was filled with representatives from dozens of species, all wanting

774
00:42:14,920 --> 00:42:18,320
to understand what had happened aboard their apocrates. The Korus

775
00:42:18,320 --> 00:42:20,440
delegations sat on one side of the room, their dark

776
00:42:20,480 --> 00:42:23,039
scales and sharp teeth making them look as dangerous as ever,

777
00:42:23,679 --> 00:42:26,000
But Elena could see something different in their eyes. Now

778
00:42:26,679 --> 00:42:29,840
there was a thoughtfulness that the handn't existed before. On

779
00:42:29,920 --> 00:42:33,039
the other side sat the Zephyne representatives, the Crystal bodices,

780
00:42:33,079 --> 00:42:36,440
catching the light and throwing rainbows across the walls. Harmony

781
00:42:36,519 --> 00:42:39,239
was among them, fully healed in serving as a witness

782
00:42:39,239 --> 00:42:40,760
to the events dought. At the center of the room

783
00:42:40,800 --> 00:42:44,519
sat the human delegation, which consisted of Elena, Captain Hayes,

784
00:42:44,719 --> 00:42:47,400
and Chief re Mirrors. They had been called to explain

785
00:42:47,480 --> 00:42:50,480
their actions and face possible charges of violating medical neutrality.

786
00:42:50,559 --> 00:42:53,920
The council chairmen, a tall, insectored being from the Mounti's cluster,

787
00:42:53,960 --> 00:42:57,599
spoke in a voice like crossling leaves. Doctor Vasquez used

788
00:42:57,679 --> 00:42:59,800
on accused of using medical equipment as weapons and a

789
00:42:59,840 --> 00:43:03,679
dangering non combatant patients. How do you answer these charges?

790
00:43:04,360 --> 00:43:07,320
Elina stood up. She had prepared for this moment, but

791
00:43:07,360 --> 00:43:10,639
she still felt nervous. The future of human medical missions

792
00:43:10,719 --> 00:43:14,119
might depend on what she said next. Sheriman, everything we

793
00:43:14,159 --> 00:43:16,960
did was in service of protecting our patients. When the

794
00:43:17,039 --> 00:43:20,360
Korrath forces threatened to take our patients for interrogation and execution,

795
00:43:20,400 --> 00:43:22,440
we had two choices. Abandoned them to die or defend

796
00:43:22,440 --> 00:43:24,440
them with whatever means we had available. But he used

797
00:43:24,440 --> 00:43:27,400
medical equipment as weapons, said a representative from the Altar Union,

798
00:43:27,400 --> 00:43:30,079
as violates every principle of medical neutrality, and Olena said

799
00:43:30,119 --> 00:43:32,039
for me, we used our knowledge to protect lives. The

800
00:43:32,039 --> 00:43:35,239
equipment was just tools. The important thing was our purpose.

801
00:43:36,000 --> 00:43:38,760
War Leader Scarn, the chorus commander who had led the attack,

802
00:43:39,079 --> 00:43:42,480
stood up. His massive formed dominated that side of the room,

803
00:43:42,519 --> 00:43:45,519
but when he spoke, his voice was surprisingly gentle. I

804
00:43:45,559 --> 00:43:48,679
must speak, he said. Before the incident, we believed that

805
00:43:48,760 --> 00:43:52,079
healing enemies was weakness. We thought the humans were soft

806
00:43:52,079 --> 00:43:56,519
and foolish. We were wrong. The room grew quiet. Elena

807
00:43:56,559 --> 00:43:59,280
had heard that Scaran had changed since the medical field incident,

808
00:43:59,519 --> 00:44:02,719
but seeing first hand was still surprising. When the human

809
00:44:02,719 --> 00:44:05,800
medical field affected us, Skalm continued, we experienced something we

810
00:44:05,840 --> 00:44:08,360
had never felt before. We felt the pain of those

811
00:44:08,400 --> 00:44:10,440
we helped. We felt the dedication of those who heal

812
00:44:10,519 --> 00:44:12,760
rather than harm. We understood that predicting life reply is

813
00:44:12,800 --> 00:44:14,679
a different kind of courage than taking it. He turned

814
00:44:14,679 --> 00:44:16,599
to look at Elena. Dodtor Vasquez and her teen did

815
00:44:16,639 --> 00:44:18,440
not attack us. They showed us what we truly were,

816
00:44:18,480 --> 00:44:20,400
and they showed us what we could become. Harmony stood

817
00:44:20,440 --> 00:44:22,519
up from the different section. If I may speak, Chairman,

818
00:44:22,519 --> 00:44:24,639
and I was dying when that human medical team found us,

819
00:44:24,679 --> 00:44:26,480
not just my body, but my spirit. We had given

820
00:44:26,559 --> 00:44:28,400
up up what these humans never gave up on us,

821
00:44:28,719 --> 00:44:32,039
even when it men risking their own lives. The young

822
00:44:32,119 --> 00:44:35,599
Zephyrn's crystal body chined softly as he spoke. What happened

823
00:44:35,599 --> 00:44:38,159
on that ship was not an attack. It was healing

824
00:44:38,159 --> 00:44:41,239
on a level we had never imagined possible. They healed

825
00:44:41,280 --> 00:44:43,719
not just our bodies, but our understanding of each other.

826
00:44:44,199 --> 00:44:47,960
The council chairman rustled his wings thoughtfully, Doctor Vasquez, this

827
00:44:48,039 --> 00:44:51,280
medical field you created ka it be used again. Elena

828
00:44:51,320 --> 00:44:54,719
looked at Chief for Muras, who shook his head slightly. Chairman,

829
00:44:54,920 --> 00:44:58,519
what we did was unrepeatable. It required perfect conditions, equipment

830
00:44:58,519 --> 00:45:01,320
that was damaged in specific ways on the unique biology

831
00:45:01,320 --> 00:45:04,360
of the Zaffrey impatience to amplify the effect. We couldn't

832
00:45:04,400 --> 00:45:07,119
create the same field again if we tried. And would

833
00:45:07,159 --> 00:45:11,480
you want to ask the ultarian representative. Elena thought about

834
00:45:11,480 --> 00:45:14,280
that question. The medical field had stopped the fighting and

835
00:45:14,320 --> 00:45:18,719
created understanding between enemies, but it had also been incredibly dangerous.

836
00:45:19,199 --> 00:45:22,119
Any of them could have died or suffered permanent brain damage.

837
00:45:22,719 --> 00:45:25,800
No Eline said, Finally, what we did was a desperate

838
00:45:25,920 --> 00:45:28,920
last resort. It worked but it could just as easily

839
00:45:28,960 --> 00:45:32,400
have killed everyone involved. Medical treatment should be about healing,

840
00:45:32,559 --> 00:45:35,599
not forcing people to think differently. But the results speak

841
00:45:35,639 --> 00:45:39,320
for themselves, said a representative from the Century Republic. The

842
00:45:39,400 --> 00:45:41,639
Cooth Empire has agreed to a cease fire with both

843
00:45:41,719 --> 00:45:45,239
the Saphyrian Empire and the Terran Federation. They even requesting

844
00:45:45,280 --> 00:45:48,639
medical exchange programs. Wore a lead. A scar nodded, we

845
00:45:48,679 --> 00:45:51,360
have much to learn about healing. We wish to send

846
00:45:51,360 --> 00:45:54,519
no young warriors to study with human medical teams, not

847
00:45:54,559 --> 00:45:56,679
to learn new ways of fighting, but to learn new

848
00:45:56,719 --> 00:45:59,679
ways of thinking about strength. Elena felt a mixture of

849
00:45:59,719 --> 00:46:02,440
pride and worry. She was glad that the incident had

850
00:46:02,519 --> 00:46:05,159
led to peace, but she was concerned about the implications.

851
00:46:05,800 --> 00:46:07,960
She didn't want human medical knowledge to be seen as

852
00:46:07,960 --> 00:46:11,239
a weapon, even a weapon for peace. Sherman and Lena said,

853
00:46:11,280 --> 00:46:13,760
I want to make something clear. What happened on the

854
00:46:13,800 --> 00:46:16,840
Hippocrates was not planned. We didn't set out to change

855
00:46:16,880 --> 00:46:20,280
any one's mind or create understanding between species. We set

856
00:46:20,320 --> 00:46:22,039
out to save lives, and we did what we had

857
00:46:22,039 --> 00:46:24,960
to do to protect our patients. And that, said a

858
00:46:25,000 --> 00:46:27,000
new voice from the back of the room. Is exactly

859
00:46:27,000 --> 00:46:29,920
why it worked. Everyone turned to see who had spoken.

860
00:46:30,440 --> 00:46:32,280
A figure in a simple brown robe walked down the

861
00:46:32,280 --> 00:46:35,280
aisle toward the front of the room. Bilina didn't recognize

862
00:46:35,320 --> 00:46:37,960
the species, but the being moved with a calm authority

863
00:46:38,000 --> 00:46:41,360
that commanded respect, I am observer to have The figure said,

864
00:46:41,960 --> 00:46:45,239
I represent the Philosophical Council of the Inner Worlds. We

865
00:46:45,280 --> 00:46:47,880
have been studying the Hippocrates incident and we have reached

866
00:46:47,880 --> 00:46:52,039
some interesting conclusions. Faced the assembly, Bilina could see now

867
00:46:52,039 --> 00:46:54,960
that the being was vaguely humanoid, with gray skin and large,

868
00:46:55,039 --> 00:46:58,320
dark eyes. The effectiveness of the human medical team did

869
00:46:58,320 --> 00:47:00,920
not come from their equipment with any knowledge, though both

870
00:47:00,960 --> 00:47:04,480
were impressive. It came from their absolute commitment to their purpose.

871
00:47:05,159 --> 00:47:07,840
They were willing to die to protect their patients. That

872
00:47:08,000 --> 00:47:11,000
level of dedication is rare in the galaxy. The observer

873
00:47:11,079 --> 00:47:14,920
looked directly at Elina. Doctor Vasquez, and your team demonstrated

874
00:47:14,960 --> 00:47:17,840
something that many species have forgotten, the idea that some

875
00:47:17,880 --> 00:47:21,000
principles are worth more than your own life. Bolina felt

876
00:47:21,039 --> 00:47:25,199
uncomfortable with the praise. We were just doing our job exactly,

877
00:47:25,360 --> 00:47:28,320
Observer Tause said, you were doing your job even when

878
00:47:28,320 --> 00:47:30,239
it would have been easier and safer to stop, even

879
00:47:30,280 --> 00:47:33,159
when following orders would have meant abandoning your patience, even

880
00:47:33,199 --> 00:47:36,199
when staying meant almost certain death. The observer turned to

881
00:47:36,199 --> 00:47:39,519
address the full assembly. This is why the medical field worked.

882
00:47:40,119 --> 00:47:43,079
It didn't force anyone to think differently. It simply allowed

883
00:47:43,079 --> 00:47:46,519
them to feel what the humans felt. The dedication, the compassion,

884
00:47:46,559 --> 00:47:48,840
the absolute refusal to give up on those who needed help.

885
00:47:49,480 --> 00:47:52,599
War Leader Sconce spoke up again. Before the incident, we

886
00:47:52,639 --> 00:47:55,239
thought compassion was weakness because we had never truly felt it.

887
00:47:55,840 --> 00:47:58,119
We thought healing enemies was foolish because we did not

888
00:47:58,199 --> 00:48:01,159
understand the strength they required. He looked around the room.

889
00:48:01,800 --> 00:48:04,599
Now we know better. The humans showed us that protecting

890
00:48:04,639 --> 00:48:07,360
life is the highest form of strength, not because they

891
00:48:07,400 --> 00:48:10,360
told us, but because they lived it. The council chairman

892
00:48:10,440 --> 00:48:14,079
rustled his wings again. This is all very philosophical, but

893
00:48:14,159 --> 00:48:17,679
we still need to address the practical questions. Doctor Vasquez,

894
00:48:17,719 --> 00:48:21,360
will you continue to operate in contested territories? Billina looked

895
00:48:21,360 --> 00:48:25,679
at Captain Hayes, who nodded slightly. Yes, Chairman. The Hippocrates

896
00:48:25,719 --> 00:48:28,039
will continue to provide medical aid to any species that

897
00:48:28,159 --> 00:48:31,880
needs it, regardless of politics or military conflicts. Even after

898
00:48:31,920 --> 00:48:36,440
what happened, you could have been kill Chairmen. People are

899
00:48:36,440 --> 00:48:39,280
still getting hurt out there. They still need medical care.

900
00:48:39,920 --> 00:48:42,639
The fact that it's dangerous doesn't change that. But you

901
00:48:42,679 --> 00:48:45,360
will be more careful about using medical equipment as weapons,

902
00:48:46,039 --> 00:48:50,239
Lena smiled. Chairmen, We didn't use medical equipment as weapons.

903
00:48:50,599 --> 00:48:53,639
We used medical equipment to practice medicine. The fact that

904
00:48:53,639 --> 00:48:55,679
it stopped the fighting was the side effect of healing,

905
00:48:55,840 --> 00:48:59,400
not the goal. Observer Tow nodded approvingly, an important distinction.

906
00:49:00,039 --> 00:49:02,760
The Shumans did not set out to create peace. They

907
00:49:02,800 --> 00:49:05,719
set out to save lives. Peace was simply the natural

908
00:49:05,760 --> 00:49:09,079
result of their actions. The council chairman called for short

909
00:49:09,119 --> 00:49:12,639
recess while the representatives discussed their decision. Billina walked over

910
00:49:12,679 --> 00:49:15,280
to where Harmony was sitting with the others Ephrians. How

911
00:49:15,320 --> 00:49:19,960
are you feeling, she asked different Harmony said, the experience

912
00:49:20,039 --> 00:49:22,480
changed all of us, not just physically but mentally. We

913
00:49:22,599 --> 00:49:25,960
understand things now that we never understood before, good things

914
00:49:26,000 --> 00:49:30,639
or bad things. Thoth. We understand pain better, which is bad,

915
00:49:30,920 --> 00:49:34,119
but we also understand healing better, which is good. And

916
00:49:34,159 --> 00:49:36,639
we understand that sometimes you must accept pain in order

917
00:49:36,639 --> 00:49:40,159
to help others avoid it. Billina nodded. That's a hard

918
00:49:40,239 --> 00:49:44,280
lesson to learn, but an important one, Doctor Vasquez, what

919
00:49:44,320 --> 00:49:47,000
will happen to the Apocrates? Now, We'll keep doing what

920
00:49:47,000 --> 00:49:49,920
we've always done, helping people who need help, even though

921
00:49:49,960 --> 00:49:52,760
it's dangerous. Billina looked around the room. If all the

922
00:49:52,760 --> 00:49:56,639
different species represented, some were allies, some were enemies, and

923
00:49:56,639 --> 00:49:59,119
some were neutral, but all of them were capable of

924
00:49:59,119 --> 00:50:01,599
getting hurt, and all of them deserve medical care when

925
00:50:01,599 --> 00:50:06,519
they needed specially because it's dangerous, Elena said. The people

926
00:50:06,519 --> 00:50:08,280
who need help the most are usually the ones in

927
00:50:08,320 --> 00:50:11,880
the most dangerous situations. The council chairman called the session

928
00:50:11,920 --> 00:50:15,559
back to order. After deliberation, we have reached our decision,

929
00:50:16,079 --> 00:50:19,800
doctor Vascuoyez. The charges against you are dismissed. The Council

930
00:50:19,880 --> 00:50:23,079
recognizes that your actions, while unusual, were taken in defense

931
00:50:23,119 --> 00:50:27,559
of patients under your care. Elena felt relief for chover her. However,

932
00:50:27,639 --> 00:50:30,199
the chairman continued, we are implementing new protocols for medical

933
00:50:30,199 --> 00:50:33,639
ships operating in contested territories. You will be required to

934
00:50:33,639 --> 00:50:36,559
carry neutral observers and maintain detailed records of any non

935
00:50:36,559 --> 00:50:41,119
standard procedures understood Chairmen, we are also establishing a new

936
00:50:41,119 --> 00:50:44,960
program for interspecies medical co operation. The Korrath Empire has

937
00:50:44,960 --> 00:50:49,039
requested to participate as of several other species. Doctor Vesqu's

938
00:50:49,039 --> 00:50:51,920
would you be willing to oversee this program? Elina looked

939
00:50:51,960 --> 00:50:55,199
at or Leos Khan, who nodded respectfully. The idea of

940
00:50:55,199 --> 00:50:57,719
teaching former enemies how to heal instead of heard appeal

941
00:50:57,760 --> 00:51:01,280
to her. I would be honored, Chairman. As the session ended,

942
00:51:01,400 --> 00:51:04,800
Lena found herself surrounded by representatives from different species, all

943
00:51:04,840 --> 00:51:07,960
wanting to know more about human medical techniques. But what

944
00:51:08,039 --> 00:51:11,360
struck her most was the look in their eyes. There

945
00:51:11,400 --> 00:51:13,719
was a new respect there, not just for human medicine,

946
00:51:13,760 --> 00:51:16,679
but for the principles behind it. Captain Hayes came up

947
00:51:16,719 --> 00:51:20,239
beside her, so doc ready to head back out, Elena

948
00:51:20,320 --> 00:51:22,559
looked at Harmony, who was talking excitedly with some of

949
00:51:22,599 --> 00:51:26,440
the Korps representatives about crystal healing techniques. She looked at

950
00:51:26,480 --> 00:51:29,719
Warldis Khan, who was asking Doctor Came about human anatomy.

951
00:51:30,320 --> 00:51:32,239
She looked at all the different species in the room

952
00:51:32,559 --> 00:51:36,400
working together instead of fighting. Yes, Elena said, let go

953
00:51:36,480 --> 00:51:39,880
save some lives. As they walked toward the exit, Elena

954
00:51:39,960 --> 00:51:41,639
thought about the new matter that had been painted in

955
00:51:41,639 --> 00:51:44,480
the Hippocrates hull. We'll save your life even if it

956
00:51:44,559 --> 00:51:47,400
kills you. It had started as a joke, but Elna

957
00:51:47,480 --> 00:51:50,920
realized it was also the truth. Humans would go to

958
00:51:50,960 --> 00:51:53,639
extraordinary lengths to preserve life, even when it put them

959
00:51:53,639 --> 00:51:57,599
in danger, and sometimes, just sometimes, that stubborn dedication to

960
00:51:57,639 --> 00:52:01,199
healing could accomplish what weapons and diplomacy could not. Bilina

961
00:52:01,239 --> 00:52:03,840
smiled as they headed back to their ship. There were

962
00:52:03,880 --> 00:52:06,079
probably people out there right now who needed help, and

963
00:52:06,079 --> 00:52:07,960
the crew of the Hippocrates would be ready for them,

964
00:52:08,000 --> 00:52:11,760
whatever the cost. After all, that's what doctors did to

965
00:52:11,880 --> 00:52:13,840
heal people, even the ones who had been trying to

966
00:52:13,880 --> 00:52:17,760
kill them five minutes earlier, especially those ones. And that

967
00:52:17,920 --> 00:52:19,840
is the end. Thank you for listening.