Stardate: 60724:1900
Title: A Miracle Would Be Nice
Author: Dr Ted Matthews
Time: After "Critical Condition"
Scene: Tharan 3 Quarantine


A bead of sweat trickled down his forehead and he anxiously bit his lip. As he looked up from the bed where one of the survivors was lying his eyes met with Autumn's. They were in the tent with those that had been previously cleared as not having the virus and yet the woman before them was exhibiting all the first stage symptoms.

Signalling Autumn to join him out of earshot of the others, he could only theorise that when the survivors had come to the quarantine area they had touched someone who was a carrier but still uninfected themselves.

After a brief discussion with Lieutenant Falls they agreed they were going to have to move rapidly. Autumn said she would tell the survivors to return to their beds under the pretence of taking a head count and handing out rations. That way they could try to isolate those who were infected. Ted was going to move the confirmed case as quietly as he could out of the tent, telling those who asked that the person was severally dehydrated and was being moved to a cooler environment.

Once outside of the tent Dr Matthews gave the latest outbreak patient to two nurses who took her to an isolation zone that had been set up as a precaution. He then made his way over to the command tent to signal the Captain.

After a few moments the face of the Captain appeared on the small sommunications unit.

"We have a major problem." Ted said without any preamble.

"What would that be Doctor?" The Captain asked.

"I am pretty sure that a secondary outbreak of the virus has just started." Ted's eyes looked back to the two nurses who were transporting the sick patient. "Autumn has concocted a story to get everyone back in their beds which will hopefully slow the spread of the infection, but it is a temporary measure at best."

A frown had appeared on the Captain's face.

"Doctor, I want it confirmed that there is a new case of the virus and then I want everyone retested as quickly as possible so we can separate the infected. I'll inform Commander L'Cir that we are going to need security to make sure everyone stays where they are supposed to."

Doctor Matthews nodded his assent.

"Ted, what about a cure?" The Captain asked almost hopefully.

"The research conducted was sketchy but I will get back on it. I was going to ask Vaebn to carry out some comparisons between the carriers and some scans of those who perished from the virus." Ted had been in the quarantine tents so wasn't quite sure what the science officer was currently doing.

"Vaebn is at present checking on an intruder situation but I know him to be a good multi-tasker. Anything else you need Doctor?" the Captain asked.

"A miracle would be nice." Ted said with a half-hearted smile as he made his way to confirm his fears that the virus was back.


====================
Dr. Edward Matthews (Lt.)
Chief Medical Officer
USS Horizon
NCC-72400
====================