THE ALTIAN PLAGUE

by D M Arnold

  “Seymor -- Marxo was sent to Tulsa to fetch the virus so it could be used as a weapon -- one that threatens the entire Floran hegemony. I'd say that was a strong case.”

  “If Marxo was sent to fetch it -- he'd need to know about it first. It surfaced the same day he died.”

  “He botched the job! He accidentally exposed himself to it!”

  “But Nyk -- Someone would have to know about it BEFORE it emerged in order to send him there to fetch it. How's that possible?”

  “Easy -- that someone obtained access to Earth historic records. I'll bet there's a reference to it in the Floran Encyclopedia.”

  “The what?”

  “Don't you know about the Floran Encyclopedia?” Seymor shook his head. “When the original mission was launched, they carried a database of all significant Earth history -- everything up to the date of the launch, which was ... which will be 2201. That database is preserved at the Floran Museum. Some of the material is classified, but if Marxo obtained access... That has to be it!” Nyk began working the keyboard of his laptop.

  “Now what are you doing?”

  “I'm sending a message to my friend Korlo Golmya -- he's a curator at the museum in Floran City. I worked with him on my translation of Koichi Kyhana's journal. I'll ask him to see if he can find a reference to the Tulsa virus in the encyclopedia. I'm not pissing on any campfires, am I?”

  “It seems to me,” Seymor said, “if Marxo was sent to Tulsa to fetch this virus -- he wound up exposed and dead. The virus died with him.”

  “Then, it's a matter of time before they send someone else to get more.”

  “If the outbreak is contained -- which it appears to be -- then, there's no more virus to get. I think, Nyk, there's little risk to the hegemony. Worst case it was a window of opportunity -- grab the virus from this outbreak and carry it home. The effort failed and the window is closed.”

  “What if there were more than one Agent involved?”

  “And, who might THAT be? All North American ExoAgents are present and accounted for.”

  “I suppose you're right...”

  “Of course I am.”

  “Still, I don't think there's harm in asking Korlo about the encyclopedia entry.”

  “Fine, Nyk. And, when you're done with that...”

  “...tend to my domain of responsibility. Since Marxo was my direct report, this IS my domain. Isn't it?”

  “That's one way of looking at it.” Seymor headed toward his own office.

  “Seymor! I have a response from Korlo.”

  “Already?” Seymor stepped behind Nyk's desk and looked over his shoulder as he opened the message. “No reference to Tulsa virus,” he said, shaking his head. “Sorry lad. It was a nice try.”

  “Then, what was Marxo doing there?” Nyk rested his chin on his fist.

  “Cheer up, Nyk. Why don't you call it a day and go have a nice, quiet evening with that boy of yours?”

  * * *

  Nyk walked into the office. “Good morning, Jaquie.”

  “Good morning, Mr Kane. How's that adorable little boy?”

  “He's learning to walk. He'll hold onto a table or chair, walk around it and beam a big, proud grin.”

  “Bring pictures some day.”

  “I will, Jaquie -- I promise.” Nyk stepped into his office and hooked up his laptop. It came to life and he reviewed his messages. He saw one from Senta, requesting a call. The vidphone window opened and he saw her face framed by her red hair.

  “Nykkyo,” she said through the vidphone circuit. “I spoke to Dr Hanri about your virus.”

  “You didn't. Senta -- I said I wanted...”

  “I posed it as a hypothetical question,” she said. “I didn't describe any specifics.”

  “I guess that's all right. What did he say?”

  “Well -- he had some ideas, but nothing panned out. What he said started me thinking so I began looking elsewhere.”

  “Where elsewhere?”

  “At the other end of the genome.” A window opened on his laptop and he saw a diagram of a DNA molecule. “Here,” Senta pointed with a cursor. “Do you see these three sequences?”

  “Yes...”

  “They form a counter, each activated in turn for each generation. They count from one to six and then reset. Well -- one to eight, actually, but it appears two pairs of sequences are degenerate.”

  “Could those be categories I through VI?”

  “I think so. Look here...” The cursor moved to another part of the molecule. “Another counter -- these six sequences run from one to sixty-four, with some degenerate codes.”

  “That accounts for the variations within each category. How often do you see this sort of thing?”

  “For Earth genetics -- never,” she replied. “It IS the basic strategy of native Floran life. Life here exhibits different genetics based on the tissue or organ.”

  “Andra told me the animals have a skin DNA, a nerve DNA and so on.”

  “The plants, also. It's not DNA, Nyk, but the native Floran analogue. The gamete must differentiate into the genomes for the various tissues, so it includes a counter mechanism. As the organism matures, the counter ticks. That's how it knows when to trigger the next modification. This virus is doing something similar.”

  “Are you saying this virus evolved from a native Floran species? I had wondered how long it would take for native microbes to develop a taste for human flesh.”

  “Of course not, Nyk. This viral genome is very much based on good old Earth DNA.”

  “What are you saying, then?”

  “I'm saying this virus was without a doubt man-made.”

  “You're sure?”

  “Absolutely, and it's why I've been racking my brain. I've seen something like this before, but I can't quite place it.”

  “Senta, I have confidence in you. I'm sure you'll get it. You figured out the Ricin plot -- you'll figure out this.”

  “Thanks, Nyk. I'm going to take another look at it.” The vidphone session went blank.

  Nyk stood and headed toward Seymor's office, but was called back by a vidphone signal from his laptop. He answered the call and saw Senta again. “Nyk! I remember where I saw it. It was in the Ricin genome!”

  “You mean...”

  “It's not quite the same but similar. You recall in the Ricin case, a gene from the castor bean was spliced into the genome for common lentils. It caused the lentils to produce the biotoxin Ricin.”

  “I recall. A single lentil contained sufficient Ricin to kill a man. I also recall how close those tainted lentils came to entering our food supply.”

  “You'll also recall that the designer of this genome was cagey. He didn't want to introduce all the genetic changes at once -- even the primitive screening we had at the time would've detected it. Instead, he implemented something like this counter, only it ticked each time two strains were crossed. It would've taken about eight generations to activate the gene and I discovered it in the sixth.”

  “I didn't recall those details.”

  “Nyk -- this is the same mechanism adapted to the reproductive strategy of a virus. It was undoubtedly created by the same mind as the Ricin genome.”

  “I thought we broke up the Ricin ring.”

  “Maybe not. Maybe the brains behind it got away.”

  “And, he's developed a new weapon.” Nyk's blood ran cold. “Thanks Senta.” He closed the vidphone window. “Seymor! he yelled and ran into his boss's office. “I was close. Marxo didn't go to Tulsa to fetch the virus. He went there to DELIVER it. That's what the message in the Palm Pilot meant -- pick up on January 15, delivery on January 18. I'll bet if you check his shuttlecar log, you'll see a transit on the fifteenth.”

  “Nyk -- were you up all night worrying about this?”

  “No. I just got off the vidphone with Senta. Do you remember the Ricin crisis?”

  “Certainly. What was that? Six years ago?”

  “Eight Floran years. Senta was the one w
ho identified the Ricin genome. I asked her to take a look at the Tulsa virus. She believes it shares similarities with the Ricin gene; and, she believes it's man made -- most likely devised by the same mind. I believe the virus was developed by or for The Seven. I think it's their planet-killer, and Marxo brought it here for a field test. Think about it, Seymor -- where else could they test it away from Floran health authorities and media?”

  “New viruses emerge here all the time,” Seymor replied. “Earth immune systems are more robust than Florans' -- and, Earth health officials are more experienced at containing an outbreak.”

  “There's no other explanation. This virus is highly contagious. Once inside the body, it modifies itself -- fans out on a search and destroy mission. It has a one hundred percent mortality rate, and our medics are powerless to do anything about it. It's a perfect biological weapon.”

  “Gads, lad -- I think you're right.”

  “They tested it on Marxo. If it killed an ExoAgent with his pumped-up immune system, they know it'll run through our native population like a brush fire.”

  “Do you think Marxo volunteered to test it? Maybe he thought he'd only catch a case of sniffles. When his condition deteriorated he went to see Grynnya.”

  Nyk pondered. “I think Marxo was deliberately infected, all right -- but, without his knowledge. Then they loosed him into the population.”

  “They were testing it's contagiousness.”

  “There's more. Who do we know had operations in the Tulsa area?”

  “Zander!”

  “I'm willing to bet there's a cell of Altian operatives somewhere in the Tulsa area. They're either affiliated with The Seven or sympathetic to it.”

  Seymor shook his head. “The way your mind works. What do we do?”

  “You tell me. I can put all this into a report -- but, who gets to see it? Kronta?”

  Seymor nodded. “Kronta's the man to head up a task force. Nyk -- if I ever again say you should stick to your own domain of responsibility -- slam the door in my face. This is sensitive -- as sensitive as anything I've encountered in my career. I'll set up a meeting with Kronta. Lad -- you may be headed back to Floran.”

  “ME? Seymor -- I thought you'd be the one...”

  “Oh, no, lad. This is your ball. You run with it.”

  “Run with it... Seymor -- after this dust settles, do you think we can cut back on the plum assignments? I don't think I've spent a day with Nicky in two weeks.”

  Seymor squinted. “You're the first Floran to come through this office who's a family man.”

  “He needs me, Seymor -- he needs a man's involvement.”

  “We'll see what we can do.”

  10 -- The Task Force

  Nyk sat at a conference table in ExoService headquarters and exchanged greetings with the others. A man wearing Altian security force insigna sat beside him. “Ahh... Mr Kyhana, I believe,” he said.

  Nyk turned to him. “Captain Sirk...”

  A man with ExoService insignia embroidered on his xarpa stood and rapped his knuckles on the table. “Let's begin. We have some preliminaries to get out of the way. My name is Illya Kronta and I'm the chair of the ExoAgency oversight committee. I'll also be heading up this task force.

  “First -- the activity of this group is classified at the highest level. If you don't understand why, you will by the end of this meeting. Each of you has been given a sealed packet. You may open them now.”

  Nyk tore his open and looked inside.

  “You have received two datacels. One of them is a comm cipher using our strongest encryption. You will use this cipher for all communications among task force members. Any documents you create must be encrypted with this cel.

  “The second datacel is a set of background and briefing documents, including a master list of individuals involved in this project. You must not discuss any aspect of this project with anyone not on this list. We may be adding staff as needed -- we will update the master list at that time. Any questions?” Kronta looked around the room.

  “Good. Now -- before we get to our agenda, let's go around the table and introduce ourselves. As I said, I'm Illya Kronta. In addition to Agency Oversight, I represent Agency Enforcement and ExoService Security.” He glanced to his right.

  “I'm Doctor Kurso Aahhn, of Floran City Central Clinic.”

  “I'm Doctor Geov Helsyn of the Clinic, and the University Medical School.”

  “I'm Doctor Senta Kyhana.”

  “These three will be heading up the effort to combat the threat we've identified,” Kronta interrupted. He nodded toward the next seat.

  “I'm Captain Ovid Sirk of Altian Security.”

  “Captain Sirk is heading the Altian task force on The Seven,” Kronta explained. “He is here as liaison with the new Altian government. Next...”

  Nyk stood. “Nykkyo Kyhana, ExoAgency North American Operations.”

  A man to his right stood. “Kato Pring, Adjutant to the President of the High Legislature.”

  “Good,” Kronta continued. “We're purposely keeping this group as small as necessary. The first item on our agenda is a review of what we know. We won't go into a detailed description of an Altian independence faction known as The Seven -- you can find that in your background material. What are germane are recent demands and an ultimatum delivered against the Hegemony -- demands for a immediate withdrawal of the High Legislature presence on Altia.”

  “You'll note,” Nyk observed, “The Seven's list of demands omits a schedule for democratic elections. It seems to me the majority of so-called independence movements have no concern for their base population -- they simply want to replace one set of thugs with another.”

  Sirk bristled. “I object! Altia is not run through thuggery. We are a colony of duly passed laws and representational government.”

  Kronta rapped his knuckle on the table. “We are here to cooperate on a solution to our current dilemma.” His gaze fell on Nyk. “We'll take discussions of that sort off-line.”

  “I apologize,” Nyk replied, looking toward Sirk. “My remarks were out of line.” Sirk smiled and nodded.

  “The critical aspect,” Kronta went on, “are claims by The Seven of possession of a weapon of mass destruction -- a planet killer. We have credible intelligence to conclude this weapon is biological in nature.” He looked toward his right. “Doctor Helsyn.”

  Helsyn stood. “What we know is based on a patient treated by Dr Aahhn and his team here in Floran City. An ExoAgent presented himself with symptoms of a viral infection and subsequently perished of that illness. We now believe this virus is man-made, and specifically designed to be a killer. Once established in the body, it reproduces itself into six phases -- each specific to a single vital organ or system. The details are in your background material, so I won't waste our time reviewing them.

  “What we wanted to present today is some new knowledge we've gained over the past several days. Initially we attempted to match this virus with known specimens in our database of Earth pathogens. We came up empty.” Helsyn glanced toward Senta.

  “In order to understand how this virus operates,” Senta said, standing, “one must understand what a virus is and how it reproduces. A virus is nothing more than a strand of genetic material in a protein wrapper. It reproduces by attaching to a target cell and injecting its DNA. The cell's native genetic material is co-opted by the virus, and the cell begins replicating thousands of copies of the virus, instead. Eventually these are distributed to attack other cells.

  “In order to attach to a cell, the protein wrapper must have appendage molecules that can lock onto the biomolecular surface of the target. For example, in Phase One of this virus's attack, it attaches to mucous cells in the respiratory system.”

  “...in order to maximize communicability,” Helsyn interjected.

  “Phase Two attacks immune system cells...” Senta continued.

  “...in order to wipe out the body's defenses and pave the way for attacks on vital or
gans...”

  “...and so on. By going into the pathogen database, I was able to search the configurations of protein jackets of various known viruses and compare them to the predicted wrappers on our sample. Phase One of the weapon virus constructs a jacket nearly identical to that of the Earth influenza virus. Phase Two is a near match with HIV.” She passed out datacels. “The details are contained in this report. It's unencrypted because we had not received the ciphers yet.”

  Helsyn stood. “What we have is a virus that can mimic the behavior of six known and deadly Earth pathogens. If you could examine the virus itself, you'd be unable to distinguish the synthetic from its natural pattern...”

  “From the outside, that is,” Senta interrupted. “Genetically they're very different.”

  “Previously we were attempting to match our database genetically,” Helsyn continued.

  Senta smiled. “It's a common error,” she interrupted again, “to assume that two similar-looking species must have similar genetic material. In fact, similar genomes can create different-looking individuals, and vice-versa.”

  Helsyn nodded toward Kronta and sat.

  “The other critical aspect is the date of the ultimatum -- 6639.101 standard. Today is 6639.072. We have twenty-nine standard days with which to develop a response. I'm throwing the floor open to suggestions.”

  The task force members glanced around the room, eyeing each other. Nyk stood. “Having spent a couple of years on Earth, I'd like to share what I've gleaned from that experience. Earth nations face biological threats from other unfriendly nations, and from terrorist groups similar to The Seven. Invariably the discussion turns to mass vaccination as a response. After all -- if the population is immune, it renders the weapon useless.”

  “We'd need to develop such a vaccine,” Kronta replied. “Then, manufacture sufficient quantity for twenty-four billion doses and administer them. I can't see how we can accomplish that in twenty-nine standard days.”

  Senta stood. “Dr Helsyn and I believe development of such a vaccine is not only possible but practical -- now that we know what we're dealing with.”