MED_J_O and MED_A_Hilbert to ALL

[flavourtown]

[ The video opens with a shot of Doctors Hilbert and Jiaoqiu seated in front of the camera. In the background is the pristine medical wing, a stack of tablets on one table. Jiaoqiu is the first to speak; his ever-present genial smile in place, and his tone pleasant. ]

Good morning, crew. As some of you may know, the crew that were active before us – may they rest in peace – did extensive research on the infection as they were suffering it, and that knowledge is classified to Medical staff. After some discussion, Doctor Hilbert and I decided that it was best for us to share that research with the crew.

[ In contrast, Hilbert has his ever-present frown and general attitude of ‘I would much rather be anywhere but here.’ Still, he pushes past the grumpiness to continue. ]

Some of you know basics, but best to have everyone on same page, yes? Infection of previous crew was rapid. Symptoms progressed quickly, in less than twenty four hours. Time between infection and death was forty hours maximum, nine hours minimum. Initial symptoms are hives and fever. Later symptoms include tumors and total organ failure.

The contagion started in the science labs, after the crew there had sampled dust and gasses from a nearby nebula. It took six days for the entire crew to be infected, and in the end, Doctor Devi ascertained the cause of the infection: an alien, amoeba-like lifeform.

[ Jiaoqiu pauses to let that sink in, his smile having turned a touch apologetic. ]

Doctor Devi was actually in the process of creating a vaccine. It was unfinished, but he still administered it to Captain Drake in the hopes that it would work, because his own symptoms were too far advanced.

Vaccine’s use was... partially effective. It stopped Captain from dying. Good news. But vaccine turned malignant aspect of tumors to symbiotic. It created feedback loop where virus and captain feed off of each other and tumors continue to grow. We have not seen Captain because he physically cannot leave Bridge, or even move in first place.

[ For the first time in the conversation, Hilbert’s grumpy exterior falters a bit. That is an objectively horrible fate and a brief grimace of something that might be worry flits across his face. Jiaoqiu's expression, too, betrays his ill-ease with the Captain's state; it's clear neither of them are happy about this, to say the least. ]

Rest assured, we will be continuing work on the vaccine to the best of our ability. For now, we can take comfort in the fact that the amoeba truly is contained, and current risk of infection for the crew is at zero. I've also been trying to work on solutions to be able to deliver medication to Captain Drake, but so far I've been unsuccessful. We'd welcome any input on that.

[ A bit too quickly, Hilbert continues with, ] Any useful input. Useless ideas or flights of fancy will be outright ignored. Now. Undoubtedly you have questions. Go ahead and ask them and Doctor Jiaoqiu and I will do best to answer.