TheDoctorsClinic

Negotiations had finally been completed for mass treatment trials in the U.S. from a galactic medical institute to commence by a series of appointments. The President and Congress had not liked taking personal responsibility for the community service debt incurred but liked less that many of them had received treatment while the majority of their constituents had not. Even worse, the entire Japanese Nation had received initial treatment. Many in Congress were looking forward to remaining in power as they pursued politics and this was rapidly becoming a political attack point for their opponents on behalf of constituents who had not yet been treated.

The Doctor’s spacecraft looked like a fortress pyramid. Above the circular base, the structure was first shaped like a sea star with eight tentacles of landing pads sinuously reaching to the points of the compass. At the top of each arm the ship spread overhead to form arching access zones. The top was a truncated cone for maximum internal space with some streamlining. Zircule thought to himself, similar defensive perimeter requirements influenced the shape of the ship, as the old fortresses it resembled. The undulating corridors leading towards the core of the ship provided excellent mounts for heavy stunners. Any mob charging the ship would first find themselves trampling each other as the perimeter shrunk towards the center, slowed by curving paths to the center entrance escalators, and finally stunned in heaps by the automated defensive systems. Orderly queues for lines were marked in sweeping lines of lights and holographic images and symbols meaningful to most sentient species.

The escalators under the center, near the axis of the ship, lead to a lobby where sentients were asked to sort themselves by major ailment: longevity treatment, genetic disorder, or unknown. Groups traveling together were asked to take tokens and register as a set so that the patients could be delivered out the same tentacle waiting room. Exits from these rooms lead to the outer archway zones.

In 16 hours, the Doctor’s ship could process close to a hundred thousand patients. Each patient requiring about a hour to work through the automated queues, examination, waiting and treatment rooms. Unruly jostling in the queues was rewarded with a stunner blast and mechanized transport to an exit accessible holding area. In the week that the Doctor had been working U.S. territory, two days had been spent at Wright Patterson, AFB serving the Ohio heartland; one day at Andrews AFB, serving politicians and Washington residents alike, and now he was finishing up with a couple of days serving the Los Angeles area. While in the area he taken the opportunity to visit the San Diego Zoo and scan the DNA of many of the species available there.

The Terrans at the San Diego Zoo were a bit perplexed by the Doctor’s runabout landing requirements and instructions but largely compliant when they understood he was doing it his way or not at all. He had informed them he had a busy schedule and the ship would be leaving on time whether anyone had been treated or not. Further, a full report would be submitted to his medical institute and would influence future treatment efforts.

Uncertain, whether he was talking about treating the animals in the zoo or human beings in the future, they had discretely provided landing instructions for the flat grassland area in the African savannah exhibit. There had been some concern this might stress the animals but the runabout set down quietly cloaked and then appeared in the midst of the exhibit as if by magic. A few animals started when they first noticed it, but it made no threatening moves and they soon disregarded it. The same could not be said when the Doctor appeared and began scanning. Instincts from generations of experience on real savannah warred with the lulling effects of friendly zookeepers to leave the animals uneasy at receiving all this attention from an upright biped carrying tools in hand.

“Zircule do you have a private line available through your transceiver network? I wish to discuss some medical matters regarding the Terrans and privacy considerations apply,” said the Doctor.

“Argyle, Please secure our connection with the Doctor for maximum legal privacy,” commanded Zircule.

“Channel secure,” reported Argyle.

“Doctor, only my personal and confidential assistant and I now have access to this communication subject only to the limits of Sentient Galactic law or technology,” responded Zircule.

“These Terrans have a genetic makeup virtually identical to ancient Altlanetiens. Similarly, many of their larger animals have nearly identical historical counterparts on Altlanetia. According to the transceiver network and my Sentient Upload Network Node, the local fossil records seem to indicate that much evolution has taken place locally but are no where near complete enough to prove conclusively unbroken local evolutionary lines. Likewise, their DNA studies are in their infancy and still contain many fallacies. It is my preliminary conclusion that this planet has been subjected to multiple waves of colonization from Altlanetia descended stock. One might almost say it has been “Terra” formed but the evidence points primarily at additions to the local biosphere, not any changes in its primary makeup. I was suspicious of the ice ages at first but they seem to be a natural phenomenon. Altlanetia never had the gigantic mammal forms that seemed to take over during these periods so they must be local mutants or gene engineered for the climatic changes.”

“How do you explain the prevalence of five vs. six fingered variants of biped Doctor?” asked Zircule intently.

“A local mutation is possible but I think it more likely that gene engineering was used on this minor detail of physiology to allow colonials to blend in with the native biped stocks. To casual observers they would appear merely another local variant of an evolutionary theme, the upright biped. It appears to me that approximately half of the bipeds on this planet are native or natural while the other half, including mankind, are descended from gene engineering efforts on native Altlanetien stock at some time in the past,” explained the Doctor.

“How will this affect your medical efforts here?” asked Zircule.

“It will greatly simplify them. Much of the basic work normally required to begin treating new species effectively can now start from the body of knowledge concerning Altlanetien stock. This saves a great deal of effort. There are still many local mutations and environmental effects which must be analyzed, studied and effective treatments devised but it is no where near the normal workload with a new species or ecosphere. Our scheduled will improve accordingly. What about the political considerations within Galactic Sentient Society?”

“Allow me to handle that Doctor. For now, I think it best that the Earth locals remain “Terrans” and that word not leak out regarding this development. Discovery of one of the old Altlanetien colony worlds always throws the Sentient Galactic Society into an uproar and some advanced race does something stupid and dastardly that results in much self inflicted damage on the aggressor and much damage and even extinction to the colony world. I wish to have sufficient industrial base and defenses in place around the Solar System and its neighboring star systems to give pause to any aggressive reflexes Sentient Galactic Society may be harboring regarding Altlanetiens at this time,” proposed Zircule.

“Has this been reported to military or political channels?” asked the Doctor.

“It has been reported to appropriate channels within the Pathfinder Institute for timely notification of other authorities and the public,” said Zircule.

“In other words, no. What steps are you taking to protect this planet, and Sentient Galactic Society, from bigots and opportunists when it becomes public knowledge?” asked the Doctor sharply.

“Military and medical personnel interacting with the planet have been screened discretely for histories of civilized or uncivilized behavior. Reporting to the Pathfinder Institute has been split into multiple levels of need to know with the lower levels being kept in the dark on detailed evidence supporting this startling conclusion. The locals are being coached and educated in Altlanetien methods of building and operating military industrial bases and forces. This includes the full technology and knowledge redundancy philosophy that has made it so difficult for their opponents to stamp out or oppress the Altlanetiens once they are established on a planet,” explained Zircule.

“What is being done to assure Sentient Galactic Society that this will not become another Altlanetien wave of specicidal aggression and destructive colonization for which they are historically noted,” asked the Doctor.

“They have had some experience with genocide at the planetary level and are working themselves to stamp it out. Educational efforts have been tailored to emphasize Sentient Galactic Society values and philosophies as they learn new technologies and Altlanetien methods of organiziation,” said Zircule calmly. “Should they prove intractable and remain dangerous while growing in capability, I will call in a main Sentient Galactic Society battle fleet to sterilize all space settlement and assets and bomb the main planet, Earth, back to a stone age. We will then engineer an ice age to keep them busy surviving for tens of thousands of years. This may have been done previously, although ice ages are common to water dominant planets.”

“What assurance do I have that you will act when it becomes necessary, since you are Altlanetien yourself?” asked the Doctor a bit timidly.

“Five hundred years ago, I was the Admiral in charge at the Sheraltk Nebula massacres,” stated Zircule. “I lost 50% of my force destroying 90% of the attacking Altlanetiens. Another 50% ten years later destroying the forces of an anti-Altlanetien coalition. The barbarian species, suspected of being Altlanetien descended, the pathfinders were working with took 30% casualties on the ground concentrated in their cities. The ice age we eventually triggered killed another 69%. They are only now recovering technologically and culturally. I have proven that I will take action when necessary to prevent the spread of anti sentient culture and civilization, even when it adversely affects my native stock and proteges.”

“Admiral Zircule, I am familiar with the incident. It required study to easily get to certain lines of medical knowledge. Very will, I will trust your judgement in this manner. How should I report this to my superiors?”

“Simply report as you normally would using all appropriate privacy procedures. I have been in touch with your chain of command and special safeguards are in place to take action if attempts are made to inappropriately route or use the information. Thank you for your assistance in this matter Doctor, you have confirmed what until now have been only suspicions.”

“Well further study is needed to verify my findings conclusively,” stated the Doctor prudently. “But I think they are solid enough that your precautions are well warranted. Thank you for your time.”

“You are welcome, call anytime. Zircule out.” 

The Pathfinder