... And the cogs start turning.

[Jihadjoe]

San Jacinto Station - Virginia [color=#000000]- 0800Hrs 25/2/819AS

-[color=#CCFFFF]----

David Hale was waiting. He wasn't very good at waiting.

[color=#CCFFFF]"I'm not very good at waiting." He muttered under his breath quietly to Jasmine Greenson. The young Commander nodded.

"I noticed."

The base had been a hive of activity since the arrival of Premier Katz and Brigadier-General Alvarez had been negotiated. The incident in Ontario had set the cogs in motion, and the Republic's machinery was operatingly quickly, yet not as smoothly as Hale would have liked. The quick thinking of the Gold Wing operative who negotiated the surrender had caused chaos and disagreement among the security establishment, and this opportunity had nearly been lost to conservative thinking and hesitance.

"I'm really not very good at waiting" he repeated.

"Admiral Hale, sir, they're initiating a docking sequence now."

"Thank you Adamson" He turned to Greenson and started to stand up. "After you commander."

Hale followed Jasmine Greenson out of the briefing room, and down the network of corridors to the hangar bays. A team of medics stood waiting by the blast door, and a group of deckhands saluted as they walked past. A claxon sounded, and the red light over the door flicked to green as the hangar repressurised.

"Time to meet 'the enemy' then I suppose."

The doors opened and he stepped into the hangar bay as the team of medics bustled past him towards the back of the Mammoth transport that now stood safely waiting. Alvarez and Katz had arrived.

-[color=#CCFFFF]----

---

[arvg]

General Ricardo 'El Coyote' Alvarez, the captain of the infamous Havana, and a two time Hero of the Revolution was surrounded by armed guards. One of them carrying his .60 calibre pistol like a trophy to present to the conquering Libertonians, like they'd actually done anything.

It riled Alvarez, a month ago he'd personally led strikes into the heart of Liberty, burned capital ships under the Havana's guns... proud, free, and unrelenting...

To surrender without a fight... it was galling.

His eyes traveled to the gurney being pushed along with its extensive life-support devices whirring and beeping, trilling aloud that the Premier of the Coalition, the last true hope at any kind of evolution in Omega-52, was steadily dying.

The General knew why he was there, if there was a chance, even a slim one, he'd crawl into hell and back just to earn it.

He snapped off a Coalition Salute, "Admiral, I do formally surrender myself, unto your custody, as per the terms of my surrender."

Let them do their worst!

---

[arvg]

After his initial surrender, Alvarez had been shown to a set of quarters on the station, a guard on the door, and a secured terminal that was monitored and filtered everything he sent and received.

Nothing more had been said about Katz's condition, everyone waiting for Doc Holiday's transport to arrive, and the critical surgery needed to save the Premier's life still laying ahead.

Alvarez shed his jacket, tossing it, along with his hat, into a chair as he poured himself a drink... something noxious called Bourbon.

He turned on the vid screen


"The Science of Crime was back for another season. The cigarette was hotboxed, his orthopedic surgeon's records indicate that he loved threesomes with fish in an aquarium."

In disgust, Alvarez turned the channel, looking for the latest broadcast of 'Shoot the fascist' frustrated by the lack of anything good on the 3000 channel digital set.

He threw the remote across the room, walking to the window and resting his head against it.

Out there Rhade was leading his men against the Volkhan... his men...

Rhade was a solid combat pilot, but was he up to the task of leading a resistance? That was a question Alvarez didn't want to answer. They had no choice, and as popular as Katz was... if he died, then the rebellion would die shortly there after.

It was going to be a troubling few days ahead.

---

[Doc Holliday]

Doc stood a few steps past the door of the quarters he had been brought to and took a look around.
"Is there anything else I can get to make your stay more.....pleasurable?" asked the young officer.
Doc just turned and shook his head.
"Very well, Doctor. If you need anything, I'll have a guard outside your door," explained the officer. He quickly continued when Doc gave a stearn face at the mention of a guard, "Understand, Sir, it was ordered by Naval command."
Doc just nodded and the officer quickly scurried away. The door slid shut and Doc activated the lock.

His quarters were a bit smaller than he was used to but comfortable. Doc himself was beyond exhaustion but he was restless as he removed his robes and hung them in the closet. It felt good to remove his shoes and walk on a carpeted floor. Going over to his bag, he removed a bottle of Coalition Vodka and a brought it to the counter near the food simulator. He found a glass and filled it, taking a sip. With the glass in hand, he quietly began pacing, back and forth, for what seemed like an eternity.

He was alone with only his thoughts to keep him company and with the way things had gone, they weren't pleasant. The chase of his shuttle through Omega 50 by the SCRA fighters still had him on edge. He was still a mix of confused and upset over it. But more than that, he was worried, very worried, about his Discordian people, the people of Gran Canaria and the future of Sirius itself. He thought of his wife and daughter back home, fearing for their safety. He also thought of his friend, Alvin. When he did, he held his glass out a bit and toasted, "I haven't given you permission to die yet, Alvin!" and downed the contents of the glass.

He continued to pace, re-filling his glass along the way, his thoughts just eating at him. He didn't want to get involved in someone else's conflict but with the chase, he knew he was already involved. Nothing he had heard of the Volkhan was good. In fact, it was terrible and ruthless, everything that Doc opposed. It was that reason that he had to save his friend, Katz. That and he felt indebted to him. He never forgot the time he went out-of-his-way to find Midori when he was on his own deathbed while she was doing some work in Stuttgart.

He also wondered about General Alvarez who had managed to call on him. He wondered how those he commanded would adapt to his absense. He said aloud to himself, "Probably the same way my own will without me.....just fine."

Again finishing his glass, Doc laid down on the bed, exhausted. Still, he felt restless and after several minutes, found it difficult to sleep with all that was going through him. He got up and reached into his medical bag, loaded an injector with a sedative and injected himself. Putting the injector away, he laid back on the bed and pulled the quilt over him. Within a couple of minutes, the only people sleeping better than he was were the dead.

---

[MFE]Med Force One | Tales of Recovery|Med Force Enterprises

[Doc Holliday]

"Thump! Thump! Thump!""Thump! Thump! Thump!" kept on repeating on the hallway side of John Holliday's quarter door.
"Doctor Holliday, are you there?" came the voice on the other side of the locked door. When he got no answer, he yelled again, "Doctor! Are you there?" Just as he was going to get a security detail, the door slid open to reveal a very groggy John Holliday holding himself up on the wall. With his free hand, he rubbed his eyes as he spoke, "What is it?"

The young officer looked at his guest, concerned. "Excuse me, Doctor, but you look awful!"
Doc just nodded, "Son, this is what happens when you give a 180 pound man a sedative measured for a man twice that size."
"Understood, Doctor," replied the officer, "we have arrived a San Jacinto. When you are ready, we will escort you to where the Premier is."
"All right," replied Doc, "Let me get cleaned up and something to eat. Some coffee would also be nice."
"Yes, Doctor," answered the officer, "Call for me when you're ready!"

Doc showered, letting the hot water wake him up. He cursed himself for the heavy sedative. As he dressed in his medical clothes, he wondered exactly where he was. He had never heard of San Jacinto. He just knew that he was closer to Alvin and that's all that he was worried about.
He was then escorted to a cafeteria where he was given a breakfast that truly was meant for a dignitary.
"Is it OK, Doctor?" asked the cook with a nervous smile.
"It's not Mrs. Holliday's cooking but it is still quite good, Sir," responded a satisfied Doc.
The cook just scurried off with a smile.

Finally, Doc was escorted to the room where Alvin Katz lay. He lay under anesthesia and was being assisted by a ventilator. The Naval medical staff stepped back as Doc began to look at his friend or, what remained of him. He was beaten....badly beaten. His arms and legs broken but re-set by the Naval staff. His skull was fractured, his left eye was swollen shut and a quick check of his mouth found several of his teeth missing. Several ribs were also broken, broken just enough to cause pain and discomfort. It was obvious that someone wanted him to suffer.
Also about his body were 3rd degree burns. They were in various patterns over his body and in some places, his skin was blackened. Doc recognized them as electrical burns and the more he examined, the angrier he became. Finally, his temper won.

"Bastards!" he bellowed as he busted through a door into a nearby corridor, "those sick bastards!" He then began pacing, trying to settle himself as the Naval surgeon spoke to him.
"Doctor Holliday, please, I know it's hard but he needs you," he explained, "we've stabilized him but you have all of his information. Also, there's something I think you need to see."

Together, the two men re-entered the room. The Naval doctor showed Doc a scan that was taken upon Alvin's arrival. At the base of his neck, just below the skull, was a strange device.
"We have no clue what it is," said the Doctor.
Doc then opened a case of his and took out a scanning device. It was something that the Naval staff had never seen, at least, not as sophisticated as this one was. Doc prepared some settings on it and began scanning, transmitting the pictures from his scanner to a large screen for all to see.

"What is it?" asked a nurse.
As Doc scanned, he answered, "I'm not sure. But, whatever it is, it was placed there as evidenced by the surgical scar on the back of his neck."
He continued scanning sending detailed images of a device that was well stapled into his spinal cord just at the base of the skull. He only shook his head, even doubting himself. He could see what it was in a physical sense but knew nothing of it's function.
"Nano technology," he said, "very interesting. I'm guessing it's some sort of mind control device but I won't know for sure until I have one in hand to look at."
"But why," asked the nurse, "would someone torture him like thins and put the device on him?"
Doc turned and stearnly looked at her, "because someone wanted to send a message....and I know who this person is at least, I know of him."
He then turned the scanner. "Listen, don't let him wake up. Under no circumstances do you let him wake up. Keeping him in a drug induced coma may well save us all. Keep a steady flow of trapanal going through him until I can figure out what to do," Doc lectured. With that, he left the room and went to find a high ranking officer. When he did, he made his request simple but with purpose.

"I need to speak with General Alvarez......immediately!" he insisted, "It can't wait."

---

[MFE]Med Force One | Tales of Recovery|Med Force Enterprises

[arvg]

*Secured Quarters*
*Day Two*

*House Arrest*

Ricardo Alvarez had given up entirely on the Video programs.

It had something to do with a medical drama where in the whole cast were either sleeping with each other, related to each other, or related and sleeping with each other...

It was a miracle anyone got treated at all at Libertonian hospitals... and it certainly did very little to imbue the General with Confidence in the Libertonian medical system.

He, instead, set about doing a crossword puzzel... not an easy feat when your first language is Spanish, your second language was Russian, and your third language was Chinese...

"You're out of luck... Seven letters... starting with S and ending in ED?" He muttured, shaking his head as he tried to work it out.

He was going steadilly bonkers... and if they brought him one more "Taco Bell" meal, thinking that it was his native food, he was going to stab someone with his pen...

There was a beep on the intercom by the door of the room.

"Mr Alvarez, if you have some time, I think we should talk" came a libertonian voice. "I trust you're not busy..."

Alvarez looked up, blinking, it had to be his first real contact with anyone outside the guards who had subjected him to a rather through weapons check, and fed him his meals.

He shrugged, standing up and cocking a head to the side, "Si? I am not busy, come in."

There was another sequence beeping noises and the door slid open. The man who greeted him was not a guard.

Alvarez was not the tallest of men, topping out at a whopping 5 foot 5, but he stood there anyway, in his uniform shirt, hands tucked into his pocket watching the man enter.

"A pleasure to actually meet you Mr Alvarez, I think I just about had time to give you a nod when you arrived, but I'm sure you can understand, I'm a little busy at the moment."

The man held out his hand slightly awkwardly.

Alvarez smiled, extending his own hand, "Senor Hale, I would offer you pistols at dawn, but at the moment the best duelling weapon your guards left me was a spoon, si?" He nodded to a cup. "But I have to thank you, senor, without you things would be a lot darker in our small corner of the universe."

"An unexpected turn of events for sure." Hale looked around the room slightly "I don't think the pistols would be required... Makes things personal, when they don't need to be. Have you been comfortable? Is the food to your satisfaction?"

Alvarez winced, "Si... si... someone thinks that Taco Bell is satisfying... but that is not why we're here. I need to know, how is the Premier?"

"Mr Holliday is treating him, but he's not a well man. I heard the words 'critical but stable' being muttered by one of our own doctors. We'll notify you as soon as he is in a state to recieve vistors."

Alvarez nodded, "I have received word that Ambassador Razin, a former member of our Politburo, has assumed command over the Rebellion. He is a close confidant of the Premier's, a diplomat and one of our few peacemakers." Alvarez looked troubled. "You must understand that this is a difficult place for us to be... and I know it has to be equally as discomforting to you, senor."

Hale nodded and sighed a little, "More than a little troubling for us Mr Alvarez. You've been something of a nuisance, admittedly... However there's a difference between a nuisance and gross human rights violations."

Alvarez smiled, "You are referring, perhaps, to when I gave Sonia Moesby the Hero of the Revolution Medal? She really did deserve it, I must admit to being one of those boys growing up on Crete, stealing hubcaps from skimmers, and picking fights... so tangling with members of the LSF... this is second nature, holmes." He chuckled. "Unlike your Gold wing... I have had the misfortune of having to tangle with them one too often... and they earned their reputation."

He coughed to clear his throat, "but this Volkhan... this is dangerous to all of us."

Hale nodded "Shall we sit down?"

He lowered himself into a chair...

"The Volkhan is very much what we need to discuss. I understand your reasons for entering into the current situation, which must've been an extremely tough call to make. But before we work out how to proceed from here, we're going to have to know all we can about the Volkhan."

Alvarez again looked troubled, as he sat down, bracing a foot on his knee and picking up his coffee mug. "This is the problem Senor. No one outside of the Volkhan's inner circle know who he is. One day we were dealing with the Order... betrayal... remind me to tell you all about an Order battleship lurking in your Zone 21... they are due some payback on the betrayal front... and the next... I was on the Havana. I get a report that the Kremlin Dome... dome two on Volgograd, has been stormed by forces loyal to the Ikon of Ikons. No one knows who this is... Katz was arrested as well as key members of the People's Party..." Alvarez shifted again.

"We aren't the dictatorship we have been painted out to be, or haven't been since the Premier overthrew the old order and established Party rule. It's not your democracy, holmes, but for us... after McIntosh... it was freedom."

Hale chuckled slightly. "Democracy isn't the Sirian way, apparently..." He looked at Alvarez "And all this happened without any forewarning? Your intelligence services, or internal security had no idea this was going to happen?"

"Our Intelligence services and the Commissariat were in a shambles after they tried to oust Katz. They were in the process of rebuilding when this occoured... It seems, in striking down one enemy, another took advantage to strike. It seems as if the Volkhan's men are using a device, a Nerve Staple, to ensure the loyalty of the people. I have word that they have done this to my ship and crew... forced mind control... A dictators wet dream... What I can tell you is this... there are those in the MND, the KPT, and the Order who are keen to get their hands on this technology."

He ran a hand through his hair and closed his eyes for a second in thought. "Mind control..." He paused.

"Every time a charismatic individual opens their mouth, it's mind control, Mr Alvarez. There are plenty who'll please a crowd just long enough to implant an idea as being 'right', and plenty more who will swallow it whole." He paused again and sighed.

"So this device... Is it possible to detect who is under it's influence, and who is not?"

Alvarez nodded, "It should. It is a metal nano-bot inserted at the base of the skull... it sits on the nerve cluster there... feeding endorphines... everytime the Volkhan's messages come... and feeds pain everytime something negative about the Volkhan appears." He shrugged. "If it is electric, and metal, it's going to be scannable."

"Well at least we can count that as a blessing... I'm not the man to pass judgement on those who may be interested in obtaining a device like that, but needless to say, it's proliferation would be... concerning."

Hale stood up and paced, thinking. "Coffee? I always find it helps me think... And, uh, do you smoke?"

Alvarez smiled, "Si, Coffee would be good. I don't smoke... but most of my men do. I do not mind it."

He walked over to the intercom and punched in an internal comms ID. "...Thank you, yes... Just a fresh pot of coffee..."

Hale sat back down and pulled a packet of cigarettes out of his pocket "You're sure you don't mind?"

Alvarez nodded, "It is one of the chief imports into the Coalition... I hear the Zoners make good trade bringing in Libertonian Tobacco... or they used to."

Hale laughed and lit a cigarette, inhaling deeply. "I suppose we've got to be useful for something..."

His face took on a more serious expression.

"Mr Alvarez, these... 'Nerve staples'... You understand of course, that no nation is without it's aspiring despots. Now... In Liberty we have methods of making people's actions accountable to the people, which limits the damage they can inflict, and reduces the likelyhood of them coming into power in the first place. A constitution can be a magical thing... As can simple observation, and forewarning."

He paused for a second, thinking the next words through very carefully.

"But that doesn't mean we are without them entirely, human nature being as it is. You can understand why I might want to keep the existance of such devices very quiet from a large number of people within Liberty's services."

Alvarez nodded, "Si, a popular leader who uses, say a war, as justification of these devices for national security... si homes, I know the danger. I think Doc Holliday has a plan for disabling them... and if my men can liberate our top scientist... XiaoBei... we might be able to find a way to deactivate them."

"I see. Mr Holliday is well known for his human concern. A concientious man..."

The intercom by the door sounded again. Hale jumped up and opened the door to a member of Navy catering staff carrying a pot of coffee and three cups.

"Thank you." Hale smiled at the woman and the door slid shut again.

He put the coffee down on the table and sat down.

"At some point soon Mr Alvarez, we will be meeting with the secretary of state for defense, Robert McKay, as well as David copperfield, the head of the LSF, and Mr Holliday may well be part of this conversation. Liberty does intend on intervening in this situation. That much I can tell you now..."

Alvarez nodded, "I know I am not in a position to request anything... at the moment, senor. But I must tell you, I will answer any question that will help the overthrow of the Volkhan, but I cannot and will not betray my people."

"We will be needing as much information as we can gather. It's worth asking now... How far do you trust your own people Mr Alvarez? How sure can you be that you're not compromised in any way by the Volkhan's men?"

Alvarez looked up, "The Volkhan stole the Coalition from the people..." he glanced about. "No electric shock... so I presume I am free from it."

Hale smiles. "That much I would have guessed from the mere fact you are here... However the people under your command. The Volkhan would not be so stupid as to nerve staple those who are supposed to infiltrate. There are other ways of guaranteing loyalty."

Alvarez looked pensive, "I don't know if the Volkhan had time... if he has infiltrated the Rebels then we have trouble. But the youths that followed Rhade and I out of the Coalition... they had ample chance to kill both myself and the Premier. The thought that I have is, why would they wait?"

"True enough" he nodded "But reliance on logic like that has lost wars before now..."

Inside of Alverez's quarters, the hailing buzzer would sound

Alvarez looks up from his coffee, "Come in?"

Hale glances over to the door and raises an eyebrow

The door slides open. A LN guard lets John Holliday inside and closes the door behind him. His face is of stone concern. In his left hand, he carries a box like device.

He then nods to General Alvarez and Admiral Hale in respect

Hale stands up and offers the doctor his hand

"Evening Mr Holliday, I didn't realise you'd be joining us..."

He accepts the hand of the Admiral.

Alvarez lifts his cup, and gestured to a seat, "join us, Doctore, you look tired."

Hale sits back down and sips his coffee, putting his cigarette out and disposing of it. "How is he, doctor?"

He takes the seat and manages a weak smile, "You aren't far from the truth, General. I had to give myself a sedative to sleep and I mismeasured it for myself. My own fault but I'm doing OK." He sits down

He looks to both men, "The Premier is stable but in bad shape. I am keeping him comatose until such time as I can figure out what to do about this." He turns on the box like machine of his. Looking around, he sees a monitor and with a couple of cables, he plugs the box into the monitor.

Alvarez watches with interest.

A detailed video scan of Katz comes into view, "I just ran these all of a few minutes ago. The cuts, the broken bones, the burns will all heal in time but this is my concern," as he points to a device at the base of his neck. "I

Hale looks up from his coffee to the screen. "Is that one of-"

"I'm not sure exactly what it is but it is some sort of nano device, I'm guessing some sort of mind control unit." He then turns to the General, "I thought maybe you could tell me more on it."

"That," Alvarez gestured with his mug. "Is a Nerve Staple."

"While I've only heard of such things," Doc explained, "this is the first I've seen of one."

"And the Premier has one of these?" Alvarez asked, in concern.

Doc just nods. "Until I know of how to deal with it, that is why I'm keeping him sedated."

"That is a complicated matter..."

"I could try to remove it but considering where it is, I'm afraid that I may kill him in the process," he explained.

"I think we can all agree Mr katz is better off alive..."

"I did have another idea," he continues, "if it is nano technology, I may have an idea in which to at least neutralize it."

"It explains why none of my men are comprimised... why bother when the leader of the resistance is a puppet."

"Neutralization, General, is why I needed to see you."

Alvarez nodded, "Who do I shoot?"

"for now Mr Alvarez, we'll not be shooting anyone."

"I wouldn't know, General, but we have to assume lots of people within the Coalition are wearing these." He thinks a moment and continues, "It would make sense after an incident I was witness to in Omega 49. I was treating someone on Med.Force.One when several Coalition ships arrives code named "SCUD." When they would try to say anything positive about Katz or even attacking my hospital, they would get "shocked."

"My shuttle was also chased through Omega 50 a few days later, those chasing saying that "The Volkhan orders you to him.""

"Lucky for me, I was able to escape with some help"

Hale listens intently, putting his coffee mug down.

"Hmm... From what In understand, as Mr Alvarez has very recently informed me, this 'Nerve Staple' isn't so much a mind control device, more a method of guiding people's thoughts through artificial means. Happiness when you say the right thing, and pain when you say the wrong thing. Altering behaviour through positive anbd negative reinforcement"

Alvarez looked concerned, "if they are expanding it to cover active fighter corps. pilots... then there is a very real risk they will start tying to secure Omega-50. Imagine an army of fanatics being thrown against Zoner stations..."

Hale nods

"That would be militarily sound. Are there any Coalition installations in the area which are not under the command of the Volkhan?"

Alvarez shook his head, "I think there was some resistance on Sevastapol, but the Volkhan wouldn't have moved on Volgograd without first securing the fuel supply." He shrugged, "Mykolaiv is heavilly controlled... the only thing I can think of is the IND controlled sections of Zhukovsky..." He looked at Hale. "Much like Rhienland, the IC/IND presence is everywhere."

Hale raises an eyebrow and smiles. "You'd imagine I'd be surprised..."

Doc just listens as the Admiral and General speak

Alvarez chuckles, "how do you think we get our coffee?"

He sobred a moment, "Strange as this may sound, they have proven to be a stabalizing force, curbing much of the aggression in our military forces. Showing that there can... perhaps... be a better way." He sighed. "Doctore... what do you suggest?"

"Since I'm no military minded person, I want to focus my efforts on this staple. Neutralizing that will be what's necessary. But, I need a couple of things to do it. One, I need one that is NOT attached to experiment on with my idea. The other, which may fall into the planning you two have, is that I need to find a way to do this in mass. I mean sure, I can neutralize one but to capture everyone to neutralize them is the hard part."

"Neutralization now and hopefully, total removal of these devices later."

"On the military side of things, I'm not sure what I can offer."

"As yet Mr Holliday, I'm not sure what Liberty can, or will, offer... In military terms. Naturally we intend on intervening in this situation. In what manner is completely undecided. Now... I'm talking to you in the strictest confidence you understand, however we may well be asking for docking rights for certain assets of ours for covert operations in the Omega sectors. Nothing has been decided as yet though..."

Doc nodded, "Nothing we discuss leaves this room. I'm no fool."

Alvarez looked pensively into his mug, "Our primary objective will be to get the Rebellion safely situated. Something, I am told, Razin is working on. Following that... Doctore XiaoBei need to be rescued. He might be able to give Doctore Holliday the answers he needs."

Hale nods

"I may need to contact... Aloysius Rhade... is that the right name? I'm going to require a few assurances from him regarding activity within Liberty itself, and keeping a low profile. I might well be able to spare forces to protect Freeport 14 for now as well. As fr the rest, that would need to be the result of the conversation I mentioned earlier.."

"Agreed," Alvarez nodded.

"Perhaps he may be able to supply a nerve staple..."

"If someone can give me a nerve staple, I may be able to figure it out."

"I have an idea but I need at least one to experiment with."

Alvarez nodded, "We shall get on it."

"If you can get your doctor to safety, I can either provide him a safe place to work or transport out." Doc grins a bit, "I have some old friends who would provide some security or transport."

Alvarez inclines his head, "I shall issue orders for them to get on it."

"Thank you, General"

"Gentlemen, if you'll excuse me..." Hale puts down his now empty coffee and stands up "I have a large number of things I need to attend to. I will schedule a meeting with McKay and Copperfield at the earliest convenient time."

Alvarez nods, "Thank you Senor Hale."

"Yes, thank you, Admiral"

"A pleausre to meet you both. Mr Alvarez, you gained a lot of my respect with the choice you made. It can't have been an easy one to take."

Hale offers a handshake to the two other men, and walks out of the room.

Doc turns to Alvarez, "So long as Katz is in my care, he won't die. I won't allow it. I owe him that."

Alvarez nods slowly, "Si, I know Doctore. He is in the best of hands."

"If you could, could I get a list of ships that are against the Volkhan? It would be helpful to know who is who, who I can give safe harbor to if needed?"

"You need to contact Rhade for that, I do not have the information here," Alvarez apologized.

"Very well. I will contact him."

Doc gets up, "I will see you again soon, General."

Alvarez nods, "Si Doctore, good luck."

With a hand shake, Doc leaves to continue his work.

---

[Doc Holliday]

John Holliday entered the I.C.U. room where Alvin Katz lay resting, recovering from his injuries. As he did, the attending nurse smiled and greeted him.
"Good afternoon, Doctor," she smiled.
"Afternoon, Miss," he replied, "How's he doing?"
"Stable, Doctor. No change," she answered. She then handed him a chart with his vitals on it. Satisfied, he handed it back and she placed it on a table.
"Doctor, if you don't mind, I'd like a break," she asked of him.
He just nodded his approval and she left with a "thank you."

Doc then took an updated scan of his injuries. As he expected, Alvin was slowly healing. Putting the scanner down, he gave a chuckle as he began tending to the dressing that covered his head injuries. As he removed the old dressings, he spoke to his old friend,
"My, Alvin, what a mess we find ourselves in," he said as he inpsected the healing wounds. As he cleaned them with an anesthetic, he continued, "Your men need you, Old Friend. They are expecting me to get you back to them." Doc paused a moment and forced a weak smile, "My people need you and while they don't know it, so does Sirius."
He began applying clean dressings, "So long as I'm your physician, Alvin, nothing further will go wrong."

Doc then began tending to the burns over his body. They were random, marks from electrical arcing outside and inside of his body. Doc could only shake his head at the site. As he cleaned them, he gave another chuckle.
"I haven't forgot the time you went to find Midori when I was on my death bed. Do you remember?" he asked, still talking like someone was awake to answer, "Stuttgart. I'm betting you damn near irritate everyone in system with your general broacasts but you found her." For the moment, Doc went silent as he began applying some fresh dressings, "You saved me, Alvin, by finding her," he said meaningfully.

He then checked where the breaks in his arm and leg bones were.
"Like a true soldier," Doc said softly, knowing the pain he must have suffered when the Volkhan's men broke his bones, "and last I knew, no one gave you permission to die yet so...." Doc then shook his finger at Alvin, "...and you still don't!"

Satisfied, he took a seat next to Alvin, again studying the scans of his neck and the staple. He again shook his head in disgust.
"I will figure out how to fix that, Alvin," Doc stated in quiet confidence, "but in the meanwhile, you must sleep to be spared it's torment." Doc again shook his head and began muttering to himself, "Mind staples! It must be the new Coalition's forced loyalty. Hmph! Much like the Outcasts and cardamine!"
He then slammed his fist on a table, "Slavery is what it is!"
As he worked and spoke, the nurse returned but stood quietly at the door, not saying a word but only listening. In each of her hands was a cup of coffee. Still, she stood and listened as Doc kept talking.

"I contacted Colonel Rhade, Alvin," Doc said to his friend, "I told him that you are stable. He hopes to have you back soon." Doc smiled, "Imagine the morale boost your men would have when they hear you on the com themselves." Doc then turned to see the nurse, cofees in hand, smiling.

"I thought you could use one, Doctor," she said, handing him a cup. "I didn't know how you take it so for now, it's black!"
Doc accepted the cup and took a sip, "this is just fine, Miss," he responded with a smile, "and you weren't wrong, I could indeed use this."

The nurse sat down and for a few moments, they shared some coffee time. She then gave him a compliment, "I like your style, Doctor, speaking to him as if he was your friend."
Doc put down his coffee and turned to her, stone faced and replied, "Miss, there is no 'as ifs' about it. Alvin Katz IS my friend." He turned back to his coffee and took a sip and then softly added, "the only one I've got." The nurse said nothing, only sipping her coffee.

He didn't know if Alvin heard any of what he had said. Quietly, he hoped that he had.

---

[MFE]Med Force One | Tales of Recovery|Med Force Enterprises

[arvg]

Stepping down from the transport, the enigmatic Coalition Scientist blinked at the harsh lights of the Liberty Naval facility, rolling his eyes he fished out a cigarette and lit it wishing that he had thought to bring a cup of tea.

"What no bloody welcoming committee?" he murmured as he stood there looking at the marines who were staring back at him carrying the latest issue Detroit munitions side arms.

"Well then, take me to your leader," XiaoBei intoned dramatically.

Nothing.

"Fine, take me to MY leader, then, humourless apes..." XiaoBei rolled his eyes.

Still Nothing.

"You know, I though you Libertonians were supposed to be hospitable, instead you're all a bunch of Jack..."

"Excuse me, Doctor," an aide hurried out of an elevator. "Doctor Holliday is in the main medical facility. I am to guide you there..."

"Finally," XiaoBei said with a smile. "I have the equipment..." he lifted a duffel bag.

"Certainly Doctor, if you would be so kind..." She motioned to the elevator, and in a few short minutes they were standing in a lab.

"Make yourself at home, Doctor Holliday will be with you shortly." And with that she left.

XiaoBei glanced with a certain level of contempt at the lab around him, so mediocre... everything patented and shiny... no spirit to the place. He preferred a vibrant lab, something far more interesting and far less... clinical.

---

[Doc Holliday]

John rounded the corner to where Dr. XiaoBei was sitting.
"Kallisti, Dr. XiaoBei," he said as he extended his hand, "it's an honor to finally meet you. I'd like to chat more but the sooner we get to Alvin, the sooner we can get him back on his feet."
For a minute or two, the two men took the time to converse and exchanged pleasantries. After that, John Holliday escorted his cohort to Alvin's bedside.

Alvin was still in a comatose state as he had been for the last several weeks.
"You may not be a fan of the Liberty government, Doctor, but they stabilized him before I arrived. I've just managed to keep him comfortable," John explained.
He then handed him his scanner, "his latest scans are on here if you wish to view them." As he viewed them, he gave some information, "his internal injuries and burns are healing nicely as are those on his body. His broken arms and legs are a ways from being ready for physical therapy but again, are healing nicely."
Doc then punched a button on the scanner. An expanded image appeared on a video screen before them of the nerve staple, "this is the real menace though. I don't dare try to remove it nor do I dare want to wake him considering what he's been through. I have an idea to neutralize it but I need one off of a person to test my theory. It involves the use of nanites that I have been experimenting with. If we can succeed in this, well, we can save a lot of people. I just don't know that I can do it on my own."

He then gave the doctor some time to look over his leader, stepping back in respect. He watched as XiaoBei showed his own professionalism. Quietly, after many minutes that seemed like an eternity, Doc asked him, "if you have the sample that you mentioned, I'd like to get started. I'll wait for when you're ready."

---

[MFE]Med Force One | Tales of Recovery|Med Force Enterprises

[arvg]

XiaoBei was impressed by Holliday's work, he huffed a deep draught on his cigarette as he fumbled for his mug of tea, walking around the bench reading the data pad.

"Well I'll be Bug... *ahem*" he cleared his throat and looked up, "you're on the right track here... actually, your plan is great... but alien nanobots won't respond well to your home brewed ones... no... but..." he hefted the nano-stapler. "If we reprogram the alien nanobots with the same coding you have on your home brew... well the other nanobots won't reject them, and they can neutralize the offending little blighters..."

He shook his head. "It's not a fix for Omega-52, but it might... well... should... errm... well there's a chance it will work with the Premier. However, it certainly won't hurt him to try." he began to copy Holliday's code into the nerve stapler. "I suggest, since you are the attending physician, that you do the honours..." he tossed the gun-like device over to the other Doctor."

"Kiss your knickers good bye, Volkhan, Doc Holliday's about to kick that perky little behind of yours!"

---