On his return, JS found the council of war already gathered. The military were in uniform as he had expressly requested. The idea was to emphasize the gravity of the situation and the fact that they were at war. The meeting was attended by Eve, Adam, Vasquez, Ishikawa, Roma, Pak, Lee De Carvalho, S-Victor and S-Lizzie, both S'skash. The S'skash names were very simple, the family name followed by a number. To the S'skash, however, the Earthener names were cooler. Encouraged by the missionaries, they begun to baptize their children with names from famous soap opera characters. The names were preceded by an S-, hence the nickname 'Hyphenated Martians'. "The situation, Doctor." "The SW3 fever mortality is approximately 100%." Lee's voice was calm, but his hands couldn't mask his tension. The note-sheet before him had been reduced to tiny fragments with which he fiddled unconsciously. "It spreads via aerosolized respiratory droplets with great ease and speed. It has an incubation period of 12 days exactly. The ability of infection is highest during incubation and the first day of the acute phase when the fever explodes and the skin-color becomes purple, from which the nickname of the Red Death." "12 days exactly. Are you sure?" Roma asked. "It's a biological weapon and the time factor is essential." JS intervened. By chance, Lee was sitting in front of him and now he stared at JS very directly. "Yes, it's the result of genetic engineering. There's no cure." "The BAR, the deceased Rogue empire, engineered it." JS added holding his gaze. "It looks so." Lee countered. Both Eve and Vasquez sensed testosterone-fuelled antagonism rising, and both decided that this wasn't the time for a fit of temper. "Apart from the vaccine, doctor." JS interjected again, narrowing his eyes at Lee. The tightening of Lee's lips was a danger signal to Vasquez: "You had been vaccinated when they commanded you on the Pasteur, right?" "Yes, I was. The only cure is a therapeutic vaccine during the incubation or at most within the first day of overt disease. Then there is only a slow painful death." "We could take the vaccine then!" Roma smiled. JS shook his head: "Eartheners and Rogues have orders to shoot us down on sight. The only way would be to take the vaccine with a coup de main, but who conceived this evil plan, expects something. It won't be easy, they're waiting for us." "Even if you succeed, the stocks won't suffice for all." Lee admitted. "12 days, so I and the others of Isla Tortuga's shuttle, we have 5 days left." Adam ascertained. "On Isla Tortuga, maybe Peter is already dying." Eve murmured. "What shall we do with our people here, when they begin to die?" S-Victor asked. "We'll tell them the whole truth and isolate those who may have been infected ASAP." JS's suggestion was an order. "Panic will break out!" Vasquez uttered. "No," JS countered. "Panic breaks out when people don't know what's going on. We'll explain everything. If everyone is responsible and cools it, we can contain the outbreak to a minimum." "SW3 to a minimum?!" cried Lee. "We'll die all!" "No, doctor, because you'll make the vaccine." JS pointed out to the equipment around them. "You have the knowledge and the tools to do it." Lee shook his head: "It's impossible. I need a suitable blood serum." "I know nothing about vaccines, but you can take mine." Adam offered. "I've got nothing to lose." "I can try, it might work." Lee lied. "And yours, Lee?" Eve blurted out. "You were vaccinated." "Mine is not suitable." Lee shook his head. "Moreover we must be fast. I need the lab protocols and the blood serum of infected patients resulted immune." "Mine is." JS replied, "And I know where's the BAR lab. I'd been there. It's in the Gray's sector, so I must collect my credit." When they jumped out of the hyperspace, the view of the hellish BAR lab did hold their breath. It was surrounded by some Gray flying saucers. - Thanks.