"Captain's Log
Star Date: 49876.3
our time limit to search for and rescue Commander Brookes has been dramatically cut even shorter than we wanted. It seems that the freighter she is being held prisoner on is also carrying elements that attribute to the plague that Doctor Crusher and Heva herself have been trying to cure. I myself am not in total understanding of how this plague works. So after alerting Star Fleet to the heightened level of emergency in this situation I am going to attempt to contact the doctor to find out precisely what this disease is and what we can do to possibly stretch time to where we have more of a chance to save so many lives; including one that is now directly in the line of fire."

"This plague is similar to Earth's Black Death in the 14th century. The symptoms are identical in nature and the bacteria that contribute to the aliment itself are of the very species from that time. However, though already an airborne virus, this plague has been intensified in strength by the introduction of Celiosianistis. This chemical slows the symptoms, which makes them draw out much longer than the original bubonic plague. Rather than killing it's victims in a matter of weeks rather than days. Also, rather than being transmitted in a smaller area like Europe, the maker of this virus also added the chemical compound Restonispin. It-"
"Wait a moment, Beverly." Jean-Luc interrupted. "Maker? Are you telling me that someone constructed this virus?"
"Yes." Beverly replied. "A bacterial virus with this many chemicals added to it has to be the work of some sort of biological lab. This plague was dominant in the 14th century. It disappeared for a while and would sometimes come up after that but it hasn't been seen since the late 20th century. Then all of a sudden it appears genetically altered with chemicals that have also been hibernating for a few hundred years! I'm sorry, Captain, but this is the work of someone with a vast knowledge of biogenetics, bioengineering, and chemical engineering. Now to finish what I was saying; Restonispin is a chemical that takes the cells of an organism and expands them, making them stronger and able to survive without oxygen."
"That means they would be able to survive in the vacuum of space without a problem."
"Exactly. That is how it's been traveling to other planets in the system. The virus is already airborne and it can attach to both organic and nonorganic substances like any bacteria. So if someone carrying the virus, even if they didn't know it or weren't showing any symptoms, boarded or even touched the hull of a ship it would hitch a ride that way if not solely in the system of the person."
The Captain shut his eyes. He just couldn't fathom what kind of person would be evil enough to create such a brutal weapon to use for what seemed to be no apparent reason.
"What about the other component?" he asked. "The Thelioctonix."
Beverly's face drained a bit of color before she coughed and replied. "I have never seen such a thing in all my studies. This chemical component is what I suspect to be the push that sent this plague here and let it thrive."
"What do you mean?"
"What I mean is that after studying Thelioctonix, I have discovered that it is similar to the effect of an octopus shooting ink. Basically it attaches to the virus and engulfs it. The look of it is like looking at a snow globe. All of the other chemicals and bacterium are held inside an orb and if you add heat to it the virus multiplies at an accelerated rate and then spreads like a gas. If the virus was left as it was it would already be lethal. But with all of these other little pieces plugged into it, it's virtually unstoppable."
Both of them were silent for a time. Picard observed the activity behind the doctor on the screen. Several officers were darting back and forth between stations, looking in every direction and speaking to one another rapidly and exchanging information. The force fields around them occasionally shimmered a bright blue, winking at him. He only hoped that they were enough to keep such a deadly predator from reaching his dear friend and her colleagues. He was however glad that she'd been lucky enough to find an area that was completely devoid of the damned thing at the time to do her studies and take the necessary precautions.
"How are you so sure that the bacteria you were having Heva search for in those specimens is the cure for this thing?" he asked.
"Well…The think about Kerulium is that it's been used against the Klingon disease Y'ughtan, which wiped out nearly a third of the Klingon population 6,000 years ago. Aside from the other added chemicals, that plague is very, VERY similar to this one. It's more theory than anything but it's all we have for now. I know it doesn't give you much hope but-"
"Wait…it reacts strongly to heat?"
Beverly gave the Captain an awkward look. "Y-yes…although most bacterium does anyway this one will, like I said, become a gas when given a high enough intensity of heat."
"Would a photon torpedo be a good source of that heat? For that matter, would it even be able to be attached to a photon torpedo?"
The doctor considered this for a moment. "I don't know. Why?"
"The freighter that kidnapped Heva was recently equipped with weapon systems. Whoever created the virus is on that vessel. When did the virus first start surfacing?"
Beverly turned away to look at a screen behind her. "Four months ago. It does fit the time frame. But how? It would take a while to configure weaponry to a vessel like that wouldn't it? Unless it was premeditated."
Picard's brow furrowed. He thought for a moment then asked "How would you be able to attach this thing to a torpedo if you could?"
"I'm not sure. I don't even think it's possible. Photon torpedoes are mostly consisted of energy. There has to be some other way that this person started the mass spread of this virus. Would you like me to some research to find out?"
"Negative. I will have someone here do it. You need to continue finding a cure. And be careful, alright?" His expression grew soft and Beverly nodded at him, smiling. "I will, Jean-Luc. I promise." After the screen went black, Picard stood and made his way toward the observation lounge, instructing his senior officers to accompany him.