Standard Medical Care (SMC) for Noridian civilization includes the use of medical nano. These are microscopic machines that can be injected into the bloodstream and programmed to do just about anything.
They can absorb cholesterol, fatty acids (Body fat), bacterium, and viral invaders and remove them via elimination. They can repair muscle, cartilage, bone, and to some extent organ damage.
Medical nano are designed with a limited ‘lifespan’ therefore ongoing ingestion and programming is necessary.
The Noridians claim nanotechnology has no direct benefit to geriatric medicine (It does not directly affect lifespan).
The Noridians will not discuss nanotechnology in the context of genetic modification.
Chapter 13
Mess Hall #3—The Night before Departure
“Wow I’ve never seen this place so busy,” said Julie.
Anzio looked around and agreed. “I think Julie, that this is not a night where people want to be alone. I think the whole mission must be here.”
“Dr. Sullivan!” Julie shouted.
As Dr. Hilbert Sullivan was holding his tray looking around Julie caught his attention and waived him over.
“Dr. Sullivan, we’d love to have you join us at our squad table for dinner? Great, have you met Dr. Anzio Spelini? That’s Drs. Cook and Decker already seated and the rest will be joining us shortly—grab a chair.”
Once they were seated Julie started. “Dr. Sullivan, I’ve reviewed your interview regarding the medical nanotech and it sounds incredible.”
Dr. Sullivan said, “That nano-tech is not just keeping them disease fee; they can actually program it for specific trauma treatment protocols.”
Dr. Decker responded, “That shouldn’t be surprising. We’ve theorized for years that miniaturization would get to the point it could be used independently inside the body. The medical possibilities are endless. Science fiction writers have been talking about Von Neumann machines for decades.”
“Von Neumann?” somebody asked.
“Yeah, in the early part of the 20th Century a physicist named John Von Neumann, he was from Hungry I think, started talking about sending ships to other stars. The unique catch was that once the ship was there, besides sending information back to us, it would replicate itself into multiple ships and send them on to other stars, etc., etc.”
“Actually,” Anzio interjected, “Von Neumann he was a rock-star in the physics world. Among other major accomplishments, he worked on the Manhattan project to create the atom bomb and came up with the acronym MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction). Because he was the first to seriously study self-replicating machines he gave the idea popular credibility and writers stamped his name on the concept after adding the spaceship element.”
Dr. Decker continued, “Anyway, if you really want to get crazy, start thinking what could happen if you combined that self-replicating technology with the miniaturization of nanotechnology. What could happen if you could manipulate matter on a cellular or molecular level? Want to build a house? Just open up a thumb sized pill of nano and 3 days later, assuming there’s enough raw materials, presto—you can move in.”
“But then what happens to the nano?” Anzio asked.
“You could program it to automatically turn itself off or march itself off to the recycling bin. The possibilities are endless.”
“Yes, and one possibility is an ultimate weapon,” said Julie.
“Of course, that’s what all the technophiles are afraid of but any tool can be misused. The other fear that they make horror movies about is the programming going wild where nobody can shut them off. Real doomsday stuff,” said Dr. Decker.
“Well,” said Dr. Sullivan. “I don’t think the Noridians are into anything like that. From what they told me their nano doesn’t replicate and it only has a limited lifespan of a few days. So if you want ongoing benefit you have to keep swallowing the pills…”
By now all of the scientists had taken a seat.
”…and even though they can obviously work at the cellular level I don’t know if they’re small enough to work at the molecular level. That’s a great follow-up because, if they can, it opens up the whole world of gene-modification.”
Toni jumped into the conversation; “Fat chance of that. These people get all tense just discussing genetic evolution, let alone DNA modification. It’s almost as if I practice Black Magic as far as they’re concerned.”
“Would you pass the salt, please?” Dr. Spelini pointed.
Julie said, “Every culture has its phobias, or at least I would think so, but that’s more your area Mark.”
Dr. Decker said, “Of course they do but we’re talking about an advanced society here.”
Dr. Sullivan added, “Well, I’ve noticed it too. They have some prohibition when it comes to genetic enhancement.”
“We’re not advanced enough,” said Dr. Mom. “Check out my interview on the subject; you can search it under the keyword: origin. Unless a civilization has attained spaceflight and created viable off-planet colonies they don’t consider the society mature enough.”
“Toni, I think everyone’s seen the recording of your interview,” said Julie. “If these Chextigans really did violate law or custom by messing with our DNA don’t you think they’d be willing to make an exception and explain to us exactly how it happened?”
“Of course I tried that approach,” replied Toni. “But they were inflexible.”
Dr. Decker said, “I think you’re giving up too easily. Now, trying to get one of the Ito twins to eat red meat; that’s the definition of inflexibility.”
“You’re just upset because Hiromi wouldn’t have dinner with you,” Toni quipped.
“She wouldn’t?” Anzio asked. “I mean, we all eat together anyway don’t we?”
Grinning and in a teasing voice, Julie explained to the table that Dr. Decker had invited Hiromi to a ‘private’ dinner in his room.
Anzio said, “Ahhh…”
A red-faced Dr. Decker exclaimed, “Oh for god’s sake! I’m inviting everyone to dinner. I think it’s important we get to know each other on an individual basis.”
Several ‘Uh huhs’ mixed with laughter were heard around the table.
“Where is Captain Hiromi anyway?” Anzio asked.
In a teasing voice Julie said, “You haven’t invited me to dinner.”
Dr. Decker said, “That’s because it would be pointless. Unless of course you’d really like to…”
“No thank you,” Julie said quickly.
“Anyway,” Dr. Sullivan picked up. “There’s definitely a proscription on talking about genetic enhancement.”
“Would anyone care if I were to eat the last chicken wing?” Anzio asked.
“Go for it.”
Dr. Sullivan continued, “I mean it just doesn’t add up. These guys are opening up about their society in so many areas yet they play dumb when it comes to DNA by design.”
Dr. Decker interrupted sarcastically, “Yes and there was a second gunman on the grassy knoll and the entire Obamacare episode was just a ruse so the Federal government would have to step in and nationalize the healthcare system… really, you’re too smart to believe in conspiracies.”
Anzio said, “Mark, you’re being quiet. What do you think?”
Dr. Sullivan continued his back-and-forth with Dr. Decker, “We just had 300 people murdered by an alien civilization and you think we should automatically trust the next group that comes along simply because they’re more advanced than we are? I just think that’s a little crazy.”