Urban Crisis: Fever in the Flooded Megacity

As disease spreads through a rain-soaked war zone, a British combat medic fights to save lives amid collapsing systems and rising chaos, in a flooded megacity where drones patrol the skies and every decision is a race against time.

A futuristic military medic attends to a wounded soldier on a stretcher amidst a high-tech urban battlefield, while drones fly overhead and armed troops move strategically through the rainy cityscape.

Jakarta, Indonesia – 2045

The smell of damp concrete and sewage hung in the air as torrential rain lashed against the shattered windows of a commandeered building. Inside, the medical team worked under flickering emergency lights. Captain Emma Doyle, a 26-year-old General Duties Medical Officer (GDMO), wiped sweat from her forehead. It wasn’t from exertion—it was from the oppressive humidity of the monsoon season and the anxiety of what she was about to face.

Two soldiers lay on stretchers, their faces pale and glistening with sweat. Both were connected to wearable monitors embedded in their uniforms, streaming real-time vitals to Emma’s wrist-mounted device. Heart rates surged above 120 bpm, blood pressure plummeted, and core temperatures climbed past 39°C. The AI-assisted system flashed an alert: septic shock was imminent. But what was causing it?

Emma glanced at her own biometrics. Despite the stress, her vitals remained steady—a small comfort in the chaos.

“AI, prioritize diagnostics,” she muttered, and the system sprang into action. Tiny sensors in the soldiers’ suits analyzed their sweat, saliva, and even volatile compounds in their breath. Within minutes, the results appeared on her device, cross-referenced with local epidemiological data.

The AI flagged multiple possibilities

A viral bioweapon endemic to the region, contaminated food supplies, or adverse reactions to the stimulants issued to keep them awake during the 18-hour patrols.

“Print treatment,” she commanded.

A nearby 3D bioprinter, no larger than a microwave, whirred to life. It was fed real-time data from the AI diagnostic module. Emma watched as it synthesized broad-spectrum antivirals, tailored electrolytes, and a bespoke cocktail of rehydration fluids fortified with immune modulators. The cartridges of reagents within the printer—precious and tightly rationed—worked flawlessly under the AI’s guidance.

“Medicines will be ready in five minutes,” Emma said, turning to the Combat Medical Technician assisting her. “Prepare IV lines. Monitor their oxygen levels. The one on the left’s heart rate is trending erratic—watch for arrhythmia.”

Suddenly, a red alert flashed across her wrist screen. The room seemed to narrow around her. Her own vitals were spiking. Heart rate: 110 bpm. Blood pressure: slightly elevated. A fever? She tapped the screen, initiating her own diagnostic scan.

“Not now,” she whispered to herself.

The AI's soothing voice interrupted her thoughts

"Elevated stress levels detected. Early indicators of dehydration. Recommend water and recalibration of air filtration device.”

She took a deep breath, grabbed a water pack, and turned her focus back to the patients. She had to stay in control. “Captain Doyle, enemy drone swarm detected near our sector,” a voice crackled through her comms.

Of course, it was never just the medicine. The insurgents’ use of autonomous drones was relentless, and their ability to exploit urban density made even the simplest evacuation dangerous.

“Prioritize the soldiers,” she snapped.

The distant hum of approaching enemy drones grew louder, prompting Captain Doyle to act swiftly. She tapped her wrist device, summoning the autonomous medical evacuation drones. Moments later, two sleek, white UAVs descended through the rain, their carbon-fiber exteriors glistening under the dim floodlights. These state-of-the-art drones were equipped with sealed, climate-controlled compartments to prevent contamination and maintain a sterile environment for critically ill patients.

Emma and her Combat Medical Technician secured the soldiers inside, the drone’s automated systems scanning for leaks in their suits or potential pathogens. The AI onboard confirmed the integrity of the seal, and the drones powered up, their anti-jamming systems countering any interference from hostile forces. As the drones lifted into the stormy sky, Emma tracked their progress on her wrist monitor, watching the real-time telemetry as they veered toward the nearest forward operating base. A wave of relief washed over her—at least these soldiers were on their way to safety.

A New Threat Emerges

The calm was short-lived. The system alerted her to an incoming swarm of enemy reconnaissance drones. Emma tightened the straps on her med kit, adrenaline surging. The evacuation had succeeded, but the fight was far from over. Now, it was about keeping her team alive long enough to face whatever the insurgents threw at them next.