Contamination Crew

"Contamination Crew" by Alan Edward Nourse is a science fiction novel likely written in the mid-20th century. The story takes place in a futuristic setting, specifically aboard a medical survey ship in the Galactic Period 22, addressing themes of interstellar medical practice and the unforeseen consequences of encountering alien life forms. The primary topic revolves around the crew's struggle to deal with a bizarre and menacing creature, the hlorg, that poses a significant threat to their mission and survival. In this narrative, Red Doctor Samuel Jenkins and his colleague, Green Doctor Wallace Stone, find themselves aboard the General Survey Ship Mercy after a mission to a planet suffering from mass psychotic delusions. However, the situation escalates when they inadvertently bring aboard the indestructible hlorg, a gelatinous entity that voraciously consumes the ship's supplies and wreaks havoc. As the crew works frantically to understand and contain the creature, they confront moral dilemmas and the consequences of their actions, leading to a tense and unexpected resolution. The novel explores themes such as the unpredictability of alien biology and the ethical considerations of survival in a scientific context.