Prologue
Alpha Quadrant
Sol Sector
Earth-Luna area
Year 2384
"Captain, the Titan has been destroyed," Norwood said. Worried glances filled the faces of the Preserver crew.
Xeroth turned his chair to the Operations panel. "Mark," he said. "Open a channel to the entire fleet."
"Aye sir. Channel open."
Any anxiety that Xeroth had before disappeared. Confidence entered his voice. "This is Captain Xeroth of the Preserver. I am taking command of the fleet. Any objections to this will be noted in my official log."
"Captain, we're receiving two messages from Klingons objecting...but that's it." Norwood replied.
"Good, good. Xeroth to all ships. Initiate Attack Pattern Pi 21 on the lead Borg Cube."
Seconds later, the colossal mass of Federation and Klingon ships descended on the lead Borg cube. One by one, ships were destroyed by multiple Borg weapons. As the fleet continued their attack, other Borg vessels responded, quickly dispensing with the desperate Federation and Klingon forces. Their sacrifices were not met in vain.
As the last quantum torpedoes crashed into the Cube, flames raced across its hull. As the Federation/Klingon fleet backed off, the Cube exploded into a mass of flaming hull fragments. A piece of debris flew past and rammed into a Klingon Bird of Prey. The Bird of Prey disintegrated, yet the hull fragment was merely torn.
"Cache, what is the status of the Borg fleet?" Xeroth asked.
"Three Cubes, eight Spheres, two Diamonds."
"Captain!" shouted Woskosky. "I've located an Alpha Node!"
"Cache?" asked Xeroth.
"Confirmed, captain, thought I cannot locate the exact coordinates."
"Mark, contact the fleet and tell them to search for the Alpha Node," ordered Xeroth.
"Aye!" Seconds later, Norwood spoke. "Sir, the Saratoga has located it!"
"Where?" Selak asked.
"024 Mark 8" Norwood replied.
"Transfer the coordinates to the fleet!" yelled Xeroth.
Within moments, Cache had sent the coordinates, and set course for their target: a Tactical Borg Cube.
The fleet intercepted the Tactical Cube and attacked. It fired its holding beam on the lead Sovereign-class ship, Vigilant. Within a matter of seconds the Cube released the ship. The Vigilant drifted in space, slowly spinning. It stopped, and powered up.
"Sir," Selak unexpectedly stated, "I do not read any life signs on the Vigilant…"
"The Borg must have assimilated that ship!" said Xeroth. "Kel, fire at will!"
"Aye, sir!"
The Preserver quickly attacked with everything it had, and the Vigilant was soon destroyed
"Xeroth to the fleet, lock all weapons on the Cube and fire on my command!" Xeroth said with some indication of excitement.
"The fleet reports ready, sir," said Woskosky.
"Fire!"
The Preserver's ten forward torpedo tubes each fired four quantum torpedoes at the Cube, and the fleet followed in suit.
As the last of the weapons crashed into the hull of the Cube, a surge of green light shot out and illuminated the Preserver and the fleet green. As it was exploding, a Sphere crashed through the explosion.
The Sphere fired a beam at the vessel next to the Preserver, tearing the vessel into two. Large chunks of debris crashed into the Preserver, sending it spiraling out of control.
The crew was launched into the air and onto the deck.
When Xeroth looked up and around his bridge, it he swore he was in hell. Sparks flew across the bridge, starting fires on the panels and floor. A ceiling panel fell on top of him, sending him to the floor. Cache stood up and found Selak on the floor, far from the helm panel. He quickly deactivated his emotion chip to shelter himself from the emotional onslaught.
Xeroth slowly pushed off the panel, heavy from his fatigued muscles. "Cache... take the h-helm..."
"Yes sir," replied Cache.
He ran for the console, and looked at the view screen to see a Bird of Prey coming toward them. He punched in the commands to turn, barely missed the vessel.
As if to spite Cache, a feedback surge ripped him away from the helm controls, destroying the console and reactivating his emotion chip.
Cache looked up at the console wide-eyed with his mouth gaping as he braced himself. A derelict Klingon Negh'Var class vessel was right in from of them.
The Preserver, with no helm controls and out of control, was headed straight for it.
Cache slumped his shoulders and sighed.
"Damn…"