Author's note: The following story takes place approximately four years after the series Star Trek: Voyager and two years after the movie Star Trek: Nemesis. The canon I use is only comprised of the Star Trek movies and television series; thus, this story may not be consistent with any Star Trek novels. However, I did take the political situation of Romulus following Star Trek: Nemesis from the novel Star Trek: Titan; Taking Wing.

Star Trek: Orion III

Resistance

The United Federation of Planets: an organization based on the core belief that different species from different planets can benefit from each other and co-operate for the betterment of the whole.

But not every species readily accepts this core belief. Some seek isolation; others seek domination. One seeks assimilation.

This is an adventure of the starship Orion. It's current mission: patrolling the Romulan Neutral Zone and guarding against any potential Romulan threats. But once the Romulan Star Empire becomes threaten by an even more dangerous enemy, the Orion must cross into Romulan space to deal with this new menace.

In Romulan Space

Imperial Warbird log; Imperial date, 204 of the second year of the praetorship of Tal'Aura: We continue our patrols on the Delta Quadrant side of our territory. There is little activity on this side of our borders as the Federation and the Klingons are mostly present at other areas, but we do not take comfort in this assignment. If there is anyone attempting to illegally enter our space, the Terabon will challenge them.

Sub-commander Val'Lindra sat calmly in her captain's chair. She moved her hands across the arms of the chair, feeling the worn edges of her command seat. The chair was a reminder of all the service the Terabon had given to Empire; all the battles against the Dominion, all the years of guarding against the Klingons and the Federation. It was also a reminder to Val'Lindra of the responsibly and the honor given to her by Commander Donatra, leader of the Romulan Military.

On the other hand, the Terabon was hardly the finest ship in the fleet. She had been crippled in the Dominion War by the Breen's special energy weapon. She had been patched back together and put into service at the end of the war only because there were too few ships in the fleet. The short but disastrous praetorship of Shinzon, only made the need for warships worse. But Val'Lindra didn't let this bother her. She was the captain of an imperial warbird, and that alone was no small matter.

Nor did she let it bother her that she was given the most boring, out of the way assignment possible. The odds of a Federation or Klingon ship passing through her patrol area was slim to none. In fact, very few ships passed through here at all. Most officers in the Romulan fleet would consider this to be a career ender, but Val'Lindra saw it as an opportunity. She was determined to prove to Donatra that she had what it takes to be a commander in the Romulan military.

That included running a tight ship. "Helmsman! Stay alert! I will not have my bridge crew falling asleep on the job."

"Yes, Sub-commander," answered the helmsman. The man had not really fallen asleep, but Val'Lindra liked to keep her crew on their toes. The job may be boring, but that was no excuse for becoming laxed. Val'Lindra was aware that many of her crewmembers did not appreciate her stronghanded style of leadership. However, Val'Lindra did not need them to like her; she just needed them to obey her.

"Sub-commander," spoke Val'Lindra's first officer. "Here is today's engineering report."

"Thank you, Centurion Trindak," Val'Lindra frowned as she looked at the report. "We are still projected to underperform at warp. Why hasn't the drain on our energy been resolved?"

"There is still a noticeable amount of energy required for structural integrity. The Terabon's hull is just not as strong as it used to be," answer Trindak.

"Don't make excuses for them, Centurion! Tell the engineers that I want power levels to our warp engines to be at peak parameters by the end of the week."

"Sub-commander, I am not sure that is possible."

"My orders stand, Centurion."

"Yes, Sub-commander, it will be done," replied her defeated first officer. Val'Lindra didn't believe him for a minute. How could Donatra expect her to run a warbird with such an incompetent crew? Val'Lindra vowed to shape this ship and its crew into the finest in the fleet, even if she had to do so by the sheer strength of her will.

"Sub-commander, we have something on sensors," said the female sub-lieutenant at the sensor post. "It appears to be a vessel, bearing 136 mark 34."

"Are we in range?"

"No, Sub-commander."

"Helm lay in an intercept course and proceed at warp 6."

"Yes, sir." The warbird adjusted course and accelerated, as Val'Lindra felt her heart beat faster. It was probably just some smuggler, but perhaps Val'Lindra would be able to impound its cargo. Perhaps, also, the smugglers would put up a fight, and word of the Terabon's victory would travel to Donatra. Val'Lindra smiled at the thought of her name appearing in the Commander's daily briefing.

"Shall we cloak, Sub-commander?" asked Trindak.

"No, we are in our own space. I will not hide. I want them to see us. Sub-lieutenant, are the sensors clearer?"

"Almost, Sub-Commander. I should be able to see its size and shape in a few seconds." The young woman stared intently at her screen. Val'Lindra was about to order the woman to report when the sub-lieutenant gasped. "By the gods!"

"What? Speak, crewman."

"It's huge! Twenty-eight kilometers!"

"Twenty-eight kilometers long?"

"Long, tall, and wide." The sub-lieutenant looked up at Val'Lindra trembling. "It's a perfect cube."

"The vessel is matching our intercept course, and is approaching at warp 9," said the helmsman with a quiver in his voice. "Time for intercept: thirty seconds."

"Drop out of warp. Put it on the screen." Val'Lindra stood in front of her chair. There was some slight shaking in her legs as she looked at the viewscreen. "No, it can't be." A large cube filled the viewscreen. "It can't be!"

"Vessel is approaching. Now within weapons' range!" shouted the helmsman.

"Sub-commander, what are your orders? Sub-commander!" shouted Trindak.

Val'Lindra heard her first officer but wasn't processing his words. "They can't be here." Val'Lindra sank back in her chair. All delusions of grandeur were gone. In their place was a petrifying fear.

"Enemy vessel has locked on to us with a tractor beam. What do we do?" panicked the helmsman.

"Orders, Sub-Commander! What are our orders?!" shouted Trindak.

"No, no, no!" screamed Val'Lindra.

"They're hailing."

The chilling collective voice of nightmares boomed through the bridge's audio system. "We are Borg. Existence as you know it is over."

"Rotate shield modulations! Break that tractor beam!" ordered Trindak.

"No effect, Centurion!" replied the helmsman.

"We will add your biological and technological distinctiveness to our own. Your culture will adapt to service ours."

"Activate cloaking device," cried Trindak.

"Inoperable, sir. The tractor beam is still weakening our shields."

"Sub-commander! We need you!" shouted Trindak.

"Make them go away!" cried Val'Lindra as she pulled her knees to her chest like frighten child.

"Resistance is futile."

Chapter 1

Captain's log; stardate 58073.5: Life on the Orion is business as usual. Patrolling the Romulan Neutral Zone has been uneventful these past two years.

The past month, however, has been particularly busy. I have recently begun speaking with Starfleet Command; insisting on a change of assignment for the Orion and its crew. I have also been preparing the Orion for a switch to a less military role. The most significant change was improving our science department, including the recruitment of a new chief science officer. I hope to show Starfleet that the Orion is ready for any exploratory or scientific work they may have for us.

In the midst of this my first officer has been insisting that I need a vacation. He has finally prevailed upon me.

Lindsey finished her chapter and set the data pad on the small table next to her beach chair. She took in a deep breath of the perfectly controlled Risian air. The sound of gentle waves crashing against the shore created a relaxing atmosphere. Lindsey, wearing a modest one-piece bathing suit, stretched out her bare legs. An umbrella shaded her face, but the warmth of the sun on her legs seemed to fill her whole body. Perhaps Henry was right, maybe she really did need this vacation. She needed a break from all the pressures of command; a break from the tension filled space around the Neutral Zone.

Risa was completely different from anything that was near the Neutral Zone. There were inhabited planets and moons on the Romulan-Federation border, but they were all preoccupied by the politics that occurred between two of the largest Alpha Quadrant powers. Risa on the other hand was carefree. The local populace of this planet seemed to enjoy their perfect world. If there was any anxiety in them at all, it was in making sure that their guests enjoyed themselves as well.

Lindsey was just pondering that reality, when a Risian male approached her chair. "Hello, honored guest, how have you enjoyed your visit to Risa?"

"Quite nice. I needed a break from work."

The man sat on the ground next to Lindsey. "My name is Mikcal. Is there anything that I can do for you this morning. All that is mine is yours."

Lindsey recognized the Risian slogan. She did not doubt that this Mikcal truly wished for her to enjoy herself, but she also suspected that he was looking for his own enjoyment. Her pleasure would be his pleasure.

"The sun, the beach, and the carefree atmosphere is all I need for now."

Mikcal smiled. "I am glad that you are enjoying our world. I did not catch your name."

Lindsey began to wonder if someone had left a horgon lying next to her or some other sign that she wanted to this man's attention. "My name is Lindsey Lander."

"Where do you work, Lindsey?"

"Starfleet."

"Are you an officer?" inquired the Risian.

"Yes."

"I didn't know there was a ship in orbit."

"There isn't. I hopped a ride with a honeymooning couple."

"What ship do you serve on?"

"The USS Orion."

"I've never heard of it."

Lindsey smiled. A couple of years ago Mikcal's answered wouldn't have surprised her. The Orion had been an obscure ship, until it had a fateful encounter with a rogue Romulan warbird. Perhaps the Orion was returning to obscurity. Lindsey could live with that.

"What are you reading, if I may ask?" tried the Risian man.

"A novel about a young man, the son of a Starfleet officer."

"Who is the author?"

"Jacob Sisko."

"Ah ha," said Mikcal, but there was no recognition in his voice. Lindsey suspected that Mikcal was quite unaware of the world outside of Risa.

Lindsey was just thinking of a way to get rid of this man, when he asked, "So how is life on board the…Orion was it? Are the superior officers difficult? How about the captain?"

"The captain?" Lindsey looked at Mikcal to see if he knew. "Why do you ask about the captain?"

"A lot of Starfleet officers like to blow off steam when they come to Risa, especially about their captains."

"Is that so?" asked Lindsey as she sat upright in her reclined chair.

"Yes," said Mikcal, who seemed excited to finally have Lindsey's attention. "What kind of person is he? Noble, wise; demanding, harsh?"

"I don't know about noble or wise, but she has to be demanding. She is the captain after all," answered Lindsey. "She tries to avoid being harsh. But she is young and inexperienced. She has a lot to learn about commanding a starship."

"Does the crew resent her youth?"

"I don't think so. She trusts them, and they trust her. At least I hope they do."

"You really like your captain, don't you?" asked Mikcal.

"Mikcal, I am…"

"Excuse me, Captain Lander," said the approaching Risian woman. "I am sorry to interrupt. I have a call for you from a Lieutenant Commander Hickensen."

Lindsey swung her legs to the ground, transitioning from Risian vacationer to the captain of a starship. "What does Cmdr. Hickensen have to say?"

"He wouldn't tell me. He says that it is a top priority message. 'For the captain's ears only', he says. We have a communications terminal in our visitor's center, which you can use to encrypt your communications."

"Thank you, Arandis. I know the way."

"All that is ours is yours," said Arandis with a slight bow.

Lindsey grabbed her bag and proceeded to the visitor's center. As she left, she strained her ears and smiled as she heard Mikcal say to Arandis in a questioning voice, "Captain?"

Lindsey made her way to the visitor's center. Once there a local Risian showed her the terminal. Lindsey made an attempt to straighten her uniform only to remember that she was wearing a bathing suit. She entered her encryption code and tapped the screen. On the screen appeared her first officer Lieutenant Commander Henry Hickensen seated in her captain's ready room, just off the Orion's command bridge. "Commander, what is so important that you needed to interrupt my vacation? A vacation which you insisted on."

"Sorry, Captain," said Henry with a somber tone. "Starfleet Command just put the entire sector on yellow alert."

"Yellow alert! Why?"

"They are not telling us," said Henry. "And it gets worse. All shore leaves have been canceled."

"Canceled! Is Starfleet Command aware that this is my first shore leave in two years?" said Lindsey "Forget that, are they aware that they are interrupting Frank and Alivia's honeymoon?"

"Whether or not they are aware of that, returning to the Orion is their order."

"Well, at least I have a few more days while you send a shuttle," said Lindsey.

"Ah…that is not exactly true," replied Henry.

"What did you do?" demanded Lindsey.

"A shuttle seemed too slow," said Henry. "So, I dispatched the stardrive."

"You broke my ship in two?!"

"Starfleet wants the Orion's captain back on her ship ASAP," replied Henry.

"So, you choose to leave the Orion's saucer without warp drive during a yellow alert?"

"Capt. Benteen and the Lakota are here. If the need arises, they can tow us."

"Fine," said Lindsey in a defeated voice. "How long do I have?"

"The stardrive left an hour ago. It should arrive at Risa in about three hours. I really am sorry to interrupt your vacation."

"I am more upset that I have to interrupt Frank and Alivia's honeymoon." Lindsey sighed. "Best get it over with now. Anything else, Commander?"

"No, Captain."

"Lander, out." Henry's image faded, leaving Lindsey by herself. She took a moment to take it in. The entire sector on the Romulan border going to yellow alert! It felt like a bad omen. What was happening on Romulus that would prompt this? None of the possibilities that entered Lindsey's mind were good. The quicker she could get her ship off Neutral Zone duty the better.

But Lindsey had a more immediate task at hand.

Alivia woke to new sensation, but one that was happily becoming more familiar; the sensation of her husband's lips on her check. "Wake up, dear. We can't enjoy the Risian reefs if we sleep the morning away."

Alivia turned and kissed her husband on the lips. "I'm wake." Alivia grabbed the robe that her husband handed her. After she put it on, she kissed him again. Alivia's husband, Lt. Cmdr. Ulysses Francis Grant, known by his friends as Frank, was the chief of security on board the Orion. Lt. Cmdr. Alivia O'Hara, or O'Hara-Grant as she had officially changed her name, was the Orion's chief engineer.

When Alivia had first come on board the Orion she had been uncomfortable. As a department head, Alivia had tried to keep professional distance between herself and other crewmembers. In addition, Alivia had always found it difficult to interact socially with others. But the crew of the Orion and Frank in particular had broken down the walls that she had created.

If being social was hard, dating for Alivia was even harder, given the stereotypes surrounding her species. Although Alivia was raised in Ireland, she was not human. She was actually a green skinned Orion woman. She had always feared the stereotype of Orion women as slave girls would hinder any dating relationships she might try. But Frank was a man who saw deeper than the surface. He genuinely respected her in every way. What had started about two years ago as an experimental relationship, had turned into a deep and affectionate friendship, and now was on its way to becoming a loving marriage. Captain Lander had performed the ceremony only six days ago, and now Alivia, alongside her husband, was enjoying the best days of her life. She would have never expected this two years ago.

"Our snorkeling guide will be ready for us soon," said Frank as Alivia was in the bathroom readying herself for the day. Frank came alongside her and began to brush his teeth. Alivia looked at him for a moment. It still surprised her that he was her husband. It was the little things that caught her off guard; things like brushing their teeth side by side.

Frank rinsed out his mouth and caught Alivia staring. "What? Do I have toothpaste on my chin?"

"No. Well, actually you do." Alivia wiped his face with a towel. "I am just amazed at my great fortune in being married to you."

"The fortune is mine," Grant kissed her, and Alivia could smell the mint of his toothpaste.

There was a chime at the door. "I'll get it," said Alivia. She tied the belt of her robe a bit tighter and walked to the door.

Alivia was caught off guard when she saw who was on the other side of the door. "Captain! What a surprise!" Alivia was suddenly embarrassed to be standing before her captain in nothing but a bath robe.

"At ease, Commander," said Capt. Lander with a smile. "We are on vacation. A little informality is good for you and me." Alivia then noticed that Capt. Lander was only wearing a modest one-piece bathing suit. "Is Frank here?"

"Yes, Captain, I'm here," answered Frank as he emerged from the bathroom. "What a pleasant surprise."

Lander's smile faded a bit. "Actually, this is not a pleasant surprise. I told you that I wouldn't interrupt your honeymoon, but I have been forced to do so."

"Don't worry about a little interruption, Captain," said Alivia. "Frank and I were actually talking about inviting you for dinner later this evening."

"Unfortunately, that will not be possible," said the Captain. "I am not just interrupting your honeymoon, I'm canceling it. Starfleet Command has put the entire sector on yellow alert and canceled all shore leave; including yours and mine."

"Oh," said Alivia disappointedly. She sat down on a couch.

"I am so sorry," said Lander.

Frank sat down beside his wife and put his arm around her. "It's alright, Captain. It's not your fault. The honeymoon might be interrupted, but the marriage is still on." Frank squeezed Alivia tight, and she lay her head on his shoulder. "When do we have to leave?"

"The Orion's stardrive should be arriving at 1300 hours."

Both Frank and Alivia sat straight up. Frank's mode completely changed as his instincts as a security officer kicked in. "The stardrive! What kind of circumstances would cause such urgency?"

"I don't know," answered Capt. Lander, and the look of concern on her face was clear. Like the Captain, Alivia dreaded what this turn of events might mean. However, the Captain shrugged it off. "Whatever it is, we will deal with it as we always have. Now, if you will excuse me, I need to pack and change into my uniform." Lander extended her hands down to indicate her bathing suit.

"We'll do the same," replied Frank. Capt. Lander then left the room with a slight bow of her head.

"What could this be about?" asked Alivia.

"I don't know," said Frank. "But what I do know is that we don't have to worry about it until 1300 hours."

"I see," said Alivia. "And what do you think we shall worry about until then?"

"How about nothing?"

"Sounds good to me." Alivia and her husband exchanged another kiss, and then set to the task of packing their things. Alivia pulled her yellow Starfleet uniform out of a drawer and laid it on the bed. "Huh!"

"What?"

"Just looking at my uniform and remembering how I used to be the uniform; all formal and business like. If I would have remained purely that way, I would have never made so many friends, or been married to you."

"I, for one, am glad you broke out of your shell," said Frank. "It is not easy for a Starfleet officer to balance personal and professional life."

"I learned from the best: you, Cmdr. Hickensen, Selina and Johnathan, even from the Captain." Alivia paused as she thought of Capt. Lander. Despite being a few years older than her captain, Alivia had found in Lander a role model of leadership. She admired the woman. "I wonder if the Captain has ever thought about dating anyone."

Frank laughed out loud which surprised and even startled Alivia. She asked, "What? Why are you laughing?"

"Oh, it's uh…It's just that you haven't known the Captain as long as I have."

"What do you mean?"

"You know that I served on the old Orion prior to Lindsey's arrival?"

"Yes," said Alivia. She noted that Frank was addressing the Captain by her first name.

"When she came on board, she had a reputation. One that she proved true in her first year on board."

"What kind of reputation?"

"As a flirt."

"A flirt!? The Captain!?" Alivia couldn't imagine it.

"Indeed. In her first three months she dated and broke up with four different guys and was working on a fifth."

"I don't believe it." Alivia truly didn't believe it. The Lindsey Lander she knew was a friendly, stable, duty focused woman. She could not imagine her captain running around with all these different men.

"You knew that she dated our first officer at the Academy, didn't you?" said Frank.

"I had gathered that." Alivia recalled Lt. Cmdr. Henry Hickensen once hinting at the relation. "What changed?"

"Capt. Taylor ordered her to go on a dating fast. She wasn't allowed to date any man either on or off the ship."

"What? Can a captain do that? Isn't that interfering in an officer's personal life?"

"Technically, no, a captain cannot give such an order. But when you are on a starship, the captain's word is the law. Unless you want to submit an appeal, which may not succeed and puts you on the bad side of the captain. Lindsey decided to submit to the forced celibacy, rather than fight with Capt. Taylor. Lindsey once told me it was the best thing she had ever done."

"Why would she say that?"

"Because, as she told me, she stopped looking at her male crewmates as possible boyfriends and her female crewmates as competition. She was able to see them as coworkers and even begin to form genuine friendships. Lindsey transformed from the ship's playgirl into everyone's friend. She became the glue of the ship. That's why when Capt. Taylor and the senior staff were killed, Lindsey was able to take command of the Orion. Everyone already loved her, trusted her, and were willing to follow and support her."

"Wow, I had no idea." Alivia paused. "It would have been something to see her first take command of the Orion." Frank cringed, and Alivia apologized immediately. "I'm sorry. I know a lot of your friends were killed in those days. I didn't mean to remind you of all that pain."

"Don't worry. It is good to remember those we've lost. And it was amazing to see Lindsey step up and take command."

"How long did she have to keep the dating fast?"

"Capt. Taylor required it for a year, but I happen to know that she maintained it for many years afterward. To the best of my knowledge she is still living that fast."

"Wow, that takes…Wait! How do you know that she continued the fast for so long?"

Frank nervously scratched his head. "At one time, I was inquiring."

"Inquiring?" Alivia felt, for the first time in her life, a hint of jealousy.

"I was considering asking her out."

"You were going to ask out the Captain?!"

"She wasn't the captain at that time. We were both middle level officers."

"Why didn't you ask her?"

"I was nervous," said Frank. "I kept putting it off, and I simply waited too long. Next thing I knew, the Orion was attacked, and Lindsey was the captain. But I learned a very important lesson."

"What was that?" asked Alivia.

"When something good comes your way, don't hesitate." Frank reached out and held Alivia, "A missed opportunity with Lindsey lead me straight to you, and I couldn't be happier."

Despite herself Alivia melted into Frank's arms. "I hope you will forgive me, but I'm really glad you and the Captain never got together."

Frank simply laughed. "You are forgiven."

"I do feel a bit bad for the Captain. Now that she is a captain, she is practically untouchable, at least by anyone in Starfleet. She can't fraternize with a sub-ordinate." Alivia rose out of Frank's arms with slight alarm. "She's all alone."

"Perhaps, perhaps not," responded Frank mysteriously.

"What did you say?"

"Nothing, I said nothing."

"It didn't sound like nothing." Alivia pushed. "You know the Captain better than most on the ship. You know something."

"I don't know anything." Alivia stared at Frank until he spoke further. "I suspect something."

"What? I'm your wife. You can tell me anything."

"Our first couple months on the new Orion Lindsey shut herself off from the crew. And, although I don't know him as well, Cmdr. Hickensen seemed subtly…miserable. But after Lindsey's kidnapping and return, both of them seemed much happier."

"We were all happier. The Captain had returned to us."

"But that happiness continues, even to today."

"What are you saying. Cmdr. Hickensen and the Captain…?"

"I am not saying anything," said Frank emphatically. "I am just observing."

"But if that's true, then they are breaking Starfleet regulations."

"That is why we don't talk about this with anyone," said Frank. "We don't need to start rumors based upon suspicion."

"I understand," but Alivia was already looking at her captain in a new light.

Kathryn Janeway straighten her uniform as she stood outside the door. She was not used to being summoned. She had become accustomed to being at the top of the ranks. For seven years, as captain of Voyager, she had been the highest ranking Starfleet officer in the Delta Quadrant. Then, shortly after she was able to bring Voyager home, she was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral.

But today she had been summoned to a meeting of admirals. Janeway made a final adjustment to her hair and reminded herself that she was an equal in this room.

The doors slide open, and Admiral Janeway entered the room. There were about a dozen other admirals in room, most of them Janeway recognized. She saw Adm. Owen Paris, father of Janeway's former helmsman Tom Paris. He had also been the leader of Project Pathfinder which aided Voyager's return. Also, there was Adm. William Ross and Adm. Leonard James Akaar. Janeway walked to the center of the room, addressed the assembly, "Admirals," and proceeded to the chair set up for her.

"Welcome, Adm. Janeway," spoke Adm. Ross. "Sorry to take you away from your classes at the Academy."

"That's perfectly alright, William. But you do have me at a loss in regard to the nature of this meeting," said Janeway. "What is it that drags me out of academia?"

Adm. Ross' face fell a bit. "We received a very disturbing transmission from Romulus."

"Romulus?" asked Janeway. In her Starfleet career Janeway had almost no contact with the Romulans. In fact, of all the admirals in the room, Janeway probably had almost the least amount of experience with Romulans. She, after all, had spent the entirety the Dominion War, in which the Federation and Romulus were allies, lost in the Delta Quadrant. "Why call me in for a Romulan issue?"

"It has to do with the content of the message we received," said Adm. Ross.

"Two messages in fact," added Adm. Akaar. "One from the Romulan Praetor, Tal'Aura; and another from Commander Donatra, leader of the Romulan military."

"Correct me if I'm wrong," spoke Janeway. "Are not those two political revivals?"

"Most certainly," said Akaar, who had actually been to Romulus about two years ago and had met both the afore mentioned Romulan women. "The fact that both them sent us the same urgent message is enough to alarm us."

"Urgent message?" asked Janeway. The looks on the faces of the different admirals underscored that urgency.

"Urgent," repeated Ross. "Commander Donatra's message contained more useful information. Allow us to play a video that Donatra attached to her message."

Janeway gave Ross a nod of permission then turned her chair towards the viewscreen. The screen revealed the bridge of a Romulan starship. The bridge crew was in a clear state of panic. Speaking to the screen was a Romulan male.

"This is Centurion Trindak of the Imperial Romulan Warbird Terabon. We are under attack by a Borg cube. They have us in a tractor beam. Our shields are down. Here is the cube that is attacking us." The screen switched to the image of the attacking vessel. Janeway's heart skipped a beat, as horrible memories threaten to cloud her mind. Such was the effect of seeing a Borg cube, even though it was recorded many lightyears away. "Their vessel is massive. Our weapons are barely doing any damage…"

A female voice shouted in the background. "We're being boarded."

Trindak appeared again on screen. "We have Borg drones on the ship." In the background Janeway saw a drone materialize in the telltale green glow of a Borg transporter. Trindak saw it as well. "Romulus, if you are receiving this, the Borg have entered our space with hostile intent. You must prepare the Empire for invasion." Trindak then turned and attacked the Borg drone behind him. He beat the drone with a two-handed overhead blow, but a second drone grabbed him from off screen and pulled him down.

Janeway was about to look away, when the screen turned black. "The rest of this video is disturbing and contains little of importance," said Ross. "Your thoughts, Kathryn."

"Nothing good can come from the Borg in Romulan space," spoke Janeway in her ominous tone. "The Borg have no concept of neutral zones or treaties. If the Romulan Star Empire is assimilated, the Federation will be next."

Ross was nodding his head in agreement. "The Romulans know this as well. That is why they are appealing to us for help. Both Tal'Aura and Donatra have argued the mutual interest point. In addition, Tal'Aura has cited the Alpha Quadrant Alliance, while Donatra is reminding us of her role in stopping Shinzon's attack on Earth."

"The Alpha Quadrant Alliance?" asked Janeway. "That alliance was against the Dominion, not the Borg."

Akaar answered this question, "Tal'Aura argues the Alliance is against foreign invaders; the Dominion from the Gamma Quadrant, the Borg from the Delta Quadrant. Either one threatens both the Romulan Empire and the Federation."

"Well, she's not wrong," said Janeway. "What do they want us to do?"

"They want us to send ships and experts," said Adm. Paris. "They know that we have far more experience with Borg than they do."

"Let me get this straight. They want Federation starships in Romulan space?!" Janeway didn't know much about the Romulans, but this she knew was highly unusual.

"Yes," said Ross. "And we want you to lead the fleet. Three starships and your choice of scientists and Borg experts."

Without hesitation Janeway said, "I want Voyager."

"Impossible," said Ross with equal lack of hesitation.

Now it was Janeway's time to assert herself. She had let the other admirals control the meeting, but she was not going to be ordered around so easily. "I won't do this without Voyager. She is simply the best ship in the fleet to deal with the Borg. All of us here are aware of the technology that my future counterpart gave to us back in the Delta Quadrant. Technology which was specifically designed to beat the Borg. Ablative armor that can handle Borg weaponry, and transphasic torpedoes which some of you saw decimate a Borg sphere. We need this technology."

"We are still studying the technology that you brought back with you on Voyager," said Ross. "And Starfleet Command has decided to withhold that technology in order to avoid giving it to our enemies or allowing the Borg to adapt to it. Voyager will not be sent."

Janeway wasn't quite done yet, "The entire Alpha Quadrant is aware of Voyager's return. Some of you were there. Owen, you saw it." Janeway pointed at Adm. Paris. "If the Romulan intelligence agency, the Tal Shiar, is half as good as I've heard, then they will be aware that Voyager had advance weaponry that day. If I go without that weaponry, the Romulans will doubt our intent."

Adm. Paris responded kindly yet firmly, "Kathryn, has it occurred to you that by bringing our best weaponry we will be playing right into the Romulans' plan. We would be sending starships with our most powerful technology deep into Romulan space. And reinforcements will be lightyears away."

"You think that the Romulans are faking this whole thing?" ask Janeway. "It must be quite the trickery. That video looked very real. And I have been up close and personal with the Borg more times than most."

"It is a definite possibility," said Ross. "I have personally witnessed a lot of Romulan trickery. We will want you and whatever experts you can find to analyze the evidence, while preparing your fleet."

"But if the Borg are really there; we will have only three starships against a cube," said Janeway. "I don't like those odds."

"All ships will be armed with our best pre-Voyager weaponry including quantum torpedoes, which were designed to combat the Borg." Adm. Ross continued, "Also, we will have two Defiant class ships on the Neutral Zone. They will be available to join your fleet as soon as you confirm the presence of the Borg or report a Romulan trap."

"Alright, no Voyager," Janeway begrudgingly conceded. "What about the Enterprise? Having Capt. Jean-Luc Picard as an expert on both the Borg and the Romulans would be invaluable. And several members of his crew are equally experienced."

"Agreed," said Akaar. "But unfortunately, neither the Enterprise nor its captain are available. Time is short. We have to work with whatever ships are available."

"You have time to deploy two Defiant class ships, but not the Enterprise?" countered Janeway.

"The Resistant and the Courageous are part of the Earth defense fleet. We will be leaving ourselves a bit short handed here," replied Paris.

"So, all I have to work with are ships near Earth or near Romulan space." Janeway was annoyed. She was being asked to do all this but was being denied all her requests. As she was preparing to respond her eyes caught a single word on the viewscreen. The display was of the Neutral Zone and all of Starfleet's assets positioned there. "Is the Orion still on the Neutral Zone?" Janeway had been the one to convinced Starfleet to reuse the name Orion and send the ship to the Neutral Zone. They must have really liked her idea, seeing that the Orion was still on patrol there.

Adm. Paris, with a bit of confusion answered her question. "It appears so. Do you want the Orion?"

"Why not?" responded Janeway. "It is a new Galaxy class ship. It has been operating for two years now, enough time for the engineers to complete its initial shakedown and to have found any construction flaws. And its crew have already seen some combat."

Ross spoke, "I have the greatest respect for the Orion's captain as a dutiful and principled Starfleet officer. But she and her senior staff are young and inexperienced. I am afraid they will be unprepared for such assignment."

"Let me worry about that," replied Janeway as she began to build her fleet in her mind. "There are a few other things and personnel that I will require. If time is as critical as you say, I suggest we begin right away."