The research lab was dead quiet except for the whistling of Harold, the
night watchman. He leaned back in his chair and started in on the old "I
Dream of Genie" song. "I Dream of Genie" was a television song from the
1960's.
"Most people don't even remember television, let alone what used to be on it," He mused, "What a waste." He sighed and got to his feet, "Computer, what time is it?"
"The time is o-one hundred hours, fifty-seven minuets." The computer's calm voice replied.
"Close enough," Starfleet regulations required that he searched the lab every 45 minuets for intruders, but he did it every fifteen.
When Harold had been younger, all he had ever wanted was to be a starfleet officer. Unfortunately when the time had come, he hadn't made the cut. So when he had gotten this watchman's job, he had been esthetic. His friends had told him that the only reason he had gotten the job was because it was something so easy, they wouldn't even waste a first year cadet on it. He ignored them and vowed to do the best job he could.
He made his way through the rows of deserted computer terminals and shelves of equipment, shining his wrist beacon around. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw movement and he spun around. Harold cautiously moved forward with one hand hovering over his phaser. A computer screen in the corner was merrily flashing at him.
"Must have been left on," he said to himself. He reached to turn it off when he noticed what was flashing on the screen.
FILE DOWNLOAD IN PROGRESS.
He felt something prick him in the back of the neck and he tried to turn, but a hand was clasped on his shoulder not allowing him to move. The prick didn't feel like a hypospray. It felt like two needles had been inserted into his neck, but he could feel them wiggling around.
Harold's eyes grew heavy and he tried to stay on his feet, but he heard his phaser clatter to the ground and he followed in suit seconds later. His eyes grew blurry and he could hear the computer announcing in its usual calm voice that the file download was complete, and then all went dark.
* * *
Captain Picard hadn't been to San Francisco for quite some time and now he was unsure why he had been ordered to pay a visit. He had been in his ready room onboard the Enterprise E, when he had received a puzzling communiqué from Admiral O'Conwell.
The Enterprise had been docked at the space station orbiting Earth, undergoing repairs from a recent ion storm. The Admiral had simply told him to report to one of the many laboratories at starfleet Headquarters. Nothing more. So now, as he turned a corner, his curiosity grew even higher when he saw seven security guards holding phaser rifles guarding the entrance to the lab.
When they saw him approach, they parted allowing him to enter. Of all the different scenarios that Picard had expected to see when he entered the lab, the one that met him hadn't even crossed his mind. There where two people in the lab, one was Admiral O'Conwell, and the other was Lieutenant Commander Shelby.
A kind of fear and dread started to form in Picard's chest. Shelby was the current officer in charge of planning defensives against the Borg. That meant whatever had happened here had to do with the Borg.
O'Conwell had just handed Shelby a PADD when he looked up and noticed Picard. "Jean-Luc, I'm glad you could make it. We have an issue of the sort, and would like your input on it."
"What happened?" Picard asked. Shelby handed him her PADD.
"Last night, a watchman was attacked. He was injected with Borg nanoprobes via injection tubules," she paused and looked at him, "But here's the unusual part, the nanoprobes weren't programmed to assimilate or even kill, they were simply programmed to knock him out for several hours."
"Are you sure there real nanoprobes?" Picard asked, "Someone could be using them to distract us."
"When we had arrived, most of the probes had self destructed, but we found a few. They're being tested, but so far they look authentic." Shelby gestured to the PADD. "The attack on the watchman isn't the only evidence of Borg activity. There's a Borg encryption code blocking the terminal that was used for the download and we can't gain access to it by any other means. With it on there we can't even tell what was downloaded or even possibly uploaded."
"Since when did the Borg become covert?" Picard wondered aloud, "It goes against their whole nature." He looked up at Shelby and O'Conwell. "Did anybody detect any unusual ships in the vicinity last night?"
"There were six starfleet vessels docked in and around McKinley station at the time of the attack. Two were Nebula class, an Ambassador class, a Yorkshire, and one Intrepid class, plus the Enterprise of course. There was also a Klingon freighter." O'Conwell frowned, "None of those ships seem promising." He scrolled further down the list, "A meteor shower near Jupiter and a report on that new micro black hole. Nothing here really seems relevant. I don't see how..." he stopped short and scrolled back up the list.
"Admiral?" Shelby asked, "Did you find something?"
"Maybe, but I'm not sure." He scanned the information again. "One of the satellites in orbit of Saturn picked up what resembles the rudimentary power out puts of a pioneering warp signature emitting from one of the denser pockets of gas in one of Saturn's rings."
"Then that has to be it," Shelby proclaimed, "Why didn't the computer notify us sooner?"
"Because the computer's still not sure it's a warp signature," Picard cut in. He had called up the information on his own PADD, and was now scanning through it, "It didn't think it was relevant because it was so faint and such and old system. In fact I'm surprised Admiral O'Conwell spotted it. I doubt even Data would have ciphered it out so quickly." Picard smiled to him.
"I got lucky." O'Conwell said, "I happened to have studied early warp drive systems at the academy."
"Either way," Picard continued, "It's like nothing we've ever seen," He looked meaningfully at Shelby, "Including the Borg."
"Regardless of what the computer thinks," Shelby said, "I think we should send someone out there."
"I agree," O'Conwell said nodding. He turned to look at Picard, "The space station reports that the Enterprise will be ready within the hour. I want you to go out there and get to the bottom of things. If it is a ship, I want you to bring them into custody until we can get this cleared up."
Picard nodded and started to leave. When he reached the door, O'Conwell spoke again, "And Jean-Luc, if it is the Borg, I know you'll handle the situation exemptly." Picard nodded again and left.
* * *
Commander William Riker had never relay gotten quite used to the Enterprise E. It wasn't like he got lost easily or couldn't remember what deck transporter room three was on. It was just the little things. Like now.
He stepped on the bridge expecting the horseshoe shaped command center with light colors and the three command chairs in the center, but instead he found the top of the line cutting edge starfleet technology. Riker figured it would be a very long time until he expected anything else. The Enterprise D had been his home for seven years after all. The Enterprise E's bridge was a sharp contrast from his predecessor.
The new bridge was more darkly lit and instead of ramps three stairs lit by blue lights separated the two levels. The biggest difference though had to be that the captain's chair was once again isolated like on the earliest models of the Enterprise. He headed for the command chair and as Riker approached, a lieutenant stood to allow him to sit.
"Report," Riker asked.
The lieutenant who had just given up the command chair had taken up ops and was going through the ship wide reports. "All systems are operational, and the space dock reports that we can depart within the
Hour."
"Good, let me know when Captain Picard beams back aboard."
"He just did sir."
Riker leaned back in his chair, "Well than thank you lieutenant."
"Picard to Riker."
"Riker here," He said answering his communicator, "Go ahead."
"Assemble the senior staff in the observation lounge."
"Yes sir."
"And Will, have Data go over the information that Admiral O'Conwell should be sending us, see if he can help with their problem."
"Understood sir."
"Picard out."
Riker sat for a moment. If he hadn't been mistaken, he thought he detected a note of worry in Picard's voice.
* * *
The conference room was dead quiet as the last of the senior officers sat down. Picard sat at the head of the table looking over the information that Data had come up with. He looked up and realized that everyone had arrived. He put his PADD down and folded his hands on the table. He noted that Riker sat to his left with Deanna Troi next to Riker. Data sat to Picard's right followed by Geordi LaForge and Doctor Beverly Crusher.
"The Borg have proved to be an ever present danger, and last night they marked another attack on the Federation. A night watchman was attacked in a lab and he was injected with Borg nanoprobes. The puzzling thing is that the nanoprobes weren't programmed to assimilate or even kill. They simply knocked him out for several hours."
"Is he alright?" Doctor Crusher asked.
"Yes, the doctor who examined him believes he should be fine."
"I'll look over the doctor's reports and see if I can get a sample of the nanoprobes to analyze. Try to find out if they're of Borg origin, or weather they're knock off's." Crusher shrugged, "We can always hope."
Picard continued, "The nanoprobes aren't the only evidence of Borg activity. An encryption code was erected around the computer code used. They can't even tell what information was possibly copied or downloaded." He turned to Data, "Mr. Data, have you made any progress on cracking the code?"
"I believe that I have captain, but who ever erected that code around the computer core know that it could be broken." He gave them a quizzical look, "I have determined that they used this particular encryption code on purpose."
"Why would the Borg bother using an encryption code if they knew it could be broken?" Troi asked, "This doesn't seem like a normal Borg attack."
"The thing about the encryption code is yes, we can break it, but it will take exactly 96 hours from the time the counter code is initiated for it to punch through," Geordi LaForge shrugged, "Obviously what ever is going to happen will happen within that time frame."
Riker leaned forward with his elbows on the table, "Isn't there a way to speed up the process?"
Data considered for a moment, which meant he was figuring calculations, "According to simulations Geordi and I have been running, in the last 24 hours the counter code may accelerate by 0.0000196 milliseconds giving us an estimated extra 15 minuets."
"Admiral O'Conwell doesn't want to wait four days to see what will happen. He wants us to investigate. A possible warp signature was detected in one of the rings of Saturn. If it is a ship, we have permission to track them down and bring them in." Picard told his staff.
"It would take a long time for us to reconfigure the Enterprise to enter Saturn. I suggest using one of the shuttle crafts." LaForge's bright blue ocular implants still managed to sparkle with enthusiasm somehow, "It shouldn't take long. It'll be ready by the time we get there."
"Good," Picard said, "Data go ahead and join him." He turned to face them all, "I want you to keep in mind that even if there is a ship out there, it might not be the one we're looking for so keep your eyes open for other possibilities." He drew himself up and nodded, "Dismissed."
"Most people don't even remember television, let alone what used to be on it," He mused, "What a waste." He sighed and got to his feet, "Computer, what time is it?"
"The time is o-one hundred hours, fifty-seven minuets." The computer's calm voice replied.
"Close enough," Starfleet regulations required that he searched the lab every 45 minuets for intruders, but he did it every fifteen.
When Harold had been younger, all he had ever wanted was to be a starfleet officer. Unfortunately when the time had come, he hadn't made the cut. So when he had gotten this watchman's job, he had been esthetic. His friends had told him that the only reason he had gotten the job was because it was something so easy, they wouldn't even waste a first year cadet on it. He ignored them and vowed to do the best job he could.
He made his way through the rows of deserted computer terminals and shelves of equipment, shining his wrist beacon around. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw movement and he spun around. Harold cautiously moved forward with one hand hovering over his phaser. A computer screen in the corner was merrily flashing at him.
"Must have been left on," he said to himself. He reached to turn it off when he noticed what was flashing on the screen.
FILE DOWNLOAD IN PROGRESS.
He felt something prick him in the back of the neck and he tried to turn, but a hand was clasped on his shoulder not allowing him to move. The prick didn't feel like a hypospray. It felt like two needles had been inserted into his neck, but he could feel them wiggling around.
Harold's eyes grew heavy and he tried to stay on his feet, but he heard his phaser clatter to the ground and he followed in suit seconds later. His eyes grew blurry and he could hear the computer announcing in its usual calm voice that the file download was complete, and then all went dark.
* * *
Captain Picard hadn't been to San Francisco for quite some time and now he was unsure why he had been ordered to pay a visit. He had been in his ready room onboard the Enterprise E, when he had received a puzzling communiqué from Admiral O'Conwell.
The Enterprise had been docked at the space station orbiting Earth, undergoing repairs from a recent ion storm. The Admiral had simply told him to report to one of the many laboratories at starfleet Headquarters. Nothing more. So now, as he turned a corner, his curiosity grew even higher when he saw seven security guards holding phaser rifles guarding the entrance to the lab.
When they saw him approach, they parted allowing him to enter. Of all the different scenarios that Picard had expected to see when he entered the lab, the one that met him hadn't even crossed his mind. There where two people in the lab, one was Admiral O'Conwell, and the other was Lieutenant Commander Shelby.
A kind of fear and dread started to form in Picard's chest. Shelby was the current officer in charge of planning defensives against the Borg. That meant whatever had happened here had to do with the Borg.
O'Conwell had just handed Shelby a PADD when he looked up and noticed Picard. "Jean-Luc, I'm glad you could make it. We have an issue of the sort, and would like your input on it."
"What happened?" Picard asked. Shelby handed him her PADD.
"Last night, a watchman was attacked. He was injected with Borg nanoprobes via injection tubules," she paused and looked at him, "But here's the unusual part, the nanoprobes weren't programmed to assimilate or even kill, they were simply programmed to knock him out for several hours."
"Are you sure there real nanoprobes?" Picard asked, "Someone could be using them to distract us."
"When we had arrived, most of the probes had self destructed, but we found a few. They're being tested, but so far they look authentic." Shelby gestured to the PADD. "The attack on the watchman isn't the only evidence of Borg activity. There's a Borg encryption code blocking the terminal that was used for the download and we can't gain access to it by any other means. With it on there we can't even tell what was downloaded or even possibly uploaded."
"Since when did the Borg become covert?" Picard wondered aloud, "It goes against their whole nature." He looked up at Shelby and O'Conwell. "Did anybody detect any unusual ships in the vicinity last night?"
"There were six starfleet vessels docked in and around McKinley station at the time of the attack. Two were Nebula class, an Ambassador class, a Yorkshire, and one Intrepid class, plus the Enterprise of course. There was also a Klingon freighter." O'Conwell frowned, "None of those ships seem promising." He scrolled further down the list, "A meteor shower near Jupiter and a report on that new micro black hole. Nothing here really seems relevant. I don't see how..." he stopped short and scrolled back up the list.
"Admiral?" Shelby asked, "Did you find something?"
"Maybe, but I'm not sure." He scanned the information again. "One of the satellites in orbit of Saturn picked up what resembles the rudimentary power out puts of a pioneering warp signature emitting from one of the denser pockets of gas in one of Saturn's rings."
"Then that has to be it," Shelby proclaimed, "Why didn't the computer notify us sooner?"
"Because the computer's still not sure it's a warp signature," Picard cut in. He had called up the information on his own PADD, and was now scanning through it, "It didn't think it was relevant because it was so faint and such and old system. In fact I'm surprised Admiral O'Conwell spotted it. I doubt even Data would have ciphered it out so quickly." Picard smiled to him.
"I got lucky." O'Conwell said, "I happened to have studied early warp drive systems at the academy."
"Either way," Picard continued, "It's like nothing we've ever seen," He looked meaningfully at Shelby, "Including the Borg."
"Regardless of what the computer thinks," Shelby said, "I think we should send someone out there."
"I agree," O'Conwell said nodding. He turned to look at Picard, "The space station reports that the Enterprise will be ready within the hour. I want you to go out there and get to the bottom of things. If it is a ship, I want you to bring them into custody until we can get this cleared up."
Picard nodded and started to leave. When he reached the door, O'Conwell spoke again, "And Jean-Luc, if it is the Borg, I know you'll handle the situation exemptly." Picard nodded again and left.
* * *
Commander William Riker had never relay gotten quite used to the Enterprise E. It wasn't like he got lost easily or couldn't remember what deck transporter room three was on. It was just the little things. Like now.
He stepped on the bridge expecting the horseshoe shaped command center with light colors and the three command chairs in the center, but instead he found the top of the line cutting edge starfleet technology. Riker figured it would be a very long time until he expected anything else. The Enterprise D had been his home for seven years after all. The Enterprise E's bridge was a sharp contrast from his predecessor.
The new bridge was more darkly lit and instead of ramps three stairs lit by blue lights separated the two levels. The biggest difference though had to be that the captain's chair was once again isolated like on the earliest models of the Enterprise. He headed for the command chair and as Riker approached, a lieutenant stood to allow him to sit.
"Report," Riker asked.
The lieutenant who had just given up the command chair had taken up ops and was going through the ship wide reports. "All systems are operational, and the space dock reports that we can depart within the
Hour."
"Good, let me know when Captain Picard beams back aboard."
"He just did sir."
Riker leaned back in his chair, "Well than thank you lieutenant."
"Picard to Riker."
"Riker here," He said answering his communicator, "Go ahead."
"Assemble the senior staff in the observation lounge."
"Yes sir."
"And Will, have Data go over the information that Admiral O'Conwell should be sending us, see if he can help with their problem."
"Understood sir."
"Picard out."
Riker sat for a moment. If he hadn't been mistaken, he thought he detected a note of worry in Picard's voice.
* * *
The conference room was dead quiet as the last of the senior officers sat down. Picard sat at the head of the table looking over the information that Data had come up with. He looked up and realized that everyone had arrived. He put his PADD down and folded his hands on the table. He noted that Riker sat to his left with Deanna Troi next to Riker. Data sat to Picard's right followed by Geordi LaForge and Doctor Beverly Crusher.
"The Borg have proved to be an ever present danger, and last night they marked another attack on the Federation. A night watchman was attacked in a lab and he was injected with Borg nanoprobes. The puzzling thing is that the nanoprobes weren't programmed to assimilate or even kill. They simply knocked him out for several hours."
"Is he alright?" Doctor Crusher asked.
"Yes, the doctor who examined him believes he should be fine."
"I'll look over the doctor's reports and see if I can get a sample of the nanoprobes to analyze. Try to find out if they're of Borg origin, or weather they're knock off's." Crusher shrugged, "We can always hope."
Picard continued, "The nanoprobes aren't the only evidence of Borg activity. An encryption code was erected around the computer code used. They can't even tell what information was possibly copied or downloaded." He turned to Data, "Mr. Data, have you made any progress on cracking the code?"
"I believe that I have captain, but who ever erected that code around the computer core know that it could be broken." He gave them a quizzical look, "I have determined that they used this particular encryption code on purpose."
"Why would the Borg bother using an encryption code if they knew it could be broken?" Troi asked, "This doesn't seem like a normal Borg attack."
"The thing about the encryption code is yes, we can break it, but it will take exactly 96 hours from the time the counter code is initiated for it to punch through," Geordi LaForge shrugged, "Obviously what ever is going to happen will happen within that time frame."
Riker leaned forward with his elbows on the table, "Isn't there a way to speed up the process?"
Data considered for a moment, which meant he was figuring calculations, "According to simulations Geordi and I have been running, in the last 24 hours the counter code may accelerate by 0.0000196 milliseconds giving us an estimated extra 15 minuets."
"Admiral O'Conwell doesn't want to wait four days to see what will happen. He wants us to investigate. A possible warp signature was detected in one of the rings of Saturn. If it is a ship, we have permission to track them down and bring them in." Picard told his staff.
"It would take a long time for us to reconfigure the Enterprise to enter Saturn. I suggest using one of the shuttle crafts." LaForge's bright blue ocular implants still managed to sparkle with enthusiasm somehow, "It shouldn't take long. It'll be ready by the time we get there."
"Good," Picard said, "Data go ahead and join him." He turned to face them all, "I want you to keep in mind that even if there is a ship out there, it might not be the one we're looking for so keep your eyes open for other possibilities." He drew himself up and nodded, "Dismissed."