STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE VOYAGES

Relentless Nightmare

The Enterprise looked like a shuttle craft compared to the super massive Borg ship. This was not like any other previously encountered. Shaped like a geodesic dome, it was a far cry from the typical cube shape. Commander Maddox, Worf, and LaForge returned to their stations on the bridge. A young woman at the communications station turned to Captain Picard after viewing a response from Starfleet.

"Sir, Starfleet has ordered us to regroup with the rest of the fleet in sector 218."

"Thank you ensign." Picard quickly replied. "Mr. Worf are they in weapons range yet?"

"No sir, they will be in range in 1 minute 32 seconds."

"Mr. Worf, ready all weapons, full power to forward shields." Picard ordered.

"Sir, were no match for them, we should regroup with the fleet." Maddox strongly suggested.

"I am aware of Starfleet's order Mr. Maddox, Mr. Worf, fire on my mark."

There was an tense silence on the bridge as all eyes were transfixed on the view screen showing the approaching Borg ship. After 30 seconds the silence was broken by a beeping sound from the Ops station.

"Captain, the Borg ship has come to a full stop and has begun to beam something off of the station" the lieutenant at Ops reported.

"Can you tell what they beamed up?" Picard asked.

"Yes sir, they beamed off all of the Borg drones that were growing in the incubation chambers."

"Mr. Worf, lock….."

"Captain, they're moving off and have gone to warp," interrupted the lieutenant at Ops.

"Heading?"

"They've set course for the Romulan border."

"Mr. Worf hail the USS Titan, priority one!" Picard ordered.

"Aye sir, I have Captain Riker on subspace," Worf responded.

"Captain Picard, I take it this is not a social call?" Riker said with a slight jest.

"Not this time Will, are you still on patrol on the Romulan border?"

"We are, we were just about to get underway to rendezvous with the rest of the fleet, why do you ask?"

"We were investigating Starbase 457 and discovered that the Borg had turned it into a drone nursery. Then a massive Borg vessel came and beamed them off and set coarse for the Romulan border. Will, I believe we are looking at a change in the Borg's behavior, it's almost seems like they are creating an army. Have there been any reports of Borg ships Romulan space?"

"None that we've heard, but then again, Romulans aren't too willing to share information given how tense the peace talks are going."

"Something doesn't sit right with me about this situation, I going to contact Starfleet to see if there is any new information, in the meantime I'll let you get underway."

"Acknowledged Captain, good to talk to you again, we'll see you at the rendezvous."

"Same here Will."

"Mr. Worf, open a channel to Admiral Ross, I'll take it in my ready room."

"Aye sir."

"Sir, shouldn't we head for the rendezvous?" Maddox questioned.

"I'm not leaving until I have answers. Work with Mr. LaForge and Mr. Worf on a way to destroy that station." Picard replied.

"Aye sir."

Picard walked briskly to his ready room and sat at his desk where he was greeted by his computer screen flashing "Transmission Ready." With the tap of a button, Admiral Ross's image appeared on the monitor.

"What can I do for you Captain?" Ross inquired.

"Admiral, I think we have a far bigger situation here than we have faced before."

"Your right Jean Luc, we do, Starbase 457 is not the only based assimilated by the Borg. We know of at least 3 Romulan bases, 2 Klingon bases, a Ferengi outpost, and 2 Cardassian bases that have been assimilated."

"Admiral, we found Borg infant growing chambers on Starbase 457, have similar units been found on those other bases?"

"They have, we think the Borg are amassing an army to take over the Alpha Quadrant."

"I had the same thought."

"The only bright side is that there is only one ship, but…"

"I know, we've seen it. They beamed off the Drones they were growing and headed for the Romulan border at high warp."

"So they've begun to assemble the troops. Picard, I want you to shadow that ship and see what they're up to, try and find any weakness, the entire quadrant and perhaps even the entire galaxy may rely on it. Godspeed Captain."

"Understood, Picard out."

Picard sat back in his chair for a moment, pondering how he should proceed. A large explosion rocked the ship before he had a moment to think. Picard moved swiftly out to the bridge.

"Report." Picard demanded.

"Sir the Starbase just self-destructed." Maddox reported.

"Any idea what happened Mr. LaForge?"

"Not yet, I'm going over sensor readings now."

"Well, there's nothing left here now, helm set a pursuit course after the Borg ship, maximum warp."

Picard sat in his command chair in a posture that seemed to contradict the desire to sit.

"Were not meeting the rest of the fleet?" Maddox asked Picard.

"No, Starfleet has ordered us to follow the Borg ship and gather as much intel as we can on what they are doing, We could be looking at the most dangerous threat this galaxy has ever seen."

"Pursuit course laid in sir." the helmsman reported.

"Engage!"