Chapter 2

Three months later

Field notes USS Archer Registry NCC 90110: Sector 19 edge of the Borderlands. Stardate: 95034.12.

We have been charting the local star systems in sectors 14 through to 19 for the past three months. So far we have picked up twelve Class-M Worlds only six of them had life on them. We have also come across worlds that had been repeatedly strip or Attacked by the Orions. (No shock there). We are now entering are last system.

Star System catalogued as Telos. Two Planets documented in this system. Telos Prime is class-M and Telos Beta is Class D.

Commander Joshua Biggs saved the field notes entry into the ship's main computer then turned in his chair to face the grey haired man sitting in the command chair.

"Update complete sir. Ready to file to Starfleet" Biggs said in his usual Scottish accent.

"Very good Biggs" said Captain Robert Sinclair. "Send it now before we enter the system".

The small Nova-class ship came out of warp and entered the Telos star system. A system up until now had never been explored by a Federation starship. The two large planetoids hung in space the system's sun was being blocked out by Telos Prime. The only planet in this system that had the best shot of holding any life.

"Captain" said Biggs as his first set of scan were completed. "I have the data back of our first scans of Telos Prime".

Sinclair got out of his chair and walked over to the science station. The scans did look very promising. There was signs of life on both the north and south hemispheres and even evidence of a warp capable race. Biggs also spotted and pointed out what looked like some kind of starship dry dock located on the surface.

"Any sign of life?" Sinclair asked.

Biggs ran another scan as the Archer got closer to the planet. The readings that came back stunned both Biggs and Sinclair.

"I am picking up over nine hundred life forms on the planet".

"That is the biggest find so far" Sinclair pointed out looking at the planet that now was a lot bigger on the viewscreen.

"It reminds me of Mars. So red" he said.

"It's the high levels of dust from the southern hemisphere Captain" said Biggs. "I bet it's a desert down there that is blowing up all that dust".

That was it. Sinclair had to know more. This was the best find that had come across in three months. He walked back over to his chair and sat back down in it.

"Ensign Gilmore put us in a standard orbit".

The young female ensign nodded and moved the ship in. She had just got the Archer perfectly lined up for a standard orbital approach when the helm console bleeped loudly and angrily at her.

"Captain I have two starships moving in. One has come from Telos Prime. The other from behind Telos Beta" she said flinging her long ginger hair out of her face as she turned to face the Captain.

Sinclair sat forward "are they charging weapons?" he asked preparing himself for an attack from the two ships.

"They are scanning us at the moment sir" reported Biggs "They are...They have charged weapons"

"Return the favour" snapped Sinclair looking over at his Andorian tactical officer. "Arm Phaser and load torpedo bays also go to Red Alert"

"Captain I have a visual on the forward ship" said Ensign Gilmore over the sound of the klaxon. "Putting it up now".

The viewscreen's image shifted to display a small cylinder shaped ship coming up fast from the surface. It had no sign of any warp nacelles or any form of engine. It moved towards the Archer with speed. Its weapons charged.

"Captain I am unable to identify that craft" said the Andorian. "However the vessel coming up from behind us is an Orion Interceptor"

Sinclair looked at Gilmore once more "Ensign gets us out of orbit".

Just he said that the Archer shook. They had been fired apron.

"PHASER!" cried Sinclair "Target the both the Orions and the other ship. Fire at will".

The Archer fried her forward phasers at the cylinder ship. The phasers on the nacelle pylons fired back towards the Orion ship. Both blasts found their targets.

"Direct hit no damage to both ships" said Biggs as the ship took another hit from behind.

"Aft shields are down fifty percent" reported the Andorian.

"Torpedoes" Sinclair now ordered. "Fire".

Both the forward and aft torpedo launchers sent a spread or photon torpedoes towards their targets. The cylinder ship shook and went slightly sideways before returning to her attack course and opening fire again. This time the combined fire power of the Orions and the mystery ship took out the Archer's port shields. Their next shot changed everything.

"DIRECT HIT!" cried Biggs as the tactical and engineering consoles exploded. "We have lost our port nacelle completely. Multiple hull breaches reported and main power has failed".

"All remaining power to the starboard shields" said Sinclair as he moved over to check the Andorian who lay on the deck near his station. "Gilmore bring her about. I want them off to starboard".

The dying ship made her turn so her most protected side was facing the enemy ships. This would buy the crew the few seconds they need to start an evacuation.

"Captain we are being boarded. Internal sensors show nine no ten intruder parties beaming in all over the ship"

Sinclair stood up. He knew that escape was no longer an option. He had to think of what was best for his crew. Death or life as prisoners.

"Computer this is Captain Robert Sinclair. Begin auto destructed. Time one minute. Authorization Sinclair four-nine-six-two- gamma"

"Unable to comply. Secondary processor destroyed. Auto destructed disabled" reported the computer.

Sinclair froze. This was it. Every Captain's worst nightmare. He and his crew were about to be captured and with both ships still out there. There was no hope of escape.

Just then the turbolift door blew open and in came a large humanoid covered in a suit of armour. Its helmet covered the whole head and had what look like handles coming from the ears up to the above the head.

"You will surrender" it said in a spine chilling electrical voice.

"You Will Surrender to the Cybermen. You will become slaves to the Cyber Alliance."