Chapter 4: The First Day

Coruscant, Galactic Republic

No one on Coruscant had ever heard the expression, running like chickens with their heads cut off. If they had though, they would have thought it was an apt description of the state of the planet. The Senate had not yet reconvened, but Senators were constantly on the holonet and in face to face meetings in their secure locations trying to figure out what was going on, what to do, and, of course, grandstanding. The media, for its part, was reporting wild rumor after wild rumor even after Palpatine asked them to stop. Ships from both galaxies were flowing into the system, trying to make contact with this galactic center. In the case of Republic ships, this was still against government orders, but no one could really stop them.

Only Chancellor Palpatine, the Jedi, and military command seemed to be remaining fairly calm. Palpatine was meeting with Jedi and military leaders to discuss security at the moment.

"Chancellor," said Admiral Greece, "If we ignore distress calls in this time of need from members worlds, we are risking the very foundation of the Republic."

General Yow, the head of security in the Coruscant area interrupted. "The Corta have a military base with more than 1,000 ships less than 2 lightyears away. There appears to be dozens of other species with their own fleets spread throughout the center of the galaxy. I cannot guarantee the protection of Coruscant, let alone the rest of the core if you are throwing ships around the galaxy. I not sure I can even guarantee it if you don't."

Admiral Greece spoke again, "The shields will protect Coruscant if need be and we can send back the fleet, but these planets are in desperate need now!"

"The shields were never meant to be anything but a final defense," said Yow. "Further we don't understand the technology of these species. They may well have a way around the shields that we don't know about."

Chancellor Palpatine put up his hand. "It is clear that there are quite valid concerns with positioning the fleet in the core versus the mid-regions. I do agree with General Yow that we have to strengthen our position in the core before we can afford to send out large number of ships outside the region."

"But Chancellor..." stared Greece.

"But," said Palpatine, "we cannot ignore the distress calls either. Master Windu what do you think of the idea of setting up temporary defensive alliances with the Corta and a few other select species whose space coincides with vital worlds?"

The Jedi had been silent for most of the conversation, believing it best to let the general and admiral get their frustrations out of the way, but now spoke up. "It does have the advantage of turning a potential threat into an ally. We would need to make sure it was purely defensive. I suggest letting the Jedi do the negotiations."

"Agreed," said Palpatine. "Master Windu, timing is of the essence. As soon as we are done here General Yow will transmit the coordinates, please hurry."

Windu nodded. "Is hyperspace safe?"

"We are updating the core region to computers now. You should be fine." Palpatine turned back to the military leaders. "After we have secured alliances where are the areas most in need of reinforcements?"

Greece brought up a galactic map. "We are still trying to fill in many parts of the galaxy."

Palpatine nodded, "Contact the homeworlds of all Senate representatives and put them in charge of mapping their regions, both astronomical and political, and report back."

"Yes sir," said Greece. He highlighted a specific region of the galaxy about midway out. "This is the area of most concern. We've had hundreds of ships attacked here and the attacks haven't stopped. Additionally, we've received distress calls from 8 planets saying they are being invaded. We've completely lost contact with all of them."

"Are they being attacked by the same government?" asked Windu.

"Yes," said Yen. "The species calls itself the Borg. I've tasked a few ships in the region to get more information from other locals, but I don't yet even know where their space begins and ends."

Palpatine nodded. "Master Windu, we will try for diplomatic solution to these many concerns, but I'm afraid the military is going to be needed many places. Can I count on the Jedi to lead our forces?"

"Of course Chancellor."


The space between stars is vast and empty. Given stars relative size, few other things in the universe can compare to the distance between them. In the vast space between several stars, the starship Hazardous Relief sat. It was a large cargo ship, carrying some of the most advanced medical equipment in the galaxy. That equipment should have already been delivered. Due to the effects of the Merging though, the ship sat in the dead of space with its captain unwilling to reactivate the hyperdrive.

"Captain, a ship is coming towards us fast. It's using one of those weird faster than light drives."

The captain gulped. He wasn't a diplomat and not a fighter either. "Don't raise shields yet. I don't want a fight if I can help it, not with no way to get out."

"The ship has slowed to sub-light speed and appears to be attempting to communicate."

The captain, extremely nervous and showing it, nodded. "Put them through."

A type of alien the captain had never seen before appeared. The alien spoke, "This is Daimon Letek representing the Ferengi Alliance. With whom am I speaking with?"

"I am Captain Roberts. I've never heard of the Ferengi Alliance before."

The Ferengi nodded. "Understandable given the shape of the galaxy."

"I suppose so," said Roberts.

"Captain," said Letek, "We couldn't help but notice you appear to be stuck out here. The Ferengi Alliance has been working since this event took place to get accurate star charts, at least for this region, and we would like to offer them to you."

Roberts let go of the breath he had been holding. If he could get to any Republic planet, he'd feel a lot safer. "That would be most kind of you."

"You'll find the Ferengi are a most kind race. Why don't we beam over with our information?"

"Beam?"

"Transporters Captain. We send our representative directly to your ship without a shuttle."

"I see," said Roberts, not fully understanding.

"Actually," said Letek, "a cargo vessel such as your own would likely gain a lot from transporters. We have a working portal transporter we'll bring over. We couldn't part with such an advanced device easily, but perhaps we could trade it for something."

Roberts nodded. As two Ferengi appeared on his ship a minute later, greed finally replaced fear as his dominant emotion.


Across the galaxy, many people were frightened, upset, or angry with the new realities. Many others were excited for the possibilities. Few however had as much to gain as the crew of the USS Voyager. Voyager had been stuck in the Delta Quadrant, clear across the galaxy from their home, with no quick way to return. While the presence of a "galactic republic" was in some ways frightening, it was an encouraging sign for their personal fortunes.

Voyager itself was a wreck. The ship had been traveling at warp when the event had occurred. Unfortunately, they passed very near a star which had not appeared on their charts and the ship was lucky to survive in one piece. The odds of such an event occurring where extremely small, but Voyager seemed to have a knack for getting in trouble.

Janeway sat down in her chair in her ready room and rubbed her head. She was out of coffee and the replicators still weren't back online. She picked up a pad to look over the latest report when her door chimed.

"Come."

Seven of Nine entered the room.

January motioned to the chair. "Hello Seven. Come and sit down."

"I am comfortable standing."

Janeway nodded. Seven had only been with the crew briefly and Janeway hoped she'd stay around for a bit when they made it back to the Federation. Helping Seven reconnect with her humanity wasn't going to be an easy task and continuity would help a lot. "What can I help you with?"

"I have the latest report from science on travel through the new galaxy and Commander Torres wanted me to report that warp will be back online within 2 hours."

Janeway nodded. "Anything else?"

Seven gulped. "When we return to Starfleet, I have an assessment on the Borg which might prove important."

"The Borg?" said Janeway confused.

"Yes Captain," Seven continued, "I believe this event may cause them to recalculate primary protocols which could result in an increased rate of expansion."

"Were the Borg not expanding at their maximum ability?" asked Janeway shocked.

"No captain. The collective felt that it was a waste of resources to send ships throughout the galaxy. It was assumed that the galaxy would eventually be completely assimilated, but in the meantime, it made little sense to waste ships and resources on over expansion. The Collective would only attack neighboring planets and then strike with overwhelming force. The fleet would remain at the planet until it was fully integrated into the collective. Only then would they move on."

Janeway shook her head. "That doesn't make sense. They attacked Earth. They assimilated you even before that."

"A small handful of cubes have been sent out primarily to scout the galaxy. It is necessary for them to take some planets' resources to maintain the cubes. Assimilation of ships and individuals is required as part of the mission. As for the collective's interest in Earth, that's a separate issue."

"How so?"

"When the collective first encountered the Enterprise, they witnessed a ship appearing and disappearing in a previously unheard of manner. This technology was deemed vital to the collective. Since they found nothing in the Enterprise's computers about it, they went looking for the ship's captain."

Janeway said, "Picard."

"Yes," said Seven. "When they assimilated Picard they learned that it was the Q that were so interested in humanity. This increased Earth on their priority list to the point it was justifiable to send another cube."

"Another?" asked Janeway worried.

"It failed. No further cubes were planned to my knowledge after that."

"Why do you feel the Borg will change their...'protocols'?" said Janeway.

"I can only speculate," said Seven.

"Then speculate," said Janeway.

"Several things will have changed the Borg's calculations. For one, there is now a galactic power which could potentially be a threat. For another, hyperdrive makes it possible for attacks within their space. Finally, there are thousands of worlds within their space that are not assimilated. My expectation would be that the collective will only marginally change their protocols and will begin attacking planets within current Borg space at a more rapid rate, but a number of different outcomes are possible."


Deep Space 9, Bajoran Space

"To the Emissary!" shouted a Bajoran in Quarks as Sisko walked by. "For ending the war!"

The cheers inside the bar were overwhelming. News had just spread that the war was over, at least temporarily. The Dominion had signed a cease-fire with both the Federation and Klingons. While it wasn't a permanent end to the war, rumors were spreading fast that the Founders were withdrawing to the Gamma Quadrant because of recent events. Sisko doubted the Dominion would go that far, but he didn't see the war resuming anytime soon either.

Sisko, for his part, was lost in thought as he walked around the Promenade. As he walked, Bajorans, humans, Ferengi, Klingons, and others kept coming up to him and congratulating him. Sisko was honored and he shared in their joy. The enormity of what had happened weighed heavily on him as well though. The Prophets had completely altered two galaxies after talking to him. He wouldn't take back what he had said to them; it had saved the Federation and for that, he would risk whatever came next, but that didn't mean he didn't feel a burden because of what had happened.

Sisko walked into the temple, not even realizing he was doing it until he was there.

"Emissary," said the Bajoran at the door. "Have you come to give thanks to the Prophets for delivering us from the Dominion?"

Sisko nodded slowly. He gazed at the orb in the room, one of the nine the Prophets had sent to the Bajorans over the centuries. He knelt beside it. He left his plain of existence again. He was in Ops.

Odo: Is the Sisko ready?

Kira: He is not.

"Ready for what?"

Dax: To accept his role as the Emissary.

Martok: To bring the balance which is lacking.

Nog: To fulfill his destiny.

"How?"

Kira: You must fully become the Emissary.

Dax: Not a Starfleet captain.

Jake: Not a farther.

Martok: You must agree to join us.

"You are asking me to give up everything and I don't even understand what for."

Odo: For your universe.

Sisko shook his head. He had no idea what he was really being asked and he wasn't going to be saying yes without some knowledge. "No. If you want…"

Ben felt himself returning to his world. He looked around. What had the Prophets gotten him into?


Geonosis, Confederacy of Independents States (disputed claim)

Padme looked to Anakin. "What do you think is going on?"

Anakin shook his head. "They're nervous. Everyone's nervous."

"Is the Republic coming?"

"I don't know. They're really confused."

"So am I?" said Padme. She yawned. She'd been up for too long. Now that death was being pushed back at least a little, she was going to have to sleep. She laid her head down against Anakin. That felt so good, so natural.

Anakin looked at her and made solemn pledge that no matter what was happening, he'd find a way to protect her.


Not far from Anakin and Padme, the leaders of the Confederacy of Independent State were having a meeting.

"That's 4 worlds we've seen attacked by those 'Borg'," said the leader of the Commerce Guild.

"But they are Republic worlds," said Viceroy Gunray. "They aren't attacking us."

Another Separatist spoke up. "They know nothing of the Republic. That hasn't stopped them from attacking it. We have to assume their intentions are hostile. Count Dooku, what do you sense?"

"If they come here, they will be quite hostile. I suggest we both have our ships ready to fight and ready for evacuations. Most of our starships are too far away to count on if they come with overwhelming force."

The Geonosis representative was outraged. "You can't abandon us."

"If we are attacked we will hold the world if we can. If we can't though, it's better for us to evacuate and be in a better position to retake it later."