Engineering

Chief Engineer, Montgomery Scott was busy checking and re-checking the systems to make sure that they were in full working order. He needed to reassure himself that the Enterprise was ship-shape and in top order. To that end he was on his way to check that the warp core was purring like a kitten.

As he made his way through engineering, the hairs on the back of his neck suddenly came to attention.

Scotty cautiously turned the corner, and stopped.

Standing at one of the terminals was a humanoid figure.

It appeared to be part human and part machine. More than half its body covered with mechanical implants.

From where he stood Scotty could see that he/she/it was scanning data from the terminal with its ocular implant.

The chief engineer got out his communicator and flipped it open.

"Scotty to Captain Kirk."

"Yes Scotty."

"We have an intruder in engineering."

"On my way."

By the time Kirk, along with Spock, Khan, Molly and a security team arrived, the Borg intruder had moved to another terminal.

"Update Scotty."

"At the moment it just appears to be scanning our systems."

Kirk stepped forward and addressed the Borg directly. "What do you want?"

It made no response.

In fact it was difficult to tell if it even registered their existence.

Molly pulled out a tri-corder and began scanning the Borg. But when she made to move closer, Khan placed a firm hand on her shoulder keeping her in place.

She turned, raising an enquiring eyebrow.

"I don't think it would be advisable to get too close," he responded. "We have no idea just what type of enhancements their technology gives them."

"Which was why I was scanning him," Molly replied.

"Better to be safe than sorry,"

"I agree," Kirk stepped in. "Ensign stand back."

Molly immediately complied.

"Captain," Spock drew everyone's attention back to what the Borg was doing.

Having scanned a number of systems it now used an implant, where its hand used to be, to try and download information from the terminal.

"Step away from the terminal," Kirk ordered.

The Borg continued what it was doing, ignoring him.

"I'm ordering you, step away from that terminal."

The Borg paused, turned and looked directly at Kirk before turning back. It then proceeded to download from the terminal.

Kirk turned to his security chief. He nodded, indicating his permission to engage the intruder. "Set your phaser to stun," he said.

But to everyone's surprise stunning the Borg only temporarily slowed it down.

When it returned to its task it seemed even more determined and immediately increased its efforts.

Scotty rushed over to check another terminal as lights all around began to flicker. "It's draining the ship of power," he reported.

"Neutralize the intruder," Kirk ordered. "Use whatever means necessary."

Security opened fire, their phasers still set to stun.

This time their efforts had no affect at all.

"Fascinating," Spook commented.

Khan looked on in amazement. "Its adapted to the phaser setting."

"Set to kill," Kirk ordered.

This time the Borg fell down dead.

But no sooner had it died then another appeared and took its place at the terminal.

When it continued downloading security opened fire again.

To no avail, the Borg had adapted once again.

Once the download was complete, the Borg disconnected itself from the terminal. It then bent down to its fallen companion and calmly removed specific implants.

Then both were transported off the Enterprise.

Kirk turned to Scotty. "How much power did they drain?"

Scotty checked. He didn't like what the readings told him. "Enough," he replied. "All systems, shields etc are at 50%"

Outwardly he appeared calm, but internally Kirk was furious. The Earth had been attacked without provocation. Many that he had trained with had died when they had attempted to defend their home planet. And now his ship had been violated.

"I think we need to return the visit."