CHAPTER 10

The Enterprise continued its orbit around Earth. Many of the crew had beamed down to assist in the cleanup jobs after the Borg were defeated. All around the world drones and other bits of Borg technology were being burned into nothing, a final farewell to the terror that plagued them these past few weeks. Jim had stayed on board along with Camilla and some of the secondary bridge officers. The rebuilding process was projected to take about 3 years, so long as the remaining population of the world worked together to complete it. The biggest dilemma facing the crew of the Enterprise was what effect these events would have on the timeline. They also had the problem of how to get back to their own timeline. Data, Wesley Crusher and LaForge had been working for many hours to correct the problem. Jim had called a meeting of the senior officers to discuss the rebuilding and the way to get back home.

"Commander Riker, Mr. Worf, status report on the reconstruction efforts?" asked Jim. "So far everything is going well. The remaining population is coming together to permanently eliminate any trace of the Borg. The tunnels are being filled in, the structures are being remodeled, and the best part is there are sessions being held to establish a unified worldwide government. The first ever," replied Riker.

"In addition, the military forces have decided to adopt a single, unified force similar to Starfleet. Also, scientists are coming together to develop warp technology," Worf chimed in.

"Excellent, so its just about time to withdraw our crew and start trying to head back home. Speaking of home, Mr. LaForge, Mr. Data, Mr. Crusher, any luck?" Data rose and walked over to the display screen on the wall behind the captain.

"After hours of calculations and simulations, we have two options. The first is a similar maneuver used by the crew of the original USS Enterprise while in command of a Klingon Bird of Prey. If we achieved a fast enough speed, we could use the suns gravitational pull to slingshot the Enterprise forward in time. The only issue with that is we have no way of knowing exactly when we will come out of the temporal jump. The other suggestion is investigating one of the powered-down Borg ships for their temporal wormhole generator. One of the ships must have had a generator to keep the rifts stable as the fleets passed through. If we can retrieve that generator, then we may be able to get back to the 24th century."

Jim sat and considered both options. "What are the chances of the cube self-destructing?"

"With the power failures happening as fast as they are, we think it'll be about an hour before complete it goes," replied LaForge.

"Understood. Mr. Worf, Mr. Data, Mr. LaForge, you're with me. Commander, you have the bridge." Jim rose along with the senior officers and left the conference room. The team went straight for the turbolift. Camilla watched as Jim entered the turbolift and smiled. "Be back before you know it." The doors slid shut and the life descended.

The away team re-materialized in what was left of the engineering section of the cube. At least, what could be considered the engineering section. Drones were strewn about the deck, lying on the floor, hunched over consoles, limp and slumped in their recharge stations. Data and LaForge closely examined their tricorder readings, keeping an eye out for temporal readings.

"Worf, Geordi, you take that corridor, Data and I will go this way," suggested Jim. The team split up and continued the search. So far there was nothing out of the ordinary.

"Riker to Captain Bullock," came the commander's voice over the communicator.

"Bullock here, go ahead Will."

"Sir, we're picking up a vessel coming into the sector. It's still too far away for visual but we have something."

"Any idea what it might be?"

"No, sir. It's coming up as an unknown but there is something out there."

Jim and Data looked at each other. "Understood, we're coming back now. Bullock, out." Jim tapped the communicator again, "Bullock to Worf," called the captain.

"Worf here, sir," he replied.

"Enterprise sensors are picking up an unknown closing in on this sector. It could be another Romulan vessel. I suggest heading back, we'll try something else to get back home, I don't think the generator is here."

"Understood, sir. We're ready for transport."

Jim tapped the communicator to cut off the link to Worf and tapped it again to contact the Enterprise. "Away team to Transporter Room 3, four to beam up. Energize." The team dematerialized and reformed on the transporter pad, leaving the transporter room right after and going straight for the bridge.

The hour that LaForge stated earlier finally came around and the cube started to collapse in on itself, slowly starting its self-destruct sequence. The Enterprise had moved away to prevent any damage. The unknown that Riker reported earlier still had not arrived, which seemed odd to both himself and Jim.

"And you're sure it was heading here?" asked Jim, looking out the main viewer.

"Yes, captain. Its course and heading were for this sector."

"Data, do you have it on sensors?"

"No, sir, although I am picking up an antimatter trail, which means-correction, I have it on sensors now. It just reappeared on the same course and heading as before. Except its much closer to our location now then before. It is possible the ship is utilizing a cloaking device."

"Which means it very well could be a Romulan vessel."

"It is poss-the unknown has once again disappeared. No sensor readings or antimatter trail this time."

"Worf, go to yellow alert. Something isn't right."

"According to the last recorded speed, the vessel should have entered the sector by now, sir."

Jim stood from the captain's chair, staring out the viewscreen. The last time he encountered a situation like this, it was a Romulan attack cruiser, which is what he was worried about this time.

That was twelve years ago, the Romulans are supposed to be allies unless this is part of the squad that was with the Borg, Jim thought.

Suddenly, the red alert alarm started blaring. Jim quickly turned to Worf.

"We are being scanned sir, but I cannot determine from where," reported the Klingon after shutting off the alarm.

"Stand down red alert. We don't want to give a hostile impression."

Jim again stared out the viewscreen. "Mr. Worf, open a channel."

The frequency opened, "This is Captain Bullock of the USS Enterprise. We mean you no harm, please reveal yourselves."

The screen was still just an expanse of stars and a view of Earth.

"This is Captain James Bullock of the Federation Starship Enter-"

"Sir," Data interrupted, "ship de-cloaking off the port bow."

Jim looked up at the screen and saw the ripple of a deactivating cloaking device. The image facing the Enterprise was not what Jim expected.

"Mr. Data, is that-"

"Sovereign-class starship, designation: NCC 1701-E."

"Sir," said Worf, "we are being hailed, audio only."

"On speakers, Mr. Worf."

The frequency opened again, "Attention Federation ship Enterprise, lower your shields and prepare to be boarded, the Terran Empire controls this sector now."

Jim stood in shock, staring out the viewscreen. Commander Riker rose and stood next to him, staring out the screen as well.

"Mr. Worf, prepare to fire."