Chapter 10

"The Enterprise is hailing," said Volopolous. "It's also being transmitted to the Regulus."

"Onscreen," said Chakotay, expecting to see a lot of damage and a roughed up crew. Instead, he saw Deanna Troi on the floor, checking on her captain and commander. An ensign was the one making the hail.

"Our shields are failing and our captain is down," said the ensign.

Silas' voice came through the three-way transmission. "Evasive maneuvers and --"

Blood pounded in Chakotay's brain and he made a quick decision. "Evacuate the Enterprise."

"Captain?" Silas was thrown off guard at being trumped.

"Trust me. They won't make it without shields."

"Very well."

The ensign nodded and the image disappeared. A moment later, they could see escape pods ejecting from the ship and heading into the Pluto Nebula. Species 8472 was too busy attacking the large ships to bother with the escape pods. Chakotay breathed a sigh of relief as he watched the helpless pods disappear.

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Captain Silas held onto the arms of his command chair with a white-knuckled grip as his crew ran to their stations with the activation of Red Alert. On the giant screen in front of him was a growing mass of brown material much like what they had seen from the Mud Hole. He looked to Commander Imani Roux at his side. Her dark eyes met his. They mirrored his own growing fear.

Lieutenant Ael Dykstra, the red lighting glinting off his Katarian features, bent close to his console. "The Enterprise has been evacuated. Those who couldn't make it to escape pods were transported aboard Voyager."

"Good." Silas raised his voice, directing his orders to Lieutenant Teya Ackeela, who was readying herself at the helm for the inevitable. "Get us out of here. Use whatever evasive maneuvers you have to."

"Aye, sir."

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Voyager returned fire, but it had no effect on the brown vessels.

"Evasive pattern delta five."

Six pods were firing on Voyager, surrounding them so there was no escape without a full on collision with the infectious pods Species 8472 used as ships.

Chakotay hit his communication badge. He was aware of his voice sounding strained and commanding. "Seven, we could use your help up here."

"I'll be there in five minutes. I have to recalibrate the --"

"No, now."

Chakotay sat tensely, only able to watch as his people did what they were trained to - avoid being shot. Voyager and the Regulus dodged attack after attack with mild success. Chakotay grew impatient and hit the communications badge again. "Seven, astrometrics can wait. I need you up here."

Tom didn't take his eyes off the screen. "I don't see how she can help us."

The doors opened once more and Seven strode through, seemingly unfazed by the rocking and shuddering of the ship. "Neither do I," she said and took her customary console behind the captain's chair.

Chakotay gritted his teeth as they were jolted again by phaser fire. "You've had more experience dealing with Species 8472 than any of us." He glanced down at the display at his elbow and back again at the battle taking place on the view screen. "If you've got any information or tricks up your sleeve, now is the time to mention it."

She gripped the console with one hand and punched in commands with the other. "When we last encountered Species 8472 they allowed me to examine some of their technology in depth." She caught Chakotay's eyes. He saw there a request for permission and a hint of something that looked like doubt. "They have advanced since then," her eyes flickered to the scorch marks already on the Regulus, "but I may be able to adapt our systems to compensate."

He nodded once and turned back to the view screen. "Whatever you can do."

Seven was unnerved to say the least. Were she not busy inputting commands, her hands would have been shaking. Species 8472 was not an easy enemy to get around. They had nearly destroyed her last family, the Borg. They could just as easily do the same to Voyager.

Chakotay chose that moment to look at her. His gaze was lingering and almost bold. Seven felt that he somehow knew. Of course he knew her well enough to guess that she would be anxious in a battle with Species 8472. However, his eyes and body language suggested he wasn't so much worried about her ability to perform as he was concerned for her.

The Regulus passed in front of the view screen, pursued closely by three pods. It was returning fire wildly. Its shields were down and only some quick thinking on the part of their pilot was allowing them to remain intact. The starship dodged and swerved with impressive speed and acrobatic skill.

"Nice," said Tom.

It managed a particularly unusual twist out from between two of the three pods. The Regulus took the opportunity to speed away when the pods collided together, both trying to close in from opposite sides of the starship. The pods were agile vessels, but were flying too fast to avoid a full on collision with each other. The third vessel apparently could not or would not follow them at warp. It turned its attention to Voyager.

"Hull breach on Deck 4," cried Ensign Volopolous from ops.

Like a cloud, Seven's concern for them all settled on her mind. Species 8472 was the only species the Borg had ever really had to fear and now it seemed they had turned their full attention on humanity… on Voyager. She clenched and released her trembling hand and returned to her task with more determination, ignoring the haze that worry was casting on her thoughts. Her nightmares would not become reality if she could help it and she would.

"Hull breach, Deck 8."

"Sorry, sir," said Ellie Horne. Voyager dipped quickly, barely avoiding a hit. "I'm doing my best."

"Just keep at it, Lieutenant." He saw an opening. "Pattern delta four." They once again barely avoided the pods.

Species 8472 apparently grew tired of playing with them and powered up for a killing strike, three vessels joining together their weapons.

"Seven?"

"I have it." She straightened, job complete.

He could sense the crew holding their breath. "Fire at will." The ship to their immediate right fell to pieces. Relief flooded Chakotay. He didn't need to turn around to know Seven felt likewise.

The first ship's destruction was followed by two more as Voyager punched a hole through the perimeter and escaped to warp.

Voyager fired behind it as it went, but the vessels had already started to adapt to Seven's modifications. The next vessel hit was damaged, but not destroyed.

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Voyager caught up with the Regulus. It had stopped to wait for Voyager once Species 8472's vessels stopped their pursuit. They had been on the verge of returning to try and help when suddenly the battle had changed in Voyager's favor. In amazement, the crew of the Regulus had watched Voyager's phasers destroy the pods with apparent ease.

The Regulus was hailed by Voyager as the two ships drew together once more. "On screen," said Silas. Captain Chakotay's face appeared before them. "Damage?"

Chakotay sighed. "A few hull breaches, but nothing we can't recover from. We were lucky; no casualties. How is the Regulus holding up?"

"We lost shields completely and our warp core is down, but they should be operational in two hours." Silas thought luck didn't cover it. They had just experienced a miracle to not have been destroyed. "What happened? How did you destroy those ships?"

"Seven of Nine managed to adapt our weapons," said Chakotay. He nodded to the ensign behind him at ops. "We're sending you instructions on how to configure your weapons. We're still working on adapting the shields."

"Understood. Silas out." The view screen changed to the blackness of space once more. Silas directed his orders to his security and operations officers. "Whatever enhancements they suggest, install them immediately. I also want continuous scans of surrounding space. No need to be caught with our pants down."

"I'll supervise our progress myself, Captain," said Commander Roux. Her steady, deep voice calmed Silas more than anything else.

Lieutenant Teya Ackeela turned to him from her pilot's seat. Her hands were still trembling from the adrenaline rush. "You think they'll be back soon?" It had taken all her skill to avoid the pods in their brief encounter. She wasn't looking forward to having to do it again.

Silas shook his head. "I don't know, but I highly doubt they'll wait for us to get reinforcements."
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"Report," said Chakotay as soon as he set foot in astrometrics. His brisk pace stopped at the sight on the view screen.

Ensign Clemens tapped in a command and brought up a list of data to the side of the view screen. "We don't know what it is yet, but we're working on it."

Seven kept her attention on her console. "I believe we may have an explanation for Species 8472's actions."

"You have no idea what that is?" He slowly came up beside Seven, his attention focused on the display of the Mud Hole. In the centre of the brown waves was an image of an alien structure.

"I'm not sure. It appears to be the source of the theta radiation."

"Let's see." Chakotay took a console and began looking through their scans with them.

An hour later and they all stood shoulder to shoulder, looking up at their findings, which still explained next to nothing. "If this is what they're hiding, why did they allow us to get so close?" asked Seven. "They allowed us to take a sample and leave."

"There's something else going on here," said Clemens.

Chakotay nodded. "Let's keep looking."

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The next meeting took place on Voyager and had a dismal-looking crew. Captain Silas and Commander Jule had transported over from the Regulus. Chakotay, Tom, Fergus, and Seven filled the spots for Voyager. Only Geordi La Forge was left from the Enterprise's senior staff, awake and able to attend the briefing.

No messages had yet been received from Starfleet, but at least they now knew why. Silas' operations officer, Lieutenant Ael Dykstra, had discovered a dampening field blocking messages from coming in and out of the area. It was anyone's guess as to how long the dampening field had been up or how far it extended.

"Okay, so they're opening rifts from fluidic space and attacking anyone in the region," said Fergus. "Why?" He spread his hands. "There's nothing out here. What are they doing?"

Commander Jule, the Regulus' security officer thumbed through a Padd. "They destroyed a planet that posed no threat to anyone."

"They gave no warning whatsoever," said La Forge, "and disappeared when they thought the Enterprise was destroyed. They have no base set up, no planets occupied or people conquered. The only major casualty in over two weeks is Beta 12. This is a strange way to wage war."

"They must be waiting for something," said Commander Jule.

Captain Silas nodded. "We'll have to estimate a time of assault. It won't take forever for them to gather enough ships and supplies to attack and Starfleet will need to be ready. Is there any way to anticipate sooner when one of those rifts will open?"

"Yes," said Tom. "Our scans showed they produce the same radiation we found in the Mud Hole when they're about to open."

"They're hiding something."

The group turned to look at Seven, who had thus far been silent, watching the meeting with an impassive stare. There was a blinking console on the wall behind her.

"Care to elaborate?" said Silas.

As Seven spoke, she felt Chakotay watching her. The knowledge that his eyes followed her was partly pleasurable in that she felt cared for. However, it also brought pain as his company was something she had to give up. She pushed the feelings away and ignored his gaze.

"Species 8472 would not waste time destroying one planet at a time. Their methods include wide scale attacks on entire systems. Once they have succeeded in their first attack, they immediately move on to the next area. They live and work as a collective. They don't need to wait for reinforcements or more ships to be readied if they have already begun an attack. None of their actions are those of a species about to begin war with a galaxy. The logical conclusion is that there is something here and only here they are protecting."

Silas and his senior crew stared at Seven as though they were only now really seeing her. Silas took in the metal implants and her straight back. "You have something in mind, don't you?"

"The rifts are portals to fluidic space, but they don't remain as the Mud Hole does. Past rifts from and into fluidic space didn't produce the same materials as these phenomenona. Any products that did appear from the rifts into fluidic space dissipated after moments."

Seven nodded to him and Chakotay took over. He took a deep breath, steeling himself to explain what he knew was more speculation than tested fact. "We believe Species 8472 is going to use a different method to eliminate us. Beta 12 was just the beginning. If they change this universe into fluidic space, nothing will survive. They won't even have to expend the effort of attacking."

Silas folded his hands, curious. "It's an interesting theory, but we have no evidence."

"Yes," said Commander Jule, "and I thought in your own analysis of the material making up the Mud Hole you said it resembled but was not the same material as fluidic space."

"It is similar, but not the same. The Doctor and I concur it must be a precursor to fluidic space."

"That really is quite a leap. How do you know they are planning something so… well, diabolical?" asked Silas. "They could just be building their version of a spaceport, readying for fleets."

Chakotay shook his head. "No, she's right. They don't need spaceports. They can open those rifts anywhere."

Silas frowned. "Still, you don't look like the type to speculate on wild ideas. What made you think of this?"

Seven raised the Padd she brought from Voyager and slid it down the table to the captains. Silas picked it up and looked through its contents. "I continued to study the Mud Hole after we left," said Seven. "It has been growing in size since we arrived. In one more hour its circumference will have doubled."

Looking as grim as the news they had all received, Commander Jule folded his hands in front of him. "How quickly is it growing?"

"Within three days, it will encompass the whole system," said Seven so quickly it was as though she had expected to be asked that question. She allowed the others their mumbling and sour looks before continuing. "I used Voyager's deflector to enhance scans of the nebula and I found this." She reached over to the console, mounted on the wall and pressed a button. An image of a small, brown structure came up. It was almost indistinguishable from the surrounding nebula and was of the same design as Species 8472's vessels, but looked like a mini space station.

"I thought you said they don't make stations," said Silas.

"They don't," said Chakotay. His gaze shifted between Seven and the structure. "So, what is it?"

"I believe it is the device producing the nebula - or fluidic space. I have analyzed it as much as possible and it appears no larger than the Delta Flyer. It is drawing its energy and the materials for the nebula from a rift into fluidic space itself."

"Beta 12," said Fergus, "did you find anything to explain why it was destroyed?"

She fingered the controls once more and a number of various lines indicating radiation waves appeared. "These," she pointed to a set of steady lines, "are usual for systems such as this." She pointed to a drastically different set of lines with extreme peeks and dips. "This is not usual. It is a mixture of radiation and alternating energy signatures."

Tom looked worried. "Is that being emitted now?"

The corner of Seven's lips turned up in a ghost of a smile. "No. These readings were taken by the Enterprise upon their arrival in the system. I downloaded the files while onboard doing repairs. However, these radiation levels are not dangerous and are already dissipating. Here," she pointed to a small line hidden behind all the others. "It is a signature from a massive weapon discharge, likely from a number of Species 8472's vessels firing together."

The two captains looked to each other.

"I think it's fair to say we're not safe anywhere," said Silas with an ironic smile. "We might as well stay here and destroy that thing before everything becomes fluidic space."

Chakotay looked around the table at the worried, but determined faces. Silas and Commander Jule appeared to be unsure. He could already see the ideas spinning around in Tom Paris' head. "I'm open to suggestions."

"Nanoprobes," said Tom. Everyone stared at him, but he looked to Seven, who dipped her head in acknowledgement.

"I can modify a weapon to disperse the nanoprobes and close the rift if it is detonated from inside the structure."

"It worked before." Chakotay met the gazes from around the table.

"If we go near them, they'll destroy us," said Commander Jule. Both he and Silas looked skeptical. "How are we going to get close enough?"

"We'll find a way," said Chakotay.

"We need to make sure we cover all bases," said Silas. His gaze darted to Seven and back to Chakotay.

Chakotay narrowed his eyes, wary as to where this was going. It was only natural to get edgy over using nanoprobes, especially since Silas had so little experience with them. "Just what do you have in mind?"

"I think we need to revive Picard, get his input on the matter." Again, his gaze flickered briefly to Seven and back again. "He knows this territory and the enemy's tactics. Maybe he knows something that could help us."

Commander Jule backed up his captain. "No offence, but he's the one who's managed to dodge these creatures for over two weeks."

"As you know, Picard is unconscious in our sickbay, awaiting surgery, as is Commander Riker and a good number of other crew members," said Chakotay calmly. "Besides, we've had experience dealing with Species 8472."

"And you had to resort to using nanoprobes then as well," said Silas.

"Your point?"

"I'd rather not have to use that sort of method. I don't trust the technology."

"Borg technology is dangerous at the best of times," agreed and if I remember correctly, it doesn't leave any survivors."

Chakotay nodded, "I understand and I don't like the idea of waging all out war either, but we may not have any choice. We had an accord with them in the Delta Quadrant, but something obviously changed. Trust me, if they attack, we'll need every advantage we can get."

Silas shook his head. "There has to be another option."

"If you have an idea, I'm more than willing to hear it."

Silas took a closer look at Seven of Nine. His forehead crinkled as he narrowed his eyes a bit.

Seven stared right back. "You do not trust that the nanoprobes will be used… wisely."

"No offence," said La Forge, "but nanoprobes aren't something we've had luck in dealing with and --"

"And I am not someone you've had any experience with," Seven interrupted. "Is that correct?"

"I don't intend to start a war or destroy them," Chakotay assured the table. "In our experience," he gestured to the Voyager crew, "they know when they're outgunned and nanoprobes have always done the trick."

"And your last experience with them led to you handing over information on your nanoprobe weapons," said Jule. "How do we know they haven't already adapted, created defenses?"

"We don't." Chakotay looked to Seven, who raised her chin ever so slightly as though to say she was up to the challenge.

"We'll just have to adapt," said Tom.

Chakotay turned his attention to the Regulus crew and Geordi La Forge. "We can control the yield, keep the casualties to a minimum and Seven can program the nanoprobes to shut down once they've done their job." He held their gazes until they all nodded, assenting to his judgment. "What we have to figure out now is how to deploy them."