Chapter 13
Surrounded
After that shaky start, we warped in the JumpGate to the Delta Quadrant. I sighed, already feeling the weight of command. I tapped my commbadge. "Lieutenant Paris, what the status?"
"Everything is holding up exactly as it should."
The bridge rumbled. "What about the dampeners?"
"I'm trying to reroute power to the system, but it won't last."
I sighed. "Janeway out." I turned to Commander Solares. "Is it me, or is this bumpier than it was going to the Alpha Quadrant?"
"It isn't you. You're right." He looked at me. "Should we-"
"Kim, open a channel to all of the ships."
"Aye, Captain. Channel open."
"This is Fleet Captain Janeway. I would advise you to get your weapons ready. Once we get out of this Gate we might be surrounded by ships. I don't want to take any chances."
I motioned for Kim to close the channel.
"We've got some hails, Captain. I guess you want to answer them?"
"First come, first served. Go ahead." I stood.
"This is General Kovar. I demand to know why you want to do this. We're having a hard time already keeping us from being smears on this ship."
"I don't want any of us to be surprised. The Borg might already know our intentions-"
"How do they know about our intentions?"
"One of the JumpGates is in their space. They might try to destroy them all, since it is a threat."
He nodded. "I understand."
Then Sleya came on. "There is nothing on sensors currently. Why do-"
"As I said to Kovar, I want no one to be under prepared when we arrive in the Delta Quadrant. There might be Borg in the vicinity."
"Yes, Fleet Captain." He closed the channel and then Admiral Janeway came up.
"Admiral Janeway, I've told-"
"No, no, I understand the weapons, I hailed you so I can congratulate you on your first effective order."
"Thank you, Admiral. I don't expect this to promote myself to Commodore." I sat down, and she closed the channel. "Any more, Kim?"
"No, Captain."
I sighed and sat down, rubbing the bridge of my nose. "It'll be nice if I had a cup of coffee right now."
Robert handed me one. "Complements of the replicator."
"Thanks, Robert." I kissed his cheek, and sipped the coffee, grateful of its warmth.
"No problem." He squeezed my hand. I looked at him.
"Robert..."
He smiled. "Yes, honey?"
"My hand?"
He let go with a grin, then as quickly raised my head up and kissed me.
The bridge rumbled forcefully, and then stopped.
"We're out of the Gate, Cap-" Paris started. "Oh. Well, Captain..."
Robert let go, softly. I looked around at the amazed bridge.
"Sorry," I said quietly. "Yes, I know-"
"Five Borg cubes are coming our way, Captain!"
"Red alert. T'Vela, charge weapons, and put multi-adaptive shielding online."
"Yes, Captain."
"Kim, open a channel on the ships. This is Captain Janeway. I want everybody to target a cube. One cube to a ship. T'Vela, fire at the lead cube."
But the Borg fired first.
"We are the Borg. Lower your-"
"Shut up, I get the damn point." I grinned ferally. "T'Vela, fire at their transwarp array."
Then the Borg Queen appeared on our viewscreen. "Lieutenant Commander Janeway. How nice to see you again." That voice froze me to the spot.
"It's Fleet Captain now. How's it going in the collective without me? Still virtually perfect?" I laughed. "What? Borg got your tongue?"
"You act like your mother. That'll be your demise."
"Demise my ass. Acting the way you are, you won't last for a year. Fire."
The cube exploded, taking out two other cubes.
"Well done, One of Seven, but can you defeat the next wave? Next time, I won't be so lenient."
"My name's Kate Janeway, and don't you forget it." I cut the channel off on my console. "Sheesh, she insists on calling me that. Fire at will, T'Vela.
The ship shook, and I fell into Robert's lap. Consoles blew apart, including the one on our chair. Robert covered me from the glass.
"Captain! Shields at 75 percent!"
I tapped my commbadge. "Reroute power to phasers and shields!"
"One step ahead of you, Captain. Already done that."
"There's three more coming, Captain. Spheres."
"Evasive maneuvers. Open a channel to Voyager! Admiral Janeway, we need some backup!"
"Audio only."
From what I heard, they ended up worse than us. I heard sparks fly, and fires being put out.
"We're on it. B'Elanna, have you finished configuring the phasers?"
"Yes, Admiral."
"Tuvok, fire at will."
The cube exploded from the phaser shot, but the spheres kept advancing.
"T'Vela, is your console operational?"
"Yes, but the sensors got knocked out. I'll have to switch to manual."
"Quickly, and then target and fire. Colin, get underneath Voyager."
"Captain?"
"That's an order!"
"Kate, if our ship-" Admiral Janeway started.
"I'll do anything to get rid of them, and if it takes getting underneath Voyager I'll do it. Tell Paris over there to follow us exactly."
"Aye, Fleet Captain," Captain Paris said.
"270 mark 20, Captain Paris. Target lead sphere."
I saw the phasers fly towards the lead sphere, and it exploded in a fiery blast.
"Close the channel. Colin, one fourth impulse on a course to the fleet." I stood up and looked at the damage. "Report."
"Shields at 50 percent. No casualties or fatalities. No hull breaches. Structural integrity is at optimum efficiency."
I wiped the glass off my chair and sat down. I've cheated death today, but can I do it again?
"Kate?" Robert turned to me. "You're shaking." He put a hand on mine and squeezed, and this time I didn't protest.