Somewhere in the interstellar space of the Celes sector, the starship Kolibri continued on its course, unable to return to warp. Meanwhile, a series of repeated assaults from a swarming trio of Romulan T'Varo-class warbirds - each cloaking after discharging their forward weapons, only to reappear from another unexpected quarter - dogged its progress. Occasionally the weapons strikes from their disruptors and torpedoes would slam home, a critical hit against one system or another, but Kolibri's shields and systems resumed full status again in short order.

Just in front of this melee, at Kolibri's forward starboard side, the starship Repulse arrived out of warp-speed travel, followed closely by the larger Excelsior-class starship Tecumseh.

"Hailing frequencies," Captain Corlett requested.

"Open, sir," Lieutenant Commander V'Sar replied.

"This is Captain Avery Corlett of the Federation starship Repulse. To all belligerent craft in the immediate vicinity: this will serve as your only warning. Desist and depart, or be destroyed."

This was a line well-worn in the ears of Corlett's bridge officers - the precise same wording, on each they had engaged an adversary over the past four years. For some, like V'Sar, it was a matter of routine. But Tw'eak saw Lieutenant Sagittori, to her immediate right, shake his head, his expression pinched. "Every time," he muttered.

"No response to our hail," V'Sar noted. In the lowered light of the bridge during red alert, Tw'eak almost thought she saw concern in the Vulcan's facial expression.

"Full power to weapons - Mr. Sagittori, lock onto the nearest warbird and fire."

Sagittori looked down in alarm. "They've - they're all - they've all cloaked, Captain."

"Well, good. I'm more interested in that starship anyway."

Tw'eak looked down at the tactical console. "Take a look for weapons residue," she said to Sagittori. "They aren't leaving yet."

"Weapons residue?" Sagittori asked.

"Yeah. Plasma weapons - the heat of the emissions coils can sometimes be tracked right through a cloak, especially if they've fired recently. Plus, disruptors emit particles that we can track. Hybrid weapons mean two ways to search."

"I'll see what I can-"

"Mr. Sagittori," the captain said, "lay down a blind-fire pattern around - keep an eye out for weapon impacts."

Sagittori looked at Tw'eak. "Readying firing pattern," he said. His eyes were full of anxiety. Tw'eak quickly leaned over and read the tactical console, then input a refined sensor scan to seek heat patterns or other plasma trail residue. Within a few moments, teardrop patterns began to emerge in the space around Repulse. "Targeting - firing!"

While some of the shots from Repulse's beam arrays were obvious misses, other beams came to sudden, satisfying ends. It only took a moment for Sagittori to repeat the same firing pattern, and for the starship Tecumseh to join in, targeting impacts in the surrounding space with their own phasers. One of the warbirds decloaked, stricken, and turning towards Repulse, it opened fire.

"Stay with them," Tw'eak instructed. "Helm - turn and face!"

Ensign Koepka responded wordlessly, and Repulse came around to bring its torpedo tubes to bear. As the Steamrunner-class starship's forward beam banks fired, Tecumseh let loose with a torpedo spread of their own. Tw'eak reached across Sagittori to input a command to the torpedo - maximum, high-yield explosion. Within moments, the torpedo showed green - ready. As Repulse's phasers struck home once again, the warbird's shields buckled, then fell offline - just as Sagittori pressed the 'launch' button. Within moments, as Repulse sailed over, the warbird was devastated by the photon torpedo's impact, and rolled over, inert. Within its hull, the artificial singularity which powered it lost its containment, and the subsequent implosion sucked it, and the space around it, into oblivion. After a few moments of inescapable, uncontrolled gravity, the warbird was no more.

"One down," Sagittori said with satisfaction.

But Tw'eak saw the danger - the remaining two warbirds had emerged from their hiding, and were in a perfect firing position above, and behind, Tecumseh. "Close the range, helm."

The burst of the plasma disruptors, and a pair of high-yield plasma torpedoes, struck the upper shields of the starship Tecumseh. Undaunted, they fired back - their own dorsal phaser banks counter-punching into one of the warbirds. Sagittori locked onto the other as his target, and as Repulse came about, her weapons fire danced across the Tecumseh's shields, three of the five beams hitting the target warbird as intended.

"Lead them," Tw'eak said quietly to Sagittori. "Moving targets."

"I know, I know." Sagittori shook his head with frustration at having missed his shot.

Now the target warbird came directly at Repulse, breaking off from its counterpart, which began vanishing into its cloak - just as another of Tecumseh's phaser beams struck its warp nacelle. The cloaking effect became temporary as the warbird's shields attempted to re-engage, and the Romulan craft sharply changed course. Within moments, it leapt away at warp speed. That left one target remaining. As the last warbird crossed Repulse's beam, Tw'eak had already prepared the aft torpedoes to fire. Now, she let them loose, and they fanned outwards into a spread, converging near the evasive warbird with a satisfying burst of explosions that seemed to cause little damage.

The warbird came about, its few aft weapons locking onto targets, and sent a trio of high-yield plasma torpedoes hurtling towards Tecumseh, Kolibri and Repulse. After a moment's flight, it became clear that the intended target of the slow-moving torpedoes was Tecumseh. Captain Corlett turned sharply to Sagittori. "Target," he said, pointing to the torpedoes on the viewer.

Sagittori quickly input a firing solution and the phasers fired again, this time taking down two of the torpedoes. Tecumseh's own phasers were able to neutralize the third. But the warbird had vanished, using the confusion of the high-yield torpedoes in order to escape under cloak.

"The Romulans appear to be disengaging," V'Sar observed.

"They're legging it," Sagittori said confidently. "We showed 'em."

But Tw'eak wasn't so sure. She was about to say something when a much larger warbird - this one Scimitar-class - de-cloaked and came into sight the viewer, directly in the path of the starship Kolibri. In a moment, it had caught the Miranda-class vessel in a tractor beam - and two T'Varo-class warbirds decloaked on either side of it.

"We are being hailed," V'Sar said after a moment.

"Put it on screen." Corlett glanced back towards Tw'eak. "What's this about, I wonder?"

Tw'eak shook her head, concerned. Sagittori's pointing finger drew her attention to the tactical console. "Warbird shows to be the IRW Leahval." Tw'eak looked up at the screen. "That's impossible. That's Sela's flagship - it disappeared over Brea III..."

"Sensors indicate the Leahval is emitting thalaron radiation," V'Sar advised, as placidly as if she were offering a weather report. "Their weapons are currently armed."

"Thalaron-!?" Corlett stood up, involuntarily. "They can't be serious."

"They're locking weapons on the Kolibri," Sagittori added.

"Hail them!" Corlett pleaded.

After a moment, V'Sar tilted her head slightly. "No response."

"Can we engage them?" Corlett asked Tw'eak.

Tw'eak considered the scenario. There was no way she could see that they would all survive - the best-case scenario was that only one of the three starships would be destroyed, but taking down the Leahval, and its escorts, without loss, seemed incredibly long odds indeed. She shook her head. "Let me think."

"Captain!" Ensign Koepka cried out. On the screen, the telltale signs of a Scimitar building up to thalaron weapons deployment were evident - its 'wings' extended into a multi-part puffed-up appearance, rearing in space like a cobra. This explained why the T'Varo-class warbirds were staying to either side - the area in front of the Leahval was about to become subject to an intense bombardment of thalaron radiation, and in the process, any organic matter or other compounds caught therein would be annihilated.

"That's what they're after..." Tw'eak mused. The Borg technology aboard the Kolibri was their intended prize, and the thalaron radiation would ensure that none of the troublesome Starfleet personnel - if any were aboard - would stand in their way. Unless the Kolibri had some secret weapon to defend itself, it was doomed. Even its regenerative shield couldn't block the sheer volume of saturation it was about to produce. If only there was some other way to prevent the Leahval from -

"Helm!" Corlett called out. "Get us back to a safe distance."

"Belay that," Tw'eak said, her voice almost trembling with certainty. "Put us right in front of that ship."

"Are you insane?" Sagittori cried.

But Tw'eak didn't hesitate. She moved past the tactical console, to Koepka's side. "Put us right between them and the Kolibri."

"What if I don't want to?" Koepka asked, before meekly complying.

"Helm - do as I said and back us off," Corlett declared. "What in the hell do you think you're doing with my ship, Commander?"

Tw'eak looked past Corlett. "V'Sar, do we have any readings of a crew being present aboard that ship?"

"We have yet to establish communications with Kolibri's crew."

"Sensors? Is anyone aboard?"

"Uncertain," the Vulcan reported. "The Kolibri is running a scrambling field which I am unable to penetrate with our sensors."

"Even on the direct scans you had Raxx take," Tw'eak added. "Yet here are the Romulans, targeting them for a thalaron purge."

"Explain," Corlett demanded.

"Thalaron weapons destroy organic matter, specifically - with limited effect on inorganic material, such as most technologies. If that starship was unmanned, there would be no use. Aside from maybe bio-neural gel packs, the thalaron blast would be of limited effect against that ship - there'd be no one aboard to kill."

"We have not conclusively established that to be true.," V'Sar noted.

"No, but... it is true of the Borg. They're not just technology, there's a living, organic component." She raised a hand to Corlett. "Let me do this."

Corlett hesitated, then huffed.

"There isn't much time, Captain."

Corlett's sour expression was followed with a wave of the hand. "Go ahead."

"Go, Ensign," Tw'eak said, touching Koepka on the shoulder as she did. "Out in front."

The starship Repulse leapt forward. On the screen, the Leahval went from a distant, ominous shape to a threatening presence, filling the viewscreen.

"Hailing frequencies, V'Sar."

"I would remind the Commander that previous attempts have been made."

"I'm aware of that." Tw'eak looked back - not as much at V'Sar as at Corlett. "I think they'll be willing to talk to us, now that we've sent them a message they can't ignore."

V'Sar looked unimpressed - a typical Vulcan expression, but somewhat moreso than was typical. "Hailing frequencies open."

"This is the Federation starship Repulse hailing Imperial warbird Leahval. Stand down and disengage your thalaron weapons, or..." Tw'eak couldn't think of what to say for a split-second. Threatening them wouldn't work. Nor would appealing to their sense of morality or order. Order. That was it. "...or risk interstellar war."

Corlett shifted uncomfortably in his chair. Tw'eak could hear Sagittori take a deep breath.

"Use of thalaron weapons in Federation space will be regarded as an act of aggression - especially should said thalaron weapons destroy a Federation starship which has responded to the distress signal of another."

The screen blinked on. A seated Romulan in Imperial garb, his hairline receding, his face stunned, stared intently downwards upon Tw'eak. "You've taken leave of your senses, clearly."

"Who are you? Where's Sela?"

"Who are you to speak of our Empress in such an insolent manner?"

Tw'eak refused to answer. "I asked you first. Identify yourself."

"Subadmiral Caedus of the Imperial Romulan Navy. Now, who are you?"

"Me?" Tw'eak smiled, "I'm the one in your way."

"You have no idea what it is you're protecting - what you're laying down your life, and the lives of your crew, to protect."

"I don't need to know. That starship bears a Federation registry, as does mine. And you're in Federation space, carrying weapons banned by interstellar treaty."

"Scan the ship yourself! Are you blind?"

"Far from it. I can read - right there on the hull." Tw'eak gave a slight smile and continued in a sarcastically saccharine tone. "One of the nice things about Federation starship design - we print who we are on our ships, big number, right out front... United Federation of Planets."

"So you admit the Federation has fully integrated Borg technology aboard that starship. Or can you not see that, right out visibly on the ship, as well?"

"I admit nothing." Tw'eak's voice resumed its normal tone, deadly serious, and she pointed to a space beyond, indicating the Kolibri. "We don't know any more than you do. Our sensor readings are inconclusive, and yeah, maybe we'd like our answers. We don't typically get those answers by firing thalaron weapons first and asking questions later, however."

"We've known all along - for years - that the Federation were seeking to use Borg weapons and technology to their advantage. And now we have the proof we need."

"Proof of what, exactly? Your sensors are jammed, same as ours. What are you going to do, take a picture?"

Caedus ignored Tw'eak's point. "Putting an end to this abomination of a starship will be seen as proof of our goodwill, and that of the Star Empire we represent. Your time of concealing your despicable actions in a cloak of goodwill and self-defense will finally be exposed to the entire galaxy."

"We're not the ones in the wrong here, Subadmiral. Or need I remind you again?" Tw'eak narrowed her eyes. "You are in Federation space. Withdraw."

"This is your final warning," Caedus raged. "Get out of our way."

Tw'eak let a moment pass without saying anything. She took a closer look at her fingernails, taunting Caedus.

The Romulan took the bait, raging. "Did you not hear me? Move aside."

"I'm not the one who has to move, Subadmiral." She took a step closer. "Leave Federation space now or risk interstellar war," she repeated.

"So be it. Let the deaths of your crew be your legacy, then."

"I'm warning you again - withdraw, immediately." Tw'eak looked up for a brief moment, then added, "and consider that my final warning."

"Such foolishness! Do you realize what you're up against?"

"Do you?" Tw'eak tilted her head slightly, her voice rising, agitated. "This is Federation space, and this Federation starship is defying you, in defense of its own. Now, this defense of ours may not count for much, on its own, but your aggression against us - in this space, here and now - might just cost you everything. You pull that thalaron trigger of yours - go ahead - and Starfleet activates every resource at its disposal to see to it that you and your ridiculous Empire will live to regret your decision." Tw'eak paused for emphasis, her eyes widening. "Count on it."

"You-" Caedus laughed. "You really expect me to believe that?"

"Go ahead and pull that trigger, if you want to find out." Tw'eak stared into Caedus' eyes, intent. "But I've already signalled Starfleet Command of our situation here, and I'd imagine reinforcements are inbound." She smiled. "I'm gonna be nice, just this once, and remind you that I issued a final warning a few minutes ago. Release our vessel from your tractor beam and withdraw immediately." Her smile disappeared. "Or start thinking up the excuses you'll give to Sela."

A further reference to the Empress finally seemed to irk Caedus into shutting the conversation down. Tw'eak held her breath. The threatening posture of the Scimitar-class warbird remained unchanged on the viewscreen.

"Holy shit," Sagittori said before raising a hand in apology.

"That... was completely unnecessary, Commander," Captain Corlett advised.

Tw'eak turned slowly. "I disagree. If you object, I'll stand down."

"No... no, we're in it now." Corlett frowned.

"The warbirds appear to be disengaging," V'Sar advised.

Indeed, on the screen, the tractor beam hovering over Repulse, which had latched onto the Kolibri, had been released, and the Leahval made a slow, deliberate turn away, its escorts falling in behind it, as all activated their cloak with near-simultaneous precision.

"I said it before, but let me say it again," Lieutenant Sagittori said after a moment. "Holy shit."

Tw'eak crossed her arms and stared at Corlett. "What would you prefer I do instead, Captain?" She shrugged. "For next time, I mean."

"We'll discuss that in my ready room." Corlett stood and marched out, his tone seemingly furious.

Tw'eak stood there for a moment. "Gutsiest move I ever saw, ma'am." Sagittori's voice sounded deeply impressed. "I'm never playing poker with you."

"Yeah," Koepka added. "I thought we were all dead for sure."

"There are a lot of questions that need answering from all of this." Tw'eak looked to V'Sar. "Back me up on this if I'm wrong, but we had no way of tracking or even sensing the approach of the Kolibri until it sent a distress signal."

The Vulcan gave a brief nod. "That is essentially correct."

"Which leads me to ask - how the Romulans were even able to find them in the first place?"

"They would've had to know what they were looking for," Sagittori mused. "We know they're notorious for espionage."

"No, I don't think that's it." Tw'eak looked back to V'Sar. "I think they've given themselves away."

From behind V'Sar, the blue-skinned figure of Lieutenant Raxx stood up. "All Borg are in constant communication with each other," he said. "It's part of their collective identity."

"Presumably, the Borg technology aboard the starship Kolibri is also utilizing such a method of communication," V'Sar added.

"Exactly. Which means the Star Empire has Borg technology of their own that's in development."

"What?" Raxx was astonished. "That's quite a leap in thinking."

"Not at all. Partially or previously assimilated people will still hear the voices of the collective if they're close enough."

"So you're thinking the Tal Shiar are using Borg drones as..." Raxx was incredulous. "As hounds? To track our research projects?"

V'Sar raised an eyebrow. "That would be consistent with the commander's hypothesis."

"It's just a hypothesis," Raxx insisted.

"So find me proof," Tw'eak retorted. "Direct proof. One way, or the other. I'm willing to be wrong on this, but I don't think I am"

"But why did the Romulans attack that ship?" Koepka asked. "They didn't harm it - and it didn't shoot back."

"They were clearly trying to slow them down," Sagittori mused. "Long enough for thalaron smackdown."

V'Sar nodded. "It is equally plausible that they themselves have encountered a severe setback, in which case their assault would be intended to deny us progress they themselves were otherwise incapable of achieving."

"There's a reason they came looking for the Kolibri," Tw'eak added. "We need to figure it out." She took a few steps towards the captain's ready room. "Now... find me some answers - confirm or deny, just get me a solid reason why that all just happened." She turned. "I'll be in with the captain."