DISCLAIMER: This author does not own Star Trek or any of its affiliates. He only owns his own story line and ideas.

CHAPTER 20

Romulus of Borg

Standing on the bridge Logan looked out over the bow as the carrier returned to normal space. The missing forward phalanx was not a pleasant thought, it would put a greater strain on the rest of the ship, but there wasn't much he could do about it because there just wasn't time to replace it. There was talk of updating it with a newer more powerful gun like the ones on the Enterprise and Cloud Williams, but nothing had been decided as of yet.

As they came into normal space he saw the Enterprise already engaged with the Romulans. The Enterprise battle group had just arrived and was getting into position to help. Logan picked up the receiver and pushed the button for CIC: "Bridge to CIC" he called out. "CIC" Cmdr. Williams replied. "Commander train the 16 inchers on the lead Romulan ship and fire." Marsha responded with "Do you think it will do much damage at this distance?" "I don't know, but it least it will draw some fire off of the Enterprise so that her battle group can get into place" Logan replied. "Do you want upper and lower?" came the reply. "Yes," he said "all six barrels."

He looked out the window and saw the upper turret moving to 110o and then a deafening sound as the first gun was fired, and fire and smoke emitted from it. Then the second, then the third. The same came from the lower turret. As the six 16 inch bullets made their way to the lead Romulan ship the Romulans stopped firing on the Enterprise just as Logan had hoped that they would. With the ship at GQ, and FQ Logan gave the orders to launch fighters as soon as the Hancock was in striking distance. He saw a plasma torpedo coming at them so he gave the command "90o to Port now." The large ship started turning to port and the 5 inch gun turrets on the starboard side started firing at the torpedo.

In CIC the weapons officer was walking around he heard "Vampire, Vampire Vampire, target coming in hot kill it with cwis" and at that moment both of the Phalanx's on the starboard side exploded expending 3000 shells per minute. Hancock stayed in her turn and when the torpedo got within range it was hit by the steady stream of fire of both phalanxes' and it exploded, but when it did the plasma from it continued to head for the ship.

On the bridge Logan saw that the ship was going to take a hit so he hit the button for ship-wide and yelled "All hands brace for shock." Then the plasma hit the side of the carrier, causing corrosive damage just behind the forward phalanx. The ship shook slightly, but there were no fatalities and damage was minimal.

Logan then ordered the helm "Go back to 110 and continue course." Hancock continued on towards the fight. She was now within striking range and he gave the order "Launch all fighters." As he looked at the monitors he saw raptors speeding down the catapults and f35s heading out of the angle deck.

Tomalak was amazed that the torpedo that he had sent had been destroyed, but now it was too late to try to take on the Hancock again. It was too close and their battle group was just beginning to show up. That meant that he would have to fight six battle ships 4 destroyers ; 2 cruisers, and 4 ATS's along with two of the newest carriers that these people had. This was certainly something he was not prepared to do. He decided to try to take the Enterprise out, so he gave the order to focus all attention on the Enterprise.

Ramona Sanchez saw what Tomalak was getting ready to do so she closed the blast shield on the bride and CIC. She knew just how dangerous those plasma torpedoes were. That was what took our her father's ship (the San Diego) 30 years ago. He was on the bridge and one of Tomalak's torpedoes was fired at it and just as it neared the ship they finally hit it, but the plasma continued on, hit the bridge and ate through the glass, killing everyone on the bridge, including her father. With the bridge out of commission the rest of the ship was easy.

Admiral Loomis looked at her, and she looked back and said "What? I'm not falling for that, he's not getting this ship." Bill grinned and said "No wonder they chose you as captain."

Logan saw the lights go out of the bridge on the Enterprise and he knew that Ramona had sealed the bridge up. "Good for her" he thought. He looked at his father and he said "I think I'll do likewise. We can use cameras and still see all around us." The admiral gave an approving nod, and Logan ordered the blast shield on the island to be lowered and he began using his monitors to maneuver the ship.

As Hanna entered the battle zone she began firing her large 16 inchers again and again. She then fired her Tomahawk missiles. The sky looked like the fourth of July with the explosions and gun fire. The Romulans had already lost 3 warbirds, and they appeared to be backing away when it happened.

"Admiral, look" came the reply from one of the deck officers. "I don't have time to look, can't you see that I am engaged in battle?" came the response from Tomalak. At that moment he heard "We are the Borg, lower your shields, and we will add your technological and biological advancements to our own. From this moment on your culture will adapt to service us. Resistance is Futile." Tomalak stood there dumbfounded. All the communiques about the Borg being in this sector were true. He thought the Empire just didn't want him coming here to start a fight.

"What do we do, Admiral? What do we do?" Tomalak turned to give the order to retreat, but it was too late the Borg were already on board all of their ships and were well underway simulating them. He send a message to the American Fleet begging for help, and he saw the fleet attacking the Borg cube.

Logan saw the cube come on to his screen and he ordered all fighters to leave off the attack on the Romulans and attack the cube. The Enterprise gave their fighters the same order. At that moment the two carriers and their battle groups took on the massive cube which rather than get into it with them again, made the jump into hyperspace taking the remaining 28 Warbirds with them.

The shields on the bridge and CIC opened up so they could see the damage. 7 warbirds were left burning or destroyed, but there was no way to tell if there was anyone alive on them or not. Several messages were sent out to them, but no replies were received. Therefore it was decided that all had perished in those seven ships. After all fighters were recovered the two battle groups began their journey home. Logan gave the order "Flank speed for home, let's stay with the fleet."

Tomalak fired his disrupter and killed the first and second Borgs, but they had adapted by the third. He pulled his knife and went hand to hand with one of them, but this showed to be a fruitless effort as the borg was stronger and faster. Tentacles came out of the Borg's hand and caught Tomalak by the throat, Tomalak could feel the nanites throbbing into his blood system. The tentacles were then withdrawn and Tomalak, just like all the rest of the Romulans, submitted and followed the directions that were given to him.

He could hear thousands of voices all at once. At first it was disconcerting, but it didn't take long until it made perfect sense. All these voices were saying the same thing; they all had one goal, one purpose, one allegiance. There were no individuals, no personality squabbles; all was in perfect unison. Tomalak thought "Finally I have found perfection, and I have found it in an enemy I once hated and feared. What
is there to fear?" Then that was the last individual thought he had. From that point on his thoughts were theirs and their thoughts were his.

2 Weeks later:

When the fleet was docked at the ship yard, liberty was granted to all except the duty roster. Logan and Marsha met Mary and Stephanie at the Space Station and they went out with the two parents to eat that night. Stephanie wanted to know what happened in the battle with the Romulans. Logan smiled and slowly shook his head and said "Well, we were fighting when the Borg came along and broke it up." Mary looked at him and said "Broke it up?" "Yeah," Logan said, "they took the remaining Romulans with them. It was Stephanie that quipped "Romulus of Borg?" and everyone laughed, but Logan knew that those Romulans, no matter how terrible they were, were going to be assimilated. Jack said "The thing that bothers me the most is that Tomalak hates us, and if he is assimilated then I'm afraid he might just bring the whole Borg fleet down on us."

At 0700 Marsha met with Logan at Fleet Command in D.C. "Did you receive a call to meet here?" she asked. "Yep," he replied. "Any ideas?" she asked. "Nota" came the reply. A female officer came out and said "You both may come in now" and they followed her in. They saluted the Admiralty and then stood at attention. Admiral Nagata began "After much deliberation we have decided that giving command of the Cloud Williams to Cmdr. Williams at this time is the best course of action. Cmdr. Williams you are as of this moment promoted to the rank of Captain, and you are also promoted to command of the USS Cloud Williams. Captain you are out of uniform, get it fixed and report to the Cloud Williams as its new commanding officer.

Marsha stood there, speechless, and Logan nudged her and she woke up and said "Thank you sirs! I won't disappoint you, I promise you." Nagata said "I'm sure you won't. Welcome to Command."

They walked out and as they walked down the hall in silence Logan chided "Nothing ever changes huh? Marsha turned and said "Okay I was wrong, some things do change." Logan said "They just needed the time to come to this decision on their own. Now you had better go and get your new insignia and go clean out your cabin and get over to your new command."