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

Chapter 27

Ambush In The Alpha Quadrant

Four Months Later…

Seaman Recruit John Q Smith stepped on to the shuttle and took a seat between his two permanent Marine guards. His punishment for his crimes against humanity was that he would serve aboard a starship cleaning heads. During the day he would be at his work station and his guards would be within shouting distance. After working hours he would be escorted back to his cell where he would spend his time off. His food would be delivered to him, he would eat alone, he would work alone, and he would live alone. He was to have no human contact other than his guards. It was not something that he enjoyed doing, but it was either that or spend the rest of his natural life in Leavenworth Federal Prison in Leavenworth, Kansas. Here, at least, no one could bother him; while in prison he could be raped, beaten or even killed.

As the shuttle entered the Hancock hanger and settled in he suddenly had a really bad feeling in the pit of his stomach. He looked to his left, then his right and both Marines sat stone faced. The door opened and there stood Captain McDaniel. Q slowly stood up and the Marine on the left elbowed him and said "Don't you know that you are supposed to salute when an officer walks into the room?" Q gave a half-hearted salute and Logan returned it. He said "Take him to his cell, have him get out of his dress blues and into his work uniform, he needs to start to work immediately." Q didn't have any of his smart-alecky quips, and he was wishing that he had never had any; especially for this man. He feared the worst was yet to come, when Logan said "Keep your nose clean, stay out of trouble and you won't see much me; and believe me you don't want to see me. You do your job and everything will be all right." Q breathed easier and said "Yes Captain" and they walked off the shuttle and into the hanger.

"Captain McDaniel come to the Bridge, Captain McDaniel, come to the Bridge" came the call and Logan walked off towards the island to go to the bridge while Q and his Marine guards when down a ladder towards the brig. When Logan entered the bridge Lt. Cmdr. Meyers said "Captain you have an encoded call from Captain Picard of the Enterprise." He looked around and didn't see his father and asked "Has the Admiral made it aboard yet?" "Yes sir" came the reply from the helmsman, "He checked in about a half hour ago. Do you want me to notify him about the call?" "That won't be necessary" Jack broke in "there isn't much that goes on onboard this ship without my knowing about it. I am here." Logan looked at his father and smiled and Jack smiled back and Logan said "send it to my ready room," and they both headed off for the ready room.

When they got there Logan sat down at the table across from his father and he turned on the monitor and said "Go ahead send it in." Captain Picard's face came on the monitor and Logan said "It's good to see you again Captain, what can I do for you?" Picard said "I wish I could say this was a social call, but it isn't. There have been some rather disturbing changes in Star Fleet concerning those who have been assimilated by the Borg. Lt. Lansing, as you know, was assimilated at Wolf 359 and now this new faction that has worked its way into the Admiralty that wants to punish all those who were assimilated. Another person, Annika Hansen was assimilated when she was 8 years old and was freed from the collective by Admiral Janeway when she was in command of the Voyager, and she is being targeted as well. What I am wanting to know is if we meet at some mutual location if you can take Lt. Lansing and Ms Hansen and put them in protective custody until we can get hold of this problem."

Logan thought and asked "What does Admiral Janeway think about this?" Picard said "She was assassinated last week. They are getting rid of anyone who doesn't agree with them." Logan said "Of course we will take them in. What about you?" Picard smiled and said "Let them try, and they will have the Enterprise to fight." Picard gave the coordinates and Logan called them to the bridge. Jack had a troubled look on his face, he said "I don't know about this son…it is very peculiar that we haven't heard anything about this until now. Things like this don't just happen overnight, they take time. I spoke to Picard last week and he said nothing about this." "But dad, you saw and heard him yourself" Logan said. "I know, and that's what troubles me. How is our battle group set up for jumping?" Jack asked. "The Missouri is ready, the Seattle, the Los Angeles and the John-Paul Jones. The Sampson is not quite ready" Logan replied. "Well that's 99 per cent so we'll take them with us. I just don't like it. Now I need to contact fleet command, you go on to the bridge, I'll take care of the rest of it" Jack said.

Logan left the room and went back to the bridge and Jack got on the channel to fleet. When he returned to the bridge Logan asked him "How did they take it?" Jack chuckled and said "They weren't happy, but they agreed this is something we have to do, especially since Lt. Lansing helped us out so much when she was with us. Then he got on the IMC and punched the button for Ship to Ship and said "All ships of this battle group with the exception of the Sampson, we have sent you a set of coordinates, we are going to help Star Fleet's Enterprise, so everyone get ready to jump, but make sure that you are at GQ when you do, because something doesn't feel up to snuff here. McDaniel out." He looked at Logan and Logan took the receiver and pushed the button for shipwide and said:

"Now hear this, this is NOT a drill. General Quarters, General Quarters all hands man your battle stations. Starboard side up and forward, port side down and aft. Set condition Zebra throughout the ship. All department heads check in through DC Central."

The clanging of the Claxon continued as the ship went to battle stations. Logan said "Release all moorings and umbilical cords." A couple of minutes later Lt. Cmdr. Meyers reported "All moorings and umbilical cords are released sir." "Very well, let the tugs do their job now" Logan replied. Once out of dock all of the ships started their way towards the edge of the solar system. On their way out Logan ordered the ship to go to flight ops and to stand by to launch fighters. When they got past the solar system all the ships jumped to the coordinates provided. With a bright flash of light the ships emerged in the Alpha quadrant. The Seattle took its place in the rear, the Los Angeles took the front while the Missouri took the starboard side leaving the port side of the Hancock to be guarded by the John-Paul Jones.

They waited for 20 minutes and still no Enterprise. Jack looked at Logan and said "There is something wrong here, let's go to your ready room, I need to make a call." They both got up and went to the ready room. Jack pulled a card out of his wallet that had a number on it and started entering it into the computer.

Jean-Luc lay sleeping when he heard a beep, he awoke and pushed a button on the console and said "Picard here, what is it?" "Sorry to wake you sir, but you have an urgent call from an Admiral McDaniel" came the reply. "Oh okay, go ahead and send it in here" Picard said as he sat up on his bed.

Jack looked at the monitor and saw Captain Picard sitting on the side of his bed and he asked "Did I wake you captain?" "It's all right Admiral, what can I do for you?" Jack looked at him questioningly and said "We are at the coordinates that you gave us, but you are not here." Jean-Luc looked up in surprise and asked "What are you taking about?" Suddenly there was a shudder and then another. Picard asked "What's going on Admiral?" "We're under attack, I have to get off" and suddenly the transmission ended.

Jean-Luc called the bridge and the bridge officer came on "Can I help you captain?" "Yes, locate the coordinates of that call and also send them to the Titan and the Lexington and ask Captains Riker and Data to assist us. Then set course for those coordinates." "Yes sir" came the reply and Jean-Luc notified Star Fleet and got permission for the three ships to head to the coordinates to help the Hancock.