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

Chapter 28

Red Herring

On the bridge of the Hancock Jack and Logan were looking out the windows watching the unusual shaped ships coming at them, firing powerful plasma canons. Each time the plasma balls hit the carrier it weakened the shields around the ship and shook the ship. The Missouri was firing all of her 16" guns as well as her 8". The attackers still had not identified themselves, and Logan had no idea who they might be, but given the fact that they hadn't been in space very long it could be anyone.

Logan ordered flight ops to launch the 64th squadron (the Jolly Rogers). He watched them launch and go into formation. As they drew closer to the attackers Capt. Lonigan (the CAG) said "Alright boys and girls, let's go in and make a difference here. Break off in twos and stick close to your wingman. Now break" and the fighters broke off into groups of twos. Logan was listening to the chatter on the fighters frequency as they talked back and forth. The 16" guns were firing as fast as they could be reloaded. All guns including all of the 2" guns that were usually used for firing exploding ammunition; only now they were firing regular ammo, were being fired.

Suddenly all of the monitors were interrupted with the words "We are the Borg, Lower your shields and we will add your biological and technological advances to our own. From this time your culture will service us. Resistance is futile." There was a moment of silence then…"What are they talking about? These are not Borg ships!" shouted Widowmaker. Bomber said "they look a little like Romulan ships, but they are different from those too." Then Lonigan cut in "cut the chatter and pay attention. Race Horse you need to get back into formation, get back on Night Hawk's wing and stay there." "Black Rose, Black Rose you've got a plasma ball coming right up your six, evade, evade" came the call from Skull. Rose started evasive maneuvers but she couldn't seem to shake the plasma ball that was zeroing in on her fighter. Right then a missile came out of nowhere and took the ball out. "Good shootin, thank you" Rose shouted. Lonigan said "That's alright, but if you get out of formation again I may just be tempted to let the next one get you. Understood?" "Clear as a bell sir" Rose replied. Rose made a starboard turn around one of the vessels and took aim. She got tone and said "Fox 2" and simultaneously pushed the button. A rocket left her fighter and pushed out ahead of her striking the ship amid-ship along the spine of the ship. "We just lost Wild One, We just lost Wild One" "Did anyone see him eject?" Lonigan asked? "No nothing, he just exploded. "Okay kids take this seriously, stick close to your wingman and stay in formation. Rose you are out of formation again." "Sorry sir I…" suddenly her ship exploded into a fiery ball. Lonigan's stomach jerked and shouted "ROSE!" Lonigan unleashed fury on the ship that sent the plasma ball that took her out. This was her first mission; she was a rookie and didn't deserve to die like that. He sent two sidewinder missiles and a volley of bullets at the bridge of the ship as he made what seemed like a suicide run at it.

Logan and Jack looked at each other knowing how Lonigan felt about losing anyone, and especially a rookie, but the life expectancy of a fighter pilot is only one mission, and anything after that is icing on the cake. As they sat there they saw a bright flash of light and then two Borg Cubes entered the area and joined the fight. Logan picked up the receiver and called flight control and said "Release the Dogs." "Yes sir" came the reply. Within seconds Logan could see F/A 37 Talons being launched. The Talons were new, and instead of shooting bullets they had a laser generator that would shoot short spurts of a laser beam produced by the fighter. This made the fighter lighter and easier to manage. As the Talons raced to the battle Hancock and the fleet continued to fire their guns and missiles. Suddenly there was a call from DC central: "DC central to bridge." "Go ahead Central" Logan replied. "Bridge we have a fire in number 2 hanger bay, we need firefighters on it." Logan looked at the Boatswain's Mate and gave an approving nod, and Boatswain's Mate blew his whistle and then stated "Fire, Fire, Fire…Fire in number 2 Hanger Bay fire in number 2 Hanger Bay. Muster up the Fire Brigade." The clanging of the claxon continued when a call from CIC came in: "CIC to Bridge." "Go ahead CIC" Logan said. "Sir we have 6 signatures coming from astern" the voice said. "Are they Borg?" "No, sir,…I think they might be…yes they are…they are Star Fleet ships." Logan looked at Jack and said "I guess your call peaked their curiosity." Then a call came in "Hancock this is Enterprise calling, do you copy?" Logan breathed a sigh of relief and said "Yes sir Captain, good to hear your voice. Can you help us?" Captain Picard replied "That's the plan. I have the Titan, the Lexington, the Yorktown, the Hood, and the Saratoga with me and the Voyager is bringing several ships with her. What is your situation?" Logan replied "We have a fire in number 2 hanger bay, but we are in the process of getting it under control."

With that the Star Fleet ships joined in the fight firing phasers and photon torpedoes. The battle continued on with neither side giving in. The Jolly Rogers had lost half its squadron and the Pukin Dogs had lost 4. Hancock released a volley of Tomahawk missiles from the vertical launcher. They were extremely effective against the smaller ships, but the cubes were much more difficult to disable.

Another call came in from CIC: "CIC to bridge." "Go ahead CIC" Logan replied. "Sir we just got a message from Fleet Command, 9 Borg cubes are attacking the fleet in the Omega sector" came the reply. "Is it a valid message, I don't want to be lured away by another false message" Logan replied. "Sir," came the reply "we are validating it at this time" came the reply. Logan said "Have Lt. Cmdr. Meyers bring it to the bridge." He heard the hatch, from below, open and then he watched Lt. Cmdr. Meyers and Lt. Andersen come up the ladder. Meyers was holding a piece of paper in one hand and a plastic card in the other. When she reached his side she broke the card in half and pulled the paper out and read the numbers "A-T-E-D-C-O-M. The message has A-T-E-D-C-O-M. It is a valid message sir." Lt. Andersen said "I concur, it is a valid message." Logan said "I concur, it's valid."

Logan opened up the communications to the Enterprise: "Hancock to Enterprise." "Go ahead Captain" Picard said. Logan said "We have received a valid message about a Borg attack against our Fleet in the Omega sector which places our home world in danger, we have been ordered to rendezvous with our fleet to help with the battle against 9 Borg Cubes. Will you be able to take care of these without us?" Picard replied "Absolutely, You need to get home and help defend it. We'll take care of these guys and then we'll be along shortly." "Thank you Captain" Logan said.

Jack took the receiver and gave the following order to the rest of their fleet: "All Navy ships you are ordered to jump back to the Omega Quadrant and meet up with the fleet in the Omega Sector to help fight against the Borg attack. McDaniel out." Jack watched the Missouri disappear into a flash of light then the John Paul Jones, then the Los Angeles and finally the Seattle all disappeared in a flash of light.

Logan pushed the button for flight ops: "Bridge to Flight Ops." "Go ahead Bridge" came the reply. "Flight ops, we are leaving because our home world is under attack, so I need you to recall all fighters" Logan said. "Understood sir" came the reply.

Captain Lonigan was trying to gather what was left of his squadron together when he got the call: "Flight ops to all fighters, return to the ship, combat landing. Our home world is under attack. All fighters return to ship immediately." Demon said "You've got to be kidding! This is a Red Herring? Let's go home." As the fighters circled around to the rear of the ship they began lining up for combat landings. Both landing bays were prepped and ready and the combat landings started. The landings started with two fighters landing at the same time, one in each bay.

Once all fighters were aboard, Logan ordered the ship to get ready to jump. As the computer counted down Logan sat back in his seat and braced himself as he felt the compression of the ship as it began the jump. Then in an instance the Hancock disappeared into a flash of light.