The Enterprise and the Borg ship both dropped out of warp and stood facing each other. The bridge of the Enterprise was now at red alert. "Captain, you are being hailed." Worf said, checking his console.

"I am?" Picard questioned

"Yes, Captain. By name." Worf confirmed

"Data, is it the same ship we faced at J-25?" Riker asked

Data checked his console. "Uncertain, Commander." he answered, "But the dimensions are preciously the same."

"On screen." Picard ordered Worf, and the viewscreen showed the interior of the Borg ship; a vast chamber with stacks upon stacks of thousands of alcoves full of Borg drones. Picard began; "I'm Captain Jean-Luc..."

He was interrupted by the Borg Collective, millions of voices speaking as one; "Jean-Luc Picard, captain of the starship Enterprise, registry NCC-one-seven-zero-one-D, you will lower your shields and prepare to transport yourself aboard our vessel. If you do not co-operate, we will destroy your ship."

Picard ignored the demand. "You have committed acts of aggression against the United Federation of Planets." he said defiantly, "If you do not withdraw immediately..."

"You will surrender yourself or we will destroy your ship." the Borg interrupted, "Your defensive capabilities are unable to withstand..."

Picard signalled Worf to mute the transmission, who immediately did so. Riker and Shelby got to their feet and joined Picard by the viewscreen. "What the hell do they want with you?" Riker asked his captain

"I thought they weren't interested in Human lifeforms." Shelby added, "Only our technology."

"Their priorities seem to have changed." Picard replied. "Open." he ordered Worf

"Channel open." Worf acknowledged

Picard turned back to face the viewscreen. "We have developed new defence capabilities since our last meeting." he told the Borg, "And we are prepared to use them if you do not withdraw immediately from Federation space. If you do so immediately, I will agree to arrange a conference of our peoples at a neutral location."

Of course, this was just a bluff and Picard knew it was highly unlikely to work. Sure enough, La Forge came on the comm at that moment; "Captain, shields are being probed. I'm modulating nutation."

~8~

A tractor beam shot out of the Borg ship and lashed out at the Enterprise, but was deflected by the ship's shields.

~8~

"Captain, the Borg are attempting to lock onto us with their tractor beam." Worf reported

"Load torpedo bays, arm phasers." Picard ordered as he, Riker and Shelby headed back to their seats, "Lock co-ordinates on the source of the tractor beam."

"Shield status?" Riker asked

"Holding, sir." Data answered

"The nutation modulation has them confused." Shelby said smugly

Riker wasn't so optimistic. "They have the ability to analyse and adapt, Commander." he cautioned.

The ship gave a sudden lurch. "Shield modulation has failed." La Forge reported over the comm, "They've locked on."

Worf checked his console. "Shields are being drained." he warned, "90%, 80..."

"Trying to recalibrate nutation." La Forge announced. "Damn!" he said a moment later, meaning his efforts had failed.

"Shields have failed." Worf reported

"Fire all weapons." Picard ordered.

~8~

The Enterprise unleashed an intensive barrage of phaser fire and a full volley of photon torpedoes, enough firepower to pulverise an entire continent of a planet, but the Borg ship didn't suffer so much as a scratch and it's tractor beam continued to hold the Enterprise in it's vice-like grip.

~8~

"Their subspace field's intact." Ensign Piller reported from the bridge's aft science station, "The new phaser frequencies didn't even dent it."

"Reverse engines." Riker ordered Wesley

"Full reverse, sir." Wesley acknowledged, punching in the relevant commands in his console. "We're not moving." he said a moment later.

"Fire at will." Picard ordered Worf

"Launching torpedoes..." Worf acknowledged, "Phaser spread continuing."

"Still no damage to the Borg vessel, sir." Data reported.

~8~

The Borg ship sent a cutting beam at the Enterprise's stardrive section, slicing through the thick duranium composite hull like a knife through butter.

~8~

The impact from the cutting beam could be felt all the way through the ship to the bridge. "Warning: outer hull breach." the computer announced

Worf checked his console. "They are cutting into the hull, engineering section."

"Geordi, evacuate engineering." Riker ordered over the comm.

~8~

In engineering, La Forge was already doing that. "Computer, evacuation sequence." he ordered, and the evacuation alarm sounded.

"Sealing doors to core chamber." the computer announced as engineering staff all clamoured to get to safety.

"Move it, people!" La Forge urged as he heard the thunderous rumble of the cutting beam getting closer and closer each second, "Let's move it! Go, go, go!" The isolation door began to descend and La Forge dived under it, having made sure that everyone else was clear.

Just as the door came down fully and formed an airtight seal, La Forge heard a colossal rumble then the computer warning; "Decompression danger, deck 36 section 4. Sealing main engineering." La Forge knew what that meant; the cutting beam had breached the core chamber. Sure enough, he looked through the translucent panels in the isolation door to see a hole the size of a house in the chamber's back wall, though which he could see right through several other rooms into space beyond, where the bodies of several unfortunate crew members were floating lifelessly in the cold vacuum.

~8~

On the bridge, Shelby had a sudden idea. "Data, fluctuate phaser resonance frequencies. Random settings, keep them changing, don't give them time to adapt."

Data complied, his fingers working at a speed ten times those of organic beings could manage.

~8~

The Enterprise unleashed another furious round of phaser fire, this time with fluctuating frequencies. The shots struck the spot where the tractor beam was coming out of the Borg ship, causing a small explosion and the tractor beam broke off.

~8~

The Enterprise shuddered with the release of the tractor beam. "The tractor beam has been released." a relieved Worf reported

"Warp nine. Course, 151-mark-330." Picard ordered Wesley, "Engage!"

~8~

The Enterprise turned hard to starboard and warped away. The Borg ship quickly followed.

~8~

"They are in pursuit, Captain." Worf reported

"Maintain course." Picard ordered Wesley. He'd checked the region of space they were in and had an idea.

La Forge entered the bridge at that moment and took up position at the aft engineering station. "Damage report, Geordi." Riker asked him

"Hull rupture in main engineering. The damage is pretty heavy." La Forge replied grimly, "We lost a lot of good people down there." he sighed

"11 dead, 8 more unaccounted for, Captain." Data reported, checking the incoming casualty reports.

Both Picard and Riker's hearts grew heavy at this news. It was always a sad day when people lost their lives, but they knew they had a job to do. "Repair teams to engineering." Riker ordered into the comm, "Seal hull breach."

"They didn't get to the core. I can control functions from here." La Forge said

"Now approaching the Paulson Nebula, sir." Wesley announced

"Drop to impulse." Picard ordered, standing up and approaching the front of the bridge, "Take us in, Ensign."

~8~

The Enterprise headed towards the Paulson Nebula; a swirling purple cloud of dust and gasses.

~8~

"The field's getting too dense, sir." Wesley reported

"Steady." Picard told him and turned to Data. "Analysis of the nebula cloud, Mr Data?"

Data checked his sensors. "82% dilithium hydroxyls, magnesium, chromium. Should provide an effective screen against their sensors, Captain." he said, realising what Picard was planning.

"Mr La Forge, prepare to reverse engines." Picard ordered, "Full stop."

~8~

The Enterprise drifted into the nebula cloud and disappeared from view of the Borg ship which came to a stop at the perimeter of the nebula.

~8~

"The Borg ship is continuing scans." Worf reported, "Attempting to locate us."

"Good." Picard said, "As long they're looking for us... they won't hurt anyone else."

"Shut down all active sensors, passive scanners only." Riker ordered, "Deflectors to minimum emissions."

"We'll maintain position." Picard announced, then looked at Riker and Shelby. "Until we have a better idea."

~8~

Five hours after the Enterprise first began hiding in the nebula, a meeting was in session in the observation lounge. Shelby, Data, La Forge, and Wesley had been analysing the sensor logs of the confrontation with the Borg and had made a breakthrough. The monitor was showing a replay of the battle. "Time index 514." Shelby narrated, "Data starts to resonate phaser frequencies, the Borg beam breaks contact." She paused the footage. "Take a close look, Commander." she told Riker. "Mr La Forge?"

"There's a 2% power drop." La Forge explained as the footage played in slow-motion, showing a brief fluctuation in the Borg ship's power system. "Just for an instant, but it is system wide. The phaser frequency spread was in a high narrow band."

"Conceivably, the ship's power distribution nodes are vulnerable to those frequencies." Data chimed in

"If we can generate a concentrated burst of energy with that same frequency distribution..." La Forge said, "I mean a lot more than anything our phasers or photon torpedoes could ever provide..."

"How do we do that?" Riker asked

"The main deflector dish." Wesley replied

"It's the only component of the Enterprise designed to channel that much power." La Forge clarified

"Unfortunately, there is one slight detail." Shelby ventured, "In the process, the blast completely destroys the Enterprise as well."

Riker pondered the problem. "If we could far enough away..." he mused, "Increase the deflector's range..."

"It could work." Shelby nodded, "In the meantime, we should retune all phasers, including the hand units, to the same frequency."

"Proceed." Riker acknowledged, "I'll inform the Captain." He got up to leave but Shelby stopped him.

"There's one other recommendation I'd like to make, Commander." she said, "We should separate the saucer section, assign a skeleton crew to create a diversion."

"We may need the power from the saucer's engines." Riker countered. He knew that this deflector weapon would require every possible spare bit of power they could muster to make it work.

"But it would give them more than one target to worry about." Shelby persisted

"No, it's too great a risk."

But Shelby refused to back down. "I'd the Captain to make that decision."

"I bring all the alternatives to the Captain's attention, Commander." Riker told her coolly. "That'll be all." he dismissed everyone.

Shelby, Data and Wesley all left the room while La Forge lingered for a moment. "I'll need to install higher-capacity power transfers to the deflector dish, Commander." he said to Riker

"How long?" Riker asked

"Better part of a day." La Forge replied

Riker nodded his acknowledgement and turned to look at the retreating Shelby. "She gets a full head of steam up, doesn't she?" he commented, still bristling at Shelby's attitude.

"Yes, sir, she's a formidable presence to say the least." La Forge concurred, "But I'm convinced she can help us, Commander."

"I am too." Riker conceded, "Don't worry about it, I can handle Shelby."

~8~

A few hours later, Riker arrived at the door to Picard's ready room to deliver a report on the progress of repairs to the Enterprise. He rang the door chime. "Come." Picard's voice came from inside. Riker entered the room and promptly halted in the doorway when he saw that Shelby was in the room with the Captain. "Come in, Number One." Picard said calmly, "Commander Shelby was just telling me of your... concerns about her plan."

Riker felt an intense flash of anger at Shelby. "I'm sorry she troubled you, sir." he said to Picard, "I already informed her..."

"Yes, I entirely agree with you, Number One, it's not the time." Picard cut him off, "But the time may come when we will be required to take greater risks. I want you to consider her plan... as a fall-back position. Make the necessary preparations."

"Very good, sir." Riker conceded, then he and Shelby left the ready room.

They stepped out onto the bridge which was currently under Worf's command, with Lt. Bole at Ops, Ensign Jones at Conn, Lt. Mandalone at Tactical and Ensign Piller at Science I. Shelby entered the turbolift, Riker on her heels. "Deck eight, battle bridge." she said to the lift computer.

"Halt." Riker told the computer and turned to Shelby. "Commander, you and I need to have a conversation." he told her icily, having had enough of her disrespecting authority.

"You never ordered me not to discuss this with the Captain." Shelby retorted coolly

"You disagree with me, fine." Riker told her, "You need to take it to the Captain, fine. Through me. You do an end run around me again, I'll snap you back so hard, you'll think you're a first-year cadet again."

"May I speak frankly, sir?"

"By all means."

"You're in my way." Shelby told Riker

"Really?" he responded with an unpleasant smile, "How terrible for you."

"All you know how to do is play it safe." Shelby retorted snidely, "I suppose that's why someone like you sits in the shadow of a great man for as long as you have, passing up one command after another. Proceed to deck eight." she told the lift computer and the lift resumed.

"When it comes to this ship and this crew, you're damned right I play it safe." Riker said coolly.

"If you can't make the big decisions, Commander... I suggest you make room for someone who can." Shelby said nastily.

The lift arrived on deck eight and Shelby stepped out, leaving Riker fuming. He remembered a conversation he and Picard had once had, where Picard had expressed concerns that Starfleet was becoming arrogant and complacent and Shelby's attitude seemed to vindicate Picard's concerns.

Author's notes: And so the Borg have made their appearance. The confrontation was fun to write. Note that I dropped in some Easter eggs with the names of some background Enterprise crewmembers. Ensign Piller is named after the late Michael Piller, who wrote Best of Both Worlds and was showrunner of TNG from season 3 onwards, Lt. Bole is named after director Cliff Bole, Ensign Jones is named after Ron Jones, who composed the score for Best of Both Worlds and several other episodes from TNG's first four seasons, and Lt. Mandalone is named after stunt co-ordinator Dennis Mandalone. I also gave Ensign Piller a line which was spoken by Geordi in the original scene. For reference, I envision Piller as being the female science division officer who is visible working at the aft station during most of this episode's bridge scenes, while Bole is the female operations division officer seen sitting at Ops in several scenes, Jones is the male command division officer seen sitting at Conn in one scene and Mandalone is the male operations division officer seen at Tactical in the same scene. So, the action has hotted up now and stay tuned for more action soon.