Emergency Chambers of the Federation Council, Paris, Earth; a few minutes ago, while Adria was fighting against Willow.
"Take it easy," Milly said as she deactivated her Lightblade and raised a hand into the air, silently signalling her Slayer Squad to deactivate their light-blades as well. They were faced with six officers from Starfleet Security after having exited the third turbo-lift from the council chambers deep underground Paris. Behind Milly, and surrounded by the Slayer Squad, were the frightened Council members… the very ones who had seen their colleagues cut down by weapons fire by the Kull Warriors.
They just entered the hallway on the final floor, the one before reaching the surface, after exiting the turbo lift and were heading for the fourth turbo-lift which would have taken them to the surface. In the middle of the hallway, the group heard the turbo-lift give off a 'ping' before the doors hissed open. As the doors opened, Milly and the other Slayers activated their Lightblades in case there were more Kull Warriors.
However, instead of Kull Warrior, inside the turbo-lift were several officers from Starfleet Security who aimed their phasers at the women. It was then that Milly, in relief, turned off the Light-blade in her hand and raised her hand while telling the officers to stand down, "we're friendlies."
"That doesn't explain the bodies in the main hallways on the main floor, and the bodies here," one of the officers said as he glanced at the dead bodies of the officers who were killed by the Kull Warriors and Adria earlier during their way to the location of the secured chambers.
"Lieutenant," said a voice from behind Milly as a hand fell gently on her shoulders. The young woman looked behind her and stepped aside as an older man in a white robe with pointed ears walked forward and stopped, "these women just saved the remaining councillors from an attack in the secure chamber."
"Am… Ambassador Spock," the officer who was pointing the phaser at Milly while the later stared at Spock in confusion as she wondered where she heard that name, "I'm sorry, sir. We were just notified that an enemy force broke into the secure chambers and that security teams were overwhelmed."
"There are many officers who have been killed," Spock said with an air of authority around him despite his calm demeanour, "these women were simply ordered by their superiors to escort us to safety. And that is where we were walking our way towards."
"And I'm guessing you're the cavalry," Milly asked staring at the officers.
One of the officers nodded before Milly and the other Slayers stood to one side and waved the frightened councillor towards the end of the hallway, and then to the Turbo-lift where there were already two officers in wait. She watched as one of the people, a middle aged human, was being carried out by two of the security team after taking his unconscious body from the arms of two councillors.
"Ambassador," an officer asked looking at the unconscious man, and then at the diplomat, "where is the President?"
"He is dead," Spock said to the surprise of the officers in the hallway. He then nodded at the man before looking back up at the Security officers, "the vice-president has been slightly injured by a plasma burst by the enemy forces these women dispatched and the ones that their superior officers are currently engaged in battle."
"Then my team and I should…." the Chief Security Officer nodded in the direction of the turbo-lift. He was going to take three members of his team to the lower chambers to stop the fighting, but his thoughts were interrupted by Milly.
"You really don't want to be down there," she said while wondering what Willow and Vala were doing to beat Adria, "trust me, you'll be getting in in General Rosenberg and Vala's way while they are taking down Adria. The General said she'll contact us by the time she was done, and if she's not done by now, then they're having a fight there that you are seriously not prepared for."
"I…."
"I have my orders to get these people out of here," Milly said staring at the officer and then at Spock, "which means I need to get you out of here as well, Ambassador." Milly then turned to the officers staring back at her, "and that includes all of you."
"But…."
"Lieutenant…" Spoke said staring at the one officer who was just speaking, "your name~
"Mulvany, sir," was the reply as Spock nodded his head. The Vulcan sensed that what Milly was saying was indeed the truth, as so far as they didn't want to be in the way of whatever fight Willow and Vala were having against Adria. He could tell from the emotions in the young woman's worried thoughts that it was best for everyone to get out of the way and back to the surface.
"Lt. Mulvany," Spock said turning towards the man, "lead the way out of here and to the surface. We need to get everyone out of here, in addition, the Vice-President needs to get medical attention. As I am sure the rest of us as well."
"Understood," Mulvany said before he ordered everyone to move out. A few minutes later, the Slayers were standing outside in the Paris air when Milly received a call through her headset from the Vantage that Willow and Vala were badly injured, but alive. They were given some quick treatment after the battle and then beamed up to the Vantage for medical attention. And most importantly, they had Adria as a prisoner.
It would be a few minutes after exiting the underground complex that Milly received orders that she and the other Slayers would be beamed back up to the Vantage. "Understood, sir," she told Jon before turning to Spock who the Slayers were talking to while the other councillors were getting medical attention, "Ambassador, I'm afraid we have to go." Milly still couldn't tell why Spock's name sounded so familiar.
"What Adria told us in the chamber regarding your people, the Tau'ri," said Spock, "what that true?"
"My grand-parents fought against the Goa'uld, Ambassador," Milly said as she nodded her head, "they told me stories of what the Goa'uld and the Ori did to this galaxy. Without my grand-parents' sacrifices, Earth would be very different today."
And Spock tilted his head at that remark. He was wondering why it was that no-one in a little over three hundred years had heard about the Tau'ri. Even the Vulcans hadn't heard of them before, but the way that Milly described her grand-parents fighting in a war against the Goa'uld and Ori was as if the battle was only recently. 'How could her grand-parents have fought. Human lifespan has been extended to a little over two hundred years, and this young woman isn't more than nineteen. It is possible that the Tau'ri are a form of humanoid that may live far longer than the ones that originated on Earth, but… even with her grandparents battling the Goa'uld and these Ori… how is it that no one in the Federation heard of these species?'
"I know you're thinking about a lot of things," Milly said as Spock narrowed his eyebrows. The young woman chuckled before saying that she took a wild guess, and continued to speak, "my superiors will be able to give you and your people all the information you need. In the meantime, Ambassador, we have to go."
Spock nodded his head as one of the other girls tapped their ear pieces and spoke to one of the Vantage bridge crew, "beam us up" she said. Spock then raised his hand as the young women gathered, and made the Vulcan salute before saying, "live long, and prosper."
"Wait a sec, you're…." a surprised Milly, finally recognising the name 'Spock' when the man said his famous line, squeeked just as she vanished in a flash of white light. Spock wondered what it was that the young woman was about to say, but thought to himself that it wasn't the last time he, or the Federation, would hear from the Tau'ri.
'Until we meet again,' Spock thought to himself before turning to the officers from Starfleet Security and Starfleet medical who were treating the injured and taking out bodies. Spock then walked towards one of the officers, and ordered him to inform the Enterprise of what happened.
USS Enterprise, now.
Captain Janeway, the Doctor, Ensign Kim, Paris, and B'Ellana, along with a few more engineers and medical personnel from Voyager, beamed over to the Enterprise after being given permission by Captain Picard. It was a few minutes later, after Janeway gathered her away team, that they beamed directly into Main Engineering on the Enterprise. Once the group materialized, Janeway breathed a sigh of relief at a sight of fellow officer on another Starfleet vessel, before a smile developed on her face as she stepped forward towards the oncoming Picard and reached out with her right hand. The two Captains then shook their hands together while they were surrounded by their respective senior crew.
"Captain Janeway," Picard said nodding his head while wondering what his fellow Captain must have endured in the Delta Quadrant. He wondered about her being the first Federation Captain to explore the previously unknown region of the Milky Way Galaxy. A part of him was envious of how many people she and her crew met, and another part of him was glad that they were finally able to return home… and this time with allies who were able to help them push back an assault on Earth, led by an enemy none of them had heard of before, "welcome back to Earth. It's an honour to meet you and your crew."
"It's great to be back, Captain," Janeway said shaking his hand, "I just wish it was under better circumstances."
"As do I," Picard replied letting go her hand before introducing his senior staff.
"Welcome home, Captain," Riker said shaking Janeway's hand.
"Thank you, Commander," Janeway replied before introducing her staff. She said that Commander Chakotay was on Voyager overseeing the damage caused by the fight with the Cardassians and the Breen. She said that the Doctor would be able to help the medical team on the Enterprise, and that Paris was his assistant.
"Ah," Picard said nodding at the Doctor, "I have much about you, Doctor."
"As have I, Captain," the Doctor said before Picard turned to Paris.
"Ensign, I take it that you are the son of Admiral Owen Paris?"
"Yes, sir," was the reply.
"Your father is in the med bay," Picard said as Paris' face showed worry about the condition of Admiral Paris, "but from what Dr. Crusher has said, he's going to make a full recovery." He then turned his head toward Data and asked him to accompany the Doctor and Paris, as well as the nursing staff brought over, to the infirmary. The Doctor nodded his head and shook Data's hand before they walked through the hall to the right and towards the turbo lift. In the meantime, Data's voice could be heard asking the Doctor about his mobile emitter.
As the three of them walked away, Janeway turned back to looking at Picard and breathed a sigh of relief. "From what I've been told, those armoured warriors have been nearly neutralized."
"Yes," Riker said as the group walked over to the central console and watched the screen, "we've already had Federation Security directed to the areas where those things have been neutralized. They're keeping the peace with those… warrior women."
Janeway watched the screen as the Slayers fought off the dwindling numbers of the Kull warriors. One by one, the Kull Warriors fell on the grounds of Starfleet Command, in San Francisco, in various areas of Oakland, right outside Starfleet Academy, and on the Golden Gate Bridge. The remaining Federation Councillors who escaped the battle between Adria, Vala and Willow, also contacted Federation Security to reassure people that they were alright. In the meantime, back in Main Engineering, Janeway was staring at the armoured women as they fought before looking up, "there's a lot we need to talk about, Captain."
Janeway looked up and met his eyes. She knew what it was that Picard wanted to talk about. And she replied, "there is, Captain." And then Janeway looked back down at the screen in front of her, "but for now, we need to take care of our people."
"Indeed," Picard said as he placed his hands on the table and then looked back down at the screen as well. He watched one Kull Warrior after another fall in battle against the women warriors. Picard then looked up at Janeway who was still staring transfixed at the women as they fought, and then looked back down, "I suspect you have a lot to say about these people, Captain?"
"We heard that they killed off an entire species," Riker added as Laforge looked at Janeway who looked back up at them and nodded her head. Riker then walked around the table until he reached one end and then asked, "will the Federation Council censure them, or…"
"They're not Federation citizens," Picard said looking at Riker before turning to Janeway just as Laforge spoke up.
"Ba'al said something about attacking the homeworld of the Tau'ri," he said as Picard and Riker looked at each other, the latter rubbing his chin while confirming that he recalled the Goa'uld mentioning that fact, "and they attacked Earth, and…"
"That's because the Tau'ri are from Earth," Janeway said to the surprise of Riker and the others.
"That's not possible," Picard said shaking his head while Riker looked on confused, "humanity didn't achieve Warp until 2063. There wasn't any project for deep space exploration or colonization, classified or otherwise, before that."
That's something we'd have to ask them," Janeway said before telling them that she and her crew reached the Tau'ri home base only hours ago, which was when they heard about the attack on Earth, "Captain, Commander, they are from Earth. Their leader, General Rosenberg, said that she was born in Sunnydale, California. In 1985."
"Excuse me?" Laforge asked in disbelief while Riker and Picard looked on confused.
"We have a lot to talk about," Janeway said, "and… and I mean when I say 'a lot'. It's something that will take time to understand and…" Janeway then sighed while shaking her head, before saying, "believe me when I say that it's going to be a very long story."
"I'm certain the Federation Council, Starfleet Command and Starfleet Intelligence would want to hear everything you have to report, Captain," Picard said.
"Believe me, there's a lot that needs to be said," Janeway answered.
Voyager, at that same time.
"So, this is Earth," Neelix whispered as he looked down at the blue planet from one of the viewports in the empty Mess Hall. He looked around and imagined the crew milling around in celebration, at least that what would have been like if they hadn't just survived what could only be described as a mini-war in the orbit of Earth. Neelix's eyes focused on the damaged Federation and Romulan ships, and the shuttles that were flying up from Earth so that the crews of those damaged ships could be evacuated.
He then looked up at the Vantage and several of the Pegasus Alliance ships that released drones which were busy repairing their hulls. Neelix then looked back down on the planet below and thought, 'this is home now.' He knew that there was no way back to the Delta Quadrant, at least not until Starfleet improved its Warp capabilities or unless the Pegasus Alliance provided Starfleet with hyperdrives, 'or else the trip by Warp could take years.'
His thoughts then shifted to the woman he loved, 'Kes, I wish you were here to see Earth. I wish…. I wish you were here next to me. Standing with me.' Neelix was glad she was alive, and hoped that she let go of the anger she displayed upon returning to Voyager a year ago. She almost destroyed the ship using her mental powers because she was angry at Janeway and the crew for taking her away from home. It wasn't until a hologram of the younger Kes reminded the older one that they chose to leave Ocampa voluntarily for a life of adventure.
Neelix talked to her before she left the ship, 'she said she was going back to Ocampa,' he thought to himself. However, he also knew the danger the Ocampa faced from the Kazon sects. The Ocampa had reserves of energy from the Caretaker's array to keep them well fed and their underground civilization powered for the next six years. But once that power ran out… once the reserves were gone, the Ocampa would have to survive on a dead world surrounded by enemies.
Very powerful enemies. Neelix watched the Vantage as he thought about Kes. He wanted to see her safe and sound. Without any hesitation, he resolved to ask someone… anyone from the Pegasus Alliance to keep an eye on the Ocampans, 'with their Hyperdrive, they can watch over them. Maybe keep them safe from the Kazon. I… I don't know what else they can do.' Neelix then released a sigh, 'maybe I'll just talk to them. That General I met on Atlantis was their leader, so maybe I should talk to her.' Neelix then turned away from the viewport and walked towards the door at the port side of the Mess Hall. He wanted to go to the bridge, he needed to talk to Commander Chakotay since the Captain was on the Enterprise.
Astrometrics Lab, Voyager, at that same time.
Seven still remembered everything.
She had her hands on the console in front of her as she leaned forward while staring at the image of Earth on the large curved screen in front of her. Seven still remembered everyone she assimilated, she still retained the knowledge and memories of the people the Borg assimilated; all thanks to her modified brain. She looked down from the large curved screen and pressed a few buttons before looking back up to show Atlantis still diverting the particle beam from the sun. As she stared back down at the panel, she caught sight of her hands and brought them up to her face. She was still in awe about having a new body, a genetically modified human body.
She was the first Borg to ever regain not just independence, but her former body as well. As Seven looked back up at the screen she wondered what this meant for her in Starfleet. She wondered if she would be seen as human, or simply an object of curiosity for a little while- while she would be debriefed by Starfleet Command, and then by Starfleet Security, and then Starfleet Intelligence who she was sure would want as many secrets of the Borg as possible. She wondered if she would be taken away by Section Thirty One- and she shuddered at the thought.
'Is… it this fear?' Seven thought as her hand trembled at the thought of being taken away by Section Thirty One. She then closed her eyes tight and breathed in deeply as if it was the most normal thing to do… as if she had been doing it all her life. But the act of trying to keep calm without implants to regulate her feelings and her body was alien to her.
Looking back up at the screen, Seven watched as the Pegasus Alliance ships were being repaired while wondering if she would ever be allowed back in space again, 'would I be allowed to become a member of the crew in any Starfleet vessel? Would I be seen as a danger? Or…' Seven then looked back down and pressed a few sections of the console in front of her as memories of her time as a child poured into her mind. Her fingers tapped the console in front of her with a fluid grace as she asked, "Computer, pull up all records on Annika Hansen's extended family." The computer beeped and then Seven looked up at the large screen to see a picture, a current picture, of her aunt. Her only family member.
'How would she see me?' Seven thought to herself. Seven closed her eyes and pulled a personal memory of herself eating strawberries at her Aunt's house. She remembered the taste of the fruit, the feeling of it in her hand, and how sweet it smelled. Seven opened her eyes and stared at the picture on the screen in front of her wondering if she should meet her Aunt.
'Or should I ask for permission to leave with the Pegasus Fleet,' Seven thought to herself, 'I have the memories of every place that Starfleet has explored, and if Starfleet's role is the exploration of the galaxy, then…' Seven then sighed as she shook her head and rubbed her forehead, "I'm not a Starfleet officer," she whispered looking back up at her Aunt. "What do I do?"
Seven was thankful to Janeway for freeing her from the Collective and helping her regain her humanity and individuality. And now, Seven didn't know if she should be Seven-of-Nine, or Annika Hanson. She didn't know where to begin her life… her human life; on Earth, or in another galaxy where she could have the required peace to find who she is and could be- without facing the damage and destruction she was a part of during her time with the Collective. At least for the moment… she wanted to find herself before she had to face her mistakes.
'I was a part of so many deaths here,' Seven though as she stared at her human hands, 'so many species assimilated… and I participated in many of those attacks.' She then looked away from her hands and up to the screen in front of her that was showing he Earth, 'I'll talk to Captain Janeway when she returns from the Enterprise. Yes, that is what I will do.'
Orbit over Earth, five hours later.
This was it; the war was truly over for all sides. For the Pegasus Alliance, the last three strongholds of the Goa'uld were taken out of the unconscious Adria's mind by Willow. Once the planets were identified, three of the Aurora class ships were sent to each world without the knowledge of the Federation. The Aurora class ships' duties were clear, destroy the planets so that nothing alive was left. And that's what happened. With the surface of the first planet destroyed by Horizon weapons, the Stargate in Stargate Command was deactivated thanks to the destruction of the Stargate in the planet of origin.
Eventually, the other Pegasus ships left for home, leaving only the Galactica, the Chulak, the O'Neill Two, and the Vantage in orbit over Earth. The ships over the other worlds were replaced by Starfleet medical vessels and their escorts, enabling the Pegasus Alliance ships to return home as well. Only Bajor had four Pegasus Alliance medical vessels still in orbit along with their escort ships. Given the level of destruction on the planet, as well as the death and injuries, the Alliance felt it best to leave those ships in orbit of Bajor for humanitarian aid.
For the next month while the Federation took care of the situation on the ground.
On the Vantage bridge, things returned to a normal pace as a fully recovered Willow walked onto the bridge with Faith, Buffy and Lisa, General O'Neill, and Daniel by her side. The group was soon joined by Jon as they stood around a table in the rear of the bridge that was projecting a hologram of Earth and the remaining ships as Atlantis came into view and stopped next to the Vantage.
"So," Buffy asked, "now what?"
Jon then crossed his arms over his chest and stared at the hologram of Earth as the Starfleet and Federation ships were being salvaged, their crews transported to Earth, while the Federation vessels that still had warp capabilities returned to their own homeworlds. Even the Romulans returned to Romulus with the thanks of Starfleet Command.
"An Admiral named Alynna Nechayev," Jon said with a smirk on his lips, "wants to meet us." He then looked up from behind the hologram of Earth and continued, "we received two requests from Voyager's captain; one, Neelix would like for us to check in on the planet Ocampa."
"They sent us the coordinates?" Willow asked.
"Yep," Jon nodded his head, "and the second thing is that Seven of Nine would like the option to return to Pegasus with us."
"Why?" General O'Neill asked.
"Janeway mentioned something about Seven being afraid that she'll be experimented on by Starfleet Intelligence," Jon said.
"I watched the shows with Dad, there was nothing in the TV series that tells us that Starfleet intelligence will experiment on her," Lisa stated.
"Some of the people she assimilated when she was a Borg included an agent from this super secret organization…"
"Section Thirty One," Faith finished Jon's sentence, "kinda like their CIA and NSA all rolled up into one unethical mess?"
"Janeway didn't exactly say it that way, the unethical part I mean," Jon said looking up at Faith just as he received notification that the Vantage was being hailed by Atlantis. "On speakers."
"Jon," Dawn said as her voice came through the speakers, "we've notified MidWay station that the battle's over. They'll be sending over Ensign Wildman and her little girl to Atlantis in a few minutes. What's the plan?"
Jon looked over at Willow before saying that they were all going home.
"Dawn, I need you to create a data crystal and then copy data on the Stargate Program, bio's on Key personnel, and information on the Wraith threat. Everything we have on the Wraith, including case reports."
"Let's leave out the information on the Slayers," Buffy added.
"Got it, I'll hand everything over to Ensign Wildman when she leaves," Dawn said nodding her head before ordering on of the technicians to begin creating the data-crystal. "It'll take about an hour, or two."
"Copy that," Jon said before looking at the others, "if there's anything you want to do? Then now's the time. We'll leave after the crystal's been handed over."
TBC.