Chapter 2

Alpha Quadrant

U.S.S. Preserver

En route to the Hawkings Colony

'Captain's Log: Stardate 58426.8. This is my first entry as captain of the Preserver. All systems are at full operating capacity and no problems have arisen so far. Lieutenant Sorn'ah is very competent.

I'm still perplexed by the transmission I heard in Admiral Haugen's quarters…the colony ripped out of the ground? It's strange, to say the least…and I've never been one to like being kept in the dark...'

There was a chrip from the ready room door. "Come in."

It was Woskosky.. "Hi Lane. It's certainly been a while," he said with a smile.

"Yes, it has. Please, sit, we have a lot to catch up on." Woskosky sat down in a chair in front of Xeroth's desk.

"Wow, how long has it been now, twelve years?" asked Woskosky.

"Somewhere around there. So Will, what have you been up to?"

"Well, after the incident with the Enterprise, I was promoted to lieutenant junior grade, and transferred to the New Hampshire, in the science department. It was later destroyed during a battle in the Dominion War…got in an EVA suit as the ship was being ripped apart by Jem'Hadar warships. Out of 527, I was one of the 14 that survived. Served in San Francisco for a while, until it was attacked by the Breen. Helped with the rebuilding process. I studied on Titan for a few months, then I was transferred here. How about you, Lane? You sure as hell rose up through the ranks quickly. It's close to Picard's record, isn't it?"

"Yeah, something like that." Xeroth replied, coldly. He rose and walked to the replicator. "Bloodwine, cold."

"Synthenol or alchohol?"

"Sythenol."

A small glass of bloodwine appeared in front of Xeroth. He grabbed it and sat back down.

"You like bloodwine? Can't stand the stuff…then again, I can't really stand most Klingon cuisine," said Woskosky.

"It grows on you."

"So what have you been up to?"

Xeroth took a small sip of the bloodwine. "Well, after the Enterprise crashed, I worked at Utopia Planitia for a few years, studied various starships designs. Even had a hand in designing the Akira and Steamrunner-classes. I later served on the Faith as tactical officer, the Evangelion as tactical chief, during the War, the Stiles as first officer, now…my first command. I'm still a bit daunted."

"I would be too."

For nearly two hours, the captain and his first officer caught up on old times, separated for a decade by duty and war.

A small beep interrupted them. It was from Woskosky's commbadge.

"This is Woskosky, go ahead."

"Sir, you're needed in Science Lab 2."

"On my way." He got up from his chair. "Good to see you again, Lane."

"You too, Will."

Woskosky left Xeroth's ready room, leaving Xeroth to himself. After a short silence and an empty glass of bloodwine, he turned to his computer, and accessed the personal file of Captain Jean-Luc Picard.

Bastard...

Few people had taken a break during the preparation of the Preserver. One of those people was Mark Norwood. People always called him an "overachiever". He didn't know why. He just tried his hardest, that's all.

Norwood had always liked the holodeck. When he was a teenager in Melbourne, he would have phaser duels with his Uncle Caillan on the holodeck. That hobby continued in adulthood.

During the ship's construction, he had programmed his favorite dueling program into the holodeck computer.

He walked into the holodeck. "Computer, begin program Norwood Alpha 2."

'That program is already in use," replied the computer.

"What?" He put in the command to open to doors and walked in. Immediately, a beam of energy shot past him. Grabbing his phaser, he ran behind a wall, breathing heavily. He knew whoever it was who had accessed the program was on the other side, and he knew they were good.

Knowing his current position wasn't safe, he searched for a new spot. He spotted a hovercar on its side he could hide behind. But he'd have to make a jump for it.

Norwood took a few steps back, and made a run for it. As he came out from behind the wall, he turned and fired, hoping to hit anything. He did. What he hit screamed.

Distracted, he rolled behind the hovercar, slipped on his landing foot, and landed on his head.

The world spun around him. All he could understand was a female voice. Soft, comforting…

"Kel to Transporter Room 1, two to beam to sickbay." As he dissolved into energy, he looked up at the person above him. He thought of how beautiful she was as he lost consciousness.

Hours later, the Preserver dropped out of warp as it arrived at Verina III, the location on the former Hawkings Colony.

"Sir, we've arrived at the destination," Lieutenant O'Hallery said from the Ops console, filling in for Norwood while he recovered in Sickbay.

"Lieutenant Selak," Xeroth said, "drop to impulse and initiate standard orbit procedures."

"Aye sir."

Xeroth turned to the Ops station. "Lieutenant O'Hallery, scan for the Hawkings Colony."

"For it, sir?"

"Yes. Do it."

"Yes sir."

"Captain," O'Hallery said, "the Hawkings Colony…it's gone, sir. No trace of it at all. It's as if it's just been…"

"Scooped away," finished Xeroth.

"Yes sir…" replied O'Hallery.

"On screen,"

A moment later, what was left of the Hawkings Colony appeared on the viewscreen. In a field of beautiful hues of blue and green, the crater that was now the colony was a perfectly round, ugly scar.

Commander Hemmingway, unable to get a message to the captain through the comm system, stepped out of the turbolift.

"Captain, this has to be impossible…" Kel said.

"Kel?"

"I'm detecting…a Borg energy signature…"

The bridge grew silent, save for a few gasps. Hemmingway started to shake. As she started to fall to the deck, Kel caught her.

The situation, Xeroth thought, just got a lot more complicated.