CHAPTER NINE
PILOTING EXERCISE
(Paris)
I flexed my fingers. One year on this ship taught me something important. The Delta Quadrant has no courteous drivers.
"We are nearing our destination," I said, checking my display board and getting my fingers ready.
"Bring us out of warp, Tom," Janeway replied.
I dropped our speed down to full impulse and there was a flash as we exited warp. On screen, a Borg cube loomed in front of us, large and menacing. Suddenly, I had to swerve the ship as a Karn fighter zoomed past. I maneuvered Voyager into a firing position and Tuvok fired photon torpedoes. As soon as the torpedoes hit the cube, the Borg returned fire, now noticing us. They're a little on the slow side, I thought. There was a slight tremble as the shields absorbed the damage.
Tuvok announced, "Shields are at ninety-six percent. The cube is moving toward us, ignoring the Karn."
Captain Janeway turned to Seven of Nine. "Why would the Borg only attack us, and not the race they came to assimilate?"
"After encountering Voyager numerous times, they consider us a pest, and in a battle, the 'pests' must be destroyed first, even if it means ignoring anything else." Seven said.
At that moment, Kim spoke from his station. "Matari's fleet has just entered the system."
Janeway looked back at him. "What took them so long?"
Harry replied, "It appears they are only capable of light speed. We were going much, much faster."
The captain nodded in acknowledgement.
A light lit up at my console. A communications channel was open, directed at us. I checked the source of the trasmission, not keen to talk to the Borg. "Matari is hailing us," I called out.
"On screen, lieutenant," Janeway ordered.
I entered the command and Matari the Karn appeared on the main viewscreen. "Welcome, Captain," he said, "You look like you've encountered the Borg before. They seem to think you are a pest. My fleet stands ready to protect you."
Captain Janeway stood up and said, "Your protection is invited, but only a few ships need protect us. Keep the rest of the fleet on the attack while they'e safe from retaliation."
Matari responded, "Understood, Captain. Matari out." The channel was then closed.
And then, a hole opened up in the front face of the Borg cube. From the new opening came a ball of energy that passed right through our shields and hit Voyager with earth shattering force.
PILOTING EXERCISE
(Paris)
I flexed my fingers. One year on this ship taught me something important. The Delta Quadrant has no courteous drivers.
"We are nearing our destination," I said, checking my display board and getting my fingers ready.
"Bring us out of warp, Tom," Janeway replied.
I dropped our speed down to full impulse and there was a flash as we exited warp. On screen, a Borg cube loomed in front of us, large and menacing. Suddenly, I had to swerve the ship as a Karn fighter zoomed past. I maneuvered Voyager into a firing position and Tuvok fired photon torpedoes. As soon as the torpedoes hit the cube, the Borg returned fire, now noticing us. They're a little on the slow side, I thought. There was a slight tremble as the shields absorbed the damage.
Tuvok announced, "Shields are at ninety-six percent. The cube is moving toward us, ignoring the Karn."
Captain Janeway turned to Seven of Nine. "Why would the Borg only attack us, and not the race they came to assimilate?"
"After encountering Voyager numerous times, they consider us a pest, and in a battle, the 'pests' must be destroyed first, even if it means ignoring anything else." Seven said.
At that moment, Kim spoke from his station. "Matari's fleet has just entered the system."
Janeway looked back at him. "What took them so long?"
Harry replied, "It appears they are only capable of light speed. We were going much, much faster."
The captain nodded in acknowledgement.
A light lit up at my console. A communications channel was open, directed at us. I checked the source of the trasmission, not keen to talk to the Borg. "Matari is hailing us," I called out.
"On screen, lieutenant," Janeway ordered.
I entered the command and Matari the Karn appeared on the main viewscreen. "Welcome, Captain," he said, "You look like you've encountered the Borg before. They seem to think you are a pest. My fleet stands ready to protect you."
Captain Janeway stood up and said, "Your protection is invited, but only a few ships need protect us. Keep the rest of the fleet on the attack while they'e safe from retaliation."
Matari responded, "Understood, Captain. Matari out." The channel was then closed.
And then, a hole opened up in the front face of the Borg cube. From the new opening came a ball of energy that passed right through our shields and hit Voyager with earth shattering force.