Chapter 1
The morning before the nightmares
Admiral Edward Jellico tapped on his desk computer with an angered persistence. The confounded thing had been malfunctioning all day and persisted on giving him trouble. This put Jellico in a rather grumpy mood. He cursed at the computer when "access denied" flashed on the screen. Jellico glared at the blinking red letters. He tapped on the pad keys again but with more force. The computer only chirped and still refused access to the desired files. Damn, he thought, this is just not been my day. Jellico had been working all morning and was about fed up with technology all together. He had resisted the urge to shout a battle cry and catapult the desk computer into the wall. I need a break, he thought. Jellico tapped his Comm Badge and paged his secretary.
"Helen, could you bring me some coffee please? Also, contact Starfleet maintance and tell them there is something wrong with the computers."
"Yes, Admiral." replied a young and gentle voice.
Jellico wrapped his knuckles on his desk and slowly rose from his chair. The thought of a break had washed away some of the Admiral's aggravation of work. Jellico came around the desk and walked over to the large window in his office. The window revealed the gorgeous vista of San Francisco Bay. The beautiful view forced Jellico to crack a smile. Jellico took a breath in through his nose and let it out slowly through the mouth. He enjoyed looking at the Bay Area through his window. It relaxed him. Jellico loved the sight of sea water splashing against the sandy beach. It reminded him of his childhood. He was born and raised in San Francisco. San Francisco beaches were his favorite attraction of the large city. Jellico began to remember his younger years and the times he played on the beach with his mother. It had been one of the happiest times of his childhood. Jellico had promised himself that he would take his children to the same beach he had played on as a child. However, Jellico had two sons but never found time to take them to the beach. He never found the time to take them anywhere. Jellico's smile slowly returned to a frown. The memories of his family had overtaken him and they always induced sadness into the Admiral. After his wife had died, Jellico buried himself in his work. His career in Starfleet had been the pain reliever of his wife's death but it was also the killer of his relationship with his sons. Jellico's two sons, Samuel and Andrew had been raised by their nanny, so they hardly knew their father. Jellico's career had taken up most of his free time. He never spent enough time with his sons which caused the boys to grow up hating him. Jellico had regretted never keeping his promise about the beach. It may have closed the gap between him and his sons. Sadly Jellico would never again have the chance to be close to his sons. That was the one thing Jellico regretted the most. It was too late to fix things with his boys. Samuel had joined Starfleet and died in the battle of Wolf 359. The death of Jellico's first son had caused an even greater gap between him and his second son. Samuel's death crushed Andrew. Not only were the two boys brothers, they were best friends as well. Jellico tried to consol Andrew but the boy wanted nothing of him. Jellico could still remember the last conversation he had with his second son.
"I'm trying to make things right with you Andrew. I know I've been a lousy father but I want to make it up to you. You have to give a chance!"
Andrew glared at his father with utter hate. His fist were balled and tears swelled in his eyes.
"I don't care what you want! I want Sam back but will I get that? No! You think just because Sam's dead that I'm going to rush into your arms and want a father son relationship with you. I hate you! I blame you for Sam's death. If you had only pretended to cared about us, Sam might not have joined Starfleet! He desperately wanted to make you happy! That's why he joined Starfleet in the first place. Well father, I don't care if you're happy with me or not. I don't want anything to do with you. In fact, I never want to see you again.
Tears trickled down Admiral Jellico's cheek. The memory of Andrew still makes me cry, he thought. Suddenly, Helen Yurovick tapped on the Admiral's door and slowly opened it. Jellico quickly wiped away his tears and turned to his secretary. Helen was holding a steaming hot cup of coffee. She held it gingerly in two hands and slowly brought it to the Admiral. Helen was a young and lovely woman. Jellico had grown quite fond of her in the past few years. He had often thought of asking her out but then considered the age between them. Jellico was twenty six years her senior. It was that reason he had never gathered enough courage to ask her out. Helen smiled at the Admiral with her beautiful smile but suddenly realized he had been crying. Her happy expression quickly turned into mild fear.
"Admiral, are you alright?"
"I'm fine Helen. I'm just a little tired that's all. Being sleepy makes my eyes water."
"You know, Admiral. You're not a very good liar." stated Helen as she handed Jellico his coffee.
"Don't worry about me. I'll be fine. I promise."
Helen put a finger on her chin and examined Jellico for a moment. She began to smile again and this caused the Admiral to smile. He loved to see her smile. It was one thing that brought joy into his pitiful life.
"Alright Admiral but I'll be checking up on you later." she informed.
"Suit yourself, Helen." replied Jellico as he started to sip his coffee.
Helen nodded in satisfaction then turned on her heels. She quickly returned to her desk. Jellico admired the curves of Helen's body as she left. He was extremely attracted to her and continued to battle on whether or not he should ask her out. Maybe someday, he thought. Suddenly, Jellico's desk computer began to chirp again. He sneered at the computer. I should crush you with my boot, he thought. The computer continued to chirp and it was suddenly obvious to Jellico he was receiving a communiqué. Jellico rushed to his desk, trying hard not to spill his coffee. He quickly set the coffee down on the desk then slid back down in his chair. The words "Urgent Message" flashed on the computer screen. Jellico sighed as he pulled the computer close to him. He cracked his knuckles then tapped one of the keys. Suddenly, Admiral Adam Hayes' face appeared on the screen. Jellico was surprised the computer had actually worked when he wanted it to. Jellico smirked with satisfaction but Hayes' facial expression superseded his own. Hayes did not appear to be in the best of moods.
Admiral Hayes was a well known and well respected man in Starfleet. He was an active member in Starfleet Command and best known for being a Borg Specialist. Hayes had led the attack on the Borg Ship that entered Federation Space, on stardate 50893 (2373). The same attack that led up to the Enterprise preventing the Borg from interfering with First Contact. Hayes' ship had been destroyed in the battle but he and most of his crew had survived. After the horrific event, Admiral Hayes was promoted to a desk job in San Francisco, where he serves now. Jellico nodded to Hayes.
"Admiral Hayes, what's the urgent communiqué?"
"Unfortunately Admiral Jellico, I have some very disturbing news. I'm afraid that two Borg Cubes have been detected in the Alpha Quadrant. They are traveling at a speed higher than warp nine and heading right for us, Admiral."
"Two cubes? My God!"
"Yes, two Borg Cubes. I'm afraid that your commanding expertise is needed Admiral. Starfleet to forming a blockade of starships and we need you to command one of them."
"Yes Admiral, whatever is needed, I'll do it."
"That's what I like to hear. The U.S.S Cochrane is the ship you'll be commanding. The ship is at Starbase 421. Your orders are to leave immediately. I'll contact you when you get your ship."
"Aye, sir."
The computer screen flashed and Admiral Hayes' face was gone. Jellico had frozen. He could not believe what he had just heard. Two Borg Cubes was chaos waiting to happen. One Cube was a serious threat but two was practically Armageddon. Jellico let out a deep breath and stood from his chair. Fear had suddenly slapped the Admiral in the face.
"God help us all." he cried.
The morning before the nightmares
Admiral Edward Jellico tapped on his desk computer with an angered persistence. The confounded thing had been malfunctioning all day and persisted on giving him trouble. This put Jellico in a rather grumpy mood. He cursed at the computer when "access denied" flashed on the screen. Jellico glared at the blinking red letters. He tapped on the pad keys again but with more force. The computer only chirped and still refused access to the desired files. Damn, he thought, this is just not been my day. Jellico had been working all morning and was about fed up with technology all together. He had resisted the urge to shout a battle cry and catapult the desk computer into the wall. I need a break, he thought. Jellico tapped his Comm Badge and paged his secretary.
"Helen, could you bring me some coffee please? Also, contact Starfleet maintance and tell them there is something wrong with the computers."
"Yes, Admiral." replied a young and gentle voice.
Jellico wrapped his knuckles on his desk and slowly rose from his chair. The thought of a break had washed away some of the Admiral's aggravation of work. Jellico came around the desk and walked over to the large window in his office. The window revealed the gorgeous vista of San Francisco Bay. The beautiful view forced Jellico to crack a smile. Jellico took a breath in through his nose and let it out slowly through the mouth. He enjoyed looking at the Bay Area through his window. It relaxed him. Jellico loved the sight of sea water splashing against the sandy beach. It reminded him of his childhood. He was born and raised in San Francisco. San Francisco beaches were his favorite attraction of the large city. Jellico began to remember his younger years and the times he played on the beach with his mother. It had been one of the happiest times of his childhood. Jellico had promised himself that he would take his children to the same beach he had played on as a child. However, Jellico had two sons but never found time to take them to the beach. He never found the time to take them anywhere. Jellico's smile slowly returned to a frown. The memories of his family had overtaken him and they always induced sadness into the Admiral. After his wife had died, Jellico buried himself in his work. His career in Starfleet had been the pain reliever of his wife's death but it was also the killer of his relationship with his sons. Jellico's two sons, Samuel and Andrew had been raised by their nanny, so they hardly knew their father. Jellico's career had taken up most of his free time. He never spent enough time with his sons which caused the boys to grow up hating him. Jellico had regretted never keeping his promise about the beach. It may have closed the gap between him and his sons. Sadly Jellico would never again have the chance to be close to his sons. That was the one thing Jellico regretted the most. It was too late to fix things with his boys. Samuel had joined Starfleet and died in the battle of Wolf 359. The death of Jellico's first son had caused an even greater gap between him and his second son. Samuel's death crushed Andrew. Not only were the two boys brothers, they were best friends as well. Jellico tried to consol Andrew but the boy wanted nothing of him. Jellico could still remember the last conversation he had with his second son.
"I'm trying to make things right with you Andrew. I know I've been a lousy father but I want to make it up to you. You have to give a chance!"
Andrew glared at his father with utter hate. His fist were balled and tears swelled in his eyes.
"I don't care what you want! I want Sam back but will I get that? No! You think just because Sam's dead that I'm going to rush into your arms and want a father son relationship with you. I hate you! I blame you for Sam's death. If you had only pretended to cared about us, Sam might not have joined Starfleet! He desperately wanted to make you happy! That's why he joined Starfleet in the first place. Well father, I don't care if you're happy with me or not. I don't want anything to do with you. In fact, I never want to see you again.
Tears trickled down Admiral Jellico's cheek. The memory of Andrew still makes me cry, he thought. Suddenly, Helen Yurovick tapped on the Admiral's door and slowly opened it. Jellico quickly wiped away his tears and turned to his secretary. Helen was holding a steaming hot cup of coffee. She held it gingerly in two hands and slowly brought it to the Admiral. Helen was a young and lovely woman. Jellico had grown quite fond of her in the past few years. He had often thought of asking her out but then considered the age between them. Jellico was twenty six years her senior. It was that reason he had never gathered enough courage to ask her out. Helen smiled at the Admiral with her beautiful smile but suddenly realized he had been crying. Her happy expression quickly turned into mild fear.
"Admiral, are you alright?"
"I'm fine Helen. I'm just a little tired that's all. Being sleepy makes my eyes water."
"You know, Admiral. You're not a very good liar." stated Helen as she handed Jellico his coffee.
"Don't worry about me. I'll be fine. I promise."
Helen put a finger on her chin and examined Jellico for a moment. She began to smile again and this caused the Admiral to smile. He loved to see her smile. It was one thing that brought joy into his pitiful life.
"Alright Admiral but I'll be checking up on you later." she informed.
"Suit yourself, Helen." replied Jellico as he started to sip his coffee.
Helen nodded in satisfaction then turned on her heels. She quickly returned to her desk. Jellico admired the curves of Helen's body as she left. He was extremely attracted to her and continued to battle on whether or not he should ask her out. Maybe someday, he thought. Suddenly, Jellico's desk computer began to chirp again. He sneered at the computer. I should crush you with my boot, he thought. The computer continued to chirp and it was suddenly obvious to Jellico he was receiving a communiqué. Jellico rushed to his desk, trying hard not to spill his coffee. He quickly set the coffee down on the desk then slid back down in his chair. The words "Urgent Message" flashed on the computer screen. Jellico sighed as he pulled the computer close to him. He cracked his knuckles then tapped one of the keys. Suddenly, Admiral Adam Hayes' face appeared on the screen. Jellico was surprised the computer had actually worked when he wanted it to. Jellico smirked with satisfaction but Hayes' facial expression superseded his own. Hayes did not appear to be in the best of moods.
Admiral Hayes was a well known and well respected man in Starfleet. He was an active member in Starfleet Command and best known for being a Borg Specialist. Hayes had led the attack on the Borg Ship that entered Federation Space, on stardate 50893 (2373). The same attack that led up to the Enterprise preventing the Borg from interfering with First Contact. Hayes' ship had been destroyed in the battle but he and most of his crew had survived. After the horrific event, Admiral Hayes was promoted to a desk job in San Francisco, where he serves now. Jellico nodded to Hayes.
"Admiral Hayes, what's the urgent communiqué?"
"Unfortunately Admiral Jellico, I have some very disturbing news. I'm afraid that two Borg Cubes have been detected in the Alpha Quadrant. They are traveling at a speed higher than warp nine and heading right for us, Admiral."
"Two cubes? My God!"
"Yes, two Borg Cubes. I'm afraid that your commanding expertise is needed Admiral. Starfleet to forming a blockade of starships and we need you to command one of them."
"Yes Admiral, whatever is needed, I'll do it."
"That's what I like to hear. The U.S.S Cochrane is the ship you'll be commanding. The ship is at Starbase 421. Your orders are to leave immediately. I'll contact you when you get your ship."
"Aye, sir."
The computer screen flashed and Admiral Hayes' face was gone. Jellico had frozen. He could not believe what he had just heard. Two Borg Cubes was chaos waiting to happen. One Cube was a serious threat but two was practically Armageddon. Jellico let out a deep breath and stood from his chair. Fear had suddenly slapped the Admiral in the face.
"God help us all." he cried.