"The Founders have serious doubts about this attack, Captain," the Vorta Weyoun said silkily. "They feel it will waste the Jem'Hadar they gave you."
Riker sighed inwardly. He hadn't liked the Vorta at all, and this one in particular was trying his patience. "Our agreement never stated that I had to discuss my plans for the Jem'hadar with the Founders, Weyoun. They were given to the Alliance in good faith."
"That is true, Captain. But the Founders are wise in all things, and you would do well to heed their advice."
"Noted." Riker turned to Shelby. "How is your wing, Elizabeth?"
"The Majestic just finished modifying its refractive shielding, but otherwise we're as ready as we are ever going to be."
Riker went around the room and listened to each commander's report. Gul Dukat and Commander Tomalak complained the most, of course. Riker knew it was just their way of getting noticed.General Martok had some encouraging words to say, about destiny and honor and such, the whole time a distant fire burning in his eyes. Riker adjourned the meeting and sent the commanders on their way. He stopped Ben Sisko on the way out.
"Captain Sisko?" Sisko paused and turned toward him. "Your ship is the most advanced vessel we have. In particular, your EMH program could be highly useful to other ships during a battle."
"I agree, Captain. I could have my engineers copy the program and get it downloaded into the Starfleet vessels, at least. But I warn you, his bedside manner leaves something to be desired."
"Well, as long as he knows triage, he could be a grouchy Klingon for all I care."
Sisko smiled for a moment then his expression darkened. "Will?"
Riker was a bit shocked by Sisko's informality. "Yes?"
"Locutus...he will be destroyed, not saved,am I correct?"
"If we have to, we'll kill him. It would be preferable to attempt to remove him from the collective..."
"No. It was him who killed my wife. Locutus who destroyed my ship, all those ships, all those lives. I know that Picard is inside him, he's no drone. Why should we make allowances for him? I know…he was your Captain and your mentor, but we can't free every drone ever assimmilated. He was a great man, but that man is dead now."
"We've all lost people to the Borg, Ben. But getting him out of there alive may give us a chance we wouldn't have otherwise. I don't know if Jean-Luc Picard even exists anymore, but for the fleet we've got to find out. If we can find Picard inside that abomination, maybe we can destroy the Borg from the inside out."
"I'm just concerned that we are risking it all for one man."
"If it comes down to the fleet or Picard, I will personally destroy him"
Sisko nodded and seemed satisfied at that. He left the briefing room quietly. Riker was wondering if his feelings for Picard would put the whole operation at risk. He would only kill him as a last resort, even though he knew that saving him was the long shot.
"Riker to Lochley. What's our ETA?"
"Twenty-six hours, Captain."
Destiny was coming up fast indeed.
-----------------------------
Locutus...
Locutus of Borg awakened in his alcove, and noted that he had not completed his regeneration cycle. He was not like other Borg, as he was able to make his own decisions and acted as an individual. He was linked to the collective, of course, but more often than not he was directing drones. There was only one other like him...
Locutus...we have discovered resistance...on Earth's moon.
"Resistance is futile."
Indeed...you will deal with these humans...assimmilate them if possible...if not, destroy them.
"As you wish." Locutus made his way to his sphere ship, docked deep in the uni-complex, which used to be the Earth city of New York. Most of Earth had been assimmilated by the Borg, technology, wildlife, plant life, everything in their path. Incredibly, some humans managed to evade the massive force of the Borg and formed a loose knit resistance. Most of them had been assimmilated or killed by now, but it would seem that a few were left.
Locutus assumed his position at the observation deck and the sphere lifted off. The vista of Earth was nothing like it had been five years earlier. Black, grey, and silver were the dominant colors now. Hundreds of Borg cubes orbited the planet, and even Starbase One had been assimmilated.
The moon loomed large in the viewport, and Locutus willed the scanners to search the area designated by her. Indeed, there was a small pocket of humans residing in some ancient mining caverns. They were using some kind of bio-shielding that seemed to have failed. He locked on to a comm system in their vicinity and transmitted, though he didn't need to, it seemed to be done simply for effect.
"I am Locutus of Borg. Resistance is futile. Lower your weapons and prepare for assimmilation." A wry grin formed on his lips, much to his own surprise. His scanners showed much activity in the area now. He willed himself and ten drones to be transported to the caverns.
"...bastards!" was the first thing Locutus heard as he materialized. He saw two drones fall fom phaser fire, and then the shimmering of his personal shields as the same fire splashed uselessly off, his shields adapting. He raised his weapon arm and shot the attacker. The blast exploded the human's chest, sending his body flying lifelessly.
His scanner eye picked up twenty-two humans. His drones had begun assimmilating three, and two other humans besides the one he killed were dead. He moved through the caverns swiftly, pursuing the fleeing rebels. Phaser fire flashed by him, sent by people running too fast for accuracy. He traced their likely route and beamed ten more drones to block their escape. At this point, he was merely toying with them. They had no chance.
The humans shot down a side tunnel and activated a forcefield. He arrived at the opening and scanned the energy signature. A tool came out from his arm, forced a feedback in the field, and destabilized it. He continued down the tunnel, his drones close behind. He raised his arm and fired as he walked. He took down four more humans, and his hits on the rock wall started a cave in.
"Shit!" shouted a human as he tried to dig his way through to the next section. He looked at the oncoming Borg and screamed. He and his companions began firing uselessly into the horde. Their shields handled the hits, and in a moment the Borg swarmed them. Locutus grabbed a human and swung him around.
The human gasped as he saw his attacker. "Jean-Luc..."
Locutus paused as he scanned the humans face. Picard knew this man. Locutus began to get memory flashes of childhood, and feelings of anger and jealousy.
Locutus' mouth dryly opened. "Robert..."
"What...what have they done to you?" Robert Picard did not seem to even notice the screams of his compatriots as they were being assimmilated.
Locutus said nothing, he couldn't move. He wondered if he was malfunctioning, if his servos were jammed. Robert reached out for Locutus, and as he touched his face, a drone grabbed him and punctured his assimmilator tubules into Robert's neck. Locutus watched as Robert Picard writhed on the ground, the nano-probes working their way through the man, mottling his skin.
Regaining his composure, Locutus noted that all resistance was eliminated. He beamed himself, his drones, and the drones-in-waiting back to the sphere. He resumed his post and directed the sphere back to the uni-complex.
You have done well...but you are unsure...
"A minor malfunction in cortical functions. A repair drone will see to it."
Perhaps...or perhaps the strain of leadership is wearing on you...perhaps you would be happier as a drone...
"Happiness is irrelevant."
Very well...I require your presence upon arrival...do not keep me waiting. Locutus directed his ship home, a distinct frown on his face.