She walked into his quarters, to see him staring out the window. She didn't say anything, didn't know what to say. So she just stood beside him and watched.
The Giant Borg ship collided with the station, you could see it start to buckle under the strain, then it began to collapse inwards, the Super-suns ate at the giant world, and the Borg ship alike both being crushed and folded inward.
The Excelsior along with five Borg cubes waited just outside the point of no return of the stars. The Borg ships had refused to leave until their mammoth mother ship was gone, a sign of respect.
Quiche watched his readouts with growing awe. According to what he was seeing they were about witness the birth of a black hole. As wondrous as it may be he knew they were to close.
"Lt. Crusher, send a message to the Borg ships telling them we need to leave now, the suns are turning into black holes."
"Eye sir." She tapped a control. "They have acknowledged and are preparing to go into transwarp."
As the last of the station was sucked in the suns gave out a brilliant flash and began to collapse in upon then selves, gradually turning darker and darker. The extreme gravity began to pull at the ships. The Borg ships opened the gateway to transwarp and pulled the Excelsior through just in time.
Three days later Decker was reading the casualty reports.
"Engson Bates, Engson Gomez, Lt. Hannigan." So many names all lost for nothing, but there was something more, he changed the list slightly and reread it, 100,000 Liberated Borg, that was better, fitting.
Then there was the question of replacements. They needed a new Officer at Opps, to replace Bates and Gomez, he had no idea of whom, but he was sure someone would prove himself or herself in the not to distant future. Then there was the question of Lt. Hannigan's replacement; he had an answer to this one.
Engson McKenzie walked in nervously. He was pleased to see her again, after he had left her in the transporter room unable to walk. But she had been fine, they had found her in one of the Jeffries tubes, and helped her to sick bay where she had made a full recovery.
"You asked to see me sir?"
"Yes, as you know with the unfortunate death of Lt. Hannigan a position has opened up as second in command of security." He paused and let the impaction sink in. The expression showed that she wasn't sure weather to be happy or sad. "I want you to take that position. Lt. McKenzie." He finally finished handing her a small box, she opened it and smiled looking at the pip inside, when she caught the captain looking at her she sobered her expression.
"It's Ok to be happy, it's what Lt. Hannigan would have wanted." Then walking around the desk he shook her hand and she smiled at him. He had been right about her smile.