Enterprise E: Bridge

"Sir, we are detecting massive transwarp signatures at the edge of the Solar System. It seems the borg are being carefull in their attack this time." Data stared intently at his console as he spoke.

"They know that we have weapons that can penetrate their shields, unless they have adapted to them already. How many ships Data? Can you tell yet?"

"Our sensor beacons did not last very long, but at last count, there were 187 distinct Borg signatures on approach."

"My God, what are we going to do?" As he spoke Rikers gaze swept the bridge from his captain who looked deep in thought, to the Doctor, standing at the tactical station with his eyes closed as though concentrating on something.

"We get ready to fight number one. This is the biggest battle the Federation has ever had to fight, and we need to win it. How long till the Borg arrive Mr Data?"

"Ten minutes and 32 seconds captain." Data precise as always did not need his emotion chip to be activated to feel the fear permeating from his crew mates.

"Alert the fleet. Engage on contact with the borg. Use the new weapons modifications that the Doctor gave us. If they don't wk modulate our weapons and shields as per Borg directive 1"

"Help is on it's way Captain. It may take some time, I've never really done this before so it's all up in the air right now. But you will have back up." The Doctors voice almost a whisper came from behind the captain, Picard looked round at the Timelord. His eyes were closed, but he was sweating, the borg implants on his cheek still made Picard nervous.

"Sir, more transwarp signatures, they are appearing right on top of us." Data barely had time to finish the sentence before Two borg vessels appeared on the ships view screen.

"All ships engage." Picard shouted. Weapons fire lanced from the Enterprise and at least 12 other ships that were currently in range. The beams got through once using the Doctors modifications, and one of the ships exploded. The other however, survived. The new weapons modulations bounced off their shields as though they were nothing. The began returning fire.

"They have adapted captain. The bulk of the Borg fleet has accelerated and they will be here in less than 3 minutes."

"That was a trial run. They wanted to see if their adaptions worked before commiting their full force. Keep weapons on a modulating frequency, rotate the shield nutations, don't let them lock tractor beams on us." The crew, though nervous carried out their captains orders. "Now would be a good time for that back up you promised us Doctor."

"Sir, We are registering a temporal distortion to aft. There are ships appearing, approcimately 200 Romulan vessels, unknown configuration. We are being hailed by the lead ship."

"Hello again Captain Picard."

"Sela. What are you doing here?"

"The Romulan empire recieved your distress call, and out of gratitude for your assistance with the whole Reman affair, I have been despatched with our fleet of Scimitar class vessels to assist you."

"Reman affair?" Picard began.

"It hasn't happened to you yet, ignore it for now." The Doctor spoke again in hushed tones. "There's more to come."

"Another temporal distortion to Starboard." Data began, "Another hail"

"This is Chancellor Martok of the Klingon Empire, we stand ready to assist our Federation allies."

"That is another 354 ships captain, a combination of N'Egh'Var and Vor'Cha class vessels." Data put in.

"Chancellor Martok? I am the Chancellor of the Empire." Gowron growled.

"No more Gowron, you were found to be unworthy of ruling the Empire and you were, Removed."

"Unworthy?" Gowron roared. "You P'Tagh. Say that to my face coward!"

"Will you please shut up." The Doctor for the first time raised his voice. "I am pulling together any and all forces from future timelines that still exist, in an effort to save the Galaxy. You are fighting over ranks and titles? Have you no idea what's at stake here? You're acting like children!"

Gowron rounded on the Doctor and moved towards him drawing his D'K'Tagh as he walked. Worf stepped in front of the Doctor sternly facing down the Chancellor of the Empire he so loved. "You will not harm him!" Gowron growled again but backed off.

More ships appeared on screen, "This is Captain Braxton of the Federation Timeship Relativity, we stand ready to assist you Captain Picard."

"Captain Daniels of the Timeship Aeon, also reporting, we have brought the entire Federation fleet with us. Including the Flagship, NCC 1701-J, captained by Jonathan Archer."

"Who? Oh wait, i don't really care, I'm just glad you're here." Riker was stunned, "Timeships eh?"

"There is one more force to come Captain. Their arrival is imminent." The Doctor said.

"That's as may be Doctor, but the Borg have already arrived." As Captain Picard spoke, Hundreds of Borg vessels appeared on screen.

"All ships. Engage at will!"

"You have assembled quite a fleet, Doc-tor." The voice of Davros boomed throughout the bridge of the USS Enterprise. "So many ships to destroy and so little time in which to do it. But of course, time is relative ha. You will join my collective willingly or otherwise, as will your friends." Davros stressed the final word of the sentence; he knew the Doctors weakness, his one Achilles heel, his love for his friends. He was not above using that to his advantage.

"You won't win Davros, All of time and space is at risk because of what you are doing here, reality is warping and you don't even see it. You cannot be allowed to win this. Too much hangs in the balance." The Doctor still standing at the tactical and communications station on the bridge, stared defiantly at the view screen, filled as it was by the hideously deformed face of his mortal enemy Davros.

"You will see Doc-tor, I have the upper hand in this meeting. My forces far outclass yours, if you lower your shields and surrender, I shall make your assimilation swift and painless, you have my word." Davros sneered on the screen as the Doctor laughed.

"Your word is worthless Davros, I have known you for long enough to know that. We shall be the victors in this battle. Though," the Doctor paused, "there doesn't need to be a battle at all. You know as well as I do, the fabric of reality is being worn very thin here, if we could stop this pointless fighting, we could repair it and put everything back to where it was."

"I was unhappy with the way things were Doc-tor, the new order I create here today, shall be perfect in every respect. The Universe shall be at peace for the first time ever, all peoples will work together to a common goal…"

"Get that thing off my view screen, I've heard enough." Picard did not even try to hide his disgust at what he had seen and heard. Davros's image suddenly blinked from the screen. "All ships prepare for combat. Engage nearest viable targets. Make it so."

The screen filled once more with blazing beams of light and flashes of torpedoes seeking out their targets. The Dalek fleet seemed to be at a standstill, waiting for something, and then they struck back. The first wave of Dalek ships took out half of the Romulan contingent in what seemed like seconds. The Enterprise found herself trapped in a tractor beam of Borg design, "Modulate our shield nutations, and continue firing on the lead ship." Picard sat back in his chair to watch as the view of space before him turned into an image of fire and death.

"We have intruders, Deck 4 captain." Data, normally would have elaborated on the exact location, but in situations like this, he had learned that too much information was frowned upon.

"Security to Deck 4, engage and destroy the intruders!" As Picard spoke he knew, his ship had barely escaped from one encounter with the Borg recently, and his crew compliment was greatly diminished, but he knew that those who remained, would fight to their last. Just as he would do.

Deck 6.

"So why did we leave ten forward again?" Ace asked.

"To try and find the Doctor, Jamie said as he turned to Guinnan, "That's right isn't it?"

Guinnan simply nodded. "Ok, I agree, we have to find him, but these sirens are getting a bit annoying, can we turn them off at all?" Ace again asking the question, staring at Guinnan. She still had no idea why she had agreed to leave the relative security of Ten Forward, it was a relatively secure position, easily defended against, well, whatever decided to come and try and kill them.

A shimmering light appeared in the corridor in front of the little group, a hideous creature took form. "You will be assimilated!"

"What the Hell is that?" Ace shouted as she raised and fired her commandeered phaser in the same second. The beam bounced ineffectually off a shield that appeared around the creature.

"It looks like it was once a Cardassian, but it's been augmented with Borg, and, is that Dalek technology?" Guinnan could not hide the disgust in her voice, she didn't really want to. Guinnan raised her weapon and began firing in concert with Ace. Neither weapon seemed effective. Jamie lunged forward and hurled his skein dub'h at the borg/dalek/cardassian. The small dagger passed through the shield as though it wasn't even there and struck the creature in the forehead. It let out a small cry and began to shriek.

"Under attack, under attack. Drone 8921658 is under attack, cerebral processes impaired, nanoprobes bypassing. Bypass in progress…" Its litany was stopped by a final blast from Guinnan's formidable rifle.

"How did you know it would work?" Jamie stared at Guinnan, almost in awe.

"Well, it said it itself, your dagger damaged it's processor, I hoped that meant it wouldn't be able to adapt to the blast."

"But how did his knife get through the shield anyway?" Ace was mystified.

"It was probably too primitive, the Borg are used to being attacked with energy weapons, they probably didn't expect anyone to hurl knives at them. We've got to find the Tardis." Guinnan began running down the corridor to the nearest turbolift shaft, "you coming or what?" Ace and Jamie followed.

The Bridge.

"Evasive manoeuvres ensign." Picard barked the order at the young ensign at helm. The ensigns fingers danced over the control panel and the ship began to list and turn. "Continuous fire Mr Worf. I want to inflict as much damage as possible on the Borg, if we are to fall today, we will make sure we do not go alone." The Doctor could see beams of red light lance out across the gulf of space between the Enterprise and the Borg ships.

"It's not enough. We need more. We need more." The Doctor closed his eyes again as he spoke. Picard turned and saw the Doctor chanting as though in prayer. Picard wished, just this once that he could indulge in that practice.

Deck 5

"This is where we landed the Tardis, but it's moved." Ace looked at Guinnan, as she spoke.

"Well the Tardis is back now, that much is certain, it just didn't materialise right here." Guinnan replied.

Jamie looked at the dark skinned woman in awe, "How can ye tell the Tardis is back?"

Guinnan beamed a broad smile, "You hear that siren? That means we're at red alert, that usually means that the Doctor is aboard" Ace just smiled, she knew Guinnan was right.

"You will be exterminated!" The three allies looked around to see a Dalek/Borg turning the corridor and advancing towards them. "You have been identified as allies of the Doctor, you must be exterminated."

"Charming!" Shouted Ace as she raised the phaser in her hands, knowing full well that it was next to useless against the shields of the monstrosity advancing on them. "Any more of those knives Jamie?"

"The only one I had is still in that beastie downstairs." Jamie shouted over the din of phaser fire.

Guinnan reached deep into the pocket of her bartenders smock and pulled something out. "Come on old girl, I hope you remember me." She clasped the piece of metal tightly and closed her eyes.

The Bridge.

"What is that infernal racket?" Picard looked towards his ready room, where the cacophony was evidently coming from. "Doctor? What the devil is your machine doing?"

"Leaving apparently." Was all the Doctor said. She must have picked up another distress call. Probably be back with a few refugees any minute. Meanwhile we have some more friends arriving."

"Captain, several vessels approaching at high warp." Warp signatures would appear to be… Dominion?" Data re-checked his sensor data and confirmed, more for himself than anyone else that his readings were correct.

"I thought you said these would be friends Doctor?" Picard rounded again on the Doctor.

"I did, and they are. Look."

Picard turned to the viewer once more and saw the Dominion fleet come out of warp speed and immediately open fire upon the Borg vessels.

"Captain, the polaron based weaponry on those ships is having an effect on the Borg shields, the are fluctuating." Data stated. "Orders sir?"

"Intensify fire on the affected Borg vessels, we need to take advantage of even a moments weakness." Picard looked as he saw flashes of red, illuminating the darkness of space around his and the other ships engaged in the fight. "We might just have a chance after all."

Deck 5.

"That sounds like the Tardis?" Jamie asked as he heard the faint noise getting louder, like rumbling thunder, rolling ashore from the sea.

"It is. She remembers me." The smile on Guinnan's face was huge, and genuine. The Tardis finally materialised fully, less than a meter from where the group were standing. Guinnan opened her hand and revealed..

"That's a Tardis key. How did you get your hands on a key to the Tardis?" Jamie was astonished as the key seemed to glow in Guinnan's hand. She reached out and put the key in the lock, and the door opened.

"All aboard." Guinnan said as she held the door open long enough for Ace and Jamie to enter.

Elsewhere.

"You can all upon all of the allies you wish Doctor, this Universe has scant seconds left to live, and you along with it. I swore vengeance upon you doctor, and I am about to have it, Ha ha ha ha ha ha."

The Bridge.

"Now Q. Go." The Doctor shouted.

"What? Where?" Q looked at the Doctor, stunned.

"Narendra 3. you have only seconds to save the Q there from being assimilated, GO!" Q simply tilted his head and was gone. "Right, that's one problem down, we only have these ships to deal with now."

"Oh? Is that all?" The deadpan humour of Riker's comment caught everyone off guard, there were nervous sniggers from all around the bridge. Even Picard smiled, though it was wan.

"There it is again. Your machine is returning, I assume it will be in the ready room again?" Picard looked at the Doctor.

"Oh, I don't know, she goes where she pleases these days. There's just no talking to her sometimes. Suddenly the doors to Picard's ready room opened and Guinnan and the Doctors two companions exited the small room.

"There ye are Doctor. We were getting a wee bitty worried about ye." Jamie smiled.

The Doctor however was focussing on Guinnan. She smiled, "Hello again. I told you we'd meet again.

"Romana?"