Chapter Six: Plans and New Blood
Reviewers:
DrkDrake: Double ouch! They will strike back yes, but this time the Borg will be ready for them. The Commanders will be like Zerg Cerebrates, independent minds, but incapable of turning on their master.
angelus288: I don't think Voyager is on TV anymore. It may be on cable. You could always rent it off Netflix. I hope you enjoy the coming war.
Erin King: Why thank you.
Vortex Inferno: Thank you. The time between chapters will usually by only a few days unless I say otherwise.
A fleet of 8472 bio-ships exited a singularity and began their attack on Borg system 2578. There were three hundred bio-ships and a defending fleet of six hundred Borg vessels. The bio-ships focused their initial attach on the two hundred Cubes, gouging their hulls with bio-beams, but it took five hits to actually destroy one. Alissa had analyzed all available data on 8472's weapons and had created adaptations that, while unable to completely shield a vessel, was able to reduce the effectiveness of the weapon by 20 percent.
The 8472 fleet carved their way through the Borg fleet, but lost over half their number to nano probe torpedoes. With the defense fleet neutralized, nine bio-ships came together and fired their planet-buster weapon. Massive cracks quickly spread across the planet, and a few seconds later the target world exploded apart.
"That makes seven planets in five days," Alissa said. "But this time I am prepared."
As the 8472 vessels were heading back to their rift, a cloaked mine exploded, sending out a shockwave of nano probes. The entire bio-ship fleet shriveled and exploded in blue detonations.
"Even if 8472 is victorious, they still loose."
"Our war against them is proceeding as planned," the Queen said. "We have destroyed over ten thousand of their bio-ships and the number increases daily. However, I am concerned that 8472 may be preparing to concentrate their efforts on our worlds and ignore our ships.
"That is why I have diverted resources to construct defense platforms and minefields and over important worlds," Alissa said. "The first has already been completed." The view changed to show the image of a Borg world. Perfect grid work structures covered the surface, and geometric patterns of towers and spires sprouted up, containing sensor arrays and power generators. In orbit, hundreds of Borg torpedo platforms slowly rotated in orbit. They were cube shaped, with a torpedo launcher on every side.
"Impressive, but it will take time and resources to construct a defense net over every world under our dominion," the Queen said. Alissa nodded.
"I know, but by then it is my hope that we will have enhanced our technology with that of species 8472." Just then the Doctor appeared in the room. He had been assigned the task of analyzing the corpse of the 8472 pilot they had captured, as well at the bio-ship itself.
"Sorry if I'm interrupting," he said. Alissa had left the majority of his personality subroutines intact. For all her power and genius, she enjoyed the chance to talk to others.
"Not at all Doctor. What do you have to report?" Alissa asked.
"Well, I'm about halfway through decoding the DNA of the corpse you gave me, although it would have been more useful alive. Anyway, I must thank you for your assistance. Without the resources of the Collective I would have needed years to decode it. As it is, I believe I have identified a weak point in one of their base proteins that, if hit with a large enough dose of transphasic radiation, would cause an immediate cellular breakdown. Death would occur within seconds. However I'll need another few days to complete my research."
"Very well Doctor. Complete your work as soon as possible." The Doctor gave a short bow and vanished back to his research lab. "He is proving to be a most valuable resource," Alisa said. "Now, as you know, I've been working on adapting 8472's weapons and hull technology for Borg vessels. 8472 weapons use extremely focused plasma energy, and use a focusing method that relies on bio-energy to contain it. It will take time, but I am confident I can find a way to modify our own containment fields to do the same. In the meantime, I believe I have identified the first candidate for my Commander Program."
"Who have you chosen?" The Queen asked.
"Eight of ten, primary adjunct of Unimatrix 942. His name is K'trel. His species, the Keruthi, were assimilated three months ago. They were a race of scientists and were geniuses in the field of weapons technology. Over three hundred vessels were lost in their assimilation. K'trel was part of a group that believed his race should abandon their isolationist policy and begin relations with other races. His neural reconfiguration should be complete in a few moments," Alissa said, indicating a maturation chamber. A few seconds later the chamber opened. Steam flooded the room. After it dissipated Alissa and the Queen got their first look at the first Borg Commander. He was just under two meters tall and looked about twenty-five. Alissa's modifications had regrown his hair, which was dark brown and came down to his neck. One of his eyes was a glowing implant, the other a shining green organic. He wore standard Borg armor, with the exception of still having both his arms intact.
"Where am I?" He asked.
"You are in Maturation chamber complex 173, a part of the primary Borg Unicomplex. You are part of the Collective. I recognized your talents for weapon design and so kept you from becoming a mindless drone."
"I remember what happened to me just fine. Tell me, why are we even having this conversation? From what I know of the Borg there are no individuals, only the Collective."
"Then how do you explain me?" Alissa asked. "Also, there is the Queen here, as well as the Doctor." At that, both the Doctor and Queen's programs appeared. "When I took control of the Collective I decided that a degree of independent thought was required. That is why I began searching for individuals with the ability to serve as Commanders. You are the second, after the Doctor. I am offering you the chance to design weapons and technology beyond that which you ever thought possible. You will also be given your own command vessel which you may design."
"Why are you giving me this chance?" K'trel asked. Already the thought of working with the Collective was becoming more appealing, partly because of his past but mostly due to Alissa's nano probes. He remembered his past, how others had hated and ridiculed him for his political views. Now he was being offered the opportunity to design weapons that never would have been allowed on his homeworld. "Very well, I agree."
"Excellent," Alissa said, a smile crossing her face. The group was then beamed to a laboratory outfitted with the most advanced computers and technologies in the Collective. "This will be your workplace. If there is anything you require merely ask and it will be provided."
"I understand. Now, if you don't mind, I will begin," he said and brushed past Alissa and began absorbing data.
"I bit inconsiderate," the Queen said once she and Alissa were beamed back to the throne room.
"Perhaps, but all that truly matters is that he is now working for the Collective. Soon we will have the means to defeat any foe we may face. Including species 8472. Also, my flagship has just been completed," Alissa said. The viewscreen changed to show a Borg Diamond, but one which was ten times the size of the standard vessel. It was covered in heavy armor and shield generators and attended by a force of fifty Tactical Cubes.
"An impressive vessel," the Queen said.
"I know. With this force I will lead an assault of the Krenim. Their temporal technology is interesting, and I am sure I will be able to obtain a great deal of data from them. Possibly even a new commander."
Three days later Emily's attack fleet was assembled: One hundred Tactical Cubes, three hundred Assimilation Cubes, eight hundred Spheres, twelve hundred Probes and Alissa's flagship. Alissa was planning to attack in a blitzkrieg campaign. She would overwhelm the Krenim before they could gather in any force to oppose her. Once the Krenim had been assimilated and 8472 defeated the entire Delta Quadrant would be next. Nothing could stop the Collective now.
How was that? In the next chapter the assimilation of the Krenim will begin and the next phase of the 8472 war will be launched. What will happen next? Find out in the next chapter. Well, see ya then, and don't forget to review!
ENTILZA