Chapter Eight: Allies and Emotions
Alissa woke slowly after a restful sleep. She pushed the heavy comforter and silk sheets off herself and put on her armor. She searched the Cube's information banks and found that her fleet was less than an hour from the war zone she had become interested in. She called up a projection of the available data. A moment later the Queen's hologram appeared.
"Have you chosen which side you are going to aid?" The Queen asked.
"Yes," Alisa replied. Two projections appeared. One was of a tall reptilian humanoid. Spines thrust from its back and large claws extended from four fingered hands. "Species 10036, Resalian. Physically strong, average cranial capacity, resilient to physical harm. Their ships tend to be slow but powerful with strong shields. Their weapons include high yield phasers and powerful torpedoes."
"An impressive species. Worthy of assimilation," the Queen replied. "And the second race?" The next hologram displayed a figure far different from the Resalian. It was a few centimeters shorter and slimmer, with distinctly feline traits. Pointed ears and mirrored eyes colored a dark yellow. A light layer of fur covered the visible sections of flesh and short claws extended and retracted from five fingered hands. A long tail also extended from the waist, swishing slowly.
"Species 10037, Senai. Extremely quick and agile, with excellent balance. Their warships follow their tradition of speed. Their weapons are not overly powerful but have an impressive rate of fire. They have also developed advanced stealth technology to combat the power of the Resalians. They are the side I have chosen to support."
"If I may ask, why did you not choose the Resalians? They seem to be the better option."
"True, but from what we have learned they are very aggressive and would likely not be interested in an alliance with us. Also, I hate lizards," Alissa replied with a smile. "We should be at the site of one of their major engagements in a few moments. Then we will see if they are interested in an alliance. Whatever the outcome, we will know shortly. We've arrived."
The Senai cruiser Teshkon dove in quickly on one flank of the attacking Resalian battlecuiser, followed by the rest of its squadron. Their pulse cannons peppered the Resalian vessel with quick, precise bursts. Moments later their phantom torpedoes slammed into shield sections weakened by the pulse cannons. Return fire found mostly empty space as the lightning quick attack vessels bobbed and weaved, but one ship was hit and tumbled away, trailing debris. Behind the attack vessels the royal flagship slowly maneuvered into range, its Starlight cannons and heavy torpedoes impacting with devastating effect. The enemy battlecuiser's shields failed and the attack ships dove it, torpedoing the bridge and main batteries. The ship began listing. Already space was filed with the wreckage of hundreds of ships, most of them Senai.
"All ships, prepare for the next wave," ordered Emperor Sin'tau. Since first contact had been made with the barbaric Resalians, the Senai had fought valiantly, but they were slowly being pushed back. The Resalian fleets were composed mainly of heavy battleships. The Senai ships, while fast and powerful in its own right, simply did not have the raw firepower to win the war. Already over half the vessels in the First Fleet had been destroyed taking out a force of only twenty Resalian battleships.
"My lord, long range sensors are picking up an enemy fleet approaching. Composition is thirty standard battlecuisers and one heavy command ship," the officer monitoring the sensor station reported. The Emperor hung his head. A fleet that size would overrun the first fleet. They could not retreat, because if they surrender the agricultural colony below the people would starve.
"Order the fleet to form up. We will defend this world with our lives," Sin'tau replied. He could not believe it had come to this. Before the Resalians had come, the Senai Empire had been the strongest in the entire sector. Now they were about to suffer the final blow. He watched as the Resalian heavy fleet dropped out of warp. Their massive ships resembled flying bricks with bulbous growths sprouting weapons. They displayed none of the grace of the sleek silver and gold Senai vessels, with their dagger shaped attack craft and the gleaming royal flagship.
"Lord, there is some sort of wormhole forming between the Resalians and our fleet."
"Bring it up on the main screen." The view changed from the approaching enemy fleet to a green aperture that suddenly spat out 5 cube shaped vessels, a dozen spheres and massive diamond shaped vessel far larger than anything the Senai had ever seen.
Alissa's gaze passed over the two assembled war fleets. The Resalian ships were dark red and shaped like massive bricks. The Senai vessels were gleaming gold and silver daggers. With a thought Alissa ordered her armada to open fire. Borg disruptors and plasma torpedoes lashed out, cutting into the Resalian ships. Her flagship's newly installed Chronoton torpedo launchers sent warheads straight into the bridges and power systems of the Resalian ships. Five ships were crippled instantly and boarded. The Resalians return volley focused on the Borg Cubes, leaving one burning but still mobile and two more with moderate damage. Alissa immediately began calculating ways to adapt. Her vessel and the Resalian flagship quickly entered into a slugging match, but her ship's greater size and regeneration ability soon began to tell.
Emperor Sin'tau could only watch as the unknown ships slugged it out with the Resalian fleet. Already nearly half their fleet was burning but they didn't seem to care, and their Diamond vessel was steadily reducing the Resalian flagship to a burning wreck.
"Hail them," Sin'tau ordered.
"They are responding," his second replied. A moment later the main screen showed an image of a woman clad in black armor. Her skin was gray and tubes extended from the back of her skull, linking into some sort of implants in the back of her head.
"You have my thanks for your assistance. May I ask your name?"
"I am the leader of the Borg. We will speak again after the battle is won," the woman replied, cutting the transmission. Sin'tau's neck fur bristled for a moment, then relaxed as he saw the Resalian flagship explode under a concentrated barrage from the Borg Diamond and a pair of Cubes. The Spheres had all been destroyed, but all but three of the Resalian vessels were gone. A moment later they turned and went to warp. Two Cubes went in pursuit.
"My Lord, the Borg are hailing us."
"Answer them." When the woman's image returned Emperor Sin'tau thought he saw her image flicker for a moment, but he dismissed it as battle damage.
"I am pleased my fleet arrived in time to aid you. I wish to invite you on board my vessel so we may meet face to face."
"It is the custom of my people that first meeting take place on the royal flagship," Sin'tau replied. It was the truth, but he was also wary of these Borg. Their power was great, and they would have to earn his trust.
The Queen's smile wavered. Her program could not go to places without holo emitters. She turned to Alissa, who was standing off to the side. She nodded. She would go.
"Prepare to receive our ambassador," the Queen said. "Are you sure about this?" She asked Alissa.
"Yes. They had to learn about me sooner or later. At least this way it will be on friendly terms," she said as the Diamond began moving in to dock with the Senai royal flagship. Up close the difference in size truly became apparent as the royal flagship was bathed in the Diamond's shadow. As Alissa entered the airlock, the Queen gave her one last smile.
"Be careful," she said.
"Always," Alissa replied as the door opened.
Emperor Sin'tau was waiting as the airlock along with five of his bodyguards, tall warriors covered in armor and wielding long halberds. When the airlock opened his eyes searched for the ambassador, but he saw on one. Then he lowered his gaze and saw a child, no more than thirteen years old standing in the airlock. She was dressed in black armor, with a high neck guard and a flowing red cape that just cleared the ground. She had deep blue eyes and waist length dark brown hair, but the rest of her visible skin was bare. She looked up at Sin'tau and smiled.
"Hello. Greetings in the name of the Borg," she said, bowing.
"Who are you, and where is the other I spoke with?" Sin'tau asked.
"She was a hologram. I am the true leader of the Borg. I simply thought you would respond more favorably if you spoke with someone older. So, shall we get down to business?"
"Follow me," Sin'tau said. Alissa fell into step behind the guards. They walked down long corridors of silver and white. Alissa's eyes passed over long flowing lines of script. Eventually the group arrived at a large chamber with a silver table and an impressive view of space. Alissa could see small ships effecting repairs to some of the Senai vessels. "Now, Sin'tau said once everyone was seated, "let us begin with your motives for becoming involved in our war with the Resalians."
"My reasons are simple. I wanted to help you. I analyzed data on both your people and the Resalians and decided you would respond more favorably to my offer for an alliance."
"Your vessels appear to be extremely powerful. Why would you wish to enter into an alliance with us?"
"So you want simple facts? Very well, allow me to show you something," Alissa said, and closed her eyes. A moment later a large circular object two meters wide appeared on the table in a green haze. It projected a star chart of the galaxy. Borg space was shown in green, covering a large expanse of the Delta Quadrant. "This is the territory currently under the control of the Borg Collective. In the year and a half since I inherited control of the Collective I have expanded our borders by fifteen percent, and that number continues to increase. You have seen our power. If we wished we could easily assimilate your entire empire. However, I decided that it would be interesting to assist other races in need. Yours was the most promising. If you wish, we can begin our alliance right now. I can offer you assistance with repairing your ships and medical treatment for your wounded." Before Sin'tau could reply an aid rushed in and whispered something in his ear.
"I must take my leave for now," Sin'tau said.
"Is something the matter?" Alissa asked. "Perhaps I can help." Sin'tau was silent for a long moment.
"Follow me," he said, walking at a very fast pace. Alissa had to run at times to keep pace with him. After several minutes they arrived at a medical bay. It was already filled with injured from the battle, but Sin'tau strode past them, entering into a side chamber protected by two royal guards. They tensed when they saw Alissa, but a gesture from Sin'tau calmed them. Sin'tau and Alissa passed through a white curtain and came to a bed where a small child was laying. Alissa realized she couldn't have been more than nine years old. Her fur was a light brown streaked with patches of white, but it seemed dull. Her ears were limp and her breathing was shallow.
"Who is this?" Alissa asked. For some reason she felt an instant attachment to the girl. She couldn't explain it.
"Sinal, my daughter," Sin'tau replied. "She was injured in a battle five weeks ago. She was in the ship's garden when an enemy radiation torpedo breached the hull. She received a heavy dose and we have not been able to do anything for her." Sin'tau's fist struck the wall. "I should have protected her!" Alissa came up beside him and put her hand on his arm.
"Don't worry Emperor. I believe I can help her. One moment," Alisa said as she extended her arm and a scanning beam passed slowly over the girl's body.
"What are you doing!" Sin'tau demanded.
"Don't worry; it's a simple medical scan." Alissa closed her eyes for a moment as she analyzed the data. "Yes, I can heal her easily." Sin'tau's head snapped around.
"You can?"
"Of course. All I have to do is program some of my nano probes to reverse the cellular damage and eradicate the infected tissue. A simple injection will be required. May I proceed?" She watched Sin'tau's face as he thought hard. He didn't know anything about this girl. Yet she claimed she could heal his daughter. His own doctors had said that Sinal had at most a week left. He had nothing to lose.
"Very well," Sin'tau replied. "But I warn you, if I suspect for one moment that you are planning to hurt her, I will have you killed."
"I understand," Alissa said. She walked to the bedside and lowered the collar of Sinal's surgical gown. She then extended her other hand and inserted her tubules into Sinal's neck. A wave of grey washed over her skin like a wave, but vanished after a few seconds. Immediately the life-support monitors connected to Sinal changed from yellows and reds to greens and blues. "She should regain consciousness in a few moments."
Sure enough a few seconds later the girl's eyes slowly opened. She blinked a few times and sat up weakly.
"Father?" She said. Sin'tau bent down and enveloped the girl in a hug.
"Sinal. I thought I'd lost you," he said, a tear streaming down his face. He turned to Alissa. "I am in your debt Ms. Alissa. Thank you." Alissa smiled.
"You're welcome. Now, I think I will return to my ship. You should spend some time with your daughter." As Alissa turned to leave she felt a sudden tug on her arm. Sinal was holding onto her hand.
"Thank you," she said, smiling. Alissa felt that feeling again. It was as if she and the girl had a bond she couldn't identify.
"Your welcome. When you're feeling better I'll come back and we can get acquainted." Sinal nodded. "Emperor, whenever you're ready I can begin assisting in the repair and upgrading of your warships. Contact when you're ready." After Alissa left the medical bay Emperor Sin'tau had some checks run on Sinal and the doctors discovered that she was completely healthy. Sin'tau took her back to her quarters where she lay down to get some rest. Meanwhile, Sin'tau started reading the information Alissa had left for him when she'd left.
When Alissa was back aboard her Diamond she relaxed. That had been her first diplomatic mission, but she felt she'd done reasonably well. Still, that girl. Somehow Alissa felt that she would not be someone who would quickly disappear from her life.
How was that? In the next chapter Alissa and Emperor Sin'tau will form their alliance, and the next stage in the war against Species 8472 will begin. What will happen next? Find out in the next exciting chapter. See ya then, and don't forget to review!
ENTILZA