Chapter Ten: Asylum and Gathering Shadows
Captain Picard was relaxing in his ready room, sipping a cup of Earl Grey tea. The memorial for the Voyager crew had taken place a few months ago, and Picard had personally delivered the eulogy. The event was still fresh in his mind. He hadn't known Captain Janeway very well, but he had considered her a friend. As he was staring out into space his computer began beeping, indicating an incoming transmission.
"Authorization Picard 47 Alpha Tango." The screen flickered and the face of Admiral Ross appeared.
"Captain Picard, it's god to see you. You're near Earth right now aren't you?"
"Yes, the Enterprise is performing a survey of the Voyager Nebula." The nebula had been named in memory of Captain Janeway and her vessel. Picard could still see the ship being taken into Transwarp just as he was arriving.
"We've got a first contact situation and they're asking for you."
"Me? Where is this contact taking place?" Picard asked.
"Believe it or not, in orbit of Earth. The ship came out of a quantum singularity. They first asked for Captain Janeway, but after we told them she'd been assimilated they wanted you." Picard was a bit confused. Perhaps this race was one that Janeway had encountered in the Delta Quadrant.
"The Enterprise can be at Earth in approximately five hours Admiral."
"Good. I'll see you when you arrive," Admiral Ross replied, ending the transmission.
Five hours later the Enterprise dropped out of warp in orbit of Earth. Picard could see several vessels gathered around what looked like an organic ship. It was orange in color and was about half as large as an Intrepid class starship.
"Report," Picard said.
"Our sensors can't penetrate the ship's hull sir, but the entire ship seems to be organic. We're being hailed by Admiral Ross." Commander Data replied.
"On screen." Picard replied.
"Glad you could make it Jean-Juc. The negotiations will take place aboard the Enterprise in one hour." Ross said.
"Understood," Picard replied. "What do we know about this species?"
"Almost nothing. Their opening message only said they wanted to speak with Captain Janeway and then you. They said they needed our help, then cut communications."
"Then this should be very interesting."
Exactly one hour later the unknown vessel moved in to dock with the Enterprise. The ship's hull seemed to shift as an airlock was formed. Once the seal was secure the lock opened and out walked…Boothby? As soon as he saw the expressions on the crew's faces he held up a hand.
"I know what you're thinking. I adopted this human form to make it easier to communicate with you. I'm an ambassador for the race you might know as Species 8472. I assume Captain Janeway shared her encounter with out Delta Quadrant training facility. My condolences by the way."
"Thank you. Now, if you would follow me," Picard said.
After the group was gathered in the Enterprise's conference room things got started.
"You said you came here because you need our help correct?" Picard asked.
"Yes. The Borg have begun invading our space again, but this time their weapons are able to destroy our ships with a single hit. We can only assume they can do this because they assimilated Voyager. Our scientists so far haven't been able to come up with a counter to the Borg nano probe weapons. We were hoping you could help us, or if you can't, at least allow us asylum within Federation space."
"Do you have samples of the Borg nano probes?" Riker asked.
"Right here," Boothby said, drawing a vial from one of his pockets. He held it as if it was a poisonous snake.
"I'll have this taken to Starfleet Medical right away," Riker said, getting up and leaving.
"How many ships and people would we be receiving if we did grant you asylum?" Picard asked after Riker had gone.
"We've taken heavy losses against the Borg, but they haven't reached our main colonies yet. So I'd say about 300,000 ships and 3 million civilians. Most of our race live aboard their ships so we have few real colonies. All we'd require would be a star system or two, preferably uninhabited."
"That's an impressive ratio of ships to crew," Picard pointed out.
"Our ships only require a single pilot to function. If you need something more, we could help you in creating technology to resist the Borg. The Borg may have found a way to hurt us, but our technology is still powerful."
"I will speak with Starfleet Command," Picard replied. "In the meantime, you may move your ships that are in danger of Borg attack into the Ferizon system. It's uninhabited so you shouldn't have any problems."
"Thank you Captain Picard. My ship will return here in a few hours and I'll wait until you reach your final decision."
A few minutes later the 8472 vessel disengaged from the Enterprise and opened a quantum singularity. Species 8472 had just been granted an extra lease on life.
Alissa sifted through the latest series of reports from the 8472 campaign. It was proceeding as expected. Over 5,300 Cubes and other vessels had been lost, but Species 8472 had begun to pull back. Already bio-armor was being integrated into several Borg vessels, including Alissa's flagship Diamond.
As she sent commands to the fleets in Fluidic Space, Alissa gently traced her fingers around her crystal pendant. It had become a habit when she was concentrating. Sinal was, to her, the best thing that had come from her alliance with Emperor Sin'tau. Sinal was curious and had a thirst for knowledge that rivaled Alissa's own. In the visits to her Diamond, Alissa had taught Sinal the histories of the Alpha Quadrant races as well as the story of her life. Sinal had taught Alissa the story of her life as a member of the royal family. It had been difficult, but she was a strong girl. Several times Sinal had asked Alissa about giving her Borg implants, but she had told her that Sin'tau would not allow it. He was still suspicious of Alissa. Hopefully after the Resalians had been conquered he would begin to trust her.
"The Sinai fleet has assembled. We are ready for the incursion into Resalian space," the Queen told Alissa as she appeared. She glanced at the pendant. "A gift?"
"Yes, Sinal gave it to me. I do hope that after this war with the Resalians is concluded Emperor Sin'tau will allow me to spend more time with her. She is very enjoyable to be around." The Diamond gave a slight shudder as it entered transwarp. "We should reach our first target world in approximately seventeen minutes, a world the Resalians conquered in the first days of the war. Sin'tau's fleet will follow us in and destroy any vessels and orbital assets we miss. The Sinai ground forces will then deploy to the surface. Our vessels will provide fire support if needed."
"A sound plan," the Queen agreed. Alissa glanced at the Queen and she could feel Alissa probe her memory files.
"You believe I will soon loose interest in you. That Sinal will become my new favorite."
"It was only an idle-" the Queen began. Alissa held up her hand.
"It is not true, and to prove it I have made a gift for you." The whine of a transporter was heard, and to the Queen's surprise a replica of her body appeared. "It has taken me this long to have the body grown and altered, but it is identical to your old body. You will now be able to freely transfer your mind between your physical body and your holomatrix." The Queen closed her eyes and her projection vanished. A moment later the clone opened her eyes and took a breath.
"Thank you," the Queen said, flexing her metallic hands and taking a few shaky steps.
"Your motor control should improve quickly. Now then, I believe I have identified the next candidate for my Commander program." A projection appeared. The man was humanoid, just over two meters tall, with blue skin and short black hair. His eyes were red with yellow pupils. He also had several tattoos decorating his face. "Commander Ger Dah, a recently assimilated member of the Bezzen race. He is an expert in fighter craft tactics and ship design. He and several of his aids were abandoned when one of my Cubes assimilated a Bezzan convoy at one of their colonies. I believe he will require little reprogramming. He felt betrayed by his people and will likely wish revenge against them. He should be ready about…now." True to Alissa's word, a drone was beamed into the Command chamber. He looked around in confusion. In addition to Borg armor he also wore a green came that came down to his knees.
"Where am I? Who are you?" He asked.
"Calm yourself Ger Dah. You are aboard the Borg command vessel. I have restored your individuality. Three weeks have passed since you were assimilated."
"Then why are you doing this?"
"Because unlike your people who left you to die at that colony, I recognize your talents. If you wish I would like to make you one of my new Commanders. You would be granted your own vessel and research faculties, as well as any equipment you required."
"Why are you giving me this chance? I was under the impression that the Borg cared only for assimilation."
"That was true, until I assumed command of the Collective. Now whenever we assimilate an individual with useful talents I give them the chance to serve the Collective as Commanders, just as I am giving you that chance. So, do you accept?"
"Yes," Ger Dah replied. "My people abandoned me to the Borg. I owe them nothing. I do however, have two conditions."
"Oh? And what are they?" Alissa asked, intrigued.
"Four of my aids were assimilated along with me. I want them released as well. Also, I have a family on my homeworld. A wife and five children."
"Your aids will be with you in a few hours. As to your family, once your vessel is completed I will allow you to travel under cloak to your homeworld and retrieve them. Is that acceptable?"
"Yes," Ger Dah replied. "Thank you."
"Good. You will now be taken to one of the Collective's shipyards. Your aids will join you there. I expect you to complete your vessel within a week and return to me. Is there anything else?"
"No mam. I will depart, and thank you again," Ger Dah said as he vanished in a Borg transporter beam.
"Are you certain this Commander program of yours is wise?" The Queen asked. "Individuals can be unpredictable at times."
"There is no need to worry. They are still bound to me as surely as any drone, incapable of moving against me. Besides, it will be my Commanders who will help lead the Collective to conquer this galaxy. Ah, our target world is in range." The Flagship Diamond exited its Transwarp conduit and emerged in the middle of one hundred Resalian ships, including three heavy command vessels. Alissa's fleet was composed of three hundred Cubes and sixty Tactical Cubes as well as her flagship.
As soon as they had exited Transwarp the Borg vessels opened fire, Chronoton torpedoes taking out the shield generators on most of the Resalian ships, leaving Borg plasma torpedoes and disruptors to savage the Resalian ships freely. Fifty vessels were crippled or destroyed in the opening volley alone. The Resalian reply was chaotic and uncoordinated. Two of their command ship had been destroyed, leaving them with limited direction. Alissa's flagship quickly disabled the remaining flagship and began boarding operations. The same happened to forty-three other Resalian vessels. The Resalians inflicted severe casualties on the Borg intruders, their large size and close combat weapons making drone shielding mostly ineffective. Still, the Borg gradually gained ground. Drones equipped with assimilation guns similar to the one mounted on Alissa's hand took down Resalians who soon joined them in fighting their former crewmates.
When the Sinai battle fleet dropped out of Transwarp thirty minutes after the Borg's attack, they found an orbit choked with drifting wreckage, most of it Resalian. The Resalians had lost forty-six vessels, with the remaining forty-three now under Borg control. The Borg had lost only five Cubes. Alissa hailed Sin'tau's flagship.
"Emperor, the Resalian fleet has been neutralized, and their planetary batteries have been silenced. You are clear to begin troop at your discretion."
"You have done well Queen Alissa. Once the planet is ours again I will transmit the coordinates of our next target."
"Understood Emperor. Until then. Alissa out."
"He still doe not trust you," the Queen said.
"That will change in time," Alissa replied. "And if it doesn't, well then, I will be forced to take steps." She smiled. As long as Sinal remained her friend she could care less what happened to Sin'tau and his people. But for now she would humor him and do as he asked.
Thousands of light years from Resalian and Sinai space, a Borg Sphere and three probes were scouting a star system near the galactic core. This region of the galaxy was largely unknown to the Borg. The Borg vessels moved into orbit around the fourth planet, the only one which showed organic life. As they entered orbit five vessels emerged from a subspace tunnel and opened fire. The ships were a mixture of organic and inorganic components. They were oval in shape and looked insectoid in appearance, with three curved spines decorating their engine sections.
Organic matter, contained within a tractor beam containment beam, impacted the Borg hulls, quickly eating away the alloys and opening decks to space. The Borg returned fire and one of the alien vessels exploded. The remaining four concentrated their fire on the Sphere, phaser weapons joining with the acid launchers. The Sphere's hull now resembled the face of a moon, pits and craters covering it. The Probes moved up and fired Chronoton torpedoes into the first ship, wrenching open the forward hull and detonating its acid magazine. The ship melted into slag, leaving only three ships. AS the Borg moved in for the kill however, another subspace tunnel opened and disgorged five more vessels, including a kilometer long vessel with four spikes at its front and as well as three at the rear. The new arrivals concentrated their fire on the Borg Probes, destroying one and badly damaging the other two. The Borg, realizing they were outmatched, engaged their Transwarp drives and left, taking time to destroy most of the wreckage of their probe with torpedoes.
After the unknown vessels were driven away from the colony, the defense fleet began collecting the little debris that remained from the unknown vessels. Their technology appeared to be on par with the defenders own. They were a threat. The ships sent word back to their commander, who ordered that a war fleet be assembled to find and eliminate the base of these new enemies. They, like so many before them, would soon know the power of the Kreedak Hive.
How was that? So now Alissa has a new Commander and the Borg have a new enemy. Who are these Kreedak, and are they any match for the Collective. Find out in the next exciting chapter, where you will also see the birth of a new Borg vessel. Well, see ya all soon. The Emperor protects.
P.S. I would like to thank m6l99 for the idea of Commander Ger Dah as well as the Kreedak. If you wish to use either of them you must first ask him. That's all for now.
ENTILZA