Chapter 2
"No"
Ross blinked, the answer was totally unexpected.
"Excuse me Mr President, but what the…"
"I will not authorise an attack on the Borg."
"You cannot mean that!"
"Admiral please, control yourself. The Borg have made no hostile moves toward the federation, or even the Cardassians."
"They attacked our ships!"
"Who flew right into the middle of them. Admiral for all we know this is just an expedition to our quadrant."
Ross could not believe his ears. "Mr President, the Borg have twice tried to assimilate us all! If that isn't an act of war what is!"
"That was then. In case you hadn't noticed we have just fought a massive war, one we have not yet recovered from. We cannot provoke the Borg by attacking ships which are just minding their own business."
"minding their own business!"
"Admiral, we will not launch a pre-emptive strike against anyone, including the borg. By all means prepare your defenses but we will not be attacking."
Admiral Ross stormed out of the office in a fury, the president was being so damn short sighted it made him sick. Still, he had managed to get approval for a border defence force. He tapped his communicator.
"Ross to Fleet command, alert the first, second, fourth and sixth fleets to assemble on the Cardassian border and await further orders." Ross smiled despite himself, technically it was a border defence force, it just happened to be made up of about a thousand ships.
He headed to the transporter room practicing what he would say to Chancellor Martok. The Federation President may not make pre-emptive strikes but he knew a Klingon who would.
Admiral Ross was happy to see Martok again, even if only on a viewscreen. The gnarled old Klingon was already on the bridge of his flagship, the Sword of Kah'less.
"It is good to see you again Admiral." He smiled a toothy grin. "It has been a long time since we drank together and told the old tales of battle."
Ross smiled back, same old Martok. "That day is coming soon I hope. I am leading a force to the Cardassian border, over a thousand ships with more if I need them."
"The Border?" Martok spoke slowly. "Then your government hasn't changed its mind."
"No, we are to hold on the border." He was suddenly deeply ashamed, his friend was going to face death while he watched on the sidelines. "But I promise you, orders or not we will be there if it goes wrong."
"I understand Admiral." Martok nodded. "I will miss you at the battle."
"Qapla" Ross said the Alien words with surprising dignity.
"To us all." The Chancellor struck his chest and the screen blanked out.
Ross turned and sat back down in his command chair aboard the Sovereign Class USS Dauntless, his newly commissioned flagship.
"So what's happening?" he asked his XO.
"A large force of Klingon warships led by Martok is heading into Cardassian space, there it will meet almost the whole Cardassian navy. The Romulans have acknowledged our signal but have made no response as yet."
"And our units?"
"First fleet is almost at the assembly area, they're gonna meet the USS Titan there. Sixth fleet is just leaving DS9 now, along with the Defiant. The other fleets should be there in a week, as should we if we proceed at maximum warp."
"Alright helm, you heard the man, lets go."
The Dauntless streaked into warp, leaving Earth far behind. Every ship in the fleet was on full alert, Ross had made plans for the reactivation of the Dominion war reserves and the recall of non serving officers. If the Borg came for the Federation time was going to be a critical factor. He had his best people coming up with strategies and had ordered the defence research at starbase 324 to be given maximum priority. The Federation had found some very intriguing technology on the USS Voyager when she returned home, and although the Temporal anomalies bureau had had a heart attack when it showed up Ross and pulled rank and a few favours and kept the technology in Starfleet hands, though under strict supervision. Of course, there were elements within the Federation, known to but a few, who had also been doing research on this new technology with a view to using it practically.
Picard headed back to the transporter room. After a short time on Earth the Enterprise was once more needed. Once Picard hadn't been trusted to face the borg, now he was going to be in the front line. Assuming there was a front line left when he arrived.
"Captain, wait a moment." He turned to see Admiral Janeway following him.
"Admiral, here to wish us luck?" he grinned.
"Yes, and something else." She handed him a data pad.
"What is it?"
"When we came back from the Delta quadrant we brought some…some technology back with us." She looked around conspiratorially. "It is supposed to be Ultra secret, nobody knows. Those are plans for Transphasic torpedoes, Borg killers."
"Borg killers? Why the hell isn't the fleet being issued with these?" he whispered fiercely.
"They're from the future." She held up her hands to stop his retort. "Yes, I know its crazy, that's why I'm giving you the data on how to make your own. Tell no one, I'll be on a penal colony faster than Q gets in a hissy fit." They both smiled, painfully, at that thought.
"Thank you admiral."
"Don't mention it. If it all goes to hell out there those plans are your best shot. Now get going and don't be late."
The Bridge of the Enterprise had barely changed, despite the massive refit a few months earlier to fix the damage inflicting by the Scimitar. The only difference was the crew, new faces everywhere. He still had Geordi in engineering, Beverly in Medical and Deanna at his left hand, but otherwise the old family had split up. Riker and Worf had their own commands now, and Data…
He looked at the operations console to the left, lingering on it a moment too long.
"Captain?" Troi spoke gently to him.
"I'm alright counsellor" he smiled "Memories." Troi had asked for a transfer to the USS Titan, and Picard had done all he could to speed it along, in fact she was meant to be staying on Earth to await Captain Rikers return, but she had sensed she would be needed on the Enterprise a while longer, so was content to remain for now.
"Helm, set course for the Cardassian border, Warp Nine."
"Aye Captain." The fresh faced lieutenant typed up the coordinates.
"Engage."
