Chapter Title: The Oncoming Storm
Chapter Synapses: Part one of two. After the Federation loses contact with a listening post in the Gamma Quadrant, Starwind is paid a visit by Admiral Shran, who brings a frightening explanation.
Written by: Seraph Koji
Previously…"See you next game, Captain Victor Starwind." Shran grinned, "Delphinous out."
"A slip-capable runabout is easier said than done, Captain." Talara replied, "But I'll work on Horizon."
"We are from another galaxy here to retrieve Vixnavis." The booming alien voice filled Hyperion's bridge, "Your species will be exterminated as retribution."
"Odd…" Collins looked over to Starwind, "Why would a ship from another galaxy use Borg-inspired shield harmonics?"
VonBach's eyes grew in horror, "You mean to tell me one of those freaky dimension-jumping look-alikes is still in our galaxy."
"So," Starwind puzzled, "What's Shran's been up to since 56772?"
And now, the continuation…
Starwind awoke with a start. It was really the transporter beam that woke him more than the chattering of crew or the cold deck plate afterward. He stood up and looked about. This was not his hip. The design was that of a Nautilus class. It wasn't long after the ensign handed him his uniform that the realization set in. He was on Delphinous. Before he had the time to assess the state of the universe, he was in uniform in Shran's Ready Room.
"Captain." Shran addressed him warmly, "Can I get you anything? Tea, perhaps?"
"No." Starwind said affirmatively, "You aren't getting Hyperion, Shran."
Shran rose and looked out the window at the bluish corridor of slipstream, "Victor, do you know about Gamma Station 14?"
"Outer area of the Gamma Quadrant. It's a Federation listening post, monitoring activities in the heart of Dominion space. Part of our post-war agreement." Starwind spouted off details that bored the Admiral.
"It's silent, Victor." Shran said, disturbed, "I took you because I want to show you something. I want to show you what it is that's engaged the Dominion and shut down our post."
Starwind glared at Shran, "I don't care for games, Admiral?"
"We took the Bajoran wormhole, so we'll be there shortly." Shran began to feel a deep nervousness, "We can't stay long, of course. But you need to be a trumpet, warning Starfleet."
"About what?" Starwind asked.
Shran turned and made for the exit, "Their back, Captain."
Starwind followed him to the bridge, "Who is back?" He yelled, impatient, "Did you kidnap me for riddles?"
Shran stopped and turned to face Starwind. His eyes burned with fear and conviction, "Victor Starwind, there is only one enemy that you would fight with me against. That Klingon, Andorian, Cardassian and Breen would unite against."
"Returning to normal space." The helmsman called.
"Red alert. Cloak us." Shran ordered.
On the viewer a horrifying scene was displayed. Dominon warships were destroyed or trapped in tractor beams by ships with very geometrical shapes. Fearsome cubes, spheres, pyramids, and pylons.
"I need you to tell Starfleet…" Shran stared at the screen, fear striking his heart, "That the Dominion has engaged the Borg."
"I'm definitely dreaming." Starwing glared at the viewscrean.
Starwind briefed his officers in the morning.
"You were dreaming, Victor." VonBach assured him.
"I was off the ship for a period of about six hours last night, I don't feel particularly well-rested, and I think a transporter trace analysis will confirm that I was recently beamed aboard." Starwind explained, "We aren't sure how, but the Borg are back in our galaxy. And Shran doubts that was the first wave."
"Oh, my god." Collins gasped, "Didn't those ships from the other galaxy use Borg-inspired shields?"
"And there is another Singularity Projector in our galaxy somewhere…" Sen began, "All it would tak is for one cube to have used the projector before the Collective was wiped out here. No way they could communicate with the Collective so far away, so they started fresh."
"And they've come home looking for mama, only to find her dead." Phral said, somberly
Starwind looked about, "We can't just tell Starfleet the Borg are alive because a fugitive said so."
"No." VonBach recognized this attitude, "No way in hell are you gonna say what I think you're gonna say."
West scoffed, "Mister Hero here afraid of a few drones."
"The Borg are creepy." VonBach explained, "They don't kill, they assimilate."
"Uhh…" Winters looked about, "What are Borg?"
Starwind sighed, "Sometimes I forget where you're from, Sarah. The Borg are cybernetic life-forms who believe by forcibly adding biological and technological distinctiveness to their own collective consciousness and removing free will and individuality, they become more perfect."
"They're also creepier than anything you've ever encountered in your life." VonBach added.
"He's right." Starwind nodded, "I don't think there is an enemy that casts terror into the hearts of the most hardened Captains quite like the Borg do."
"Here it comes." VonBach winced.
"Incoming communiqué." A bridge officer chimed across the comm.
"I'll take it down here." Starwind continued talking to those assembled, "Nevertheless, we must find a cube, take a quick scan, and report to Starfleet Command."
"I take it you've seen the same intel we have, then, Captain." The voice of Admiral Paris came from the display panel behind him, "And it's a good thing I caught you durring a breifing. Your senior officers need to hear this. At 0915 hours, the USS Pendragon sent an urgent distress call to Starfleet Command. They had engaged the Borg."
"Pendragon? She's a Prometheus class, right. Multi-vector targeting mode?" VonBach asked.
"We lost contact with the Pendragon a few moments ago." Paris explained.
Phral's eyes grew wide. "They lasted ten minutes."
"Orders?" Starwind asked.
Paris nodded, "You're between the Pendragon's previous coordinates and the fleet being amassed to fight the Borg cube. When this fleet comes by, join it. It will be lead by the Enterprise and Captain Jean-Luc Picard. Paris out." The Federation logo blinked back on to the screen.
"Receiving another hail, sir, this time heavily encrypted." The officer called through the comm. again.
"I couldn't help but monitor." Shran appeared on the screen, "Set course for Pendragon's last known coordinates. I'll be there when you arrive."
Starwind shook his head, "We were ordered to wait."
"Captain, by the time that fleet arrives, there is no telling how many innocents will become drones." Shran said, "Captain Shelby," he addressed his first officer, "Transit to slipstream. Let's go hunting, Captain. Delphinous out."
Starwind looked to Ivano and VonBach.
"Captain's log, stardate 57632.5. Hyperion is en route to rendezvous with Admiral Shran a short distance away from the assumed position of the Borg cube. This is violation of an order from Admiral Paris, however I think it is the responsible course of action. I think Delphinous and Hyperion can slow this ship down enough to let the fleet catch up. Rather, I hope. The fleet is almost an hour out from our position. I just don't know what to think."
"We're coming out of warp." Ivano reported.
"Red alert. Battle station. Status of the Delphinous?" Starwind spouted.
"Off our port bow, taking the same precautions." Talara reported.
"Open a channel." Starwind ordered, "So, we wait?"
"Not long now, Captain." Shran assured him.
"VonBach, you remember that fancy Transphasic Armor we got?" Starwind hinted.
"Deploy armor." Collins ordered more bluntly.
Small devices on Hyperion's hull activated, adding to her normal hull a sleek silvery coat of armor.
"Deployed. Arming Transphasic Torpedoes." VonBach reported.
"Transworp Event!" Talara said urgently.
"On screen."
"Reading one ship Cube." Talara reported, than paused, "No, two. Now three…" She paused, taken aback, "Sir, reading seven Borg cubes on a course for Earth."
"Hail Delphinous!" Starwind screamed, "Shtan,. There's too many. Do not engage. Fall back to the Federation fleet."
"No response."
"Suit yourself." Starwind hissed, "Ivano, set course to rendezvous with the fleet. Maximum warp."
"Seven cubes." Starwind explained to Picard as Hyperion was bound for their fleet, "I think that's the most we've ever encountered."
"Bound for Earth?" Picard asked.
"This isn't good, is it, Jean-Luc?" Starwind asked.
Picard looked grim, "I think that puts it rather mildly, Victor."
"Shran was still with them. Perhaps he managed to take a cube out?" Starwind said, hopeful.
"Or, perhaps the Borg now have Slipstream technology." Picard dashed those hopes, "Seven cubes."
"What do we do?" Starwind asked, secretly afraid.
Picard shrugged, "The only thing we can do. We fight. We hop that this sect of Borg hasn't found methods to adapt to Admiral Janeway's Transphasic Technology, and we try to amass a bigger fleet."
"I think I got a few people I can call." Starwind nodded, "Hyperion out." He closed the channel and tapped hiss badge, "Talara, get me Captain Smade of the Stragger, Captain Carter of the Concorde, and Captain Ralston of the Normandy."
"Planning a party, Captain?" Talara asked.
Starwind sighed, "Only if we win, Lieutenant."
Collins stood in the Observation Lounge and glared at streaking space.
"Dorian?" Sen walked up to her.
Collins glared at the stars, "The universe is a funny thing. Great sense of humor. The Borg are crushed again, but are like a phoenix, or a bad coin, or something. They just keep coming."
"Maybe that's the universe's way of telling us that there will always be something out here to get us." Sen thought, "I hope the Prophets are smiling upon us."
"You have to be one of the least religious Bajorans I've met, Sen. The fact you're praying to the Prophets is unsettling." Collins remained transfixed on space.
Sen simply replied, "When death is so close, people get holy really fast."
To be continued…
