Chapter 75.
The Omega Directive.
(Scott POV)
I woke up with my girls sleeping on my bed again. Oh I missed my girls. As I managed to get out free and left them to sleep as I got ready for Work.
I just had my Breakfast and Kissed me girls and then headed for the Bridge.
As I left and into the Turbolift.
"Bridge," I said as the Turbolift took off.
As then the ship rumbled.
"Computer Report," I said.
"Level 10 authorization required," Computer said.
"Computer. Emergency reroute Turbolift to Bridge immediately," I said as I got to the bridge.
"We can't function like this, I'm going to get Harry up here to trace the course," Chakotay said as I saw Omega.
"Don't do anything. I'll take care of this," I said using my command code At mission Ops 1. Then it disappeared as it did form the other monitors. "Send all sensor data about the particle wave to my Ready room, Tom, Disengage Engines and hold position here,"
"Captain, What's going on?" Chakotay said.
"I can't explain right now, Don't discuss any of this with the rest of the crew. I'll have further orders for you soon," I said going into my ready room. Once I got in. "Computer Seal the doors to this room, Not entry without my Authorization," As I went and sat down.
"Doors are sealed," Computer said.
"Access Secure Data File OMEGA 1," I said.
"Voiceprint Confirmed state clearance code," Computer said.
"McCall 1153 RED Clearance level 10," I said.
"Confirmed," Computer said. "Sensors have detected the Omega phenomenon, 1.2 lightyears of this vessel, Implement the Omega Directive immediately all others priorities have been rescinded,"
"Display Sensor data," I said.
After an hour.
"Chakotay, Report to my Ready room," I said.
As Chakotay came into my ready room.
"Captain, What's going on?" Chakotay said.
"This is a highly classified mission Knowledge on Need to know Basics That's an order," I said.
"Aye Captain," Chakotay said.
"Get B'Elanna to install Multiphasic shields around the warp Core Tell her I want it done by 1100 hours," I said. "Have Tom Modify a Shuttle to withstand extreme thermal stress 12,00 kelvins at least, And Tell 7 I want to see her,"
"Aye Captain," Chakotay said.
"Dismissed," I said. As Chakotay left.
After another 10 minutes my door bell rang again.
"Come in," I said as 7 walked in. "What do you know about the Omega Directive?"
"Everything you do, most likely," 7 said.
"I thought so, If the Borg assimilated Starfleet Captains, you would possess all of their knowledge," I said.
"That's correct," 7 said. "Do you intend to carry out the Directive,"
"Yes," I said.
"Then Sensors have detected the molecule," 7 said.
"So it would appear, But we have to confirm it," I said.
"We," 7 said.
"Your going to help me carry out the Directive, Starfleet Protocol forbids me from speaking with any of my crew about this, But since you already know about it, my choice is to either work with you, Or confine you to quarters until this is over," I said.
"Perhaps you should do the latter, I will not help you destroy Omega," 7 said. "It should be harnessed,"
"That's impossible," I said.
"The Borg believe otherwise," 7 said.
"Explain," I said.
"On one occasion we were able to create a single Omega Molecule. we kept it stabile for one trillionth of a nanosecond before it destabilized, We didn't have enough Boronite Ore left to synthesize more, But the knowledge we gained allowed us to refine our theories," 7 said.
"The Borg have been waiting for a chance to test them out," I said.
"Yes," 7 said. "but we never found another source of the ore until now,"
"Sorry, But if someone out there is experimenting with Omega I'm under orders to stop them, Otherwise this entire quadrant would be at risk," I said.
"Those order are the result of Starfleet's ignorance and fear, I can alleviate you ignorance, As for your fear," 7 said.
"Sometimes fear should be respected, 7 Tell me, How many Borg were sacrificed during this experiment," I said.
"29 vessel 600,000 drones but that is irrelevant," 7 said.
"Not to me. Not to my crew, and not to the people who live in this quadrant," I said. "I'm going to neutralize this threat, 7, with or without your help,"
"I will assist you," 7 said.
"Will you," I said.
"I have waited many years to observe this molecule first-hand, I will not deny myself that experience," 7 said.
"All right, Go back to your cargo bay, assemble all the data you have about Omega, I'll expect a report within the hour," I said. "I didn't realize you had such a strong scientific curiosity,"
"Not curiosity, Desire," 7 said.
"Desire," I said.
"Omega is infinitely complex, yet harmonious, to the Borg it represents perfection," 7 said. "I wish to understand that perfection,"
"The Borg's Holy grail," I said.
"Captain," 7 said.
"Never mind, I'll see you in an hour," I said as 7 left. Then I headed for Sickbay.
"Captain, What can I do for you?" Doc said.
"Doc, I need Arithrazine," I said.
"Arithrazine? What for," Doc said.
"I'm going on an away mission," I said.
"What are you planning to do, Stroll though a supernova?" Doc said.
"Something like that 20 milligrams, When can you have it ready?" I said.
"Captain, Arithrazine is used for the most serve cases of Theta Radiation poisoning, A physician must be present to monitor the treatment," Doc said.
"That won't be possible," I said.
"Then I'm afraid I can't accommodate you," Doc said. "I'd be in violation of Starfleet Medical protocols,"
"I'm overriding those protocols," I said.
"Don't tell me, The Omega Directive whatever that might be," Doc said.
"The Arithrazine, Doctor," I said.
"It'll be ready in the morning," Doc said.
"Have it sent to the Shuttle bay," I said.
"Captain, I don't know what's going on here, But I'd hate this to be the last time I ever see you," Doc said. "Please be careful,"
"Nothing kills me but me. Certainly you should know that after everything I told you," I said. "But if it makes you feel better. I will," Before I headed out.
Then went to the Cargo bay where 7 was.
"I've analyzed the sensor logs using Borg Algorithms, the shock wave we detected indicates not one, but possibly hundreds of Omega molecules," 7 said.
"Location," I said.
"Within 10 light years," 7 said. "I'm having difficulty, isolating the exact star system,"
"Hundreds of molecules, That changes everything," I said.
"A shuttle mission may be insufficient, We require the resources of this entire crew," 7 said.
"We're going to need more firepower, More protection," I said. "Transfer your data to the Astrometrics lab, I'll work on it there,"
As I went to find Tuvok and Harry who was working on the torpedo.
"Who designed it, the Captain," Harry said.
"Harry, you ask too many questions," I said. "Change of Plans, Increase the charge to 80 Isotons,"
"Aye Captain," Tuvok said.
"Harry when you're done here, Give B'Elanna a hand with the Shuttle, She's reinforcing the hull," I said.
"Right," Harry said.
As then I left and headed for Astrometrics.
Once I got there I started working on it. Not long after the door bell on the door rang.
"Come in," I said.
As Chakotay came in.
"Status report," I said.
"Everything's going according to schedule," Chakotay said.
"Good, The Omega Directive doesn't allow me to say much, But I want you to know what to expect," I said. "At 0600 hours I'll be leaving in a shuttle with 7,"
"Would it be out of line to ask where you're going," Chakotay said.
"I can tell you this, One of 2 things is going to happen, Either 7 and I will succeed on our mission and return within a few days. Or your long range sensors will detect a large explosion in subspace, If that occurs, you'll have less than 10 seconds to jump to warp and get the hell our of here, Head for the Alpha Quadrant and don't look back," I said. "Understood,"
"I always thought that Starfleet was run by duty crazed bureaucrats, but I find it hard to believe that even they would order a Captain to go on a suicide mission, This shuttle excursion is your idea, isn't it," Chakotay said.
"Let's just say I've had to adapt the Directive given the circumstances we are in. But you have your order and I expect you to follow them," I said.
"That's expecting a lot, If you die out there, What about Chloe and Clara. You're asking me to abandon My Captain and friend, without event telling my why," Chakotay said.
"If it were a simple matter of trust, I wouldn't hesitate to tell you, But we've encountered situations where information was taken from us by force, I can't allow Knowledge of Omega to go beyond Voyager," I said.
"That's a reasonable argument, But you're not always a reasonable person," Chakotay said. "You're determined to protect this crew, and this time you've taken it too far, A dangerous mission fine, I'll acknowledge that, But isn't it more likely to succeed with everyone behind you working together,"
"Ordinarily, I'd agree, But this directive was issued many years ago, Starfleet didn't exactly have our predicament in mind, did it," I said. "Lost in the Delta Quadrant with no back up, I can't ignore the orders, But I won't ask the crew, my Girls, to risk their lives because of my obligation,"
"My Obligation, That's where you're wrong," Chakotay said. "Voyager may be alone out here, but you're not, Let us help you, We'll keep classified information limited to the Senior staff, Take every Security precaution, Just don't try to do this alone,"
"Fine, Get the Senior Staff to the Conference room in 10 minutes," I said.
As Chakotay left.
10 Minutes later, I was in the Conference room with everyone.
"If we were in Alpha Quadrant right now, None of us would be having this conversation, I would be in contact with Starfleet command and they would send in a specialized team to deal with the crisis, In their absence, we're going have to make do with the training I received and the information 7 has retained from the Borg. You all saw this Symbol. Omega. The last letter of the Greek Alphabet. Chosen by Starfleet to represent a threat not only to the Federation but the entire Galaxy, Only Starship Captain and Federation Flag officers have been briefed on the nature of this threat. What you are about to hear will not go beyond these Bulkheads is that Clear?" I said. But no one said anything. "Good," As I went over and put the screen on. "This is Omega,"
"A Molecule," Tom said.
"Not just any molecule. The most powerful substance know to exist. A single Omega Molecule has the same energy as a Warp Core. In theory a small chain of them could sustain a civilization," I said. "The Molecule was first synthesized over a hundred years ago by a Starfleet Physicist named Ketteract. I think he was hoping to develop an inexhaustible power source,"
"Or a weapon," 7 said.
"Ketteract managed to synthesize a single Omega molecule but it only existed for a fraction of a second before it destabilized," I said. "This was a classified research center in the Lantaru Sector. Ketteract and 126 of the Federation's leading scientists were lost in the accident, Rescue team attempting to reach the site. discovered an unexpected secondary effect. There was subspace ruptures extending out several light years,"
"The Lantaru Sector, It's impossible to create a stable Warp field there you can only fly through at sub-light speeds. But I was always told it was a natural phenomenon. You saying it was caused by a single molecule of this stuff," Tom said.
"Omega destroys subspace, A chain reaction involving a handful of Molecules could devastate subspace throughout an entire quadrant. If that were to happen. Warp Travel would become impossible Space faring civilization as we know it would cease to exist. When Starfleet Realized Omega power they suppressed all knowledge of it," I said.
"Have you detected Omega here in the Delta Quadrant," Doc said.
"Afraid so," I said. "I've been authorized to do whatever it takes to destroy it. Tom, I've calculated the location of the Molecules, Take us there full Impulse,"
"Aye Captain," Tom said.
"I don't have to tell you what is at stake. if a large scale Omega Explosion occurs, we will lose the ability to go to Warp forever. Not even the Hyperdrive will work either," I said. "We've got our work cut out for us, Dismissed,"
XXX
"Captain's Log, Supplemental, Encrypt log entry, We're approaching the Star system where we believe we'll find Omega, I have to admit I've never been this apprehensive about a mission, I know how Einstein must have felt about the Atom Bomb, Or Marcus when she developed the Genesis device, They watched helplessly as science took a destructive course, But I have the chance to prevent that from happening, I just hope it's not too late, End log," I said. "Status report,"
"This is a harmonic Resonance Chamber," 7 said. "The Borg designed it to contain and stabilize Omega,"
"I thought I asked you to work on the Photon Torpedo," I said.
"The Torpedo may be insufficient, I can modify this chamber to emit an inverse frequency, It will be enough to dissolve Omega's interatomic bonds," 7 said.
"Here's to Borg ingenuity, This is excellent work, 7, we may need this," I said.
"The modifications require several complex calculations assist me," 7 said.
"I guess I will," I said. "I'm curious, When did the borg discover Omega?"
"2 hundred 29 years ago," 7 said.
"Assimilation?" I said.
"Yes," 7 said. "Of 13 different species,"
"13?" I said.
"It began with species 262, They were primitive, but their oral history referred to a powerful substance which could burn the sky, And the Borg were intrigued which led them to Species 263, They too, were primitive and believed it was a drop of blood from their creator," 7 said.
"Fascinating," I said.
"Yes but irrelevant. We followed this trail of myth for many years, until finally assimilating a species with useful scientific data. We then created the molecule ourselves" 7 said.
"Omega caused quite a sir among my own species, Federation cosmologists had a theory, That the molecule once existed in nature for an infinitesimal period of time at the exact moment of the Big Bang, Some claim Omega was the primal source of energy for the explosion that began our universe," I said.
"A creation myth, like any other," 7 said.
"Perhaps, What is it the Borg say, Omega is perfect," I said.
"Yes," 7 said.
"Is that a theory or a belief," I said.
"Bridge to Captain," Chakotay said.
"Go ahead," I said.
"We're approaching the coordinates," Chakotay said.
"On my way," I said. "I'm leaving this project in your hands, use whatever resources and personnel you need,"
"Understood," 7 said.
As I left and headed for the Bridge.
"Report," I said. Once I got there.
"We've entered a planetary system," Chakotay said.
"Inhabited?" I said.
"There's a pre-warp civilization on the outermost planet, the Source of Omega seems to be further in," Chakotay said.
"The Damage to subspace in this region is extreme, We won't be able to go to warp," Tom said.
As we got rumbled.
"We are encountering distortions," Tuvok said.
"Track their origin," I said.
"An M Class moon," Tuvok said. "We're in visual range,"
"On screen," I said.
"There is a subnucleonic reaction occurring in the upper atmosphere, It is apparently emanating from a structure on the moon's surface," Tuvok said.
"Can your sensors penetrate the Atmosphere?" I said.
"Stand by," Harry said.
"Oh shit," I said.
"Over 300,000 square kilometers destroyed," Harry said.
"Scan the structure, Are there any Omega molecules remaining?" I said.
"I can't tell, Several sections of the outpost are still shielded," Tuvok said.
"I'm detecting life signs," Harry said.
"How many," Chakotay said.
"A few dozen maybe, It's hard to get a clear reading," Harry said.
"Harry, Can we transport to the surface?" I said.
"I can get you there, But conditions in the structure aren't good, There are high levels of Radiation," Harry said.
"Tuvok, Assemble a rescue team, And have them report to Sickbay for Arithrazine inoculations, Tell the Doc to prepare for casualties," I said. "Tom, Move Voyager into a High orbit, And then join the away team, We'll need a field medic,"
"Yes Sir," Tom said.
"You're going with them?" Chakotay said.
"If Omega is still down there I have to find it, I'll keep an eye comlink with Voyager, You have the Bridge," I said.
As I then left with Tuvok and Headed for Sickbay and got inoculated. Then The Away team and I went to the Transporter room and beamed down.
As we found where the people were.
"I'm picking up Omega's resonance frequency, It's here, but I can't pinpoint a location," I said. "I need to ask you questions about the experiments you've been conducting here,"
"There was an accident, we lost containment," he said.
"The substance you were trying to create, did any of it survive the explosion?" I said.
"Yes," He said.
"Where?" I said.
"Inside the primary test chamber," He said.
"Tuvok," I said.
"Who are you?" He said.
"Captain McCall of the Starship Voyager, we're here to help you, Away team to Voyager, 2 to beam directly to Sickbay," I said.
"Aye Captain," Chakotay said.
"Tuvok," I said.
"This door is solid duritanium, 13 centimeters thick," Tuvok said.
"Can we get it open?" I said.
"The Duritanium has melted into the door frame, We will need to cut through the metal with Phasers," Tuvok said.
"Do it," I said.
"Captain, I'd be negligent if I didn't point out that we are about to violate the Prime Directive," Tuvok said.
"For the duration of this mission the Prime directive is rescinded, Let's get this over with," I said.
XXX
Once Tuvok was finished.
"We've disabled the locking mechanism," Tuvok said.
"Narrow your phaser beams to cut through the inner seal," I said.
"Inadvisable," Tuvok said. "We'd risk penetrating the containment field,"
"Then we just use elbow grease. Give me a hand," I said.
As Tuvok and I managed to get it open.
"Holy shit. There's enough here to wipe out subspace across half the quadrant," I said.
"I'll order the away teams back to Voyager, And target this facility with the gravimetric charge," Tuvok said.
"That won't be enough, We'll have to go with our Borg option," I said. "Ensign,"
"Yes Captain," He said.
"Return to Voyager, Tell Chakotay to help 7 complete the Harmonic chamber," I said. "We'll have to transport Omega directly to the ship, That means finding a way to shut down this containment field,"
"It's unfortunate we can't study this phenomenon in more detail, We may not have the opportunity again," Tuvok said.
"Let's hope we never do," I said.
"A curious statement from a man of Science," Tuvok said.
"I'm also a man who occasionally knows when quit, Take another look at your tricorder, Omega's too dangerous, I won't risk half the quadrant to satisfy our curiosity, It's arrogant and it's irresponsible, The final frontiers has some boundaries that shouldn't be crossed, And we're looking at one of them," I said. "Set the confinement beam to it's narrowest dispersion,"
"Understood," Tuvok said.
"Then we'll target this facility with the Gravimetric torpedo, If anything goes wrong during transport, that'll be our only hope," I said.
"Bridge to McCall," Chakotay said.
"Go ahead," I said.
"We've detected 2 ships on an intercept course, They're not responding to hails," Chakotay said.
"How long until they get here?" I said.
"less than 4 minutes, Captain," Tom said.
"Stand by to transport the molecules directly to the harmonic chamber," I said.
"Understood," Chakotay said. "Captain are you ready?"
"Pattern enhancers are active," Tuvok said.
"Do it," I said.
"We're 11,000 kilometers from the surface, If we get much closer, we'll incinerate," Tom said.
"We're losing structural integrity," Harry said.
"9000 kilometers," Tom said.
"We're close enough, Energize, Harry once we are on board use all 3 ZPM's Shields, Structure integrity and Engines," I said.
"Aye Captain," Harry said.
As we were beamed out too.
As Tuvok and I headed straight for the bridge.
"Report," I said.
"We're heading into an area of Open space, no indication of life or any kind of technology, We can carry out the procedure with no risk to anyone else," Chakotay said.
"Except those 2 ships behind us," Tom said.
"Can we stay ahead of them," I said.
"Even with the ZPM power. Not for long," Tom said.
"How seen can we clear the subspace ruptures and go to warp," Chakotay said.
"10 maybe 15 minutes," Tom said. "But those ships will catch up to us before then,"
"Well we have one advantage, We've got Omega, they won't risk firing at us At least not until they've run out of options," I said. "That should give us a chance to neutralize the molecules,"
"Captain we might have another problem," Chakotay said.
"7," I said.
"She's convinced she can stabilize Omega," Chakotay said.
"I thought we'd settled that question," I said.
"While you were on the surface, she showed me a pretty convincing simulation of how it could be done," Chakotay said.
"I should've known she wouldn't just let this go, I'll be in Cargo Bay 2, If those ships fire on us you have authorization to disabled their Engines and Weapons," I said.
Then I went down there.
"7 the procedure?" I said.
"Its working, 11% of the molecules have already been neutralized," 7 said.
"Let's see if we can speed up the process a little," I said.
"Did Commander Chakotay tell you about my idea?" 7 said.
"Yes," I said.
"Then you will allow me to stablise the remaining molecules," 7 said.
"You know I can't do that," I said.
"Your Starfleet directive is no longer relevant, I have found a way to control Omega," 7 said
"I don't care of you can make it sing and dance, We're getting rid of it," I said.
"A foolish decision," 7 said.
"Yes and It's mine to make, Now step aside," I said.
"I could have done this without your permission, but I chose to follow your command structure, I should've made the attempt," 7 said. "I still can,"
"But you won't." I said. "You know I'm not trying to stop you from finding perfection, But I can't risk the safety of this quadrant, Omega must end here. We both know that. What are we at?"
"18%," 7 said.
"This is going to take hours," I said. "Can you increase the harmonic resonance?"
"Yes, but it would rupture the chamber," 7 said.
"How many molecules would be neutralize?" I said.
"40, 50 % at best," 7 said.
"That's good enough, Our torpedo can take care of the rest," I said. "McCall to Bridge,"
"Chakotay here," Chakotay said.
"Chakotay, I want you to clear Deck 4, And put emergency forcefields around this section, Prepare to decompress Cargo bay 2 on my command," I said.
"Understood," Chakotay said.
"Tuvok, Load the Gravimetric torpedo, Once we've jettisoned the chamber. Fire," I said.
"Aye Captain," Tuvok said.
"Harmonic resonance to Maximum," I said.
Not long after we got hit as the Klaxons went Red.
"Harmonic Resonance at Maximum, Captain," 7 said.
"The Molecules," I said.
"80% remaining," 7 said.
"We need to get that down to 60," I said.
As we got hit again.
"Any damage to our power grid could overload the chamber, Omega would chain react," 7 said.
"Same thought crossed my mind, Chakotay, Target their Weapons array. Disabled them," I said.
"Aye Captain," Chakotay said.
"Where are we now?" I said.
"72%," 7 said.
"Close enough," I said. "Bridge, Start the Decompression sequence. What now?"
"The Molecules are stabilizing," 7 said.
"What," I said.
"I've done nothing, It 's occurring spontaneously," 7 said.
"That's impossible," I said.
"Decompression in 30 seconds," Computer said.
"7 we need to go," I said. "7,"
"Decompression in 15 seconds," Computer said as we got out and into the Turbolift.
"Bridge," I said.
Once we got there.
"Report," I said.
"The Alien ships are out of range," Tom said.
"Tuvok?" I said.
"Sensors show no traces of Omega Molecules," Tuvok said.
"Mission Accomplished, Tom Get us back on course for home," I said.
"Aye Captain," Tom said.
XXX
"Captain's Log, Stardate 51793.4, We've arranged for our guest in sickbay to be taken back to their home world, And we can finally put this mission behind us, This will be my last encrypted log entry Concerning the Omega Directive, The Classified data files will now be destroyed, End log," I said. "Computer, Delete all Encrypted log entry's Authorization McCall 1153 Red Clearance level 10,"
"Authorization code accepted. All encrypted log entry's are now deleted and Destroyed," Computer said.
Then I headed for my holodeck programme and found it running. And I went in and found 7.
"I wondered who was running my program, What are you doing here, 7?" I said.
"This simulation contains many Religious components, I was studying them, To help me understand what I saw in Cargo bay 2," 7 said.
"The data wasn't clear on why Omega stabilized in the last few seconds," I said. "But chances are it was simply a chaotic anomaly, Nothing more,"
"For 3.2 seconds, I saw perfection, When Omega stabilized I Felt a curious sensation, As I was watching it, it seemed to be watching me," 7 said. "The Borg have assimilated many species with mythologies to explain such moments of clarity, I've always dismissed them as Trivial, Perhaps I was wrong,"
"If I didn't know you better, I'd say you just had your first spiritual experience," I said.
That's all for this chapter.
More to follow.
Stay tuned and safe.
Love Y'all
PEACE!
I'm skipping that Unforgettable Episode. Didn't really like it much. But I'll see you for Living Witness. It's going to be fun to make.