'The time of the Borg, part 3
We don't know what he really wanted, in fact,' said Worf, skeptically.
Said Riker even more skeptically, 'It's even possible that is what he wants. He wants us to inadvertently supply the Borg with information to make them a stronger threat. We will see about that! '
Picard meantime had been watching the prototype Borg with some fascination. It moved in jerky movements like the Borg he knew but with timidness and under the instructions from his creator which he did not recognize. There was lots of Borg technology in the base. Picard decided he needed to take a good look around before he could take any action against the prototype Borg. Well, the 3 did find some useful information about the Borg. Picard was just thinking about a plan of action which could be taken when they hear a shout behind them. A security team had caught them. For a while they were in danger of been shot on the spot. These guys were jumpy! But they were taken to prison and interrogated. It was not long before the security realized that they had caught some special people. Indeed it was not long before picard was face to face with the President himself. 'Don't you have a planet to run?' asked Picard but the President replied,
'Oh, poof!' I have people to handle the trivial affairs of my world. They can take care of those. Wheres I can talk to you about science! Real talk.'
'Well, I can once you answer me one question. How did you become President in the first place? I'd have thought that you would have been better of in science!'
'Well all right I was. But on this world science and politics are interlinked. My science department became very powerful in our imperial days and someone had to take charge at the end of the war and I was the middle candidate, On the plus side it does give me more clout to increase the stations power. But I as always torn between the peaceniks, whom wanted to give the enemy everything, to those whom want to take over their world and to reduce them to slavery. Well, what can I do?' Picard was about to make an answer when Richard continued and Picard felt he should listen to the President. Picard was the prisoner after all! And Picard did get some useful information, anyway. The President continued, 'The good thing was that I could create my beloved invention. The sum of all of my collections! My dream, my Borg! But enough of me what of you? They tell me that you come from the future!'
Picard was reluctant to tell him too much information as it might be of use. But Richard was fascinated by Picard and where he came from. And when. At least Picard could not say technically how he had actually got there as he did not know. Q had done the trick with a click of his fingers.
But though I can not conceive of their scientific process, this is not beyond my imagination. And my fascination.' But Picard did manage to draw the conversation away from the Federation and more to the situation on the planet itself. Which was that the key position of the President himself was precarious to say the least. His main issue was that of a united far-nationalist opposition. They sounded a nasty bunch. And powerful according to the President. Already in control of many regions in the world and they seemed likely to be the major party in the next elections. Not that they might wait till then. This group were not particularly democratic anyway and showed every sign of taking power without the need of an election. Not only did they want to re-start the war with the neighbouring world, but they also intended to impose a totalitarian society. And had a very partisan policy to certain castes, how Gorbian society was organised. Coincidentally, for some reason, the inhabitants of this world were known as Gorbians and will be called such for the duration of this tale.
Meantime, the others were having a political disagreement. After what he had heard, Riker was all for helping those that were trying to overthrow the planetary government despite the fascist nature of the main opposition. 'We really don't have a choice on this one. We have seen the Borg and what they did to the Federation. Do you actually know how close they came to bringing the Federation to it's knees? And now they might well have all of Data's information to add to their knowledge. We have to stop that even if we have to make compromises. Our mission is to destroy the Borg at birth, not to strengthen them!' Although that was a bit debatable as Claire pointed out. Q hadn't actually said in so many words that that was their purpose here, it was really only an assumption. They could be swinging on their own on this. Claire was the only dissenting voice. Though possibly this was because she hadn't felt the full horror of the Borg attacks. Claire grew up on one of the off-world colonies and had frankly missed the entire thing.
'Well, whatever, but we still cannot strengthen the Borg, Q or no Q. We have to make our own decisions here.'
A voice spike from the shadows, 'nice to see that for a change' it said
'Who said that?' asked Riker, but in a moment the person had gone. With some reluctance, Claire agreed to the plan. Even if she she said that as they spoke the group were planning a coup. 'That could be good,' argued Riker, 'We might be able to help.'
Picard, meanwhile had just taken his leave from President Richard. Which Picard had been happy to do as the Presidents obsessive personality had started to irritate him. But he was able to connect to the planets computer networks. Where he found some interesting facts. One of which was that Data was held in jail. He couldn't let the Gorbians of whatever faction get the information which Data could to the jail wasn't easy Picard could not get hold of the President and so had to use his charm and influence on the security to get to the cell. Especially on one Nyder the chief of Presidential security and a rather suspicious and unpleasant person. He did meet up with Gerodi LeForge again who was doing a little work on a desk in one of the scientific rooms in the base. Happy to see the engineer of the Enterprise, he said, 'Never mind what you are doing here, we need to make an effort to free Data,'
'Fine by me. I have to follow instructions at the moment, but you seem to have more influence,'
Picard looked at a map of the base. It didn't actually say where Data was held, so they had to make some kind of search of the base. LeForge tapped Picard arm. Some green-suited Gorbian guard had accosted them. 'What is your purpose here, papers!' demanded their leader. It was only with some sweet talking from Picard that the detail let them continue. And a little bit of name-dropping.