The time of the Borg, part 5
Some food was a good idea, thought Picard. And although President Plantangent was obviously making an effort it was still not good fare. Not that the President noticed much. No, he was more obsessed with the knowledge that Picard had seen his beloved Borg in action. Scarcely eating any of the rather colourless and tasteless nourishment that was on offer, Plantangent delved into asking Picard about the Borg in the future. 'Now then Captain, tell me everything. You have been on one of my Borg ships they tell me, how did they develop, what did they feel like, how was travelling through hyper-drive like, what success and indeed impact did my children have.' Picard looked at the President and scratched his nose, not eating much himself. He obviously did not wish to give the President any more information than he had to, but he found the President's obsession a bit tiresome. In particular as Picard of course had memories of the Borg that where not as good as Plantangent would have liked to hear. Having his mind taken over and forced to be part of the Borg collective was not one of his fonder memories. As he told the President.
'Your Borg? Do you know how much damage your children will do to the galaxy in the future?'
'Damage, damage? I'm not sure that I follow you. My Borg are a cause for good in the galaxy. Consider, they will combine the Conservatism of enterprise with the liberalism of co-operation and the socialism of a command structure.'
'And the National Socialism of foreign policy,' Picard thought ironically to himself but said nothing.
But Picard did raise his eyebrows at the President's arguments. He had not thought of matters this way he had to admit, but still neither had anyone else in the Federation's command. He laid back in his dark, leather chair, did drink a little of his drink which seemed to be a kind of water with a dash of honey similar to a Romulan drink, ironically enough. And pondered matters.
Claire was re-united with Worf and Riker. They met outside a war-shuttle on a Gorbian airport. An Airport now under the control of the coup rebels. Riker explained that they where about to undertake a difficult mission. Riker leaned back on the ships silver exterior and said, 'We have adapted this ship with a little federation and Claire piloted the small craft as Riker handled the weaponry. It lifted of into the yellow sky of Gorbia and towards the military complex where the Borg where on the verge of their birth. The Ship travelled through a point where the ground defences of the President's defences where low and the target was nearly in sight for Riker. Although it was not an easy shot by any means even for someone with Riker's legendary skills. But for a moment in between some defensive bombardment Riker did have a clear shot. The target at least was clear anyway. Riker took a deep breath and prepared to fire and to eliminate at birth a species that would become one of the Federation's most dangerous enemies. Claire was very nervous. Ever since the craft's takeoff on the mission. This was the first one she had been on despite it's rather unofficial nature. That, combined with the speed which Riker was flying made her very shaky. And this caused her to be somewhat clumsy, dropping items a few times near Worf who eventually snapped, 'Just sit in the back and stay out of the way,' unkindly. She tried doing so, but then she heard about the target. She saw a cross on the aiming screen. Just as Riker was about to fire, she screeched out,
'Ooh, is that the target?' and pointed. Then the ship gave a little lurch sideways she lurched with it, banging into Riker and knocking his hand, spoiling his shot. The missile skewed off course and landed harmlessly in rocks nearby.
'Thanks a lot,' said Riker ironically.
'Never mind let's try again,' said Worf, 'Oh, hold on, sensors indicate a forcefield has covered the base, now which will take many more hits to penetrate,' There was then a bang and a great shake as the ship was hit by an incoming defensive missile, 'Gorbian Government planes approaching,' Worf also declared. Riker had to take evasive action to avoid them, ruining any further chance he would get to hit the Borg plant. The craft screamed and lurched and the fire alarms blared. Claire was kept busy keeping the roaring blaze under control with the craft's fire tackling equipment. With a screeching movement it glided along the tops of some hills, trees, vegetation, rocks and slid for a while, turning over and back again before coming to a stop before a clifface. The doors slid open and Riker, Claire and Worf staggered out. The landing was so rough that even Worf was a bit shaken up.
Picard was getting a bit tired of listening to the President's constant Borg justifications. 'This legendary virus you suggested. Suppose it was deadly, but of use in some way to your Borg. Then would you use it?'
'Interesting thought. Maybe I would just keep the blueprints!'
Picard sighed. But almost as though the President had worn him down in interrogation, the President was surprisingly good at this! he snapped and banged the table, 'all right, all right, I will help. I suppose that I should at least keep your world free from those enemies of yours. But one thing I do need. Data. I am not lying. i do need him if you want to help from me. He does have an encyclopaedic range of scientific knowledge, you know, more than I do. And even Leforge. You don't be in charge of a Federation crafts engineering department without knowing a thing or two. I need to know both are fine.' President Richard looked almost disappointed. Picard supposed that the President would have liked to have listened a bit more of how the Borg craft had developed in the future. But even if the President could spend hours on his Borg, Picard could not.
'Well, i know LeForge is and as for Data, isn't he an artificial android, how can he be anything else?'
'He can in theory cease to exist and in times of stress or at least confusion, he can behave, well, oddly, which does reduce his effectiveness in the best case.' This was certainly true. The President gave a wave of his hand and was willing to grant this request. As it happened they had got any information that they needed out of him anyway. The President moved away and allowed Picard to meet his artificial comrade.