The Enterprise hid behind a piece of ring debris as a Covenant Cruiser left the system. "Helm, lay in an intercept course for their command ship. I want to take them by surprise." Picard said looking toward Worf at Tactical, "The fighter and transport have left our shuttle bay and they are staying behind us." Worf says looking at the console in front of him, "Phasers and Torpedos are ready to fire on your command sir." He says to Picard as the Enterprise shook from a hit on the shields, "Shields are holding, they are preparing to fire again." The Helmsman says as the ship shook again from more fire. "Fire Phasers and Quantum torpedos. Bring that Command ship's shield down. Mr. Worf, hail our friends and tell them to move right now." Picard orders watching weapon's fire exchange between the fleet and the Enterprise.

Johnson whistled to himself, "They aren't even trying to survive and look at all the havoc they've caused to the Covenant!" He then laughs as the Enterprise gives the Longsword and Pelican the all clear to move in and board the Ascendant Justice, "She is a beauty isn't she?" Data says from behind Johnson and the Chief. "Meanwhile, our window of opportunity is slowly closing again." Cortana says agitated, "I recommend that we use our Havoc Nuke to make sure our window stays open. We may even be able to do some damage." She adds. "Prep the nuke Cortana," The Chief says getting his hands on the controls then a moment later fires the nuke at the ship. "AND HIT!" Johnson says watching it explode sending a ripple across the Ascendant Justice's shields deactivating them. "Cortana, pilot the Longsword into the nearest hanger and coordinate with the Pelican." John says looking at the damage, "Also tell the Enterprise that we are moving in to secure the ship." He adds, "Does it look like I'm busy? Do it yourself!" Cortana snaps back before doing the tasks as the Chief and Johnson exchange looks. "Cortana, is everything alright with you?" The Chief asks out of concern, "Yes, I'm alright. Just worry about the Covenant ship we are about to board." She says almost snapping at him, "All the information that I obtained from Halo was a lot, almost too much for any average AI to handle. Luckily for us all, I'm not the average AI." She adds for reassurance and both the Chief and Johnson nod.

A moment later the Longsword and Pelican land in one of the Ascendant Justice's hangers. "Alright people! Let's get this over with quickly and go home." Lieutenant Haverson says exiting the Pelican with the Pilot in tow, "And please try and kill all of the Covenant on board. We don't need friends going to Earth with us." "Have you seen the size of this ship? It's huge Lieutenant, it would take DAYS to go through it all and kill everyone on board." Cortana says annoyed inside the Chief's helmet as he hits it. "Enough. Just focus on the task at hand Cortana." He says calmly, "The sooner we get to Earth, the sooner you can unload the information you have." Cortana sighs and then goes quiet for a moment. "We have multiple ways to go to the bridge. This way, over there, and in front of us." Way points appear on his HUD, "Take whoever you want and go anyway. You could put me in the system so I can effectively lead everyone to the bridge." John rolls his eyes and takes the AI chip out of his helmet then puts it in a nearby Covenant console. "Picard to Away team come in." Picard says through the small device on Data's chest as Data taps on it, "We have boarded the ship Captain. It would be safe that you move the Enterprise at a safe distance until we have captured the ship." He says, "Understood Commander. We will hide among the debris field." The comm goes quiet and Data pulls out his phaser and tricorder, "I don't want to alert anyone but my tricorder is reading enemy units on the way here." Data says putting his phaser onto kill and standing near the Chief. "I'll go with you since everyone else is going their own way." John nods at Data and move onto another hanger.

Picard sat in his ready room waiting for the Away Team to contact the Enterprise. "Doctor Crusher to Captain Picard." "Yes Doctor?" "It's Ensign Codwell. His condition changed and I'm not sure as to what to make of this." Crusher says concerned, "I'm on my way to sick bay." Picard says exiting his ready room and goes to a turbolift. "Sick Bay" He said as the turbolift begins to move. Moments later the doors open and a pungent stench hits Picard in the face and makes him feel sick. "What the hell is that smell?" He asks himself then closes his eyes stomaching the smell and proceeds toward Sick Bay.

Doctor Crusher looked at her datapad and gives a grim look. "Damn it, why isn't anything working against this infection!" She says in her thoughts, "And the smell is getting worse." She sighs as Picard walks in. "Jean-Luc, I'm guessing that you can smell the stench that is coming from Ensign Codwell?" "I could smell it all the way to the turbolift. Does it have anything to do with the thing inside of him?" "I'm afraid so Jean-Luc." Crusher says in disappointment, "Nothing I use is getting rid of the infection or even lowering it. I have tried everything in our medical library and not one thing works." She adds then looks toward Codwell, thinking and watching then notices something. "What about Borg nanites? We could program them to neutralize this infection. And since you're the only one with such…." "Beverley, just do what you need." Picard says cutting her off. She stood up with a hypo and took some of his blood then takes it under a scope. "Ah, they're still active. Good, I can test to see if this will work on the infection." She says going toward Ensign Codwell, "Okay Ensign, I'm going to try using Borg technology to fight off this infection and hopefully get this out of you." She puts the hypospray up to his neck and hits the injection button, releasing the nanites into his body.

Quietly, Codwell quietly screams in pain from the Flood Infection form. "I will…not let you…take over!" He says in pain, you may have my body but you won't have my mind." He adds. "We exist together now. Slowly but surely I will have what is mine!" The Infection form says appearing as something different in Codwell's mind. "And yet you can't, so why is that? Are you having issues taking me over?" A loud scream sounds as the Infection form inside his head. "You can feel the nanites. Good, then you will see that my Captain and Doctor are trying to save me!" Codwell says more defensive than before as his appearance changes into infected with Borg Nanites. "They are fighting you off and taking me over but they are controlled." The infection form screamed in pain and began to retract it's infection from all over Codwell.

Crusher and Picard stood there as the Borg Nanites began to take form over Codwell and fight off the Flood. "If this works, then we'll be able to take care of this parasite and then study it." Crusher says scanning Codwell, "The nanites are fighting it off and pushing it out but the Ensign may be infected with them for the rest of his life. You, Jean-Luc, are going to be the closest person who can probably talk to him and keep him calm as the nanites transform him." Picard stood there remembering his time with the Borg and the horrible memories. "Captain? Is that you?" Codwell says "telepathically", "Yes Ensign, are the nanites working?" Picard asks feeling relieved, "Yes Captain. I can feel the Nanites working and this parasite being driven from me." Picard smirked as he continued to watch as the parasite's skin began to move into the form and then ejecting from Codwell popping in the process. "Hmm, I was hoping that I could have it alive but I guess I can deal with what remains of it." Crusher says dropping the force field and picking up the fragments. "These fragments should suit me just fine Captain." Doctor Crusher says going to a scope. Codwell looks at Picard and smiles, "Thank you sir." Picard walks over and puts a hand on his shoulder, "I want you to remain here for observation just to be safe Ensign. When Doctor Crusher clears you for duty, report to my ready room for your assignment." Codwell nods and sits on a biobed and gets scanned by a nurse.