Two Weeks Later – 2 days before Battle of Wolf 359
In two days, the Federation will face a threat that most people here can hardly imagine. Due to the severity of the Borg, Starfleet has called an emergency meeting of all Captains and Admirals. If they are too far away to convene, they are to place a priority subspace transmission in order to be informed. With the exception of a few ships patrolling Federation borders, every ship in the fleet will be waiting at or around Wolf 359 in two days' time.
"Captains, Admirals, thank you all for coming together. As you all know, with few exceptions, the Temporal Prime Directive must always be upheld. This is one of those exceptions. In two days a battle will most likely occur. The enemy is vicious and nearly impossible to defeat. But we have been preparing for this eventuality for almost a decade when a temporal anomaly occurred that sent me 15 years backward with no way to go forward again. Voyager will be leading the fleet at Wolf 359. All of our ships have been furnished with transphasic torpedoes, and over the next two days, all crew members will be required to get an injection from their respective CMOs. This injection is a neurolytic pathogen that has been created in the hopes to stop the enemy we are about to face."
My dad looks at me after my explanation. I can see the fear in his eyes. The fear that has been there since it was announced that I would be leading the battle with Chakotay as my right hand. For him to be sitting at headquarters, knowing that his grandchild may become an orphan, has been a terrible thought for him. It has been hard for him since I told him I wanted to have Kole's birthday party almost a month early because the New Year arrival of the Borg fell before, and I wanted to make sure I was there to celebrate. I give my father another quick glance before continuing.
"The Borg are a collective drone force. They have no care or regard for human life. They are willing to kill millions of their own numbers in order to obtain perfection. They, like bees, have a queen who gives all orders and communicates as a leader to her numbers. Because this battle is conquering a new quadrant and a new species, I have a strong suspicious that the queen herself will be in attendance. If that's the case, her death could be a crippling blow to them. They have other people trained to succeed the queen, but they severely underestimate us as an enemy and have most likely brought many of their highest ranking along for this exploration."
I look at my dad again – knowing he isn't going to like my next surprise.
"In the timeline that was obliterated, thus causing this temporal incursion I find myself in, a few key facts were different. Because you were all called to convene, you all might not have heard that Jouret IV was evacuated at my insistence. That colony has since been wiped out by the Borg. There is one other thing that is different as well. Picard?"
"Yes, Captain?"
"Preluding the other Battle of Wolf 359, you were assimilated. Your knowledge was used to crush the Federation."
Picard pales for a second before giving two quick nods.
"That of course will not be happening. Someone else will have to take your place."
"Katie?" My dad can't help but break proper protocol.
"I will be heading out in the Delta Flyer and rendezvousing with our friendly cybernetically enhanced neighbors."
My biggest supporters all appear ready to argue, so I hold both my hands up in order to stall them.
"I have been given a particular dose of the neurolytic agent that is set to start working briefly after the beginning of the coming battle. In order to keep our actual plans secret, I will be given a temporary mental block by Commander Tuvok. An EMH will be accompanying me in the Delta Flyer. After I have been assimilated, he will beam me back to the Flyer and set a course to meet up with Voyager. You have each received a padd detailing the upcoming battle. Study them, and we will reconvene at seventeen hundred hours. Dismissed."
"Katie."
I hear my name from three directions. My dad to my left, Admiral Paris to my right, and Chakotay front and center.
"This is not open for discussion. I'm the only one capable of doing this."
"You'd be better leading Voyager." Paris says.
"I will be leading Voyager. I reconvene with them half a day before the battle."
"What if you don't make it?"
I'm about to respond when Chakotay chimes in.
"As much as I hate to say this, and I truly do, Kathryn is right. She's the only one who can do this and survive." Chakotay looks glum to be agreeing, but he understands as well as anyone can.
I nod before saying, "I am going to go spend time with my family. I will be leaving immediately following tonight's session."
…
At seventeen hundred, the room is full of serious faces. I take a look around, a breath and open the floor to questions.
"How do we know the Borg will come?" asks Rear Admiral Jameson.
"We don't definitively. But considering the amount of research I did to ensure the similarities of the timeline, I am fairly confident."
"Even if they don't, it's better to be prepared." Captain Picard adds. "The tragedy I read on my padd today must not be repeated."
The discussion goes on for close to two hours. Every facet of the plans are broken down. Battle drills are sifted through with a fine toothed comb, and the plans are analyzed to everyone's comfort. We also issue everyone's flight paths. In order to not appear to be convening, the ships are all given different flight paths and times to report to Wolf 359.
"Unless anyone else can think of something to add," the Federation President finally says, "I dismiss you all, and good luck."
….
The Delta Flyer is cold when I beam aboard. I feel like I am about to fly to my death, and for once that thought scares me. I have so much to live for. Which means I also have so much to die protecting.
"Greetings Captain."
"Doctor."
"I have some Opera uploaded for the trip."
It's funny to see a creation of lights and photons try to comfort me with small talk. Without realizing it, I find him to be succeeding in calming my nerves.
"So assimilation will only be the second worst part of this trip then?" I joke.
I can see the doctor trying to find a retort when a familiar blue swirl catches my eye.
"Captain."
"Tuvok."
"Are you ready, Captain?"
My throat is suddenly dry, so I just nod. Tuvok places a hand on either side of my face and goes deep into my mind. After a few moments, I feel our minds disentangle themselves.
"I will keep you safe Captain."
"I know you will, friend. Peace and long life."
"Live long and prosper." Tuvok responds before calling for beam up.
Until I am successfully back from my assimilation, Tuvok will hold the parts of myself that are too dangerous for the Borg to gain knowledge of. The tactics, schematics, and neurolytics that give us a fighting chance are now safe.
"Let's go meet destiny." I say.
"Of course, Captain." The doctor makes quick work of setting the autopilot. With very little to do, I think almost blankly about my family.
Chakotay and Kole, my mom, dad, Yatzil, Kolopak, Phoebe, Sekaya, my Voyager crew. That last thought brings a smile to my face.
I've always been called stubborn, but the feat I pulled off with Voyager is probably the most stubborn thing I have ever done. With the exception of those we picked up in the Delta Quadrant, I got every single Voyager crew member back in Starfleet – and back on my ship.
If they didn't want to go to Starfleet, I personally tracked them down to convince them. No matter the obstacles, I didn't give up. Knowing my family is together, and will be in the midst of the battle, gives me the courage to do what I have to do.
….
Six hours pass before I see the familiar black cube. I remember when I was a little girl, I used to love cardboard boxes. They could be whatever I imagined them to be. I never imagined something so sinister as what is before me now.
Before I know what is happening, I see a faint green light, and I feel the tug of a tractor beam. I listen intently to the Borg as they say they will assimilate me. When they beam me aboard, I offer no resistance. I doubt they have too many participants as willing as me.
"You are a Captain." I hear the queen say inside my head.
"Yes, I am." I say aloud.
"You captain the newest ship in the fleet, and your husband is project head of your defensive movements."
This time I say nothing. She requires nothing of me. Instead I stand before her silently.
I hear her order all cubes to be prepared to depart. The coordinates are familiar to me. They are heading to Wolf 359.
I think it a peculiar place to attack, but I say nothing verbally or mentally. Instead I go to a secluded place on the vessel and call for beam back to the Flyer.
Immediately after I arrive on board, the Captain disengages the Borg vessel's tractor beam (making it appear to be an error with their vessel) and slips away at high warp.
As soon as I am aboard the Flyer I catch a glimpse of what I look like with all the Borg apparatus. I look frightening, and sickly. And I only hope the doctor can repair me to my normal self before we meet up with Voyager.
…
"Honey, you're bald."
"It's a new look I decided to try out. It's called post assimilation chic. It's probably going to be the biggest spring trend."
Chakotay's immediate reaction was to be expected. For the most part, I look like my old self, but the doctor didn't have time to regenerate my hair.
"We can start regenerating tonight. Okay?"
"Fine. But first I need to see Tuvok."
"Of course." Chakotay nods before hitting his comm badge. "Tuvok please report to sickbay."
"On my way." Tuvok says a second later.
Before a full minute has passed, Tuvok enters the room and places his hands on my face. After a few moments, he has successfully reintegrated all the memories he took from me.
"Battle of Wolf 359," are my first words coming out of the meld.
"That's where we are headed right now." Chakotay confirms.
"She gave them the coordinates for 359 while I was still on her vessel."
"We always expected she would."
"Let's go to the bridge. I need to send a subspace message out that the battle is to go forward."
"Yes, ma'am." Chakotay gives a weak smile before leading the way to the bridge.
"Open a channel, Harry."
"Channel open."
"All hands, this is your Captain speaking. We are currently three hours away from Wolf 359. In a little under 12 hours we will engage in one of the toughest battles, if not the toughest, any of us will ever face. Our humanity will be what makes us victorious. You are my valiant Voyagers, and I am honored to be serving with you. Janeway out."
"You ready, Chakotay."
"With you by my side, always."
