The Battle of Unimatrix Zero One
It was several days later that Naomi was released from Sickbay, and she took an additional day of rest in her quarters before returning to duty. Whilst she was unable to work, the former drones had begun analysing the data from the computers recovered from the alien science base. As well as that, the four of them had modified the design of the Omega particle chamber slightly to give them a better chance of stabilising it until they used it against the Borg.
"How is everything?" asked Azan as he came onto the Bridge to begin his shift on watch.
"All systems are working normally" Icheb replied. "We are on course towards Unimatrix 01 at Warp 8.5"
"Understood" Azan was about to take the Helm when the Helm, Science and Tactical stations bleeped in unison. "I am detecting a small ship directly in our flight path. We will hit in thirty six seconds"
"Move around it" Icheb ordered.
"Acknowledged" and Azan tapped a few buttons and alter their heading. "Sensors indicate it is unpowered. It has sustained heavy damage to the hull"
"Any life signs?" Icheb asked.
"None that I can detect. However, there are several small craft missing from the hull. I surmise these were escape pods. The crew appears to have abandoned ship soon after this damage was caused" Azan said.
"Take us out of warp and bring us along side at a slight distance" Icheb said. "I will conduct more detailed scans. Bridge to Naomi"
"Naomi, here"
"We have detected a vessel in our way. It appears to have sustained heavy damage, though scans are inconclusive as to whether this was caused by external or internal forces. The crew does appear to have abandoned the ship"
"What do you propose?"
"I recommend that we beam aboard and take the data from the computer memory banks" Icheb said. "We need all the information about the Delta Quadrant that we can get. Also, there may be part which we can use on Voyager"
"I agree" Naomi said. "I will meet you in thirty minutes on the Bridge. Alert the others to the situation and have them gather there. Naomi out"
"We are within transporter range of the alien vessel" Azan said. "No other ships in range of sensors"
"Very well. Scan the hulk for anything of possible use on Voyager. Mmm…"
"What is wrong?"
"There appears to be no atmosphere aboard the ship, so we will have to use environmental suits to explore" and Icheb chuckled gently. "At least Naomi will like that part" he added. Naomi loved to be in the suit made especially for her by Icheb and would often go floating around a holodeck in it.
"There goes our karting time" Azan muttered quietly as he attended to his tasks.
#
"I suggest that we go through the wreckage for parts that we can use" Icheb said. "Although the hull is badly damaged, there are metals that we could use after melting them down"
"Alright" said Naomi. "We need everything that we can get. What about their computer systems? Were you able to find out who attacked them?" she asked.
"No" Mezoti replied. "Most of their computer records were wiped out during battle. We were, however, able to recover some of their navigational data and charts. I have updated our records accordingly and will send the information to Starfleet in our next transmission stream"
"With Rebi's assistance, I shall begin cutting up the wreckage" Azan said. "We should be able to finish the task in a week. With your permission, Naomi, I would like to try and salvage the vessel's fuel tanks. If we installed them, we could go for longer periods without stopping for fuel"
"Make it so" Naomi said. "I will stay on the Bridge for now. Dismiss" and they filed out – all but Icheb.
"Naomi… Next week will be the first year since the crew were killed. I thought some sort of memorial service was in order" he hesitated as he didn't want to cause pain to his friend.
"Is it that long?" Naomi whispered. "You know, Icheb, I sometimes think that Mom will come round the corner or that I'll see Seven for another game of Kadis Kot"
"I too feel their absence" the former drone said. "They were my friends also. I believe you could have even called them my family…"
"You realise what day it will fall on?" Naomi did some math in her head.
"No"
"The same day that we plan to eliminate the Borg"
"Then, Naomi Wildman, we will make sure that they see our actions in the afterlife"
"You believe in the afterlife?" Naomi looked at her older friend.
"As a scientist I must keep all of my options open"
"That is no answer" Naomi laughed and entered the turbolift for the Bridge.
"And do you believe in an afterlife?" Icheb asked.
"I think so" the girl replied. "Commander Chakotay used to talk about the Spirit World that he believed in. B'lanna used to talk about the Klingon version of heaven… I just wish to see my mother again and ask if she is proud of what I have done" a few small tears escaped down from her eyes.
"I am sure" Icheb leant down and wiped them away softly with a finger, "That the crew are very proud of the grown up way you are acting – Your mother most of all"
"I would give it all up" Naomi said, "Just to be a child again"
# # # # #
Some weeks later, and everything came to a head. They had completed all of the computer calculations for entering Transwarp and were at a dead halt in empty space.
"Status report" Naomi ordered.
"Navigational data entered into the Helm" reported Azan.
"All systems at optimal efficiency" Icheb said.
"All propulsion systems online. Transwarp drive standing by" Mezoti said.
"Phasers and Torpedoes ready. Shields on alert status" Rebi said.
"Omega particle secure" the Doctor said with the cargo bay.
"Then lets do this" Naomi said. "Yellow Alert"
"Yellow Alert, Aye" Icheb said, and the alert strips on the sides of the Bridge turned yellow.
"Shields are up" Rebi said.
"Ahead Warp 1"
"Warp 1, Aye" Azan said.
"Transwarp drive engaging in five… four… three… two… one… engaged" and, as Mezoti spoke the final word, there was a flash of light as Voyager jumped to Transwarp space.
"All systems report normal" Icheb said.
"We are proceeding on course" Azan said. "Estimate thirteen hours until we reach the transwarp exit point for Unimatrix 01"
"Maintain course and speed" Naomi said. "Steady as she goes. I guess there is nothing that we can do now until we get there. Time for dinner, I suppose" and they filed out of the Bridge. As she stood in the turbolift, Naomi wrestled with the thoughts she had been having for some time. She knew that getting rid of the Borg was for the best, but she also knew that she would be killing millions of Drones that would otherwise be saveable. The Doctor tried to assure her that it was most likely that the Drones could never be recovered totally, but Naomi still felt guilty for what she was about to do.
#
"We approaching the exit point for leaving Transwarp space" said Mezoti. "I am bringing us to a halt three thousand kilometres away and engaging the cloaking device" and the girl smoothly brought the mighty ship to a halt and turned it invisible.
"Sensors?" Naomi looked at the twisting patterns made in Transwarp space. She could barely comprehend the power this level of subspace held.
"Sensors are having a hard time coping with the interference" Icheb said. "However, I do believe we are undetected"
"Then all we have to do is wait until a Borg vessel enters or leaves and we slide in" Naomi said. It sounded simple in her mind, but the girl knew the Borg could have any manner of detection systems set up.
"Naomi, I am encountering issues with holding position" Mezoti announced suddenly. "The gravimetric sheer is more than we anticipated"
"Can you compensate?" Naomi asked.
"For now" her friend replied, "But I estimate no more then ten minutes before we either exit Transwarp space or are forced to turn round and retreat"
"Azan, transfer power to the RCS system"
"That will not help" Icheb said from the Tactical station. "If we fall back to where the Rip Tide is weaker, we would not be able to sneak in undetected. If I may be so bold…"
"It hasn't stopped you before" Naomi smiled.
"We go in under cloak. The Borg will scan for a cloaking device, but should not have a ship in range for several seconds. This will not bother us as we will be going at Warp speed directly at the main Unicomplex" Icheb rapidly typed in commands and brought up a tactical overlay of Unimatrix 01. "Under cloak, we make a high speed run towards the central Unicomplex. Once there, we make a hard drop out to normal space and come about – jettisoning the Omega container. We then drop the cloak, divert all power, including life support, to engines, weapons and shields and fight our way clear. Once at minimum distance, we launch the Tri-Cobalt devices at Omega" and as Icheb spoke, the plan was carried out on the viewscreen. "Hopefully, we will be able to battle our way clear of the defending Borg vessels and make the jump to Transwarp space"
"That's the best we have?" Naomi looked at her friends and at the viewscreen.
"I did spend several hours working on this" Icheb said. "It was the best idea that I could come up with"
"Then if you think its good, then we'll do it" Naomi went round the aft railing and took auxiliary tactical. "Red Alert, stand to battle stations!" and the ship readied for battle. "Naomi to the Doctor"
"Doctor here"
"I need you down at the cargo bay. We're going to attack the Borg and need the Omega particles ready to be thrown overboard"
"Understood" and the hologram closed the channel without another word.
"Icheb, I will handle the phasers if you look after the torpedoes" Naomi said.
"Understood" and the turbolift doors opened and out came Azan and Rebi.
"Azan, Operations. Rebi, Science" Naomi said. The twins nodded and took up their assigned stations as Mezoti ran a system check on her console.
"Helm ready" she reported.
"Tactical ready" Icheb added.
"Then take us out of Transwarp" said Naomi.
"Aye" and Mezoti tapped the controls and moved Voyager forward. "Sending pulse from Transwarp drive" the Norcadian said. There was a brief flash before they dropped out of Transwarp and saw the heart of the Borg for the first time.
"I am reading over seven hundred vessels either docked or operating in the area" Icheb said. "The Borg have detected the Transwarp signature and are moving in to investigate. I have six Cubes moving in from 121 to 141 mark 6"
"Set course for the co-ordinates that Icheb selected – maximum warp" Naomi gulped.
"Estimated time to arrival is sixteen minutes" Mezoti said – slamming the ship into a sudden sprint.
"That long?" Naomi looked towards her only female friend – noting the same fear that she felt herself.
"The complex is big, Naomi" as if that solved the whole point.
"The Borg are scanning the exit point with high intensity sensors" Rebi said. "We remain undetected for now" he continued.
"Doctor to the Bridge"
"Go ahead" Naomi opened the channel.
"The Omega particle has begun to destabilise"
"How? I thought that chamber had been improved upon"
"I am uncertain" the hologram said. "I estimate seven minutes until it loses cohesion and obliterates the ship"
"I believe Captain Janeway would ask if this day couldn't get any worse" Icheb said dryly. "I read three vessels on an intercept course" and adjusted the main screen to show the incoming Cubes and what looked like a scout ship heading towards Voyager.
"How did they find us so quickly?" Naomi asked.
"The Borg may have improved their sensory equipment to better detect any Omega particles" Azan suggested. "Once it started destabilising, they would be able to pick it up much better"
"Well they know where we will be" Naomi sized up the situation. "Disengage cloaking device. On my mark, take it completely offline. Shunt the power from there to the forward shields. Rebi, let me know the moment we enter maximum transporter range. Azan, standby to transport the Omega particle off the ship to where it is supposed to go. Icheb, standby to fire the Tri-Cobalt devices. Mezoti, when we drop the cloak, I need you to begin evasive manoeuvres, but not to deviate from the general course we're on"
"Anything else, Miss Wildman?" the Doctor asked.
"Try not to get assimilated" Naomi laughed weakly. "Doctor, get going to engineering and take care of any damage from there as best as you can"
"I am on my way. Good luck"
"Luck has nothing to do with this" Naomi replied to the dead air.
"At least we got dinner in" Icheb said with a smile.
"That we did" Naomi laughed. "Oh well! Who wants to live forever…? Disengage cloaking device. Evasive manoeuvres, Mez"
"Aye, Aye" and the ship shuddered from the fire of the Borg vessels. Voyager twisted and turned through the oncoming ships, punching its way and not stopping until it broke into free space. Mezoti slammed the ship into maximum warp whilst Azan prepared to throw out the Omega particle. One huge barrage landed all along the starboard side of the ship, and it threw them all to the floor – Mezoti just being able to avoid a second barrage.
"Are we dead?" asked Naomi. She had cut her head open, and blood was pouring from the wound.
"No, but I am uncertain as to when that status will change" Icheb said. "Shields down to 67%"
"We took damage to half of our sensors" the Doctor called up from Engineering. "I've had to shut down a number of power relays. Back up systems inoperative"
"We still have transporters?" Naomi asked, sending a number of phaser strikes across the hull of the nearest cube.
"For now" the Doctor replied. "I am routing the transporter signals through several circuits such as Replicator systems"
"Keep those prote–" Naomi was cut off by the violent pitching of the ship. Consoles, power conduits and lights all overloaded and shot sparks as the Bridge was plunged into darkness. "What happened?" she asked.
"We were hit by a massive volley of fire" Rebi said. "Main power is offline"
"Damage report!"
"Shields and weapons are offline" Azan said. "In addition, we have sustained a hull breach on Decks 4 through 9 – Sections 13 Alpha through 28 Gamma. Main sensors are offline. Main propulsion is down. Life support has been damaged. Structural integrity field has been compromised" he went through the list.
"Keep going!" Naomi said to Mezoti. There was, however, no reply from the Helm. "Mez?" and, peering through the darkness, she saw her friend lying on the floor. "Naomi to the Doctor. Medical emergency"
"Internal communications are offline" Azan said. "Most systems are either crippled or offline through damage. We still have transporter control and power to thrusters"
"Three minutes until Omega destablises" Rebi said. "We might be able to get there on thrusters only"
"Azan, route Helm though your station. Full thrusters to maximum transporter range" Naomi said.
"Aye, Aye" and the battered starship started moving once more. "I am trying to regain control of some systems" he added. "Internal sensors are coming back online… We have been boarded. I am detecting Borg drones on Decks 6, 11 and 12"
"That is most of our critical systems" Icheb said. "Can you tell how many have been beamed aboard?" he asked.
"Sensors are not that good, I'm afraid" Azan replied. "I believe that they may be attempting to take over critical systems directly – locking us out before dealing with us"
"I agree" said Rebi. "The Borg will not do anything that would harm Omega. That is why they have not beamed drones to the Bridge. They fear we have placed explosives on the container which we would trigger"
"Approaching range…" Azan said. "We are now within maximum transporter range"
"Lock onto the container and prepare to energise" Naomi said. She looked at the viewscreen that showed the huge complex that held the Borg's power. "Assimilate this" she spat. "Energise"
"Energising… Transport complete" Azan said. "Bringing us about"
"Some sensors have come back online. I am detecting multiple vessels on approach vector" Rebi said.
"Thirty seconds until Omega explodes. What are your orders?" asked Icheb. Naomi looked at her fallen friend who was buried under the ruined Helm console.
"Find the biggest ship that's closest to us and set for full velocity ram" she said. "We'll take them down with us"
"Aye, Aye, Captain" Azan's voice was strangely formal. He entered the commands into his console and the battered starship headed towards the nearest Cube.
"Fifteen seconds" Rebi said. "Borg vessels attempting to take Omega aboard but are failing"
"Naomi, it was a pleasure serving you. And I believe that it was an honour to be your friend" Icheb said. The twins echoed the sentiment as they watched Voyager edging closer to the Cube. It kept taking impacts from weapons fire, but it was too late – it would smash into the ship at the same time that the Omega particles would explode.
"Ten seconds to detonation" Rebi said.
Beep Beep Beep
"Naomi, transwarp drive just came back online" Azan's startled voice said.
"Quick, evasive action" the girl held onto the console as Azan swung the half destroyed vessel onto its port side and clipped one face of the Cube.
"Five seconds" Rebi said.
"Engaging Transwarp drive" Azan said, and there was a flash of light at the same time they pitched up and tossed around.
Then, to a chorus of alarms, klaxons and screams, everything went dark…
