Part 7: Well, that was lucky.
"Captain, I am detecting weapons in a state of discharge."
"Deactivate them, Mr. Data."
"Yes, sir." Data entered a few commands into the console in front of him. "Weapons deactivated." He reported a moment later.
"Very well, continue with the rematerialization process, Commander."
Data tapped out several more commands and seven columns of blue light began to coalesce on the transporter pad, quickly resolving into humanoid figures, many of which still brandished now impotent weapons. When the rematerialization process was complete several of them began looking around and pointing their weapons, obviously confused. There were two security officers standing behind the Captain, phasers at the ready in case the visitors should prove to be unfriendly.
"What just happened?" One of the men dressed in black fatigues asked.
"I don't know." Another responded.
"Gentlemen," Captain Picard offered, extending his hand, "welcome."
The first man glanced at the extended hand, as if someone had just offered him a large salmon which wasn't entirely fresh. He turned to the other man. "Did we just die? Because, if we did, I think God really is British."
Picard looked amused, "I'm French, actually."
"Wow," the man said, surprised, "I did not see that coming."
Picard tried again, "Gentlemen, and ladies," he looked towards the others who, up to this point, had just watched the exchange, "I am Captain Jean-Luc Picard. You are onboard my starship, the USS Enterprise."
Half a dozen pairs of eyes looked at him in disbelief, but before he could say anything more the transporter room doors swished open and the room was suddenly abuzz with activity.
"Helo!" A voice exclaimed as Lieutenant Karl C. Agathon entered the room.
"Starbuck!" Kara made her way down off the transporter pad and the two former ship mates embraced. After a moment they separated, and Helo looked her over. "How did I know that when the Captain said that someone down there was in danger you'd be in the middle of it?"
"You didn't think a year on the surface had made me boring did you?"
"Never crossed my mind." Helo replied warmly.
"Lieutenant Agathon," Picard said, as politely as he could, "Perhaps you'd like to introduce me, since you seem to be acquainted with our new arrivals."
"Oh, of course, Captain. I'm sorry. Captain Picard, this is Captain Kara Thrace, one of the best Viper pilots alive." Starbuck looked like she might say something in response to the qualification that he added, but she had been out of the game for over a year. So she let it go. Tyrol had come near when entered the room, but he hung back to let Starbuck have her reunion. "This is Chief Galen Tyrol." Agathon continued. "Although I hear it's Worker's Union President Tyrol now." He said with a smile.
"It was." The Chief replied, "until the Cylons showed up. "What's going on here, Helo?"
"There'll be plenty of time for explanations later, Chief. For now all you need to know is that Captain Picard and his crew just helped us send the Cylons running." The two colonials looked at Picard, now with awe.
"Well," a voice said, "I think you may have bigger problems than crylons now." Picard turned to the source, the man in black who had mistaken him for God. He then turned back to Agathon.
"I've never seen them before." Helo told the Captain.
The transporter room had grown rather crowded, but Jack O'Neill managed to take a step down from the transporter pad to approach Picard. "Colonel Jack O'Neill," he said, proffering his hand. Picard shook it. "And this is my team. We're, uh, not from around here." He motioned to the other three with his head, deciding to forgo extended introductions in the interest of expediency.
"What problems are you referring to, Colonel?" Picard asked diplomatically. Although he had a good idea what the man might be referring to.
"You may have gotten rid of the local bad guys," Jack said, "but there are Replicators down there. On top of which there seem to be some sort of Swedish robot zombies." He looked at the rest of his team for a second, but not even Carter volunteered a better explanation for what they had seen.
Picard wasn't sure what replicators were, but he'd heard the reference to Sweden before, and he knew what it meant. "The Borg," he confirmed. However, before he could say anything else red lights began to flash, accompanied by loud klaxons.
"Captain Picard to the bridge," Riker's voice said. Data was already heading for the door.
Picard turned to the security officers. "Escort our guests to conference room C," he instructed, "and attend to any medical needs they might have," he added, noticing that one of the men who had beamed up was on his knees and hadn't moved since they'd arrived. He walked quickly out of the room.
Helo watched him go and then quickly turned to Starbuck and Tyrol. "I need to go and see what's happening." He said. "Go with these guys and do what they say. Don't worry. They're friends." Then, before any further questions could be posed he was gone.
Everyone was still for a moment as the red lights flashed around them. There was something going on, but, for once it was not Jack O'Neill's problem, not yet, anyway. "So," he said, turning to the two security officers, "conference room C, is it? Sounds nice. You guys got anything to eat?"
Helo caught up with Captain Picard at the turbolift. "What's going on?" He asked. "Are the Cylons back?"
Picard gave him a meaningful look. "Let's hope that's all it is." He replied intensely.
Helo was initially surprised by the response, but then he remembered how easily the Federation ship had dispatched the Basestars it had encountered so far. The rest of the ride was completed in silence. When the turbolift doors opened onto the bridge the tension was palpable. Commander Riker vacated the central chair, and Picard took his place. It was a move that the two officers had practiced quite a bit over the years.
"Report." The Captain called out.
"Another Cylon ship came out of the nebula." Riker reported. Picard was relieved, but only momentarily because the tone of the Commander's voice indicated that he had more to report. On top of which, everyone was a bit on edge since Data's declaration that there were Borg on the planet below them. "We destroyed it." Riker said, matter-of-factly, "but we're picking up readings from the nebula. It looks like we're going to have some more company."
"Basestars?" Helo interjected from his position, standing behind the two officers.
Data decided to field that particular question. "I do not believe so." He replied. "The readings would seem to indicate-" Data's console began beeping, and he quickly input a few commands. "Captain, a vessel is exiting the nebula."
"Onscreen, Mr. Data."
Helo watched as the viewscreen changed from an image of the planet rotating beneath them to a view of the nebula clouds, looking as real as if he were seeing them out of the window of a Raptor. Then the gasses began to ripple and a shape emerged. Helo couldn't really judge the size of the object from the picture on the viewscreen, but it was unlike anything he'd ever seen. A big black box that was simple and somehow intimidating.
"The Borg." Worf's gruff voice said. Helo turned toward the Klingon. He still wasn't used to seeing an alien, but the hulking Klingon didn't look like he'd be afraid of anything, and yet Helo detected a hint of trepidation underlying Worf's calm, powerful words.
"Mr. Worf," Picard ordered hurriedly, "Hail Galactica."
"Captain Picard," the Admiral's voice came over the bridge speakers, "it would appear that the Cylons have a new class of ship."
"I'm afraid it is much worse than that, Admiral." Picard replied quickly. "That ship belongs to a species which we've encountered before, the Borg. We need to fall back to our the rendezvous point, immediately." Before they had made the final leg of their journey to New Caprica, Picard and Adama had agreed on a fallback position in case something went wrong. Something had gone wrong.
"Captain, I've still got thousands of people down on that planet. You promised to help us free them."
"Believe me, Admiral, I am well aware of that, but, at the moments, our ships do not stand a chance against-"
"Captain!" Data interrupted, tapping more controls. The screen displayed another cube exiting the nebula cloud.
"Admiral," Picard continued. "We need to leave now. Trust me."
"Understood, Captain." Then the comm line went dead.
"Does that mean he's leaving or not?" Riker asked, looking at Picard and then at Agathon.
Before Picard could respond a beep from Data's emanated from Data's console. "The Battlestars have jumped." He informed everyone.
"Good," Picard responded. "Helm, lay in a course for the rendezvous point, best possible speed." Peters' fingers moved across his console and the Enterprise lept to warp.
At maximum warp the distance that it took the Enterprise half an hour to traverse at warp five was covered in a matter of minutes. Galactica and Pegasus were exactly where Picard had expected to find them, and the entire bridge crew heaved a sigh of relief when Data announced that no one appeared to be pursuing them.
"The Admiral is hailing us, Captain." Worf announced from tactical.
Picard knew that Adama wasn't going to be happy. "Put him through, Mr. Worf."
"Captain," the Admiral's voice said gravely, "I believe we need to talk."
"I agree, Admiral. If you and your son will permit us to beam you over, we have quite a bit to discuss. The landscape has changed rather drastically from when we began this."
"Apparently so." Adama replied. "We're ready when you are, Captain."
Picard signaled Worf to break the connection. Then he turned to Data. "Commander, you and Lieutenant Agathon meet the Admiral in the transporter room and escort him to conference room C." Then he turned to Riker. "Number One, you have the bridge."
Conference room C was the largest one on the Enterprise, but when Picard arrived it was already beginning to look crowded. Counselor Troi was already there. She had a knack for gravitating toward where she was needed most. Troi was seated at the head of the large conference table talking to Colonel O'Neill and his team. Starbuck and Tyrol were standing near the other end of the table talking to Dr. Crusher. Colonel Tigh, to whom Picard had not yet been introduced, was sitting in a chair and seemed to be completely oblivious to his surroundings.
Picard walked over, "Doctor?"
"Captain," she said, "this man seems to be in some sort of psychological shock. He's almost completely unresponsive, although they tell me that they were able to get him to walk here under his own power."
"It took a lot of shoving." Starbuck said.
"Captain Thrace, isn't it?" Picard asked.
"Yes, sir." Starbuck replied. Picard somehow seemed to bring out the military demeanor which had so rarely shown in the past.
"Who is this?"
"Colonel Tigh," she replied. "He was the XO of Galactica before heading down to New Caprica."
"I'd like to take the Colonel to sickbay for some tests and observations." The Doctor said. She looked at Kara, "Captain Thrace has informed me that he underwent a rather upsetting experience just prior to being beamed up."
"By all means, Doctor." Then Picard turned to the two colonials. "You're welcome to accompany him, but I am certain that the Admiral will want at least one of you to be here when he arrives."
"The Admiral is coming?" Tyrol asked. He exchanged a quick look with Starbuck.
"We'll stay here." She said.
"As you wish," then to Crusher, "go ahead, Doctor."
The doctor and a medical technician who had accompanied her carefully escorted Colonel Tigh out the door. Starbuck and Tyrol both took seats at the conference table while the Captain approached Counselor Troi and SG-1."Captain," Troi greeted him as he approached, "Major Carter was just telling me," she motioned toward Major Carter who Picard had not yet been formally introduced to, "that their team is also from an alternate universe."
"Really?" The Captain asked.
Carter was about to launch into an explanation of how SG-1 had arrived in this particular universe when the doors opened and Admiral Adama walked in, accompanied by his son, Data, Helo, and Geordi LaForge, who had apparently joined the party at some point. The two colonials in the room immediately rose to their feet and approached the Adama.
Starbuck was rewarded with an embrace and Tyrol with a warm handshake. "It's good to see you, sir."
"You too, Chief."
In the meantime Kara and Lee exchanged rather cold looks, but no one else noticed. There were more pressing matters at hand.
"Captain," Adama said authoritatively as he spotted Picard across the room and strolled quickly over to him, "I believe you owe me an explanation."
"Admiral," Picard replied diplomatically, "I believe that there is quite a bit that we both would like to have explained. If you and your crew would take a seat, I suggest we begin with Colonel O'Neill's team here, since neither of us are familiar with them."
The Admiral nodded warily. He still wasn't happy about abandoning the colonists on New Caprica after what had seemed to be a wildly successful liberation, but he knew that Picard probably had good reasons for what he'd done. He also couldn't deny that Picard and his crew had done quite a bit to fulfill their part of the bargain he'd struck with them.
At some point, without anyone noticing, Counselor Troi had vacated the seat at the head of the conference table for one just to the left of Daniel Jackson. Admiral Adama took the seat next to her while the Captain sat in the one Troi had vacated and cast an expectant look at Jack O'Neill.
For a moment Jack looked like he was going to attempt an explanation, as the leader of SG-1, but that moment quickly passed. "I think Major Carter could probably explain the whole thing a lot better." All eyes shifted across the table to Carter who was sitting opposite Jack and to Daniel's right.
Sam launched into a long explanation of who SG-1 was and how they'd gotten into the situation they found themselves in. Admiral Adama seemed rather surprised to hear that they too were from Earth. When she got to the part about the quantum mirror Geordi interrupted. "You say this quantum mirror shattered?"
"Yes," Carter replied, "and since that would have broken the connection mid-transfer, I believe that may be what caused us to suddenly materialize in an alternate universe where the mirror was not, necessarily, present."
"It definitely could." Geordi said enthusiastically. "In fact," he turned to Picard, "it could also explain how we ended up here, Captain."
"How so?" Sam asked, before Picard got the chance.
"We encountered an anomaly that collided with the ship and pushed us into this universe. It's possible that the anomaly was actually some sort of inter-dimensional shockwave, generated by the destruction of the mirror bridging realities."
"Which might explain why our two crossovers happened at about the same time and brought us to the same universe."
"Exactly."
A voice interrupted, "No offense," it was Lee Adama who appeared a little agitated by the sudden departure from the topic under discussion, "but, as interesting as this theory is, aren't there more pressing issues that we should be concerned with?"
"Quite right." Picard agreed. "Mr. LaForge, I would like you to work with Major Carter more on this issue later, but for now, if the Major would care to finish her story."
"Of course." She said. She and Geordi both looked a little embarrassed at having taken the conversation so off course. Sam continued. She went over their arrival on New Caprica and the ensuing controversy as well as the trip to the citadel. At this point she explained the Replicators. She gave a brief summary of their past experience with the Replicators, including their encounter with the human-form models, to her listeners. All of the Enterprise crew was struck by the eerie similarities between the Replicators and the Borg.
Next Starbuck and Tyrol were asked to report on the events they'd been involved in. Their story basically just corroborated that of SG-1. They chose not to address most of what had happened on New Caprica before all of this had started out of their story, as it was a Colonial matter that wouldn't really concern the people from other universes.
Finally it was Picard's turn. How the Enterprise had gotten to the universe of the twelve colonies and the Cylons had already been addressed many times by this point. The only thing that really needed explaining was the Borg, and Picard was the perfect person to make that explanation.
"Ok," Lee said when Picard had finished, "so how are we supposed to beat these Borg? If your ship, your entire civilization, barely survived your last encounter with one of these cubes, how are we supposed to beat more than one?"
"And that's on top of the Cylons and the Replicators." Daniel offered.
"That is what we need to figure out." Picard said. "Ideas?"
"I believe I have something, Captain." Data volunteered, speaking for the first time since the meeting began.
"Go ahead, Mr. Data."
"Assuming that these Borg are similar to the Borg in our universe, and from the reports that we have heard this seems likely, they will initially ignore anything that they do not consider a threat."
"But, we have to assume that as soon as the Enterprise arrives at New Caprica the Borg will consider us a threat." Geordi said.
"That is probable." Data conceded. "However, they will not, in all probability, consider the Colonial ships a threat."
None of the Colonials seemed comfortable with the statement that their most powerful ships were not a threat, but this wasn't the time for bruised egos. "What can our Battlestars do against those Borg ships?" Helo asked.
"If the Borg do not consider your ships a threat than they will most likely not prevent you from beaming over to the cube."
"You want our people to go onboard the cube? Why?" The Admiral asked.
"Not your people, Admiral Adama, your weapons." Geordi said, catching on to Data's plan.
"Exactly." Data confirmed. "If we install transporter technology onboard Galactica and Pegasus they should be able to beam nuclear warheads onto the Borg ships, a maneuver which the Borg will not expect."
"Will one warhead per ship be enough to destroy the cubes?" Picard asked. It seemed too easy.
"Probably not." Data admitted. There was a good reason why the Borg wouldn't consider Adama's ships a threat.
"We'd have to find a way to enhance the yield of the warheads." Geordi said.
"Naquedah." Everyone looked at Colonel O'Neill. The word seemed to have come out of nowhere and no one understood what it meant. Seeing their looks, "Naquedah makes nukes bigger."
Carter picked up the explanation, "Naquedah is an element that we've used in the past to drastically increase the yield of nuclear ordinance. I don't know if you have an equivalent in this universe."
Geordi jumped in, "If you can describe the atomic structure for us, we can probably replicate as much as we need." Then he looked at the Captain, "If the Battlestars can destroy the Borg ships first, then the Enterprise should be able to take care of the Basestars."
"What about our people on the ground?" Tyrol asked. He hadn't been at all happy about having to leave Cally behind, but the shock of so much new stuff hitting him at once had kept it in check until now.
"We'll have to send a team." Picard concluded. "Assuming that we're able to destroy the ships in orbit of the planet we'll need a force that can hold off the combined enemy on the ground long enough for us to evacuate your civilian population. After that the Enterprise can destroy the entire site from orbit."
"I want my people involved." The Admiral said. "The people in the city need people they can trust down there."
"Agreed, Admiral." Picard said. "This will be difficult enough without my people having to convince the colonists that we're on their side. The Enterprise will arm a combined strike-force."
"In the past energy weapons have proved ineffectual against the Replicators." Teal'c offered.
"I doubt they've encountered anything like our phasers before." Geordi said smugly. Then a though occurred to him. "But the Borg will adapt to any phaser settings pretty quickly."
"There have been indications," Data said, giving Captain Picard a meaningful look, "that more primitive projectile weapons may fall outside of the range that individual Borg drones are prepared to adapt to." Picard remembered well his experience with the drones on the holodeck. Data had read that report, and Picard had to acknowledge that he might have a point.
Jack looked at the P-90 that he still had with him. "What, these?" He looked around at his team. "I don't think we have enough to go around."
"Our replicators," Jack sort of jumped at the word but didn't say anything, "can fix that." LaForge said. "But we'll need someone to train the people going down there in how to use them."
"Teal'c and I can do that." Jack said. "But I don't suppose you have a firing range or anything on this ship where we'd do all of this."
Geordi smiled. "Oh, I think we can figure something out." They'd put the holodecks to good use.
"Ok," Picard said, energized by the fact that they finally had a plan of action, "it's settled. Admiral, select your people, as many as you can spare. We will do the same. Colonel O'Neill and Teal'c will train them on these weapons. I will have Commander Worf assign each of them a phaser sidearm and go through basic instruction for their operation. Major Carter will work with our engineers and your weapons' specialists to prepare your warheads for deployment on the Borg ships, and we'll have engineers transferred to your ships to install and operate our transporter systems. I think we should begin immediately."
"Agreed, Captain." The Admiral replied as he began to rise from his chair.
The entire table began to rise, almost everyone had a lot of work to do and was eager to begin. Daniel approached Admiral Adama. "Admiral, I have to say that I find your culture and its history fascinating. If you don't mind, I'd like to accompany you back to your ship."
The Admiral was a little bit surprised, but he didn't see any harm. Jackson seemed like a capable, intelligent man. "You're welcome to, Dr. Jackson. I'm sure my people will have just as many questions for you as you do for us."
Troi offered to escort Daniel and the Colonials, including Tyrol and Starbuck, to the transporter room, although Adama wanted to first make a stop in sickbay to check in on his old friend.
Jack wasn't surprised at Daniel's request. He'd heard enough of the Colonial's history to know that it would draw Daniel's interest. He didn't object. LaForge and Data approached the rest of SG-1. "If you'll come with us, I'll get one of my engineers working on replicating more of these weapons and showing you the holodecks. Then Major Carter and I can get started on the bombs."
"Sounds good." Jack replied, and the four of them started walking toward the door.
In the meantime Geordi went back to talking with Sam. "I was thinking about what you told us about these Replicators." He ventured. "You said that each of the individual blocks is connected to the others by some sort of network?"
"Yes," she told him, "it allows the blocks to combine to form any number of different shapes."
"We might be able to come up with something that would disrupt the network." Geordi said, excitedly, "If we can stop the blocks from communicating with each other, then they wouldn't be a threat." The discussion continued out into the corridor while a rather less interested Jack and Teal'c followed a few of steps behind.
Picard waited until everyone else was gone to take a deep breath. It was a daring plan, but he was confident in his people. However, something was bothering him. It almost all seemed too coincidental, too convenient, despite the fact that the situation was rather inconvenient for all involved. He couldn't exactly put his finger on it, but something about the whole thing nagged at him. In the end he decided to ignore it and headed for the bridge. Everything felt better when he was on the bridge.
Written by Data laughing
Tech advising: oberon227 and Drums888
Some editting done by Drums888 and oberon227
Thanks for reading Part 7. If you have any feedback positive or negative leave me a review.