Disclaimers
All characters appearing in Star Trek, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek Deep Space Nine and Star Trek voyager are copyright Paramount Pictures. No infringement of these copyrights is intended, and is not authorized by the copyright holder.
All characters appearing in Doctor Who are copyright the BBC. The Daleks are copyright the BBC and the estate of Terry Nation. No infringement of these copyrights is intended, and is not authorized by the copyright holder.
All original characters are the property of Celgress.
Star Trek Voyager/Doctor Who Crossover – Worst Case Scenario: Chapter 1
By
Celgress
The Ready Room of USS Voyager
Kathryn Janeway took a deep breath before she began addressing the assembled senior staff. In many ways the briefing she was about to deliver had been inevitable since the USS Voyager had been thrown 75,000 light years away from Federation space into the depths of the unexplored Delta Quadrant. Still she had hoped with every fiber of her being that this day would never come that this briefing would never be delivered.
"At 06:00 ship time yesterday one of our long range probes abruptly stopped transmitting. At first those in Engineering suspected it was a mechanical fault however that theory proved incorrect, B'Elanna."
The young Chief Engineer snapped to her feet. She was by the Captain's side in an instant. Inputting a series of commands on the table mounted control system the large view screen behind Janeway and B'Elanna filled with an ominous image a massive Borg cube! The image swiftly grew until it bolted out the distant stars. The image then changed to that of a Borg drone who scanned the probe before terminating the transmission.
"Before the probe was terminated it sent back invaluable data. Perhaps most important is that we are less than a standard week away from a vast region of space which is apparently under the control of the Borg Collective." B'Elanna said, while fidgeting with her uniform.
"Thousands of solar systems inhabitants all Borg" Janeway continued. "There is nobody we are entering the heart of their territory. If we ever want to get home during our lifetimes there is no going around it, but there may be a way through it."
"The long range sensors of the probe, before it was disabled, discovered a narrow corridor of space devoid of Borg activity. We in Engineering have nicknamed it the North-West Passage." B'Elanna explained, the view screen now displayed a simulated map of the region in question.
"Why is it devoid of Borg activity?" Harry Kim asked.
"The area seems to be made up of a string of quantum singularise, which are generating intense gravimetric and electromagnetic disturbances." B'Elanna explained.
"Does this corridor run through the entirety of Borg Space?" Tuvok asked in his usual stoic manner.
"Yes, as far as we can tell it does" B'Elanna answered.
"I say we use it" Tom Paris said. "Better to ride the rapids than face the furry of the Hive."
"It is settled than" Janeway said. "Tom set a course for the North-West Passage maximum warp."
"I will introduce further security measures immediately." Tuvok said. "All phasers will we placed on random rotating modulations, however I suspect the Borg will adapt quickly."
"Mr. Neelix how is our food situation?" Chakotay asked the native of the Delta Quadrant. "I doubt we can resupply anytime soon."
"I'm working on a plan to extend our replicator rations, by supplementing them with food from the Hydroponics Bay." Neelix said, in a low voice. The usually jovial alien was not at all himself.
"Doctor have you learned anything that might help us from the Borg corpses we recovered a few months ago?" Chakotay asked the EMH.
"I'm closer to understanding how their assimilation technology works. In time my hope is to develop a defense of some type, an assimilation anti-body if you will" The Doctor said.
"Moving forward research into the Borg assimilation process is your top priority Doctor" Chakotay ordered
"The Borg have captured one of our probes, they know we are out here" Janeway said. "I will do everything in my power to avoid a direct confrontation. However if and when we do engage the Borg I want this ship ready, dismissed."
The Captain's office three days later
Chakotay entered the room to see Janeway pouring over a series of reports. The surface of her desk was undiscernible beneath the avalanche of data pads. Janeway took notice of her First Officer. Clearing his throat Chakotay spoke the following words.
"You've been shut up in here the better part of the last three days found anything interesting?"
"Sorry I didn't see you there" Janeway said with a start. "I've been going over every encounter the Federation has had with the Borg, everything from minor skirmishes to the massacre at Wolf 359 anything that might give me an insight into the nature of the Hive Mind."
"What have you learned?" Chakotay asked.
"Not much" Janeway admitted ruefully. "In the words of Jean-Luc Picard; 'in their collective state the Borg are utterly without mercy, drive by one will and one will alone the will to conquer. Then there is Captain Amisov of the Endeavor; 'it is my opinion that the Borg are the closest to pure evil of any species we have yet encountered."
Chakotay couldn't help but smile at Janeways quotations of the greats. Janeway noticing the reaction of her First Officer looked at him quizzically.
"What?"
"It is just you do a really good Amisov" Chakotay replied, the smile never leaving his lips. Janeway herself burst out laughing. It was a much need moment of levity. Little did either suspect it would be the last they'd have for a long time.
Sickbay one day later
"These injection tubules are the first step in the Borg assimilation process" The Doctor lectured Kes as he held up the dismembered hand of a deceased Borg drone. From the fingers of the eerie hand thin metallic tubes extended several centimeters. "They inject a series of nanoprobes into the victim's bloodstream. Once inside the nanoprobes take over the functions of the body's cells much like a virus."
"Can we create some type of shielding?" Kes asked the Doctor, "something that will keep the nanoprobes from entering the body."
"Unlikely, the injection tubules can puncture any known substance, chemical coating or energy field" The Doctor replied, shaking his head sadly. "No, our battle must be fought within. Kes I have an idea, please pass me another culture."
Kes was about to do what the Doctor asked when her world turn upside down. Kes' mind was bombarded with a rapid sequence of images: hundreds of dead Brog drones, golden saucers, a high pitched voices yelling 'exterminate', several flashes of intense white light and a strange alien creature (perhaps a robot?) that resembled a humanoid sized battle tank. When Kes regained control of her higher functions she found herself crouching on floor with the Doctor standing over her.
"Kes what happened? Are you alright?" The Doctor asked, helping Kes to her feet.
"I saw Borg, hundreds of them dead. There was something else with them, an alien unlike anything I've ever seen or heard of. I'm not sure maybe it was an artificial life form, a robot of some sort. Whatever it was it, and those like it, had caused the deaths of the Borg I'm certain of that much" Kes explained, gasping for breath.
"You've had a telepathic experience?" the Doctor asked, concern still evident. For once the Doctor was uncertain how to best proceed.
The Bridge a few hours later
Tuvok entered, an uncharacteristic look of bewilderment on his face. The Vulcan's appearance threw everyone momentarily off guard. Recovering somewhat Janeway asked.
"How is Kes?"
"Unsettled and uncertain" Tuvok said. "During the past several hours she has had a series of visions detailing the death of Borg and the destruction of Voyager."
"We've taken her vision seriously in the past" Chakotay said, looking at Tuvok and then at Janeway. "What should we do?"
"We can't just discount Kes' abilities. However I see no other option" Janeway said. "We should hold our course for the North-West Passage."
No sooner had Janeway spoken than the power on the bridge began to flicker, before failing altogether. Bathed in the dim glow of emergency lighting Janeway demanded an explanation. "Ensign Kim what is going on?"
"No idea sir we've just dropped out of warp" Harry frantically studied his readouts.
"Engineering what happened?" Chakotay demanded.
"We're unsure" stated the voice of B'Elanna. "Something both knocked us out of warp and is keeping us from creating a stable warp field. I've never seen anything like it sir."
"We've got company" Harry yelled. "Sensors are picking up one, no make that two Borg cubes no five, ten, fifteen Borg cubes" Harry finished a look of horror on his face.
"My God" Chakotay whispered as the view screen filled with approaching cubes.
The bridge rock and rolled as Voyager was tossed around like a dry leaf in windstorm. The wake caused by the Borg fleet was such that in completely nullified the sub-space fields of all other vessels near it. Finally the last of the cubes had passed by. The cube in question stopped momentarily to scan Voyager before rejoining its' brethren. The Borg vessels having departed the area the power levels of Voyager quickly returned to normal.
"If we needed any further evidence we are in Borg space we just got it" Chakotay said, as the bridge crew slowly regained their composure.
"I'll take this near miss as a good omen" Janway said. "Tom keep a sensor lock on that Borg Armanda. They seem in a hurry. I'd like to know what they are up to."
Two hours later the energy singles of Borg fleet suddenly ceased. After a round of speculation on what could have caused such an occurrence the crew decided to investigate. Arriving at the last known coordinates of the Borg fleet they made a startling discover. All fifteen Borg cubes had been reduced to rumble. Amongst one good sized chuck of debris sat a small, golden saucer. The saucer was docked, if you could call it that, with the remnants of the Borg vessel.
"What is it?" Chakotay asked, "a vessel of some sort, maybe a weapon?"
"I'd like to know what kind of weapon could do this to the Borg" Tom said, from his seat at navigation.
"Our sensors can't make heads nor tails of it" Harry said, "whatever it is, its' impervious to our technology."
"Send a standard greeting, all channels" Janeway ordered.
"No response" Harry said a few moments later.
"Is there a breathable atmosphere in the remnants of the cube?" Janeway asked.
"There is" Harry answered.
"Tuvok, Harry take an away team over there. We need to learn more about this thing" Janeway said. "Remember be careful, we have no idea what is going on here. At the first sign of danger return to Voyager at once."
"Understood" Tuvok said, with a curt nod.
Inside the fragment of Borg cube the away tem was greeted by a scene of utter chaos. Borg drones lay dead everywhere. Their bodies scattered throughout the rooms and passage ways. Approaching the junction where the Borg cube fragment was docked with the saucer a lone drone was attempting to assimilate the metallic substance of the docking ring of the saucer with no luck. Each time the Borg drone tried to penetrate the metal with it's injection tubules it was repealed by a sharp energy discharge of some unknown variety.
"Tuvok to Voyager" Tuvok said, activating his command badge. "There are two weapon signatures in the debris. One is Borg, the other is of unknown origins." Tuvok picked up several tiny flakes of golden metal off the floor. He carefully placed them in his pocket.
"Wait" Harry said, looking at the display on his beeping tricorder fearfully. "There is something in here with us, and its' not the Borg. A humanoid sized mass is approaching from within the debris."
The Borg drone that had been attempting the assimilation of the unknown docking ring quickly departed the area, as did all other functioning Borg drones, a Dalek its' copper finish shinning in the dim light rounded the corner. "Halt identify yourself"
"Hello, I am Ensign Harry Kim of the Starfleet vessel USS Voyager. On behalf of United Federation of planets I welcome you" Harry stepped toward the Dalek.
"Halt" the Dalek repeated.
"It is okay we come in peace" Harry said, putting up his hands. "We just want to cooperate with you."
"Daleks do no cooperate with inferior biological life forms. Daleks are the masters of inferior biological life forms. You are now prisoners of the Daleks. You will obey or be exterminated" the Dalek retorted.
"Wait just a minute" Harry said. "You can't do this. We only want to live in peace."
"Ensign do not antagonize the Dalek further" Tuvok ordered.
"Surrender your weapons or be exterminated" the Dalek demanded. "You will obey, obey, obey!"
"No I will not" Harry said defiantly.
"Ensign do as it says, that is an order" Tuvok said, placing his own phraser rifle on the floor.
Harry hesitated dropping his phraser rifle for a split second. "Exterminate, exterminate" shrieked the Dalek. A concentrated beam of blinding white light shot from the Dalek's upturned weapon. If not for the actions of Tuvok Ensign Harry Kim would surely have perished. Tuvok knocked Harry to the floor as a result the deadly beam of light only clipped Harry's body rather than hit him head on.
"Tuvok to Voyager beam us back, now!" The away team vanished before the Dalek could fire another extermination beam.
Back on Voyager Harry was taken to Sickbay. A few moments after the away team returned the Dalek saucer disengaged from the Borg debris field and fired a volley of extermination beams at Voyager. It was only the quick thinking of Tom Paris that allowed the ship to dodge most of the beams. An instant before Voyager entered warp the final extermination pulse hit the already damaged port warp nacelle shattering the structure less than ten seconds later. The explosion violently knocked Voyager out of warp sending the ship careening out of control for several minutes. Fortunately the brief period of warp speed had taken Voyager far enough away from the battle scene that the crew was no longer in any immediate danger.
Sickbay three hours later
"Why hasn't Ensign Kim regained consciousness?" Janeway asked the Doctor in a worried tone. Harry lay motionless on a bio-bed. His eyes closed. Synaptic probes on his forehand.
"The energy weapon that was used by the Dalek is unlike anything in my database" The Doctor explained grimly. "The closet analogy of its' affects would be a disruptor. However the weapon is far in advance of any disruptor we've previously encountered. Its' like his insides have been partially scrambled, the bio-electrical impulses of every cell short-circuited. Repairing Mr. Kim's injuries will take some creative thinking on my part, if they can be repaired at all. There is something else captain."
"What is it?"
"I've been examining one of the small scraps of Dalek material Tuvok retrieved"
"What have you discovered Doctor?"
"The alloy, if you can even call it that, is almost like a living organism. I highly suspect it has been grown not manufacture. I'm all but certain these Daleks are a form of cybernetic life. I think I've also discovered why the Borg cannot assimilate them. The material naturally generates a type of energy field that is akin to a combination shield and subspace dampening field in short it is a type of extremely advanced multiphasic subspace field with a possible temporal component."
"Temporal?" Janeway asked her face full of confusion.
"Yes, the material has an unusually high concentration of chroniton particles. The concentration is so high in fact that I highly doubt it is naturally occurring. Furthermore the chroniton particles have infused the material to such an extent that it has reached the saturation point. They could even be responsible for the usual properties of the material I've just told you about. When the Borg nanoprobes are injected into the material the multiphasic subspace field nearly instantly overwhelms and destroys them. In this case resistance is far from futile."
"Captain could you come to bridge" said the voice of Chakotay over her com badge. "There is something you should see."
"On my way" Janeway said leaving Sickbay. A short while later she reached the Bridge. "What is it?" she asked Chakotay and B'Elanna. The two officers where gathered around a work station.
"We've analysed the tactical data the away team recovered from the wreckage of the Borg cube" B'Elanna explained, as a series of images flashed across the nearby screen. "The Borg call these new aliens Species 8499 Daleks. The Borg have encountered them a dozen times in the past month. Each time the Borg have been defeated quickly."
"Do we know where these Daleks originate?" Janeway asked.
"I'm afraid so, the North-West Passage" Chakotay said, his face full of regret.
"Oh no" Janeway said, her voice barely a whispered.
To Be Continued