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 2

By

Celgress

"Primitive savages that's what they call us, isn't it?"

"Could primitive savages snuff out stars, destroy entire galaxies?"

Bloodmist – Andromeda, The Widening Gyre (2001)

The bridge of the USS Voyager

Captain Katherine Janeway felt a rising lump in her throat. Displayed on the main view screen was a scene straight out of the cheesy, b-horror movies from 20th Century Earth that Navigator Tom Paris was so fond of watching. Unfortunately what danced before the shocked eyes of Katherine Janeway was no 20th Century illusion. Rather it was the beginnings of an all-out invasion of the Delta Quadrant by a hostile alien menace, an evil force potentially even more destructive than the Borg Collective.

The very thought sent a shiver down Captain Janeway's spine. The Borg, since their first encounter with Star Fleet in system J-25 over seven years ago, had been the measuring stick against which all other threats were judged. Could these Daleks truly pose an even greater risk to both the Federation and the Galaxy as a whole? They certainly seemed more powerful than the Borg, and at least as malevolent.

Perhaps they had merely gotten off on the wrong foot. Yes that was possible. Many first contacts had dissolved into open hostilities because of cultural misunderstandings. In spite of her better judgement Captain Janeway took a deep breath she then spoke the following command.

"Open a channel all frequencies. I wish to speak with the Daleks."

"Captain, I don't think you should do this" Kes said from where she stood beside Tuvok. "My psychic impressions of the Daleks indicate they are not interested in negotiating with us, or anyone else from own dimension."

"Your objections are noted Kes, still I must try. Daleks this is Captain Katherine Janeway of the Federation vessel USS Voyager. We wish to open negotiates between our two peoples. We, like you, are enemies of the Borg Collective we propose an alliance."

For several moments there was silence. The view of multiple Dalek Saucers flanked by streams of individual Daleks dominated the ribbon of space nicknamed the 'North-West Passage' by the crew of Voyager. Abruptly the image changed. The main view screen now displayed a nondescript, amber colored room containing three Daleks, from left to right their colors were red, white & yellow. The middle White Dalek spoke.

"You propose an alliance between the Daleks and yourselves directed against the Borg?"

"Correct" Janeway said, holding her breath in anticipation. She didn't have to wait long for an answer.

"Request denied!" screeched the White Dalek. "Daleks do not require the aid of primitive, inferior, biological entities! You will be exterminated!"

"Exterminate, exterminate, exterminate!" The Red & Yellow Daleks bellowed joining in as the image of the trio and their dwelling place blinked out of existence.

The nearest Dalek Saucer broke off from the North-West Passage and fired on Voyager. It was swiftly joined by several dozen Daleks who also fired on the Starfleet vessel. Facing a barrage of extermination pulses from the angry Daleks Captain Janeway had no choice but to order a hasty retreat. Luckily the Daleks and their Saucer only pursued the already crippled ship, the partially destroyed port warp nacelle was still out and would take weeks to fully repair, a short distance, basically until Voyager was out of short term senor range of the area around the Dalek dominated corridor. Voyager had gotten off lucky still their shields had been clipped by two full powered extermination pulses courtesy of the Saucer. The pulses overloaded and shorted out the main shield matrix as well as the backup.

The Ready Room of USS Voyager several hours later

"It'll take three days to unscramble the primary shield matrix" B'Elanna Torres reported to the assembled Senior Crew. "Those Dalek weapons certainly pack a punch. Near as we can figure the 'extermination' pulses are one part disruptor and one part plasma shot, with some type of temporal component thrown in."

"Can our shields be modified to offer some protection from this weapon?" Tuvok asked.

"Unlikely, the mechanics of the weapon is just too complex traditional shields don't stand a chance" B'Elanna Torres answered, shaking her head.

"What about using non-traditional shielding?" Chakotay offered. "While serving in the Maquis we often had to extensively modify shields so our vessels could survive in the plasma storms of the Bad Lands for extended periods. B'Elanna, could we apply some of those same tactics here?

"Anything is possible I'll have my staff look into it right away."

"Doctor please update us on the condition of Ensign Kim?" Captain Janeway said.

All attention turned towards the overhead view screen which displayed the somber countenance of the EMH. "Ensign Kim's condition continues to rapidly deteriorate. His synaptic functions are damaged beyond repair. His bodily functions are not in much better shape. There is nothing more I can do for him. In essence Mr. Kim is brain dead. If any of you wish to say goodbye, I advise you do it soon."

"Permission to be excused" Tom Paris asked the second the Doctor had finished his briefing.

"Permission deferred" Captain Janeway said. "Tom we all know how you feel about Harry, but right now I need all my senior staff here. We have some difficult decisions ahead, decisions that will affect the lives of everyone on this vessel. I require your input, your help. Kes please tell us everything you have psychically learned about the Daleks."

Kes rose to her feet taking in the expected gazes of the assembled Senior Crew members before launching into her explanation "They were originally from another dimension, a universe where they vied with another, equally advanced, species for control. After a terrible mutually destructive war the Daleks emerged victorious, utterly destroying their foes, though just barely. Most of the remaining Daleks were then driven into the Void, a type of transdimensional limo, by their sole surviving enemy a being called the 'Doctor'. They waited in the Void, rebuilding their forces, for many centuries until an opportunity for escape presented itself. Freed from their imprisonment they've decided to conquer our universe. I sense a burning hatred. All other beings are inferior and shall either be enslaved for the greater glory of the Dalek Empire or outright exterminated. They plan on destroying everything and everyone. It isn't the Borg we should be worried about, it is the Daleks." After delivering the terrible proclamation Kes took her seat.

"We could always turn around get ourselves out of harm's way, let them fight it out" Chakotay offered breaking the eerie silence that had pervaded the Ready Room since Kes' speech. "There is still plenty of Delta Quadrant to explore. Who knows we could even find another way home."

Captain Janeway wasn't buying her first officer's argument. "Or we could find something else. Six months, a year, maybe several years down the road when Species 8499 Daleks are through with the Borg we could find ourselves right back in the line or fire."

"What do you suggest we do?" Chakotay asked his commanding officer. "I honestly do not see another option, we can't even defend ourselves against the Daleks. Are weapons and shields are less than useless against them and their firepower. As things currently stand facing them again would mean certain death."

"I know the risks involved commander" Captain Janeway said, using Chakotay's formal rank an indication she was rapidly losing her cool. Her voice increased in volume as she slowly rose from her chair. "I'm not willing to give up on ever getting this crew home. I made a promise to all of you, and perhaps more importantly to myself after we were forced to destroy the Caretaker's Array that I would get this crew home no matter the costs. I'll be damned if some dimension hopping menace we've never heard of before will make me break that promise! Until further notice, you are all dismissed!"

At the official conclusion of the meeting everyone scattered. Tuvok and Neelix both hesitated for a moment unsure of what to do next. One look at their Captain's face told them they were not needed. The two stragglers quickly joined the retreating throng. Captain Janeway remained alone in the Ready Room for some time quietly watching the stars while pondering the cruel twists fate can unexpectedly take.

Sickbay fifteen minutes later

"It shouldn't be this way" Tom Paris said looking down at the unconscious Harry Kim. "I was always the risk taker. The one who laughed in the face of danger, the no good sob who for years on end didn't give a damn about anyone. You were everything I could never be the perfect student, the model ensign, the good son. You shouldn't be laying here dying, it should be me. If anyone deserves to pay the price of hubris it is me. I should be the one dying, not you Harry."

"Talking like this won't change the fact Harry is dying and you aren't". B'Elanna Torres said, giving Tom's shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "We both know Harry wouldn't want this. You shouldn't blame yourself. It wasn't your fault Tom. It wasn't any of our faults."

"Who should I blame B'Elanna, who?" Tom Paris said looking at her through tear soaked eyes. "Whose fault is it, huh? Tell me that."

"The Daleks" B'Elanna answered, her voice hardly a voice. "They did this. They're no better than the Cardassians driving people from their homes because of some twist sense of entitlement based upon a genocidal superiority complex. If you must blame anyone, blame them."

"What good will that do? We both know we can't even fight back against them. We are defenceless."

"For the time being, however I'm sure we'll eventually learn their weak point and when we do."

"What, what do we do then?"

"We make them pay."

Forty minutes later the Senior Staff and as many of the regular crew as could fit into Sick Bay clustered around the bio-bed on which Harry Kim laid. The Doctor nodded at Kes who was holding a stylist and a data pad. The Doctor checked then rechecked by Harry's vitals and the chronometer of the USS Voyager.

"Time of death is 17:44 ship time."

The Doctor gently draped a white sheet over Harry Kim's dead body. Several members of the crew openly wept, others turned away. Tom Paris stormed out of the room, B'Elanna Torres in pursuit. Captain Janeway readied herself to deliver a speech, even though she was numb with grief. Clearing her throat Janeway began.

"When we joined Voyager each of us knew the risks involved. Each of us knew we might never see the end of our journey. Harry Kim knew this, and I knew this. Harry was a like the son I never had. He was like a bright light in a dark room. He always brought out the best in those around him. His youthful enthusiasm was infectious. He touched each of us deeply, and we are better people for having known him. More than anything else Harry wanted to get home. I promise you, my son, that no matter what I will get this crew, our family, home." Captain Janeway kissed the tips of her fingers then pressed them against the portion of the sheet covering Harry's forehead. Captain Janeway felt light head and weak in the knees. Her resolve almost failing her, she plowed on. "H-Harry, Harry was many things but never a quitter. I will not let fear rule the actions of this crew, this family,,, even if that fear is justified. We must overcome it."

The Captain's office afternoon two days later

Presiding over Harry Kim's funeral had been the hardest thing Captain Janeway had done since taking command of the USS Voyager. While there had been many deaths since the fateful day they had been dragged into the Delta Quadrant none of them had felt so personal. Perhaps it was because Ensign Kim had been a long time member of the bridge crew? Perhaps it was because of the personal bond he shared with so many? Perhaps it was because of his youth, or perhaps it was Harry's positive personality? Whatever the case this death felt unlike any other, it was raw more visceral more real.

Captain Janeway had barely finished the service before collapsing. The Doctor had examined her and declared the incident stress related. The Doctor had proscribed a strict regimen of bed rest, which would only end once he declared Captain Janeway once again fit for active duty. Now the afternoon following the service she lay in her bed being briefed by Chakotay.

"The good news we haven't detected anymore Dalek or Borg energy singles on short range sensors. The bad news long range sensors indicate the area directly ahead of our current position is still crawling with Borg and Dalek vessels. Engineering still can't produce shields that are effective against the Dalek weapon."

Captain Janeway sighed "What about the small pieces of Dalek material that Tuvok retrived from our first encounter, have either B'Elanna or the Doctor discovered anything more about it?"

"I'm afraid not, though the Doctor is experimenting with re-coded Borg nanoprobes. He feels if the nanoprobes can mimic the same bio-temporal signature as the material they could attack the Daleks unnoticed on a microscopic level. So far, it is the only lead we have" Chakotay said with a weak smile. "I'll keep you informed." Chakotay departed the room leaving Captain Janeway with her turbulent thoughts.

The following day Captain Janeway felt bored. Against the Doctor's orders she entered the Holodeck. She ran he favorite program. The one in which she was an aspiring apprentice to the legendary ancient Earth master Leonardo da Vinci. Though she hadn't ran the program in over a week her mind found no enjoyment there. After explaining her plight to the holographic de Vinci, who suggested she pray with him, Janeway came to a startling revelation. An option she hadn't considered before. After conferring with the Doctor who had just recently had some limited success with several re-coded Borg nanoprobes. Captain Janeway called together her Senior Staff in the Ready Room, she laid out her audacious new plan. Upon hearing what she had in mind Tom Paris was the first to react.

"An alliance with the Borg?"

"More like an exchange" Captain Janeway said. "The Doctor has discovered a means, using modified Borg nanoprobes, by which we can attack the material the Daleks are made up of on a microscopic level. The Borg learn by assimilating. What they cannot assimilate, like the Daleks, they cannot understand. We however learn by investigating. In this case that gives us the edge. We can offer the Borg a means of defeating the Daleks in exchange for granting us safe passage through their space."

"Excuse me Captain but the Borg aren't exactly known for their diplomacy. How can we expect them to cooperate?" Neelix asked.

"Normally they wouldn't cooperate with us" Kes said. "However considering what I have learned from the Daleks the Borg are in danger not only of being defeated but of being totally destroyed."

"In one instance the Borg are no different than we are. They are trying to survive" Captain Janeway said. "Voyager is one ship our safety is a small price to pay for their continued existence. I do not think they will pass up this opportunity."

"What is to prevent the Borg from obtaining the knowledge by simply assimilating Voyager and her crew?" Tuvok asked.

"Because that won't get them anywhere" Captain Janeway replied. "All of the research is stored in the Doctor's holo-matrix if the Borg threaten us I'll delete it. I am aware this is an unnerving prospect however I've made the decision, assuming the Borg agree, we are going to make this alliance work. Everyone is dismissed until further notice." Everyone left the Ready Room except for Chakotay.

"What is it Chakotay?"

"I didn't want to say anything in front of the others. I think we are making a serious mistake if we go through with your idea of an alliance with the Borg."

"Why do you think so?"

"The Borg cannot be trusted. You know it, I know, they know it."

"Under normal circumstances, I would agree. However these are far from normal circumstances. As far as we know the Borg have never been so threatened, they are vulnerable Chakotay."

"My people have a saying a wounded predator is the most dangerous kind."

"The Borg are not mindless beasts."

"You're right, they are worse. We can't help them Katherine they've killed and enslaved countless trillions, helping them survive by potentially assimilating another species is wrong."

"Tell that to Harry Kim. Getting the Daleks assimilated might not be such a bad idea. We'd be doing the Delta Quadrant, and the entire Galaxy, a favor."

"My father told me a story once and I never forgot it" Chakotay said. "A Fox was on the bank of a deep, swift wondering how he could get to the other side when he noticed a Scorpion. The Scorpion asked the Fox if the Fox would carry the Scorpion across the river on his back. The Fox at first refused fearing the Scorpion would sting him. The Scorpion told the Fox such a fear was groundless because if he did that they'd both drown. The Fox allowed the Scorpion to climb on the Fox's back. Sure enough halfway across the river the Scorpion stung the Fox. As his body filled with venom the Fox asked the Scorpion why he'd done it as now they would both die. The Scorpion answered that he couldn't help it to sting was his nature."

"I know the risks Chakotay. I'm not suggesting we try to change the nature of the Borg. Only that we take advantage of the opportunity that is right in front of us. We just have to have the courage to see this through."

"There are other kinds of courage Katherine. Like admitting not all problems have an immediate solution. I'm sorry. I can't support an alliance with the Borg" Chakotay said before leaving the Ready Room.

"I guess I truly am alone" Captain Janeway mumbles to the empty air as the automatic door whizzes shut behind Chakotay.

To Be Continued