RAGNAROK 2
Author: Rocky

Billowing smoke greeted him when he exited the tube. Neelix hesitated, unable to see clearly, and unsure of where he should go. The trouble was, he wasn't used to traversing the ship by anything other than the corridors. Where were the launching bays located? *First I'll try to the right*, he said to himself.

He had advanced perhaps twenty meters when he came up against a glowing barrier. A containment field, which meant a hull breach lay beyond that point. He doubled back, stopping only long enough to tear a strip of cloth off the hem of his long overjacket and wind it over the lower part of his face. It was becoming difficult to breathe.

He retraced his steps until he stood beside the Jefferies tube opening once more. He hesitated-what if there was another forcefield in that direction? No sense in worrying about that now, he reminded himself. The thing to do was to go ahead and hope he'd be able to get through.

Ten meters beyond the Jefferies Tube, he reached his destination.

Neelix stopped short once again, appalled by the sight in front of him. The smoke was heavier here, blacker, and he could see leaping flames in the area beyond.

"Hello?" he called. "Is anyone in there? Do you need help?"

There was no answer, but Neelix was sure he'd caught a glimpse of someone moving. He moved forward cautiously and called again. "This is Neelix! Is anyone inside?"

A figure in a black and gold uniform turned toward him.

Neelix felt his stomach lurch. "Tuvok!"

There was no response. Perhaps Tuvok hadn't heard him-the fire was roaring loudly, and the Vulcan appeared to be concentrating on his task.

Throwing caution to the wind, Neelix came closer. "Tuvok! You've got to get out of there!"

At last Tuvok lifted his head. "I must finish what I came here to do."

"This place is a death-trap, Tuvok!"

"I cannot leave-" Neelix watched in horror as a nearby bulkhead collapsed. A large beam fell across Tuvok's back, knocking him to the floor.

Neelix rushed forward. The heat was even more intense, and the flames were rapidly coming closer. He blinked away the sweat rushing down his forehead into his eyes. "Tuvok!"

The Vulcan's eyes opened. He jerked his head weakly toward the console. "Activate..."

"What was that?"

"Activate the main..." Tuvok's eyes rolled up and his head fell backward.

Neelix gave a hasty glance at the console where Tuvok had been working. The screen was lit up with the words: "Manual system armed. Awaiting activation." He pressed the control underneath it, and heard the steady hum of a torpedo casing sliding into position.

"You succeeded in your mission," he said. "Now I need to succeed in mine."

With all his might he shoved at the heavy beam, but it wouldn't budge. He tried again, harder, but for all his effort it moved only a few centimeters. "Come on," he said to himself. "I'm a Talaxian with 'dense musculature' as Seven once said. I've got to be able to do this!"

He fell back, panting from his exertions, and then saw a smaller piece of debris lying nearby. He eased one end under the beam, and pushed down. The lever worked; the beam lifted, and Neelix was able to drag Tuvok out by his boots.

Neelix bent down, draped one of Tuvok's arms around his neck and attempted to pull him to his feet. The Vulcan was still unconscious; plus, he was heavier than Neelix had expected. He wasn't able to lift him, but by a combination of pushing and dragging he was able to gradually get him back into the corridor.

Neelix paused, breathing heavily. His throat felt raw, and his eyes were watering. Squinting down at his hands, he saw they were red and shiny-looking. He reached up to tap his communicator. "Neelix to Sickbay!"

There was no response. Communications must be down.

He peered into Tuvok's face, unsure of what to do next. Tuvok was still unconscious, which Neelix reflected, was probably for the best considering how extensive his injuries were. Tuvok's uniform was in tatters, parts of it burned away completely. The exposed flesh was an angry-looking dark green. Neelix fought down a wave of nausea.

He tried his comm badge again, and once again, there was no response.

Sickbay was on deck 5. Neelix slumped wearily against the cover of the Jefferies Tube, and wondered how in the world he'd be able to get Tuvok there, alone and unaided.

Act V

Janeway stared at the comm, willing it to come to life. "Tuvok, do you read me?"

"There's too much interference," Kim said. "Communications are still down."

"Status of torpedo launchers?"

"Still inoperative," said Ayala, who had taken over the Tactical station as soon as Tuvok had left the bridge.

"I want to know the instant they're back up," Janeway said. She reminded herself to be patient. One good thing at least-there were no Collective vessels in their immediate vicinity.

Suddenly, the bridge shook again, much harder than it had previously. "What the hell was that?" she said, fighting to maintain her seat.

"We're being fired upon," Ayala said, though that was patently obvious.

"By whom?" Chakotay asked sharply.

"The shot came from right off our port bow...it's one of the Alliance ships," said Ayala, disbelief in his voice. "Whoever they are, they knew the exact frequency of the shield harmonics to hit."

Chakotay called up the sensor data, and stared in disbelief. "Spirits, it's the Trefla."

"Open a channel," Janeway said. She stood up, fists resting on her hips. "Sakat, what in the name of the Great Bird do you think you're doing?"

But the visage that appeared was not the one they had expected to see. "Sorry, Captain," said the tall orange-skinned man facing them, "but that Vulcan fool Sakat is no longer in command here. I am now the leader."

"Nelem!" said Chakotay, recognizing him as one of Cretia's followers. He'd thought all of them had been apprehended after the attempt to take Voyager had failed. "Are you crazy? We're in the middle of a battle!"

"Yes, but not the one you think."

"You're mad," Janeway said. "We're in the midst of a life and death struggle-"

"No, I'm a lot saner than you think," Nelem interrupted, with a malicious smile. "What do I and my followers care about the fate of the Borg Collective? You're a fool, Janeway, for getting involved, but it's fortunate for me that you did. I'm prepared to make you an offer-surrender your ship to me."

"The answer is no."

Nelem's smirk grew more pronounced. "Voyager is more valuable to me whole, but make no mistake, Captain-I won't hesitate to destroy you if need be. Yes, I want your technology, but revenge-for what you did to me-has its rewards as well."

"The Trefla is powering weapons once again," Ayala said. Voyager rocked under the impact.

No weapons, Janeway thought grimly. No warp drive. Nothing left in the bag of tricks. There was no way in hell they were going to get out of this one.

A sudden flash on the screen made her start in surprise. A phaser blast, fired by a ship newly arrived on the scene, had caught the Trefla broadside. Several more volleys followed, until the Trefla was completely destroyed.

Janeway let out her breath explosively. "Thank you, Korok."

On the bridge of the Taj, Korok sat and considered his options. The battle was not going well. With each passing moment, the chances of success seemed even more remote. The center line was showing signs of caving in. Very soon, the Queen would take advantage of that weakness, and move in for the kill.

"But why hasn't she done so already?" he wondered aloud.

Roju looked up from the gunner's station. "General?"

"The Borg Queen. She has us by the throat-why hasn't she moved in to make the kill yet?"

"Perhaps her grasp is less sure than we have been led to believe."

"Of all the foolish-" suddenly Korok broke off. He remembered the reports from Voyager, about the Borg raid on their ship months ago. It had been carried out by specially modified drones, ones with amplified connections to the Queen's consciousness. While providing her with drones rendered incorruptible and more powerful than ever, it had nonetheless overtaxed her resources, and hampered her overall responsiveness. Could the same thing be happening now?

His mind raced further. Why not? The Borg making up the Collective forces were a diverse group, ranging from ordinary drones whose links had not been severed, to renegades who had been freed months earlier and yet by means of bribery or threats, had been persuaded to fight for the their former master. Added to the pressure created by the existence of the special drones, and it was entirely possible the Queen's resources were stretched too thin, and hampered her in battle.

"Send a message to Janeway," Korok said to his communications officer. "Tell her to prepare to launch her nanovirus attack on the Queen's ship immediately. We'll be right behind her."