Chapter 7 – The Unaffiliated

Chakotay stood on a rise in a flat valley floor, probably of glacial origin. It was mid-morning in early spring at this location on the planet's surface. Forests of evergreens surrounded the fields of rocks and grass, and in the distance snow-capped mountains shown brightly with reflected light. If it was any other time, he'd prefer to linger and take in these grand vistas. Breathe in the clean air. Unfortunately, this was not any other time. There were a few other drones scattered about, having beamed down to the surface to scout out a position to create their settlement. Grenell had been correct in his initial assessment. The planet was perfect. A Minshara Class world with no sentient life, outside the Galactic Plane and well away from other inhabited planets. As for the settlement site, Chakotay was nominally in charge, and decided this was as good a place as any.

"Chakotay to Grenell. We can start beaming down."

"Understood."

Almost immediately, various Borg structures began materializing in front of him. It was decided that the damaged cube was too far gone to be of any use in space. Whole sections were being dismantled and beamed down in full. The maturation chambers, banks of alcoves, the computer core and power systems. Eventually, most everything from the cube would make it to the surface. At some point, the repaired transporters would be sent down. The primary transporter beaming down the backup, and then the backup from the surface beaming down the primary.

Annika and Axum approached. Perhaps it was only in his imagination, but Annika seemed uncomfortable to Chakotay ever since Axum arrived. As for Axum, he hadn't left Annika's side. Almost obsessive in not wanting to let Annika out of his sight.

"I believe it unwise for us to congregate on this one planet," Axum said. "When the Borg come looking for us, it will be far easier for them."

"We're creating a place where we can care for the children," Annika replied. "I'm not leaving here."

Apparently Axum had been trying to persuade Annika to leave. He said as much when he first arrived, but Annika had remained firm. There was a part of Chakotay that hoped he had something to do with her decision to stay, but that might be wishful thinking. She had known Axum for years and Chakotay for just a few days. Still, Axum appeared more flustered than ever.

"You're not serious about maintaining your pregnancy," Axum said, more as a statement and not a question. It seemed disconnected from their previous exchange, although it might simply be the continuation of another thread of an argument that Chakotay hadn't heard.

Annika looked more annoyed now than uncomfortable. "Of course I am. This is my child."

"The Borg forced this pregnancy upon you," Axum countered. "There is no dishonor in ending it."

Perhaps Axum had known Annika for years, but in this respect, Chakotay was certain he knew what was in Annika's heart and she would not be persuaded on this point. Apparently some subjects between the two of them had never come up in Unimatrix Zero.

In a way, Chakotay agreed with Axum's assessment concerning their settling on the planet. It was unclear what the Collective would do once the Splinter was eliminated. He wasn't about to agree with Axum, however, and if this was what Annika wanted, it was what Chakotay intended to do.

In front of them, a hundred or more drones materialized and started looking about. Many others were likely to come as more of the Unaffiliated arrived in system. Some of the smaller spheres were going to land across the valley, but the main settlement and compound was going to be right here. The maturation chambers would be analyzed and those ready would be extracted. The doctors amongst the group were even planning to start removing Borg implants and components from those drones who were ready. Chakotay glanced over to Annika and Axum, still adorned with their full suite of Borg armor, and then down to his own Borg encased body. Chakotay was more than ready for that.

It was time to get organized.

#

"You question my honor!" Korok roared.

"Enough!" Gowron, the Klingon Chancellor of the High Council shouted. The Great Hall of the First City of the Klingon Empire on the planet Kronos became silent. General Martok was holding his bat'leth in front of him ready to fight, and former General Korok, now looking like a Borg drone, had his arms raised ready to fight back. Others in the room were already forming a circle around the pair in anticipation. The ensuing battle may have been entertaining, but too much was at stake. Gowron glared at his assembled council.

Martok was the first to speak. "Chancellor, we have no time for this. Our enemy is the Dominion. The Seventh Fleet was just nearly obliterated. We need to strengthen our forces along the Bajoran frontier. We cannot reallocate our resources based on speculation."

Korok bristled. He seemed ready to fight Martok anyway. "It is not speculation. I know the Borg. I know it is only a matter of time that the Splinter moves on Alpha Quadrant worlds to acquire more drones. Kronos is one of the closer worlds. See how easily my fleet was able to disable the few defenses remaining about the Homeworld."

"We called off our attack," someone else countered. Gowron noticed it was Nortog, the head of in-system defenses. He had been unnaturally quiet, obviously feeling dishonored by Korok's grand entrance.

Korok ignored Nortog's protest. "I came before you here encountering no resistance."

"So, resistance is futile?" Martok mocked.

"No!" Korok shot back. "As we speak, Captain Janeway is before the Federation Council. With the Klingon and Federation fleets combined with those of the Unaffiliated, we will protect our worlds and defeat the Borg."

"And what of the Jem'Hadar and the Dominion? The enemy has the upper hand!" Martok turned to face the Chancellor. "The Dominion has a foothold in the Alpha Quadrant. Our fleet is scattered and our plans are few. Will our enemy just pause their war against us and wait until we are finished with the Borg?"

"We cannot allow the Jem'Hadar or Dominion to be assimilated either," Korok interjected.

"And so we protect them as well!" Martok roared. "This is folly!"

"We can utilize the Unaffiliated Borg fleet to destroy the Jem'Hadar where we can," Korok countered. "There is little choice. The Splinter Mind poses a direct and immediate threat against the Homeworld."

"The Jem'Hadar and Dominion already pose a direct threat! They are at our gates!"

"Do you want to become a Borg drone yourself?"

Gowron raised his hand, and again the Great Hall fell silent. He stared at each of his generals, one by one, and gauged their hearts based on their expression. The weight of the Empire fell on his shoulders. It was a grave time. "I cannot ignore this new threat to the Empire," he finally said. "Contact the Federation Council. We need to coordinate our defensive plans."

Suddenly the door burst open. A lower ranking Klingon officer stepped inside, his eyes wide. "Chancellor, we're getting strange sensor readings from the periphery of our system."

#

The Romulan observer to the Federation Council meeting in the city of Paris on the planet Earth sat up straighter. What had started as the daily update to delegates regarding the Federation's failing war effort against the Dominion had taken a surprising turn. Two minutes ago, someone who appeared to be a Borg drone had materialized next to the Federation President. There was a moment of panic and confusion, but then the two went into a close huddle to presumably discuss something in whispers. The drone was now stepping up to the speaker's platform and was about to address the assembly.

The murmurs stopped immediately when the drone reached the platform. It appeared to be a female, perhaps human, although it was difficult to tell from the Romulan observer's vantage near the back of the chamber.

"Good evening ambassadors and delegates," the drone began. "I am Captain Kathryn Janeway of the Federation starship Voyager."

That was surprising. According to Romulan intelligence, Voyager was lost with all hands in the Bajoran Badlands over four years before. The observer pressed a button on the panel before him to create a translated recording of what Captain Janeway was saying. His superiors in the Romulan Star Empire's Senate would want to have the transcript.

"Four weeks ago, my ship and crew were assimilated by the Borg in the Delta Quadrant. How we got there is another story. What is important is the imminent threat the Borg now poses to the Federation and everyone else in the Alpha Quadrant."

There were now some more murmurs amongst the delegates and the Romulan observer glanced about the room. As if the Dominion War wasn't enough. The Federation and Klingons were losing their war, and the Romulans were staying neutral, positioning themselves to start negotiations with the Dominion. A non-aggression pact.

"A few days ago, a pathogen was released within the Borg Hive Mind. As a result, the Borg has divided into three factions. The original Hive Mind still exists as the Collective along with a Splinter Mind. The Collective is intent on destroying the Splinter in the most expedient manner possible. It is the Splinter, however, we are most concerned with. We speculate they will invade the Alpha Quadrant to expand and acquire new drones as their situation in the Delta Quadrant continues to deteriorate."

The murmurs were now louder. "And who do you represent?" a delegate shouted out. It sounded like Valaris, the Andorian ambassador. The Imperial Guard had dwindled in numbers over the past century until they were but a shadow of their previous strength. The Dominion War, however, had instigated a frenzied build-up of war vessels in the shipyards about Andoria.

"The third faction of the Borg," Janeway responded. "Disconnected from either Mind. The Unaffiliated."

"When do you expect this Splinter Mind to invade?" another delegate asked. This time it was one of the Tellerites. Teller Prime was one of the four founding worlds of the Federation, but like Andoria, had diminished in influence.

"We don't know, but soon," Janeway replied. "As I said, according to our estimates, their situation is becoming desperate."

Now several delegates in the chamber were shouting. Tensions were already high with the ongoing Dominion War. The Federation President stood, his arms raised and shouting trying to restore order. He was moving up to Janeway and then the two of them exchanged some words.

"Order!" the chamber's Sergeant-at-Arms called out. "This chamber will come to order!"

The assembly did became quiet enough to hear the President over the din. "We have just received an urgent communique from Kronos!" he called out. The chamber quieted further. "A Borg fleet has just exited transwarp space in the Kronos system. The Chancellor of the High Council is invoking Chapter Seventeen of the Federation-Klingon Empire's Second Khitomer treaty and requesting our immediate assistance. We are to join the Klingon fleet and Unaffiliated Borg in the defense of Kronos!"

Pandemonium broke out in the chamber. In the next moment, Captain Janeway was gone, presumably beaming back up to her vessel. The President was saying something, but now was unheard over the noise. The Romulan observer turned to his aide sitting beside him. "Get me a secure line to Romulus. I need to talk to the Senate President directly."

#

The Klingon Bird of Prey burst into a fireball as its warp core breached. With the failure of anti-matter containment and the ensuing conversion of matter and anti-matter into gamma-rays, the explosion and radiation burst was intense. Secondary explosions ripped apart the remaining fragments.

"Was the Martok's ship?" Captain Janeway asked.

"I don't believe so," Ayala replied. "I think his group is on the far side of the planet. Tracking multiple incoming targets."

"Fire all weapons," Janeway replied back, returning to her previous thoughts before the destruction of the other ship. "We can't allow any of them to get near the surface and use their transporters."

Around them, the battle raged. The thinned Klingon defense force, most of their heavy cruisers on the front lines of the Dominion War, and the entire Unaffiliated Borg fleet. Still, they were outnumbered two to one. The rest of the Klingon warships and the Federation fleet still several hours away at high warp.

"Perhaps we should send some of our cubes back and shuttle reinforcements here through a trans-warp conduit," Janeway mused. They should have thought of that before leaving Earth.

"Ma'am, I'm detecting another trans-warp conduit!" Marina Jor called out.

"On screen."

Was it the reinforcements they hoped for? She was able to get a signal to Chakotay as they left Earth's system and asked him to send whatever he had. New Unaffiliated ships had been congregating at their base of operations on the edge of the Delta Quadrant.

"I'm detecting thirty-four cubes," Marina said, her voice catching. If they weren't reinforcements, the battle was lost. The new Borg armada exited the transwarp conduit in mass and initiated a scan. Everything seemed to stand still for a moment. A pause in the carnage as the rest waited to find out which side the newcomers belonged to.

"They scanned every ship in the vicinity," Ayala commented. "They're not Unaffiliated."

Suddenly, comm lines were opened. Not only on Janeway's sphere, but to all other vessels and the planet's surface as well.

"We are the Borg. Resistance is futile. Do not initiate hostilities and you will not be fired upon. Coordinate your attacks on vessels closest to the planet."

That was unexpected. Not the typical message you would receive from the Borg. Were they allying themselves with the defenders of Kronos?

"Ma'am, the new Borg armada has opened fire and is engaging only Splinter vessels."

Janeway's question was answered. "They must be from the Collective," she replied. "Do as they suggest and move closer to the planet."

Ayala nodded and carried out her orders.

"Continue jamming transporter frequencies and firing on all Splinter vessels," Janeway ordered, and then added, "Be sure to avoid firing on any of the others from the Collective." Who knew what their true intentions were.

"Understood. I'm getting reports from others in the Unaffiliated fleet and the Klingons. They're asking what they should do."

"Relay to them what I told you. Cooperate with the Collective's Borg armada and do not fire on their vessels."

Around them the battle intensified. The numbers were now more evenly matched. The Unaffiliated and Klingons slowly increased the buffer between Kronos and the attacking Splinter. The Collective's Borg armada encircled Splinter vessels, their shields nearly touching. Multiple cubes from both sides were being destroyed in the conflagration.

"The Splinter is retreating," Marina reported. "Multiple trans-warp conduits forming."

"Stand down weapons," Janeway ordered. "Hold our position close to the planet."

"Incoming transmission from General Korok," Ayala said. "Audio only."

"On speakers."

"Captain! What are you doing? The enemy is before us!"

Indeed, the thirty remaining cubes of the Collective were still in system. Their intention was unknown, but as she watched, she noticed Korok's tactical sphere breaking from the group surrounding Kronos. His intention was clear, to engage those Borg vessels in battle.

"We are the Borg. Resistance is futile. Do not initiate hostilities and you will not be fired upon."

"Captain! Prepare the fleet for battle!"

They couldn't possibly wage a war on two fronts, against the Collective in addition to the Splinter. Three fronts if you included the Dominion who now occupied large swaths of Federation and Empire space. Korok's attack was foolhardy. "Stand down General," Janeway transmitted back. "We need your leadership in defense of the Alpha Quadrant. We cannot afford to antagonize the Collective."

"The Borg have no honor. It is a good day to die! Who will join me into the breach?"

Korok didn't wait for an answer. His sphere opened fire on the nearest cube. The entire Borg armada hadn't taken any evasive maneuvers, and no other vessels in the Klingon and Unaffiliated line had broken formation to join him. A continuous volley of energy lances and weapons fire erupted from the heavily armed tactical sphere. The cube Korok had selected would not survive the onslaught, but in an instant, simultaneous fire from the other twenty-nine Borg ships converged on the sphere's position. There was no possibility of survival. In an instant, it was over. Korok's ship was completely disintegrated.

Again, the Borg vessels remained. Janeway imagined the Hive Mind weighing what to do next. Both lines waited. The minute dragged on and felt like an hour. Finally the comm lines again crackled to life.

"We are the Borg. Resistance is futile. Coordinate your defense and attacks with us, or be destroyed."

With that, trans-warp conduits started forming one by one. In twos and threes, the twenty-nine cubes of the Collective's Borg armada started leaving the Kronos system. In just under a minute, they were all gone.

#

"Mister Paris, what's our status?" Tuvok asked.

"All sections have reported in," Paris replied. "We sustained some casualties, but no fatalities. Trans-warp and the warp drive are coming back online. B'Elanna estimates we'll have full capability in a few minutes."

Tuvok nodded. "What about weapons?"

"Depleted, but recharging. Dalby estimates full capability within the hour."

"See if you can find Captain Janeway's sphere. We need to coordinate our next move."

"Understood."

Tuvok rubbed his chin and glanced about the room. The Voyager crew on his sphere still had all the implants and appendages they had as Borg drones. None of them had regenerated in some time, and he would have to start thinking about establishing some sort of schedule for that. It was possible they would stay this way for an extended period as they defended against the Splinter and whatever came next. It was only a matter of time before the Splinter was defeated and they would have to deal with the greater Borg threat. General Korok had been rash, but his intentions not misplaced. How could the Borg be trusted? It was logical to assume the Collective would eventually turn on the worlds of the Alpha Quadrant to increase their number of drones. A strategy needed to be developed to address this threat. Sooner, rather than later, since the speed of events was increasing exponentially.

"Sir," Paris said, interrupting Tuvok's thoughts. "Multiple subspace signals coming through on Federation channels. Cubes of the Splinter and Collective reported near Andoria, Rigel, Vulcan, Cardassia, and Canes Valles Septum. The Federation fleet is being diverted to multiple defensive positions."

Exponentially indeed. "Maintain battle stations and prepare for trans-warp. And get me Captain Janeway."

#

Author's note: Sorry for the delay in this update. Have been rewatching Star Trek Enterprise. If you're interested in an Archer/T'Pol story... Anyway, hope you're enjoying this story. Please leave a review and let me know what you think.