By Obe
Mossop and Phillip Wright
This story takes place after Jem'Hadar and Alpha
Quadrant Part II
In a distant corner of the Federation, devoid of the war
with the Dominion as well as the new threat that appeared at Deep Space Nine seeking to
cause havoc and destruction, a small vessel jumps out of hyperspace, its black rippling skin
camouflaging it with darkness of the space behind. It then begins scanning the area for any
contacts or traces. The fleet would be through shortly and this scout was to ensure they
could pass through the area with little to no danger. The small black vessel ceases motion
and starts to hover in position. Its sensors suddenly pick up a small fleet of ships;
identical to that of the threat they now fight. The scout ceases its scanning and hones in
on the ships
With the battle at Deep Space Nine over Starfleet, seeing the
threat of this new encounter has now decided to take a defensive posture against the enemy
advance. The Starfleet ships long-range sensors receive a Borg Cube on an intercept course
for Earth. This was a third attempt to assimilate the billions upon Paradise. The small
fleet of four Starfleet Ships had gathered to make a stand, to draw the line before it
reaches Federation controlled space as it heads for Earth. The USS Carthage under the
command of Admiral Morris had assumed command of the fleet as the large cubical beast
approaches their position.
Status, Lieutenant commander the admiral asked
for an update, impatiently awaiting for the Cube to arrive, so they may make their stand
here.
All systems fully operational, shields are up and all weapons
standing by." The tactical officer stood overhead from the Admiral's chair, constantly
running diagnostics on the tactical systems, not wishing to be caught with a systems failure
as Borg weaponry blazes from every orifice.
"Good, are the modifications
online as I instructed you?" The admiral enquired into this, hoping that the tiny project
that he had been heading within R&D was successful, through all the computer simulations
that had been run on it before the proto-type was constructed, he hoped it would be, in real
combat.
"EM Pulse torpedoes are online and fully operational." The officer
reported. The new weapon was online and ready to combat the Borg.
"Excellent! I hope that the Electro Magnetic Pulse Torpedoes are enough to deal
sufficient damage to a Borg cube. They are designed to disable anything with an electronic
component. If they work they should cripple the Borg, leaving them defenseless. The admiral
arose from his chair to explain the specifics of the new weapon in the Carthage's arsenal
as well as the other three ships, that were to provide the overall firepower if the test
deemed unsuccessful and they would find themselves up against a fully operational Borg
cube.
"At our mercy, sir." The officer said displaying her comic wit even
through the dangerous mission that they were to undertake that could send them all to their
deaths if wasn't successful.
"You ever heard of a Borg show mercy,
Lieutenant Commander." The admiral suppressed his laughter at the situation and maintained a
hard posture. Many of his friends had died at Wolf 359, when the Borg first attempted their
attack on Earth and he wanted them to pay dearly for what they had done.
"No, sir." She returned to her console that as soon as her eyes lowered to the
display, it sprung to life."
"Sir, Picking up a transwarp signature. Here
they come." She said as the sensors picked up the trace of the transwarp conduit that
formed ahead of their position.
"Red Alert, all crew to battle stations.
Signal the fleet." The admiral ordered as he sat back down in his seat with force as he
prepared for the battle against the Borg and the ultimate test of his weapon that hopefully
would be the answer to repelling the determinisation of the Borg collective.
The massive cube phased from the transwarp conduit and edged toward the lowly
Starfleet ships, bringing with it the certain death and destruction.
"All
ships, fire at will!" The admiral ordered as the fleet opened fire with a volley of photon
torpedoes. White flashes from the modified torpedoes impacted on the hull of the
cube.
"EM Torpedo detonation confirmed, reading zero energy output in that
section." She read out from the sensor display with hope and glee now rising in her voice
as the weapon proved successful.
Then the Borg fought back, deadly beams rapidly
sprouted from every orifice in an array of green color at the Starfleet Ships, their shields
repelling the majority of damage.
"Damage report" Admiral Morris ordered as
he felt the Intrepid class ship shake from the weapon impact, the Carthage swept past the
bulk of the cube, a phaser burst struck at the hull.
"Shields down to
sixty-three percent, hull fractures detected between decks three and nine" The lieutenant
reported, the hope and glee now gone from her voice as the Borg retaliated to the Starfleet
ship's puny attack.
"Damn, how much damage did we cause?" He said as he
continued to watch the action outside as the Carthage made several hit and run passes,
opening fire with a mixture of torpedoes and phaser fire that seemed to do very
little.
"Minimal damage, torpedoes are still operational but were not
causing enough damage. It won't be long until the Borg adapt, sir." She said with heavy
concern as though the new weapon worked, it didn't to the high standard that everyone had
hoped for as the Borg were now beating them back.
The admiral watched as the Galaxy
class cruiser, Regal initiated a similar hit and run assault as it passed on full impulse,
throwing everything it had, torpedo after torpedo, phaser blast after phaser blast, but it
wasnt enough to cause damage to call it significant. A beam from the cube suddenly struck
at the cruisers port nacelle, ripping it from the support structure. The Regal lost
navigation control as it dove towards the side of the cube.
"Bridge to
transporter room, beam the crew aboard" Admiral Morris ordered with extreme swiftness and
pace to his voice as he watched the Galaxy impact on the hull in a large fireball, leaving a
significant chunk missing from the cube.
"Survivors? he said very grimly as
over a thousand lives were lost in that single explosion. So many in those very few seconds
was very hard to believe.
None that I can detect, if there are any, quite
soon they will be Borg anyway the operations officer replied after scanning what was left
of the Regal, the surviving pieces of the Galaxy class starship now drifted through space,
nothing more now than garbage.
Sir, I'm reading a quantum singularity
forming 10,000 kilometers from our location the tactical officer reported with extreme
surprise and of what she could not believe.
Why? How? Admiral Morris now
shared the same surprise, a little puzzled by the turn of events now occurring and the
inbound arrival that would be seen there.
I am unsure, wait there are
multiple ships emerging from the singularity, they're opening fire She shouted from her
console as she kept a close eye on the new contacts.
Evasive maneuvers.
The admiral shouted his swift order and the Carthage began to maneuver away from the cube
with incredible speed.
Sir, They're not firing on us. Theyre attacking
the Borg..." A complete shock filled the Lieutenant Commander's face at what she now read
from her sensor readings. It was nearly enough for her to faint right on the spot.
"Sir, you should see this." She then touched a few of the buttons on her console
that caused the view screen to flicker. The blackness of space was now replaced by the
playback entry. Morris arose from his seat, taking a few steps closer towards the image,
watching as the strange green ships poured from the vortex and instantly opened fire with
firepower that he could imagine. A second later he was shocked as the weapon ripped through
the Borg cube's interior and exploded a second later.
Hail them he said
overjoyed and relieved as he returned to his seat, preparing to speak with those that had
saved them from certain destruction or assimilation.
This is Admiral Duncan
Morris of the Federation Starship, Carthage to unknown vessels, whoever you are, we thank
you for your help. He dictated quite proudly in this first contact situation, very pleased
that these ships had arrived to help, destroying the Borg cube with one single
burst.
"Sir, picking up another set of readings coming through the vortex."
The Tactical officer paused as further she couldn't believe what now she was reading on her
display.
"Sir, they're Dominion ships." The Admiral now couldn't believe
what he was now hearing. That those who in the past months have tried to eradicate them had
saved them.
You dont know us? The image of a Vorta male appeared on the
screen, the visor plate covering one eye as he greeted them in a cheerful fashion.
Those were your ships? Morris asked towards the Vorta that instantly he found
distasteful, especially at the cheeriness in his voice.
No, I'm afraid that
those particular ships belong to. our friends. Fortunate for us they believe your enemy
is ours! The screen suddenly blinked off as the transmission ended, on the view screen
Duncan watched with low awe at the hundreds of ships in the distance that still were pouring
from bright vortex.
Sir, fleet is advancing on our position. The helmsman
reported, not even needing the help from the sensors to know of their movements. As he
watched as the green ships, the ones that had destroyed the Borg cube with one swift stroke,
now advanced ahead of the Dominion fleet that sat waiting in the background.
Get us out of here, full impulse Morris ordered again with the same swiftness that
he had displayed earlier. He was glad that they were able to make a stand against the Borg
cube with the help of the Dominion and they're new friends, but now they're new friends
were coming after them.
Aye sir The helmsman said as he worked quickly at
his controls. Duncan watched as the stars rolled and shifted as the Carthage maneuvered
around and began to run. The small Miranda class ship followed in kind, the two surviving
vessels in the Borg conflict from the four that they arrived in. Unfortunately, if they
were to retreat back to Federation space they would have to go straight through the Dominion
fleet, which was one hell of a of a way to go, but it was there only choice.
At that
point, the Carthage began to slow turning to face the overwhelming odds ahead that in all
cases were the only way out. The Intrepid class ship with a full burst of impulse power,
sped towards the large fleet ahead. The green ships and JemHadar fighter blocked their
path and again it was the only way past.
The bridge rocked as the shields
were struck as the JemHadar ships began to open fire. Their beams repeatedly hitting the
hull with great intensity. A console exploded to the Admiral's right and a body hit the
floor below. The Carthage although taking a beating still pressed on. Duncan noticed as
the Madagascar sped slightly ahead, dodging and weaving through the mass of JemHadar
fighters as well as the green ships. It didn't get far until it exploded, struck
simultaneously by three separate bursts from the JemHadar. The Carthage was now alone as
they continued to speed through the onslaught. The ship shuddered violently again as a
burst from one of the green ships narrowly missed the Carthage by a bare meter as it
continued on. Another burst from the JemHadar also missed as Duncan could now see the
blank space on the horizon past the large Dominion battle cruisers. Duncan was forced to
the floor as another burst pierced the shields and impacted on the hull. The Carthage now
in clear space prepared for warp speed, the nacelles in perfect symmetry raised above the
star drive section and in bare seconds the Carthage sped from the battleground, disappearing
in a flash of light as they were now on their way back home, now safe from the onslaught
that just by looking at it was far more dangerous than the Borg ever were. Now was a time
to worry...
The small scout ship still hovered out of reach of the
new ships that had poured onto the battleground, undetected the Shadow scout now began to
move, phasing out of normal space in seconds of it's mobility. The scout ship now traveled
through the bright red of hyperspace, passing by the various tachyon eddies and
gravitational shifts as it headed towards its destination with the information aboard that
would prove invaluable to the fleet. Hours later, the small scout ship shimmered from
hyperspace, heading to join with their allies as it sped into the thickness of the large
fleet that hung in space as if waiting for something...
Meanwhile on the Minbari
Battle cruiser Trion, the flagship of this combined fleet. Delenn is explained of the new
attack orders to the war council and the various Shai Alyts that commanded ships all across
the vast fleet. Sheridan lurked nearby at times expressing his own thoughts and strategies
to what was to come. Lennier suddenly rushed in from the open corridor, almost out of
breath as he approached Delenn and Sheridan.
My apologies, but the scout
ship that was assigned to scan a sector nearby just arrived back with important
information. I think you should see this. The young Minbari said placing the data
crystal onto the small table in front of Sheridan. Picking up with two fingers, Sheridan
placed it gently in the recorder. At the back of the room, a holographic display began to
flow from the ceiling like that of a draping tapestry. The image came into focus and
Sheridan and Delenn along with the entire War council watched the terrible events that had
occurred in that estranged sector of space.
I dont understand, why are
they doing this? Delenn stated after the recording finished and the display
dissipated.
"It seems obvious, to conquer." Sheridan replied to Delenn's
statement, as if he had already an answer before it the recording had even finished. He had
seen so much in his lifetime and also been a part of it, the war with the Minbari, the food
riots on Mars and the Shadow war that had ended with both sides, Shadow and Vorlon agreeing
to work together rather to than to destroy everything they were to protect. A chime
suddenly sounded on a panel close to Delenn, which she answered.
"Message
for Captain Sheridan." The Male voice sounded and Sheridan leaned closer to the panel to
receive the message.
Put it down here Sheridan asked, wondering the nature
of the message in question.
Captain, if you can hear this, our scanners
have picked up a large fleet moving in on our position. They've broken through our
proximity guards and all barrier guards. We are on full alert and the Commander is trying
to organize as many ships as possible for our defense. But if something isn't down in the
next sixteen hours then there will be nothing left here for you to come back to. Sheridan
sighed heavily, as he thought quickly of what to do, the course of action to take.
"Hold on, Lieutenant, help is on the way." Sheridan replied to Corwin as he ended
the transmission and turned to Delenn.
Have the White Star fleet prepared
to leave at once. Delenn stated as the whole party left the large chamber to prepare for
the oncoming battle with the enemy. A war on three fronts was one thing that no one
expected to have happen in a mere month, but it now was real. As Sheridan walked to the
docking bay of the large Minbari cruiser, to rendezvous with a White Star, an old thought
appeared in his head. "Someone had once said, that you cannot fight and win against chaos.
He had already done it once and it seemed though in a miracle of biblical proportions, he
would try and do it again...
TO BE CONTINUED
