Star Trek: Earth Strike
Episode 9: The Tractor Factor
�Not quite yet, Mr Worf,� Picard admonished the excited Klingon. Though in most instances Worf maintained an enviable dignity, on occasion, when the drums of war beat forth, his blood quickened. �I do not feel that we have yet exhausted all our options.�
�Indeed,� Spock agreed, �as the Enterprise represents the largest part of the Earth�s available defence at this time it would be unwise to invite our own destruction with no assurance of ultimate victory.�
Worf panted as he looked from his Captain to the Vulcan Ambassador and back again. �Aye...aye, Sir.� He said with some effort, regaining his self control.
�Sir,� said Data, distracting Picard�s regard of the Klingon. �I am picking up life signs from several hundred thousand Borg drones adrift in space or clinging to wreckage. Should I initiate rescue operations?�
�Ah,� replied Picard, his eyes narrowing, �let�s not be too hasty, Mr Data; surely there must be some board or committee that we should consult with first?�
�I do believe the situation would fall within the purview of the Starfleet Alien Affairs Commission Sub-Committee on Military Personnel Refugee Status.�
�Well then; log a request for guidance in this matter to be transmitted to the...ah...sub-committee as soon as feasible.�
�Sir; while Drones are capable of surviving for limited periods in open vacuum, current knowledge suggests that this would only be a short term ability.�
�Proper channels are there for a reason, Mr Data.� Picard said coldly.
�It is unlikely that by the time that the sub-committee has deliberated...�
�He�s knows Data!� Ensign J�Fwaal stage whispered, interrupting the android, �he knows.�
Picard pretended he hadn�t heard the young Breen�s advice to Data even while he reflected on how fortuitous it was that Frosty and Data had hit it off so well. Initially when the Frosty had come aboard he was subject to some resentment. The Federation had at the time been at war with the Dominion and the Breen Oligarchy had joined with the Founders in a coalition. When Frosty had first entered Starfleet Academy, of course, no one could have known that such a sequence of events was likely to take place.
Data and Geordi had become involved in Frosty�s case through developing modifications to both the universal translator - which had always had trouble with the Breen language - and with Frosty�s environment suit, which he was forced to wear at all times outside his quarters to maintain the low body temperature he required in order to survive. Data and the young ensign had hit it off well and Picard had thought it a good idea to foster the relationship. Having the obvious support of such a senior officer had quickly put paid to the poor treatment J�Fwaal was getting from his peers. Now the young Breen spent most of his duty shifts at the auxiliary operations console, observing the android�s performance. On some occasions Data, too, benefited from the pairing; as just now when Frosty had seen through to an underlying truth that had eluded the android.
Ever since he had been virtually forced to accept Wesley onto his bridge Picard had - despite some resistance on his own part - found it an advantage to have one or more less experienced crew-members in the command area. In answering their questions the restatement of various situations at hand often shed new light on the problems facing them, leading them to solutions not yet considered.
�Shirty dirty.� A dull voice at Picards elbow said.
�Not now.� Picard said without looking.
�Shirty dirty!� The voice insisted. Picard looked around this time to see the Pakled Bridge Aide standing there holding out folded clean tunic to him. The Captain looked down and realised his own tunic was still caked with the drying bodily fluids of the alien Data had been forced to kill some time before. He grimaced, suddenly disgusted and quickly stripped the tunic off, taking the replacement from the Pakled and donning it.
When Starfleet had first begun accepting Pakled personnel aboard their Starships Picard had been against it, considering that their limited mental abilities would prove too much of a liability. The policy had been publicly presented as an example of the inclusive rather than exclusive nature of the Federation and it�s arm, Starfleet. It was an open secret, however, that the policy had been almost forced upon the organisation by the heavy casualties sustained in the war. Picard now admitted, however, that when presented with simple tasks within their capacity to understand, such as cleaning, or fetch and carry, they did a fine job. Some even, such as now, showed a limited amount of initiative.
�Thank you, Mongo.� Picard said to the Pakled, handing him his old tunic, �Please take this to Dr Crusher - perhaps the biological residue may...� he trailed off, seeing the blank stare from Mongo. �Take dirty shirt to Sickbay, say I sent you. And Mongo...remind me later to issue you with a candy voucher.� One lesson had been learnt early concerning the Pakled personnel; do NOT give them unrestricted access to the food replicators.
�Mongo like candy!� The Pakled said, beaming, before shuffling off towards the turbolift.
�Sir,� asked Lieutenant Hawke, �is anything going to happen in this episode?�
�Might I remind you, Mr Hawke,� Picard said sternly, �on this ship we do not refer to the fictional nature of our reality.�
�Nevertheless,� Spock said, �he does have a point; this is supposed to be an adventure serial; if some events of an exciting nature do not take place soon we may be in danger of losing our readership.�
�Point taken, Ambassador,� Picard said, �however, being self-referential in this manner is unlikely to...�
�Captain!� Data said, interrupting his commanding officer. �I think we have a problem.�
�What is it Data?�
�I have extrapolated the course of the corner of the Borg �supercube� that was cut from the main body of the vessel. The �corner� will shortly enter Earth�s atmosphere, leading to an inevitable planetfall. While the fragments of the other vessels that have been destroyed in orbit have been small enough that they would most likely burn up on re-entry, the
�corner� is over a kilometre long on it�s shortest axis. It would undoubtedly cause considerable devastation if it were allowed to impact.�
�What is the status of the Species 8472 Fleet?�
�They appear to be quiescent at the moment.�
�Any idea why?�
�I would surmise that they are either conducting repairs or formulating strategy. Without more data it is impossible to be certain.� Spock said.
�Very well. Mr Hawke, it seems as if you may get the action you were looking for. Lay in a course to take us within tractor beam range of the cube fragment and engage.�
�Aye aye Sir,� the helmsman said.
�That�s an awfully big lump o� metal.� Lieutenant Patterson said from one of the engineering relay stations at the back of the bridge.
�Yes, Mr Patterson?� Picard asked the Arachnoid crewman.
�Well, what I mean tae say,� replied Patterson, leaning on a console with two of his hands and gesturing with two more, �is that there�s nae guarantee that our tractor beam generators�ll be able to shift a mass o� that size.�
"I see what you mean.� Picard said thoughtfully. �Mr Worf, are there any other ships in the flotilla that could help us in this matter?�
�The only other vessels that survived our initial encounter with the Species 8472 fleet with tractor beam generators of sufficient power to be of assistance are the two Stardock Tugs, Dotty and Daisy.� The Klingon informed Picard.
�Hail them and ask them to rendezvous with us.�
The Earth grew rapidly in the main viewscreen as they approached. A small white circle surrounded the position of the supercube fragment. On closer approach the circle became superfluous as the size of the fragment became clear.
�Lock on tractor beam.� Picard ordered.
A blue beam of gravitons shot from the Enterprise�s generators, linking the Starship with the immense piece of Borg technology.
�We are altering the course of the fragment Captain, but not by enough; it will enter the Earth�s atmosphere in 10 minutes.� Data said.
"Picard to engineering,� said the Captain, �can you boost the tractor beam effect Geordi?�
�I�ll try,� Commander LaForge�s voice replied, but I�ve got to tell you, the coils are overheating; I don�t know if they�ll be able to take it. What are you trying to move up there? The Moon?�
�I�ll explain later Mr LaForge, but for now I want all the power you can give me.�
�Understood, LaForge out.�
The beam intensified and the bridgecrew could feel the trembling of the deck as the ship�s systems sought to alter the course of the huge mass.
Data grimaced. �Still not enough.�
�Where are those tugs, Mr Worf?� Picard asked.
�I have been in contact with the Dotty and the Daisy,� Worf said, �their respective commanders have informed me that their drives are limited to 0.01 impulse and are still on their way from our initial encounter with the alien fleet to our regrouping position at Lagrange Two.�
Picard clenched his fist in frustration. Of course, as Stardock service vehicles the tugs would have no need of either warp or high impulse drives. �Well, we�ll just have to do as best we can without them. Mr LaForge, more power.�
�I�ll try tying in the emergency power Captain� Geordi said.
�Emergency power engaged.� The measured voice of the ship's computer said a moment later. The beam intensified further and the trembling of the deck became a shuddering as the ship�s systems strained themselves. Suddenly a shower of sparks burst from one of the consoles at the rear of the bridge causing Lieutenant Patterson to jump back in alarm, flapping his lower pair of hands. At the same moment the ship jerked and the tractor beam flared then disappeared.
�Engineering report!� Picard ordered.
�The generators have had it Captain,� LaForge replied.
�How long to repair them Geordi?�
�The whole coil assembly has fractured, it�ll need complete rebuilding; at least 6 hours�
�Understood. Picard out. Did we do enough Data?�
�No sir,� the android replied. �The cube fragment will enter the Earth�s atmosphere in 8 minutes.�
�Captain Picard,� Spock said urgently, �if we were to rendezvous with the tugs and allow them to lock on to us with their tractor beams we could then tow them to within working distance of the cube fragment.�
�Perhaps we could alter the fragment�s course with a controlled detonation of quantum torpedoes.� Worf suggested.
�It would take the majority of our quantum torpedo arsenal to have such an effect.� Informed Data.
�I think we�ll go with Ambassador Spock�s plan,� Picard said decisively, �Mr Hawke...�
�Intercept course plotted and laid in Captain,� Hawke said, �three minutes to the tugs.�
�Engage.�
The Earth rapidly fell away as the Enterprise sought out the tiny service vehicles. Little more than shuttle sized cabins equipped with clamping arms and oversized thrusters and tractor emitters, the tugs were squat and ugly and soon appeared and grew on the Enterprise�s viewscreen.
�Full stop,� ordered Picard, �hail the tug�s pilots and ask them to disengage their thrusters and lock on to us with their tractor beams, Mr Worf.� The Klingon did as he was bid and within a minute twin beams of energy shot from the two tugs to link them to the Enterprise�s hull. The Starship�s immense mass cancelled out the tug's momentum to bring the three vessels to a dead stop relative to each other.
�Mr Hawke, bring us about and head back to the supercube fragment, best speed.�
�Aye aye Sir.� The helmsman�s hands moved on the console before him and the ship began to turn. Suddenly the lights on the bridge flickered and the deck jerked beneath them. Simultaneously the tractor beams from the two tugs winked off.
�We�ve lost impulse power.� Hawke said.
�The Enterprise appears to be adrift.� Data stated.
�Engineering; report!� Demanded Picard.
�All main systems just went down, power levels are dropping rapidly!� LaForge�s voice replied instantly. �Both the fusion and anti-matter reactors have gone off-line!�
�The Species 8472 fleet seems to be emitting some kind of dampening field that is suppressing certain subatomic properties.� Spock said without looking around from his science station.
�They�re on the move...� Frosty observed. Taking the young ensign�s cue Data refocused the viewscreen on the main body of the alien fleet which was positioned between the Earth and the Moon, though much closer to the satellite than her primary. The smaller ships had assumed a cup like formation around the larger vessels with the open end of the cup facing the Earth. The bigger ships slowly wheeled into a circular pattern, the prow of each facing the Earth.
The alien ships ceased to move for a moment and Picard tore his attention away from them with an effort. �Can you block the effects of the dampening field with our shields?� He asked Data
�I am attempting to do just that,� the android said, �I am, however, experiencing little - or to be more accurate, no - success. I have no idea how they are creating the dampening field.�
�What is our tactical status Mr Worf?�
�Shields and weapons systems are fully functional.� Worf said.
�Well, that�s something.�
" We are, however, well out of range of the alien fleet.� The klingon went on, the regret palpable in his voice.
�The cube fragment will enter the Earth�s atmosphere in two minutes.� Data said.
�Point of impact?� Picard asked.
�Impossible to be certain, but I estimate that it will make landfall somewhere in western Europe.�
�Options, Gentlemen?� Picard asked of his bridgecrew. He got no reply as his officers looked at each other uncertainly.
The moment dragged on until Data spoke up. �I am reading a massive energy build up in the alien ships.� The Enterprise�s second officer said. As soon as he had said it the energy build up became self evident as eight blinding beams shot out perpendicularly from the prows of the large alien vessels to meet and form a great ball of energy in the center. From this central star burst a combined beam of hellish force that struck directly at the Cradle of Humanity.
�The cube fragment has entered Earth�s atmosphere.� Data informed the bridge.
