The Borg Threaten The Enterprise

Star Trek
Resistance is Futile

By: Brad Fore

Based on Star Trek� created by Gene Roddenberry

     Captain�s Log, Stardate 51230.2. We were enroute to Qo�noS, the Klingon Homeworld, for the
annual Intergalactic peace conference, when the most unusual thing happened. When we got there, we
saw a Borg cube in orbit around the planet. We naturally raised the shields, but the Klingons hailed us and
told us that they were under a flag of truce and members of the conference. The conference went
extremely well. The Borg, through their newly appointed queen, brought up many a point of interest. One of
the points the Borg brought up was that of the Dominion war. They promised, to the surprise of the entire
conference, to �aid in the resistance of the Dominion invasion.� How ironic. However, despite many
invitations, the Cardassians did not attend the conference. End of entry.

       The Enterprise E, the fastest ship in the entire fleet, sped along at warp nine-point-five, at her side
was the Borg Cube designated 13295-7 by the Borg Queen. The Enterprise and the cube had been
exchanging information about their travels to lessen the tension between the two denominations. Finally,
after three hours of exchange, the cube went on it�s way, as well as Enterprise. Picard glanced around at
his still-shocked bridge crew. He turned to Commander Riker, �Number One, what do you think of all this?�
       He answered, �Well, I,� he paused, �I don�t know what to think.�
       Picard continued, �What about the rest of you? Troi? Data?�
       Counselor Troi said, �I believe the Queen is sincere, but she is also very mentally disciplined.�
       Picard rubbed his chin, �Are you suggesting that she may be lying?�
       Troi answered, �I would not put it past her. Parts of her mind are clouded, I can�t make them out.�
       Data cut in, �Sir, our past dealings with the Borg indicate that the Borg cannot be trusted. We put
ourselves at risk in dealing with them.�
       Picard stared at the viewscreen, �Yes, Mr. Data. However, we do need their help on defeating the
Dominion. If they are willing to help us, then we must overlook our past. We already know that just one
cube can severely cripple the Federation. Seeing as how the Dominion is comparable in size and power to
the Federation, If the Borg expend all of their power, we could bring down the Dominion for good.�
       Even though Picard was calm, his crew knew how much he despised war, and how much he
wanted to rid the Federation of the Dominion.

       Meanwhile, at Federation Headquarters, Fleet Admiral Cannon sat in his office, when a strange
man in a huge anti-grav suit entered, a phaser in hand. The Admiral reached for the security comm-link,
and saw that it was disabled. The Admiral turned back around to see a green phaser beam coming toward
him. He yelled in horror as the blast caught him in the chest. He then fell limp in his chair. The mysterious
suited man picked up the Admiral, and was caught up in a transporter beam.

       Admiral Daniels stood in front of a large screen, along with the Federation Council, still amazed at
this breech in Federation Security. The Federation President spoke, �Do we have any idea as to where the
intruder beamed to?�
       Admiral Daniels replied, �He transported from the Admiral�s office to transporter room seventeen,
an auxiliary room, then to an auxiliary room on Starbase Two. From there he transported onto what had to
be a cloaked ship in orbit around Earth.�
       The President ordered, �Inform all ships: Yellow Alert!�
       The Admiral pointed to an ensign manning the screen console. The ensign issued Presidential
Order number seventeen-an All Station Yellow Alert. The President looked back to the screen, turned,
and left the room.

       The Enterprise had just left warp near Earth when she got the order for Yellow Alert. The bridge
shifted to yellow running lights as the crew sprang to action. Her shields went up, as well as her phaser
banks. The Enterprise was ready for battle, if necessary. She assumed orbit around the Startfleet
Homeworld, ready for anything. Well, almost anything.

       The mysterious Borg queen paced the floor of the hive in the Borg Cube. She gave the silent
command, decloak! Just as ordered, the Cube de-cloaked near an uninhabited planet. The queen looked
over at Admiral Cannon, who was in a two by two meter force field near the engine core. She snickered,
�Ha. You humans are puny. I put your bodies to the slightest test, and they cripple like a two-hundred year
old Terran dog.� The Admiral knew that �Terran� was the name given to humans by several races outside of
the Federation. He winced at the electric shock that had just pulsed through his body. He had grown to
know that if his mind started to wander, the shock would occur until he brought his mind back to the
present. It had been two days since he was taken from his office in Earth. Escape was impossible,
because if his mind started to wander, he would be shocked. The queen continued, �I have a grand plan for
your pitiful Federation, one that allows me to have it without a single shot.� She laughed wickedly as the
Admiral felt another shock after wondering what the plan was.

       The Enterprise had just left Earth orbit to settle a gang fight near the rings of Saturn. Two
Oberth-class vessels and a handful of shuttles were duking it out over who got the dilithium crystals for
winning a race. The Enterprise got there just in time to see a shuttle go up in flames. She fired a Quantum
torpedo, as a warning shot. It sped out toward one Oberth, who easily dodged it. All of a sudden, all five of
the remaining ships turned on the Enterprise, and fired.
       Picard stood up, �Mr. Daniels, return fire!�
       Admiral Daniels� brother took a deep breath, �Quantum torpedoes away!�
       Picard shot an order to LaForge, �Geordi, evasive, oh-one-six-mark-thirty-three!�
       LaForge carried out the order, with the Enterprise missing a photon torpedo. Picard ordered,
�Phasers, fire!�
       With that order, one ship went dark. Another tried to flee, but was caught in the Enterprise�s tractor
beam. That left only shuttles, which scattered about in a frenzy. Picard turned to Data, �Open a channel to
Starfleet Command. Inform them of their search.� He, of course, was referring to the search for the
shuttles. When Data�s order was carried out, Picard said, �Geordi, set a course for Earth, warp two.�
       Geordi replied, �Aye, sir.� As he carried out his order, He never knew that this command would
lead them to the path of danger...

       The Borg queen smiled wickedly as she gave the order to leave the system. She had just attended
a special treaty-signing session of the Federation Council. It�s purpose was to create a treaty that would
guarantee Borg support in the Federation-Dominion war. What was not known to the Council,
was the fact that the queen had, at least in her mind, sealed the Federation�s doom. But she didn�t know
about the Enterprise�s record for saving the day...

       Picard watched the viewscreen anxiously. He hadn�t set foot on real soil in at least two years.
Although he didn�t generally get cabin fever, he still felt as though he needed some fresh air. He ordered
standard docking procedure, and then said to Riker, �You can finish here, Number One, I�ll be in my
quarters packing.� Even as Riker replied, �Aye, sir,� Picard was already on the turbolift, ready for fresh air.

       Lieutenant Barclay was just finishing up a job given to him in Engineering, when, all of a sudden, he
took a deep breath, and let out a huge �Aachoo!� Geordi LaForge looked over at the noise he just heard,
and said, �Reg, maybe you�d better take a trip to Sickbay, let Dr. Crusher take a look at the reason why you
sneezed.�
       Barclay, although he didn�t see why, answered, �Yes, sir.� He then turned and walked out of
Engineering, in the direction of Sickbay.

       Dr. Crusher was busy at her desk when Lt. Barclay came strolling in. When he had just gotten
inside the door, he took a deep breath, and sneezed. The Doctor gasped, �Lieutenant! Sneezing was
nearly wiped out in the late 2240�s by the cold vaccination. The only reason for sneezing now is dust or
other allergens. Being on a starship, allergens are constantly being removed. Let me examine you.�
       As Dr. Crusher left her office, Barclay sniffed, �That�s exactly the reason why I came to see you.�
       Crusher replied, �Follow me.�

       Dr. Crusher paced the floor anxiously. She was in the Captain�s ready room, waiting for Captain
Picard to come in. Where is he?, she thought anxiously as the door swooshed open, revealing a coughing
Picard. �Ahem, excuse me. Dr. Crusher, you wished to speak with me?,� He gasped for air and let out a
bellowing cough.
     The Doctor replied, �That is exactly the reason that I wanted to see you.�
       Picard looked at her. �What?,� he questioned.
       She replied, �Your coughing. And Lt. Barclay�s sneezing. This starship removes ninety-nine-point-
nine-eight-six percent of all the allergens in the air. The Enterprise has the cleanest air of all the starships
in Starfleet. There should be no reason for your coughing. I recommend that no one leaves the ship. If
what ever this is is contagious, I don�t want another epidemic.� The Doctor had just recently been fighting
the deadly Tolarian cough that had spread to several Federation colonies.
      �Very well, Doctor,� Picard said, sliding the phrase into a wheezing cough.       Picard and Crusher left the room, both headed for sickbay.

     Ship�s Log, Stardate 51468.98. Acting Captain Riker reporting. The Enterprise has been infested
with some kind of airborne virus. We believe it has spread to Starfleet Headquarters. Although our
communications are not functioning properly due to the virus, we got a faint message from Starfleet. The
person speaking was obviously a cadet, and in the background, we heard coughing and sneezing. We are
also experiencing other technical problems in the holodeck areas. Dr. Crusher theorizes it is connected to
the viral problems. Geordi confers. Wait, Riker to Engineering, could someone tell me why the lights went
out? LaForge here. It seems to be everywhere. Restoring emergency power, now! There, that should do it. Nothing�s happening, Geordi. Commander, we have a problem down here. The warp engines have just engaged. I have no idea of our heading, and the sensors are temporarily off-line. Geordi, could you launch a probe? I could, but the ship couldn�t read what it sent back. All right. I�ll be right there. Computer, transport emergency flashlight to the Captain�s ready room. Oops, end of log entry.

       Acting Captain Riker took one look at the newly-restored sensor readout, and said, �We�re in a lot
of trouble.�
       Geordi LaForge replied, �Not really, sir. The Borg are in the process of signing a treaty with the
Federation.�
       Riker�s face relaxed, �But you still haven�t explained to me why the warp engines decided they
would go for a joy ride.�
       Data, who was among them, asked, �Inquiry, sir: �joy ride�?�
       Riker gave Geordi a faint smile, �A trip that has no purpose, like a Sunday drive.�
       Data replied, �Ah. Inquiry, sir: Sunday drive�?�
       Riker took a shallow breath, �Ah, forget it.�
       Data persisted, �But I wish to know.�
       Geordi, who was trying to hide a smile by glancing around, happened to notice a peculiar looking
mechanism attached to the warp core. As Riker explained �Sunday drives� to Data, LaForge walked over to
the warp core, and removed the mechanism, which was attached by magnetic repulsors. He studied it
closely, and ran over to commander Riker. �I don�t think it�s a Sunday drive,� he said.
       Riker asked, �What do you mean?� He noticed the mechanism Geordi had in his hand, �What is
that?�
       LaForge replied, �That, is a Borg warp activator, along with a viral generator. We are in trouble.�

       Dr. Crusher finished her examination of the mechanism, and reported, �Definitely Borg. And the
virus it generates matches the one found in the Captain and Barclay. I have deactivated it.�
       Captain Picard, who was in a nearby Sickbay bed, said hoarsely, �Why not simply change course?�
       Geordi replied, �When we engaged, we lost control of the warp core, and have not been able to get
it back. We also have no communications, no control of the Shuttlebay, and no transporters. To be blunt,
sir, we�re stuck.�
       Dr. Crusher said, �There is good news. The virus in the Captain and Barclay�s bodies is not
concentrated enough to create an anti-virus. But the concentration in the viral generator is.�
       Picard asked, �So you can find a cure?�
       Crusher replied, �Yes, but it�ll take time.�
       Riker touched his comm-badge, �Riker to Bridge. ETA to Borg space.�
       Counselor Troi replied, �Twenty-three hours, eighteen minutes.�
       Riker said, �Thanks. Riker out.�
       Dr. Crusher cut in, �It�ll take me at least a day to grow an anti-virus large enough to be tested.�
       Riker ordered, �Well then, get to it. Oh, Doctor, is there any threat of the virus spreading?�
       Dr. Crusher replied, �Not now. The Captain and Lt. Barclay are under forcefields. Geordi, I need to
de-conaminate your body before you can join the ship�s population.�
       Geordi turned to the bed behind him and sat down as Riker and Data left Sickbay for the bridge.

       The Borg queen smiled. She knew that the Enterprise would be her�s within the hour. She looked
down to the now-kneeling Admiral Cannon. She snickered, �Little do you know of your Federation now.
The entire Federation is being overwhelmed with an incurable epidemic. The only way to stop it is to get
my viral generator. To add to their suffering, within the hour, I will unleash their most powerful ship, the
Enterprise, on the Federation core. What a shock it will be to see their most trusted Captain, Picard, to turn
on them in favor of the race he hates the most. And another shock will be for them to see you alive in a
message I am sending to them now. It�s origin is this barren planet, equipped with ten million Borg lifesign
readouts. My cube, along with two others, will de-cloak right behind the fleet that will surely come, and
blow them out of the stars! Am I right, my love?�
       The Admiral, despite all he had been through, had a puzzled look on his face. Suddenly, out of the
tubing on the wall, came the figure of a man. The Admiral recognized him instantly. He said, �Lt. Hawk?
But how? All of the Borg were deactivated when the queen died.�
       Lt. Hawk answered, �I am Tygonus of Borg. My human counterpart is no more. When I was
transferred to the Borg collective on the ship known as Enterprise, I was killed by the Klingon, Worf. But
the Hive revived me, for I was to be the future King of the Borg. When the queen realized she was loosing,
she transported me to the surface, and I lived on an island for hundreds of years. When the Borg made
their first attempt to defeat the Federation, a few Borg escaped in a shuttle, found me, and we returned
home. I am now beside the new Borg queen. She is my mate. And you, are useless.�
       Admiral Cannon whispered, �Are you getting this?�

       Acting Captain Riker replied to the message, �Yes, Admiral, all of it.�
       A faint, staticy voice replied, �Good, Enterprise. I�ll try to hold out as long as I...Wait! NO! Riker, you have to get off course. If the
Borg get hold of the Enterprise...�The Bridge crew heard the high-pitched whine of a phaser. �Aaaaaaaaaaa!�
       Riker shouted, �Can you hear me, Admiral?..........Admiral Cannon, respond, please!�
       Data cut in, �Sir, there are no longer any human lifesigns coming form the cube.�
       Riker turned to the helmsman, �Mr. Sulu, report to engineering, and tell Geordi to come up with a
way to get us off this course.�
       Lt. Greg Sulu replied, �Aye, sir.�
       As Riker watched him walk out, he recalled that Lt. Sulu was the great-grandson of Hikaru Sulu,
the helmsman of the original Enterprise, commanded by Captain James Kirk. He recalled Captain Kirk�s
now famous words, �It just isn�t the Enterprise without a Sulu at the helm,� and smiled at the Lt. who turned
around as the turbolift doors swooshed closed.

       Geordi LaForge was busy under a console, trying to override the engine�s power supply, when an
idea came to mind that was sure to work. He slid out from under the console, then rushed to the Bridge, a
padd in his hand.

       Captain Picard, despite his illness, had returned to the Bridge. He had already reassured his crew
that Dr. Crusher had found a way to keep others from contracting the virus, but she hadn�t found a cure yet.
All of a sudden, the turbolift doors swooshed open, revealing a panting Geordi LaForge. Picard spoke,
�What is the meaning of this? Shouldn�t you be in Engineering, figuring out a way to stop this ship?�
       Geordi replied, �I think I already have, sir. I have an idea that is almost fool-proof.�
       Picard ordered, �Well, let�s hear it.�

       The Enterprise cruised along at warp factor nine-point-six. She slowed to a crawl as a Borg cube
approached. On board the Cube, the Borg Queen and her King were discussing the Enterprise�s crew�s
fate. �I think we should assimilate them,� the queen said. Her mate replied, �No, they have no reason to
live. The Borg have attempted to take control of the Federation twice, both times, this bunch of people
have foiled our plans. I say kill them, slowly.� Suddenly their attention was turned to the viewscreen.
Before their eyes, their prized captive ship suddenly disappeared. The King yelled, �Find them! We mustn�t
loose them!�

       Meanwhile, onboard the Enterprise, the crew was all smiles. Captain Picard turned to Geordi. �I
knew you could bypass the Borg block on the transporters.�
       Geordi replied, �Yes, sir. The security block on the transporters wasn�t as strong as that of the
engine�s. When I got around it, I had that cloaking device transported before I got a solid lock on it. With
the Enterprise seemingly disappearing, the Borg didn�t know where to send the control message. We now
have full control over all systems.�
       Picard turned to Lt. Sulu, �Mr. Sulu, set a course for Earth, maximum warp! Engage.�
       The Enterprise, masked by the cloaking device, warped home, to try to put an end to the Borg�s
invasion.
       The Q, as the humans called them, are most pleased with Picard and his crew�s behavior. So,
despite their differences, the Q have elected to send the one who has been involved with Picard since the
beginning: Q. The Q feel sorry that the Borg have been such a pain to the Federation, and they have a plan
to stop them, one that doesn�t include mysterious disappearing, but rather mysterious appearing...

       The Queen and her King were madder than a Ferengi having Gold-pressed Latinum stolen from
them. She mentally said o her King, �They have foiled our plans once again! With that viral generator, they
can find an antidote to the virus. And then they will send it to the Federation, which will not be weak
enough to safely attack!
       The King replied, Not to worry, love. They will be defeated, we can still bring them down. Have
faith, and it will occur. The Enterprise will be demolished. Picard and his crew will not live to see another
sunrise, I vow it!...