Thu Aug 17, 2006 4:32 pm by H.Q. Victor
“Jean-Luc, what’s on your mind?” Beverly inquired. She was aware that something was troubling him, and did not need Troy’s abilities to read it.
“Beverly” he began, then paused to compose his thoughts. “Until we have a new counselor for the Enterprise, I am afraid I must call on you to help out in the role.” He stood and turned to face the window before continuing. “You and I go back many years, and I trust you and your insight. Will this be a problem?”
Beverly had an odd expression on her face as she too stood and walked to the Captains side. “Jean-Luc, you and I do go back a ways, You were friends with Jack before becoming my captain. I trusted you then and I do now. “ She turned to look him in the eye. “ What’s troubling you?”
Data relieved the night duty com officer and took his seat. He glanced over the panel and reconfigured it to his liking and familiarity. He ran a cursory scan of the surrounding space and then reviewed all log data from the night shift to bring himself up to speed. Even with his incredible speed scanning the input, he still had troubling thoughts. Thoughts that he needed to resolve, but decided to wait until time permitted him to seek out Geordi.
“Report Mr. Data” Commander Worf ordered.
“I have run a level one scan of the area, no anomalous readings to report, no ship board situations requiring further investigation. Our present speed is Warp Factor six on a heading of 121 mark 4 “ Data replied as he turned to face Worf.
“How long until we reach the badlands?”
“Two hours, thirty three minuets, twelve seconds until we arrive at Sirus Three.”
“Very well, maintain course and speed.”
“Aye Sir.”
“Ro, hang on a second” Shira called panting even as she slowed her run. The corridor was empty, yet she switched to hush tones as she continued. “The Enterprise is two hours away, are you really ready for this meeting?”
Ro furrowed her brow and pursed her lips, but quickly changed to a smile. “Yes, I’m ready. Look Shira, we knew this day would come sometime, peace for the colonies in the badlands. We couldn’t go on fighting forever.”
“I know, its just that I got so use to fighting the Cardassians, well to think they won’t even be around to trouble us, is unsettling to say the least.”
A bemused look now followed with, “Unsettling? How so?”
“I still don’t trust them, even if they agree to leave the zone, they may still attack out of revenge.”
“And we will still be here to protect the colonies, the Maquis will not be leaving, we have families here too, lives to pick up with and go on living, not to mention those that deserted from Starfleet can never go back.”
‘Cheerp’ Ro’s communicator sounded.
“Ro here go ahead.”
“Commander, a Cardassian cruiser just dropped into orbit above us. They hailed saying they’re here for the talks and will stand by until the Enterprise arrives.”
“Understood, for now, just keep and eye on them, Ro out.”
“Turny, get on that level 2 diagnostic, the Captain want’s everything done before we arrive and I don’t like to disappoint him” commented LaForge. His new team was adapting to his demands well. He had hand picked the primary shift of the very best. They would have the difficult task of first manning systems in combat situations. He had held a meeting days before informing the rest of the engineering staff of his choices, and said that if they too wanted the coveted positions, they would have to work hard for them. They all voiced approval and affirmation of thier willingness to do so. Geordi was proud of this Enterprise crew. They were able to keep about two thirds of the Enterprise D crew when they were given the Enterprise E.
Geordi did his review of the mission data. He wanted no surprises. After a glance through the orders, he grinned. He would be glad to see Ro again. The two of them had hit it off well the last time she was aboard. As he also noted where they were going, he set up additional safe guards on the shielding. The Badlands were known for throwing surprises at ships in that area of space.
He composed all his work and some suggestions for the ship and submitted it to Worf. It was different, having Worf for a first officer. He and Worf had been the same rank when they cam aboard the Enterprise D. But he held no resentment for Worf. Both had changed their original positions as well, Worf towards security, and Geordi to engineering. He did however, feel the loss for Data, and the absence of both Riker and Deanna. Though they were on board the Titan, he missed the interaction they had here. And he even missed the weekly poker games.
“Jean-Luc, what is it” Beverly asked again. The Captain seemed almost distracted, as if listening to something subliminal.
Picard turned to face her and replied, “I have been having, dreams lately, and more than before.”
“What about?”
He turned to look at the stars before continuing. “The Borg.” It was as if those two words spoke volumes. He wouldn’t add more so Beverly moved to in front of the Captain to have his complete attention.
“Dr. I find it difficult to talk about” Picard spoke even as his brow dropped. His recollections as Locutus where brought back with every dream, and now he wanted to know why.
Dr. Crusher decided on a different track, “Well, as your new ships counselor, it is my job to help you bring it out and understand it.” She had included inflections of Deanna in the wording. This drew a quick turn of the head from the Captain.
The brow rose a little, and even a hint of a smile could be seen. “All right Doctor, you’ve made your point.”
They both walked over to the sofa and sat. Picard relaxed more and began a better explanation.
“In the dreams, I am confronting the Borg Queen. All around me, is Borg machinery, equipment that I took to mean in a Borg location. The Queen was attempting to persuade me to rejoin her and aiding the Borg culture. I was resisting and even attempted to persuade her of the futility of the situation. But then a surprise that even I did not expect. I saw standing behind her, to beings, people as it were. The male looked human and the female was Deltain.
“Delten, few of them are even in StarFleet, let alone travel the galaxy anymore.” the doctor interjected.
“Believe me, I found this strange as well, but the strangest part of them being there, was the fact that they were not part of the Borg hive. They had no Borg implants.”
This started Beverly, “And they were with the Borg?”
“Yes, and this is one of the things that bothers me, what is the meaning of the dreams as well as the two individuals. I have had nightmares of the Borg, but never like this. It has to mean something.”
“Bridge to Captain Picard” Worf’s voice called over the com.
Picard touched his com badge, “Yes number one?”
“We will arrive at Sirus Three in five minuets.”
“I’m on my way.” Picard turned back to Beverly, “Doctor, lets come back to this later.”
Beverly nodded and left for Medical.
The Captain strode onto the bridge and gave the command, “Slow to impulse and proceed to the planet. Mr. Data, scan the systems for any ships please.”
“The only vessel in the system, is a Galor class ship, the Avenger. No Gul listed in Starfleet data base for the ship.”
“Very well, standard orbit please.”
“Aye Sir!”
“Captain, we’re being hailed from the colony” Worf spoke and looked up even as he paused in relaying the information.
Picard stood and adjusted his tunic and replied, “On Screen.”
Picard visibly stiffened, then forced himself to relax and even relaxed is facial expression to appear affable. “This is Captain Picard of the Enterprise, I believe we have a meeting to discuss relations between the Cardassian Empire and the Federation colonies in the badlands.”
The face on the screen forced a smile and a nod, “Welcome Captain, it’s good to see you again. I am transmitting coordinates to the meeting hall to both the Enterprise and the Avenger. We look forward to meeting both sides here in one hour.”
“In one hour then” Picard stood there even as communications closed. He was still dealing with his feelings about Ro from the last mission where she had disobeyed orders and betrayed his confidence in him. He turned to leave the bridge but paused to turn to Worf. “Number one, have Dr. Crusher and a member of security to report to the transporter room in one hour, then join me in my ready room please.”
Before Worf could complete his orders, Data turned to him. “Commander, there is another ship dropping out of warp, and they are hailing us.”
“Identification?”
“Sir, it’s the Crazy Horse, Captain Jelico commanding.”
“Captain to the bridge please” Worf spoke as he touched his com badge.
Picard returned to the bridge as Worf gave the order of “On screen.”
Much to the surprise of all, the image was of an Admiral. “Enterprise, stand by to transport me over.”
“I will meet you in the transporter room shortly Admiral.” Picard was surprised to say the least with a meeting with StarFleet’s newest Admiral, Kathryn Janeway.
Picard strode into transporter room one and indicated to the chief to energize. When the admiral materialized she stepped down with a smile, that slowly changed to a blank look, of one who was in a deep poker game.
“Admiral, it’s good to see you again, though a surprise to see you in person” Picard spoke.
“Captain, it’s urgent that I speak with you in private.”
“Certainly Admiral, however, I am due at a meeting with the Maquis and the Cardassians in less than an hour.”
I know Jean-Luc, Captain Jelico will be handling that meeting. We need to talk.” The admiral with hand raised, indicated the door and Picard quickly picked up on the urgency and led the admiral out and to the turbo lift. “Bridge” Picard ordered.
As the door slid open, both walked out and straight to the Captains ready room.
“Number one, We’re not to be disturbed for any reason.” Picard said as the ready room door slid open.
“Aye Sir!” Worf replied with a questioning look on his face.
The rest of the bridge crew looked on with amazement. Admirals didn’t arrive every day, and certainly not this one either. Some of the crew knew of Admiral Janeway’s adventures in the Delta Quadrant, and with Voyager returning to the Alpha Quadrant to much fanfare.
The room had a comfort level the Admiral found pleasant. Her posture relaxed a bit before she sat.
“Can I get you anything Admiral?”
“Yes, coffee, black.”
Picard walked over to the replicator, “Tea, Earl grey hot, and Coffee, hot black.”
When the two cups materialized, he took both to his desk and place the coffee before the admiral. She lifted the steam cup, closed her eyes and sniffed, taking in the aroma. Picard smiles softly at this. He in turn took a sip of his tea and sat before the Admiral.
“Captain, I gathered a lot of data on the Borg while I was stuck in the Delta quadrant. More than I really knew I had obtained. Since you are not currently aware of how we got home, Starfleet deeming the information classified, you don’t have the current scope of the Borg Hive.”
Janeway turned his display panel to face her. She entered several commands. “Computer, access StarFleet records of the Borg Tactical Data base downloaded from Voyagers computers.”
“Working, that information is currently classified, Admiralty level clearance.”
“Computer, access clearance, Janeway Alpha 949 Delta.”
“Access granted.”
“Display records and download encrypted copy to Enterprise data base, Captains eyes only.”
The information displayed on the screen as the Admiral turned it back to Picard. He entered his code that would allow him to access the data later. He did a cursory scan of the data. His brow rose several times before looking back up at the Admiral.
“I thought it would get your attention, Jean-Luc.”Janeway spoke smiling at the bewilderment of the Captain. “And there will be someone who will work with you that has ful knowledge of this information as well as a wealth of data on the Borg.”
“Commander Shelby is available?”
“No, this is someone, like your self who has first hand experience with the Borg, but for a far longer time, her experience will be invaluable to you in the mission I will be briefing you on shortly.”
If it was possible for someone to totally surprise Picard, the Admiral had done it. He was perplexed and amazed, and a little disturbed. His dealings with the Borg, though handled over the years, had left him hesitant with every new contact. This time was no different. Judging by the information in the data, this would be both an extended mission, and a dangerous one, one that the Enterprise might not come back from.
The Admiral touched her com badge, “Seven, please transport over to my coordinates now.”
The Captain anticipating this keyed his com as well, “Number one, We have a visitor beaming over, please do not scan nor hinder the transport in anyway.”
“Aye Sir!” Came Worf’s reply.
A slim, lithe female materialized. She wore a StarFleet uniform, the rank of a Lt. Commander. Her blond hair was tied up behind her head in a conservative fashion, and she had a silver Borg implant over one eye. She was beautiful, but had an aire about her that chilled Picard. It was like seeing the Borg all over again. Even as he stiffened, he forced himself to relax.
“Admiral, Captain” her acknowledgment was curt and formal.
“Captain Picard, may I introduce, Seven of Nine” and to the woman she spoke” Seven, Captain Jean-Luc Picard.
“I am pleased to meet you Captain Picard.” Seven was polite, but she felt his apprehension all the same.
“A Borg designation, and a StarFleet rank?” Picard asked politely.
“The rank is merely a formality. Seven is a top notch science officer if there ever was one, though she is only temporary attached to StarFleet for the duration of this assignment.”