Dauntless Mission 03: "The Price of Individual Freedoms"

Stardate 20304.30

Whilst preparing for their next mission a surprise Romulan attack on Starbase-1 takes place. As the defences start to come online a bigger menace appears – an even more powerful Borg Force, the last of their kind, have returned to Earth. The Dauntless picks up its own crew and as many survivors as it can and following orders from the SFCINC withdraws with the rest of the fleet scattering in all directions. Earth manages to raises secret planetary shields installed against just an occasion. The Borg thwarted at the chance of a quick victory commence the destruction of Sol System facilities, commences its invasion of Mars and fans out throughout the federation and neighbouring empires reeking havoc wherever they go, and assimilating anything of use to its war machine. Thrawn accesses his mission orders which are to contact species 8472 and either ally with them or gain technology of use in the counterattack. But first they must prepare their defences and for entry into fluidic space, for no one knows how 8472 will react or even if they still exist, the last known meeting with them being 30 years ago with Janeway and the USS Voyager. And the mission is made more difficult as the ship is carrying over 4300 people, exceeding her maximum emergency complement, and all this with the Federation unable to help or maybe even to defend itself long term.

The science section figure out a way to enter fluidic space, and with weaponry readied the dauntless enters fluidic space, cutting over 20 years off their journey time, though at the loss of some well loved members of the crew.

Once in fluidic space the ship encounters alien life forms and uses a novel method of propulsion to move away peacefully. It appears to be working when the system fails, damaging the ships hull and propulsion. With no sign of 8472 repairs are quickly started, and then a new alien life form attaches to the hull and starts infesting the ship, devouring crew for food and replicating itself in huge numbers. Forced to resort to lethal force the defenders manage to slow but not stop the advance despite making huge kills.

As the aliens approach the main crew areas, 8472 appear in response to a message transmitted by Thrawn in voyagers communication codes. Their first act is to remove the infestation, and then following meetings with Thrawn they agree to help eradicate the Borg. Before they can revert to real space, the Dauntless makes repairs and suffers a viral attack resulting from the infestation. With the help of 8472 it is finally countered for those that were less affected; the others either died or were put into stasis.

The Dauntless and 8473 return to real space and head straight for Earth where they find the counter attack has begun. They identify large fleets of all alpha quadrant races – including an immense class star base - fighting a common enemy – the Borg – who appear to have just commenced their assault of Earth.

8472 commence the first attack, which fails against the more powerful Borg. 8472 then resort to using their planetary destruction weapon, blowing the Borg wedge apart. Dauntless is also in battle with several other Federation ships against another wedge, which is only destroyed when the Yoritomo-A, the replacement for a ship Thrawn used to FO and now captained by his former FO and close friend, rams at full warp. 8472 veer off towards Mars and Thrawn and his engineers use a highly dangerous micro-warp jump to beat them to Mars. Prepared for the task, Thrawn orders his CTO whose family lived on Mars, to fire specially prepared EMP quantum torpedoes. They are successful in their task – 14 million Borg drones, former members of the Federation are killed. Seeing that the Borg threat was removed from Mars, 8472 spare the planet and return to battle, leaving Thrawn and his CTO to consider what he has been forced to do. The Dauntless returns to battle, by now in its last phases with horrendous losses on both sides. Coming alongside a dormant Borg Wedge Thrawns COS, Col Ecap, suggests a boarding party to obtain equipment of interest to which he agrees. The away team transports over and reports that members of the Borg crew appear to be throwing off the shackles of the Borg collective and request instructions. Thrawn decides to continue the original mission and the away team capture and transport large amounts of equipment including a transwarp module, but in doing so the Borg crew realise the threat and as a collective they attack the away team. Fighting for their lives, the away team is cornered when they suddenly find themselves back on the Dauntless, moments before the Wedge self destructs at the hands of Borg drones who at the very end re-established their proper identity and brought death onto themselves to save their saviours.

The battle won, the Dauntless and the other ships head for the star base for R&R where Thrawn finds out his friend wasn’t on the Yoritomo when it rammed the Wedge. During the R&R Thrawn and his CTO McDade return to Mars and make several important discoveries, whilst on the StarBase a possible but in some ways justifiable murder is concealed.

Captain's Logs

Cmdr Thrawn

Stardate 20211.12

Stardate 20211.12

Disaster has struck the Federation, and I wonder whether the Federation will ever recover from the calamity that is now staring us in the face.

It started when StarBase sensors detected the presence of decloaking Romulan ships. Two Battleships, Three Heavy Cruisers, four Light Cruisers, two frigates and a scout ship all became visible to the sensors in less that a minute. Immediately after and before the station could go to Red Alert the Romulan vessels opened fire on StarBase One, trying to take out the primary reactor and doing damage to the outer docking bay doors and repair yards. The Immense-Class StarBase had its own defences, but they hadn’t expected such an attack and precious minutes were wasting. In the meantime, the Romulan’s used their advantage to send strike after strike towards the base and to keep moving to avoid returning weapons fire. When the base’s defensive systems did came online the powerful deflector screens powered up, as did the phaser cannons and torpedo launchers. In the meantime, I had begun to recall all my crew to the Dauntless in preparation for departure.

It was at that moment that the surprise was sprung. Following a massive green energy burst that wiped out the StarBase shields in an instant, on all Federation ship communication channels (and I assume Romulan vessels as well), we heard a statement that poured fear into everyone I knew.

[We are the Borg, Lower your shields and surrender. We will add your biological and technological distinctiveness to our own. Your culture will adapt to service us. Resistance is futile.]

It was only a matter of moments later when above the clamour of the bridge, the computer sounded.

[Armageddon Directive is implemented.

1. All ships are directed to flee the Sol System, not to return until verifiable orders are received to return. 2. Starships will not make contact with star bases or member planets unless absolutely necessary. 3. All ships are directed to avoid contact with Borg forces unless victory can be assured. 4. All Commanding Officers are given full authority to negotiate treaties as necessary. 5. Conserve your resources, as it may be impossible to resupply. 6. Specific mission orders may be accessed with the Captain’s command access codes.]

As we sealed the ship I gave the instruction to my transporter rooms to lock on and beam any of our people still at space dock direct to the ship, and thereafter commence beaming StarBase personnel to the ship, supplementing the StarBase transporters that were doing the same thing and removing people to relative safety mainly on earth but some on ships.

We started our escape and followed the Yoritomo who fired their torpedoes at the buckled space doors. Once through the doorway we quickly made our escape, initially towards Pluto. Several other ships escaped with us – the Yoritomo, Philadelphia, Titan, Gettysburg, Quasar and the Republic amongst them. We also saw the Gibraltar escape the shipyards before that entire facility was destroyed

I think it was only then that it dawned on a lot of the crew that we were running away from Earth, and the true enormity of what had happened

End….

Stardate 20211.14

Stardate 20211.14'

We have received a broadcast from the Federation President, which said: “Attention all those within the sound of my voice. The Borg have returned to Earth. Defend yourselves and do not attempt to enter the Sol System. All planets and bases are ordered to lock down immediately under the Armageddon Protocols. Good luck to you all.”

Sensors have reported that powerful weapon platforms rose from the ground and huge phaser cannons swung into positions and quantum rocket launchers came online. Thousands of underground warp reactors powered up and a layered energy shield began charging around the globe. It appears that more than forty years ago when the last Borg cube had attempted to assimilate Earth, the Armageddon Protocols had been created by then Commander Data, to ensure that the Federation would survive should the Borg ever return. Now that they had, the protocols were activated and the Federation was now effectively placed under martial law, with military computers now taking charge of major defence installations.

I have also accessed my mission orders and as befits a ship of this ability it is a tough one, but one must always bear in mind that it is not as challenging as that facing the population of the Federation whilst we are away.

To: Command, USS Dauntless From: Star Fleet Command via Armageddon Directive Subject: Mission Orders

In accordance with the Armageddon Directive, you are to flee the Sol system and evade all Borg contact. Once clear, you are to use any means possible to enter fluidic space and contact Species 8472. Once you have made contact, you are directed to either negotiate a military alliance with Species 8472 or to acquire any information Species 8472 may have that can be used to defeat the Borg. You may use any means within your power to accomplish your mission.

My plan was to initially stop at Pluto and re-assess the situation – was this a single opportunistic attack or was this a quadrant wide assault?. Before I could truly find out, Admiral Beckett, SFCINC, broadcast a system wide announcement:

[Attention all Federation ships and bases, this is Admiral Beckett speaking. We are under attack by overwhelming numbers of Borg ships at the very heart of the Federation. We cannot stand and fight this enemy here or all will be lost to us. I have initiated the Armageddon Directive for all ships, StarBases and Member Planets. I realise that many of you are unfamiliar with this Directive, but if you check your computers, you will understand.

I order you all to flee the Sol System at once. Scatter to the stars and avoid all StarBases, as they too will be under attack. If we wish to survive this we must spread ourselves far enough apart that they can never destroy us all.

Seek allies, seek help and seek shelter from the Borg. Most of all, keep yourselves alive and your ships whole for we will need to gather our strength and return to take back what is ours!]

In response of that I have curtailed our stop at Pluto and have withdrawn from the Sol System at maximum Warp; destination the delta quadrant. Now is the time to establish exactly what skills we have at our disposal from the ships crew plus the many frightened people we rescued off the StarBase. Everyone, myself included have certainly lost friends, colleagues, and peers in the attack. As we departed the system we received more bad news from Mars and Earth. The attack on Mars and assimilation of her relatively unprotected population was underway, the shipyards at Utopia and Earth have been totally destroyed, and now the news that StarBase 1 has been destroyed is catastrophic. With no one to provide protection one wonders how long Earth itself can hold out. Add to that the formal designation of the Sol System as a hostile system – it is almost unbelievable that so much could go so wrong in such a short time.

I have called a meeting of all departmental heads to establish our way forward - maybe then the picture will clear enough to discover whether the Federation stands any chance in this new war. I have also given a task to Ensign T'Casca with conducting a sensor scan of the ship to try and detect whether we have picked up any detection devises during our stay at StarBase, and to investigate the sabotage that was carried out to the ship on her last mission, when someone unknown managed to bring down the anti-detection sensor shield.

Log ends …

Stardate 20211.20

Stardate 20211.20

I have briefed the senior officers with what news we have received, and with the mission we have been tasked with. On the upside we are fully loaded with fuel, replicator matter, stores and other supplies so that’s one blessing, and we have the ability to replicate additional weaponry.. On the downside reports are now coming in from all over the Federation and neighbouring areas. So far it appears the major planets and facilities are secure, but ships and others are being taken.

We now know we rescued over 2200 people from the StarBase. So far we have 10 more tactical, 167 engineers, 67 security, 108 medical, 89 science, 251 marines 10 pilots and 65 fitters, 553 support staff, 750 adults and 187 children. Add to our own crew numbers of 2115 and we are at 4375, though we do have 167 extra engineers. Interesting thing is that apart from 3 of them, the highest rank is lieutenant junior grade. That puts us over 300 or almost 10% over our emergency rating, and brings us many problems. So whilst we research and undertake our mission, we also need to avoid widespread ship chaos with the extra people. We must boost efficiencies on the environmental, power, waste and catering systems throughout the ship. In addition we need to quarter the people and keep them occupied – incorporate them into our crew, but above all we need to maintain discipline on this ship and secure the vital areas against interference and trespassers. Fortunately we have acquired a few security sections from the StarBase so they can take up that role.

I have allocated the following personnel with specific tasks:-

LCdr Lorien –

oversee the integration of the new adult arrivals into the crew based on their skills. We need to instil a sense of belonging and contributing to the ship LCdr Delaney –

quartering the new arrivals – you’ll need help from Cdr Rylus for that, liasing with the FO with the integration, keeping them occupied, that sort of thing.

LCdr Rylus & Lt Lacey –

Everything we can learn about 8472 and Borg, plus Fluidic space and all that entails – getting into fluidic space, moving inside it, do we signal them from our space. LCdr Rylus –

engineering will also have to sort out system efficiency, helping Cdr Delaney with quartering the passengers and extra crew, dividing up cargo bays for habitable areas with all the facilities. Lt McDade & Lt Lacey –

ships weaponry against both Borg and 8472. We know that the last time SF communicated with 8472 they were friendly. But we also know that Admiral Janeway discovered the Borg/8472 war and came up with defences that could harm 8472 – we need to be ready for whatever we find. Add to that the fact that we also need to consider new tactics – the Borg will now know our standard tactical database. Lt Auboyne –

internal security in a friendly softly-softly style of policing MCapt Hampson –

helping security and engineering. Deploy the marine portable facilities to help the new people. Establish a group with Security Ensign T’Casca to look into our personal weaponry. Lt Blakes –

ensure that everyone is fit and well, physically and with LCdr Delaney – mentally

I have also made some changes to the senior officer positions.

MARCO Colonel Avon is now the First Officer of the Philadelphia, which happily did manage to escape. MCapt Hampson takes his slot. CTO Lt Sullivan is missing, location unknown. Thus Lt McDade is the new CTO. LCdr Garellian is missing, also location unknown. CSO Cdr Knight was transferred to the Vulcan science Institute, and Lt Lacey is standing in as Deputy Chief Science Officer. FO Cdr Narret is now the Captain of the newly commissioned destroyer Yoritomo which also managed to escape, so LCdr Lorien for those that don't know is the new FO.

log ends …..

Stardate 20211.24

Stardate 20211.24

Whilst the crew carry out their work I spent a lot of time in the strategic operations office, catching up with developments throughout the quadrant. The StarBase had been a major central node in the subspace relay system. Its loss as well as being an emotional roller coaster had a profound effect on intersystem and ship communications, but not a total effect. The Battle cruiser had exceptionally powerful systems, and by interrogating a variety of relay systems, without giving our identity or position away, we were able to get a lot of information. The Borg were attacking n a lot of areas, but appeared unable to penetrate the planetary and major installation shield and defensive system. For how long was anyone’s guess.

It was during one of those sessions when LCdr Lorien brought me news that would at least for a while cause me to leave behind the thoughts of the Federation that had prayed on my mind, and divert me onto another path. Alorian Dax, now Alorian Rathyin, had amazingly returned from the dead.

It seems that the beings from the Yoritomo Black Cluster mission were touched at how many people were sad at her dying, so as she was declared dead they put her in a stasis like field, and as her body was being sent into the Trill Sun in the last remaining Yoritomo shuttle, they took her off of the Shuttle and put her inside a miniature Yoritomo to heal, a model that belonged to Cmdr Longbow. When she had healed completely she was brought back to our real-space and then re-introduced to Longbow. After being subjected to tests by the Federation Science Institute she was then sent home to Trill where further tests were undertaken to make sure she was the genuine article. She was rejoined with a new trill to retain a link to the Dax memories and returned to StarBase 1 to face Star Fleet.

Expecting a new ship to captain in light of her experience and the Romulan War, she was in the middle of being demoted within Star Fleet (as they deemed her actions as Captain of the Cluster Mission unacceptable to the missives of the Prime Directive) when the Borg attacked the StarBase. Now she had found herself on the Dauntless with injuries sustained by the Borg attack, and having found the position of First Officer already allocated was wondering what she would do.

That was easily solved. With the transfer away of Xander I had a vacancy of Chief Science Officer which was offered and accepted. With Lacey and now Alorian as the key players in science the workload there, essential to the mission, should become a bit easier.

Personal note:-

Whether we can rekindle our personal feelings for each other that easily is however another matter. Under normal circumstances before the war, things would be so much easier - I know both of us feel the same way as we did before her death. But with the Romulan and now the Borg assaults to content with, and staring the possible demise of the Federation in the face, I can feel the pressure of command with people watching me for the slightest indications that I have lost the faith or am being diverted in my responsibilities. I have to keep my guard up at all times, for I am confident we will find a way forward, tempered with the realisation that if it all goes wrong, we are at least a sizeable community to become fairly self sufficient if it comes to that, not that I am talking to that possibility to anyone.

Stardate 20211.30

Stardate 20211.30

Have just left the cargo bay where we have temporarily assembled a large group of StarBase survivors. After briefing them with all honesty on the current situation regarding the StarBase, the federation and the days and weeks ahead on board, I was impressed by the willingness of many of the peoples to offer their services and to amalgamate with the crew.

There will be some problems ahead, of which I have no doubt, but the signs are currently better than I expected for a fairly smooth transition.

I also had a briefing session with Ensign T’Casca regarding his security search of the ship. He has discovered several extremely interesting isolinear chips which have more powerful computation interrogation, analysis and decision making capability than I have ever seen before, with what I would guess to be the capability to access the ships root programmes. These are extremely dangerous and I have entrusted them to his particular brand of security measures. He will continue his investigation in the likely places of their use – Engineering and the Cryogenic Helium areas – where hopefully the mystery of their user will start to become clearer.

Log ends…...

Stardate 20212.15

Stardate 20212.15

Its been a while since my last log entry. A lot of theoretical work is still being carried out by the crew to ready us for possible fluidic space travel, and exploring various novel ways of defending ourselves if that becomes necessary. The incorporation (or is that assimilation [sic. Ed]) of the StarBase survivors into the crew continues apace, with the barmen and cooks apparently very popular in 10Forward.

Now that we are about 2 days out from Earth I have called another departmental heads meeting together, to discuss where we are with the work, where our new priorities lay and where we need to divert effort. The sooner we meet species 8472, the sooner we will know whether we have a potent allies to commence the liberation of the Sol system, assuming of course that there is a system to retake at the end of the process. I am still heading for the Delta Quadrant, albeit that it is just under 20 years away, so I hope someone has figured out whether we can enter fluidic space from our current location, and still manage to find 8472 and not the Borg awaiting for us.

I sometimes wonder where Rayne and the ‘new’ Yoritomo is, whether John Grynstal, Admiral Nekitaroma and all the others actually managed to get away in time. One thing is sure – Earth has not fallen yet, and so hopes remain

Log end …

Stardate 20212.31

Stardate 20212.31

The Departmental meeting went extremely well. As luck would have it, it appears Jenny Franks has also found herself on the Dauntless. Her skills added to those already in the science section should help resolve a number of outstanding questions. There were a lot of good ideas and I have tasked the appropriate people with bringing those ideas into reality as soon as possible.

A timely warning about the susceptibility of any of our telepathic capable people to the thoughts of 8472 has initialiated another train of research that we hadnt considered before, and the medical people are looking after that.

As well as modifying the ship to get us into flkuidic space, the engineers and tactical people will continue with their ships weaponry review to provide some novel options. We are also maintaining a watch for any suitable raw material that we may come across to keep our ships stores fully topped up.

I have also stressed that we do not know the extent of the Borg empire within the Delta quadrant, nor do we know the level of Borg intrusion into fluidic space. We don’t even know whether 8472 still exists as an unassimilated species. In other words we mustn’t automatically assume that everything will be as we hope it will be.

Secondly assuming they are still there, whatever we do we must not appear as aggressors to 8472. That means that we minimise to the extreme any interference with their space, and we certainly don’t leave any clues as to what we are doing just in case the Borg get to understand. We simply must not make an enemy of 8472 nor appear to threaten them in any way; though we are entitled to take measures for our defence against 8472 if it comes to that – weaponry that could feasibly be useful against both parties is ideal; solely anti-8472 weaponry is less so. We always have to bear in mind that if we make an enemy of 8472, as well as the Borg, I cannot realistically see how our way of life can be sustained in the long term. We want peace with them, and I am empowered to bargain whatever it takes to ensure that peace.

I have also asked MCapt Hampson to take over the running of the Strategic Operations Centre, relinquishing his responsibilities as MARCO to 1Lt Banks.

I think the biggest thing to come out of that meeting is the feeling of real hope starting to permeate back into our responses to the disaster. It’s as if we have finally started to throw off the yoke of depression of what has happened and to look forward to our mission.

I hope it lasts….

Log ends

Stardate 20301.17

Stardate 20301.17

We are several days into the mission and good things are starting to come together. Jenny Franks of the science group believes that they have resolved a way to open a rift into fluidic space, which if it works will cut 20 years off our journey. The only thing preventing me from trying it out immediately is our current lack of weaponry against whomever we may find there, which ranges from the Borg to species 8472 themselves, if the prove to be unhappy to see us again. Tactical, Engineering and Science are still working on their various projects to get us ready.

I have also had an unfortunate run in with a volunteer who is going to run our onboard school for the children. The lady in question somehow gained access to the Bridge and after failing to take notice of what the FO said, continued to believe that her educational plans and ideas were more important on my time than the mission – Commander Lorien has gone after her to smooth the troubled waters.

Apart from that, people would be excused from surmising that this was a normal mission. Everyone appears to be working well, keeping up with their training and getting enough rest, which of course is the way it should be – the mark of a good crew. At least I hope they are – the next phase of the mission could well be one of the most difficult we have ever faced, second only to the task following that – the eviction of the Borg from Federation Space.

Supplemental

Continuation – Captains Personal Log – coded Top Secret ….

Correction to my last statement – the Extermination of the Borg from Federation Space.

Let the record show that when we take the battle back to the Borg, I am minded to do everything in my power to rid the quadrant of this enemy force down to the last drone, whether that be by de-assimilation or by destruction. The secrets the collective have assimilated so far must not be allowed to enable the collective to create more mischief in the years ahead once they have been defeated upon our return. Whatever the state of the Federation as we find it when we return, I believe to stand any chance of future recovery we need time to rebuild without threat of attack. And if that means that the principles and policies of the Federation that I have sworn to uphold have cause to be temporarily derogated then so be it, for I see no other way for the successful re-establishment of the Federation and our way of life as we knew it, however imperfect that way was.

I can only hope that our next phase is successful so we have the chance to take the battle back to them.

If not, then we may have to consider the other options at our disposal….

Log ends….

Stardate 20301.28

Stardate 20301.28

We are almost ready. I am told that weapons capable of operation within fluidic space should be ready within the next hour. Once they are in place we will be ready to try Lt Frank’s protocol to get us into fluidic space, and then the search for 8472 can really begin, and not a moment too soon. Though it has taken days to get us to this position, it is nonetheless a great achievement to have accomplished so much and utilising new technologies. Let’s hope it works.

Otherwise everything is going as fast as can be expected. The survivors are being incorporated into the crew and accommodation issues seem to have abated. People are still worried and pensive, but at least it appears we are all of one mind at the moment.

I have offered Lt Colonel Lucas Ecap, formerly of the Philadelphia and rescued from the StarBase, the position of Chief of Security. Whilst understandably not an expected position for a former Marine Commander, it will allow him the opportunity to broaden his skills in an associated branch, and still maintain a link with the Marines, which is invaluable for the task I have in mind for him. I am sure he will do well

Log Ends …

Stardate 20302.05

Stardate 20302.05

Although I am pleased to log that the Dauntless is now in fluidic space, it is with a heavy heart that I make the following log entry.

It started a few hours ago with the murder of one of my security officers Lt T’Casca who I had tasked with unravelling the secrets of the isolinear chip with the computer source code access protocols, a highly dangerous item of computer wizardry to have around. In doing so he inadvertently triggered a self-defence protocol in the chip which caused the environmental system to release a toxic gas where he was working. Though mortally injured, he nonetheless made his way to find me on the Bridge and transferred the details of what he had been doing and discovered, and a lot more, into my brain via a rapid vulcan mind meld. With the identity of the traitor now known and in close co-ordination with the bridge due to the computer access the culprit may have set up, security managed to apprehend PO2 Shaw and she is now in the Brig. The identity of Shaw was a great surprise. She is a hardworking, up to now totally loyal crewmember who is close to her team and decorated on several occasions. What made her into a traitor will be the subject of enquiries she will be helping us with in the near future.

Following that distraction Lt McDade and her teams finished modifying a proportion of our weaponry systems to afford us some protection within fluidic space. In order to ensure greater security for our transition to fluidic space, at the request of Lt Frank I authorised that she take whoever was needed and a shuttle to follow us in. This greatly increased our options if something was waiting for us on the other side of the rift as we were to enter fluidic space.

As we entered the rift we lost the transporter locks on Lt Jenny Frank and LCdr Alorian Rathyin, though we were able to maintain communications. Just after we entered fluidic space, a Borg ship was detected in real space seconds from emerging into real space. There was no time available to either re-emerge into real space, or for the shuttle to join us in fluidic space. Despite knowing their chances of survival, they consciously closed the rift between us essentially to delay the Borg from following us into fluidic space. With hindsight it was also to prevent us from attempting a rescue. Sensors have shown that the weakness in space we passed through is no longer there.

I sincerely hope that they managed to get away from the Borg ship. They were officers of the highest calibre, and their possible (or is it probable) sacrifice to save the ship must be one of the bravest things I have ever seen. I cannot imagine what horrors Jenny and Alorian will go through if they have been assimilated but somehow I don’t believe they would let themselves live to see that. Rather I am sure that we were of the same thought in this. If I had no other choice then I would destroy this ship and all aboard her, rather than perpetuate the Borg race by assimilation. I pray that it never comes to having to make this decision.

Now we are in fluidic space, surrounded by a multitude of large single-celled organisms and more complex and larger entities which are coming towards us, almost as if to see what has just arrived in their space. There are no signs of belligerent behaviour yet though we remain on our guard. There is no sign of 8472 yet, at least in a form that we would recognise.

Log end …

Stardate 20302.23

Stardate 20302.23

No sooner do we enter fluidic space than we are surrounded by a variety of life forms, all appearing harmless, some might even say inquisitive. In order to avoid harming them as we moved off we couldn’t use our normal propulsion system. Tactical reconfigured our shields to create a differential funnel, which although a slow mode of transport would nevertheless not cause any harm, and if we were being watched, would hopefully broadcast our peaceful intentions.

As we moved away, our sensor teams started obtaining a clearer picture of our surroundings, initially by something akin to active sonar, and then laterally resorting to passive sensor devices.

It was then that I started using the top secret data I had recovered in the sealed voyager records. We started listening in on Star Fleet frequency 1388point7, a frequency that the then Captain Janeway gave 8472 to communicate with her, corrected for the distortion caused by our surroundings. It wasn’t long before we had a very faint response, if that’s what it was, but after checking that it was not of a known Borg nature I decided that it was worth following up and then instructed that a simple message be broadcast on the voyager frequency; ‘Message reads in plain English dialect ‘Friends request contact’. There was no response though FO Alex Lorien reported that he felt something faint and hazy.

However, our attention was then diverted onto more pressing matters. Our new motive force started to have problems. A particularly nasty funnel was caught in between the gaps in the shield and the ship shuttered under the increased pressure. The internal sensors began detecting ripples in the outer hull surface, as well as minor stress fractures. It was clear that unless we could shut down the funnel system, we would eventually lose hull integrity. Whilst tactical attempted to shutdown the system, which fought their efforts due to what I surmise was a shield harmonic feedback problem, we decided to activate the ablative armour system. Though a risk it would afford some protection against the fluidic medium we were passing through and it would support the structural integrity fields by physical means. As the system came online there was a power fluctuation, which did not appear significant. In an attempt to collapse the funnel system before our structural integrity failed all together, a large energy pulse was collected from the funnel system and used to try and dissipate the forces.

The funnel system dissipated but there was major feedback to the hull and shield systems with multiple hull breeches through out the ship. With hindsight I can only conclude that the operation to eject the fluidic medium trapped in the shields had an unfortunate side effect, the liquid may have been forced at great energy not only out into the space around them but fluidic jets could have found weakened shields and connected with the hull, with a force sufficient to penetrate. In which case it was only the ablative armour that would have saved them, though in turn the use of the ablative armour may have set up some weakened shield harmonics due to power fluctuations.

Whilst the FO arranged for evacuation, we continued the sensor scans and noticed an egg shape object, no bigger than a runabout head our way extremely slowly. On its current heading it will pass very close to us, though not colliding. So far there are no indications of malevolence but we are maintaining visual torpedo locks just in case. We also still have the ablative armour in operation, with shield systems coming back online, but a lot of damage still to repair.

We have just restarted our broadcast message, in an attempt to communicate with whomever is on that egg shaped craft.

Is it 8472?. It doesn’t match Voyagers records, but that was 30 years ago, and no one would know what they use nowadays.

We can only wait and see

Log ends….

Stardate 20302.23

Stardate 20302.23

No sooner do we start recovering from one situation than another one has hit us. Whilst we were restoring our shields the egg shaped craft scanned the ship and suddenly sped towards us, docking with a breach in the hull on deck 5. After overcoming the hull breach force fields, life forms entered the ship and coincidentally crewman Davies and shortly afterwards several other crewmembers were killed. It appears that the life forms were after anything that was food to them, allowing them to multiply their numbers at a phenomenal rate by producing gelatinous sacs that changed form into more of themselves. Despite attempting to divert them by using non-lethal methods and a resilient effort by the security forces and the use of sector bulkhead doors and force fields, they are advancing through ventilation shafts and jefferies tubes/passages, overwhelming such defences by force of numbers and a suicidal nature of these in the front. We finally had to resort to lethal force

Whilst we are desperately trying to find a way at overcoming them using temperature, light, gas composition changes and sound, backed up by transporting anything that is not from our dimension into fluidic space, they continue to advance and unless we can find a solution soon, security will eventually be spread so thin to assemble any sense of a defensive line.

And once that happens …. Who knows what will happen

Stardate 20303.17

Stardate 20303.17

In the battle against the unknown life forms our efforts were starting to be rewarded. By isolating whole sections, stunning the occupants with a variety of effects and transporting their contents into space, we were starting to make in roads into their numbers, but it was clear to me that once they had made it to the occupied crew assembly areas which to them would constitute a whole food store, we were likely to be finished. The search went on for a miracle cure against the infestation.

During these times we suddenly picked up indications of a fleet of ships heading our way. As they came closer they were identified as ships matching those used by species 8472 during the Voyager mission. What was strange was that there was no evidence of development since Voyager had left them. Whether this meant that this fleet was a remnant of a defeated species by the Borg, or whether the Borg has in fact been defeated in this realm and there has been no impetus for further development in the time since the last battle is not clear, but is something I will need to determine. Whatever the reasoning, at last contact has been made.

Whilst trying to re-energise our damaged systems arising from the ill-fated attempt at motion within fluidic space, efforts were made to continue the fight against the life forms and prepare ourselves for a possible violent but short lived confrontation, though somehow suspected that it would not come to that.

They surrounded the ship with 45 of their single person ships, out flanking our attempts to present our strongest defences to them and more than enough to destroy us if they really wanted to. Their first act was to remove the life forms from the Dauntless and transport the alien craft off our hull which I take as a good sign. Whilst it is possible that the life forms were somehow akin to 8472 (though there is no evidence of this in the records) and 8472 were transporting them to safety, I would have surmised that in that event we would have been destroyed without contact or even made helpless for easy devouring by the life forms. Maybe it was our attempts to use non-lethal force first that altered the argument, or whether they are parasites to 8472 as well – we may never know.

Their second act was to enquire by text messages why we were using the Voyager frequencies when we were plainly not that ship. After making contact and requesting to see their representative on a matter of grave importance to both our species, a meeting has been set for an hour’s time.

I can only hope that the upcoming meeting is fruitful. I have no idea whether they will agree to our requests for help, nor what they may request in return. My authority on this matter is very wide ranging under the Armageddon directive but I can only hope that it is something realistic. A big unknown is whether they will wish to join us in battle, and whether if/when the Borg are destroyed they will return to their own dimension and leave us intact or similarly vanquished.

Only time will tell…..

Stardate 20303.25

Stardate 20303.25

The representatives from species 8472 have arrived. In order to make communication between us more efficient one of them had already chosen to be like us – in the guise of an Admiral Jansen, someone I had heard of and believed dead. Was rather interesting to see him in the flesh so to speak.

‘Jansen’ has explained that they had believed they had destroyed the entire Borg in delta quadrant. What is quite evident now is that the remnants of the Borg Collective retreated and fortuitously for them came across the Federation in the midst of the war, and took advantage, presumably hoping to rebuilt their collective in the safety of the alpha quadrant. Alas their strategy has been discovered, and I hope that we will be in time to stop them once and for all as 8472 have agreed to assist in the destruction of the Borg, and we are discussing terms at the moment.

They want the situation where they are never disturbed again on pain of declaration of war. As an alternative, I would like a simple mechanism whereby they is a code word known only to the SFCINC and President in case we ever have need to contact them again. Anything else from our dimension bothering them would be subject to instant destruction by 8472 without a species wide declaration of war, which I agree with. I hope they accept the compromise.

Coincidentally there appears to be an outbreak of a virus or pathogen, left over from the life form invasion of the ship, and 8472 have also agreed to provide whatever information they have to the CMO to better understand the mechanism of attack. I am hopeful that with the resources of the medical section, a cure to the problem will be discovered.

Log ends…

Stardate 20304.03

Stardate 20304.03

The representatives from species 8472 have departed the ship, saying that they will be in touch when they have an answer to the virus on the ship. Meanwhile the medical staff will no doubt be doing their best to fight or slow down the effects.

Lt’s McDade and Lacey are installing the computer programmes to get us back to real space if that’s what we have to do, and we have started loading the munitions in the required configuration. I have decided that in order to save Mars from probable destruction by 8472 if that is the way they choose to deal with the Borg infestation, that the Dauntless will eradicate all Borg life on that planet, and in the process hopefully save any non-assimilated at the same time, though those (if any) near the blasts will probably stand little chance. We will try out a new weapon in our armoury which effectively will product a massive EMP across a very wide band of data channels. I am of the opinion that they stand a good chance of disrupting the Borg implants killing the wearer. It is not a nice weapon, and I realise that the Borg we will hopefully kill will be recent members of the Federation, but if it comes to their use then it will be to safeguard the planet from destruction, so the inhabitants will be dead either way. If that weapon do4esnt work then we will use the nanite weapons developed by Lt’s Frank and Polvin.

The interviewing of PO Shaw continues without real progress – she is still claiming innocence and the only evidence available is in my head. But things will work out in the end.

Apart from that there is little to report during this time of preparations for battle and fighting the ship borne virus.

Log ends…

Stardate 20304.19

Stardate 20304.19

PO3 Shaw

After re-coding the trap that Shaw used to kill T’Casca, I have actioned the Engineers to disarm or bypass the rest of Shaw’s computer code traps. Following a strategy meeting with the investigating Security officers, I decided that the only way to get appropriate evidence from Shaw was to allow her to entrap herself., and the only way she would do that was if I spoke with her. We had a frank exchange, Shaw initially pleading innocence, until I informed her that I had the functioning chip and we had disarmed her traps. She then tried to initiate a T’Casca style trap upon me as I was the only one who was a real threat to her. Unbeknown to her we had isolated the computer links to that area and the trap failed to initiate, though by attempting it she had indeed provided the evidence I desired. Unfortunately at that moment I received a commbadge message and Shaw used some codes she had placed within the comm programme to override my badge security and enact the T’Casca trap, this time successfully. Fortunately however the work we had done in disarming the trap seemed to have had the effect of turning the trap upon herself, and she died a most horrible death. No blame falls upon my crew for this event. I carried out the re-coding in a fashion such that the environmental core protocols were unaffected. No doubt the changes had the ultimate effect we saw, but of course it was Shaw who caused the trap to be sprung. Further investigations will continue once the upcoming battle has been fought, based upon the chip contents.

Virus Cure Provided by 8472

True to their word 8472 have provided a cure for the crew from the residues of the alien incursion. Whilst it will not help the worst affected, and whom we have placed in double isolation to determine what can be done for them, it has enabled a large number of affected to return to light duties. I am somewhat disturbed that it was a result we could not ourselves have arrived at, but it is totally understandable in the time available to us and in a dimension quite unlike our own that our systems could not resolve the problem. Work will continue to see if we can cure the worse affected.

Preparations for Return to Real space

8472 have signalled their agreement to accompany us back to real space to engage the Borg. I have no illusions that this was arrived at for two reasons – one pure self interest on 8472 part, and maybe a small tinge of acceptance that it was their successful assaults in the delta quadrant that forced the Borg into the alpha. Whatever the reason, I am extremely glad that they are with us on this matter. The final preparations are being put in place to ready the ship. Apart from some problems with a few of the phaser banks, we are waiting upon a resolution of the scientific theory necessary to return us to real space, as it is apparently not a simple reverse of the procedure Lt Frank provided. It would also appear that her theories for returning us to real space were incomplete for the exact characteristics we have found here, and therefore theory adjustments are necessary.

Log ends…

Stardate 20304.22

Stardate 20304.22

The reversion to ‘real space’ was a success and 8 hours later, together with the 8472 fleet and as prepared as we can be, we are just entering the Sol System proper. There are already sensor indications of a battle in the vicinity of Earth. We count more than twenty Borg vessels in the system, as well as over seventy ships reading as Romulan. Fifty plus reading as Mirak, almost a dozen Tholian ships, a Federation Destroyer, a Federation Carrier, a Federation Light Cruiser and a Federation Immense Class Starbase. I just hope that together with our fleet it is enough, after 2 Borg ships destroyed the StarBase and Shipyards that once stood here.

If we live through this then it will be an interesting story to tell - so many races we hope united against the common foe.

Only time will tell.

Stardate 20304.30

Stardate 20304.30 In game time the following log covers the final battle of the allied fleets of the alpha quadrant versus the Borg Remnant in the Sol System

Just before we entered the Sol system I received a secret communication from Narret Rayne via the communications link I had established, basically informing me that he had been certified dead following an exchange of fire with the Tholians. That set the scene for what was to come – for me, it was the first death in a day of millions.

After briefing the crew and outlining our strategy – basically to destroy the Collectibe down to and including the last drone, we entered the Sol system. We could detect a large Allied contingent comprising over seventy ships reading as Romulan. Fifty plus reading as Mirak, almost a dozen Tholians ships, a Federation Destroyer, a Federation Carrier, a Federation Light Cruiser and an Federation Immense Class Starbase. Ranged against them were more than twenty Borg vessels, the Borg population on Mars, and some limited Borg forces on Earth itself though they were being engaged by Earth Defence Forces. Considering the damage they caused when they first arrived, it was clear that this day would be difficult as it was to prove.

My first action was to deploy our fighters and dropship to engage any Borg stragglers but mainly to reconnoitre Mars and determine the status of the Borg. Security and marines positioned for internal defence in case we are boarded. However the first taste of battle fell to the 8472 Fleet, when several of the bio-ships following the Dauntless leapt past the Battle Cruiser in an unco-ordinated attack on the nearest Borg wedge. The small group of bio-ships surrounded a lone wedge and began firing on it with their energy weapons, in a manner that they knew was expected to send the Borg vessel exploding apart in mere seconds. However, that's not what happened. The Borg ship lashed out against the attackers and obliterated one of the 8472 ships almost instantly, the others regrouped and continued the assault, but it was plain that the wedge was much more powerful than the cubes of old. 8472 were only now learning what we already knew – that the ‘new’ Borg was faster and stronger than those before.

We checked the effect of the attack on the Borg shielding, and the status of their at the abrupt corners of the Borg Wedge – it’s a known fact that Star Fleet avoid sharp edges because the shields are weaker at the point of change. The sensors results were not comforting. The shields hardly wavered and those slightly weaker at edges, they were still immensly strong.

After losing a bio ship on the initial attack, 8472 changed tactics and then began swarming the Borg vessel. We watched as a small group of the ships kept their distance and took up a circular position around a vessel facing the Borg wedge. In a move that caused some consternation at first, it appeared as though the circle of ships were firing on the bio ship facing the Borg vessel. However instead of the lone ship being destroyed, it appeared to channel the energy and gather it within for several seconds. A moment before the weapon fired, the bio ships attacking the wedge backed off and an energy discharge unlike anything the Dauntless crew had ever seen erupted from the nose of the bio ship and punched through the wedge with almost no effort. Moments later, the ship exploded in a gigantic green fire, catching several bio ships in its wake. Of the bio ships that had come through the rift with them, there were now only forty three remaining.

It was clear what we had seen – this was the planetary destructor that Janeway reported in her reports.

In order to use this weapon and afford a safe haven for their ships we analysed whether we could protect the 8472 behind our shield if they used the tactic again, but result was negative – the Borg ship explosive energy was greater than we could manage ourselves.

We headed for the next wedge and identified a badly damaged Federation Destroyer – The Yoritomo, Narret’s old ship – under attack. We moved in and launched our own attack, taking a couple of hits and many more some in return, but alas we didn’t penetrate their shields – it would take a sustained and powerful attack to bring them down. A 3rd Federation ship – the Agincourt - joined us but then the Yoritomo took another major hit; they abandoned ship and then the Yoritomo dived into the wedge destroying both ships and most of the evacuated crew in lifepods. Fortunately a Mirak vessel was in range and transported ~42 of their crew – over 450 died.

With battle taking place throughout out the system we scanned for other targets and then reports came in from our forces in the vicinity of Mars confirming that all identifiable life was Borg, and that 8472 ships were already enroute. Convinced that they planned to destroy the Borg and the Plant, we used a little used in-system micro-warp jump, and managed to get there with a 3 minute head start. We then used our new Electromagnetic Pulse torpedo’s which comprised a very localised conventional explosive-type effect followed by a massive electromagnetic pulse, powerful enough to ionise tissue, short circuit brain pathways, and overlord Borg electronic implants. Power systems and computer links were instantly fried, transmitters and receivers were left a total wreck. They were successful, and before any 8472 ships arrived, we had destroyed all Borg life signs on Mars. Whatever the morals of the attack, our action saved Mars from destruction.

We headed back towards the fighting and the latest reports showed Borg in various stages of malfunction, though by now our losses were steadily mounting. Some wedges were adrift, some erratic, and one functioning normally with the Gettysburg in tow, but with a sizeable allied fleet chasing after it. I decided to destroy wedges as we passed them enroute to Earth, but following a suggestion from the COS LtCol. Ecap and in light of the successes so far by the rest of the Fleet I decided to take the risk to quickly search for advanced technology. Wary of a trap we sent a heavily armed away team over with a team of engineers, and deployed the fighters and drop ship in reserve, in case a rapid recall was required by transporter. Initial reports from Ecap were that drones were in state of confusion and that from some of the screams it could be surmised that some of the drones were released from the collective. This created a dilemma and a difficult decision needed to be made – did we try and recover some only to risk them turning back to Borg and then attempting to take over the ship [likely], would their ship remain stable for long enough [unlikely], would they even want release with their experiences and body substitutions [unknown], or did we continue mission?

It was a decision that only I could make and I stand by my decision to order Ecap to continue the mission – in my view there was no other practical way to minimise the risk to my crew and continue to act against the Borg Collective. They may be confused but that could change in an instant to the detriment of us all. All Borg had to perish else they could come back stronger at a later date, enriched with knowledge of this engagement. It was now or possibly never. Obviously in hindsight people could criticise this decision, as no doubt they will over Mars, but it was comforting that there were no vocal objections from the Bridge, though probably amore than a few thoughts.

The Away team with LtCol Ecap and PO2 O’Connor find a likley location of interest and head that way, meeting little resistance enroute. A large quantity of Borg parts including a transwarp module, computers, panels, power relays and suchlike were recovered and are now under secure holdings onboard this ship. Immediately following the transport of the equipment the Borg consciousness became aware of the team, and now focussed on one thought they advanced, out flanking the away team. After a heroic defence, the Borg were still approaching and no transport out was possible due to a dampening field. At the last moment it appears that a Borg they had come into contact before but not killed by the Away Team transported them using Borg transporter technology onto the Dauntless Bridge. It also appears that the Borg thanked them for their release before transporting them and then initiating a self destruct. I can only assume that this was an act of kindness to the away team and an act of release for them - maybe at the very end they remembered who they really were – members of the Federation to the last.

On the way back towards the last remaining and functional Wedge, we had a final meeting with Admiral Jensen of 8472. They agreed to my compromise that we have a relay link between us in case of dire need, but that we will not visit them again. We will limit the spread of our knowledge and I stated that no ships with permission would bother them, and any ships that did were for 8472 to deal with however they wanted – maybe not ideal from our point of view but its their domain, and theirs alone to control as they wished.

By this time the sole wedge left that was towing the Gettsyburg seemingly malfunctioned and was destroyed. The Borg were finally defeated from the Sol System, and hopefully from the galaxy, but only time will tell.

After congratulating the crew and briefing them of developments we headed for the new StarBase and on the way, I receive another message from Narret indicating that he is in fact alive and on the Base – how can this be I cannot fathom. Following our docking in Berth C003, the crew are permitted to disembark, subject to a skeleton readiness crew remaining aboard.

First port of call is the Tavern where I find I have to extricate Narret from a charge that he is in fact a changeling.

Looking back I have to say that the crew and ship performed in a very credible way. Though we lost some important members of crew, we saved over 2300 personnel from the first StarBase that would otherwise have been dead or assimilated, contacted and forged a temporary alliance with 8472, returned to Sol, protected Mars from destruction and played our part in the destruction of this Borg attack.

All in all I guess the historians would say that this was a successful mission. Maybe I will as well, once the pain has gone and the casualties are processed. Who knows?

(Postscript)

Postscript

During the R&R Capt. Thrawn and LCdr McDade return to Mars ahead of the UFOP survey and investigative teams. The initial findings were tragic; drones dead and laying where they fell, mutilated by the implantation of Borg technology and replacement limbs. Whilst exploring the main civilian centre, Thrawn discovers warehouses full of large quantities of a local mineral that acts as an sensor interference source, and finds what he believes to be a Borg device for weakening the Earth planetary shields. McDade slips and stabs herself with a Borg nanite injector but is relieved when Thrawn scans the wound and injector and pronounces the nanites all inactive. Having had their fill of the centre, they head out into the surrounding countryside towards the McDade family home where they find 4 graves. Scouting around they detect signs of non-Borg life within a rock face, fractured by the Dauntless EMP torpedoes, and after opening a way into the sub-terranian caverns a group of 10 survivors are rescued, including her brothers (who were miners by trade) and some neighbours.