The USS Carlsbad is holding position near the Borg Cube, a silent guardian tithe Vaadwaur patrol ship just outside the quasar perimeter. Lieutenant Bradley has his eyes glued to his tactical board, monitoring that Vaadwaur ship. Captain Skyrunner is sitting in his command chair, concerned that his salvage team is stuck out in the open. Kirok taps a key on his command chair.

“Carlsbad to Commander Lionel, status report?”

“Lionel here sir. Kaelara and Catersha say that the Cube is almost fully operational in about fifteen minutes. Kaelara and Vora are making sure all command and control systems are still operational on the Cube. What is going on over there?”

“A Vaadwaur patrol ship just appeared from Underspace. They are not moving into the quasar yet. They are holding their position just outside where the Underspace aperture allowed them to exit. They are conducting a full sensor sweep of the area, almost as if they are looking for something.”

“Kaelara here Captain. I suspect they might be tracking the transwarp drive energy signature from the Cube. It is too massive an energy signature to fully mask.”

“Damn it! Kaelara, you and Aramis need to get that Cube operational very soon and be ready for combat the moment you do. Send back anyone who is not essentially needed now. I get the feeling that once the Cube becomes operational, the Vaadwaur will detect it and move to attack. I’m moving the ship behind a heavy gas cloud, hopefully to flank the Vaadwaur.”

“Understood sir.” There was a moment of silence, then Aramis came back on the channel. “Captain, everyone here is staying. Go ahead and move the ship. The Cube is ready to come online now.”

“Very well Away Team. When the Cube comes online, bring the weapons online and hold your position. I want to use the Cube as bait to lure the Vaadwaur ship in close. Once they get close, I want you to attack the Vaadwaur ship, only light damage. Do not destroy it! We will need it later. Kaelara can have her tactical drones go after their crew, we will need the information their senior officers have. Assimilate them, if needed Kaelara. This is war. Understand?”

Aramis and Kaelara both responded. “Yes, Captain. Your orders are crystal clear.”

“Very well. Carlsbad out.” Kirok looked at Lieutenant Bradley. “Vaadwaur ship status?”

Bradley looked at his board. “Still holding position as before. Their shields and weapons are powered down, sir.”

“Red Alert! All hands to Battlestations!”

The USS Carlsbad’s bridge officers and the whole ship’s crew erupted into a whirlwind of activity as the ship went into Red Alert. The gentle hum of the ship’s systems gave way to a cacophony of sounds, as consoles beeped, alarms blared, and the ship’s intercom crackled to life. The lights throughout the ship shifted to a deep red hue, casting a dramatic glow over the consoles, crew members, on every deck, imbuing the ship’s interior with an air of urgency and tension. The piercing wail of the Red Alert klaxon sliced through the ship’s corridors and compartments, its urgent tone demanding attention and echoing off the bulkheads.

On every deck, crew members sprang into action, their training and drills kicking in as they responded to the emerging threat. The ship’s corridors, once quiet and still, were now filled with the sound of rushing footsteps, the rustle of uniforms, and the murmur of voices as the crew hurried to their stations. In the engineering section, Lieutenant Williams led the engineering team. They scrambled to reroute power and prepare the ship’s systems for potential combat. Doctor Zorvath T’Koren prepared Sickbay for casualties and activated all the ship’s teams, coordinating with the ship’s Security department.

On the main viewscreen, the swirling clouds of gas and dust within the nebula churned and pulsed, like a living entity. Tendrils of ionized gas stretched out like ethereal fingers, casting an otherworldly glow over the bridge. The viewscreen displayed a kaleidoscope of colors, with vibrant purples and blues dominating the spectrum, punctuated by bursts of intense radiation that flashed like lightning. The ship’s defensive systems, including shields and weapons, began to power up, their energy signatures crackling with anticipation. The hum of the warp core grew louder, its vibrations transmitting through the ship’s hull like a gentle tremor. The crew’s movements became swift and precise, their faces set with focus as they worked to assess and respond to the situation.

“Helm, move us away from the Cube and hide us behind that heavy gas cloud at coordinates 298 mark 009. One half impulse. Stand by on shields and weapons,” ordered Captain Skyrunner.

“Aye sir,” the navigator and tactical officers replied at the same time.

Kirok smiled slightly as his bridge officers were working as a single unit, almost as efficient as the Borg. Captain Skyrunner sat in his command chair, his mind racing on several ways the coming battle, with the nosy Vaadwaur ship, could go and he was trying to anticipate moves the enemy ship would use. His plan relied on the Vaadwaur ship to get close to the Cube, so that the Carlsbad could circle around behind them, sandwiching the Vaadwaur ship between them and the Borg.

“We will be in position in a couple minutes sir,” reported Ensign Nguyen from her navigator position.

“Very well. Steady as she goes Ensign.” Kirok tapped his comm badge. “Captain to Engineering?”

“Engineering, Lieutenant Williams here.”

“Lieutenant, once we get into position, shut down all main systems to reduce our power signature,” ordered the Captain.

“Understood sir, Williams out.”

Captain Skyrunner continued to look at the viewscreen, watching as the ship slowly moved to hide behind a gas cloud, like a spider waiting for a fly.

***

Commander Aramis Lionel and Kaelara stood in one of the most inner areas of the Borg Cube. Catersha stood in front of what looked to be a ship’s systems console. Sorvath stood next to Kaelara, in charge of deploying the tactical drones.

“Kaelara? Catersha? Are we ready to go,” Aramis asked. Both women nodded in agreement. “Kaelara, power her up.”

The Borg Cube ship stirred to life, its dark, angular surfaces crackling with energy. The air around it seemed to distort, as if reality itself was bending to accommodate the vessel’s awakening power. The Cube glowed with an otherworldly greenish light, pulsating in rhythm with the ship’s systems coming online. As the Cube’s power grew, its hull began to hum with a low, ominous vibration, like the growl of a predator stirring from a deep slumber. The ship’s power conduits flared to life, discharging massive amounts of energy that arced across its surface like electrical discharges. The Cube’s systems were now online, and it was ready to unleash its full fury upon the universe.

Vora was studying her console closely, tapping keys, reporting her findings. “The Cube is at full power Kaelara. We are ready.”

“Sorvath, send five squads of drones to each of the other Borg ships and start working on powering them up. Vera, power up the shields and weapons. Catersha,” Kaelara looks at Aramis, then back to Catersha. “One quarter impulse power, ahead slowly.”

Catersha looked at Aramis for order confirmation. Aramis simply nodded to her. Catersha nodded acknowledgement and entered commands. The Borg Cube slowly lurched from its sleep, moving forward slowly.

“Vera, can you tie us into the probe at the edge of the quasar nebula,” Aramis asked.

Vera nodded and started typing commands into her console. Seconds later, the sensor data from the Carlsbad probe left at the end of the nebula was shown on a holographic display hovering in front of Kaelara.

“The probe is showing the Vaadwaur ship has detected our power signature and has started moving towards the nebula, on an intercept course,” Vera reported.

“I see, let them come. The Captain’s plan seems to be working,” Commander Lionel said. “Ready weapons and the tractor beams. Grab that ship the moment we can, to avoid them escaping.”

Vera glanced at Kaelara, who gestured for her to comply. Vera started typing in commands. “Yes Commander. Weapons ready. Tractor beams standing by. The Vaadwaur ship just entered the nebula. Estimated time for intercept is two hours seven minutes.”

“Increase to half impulse power,” ordered Aramis.

“Aye sir,” Catersha said, increasing the Cube’s speed.

“Intercept time is now forty five minutes,” Vera reported.

“Now we wait for the fly,” Aramis mentioned, more to himself than anyone else.

Kaelara said, “as soon as the Vaadwaur ship’s shields are down, we should engage the tractor beam and beam over five hundred tactical drones to assimilate the crew.”

“That is the plan,” Aramis mentioned. “Fortune favors the bold…”

***

Captain Rodriguez was sitting in the pilot’s seat of the runabout, just watching the constant sensor scans of the Vaadwaur ship.

“These guys are being very thorough with their scans. That is the fifth full sensor scan now,” Captain Rodriguez mentioned.

Aximo, sitting in the auxiliary pilot seat, confirmed what she said. “Yes, they appear to be looking for something.”

Suddenly, her sensors bleeped. She tapped some keys on her sensor screen.

“I’m reading a transwarp power signature inside the quasar nebula,” Sophia said. “I guess Captain Skyrunner found the Borg ships and managed to get the Cube powered up.”

Aximo studied the sensor display. “The Vaadwaur ship has powered its engines and set a course inside the nebula, Captain.”

“Interesting,” Sophia said. “I wonder what my husband is planning. Since the Vaadwaur ship moved into the quasar nebula, I think it is safe for us to move into the nebula and hopefully link up with the ship.”

Captain Rodriguez looked at Aximo. Aximo considered it for a few seconds, then responded.

“I agree, Captain. As long as we are out here, we are at a high risk of being detected and killed. Plus, we don’t know if any more Vaadwaur ship’s will emerge from Underspace.”

“Good. Let’s get home.”

Sophia powered up all systems and engaged thrusters. The runabout slowly lifted up from the asteroid’s surface. When the runabout had gained enough altitude, Sophia engaged its impulse engines and slowly moved the runabout forward, then accelerated to full impulse to the quasar nebula.

***

Commander Makra was sitting in his command chair, going over the last sensor scans when the science station console started beeping for attention. Sublieutenant K’rhon tapped his control panel, reading the display.

“My lord, the ship’s scanners have detected a transwarp emission coming from inside the nebula.”

Commander Makra looked over to his science officer.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes Commander, I double checked the scans.”

“Navigator, move us towards it, full impulse speed,” Commander Makra ordered.

The Khral’Shak moved through space, slowly approaching the quasar nebula and the source of the transwarp emissions.

***

“Captain, our sensor buoy has detected the Vaadwaur has powered up her engines and is moving towards the quasar nebula at full impulse,” Lieutenant Bradley reported, looking at his Tactical console.

Kirok’s interest was piqued. “What is the Vaadwaur ship’s course?”

Bradley checked his console.

“They are on course for the Borg Cube sir. ETA is less than forty minutes.”

A small smile crept on Captain Skyrunner’s face.

“Very good. Looks like the Vaadwaur ship is taking the bait. Tactical status of the Vaadwaur ship?”

Bradley checked his sensor data, then reported, “their shields and weapons are still offline.”

Kirok sat back in his command chair, muttering, “so far, so good.”