Sam and Lynn Schneider, the two unplanned passengers, were watching the holo-newscast when the Doc popped in to check on them. It had been almost a week since they had come aboard.
“Hi kids, how are you doing this afternoon?” The exocomp asked as she hovered into her quarters. Considering how tight things were with the brig and guest quarters being used as holding cells the CMO had offered the use of her quarters to the children and she and her Physician’s Assistant Patron took turns checking on them throughout the day. The ship also had a small enough crew that Starfleet had daned a Counselor unnecessary.
“Ok.” Lynn said.
“It would be nice if the news actually told us what was going on. All they’re reporting on is shipping delays and peoples transport reservations being cancelled.”
“Starfleet is on the case Sam. A ship has been assigned to the search for your parents, and we should be getting to Starbase 80 in about 9 days. So it won’t be long. Have you two eaten yet?” Doc Lady asked as she hovered over to the dining room table and landed gently and shut down her repulsors. “Ahhh, it’s nice to get out of the air and just chill.”
“This is the same report from before…go ahead and watch what you want Lynn, I’m going to the gymnasium for a bit.” Sam said angrily as she stood and made for the door.
“Alright, make sure you stretch first before pumping iron. We can have dinner when you get back.” The doc said to the 15 year old before he left.
“Sammy always lifts weights when he gets mad…computer play Fenris Ranger 2500, episode…ummmm four.” Lynn said as the computer chirped a response and the opening credits of the new holo-cartoon began playing on the large display in the living area.
“Oh great, I haven’t seen this one.”
“You watch cartoons too,” the seven year girl turned and asked the robot.
“Yeah, of course I do. Trin and 101 is my favorite…sure you don’t want a snack?” Doc lady referred to the weekly cartoon series about a Tellarite and Binar that were trapped on a freighter alone in deep space and met new friends and/or enemies each episode.
After about an hour Sam came back to find the exocomp deftly braiding his sister’s hair, with a plate of mostly devoured fish tacos on the coffee table.
The Niagara had been delayed, picking up a few dozen more Displaced.The April was now on course to intercept the drifting freighter, and would have to rendezvous while they were en route to SB80. Commander Fields entered the bridge from the rear and walked directly over to the Captains chair and handed Danny a padd.
“Just got this from some folks at Intel. Looks like you were right, they aren’t sending us on a milk run.” The middle aged man said in his customary cowboy drawl.
“The Borg? This crisis just keeps getting wilder and wilder it seems.” Wong reviewed the info and then passed the device over to Gallifray who was standing to his right.
The mention of the Borg caused all other chatter to cease in the usually bustling nerve centre of the Heavy Escort.
“The Borg sir?” The Demi-God Ingram inquired from the Ops console in front of the Captain.
“It appears so Commander. Life signs on the freighter are consistent with borg signatures from our universe. The ship is definitely Displaced, and long range sensors are picking only low level power emissions. Our orders remain the same, intercept the vessel and return its inhabitants to Starbase 80 to be returned to their own quantum reality. Lets work the problem people.” Wong stood.
“I find myself wondering what type of Borg they might actually be though.” Gallifray finished reading the padd and passed it back to Wong. After all, if they were Displaced Borg, there was no way for them to know if they were friendly and docile or ravenous assimilators of worlds.
“Lt. Dish, I want you to confirm these sensor readings as soon as we’re within range. Everyone else, let’s come up with some options. Commander, prepare your team, I have a feeling your services will be needed yet again.” Wong ordered before stepping over behind the T shaped Helm/Ops console.
“Aye aye sir.” LtJG Samantha Dish replied from the science console directly to the right of the Captains chair.
“What’s our ETA to the target Lasage?”
“One hour, fourteen minutes sar.”
Ingram turned in his seat, “Do our orders mention anything about the freighter itself sir?”
“Nothing specific, it seems as though inanimate objects aren’t a main concern for the Loom, its mostly people and corrupted timelines. Why, what are you thinking Vaughn?” Wong asked his Second Officer.
“What if, instead of trying to wrangle a bunch of drones into our holding cells, why don’t we just use the freighter itself as the cell.” Ingram smiled.
“Swoop by, snatch the whole thing up with a tractor beam and drag it to Starbase 80.” Fields added from behind them.
Gallifray chuckled, “Marvelous.”
Wong gave Ingram a light slap on the shoulder, “You, Tesa, and Boffo get working on a plan to tow that freighter.”
“We’ve been pushing the engines real hard sir. That’s another 40+ light years of heavy hauling. We’d risk blowing an injector assembly or a coolant manifold. The ships only 7 months out of the construction yard Cap. The warp core, engines, and power distribution systems are all barely broken in yet.” Mee IH squeaked wearily from his pool at the back.
Wong turned to strategic ops and intel veteran Fields, “Any other ships nearby that could help with the tow if necessary?”
“Nah, not until we get a lot closer to 80. The closest was the Niagara, and we’ve been heading in the opposite direction, since they missed the rendezvous.” Fields replied. The Fleet plot of ships in the area appeared like a quarter of a hemisphere with all the vessels streaking towards Starbase 80 like spokes on a wheel. Since the April had been on fugitive roundup duty, they were among the further ships away from the portal that was the focal point of the crisis.
