The Typhoon-class USS Zephyr soared through the blackness of space, arching closer to the Borg Cube while the smaller USS Olympic turned away in a coordinated retreat. On the bridge of the Zephyr, Commodore Geronimo Fontana sat in the center chair, eyeing the growing specter of the Borg cube. The proposal to power up one console on the cube had risen to his level. The vanishings were the topic of discussion across the galaxy, and answers remained elusive. Appearing out of nowhere, the cube was a haunting reminder of the need to find a clue to the unraveling mystery.
Lieutenant Kondo De La Fontaine at tactical reported, “Olympic has gone to warp and entered the containment zone. Deploying fighters.” The eight Valkyrie fighters would monitor the cube and be the first line of defense. Kondo added, “Transporter rooms confirm they have a lock on all team members. All equipment is on-site and ready.” He made the final adjustments to his tactical console. “Ready on your orders, sir.”
Fontana leaned forward in the center chair. Squadron commander was a large title, and it covered six starships and a station. In this moment, it was about taking a risk with a known enemy and unknown results. He wasn’t just responsible for his little corner of the rimward. His responsibility now extended to the galaxy and the universe. He mused, no pressure. “Signal the team. We are go.”
Lieutenant Elsa Drayton stood, pressed hard up against the metal wall, hands at her sides, clenched tightly. What they were about to do was incomprehensible in any other scenario. A month ago she would have walked off the job and back to civilian life. Or lodged a formal protest with every fiber of her being. Now, it was happening. They were about to activate a Borg console.
Lieutenant Solas finished the last adjustments to the generator and governor controls. “Your fear is illogical, Lieutenant.”
She huffed, “Don’t you dare. Remove your emotional mastery and you’d be right next to me.”
He stood, eyeing the rudimentary work they had done. “Perhaps. Coping with your fear is the only logical way forward. The Borg is, as you say, a constant in our lives. They will always return.” He tapped his badge. “Solas to Zephyr, we are ready.”
Elsa narrowed her eyes, annoyed at the truth from Solas. He was right, as he often was. If it wasn’t the Borg, it would be something else. Something to talk about with her counselor, she decided. For now, she was going to have to hope her metaphorical shields held through her facing whatever terror was about to be unleashed.
“Solas, you are clear to begin.”
He reached out and activated the generator. The hum of power kicked on, and the Borg console flickered for a few minutes until the power stabilized. The display worked through its startup sequence. Then, the voice.
“We are the Borg.”
Solas remained poised a few feet from the console. “I am Lieutenant Solas of the Federation Starship Olympic.”
“The Federation is no more. You lie.” A few clicks and the voice continued. “Limited sensors detect an error in the universe.”
Solas shared as much detail as he was allowed about the situation surrounding the vanishings. “The year is 2403,” he finished.
“This is an error. Our timeline is 2293. This error must be corrected.” More clicks and a few beeps. “We cannot access the Collective. You have done this. You will be corrected.”
Drayton inched forward. “If you’re from 2293, then you’ve traveled either through time or realities…or both. You are not the Borg we are used to seeing.” Solas glanced back at her, a look of Vulcan surprise in his eyes. She shrugged, keeping her distance.
“This is illogical. It is an error. This error must be corrected.” Another pause. “We do not detect V’ger. Have you removed the error of V’ger?”
Drayton’s eyes went wide and she took several steps back. “V’ger? What the hell?”
Solas tapped his commbadge, “Zephyr?”
Fontana’s voice came through crisp and clear. “We heard. Can you get it to elaborate?”
He turned back to the console. “We have not seen V’ger in our universe in a long time. Why do you know of it?”
“It is an infection. We joined it in its desire to cleanse the universe of the infestation of carbon-based lifeforms. It turned on us. We attempted to remove the V’ger infection. Our attempt failed. V’ger remains. We are the last of the Borg.”
Drayton muttered, “If that were only true.”
The Borg replied, “You speak as if we are not. Where are the rest of us? Why are their voices silenced? We will cleanse you of your nature.”
Solas placed his hands behind his back, an eyebrow raised. “It is curious that the programming of this Borg is much the same as ours, but still different. They desire the same ends, but with different means.” He turned on his heel to face Drayton. “If V’ger lives, they are a threat to us if they discover the path home.”
Drayton grimaced. “I did not have V’ger on my Dabo card. What do we do with…this?”
The Borg rumbled, “You will bend to our will. We will release you from your carbon-based form. They are inefficient and unequal.”
Solas shook his head in disappointment. “No. I will not allow that to occur. You will return to your universe. We will make sure of it.”
“The Borg cannot be-”
Solas stepped forward, tapping the generator’s power controls, turning it off. The voice of the Borg stopped mid-sentence, and the console faded to black. “We must return this cube and alert the rest of the rimward and beyond. This may not be the only trespasser from another universe. Other factions that do not have the Federation’s standards would seek to take advantage of such technology.”
Elsa shook her head in disbelief. “I didn’t think this could get any worse. Thanks for making my irrational fears much bigger, Lieutenant Solas.”
“You are in control of said fears, Lieutenant Drayton. Logically, whatever is causing the vanishings is also causing appearances. Deducing the pattern suggests there may be more to come.”
“That’s not helping, Solas.”
He raised both eyebrows. “I’m a Vulcan scientist, not a Starfleet counselor. It is not within my job description.”
Elsa rolled her eyes and tapped her commbadge. “Drayton to Zephyr, one to transport.” She vanished in a stream of transporter energy, leaving Solas to turn to the team and begin cleaning up.
