The sun began to rise, casting a warm glow over the bustling cityscape of Earth as April 12th, 2401, dawned upon the planet, and the galaxy. On this momentous day, the USS Venture, a sleek starship renowned for its exploration missions, stood proudly among the Frontier Day festivities.

Inside the Venture’s command center, Captain T’Prynn stood at the helm, her steady gaze surveying the scene before her. With her were her trusted senior staff, a group of skilled officers who had weathered countless challenges together. Among them were the tactical genius Oliver Darwin, the resourceful Chief Engineer Zel, and the brilliant science officer Mara Shepard.

Today was no ordinary day for the Venture and her crew. They were about to embark on a historic endeavour, preparing to activate the cutting-edge Fleet Formation automated system for the first time. This advanced technology would revolutionize starship operations, streamlining efficiency and enhancing coordination among fleet vessels. Venture had been chosen to be in squadron one of the formation, alongside greats such as the Jaresh Inyo and the Enterprise herself for this momentous occasion, and the crew felt a mixture of excitement and anticipation.

As the crew prepared the ship for the activation of this technological marvel, a sense of purpose and unity permeated through the Venture. Each officer carried out their duties precisely, knowing that their peers and superiors would closely watch their actions. The ship’s systems hummed with eagerness, the air tinged with a mix of nervous energy and unwavering determination.

“Whilst I do not partake in the celebration of somewhat trivial events from history, it is truly remarkable that Starfleet has managed to muster so many vessels at one location,” the Vulcan captain remarked to no one in particular as she glanced out of the viewscreen at the sea of Starfleet vessels out there, among the home system of the Federation, in orbit of the very planet where the Federation had been born all those centuries ago.

“It’s bloody stupid if you ask me. How in the hell did command approve something like this?” Oliver said out loud, as he looked at the PADD he held in his hand. He looked up to see if anyone was staring at him before he looked back at the PADD. “This fleet formation mode seems too…” he said pausing.

T’Prynn spun in her chair slightly to gaze across at the tactician, raised eyebrow and all.

He looked up to the Vulcan captain before continuing. “Too Borg, Captain.” He said while still holding the PADD he had. “I can’t be the only one who thinks this,” he said looking at the other officers on the bridge. “This is a disaster waiting to happen. Mark my words,” he said as he stood up from his chair and walked over to StratOps carrying the PADD he was just looking at. He knew that it had already been over thirty years since that dreadful day where so many had lost loved ones including him.

Mason, standing in front of his chair with his arms crossed, also looking out at the sea of Starfleet vessels gathered for this prestigious event, chuckled a bit and looked to T’Prynn smiling. “Always the optimist of the group, Oliver.” 

Though if Mason were being truthful to himself, he’d be lying if he didn’t have reservations about this new technology. He has seen and gone over the technical data and specifications several times, but that didn’t stop the gnawing feeling in the pit of his stomach that automating the fleet was somehow a bad idea. Maybe the feeling was because of giving up control, or maybe it was because it may be a precursor towards making crewed ships unnecessary. In either case, Starfleet seemed very invested in this new future and it was his duty to carry the flag, regardless of his personal feelings.

“I am certain the engineers among us would go to great lengths to disagree,” the Captain countered, spinning once more to look towards the Trill at the engineering station for a little clarification on the matter.

Kazjra could feel her captain’s eyes on her, but she didn’t immediately look up from her console. She caught herself shaking her head and turned it into an awkward roll of her neck instead. “The hardware and software they built for this new protocol are really…”

She paused, stuck at the crossroads of admiration and fear.

“Really something else,” she finished. “I wish I had time to pick this code apart line by line. I just don’t–”

Kazjra cut herself off again. The actual optimist of the group was finding it difficult to air her misgivings in a “glass half full” kind of way, so she fell back on an old proverb from her youth that said, “If you can’t be kind, be direct.”

“The safety overrides are essentially nonexistent,” she spat.

“Pfffft!” Ensign Kedam smirked, folding her arms across her chest and swinging on her chair at the auxiliary science station. “Who needs safety overrides? This is Starfleet, nothing ever goes wrong,” she smiled playfully.

Oliver chuckled slightly looking towards the young officer. “She has a lot to learn.” he said before turning his attention back to the display in front of him.

“Commander,” the Vulcan turned to the XO, “report our position and inform Command that Venture stands ready to join the formation.”

Mason looked to the Captain and nodded, “Aye, Captain, transmitting to Command now.”

Watching the momentous occasion on the viewscreen, the Captain and her senior staff marvelled at the sight of the mighty Enterprise-F manoeuvring out of the enormous space doors of Starbase One against a backdrop of joyous explosions of colour. It was a sight to behold, for certain. With the ship moving into formation with the rest of Starfleet’s assembled forces, the flagship moved into position less than a hundred metres from Venture’s dorsal hull.

Over the speakers across the ship, Admiral Shelby’s voice filled the airwaves with her speech reminiscing about the maiden voyage of the first warp-five starship, the Enterprise NX-01, two hundred and fifty years ago. Inspirational quotes about the eighty-three souls on their journey that would lead to the eventual creation of the United Federation of Planets and Starfleet itself. Then came the announcement of the show-stopping piece of technological advancement, Fleet Formation. Synchronistic technology that allowed every ship in the fleet (or at least those assembled) to operate as one, providing a formidable armada of defensive unity. T’Prynn gave Mora the nod, the Bolian informed command that Venture’s systems had been brought online.

Watching the scene unfold before them, the crew were suddenly taken aback by the emergence of the USS Titan on the edge of the system, seemingly late to the party. Within seconds, the fleet communications array chirped to life and the aged voice of one of Starfleet’s most famous faces filled the airwaves. Instead of the message of hope and peace that was expected, the man’s voice came with a stark warning; somehow, somewhere, Changelings had apparently helped the Borg to infiltrate Starfleet. Even the normally stoic and measured Vulcan in command of Venture couldn’t help but show tension lines on her porcelain face as she listened and rose to her feet.

Suddenly, the communications channel cut out and a piercing screech filled the bridge.

“Captain,” the Bolian at Ops called out, “the sensor array is picking up a massive energy spike emanating from Jupiter.

“Commander Zel,” the Vulcan spun on her heels, “can you disconnect us from Fleet Formation?”

If the angry chirps coming from her console were any indication, Kazjra was already trying. And failing. She shook her head in frustration. “Not from here, Captain. Permission to try from Main Engineering?”

T’Prynn nodded, and Kazjra darted for the turbolift and left the bridge.

Seconds later, the LCARS panels across the bridge started to flicker, the red of the alert status replaced with an eerie, all too familiar green.

At the sight of the all too familiar Borg signalling, the Captain was about to look across at Commander Darwin and give her orders when she caught sight of Ensign Kedam. Standing beside Lieutenant Shepard, the young Cardassian was looking very uneasy on her feet, shaking. Her eyes were black and her veins pronounced.

“Lieutenant Shepard, step away from Ensign Kedam calmly and carefully,” the Captain advised her scientist, but in a tone that suggested it was more of an order.

Mara had been quiet until the moment Ensign Kedam began to change. Per the captain’s orders, she backstepped from the ensign, keeping watch as the Cardassian’s eyes and skin turned. The science officer scouted the bridge to find that Kedam wasn’t the only one affected. “What the feck?”

Mason stood and watched as more of the younger bridge officers began to show the same symptoms as Ensign Kedam, their eyes and veins turning black, then said aloud to everyone that was unaffected, “Arm yourselves, set phasers to stun.” He then turned to T’Prynn and said, “Captain, we need to go, we’re out numbered here.”

Only a few seconds went by before all of the affected crew members stood and turned around from their stations to face the unaffected officers, all saying aloud in unison as they grabbed phasers, “Eliminate all unassimilated.”