The alarm shook Captain Wren Walton from her sleep. Blearily, she tapped at the end table console, “Wren here; what is it?”  In the darkness, the overnight commander, Lieutenant Commander Danny Parks, informed her there was a priority one message from the Task Force Commander.  “It’s two am….what the hell.  Give me a second.”  She shuffled out of her warm bed and slipped on a uniform from the shelf, shuffling to the desk station in the corner of the darkened room.  The lights came up slowly at her command as she pulled her hair together, “Put him through.”

Captain Geronimo Fontana appeared, a concerned look on his face.  “Wren, sorry for the early wake-up.  We need you in the Delta Quadrant.  A message came through the wormhole a few minutes ago regarding some odd activity about a Borg ship.  You’re next door to the wormhole.  We’re ordering you to the Delta Quadrant to investigate.  More information will be available at the Markonion Outpost…but you gotta go now,” he glanced at his watch, “…like now.  I wish I had more.”  The channel closed before she could respond.

“Goddamn Fontana.”  She tapped the console on the desk, “Captain Walton to bridge – set a course for the wormhole, maximum warp, and engage.  Wake up the senior staff and get them to the briefing room.  While you’re at it…get us a couple of buckets of coffee.”

“Borg?”  Commander Park was the first to ask, her eyes widening, “That’s…new.”  She sipped soothingly at her cup of coffee doctored with cream and sugar.

Walton held out her empty hands, “Captain Fontana sent us what information they had received, but the classified word is…it’s not just in the Delta Quadrant that things are heating up.  Scattered reports across systems and sectors are pushing the Fourth Fleet to action.  The Mackenzie’s been to the Delta, so we’re being ordered to return.”

Kondo De Fontaine sighed, “It was not a…positive experience for us.  We made some new enemies in our time there.”  He looked to Cardamon, “It is fortuitous we have our Voth along for the ride.”

Cardamon smiled nervously, ‘It is…going to be interesting returning to my home quadrant, Captain.  I will help in whatever way I can.”  He took a long drink from his mug.  He had discovered coffee and found it agreed with him.  He had found out the hard way not to drink it close to his sleep time.  That had been a disaster.

Wren gave him a nod of thanks, “The other bump in this road is our new crew.  Over half of them are recent cadets or fresh ensigns from Bravo.  That shakedown cruise is going to have to happen in the DQ…and I don’t have to warn any of you how important it is to work on preparing them for what’s out there.  We’re arriving at the wormhole in ten minutes and are slotted to jump ahead of whoever’s in line, so it’ll be quick.”

Park said, “We’ve drafted a suggested training schedule for your teams – we’ll be begging and borrowing to cover shift schedules while we get as many of our new people up to speed on the Borg and the Delta Quadrant.  You’ll need to brief your teams on the way.” She looked around the table, “This isn’t what we imagined our first mission with a new crew.  We’ve got a mystery to investigate.  Let’s get to it.”  The crew quickly cleared out, leaving Park and Walton staring at each other.

Park broke the silence, “Borg…I’ve never had the pleasure.”

Walton understood.  “I’ve never had direct engagement with them.  It’s going to be a new experience for most of us.  How are you feeling about it?”

Her XO threw her hands up, “I’m nervous and scared, Wren.  Starfleet just nearly lost everything to the Borg and the Changelings.  We will be alone out there…facing one of the most resourceful and challenging enemies.  They’re the story parents tell kids to scare them into acting right.  Only they’re not a story – they’re a real threat.  With teeth.  Stabby teeth.”  She chuckled at her joke, and Wren returned the smile.

“We don’t know what the future holds, Park.  We only know that we have a place in it, somewhere.  What happens in the next act, or chapter…that’s up to us and those we serve with.”

“…and the Borg.”  Park leaned on the chair before her, “I don’t know if we’re ready.”

Wren shrugged, “There are many examples of captains and crews that weren’t ready…but somehow managed to survive and make a difference.  Push, pull, or drag.”

Park chuckled, “You’re going to be dragging my ass across the finish line, aren’t you?”

“Whatever it takes, Commander Park.”  She watched her XO stand at attention and leave the briefing room.  The Delta Quadrant was just minutes away.  She was asking herself the same thing.  Was she ready?

Was she?