The room was dimmed in lights, and the panel interface reflected on the glass table with various PADDs on it. The Captain's jacket hangs on the chair as the stars pass the window in the Ready Room. The door opened as Yoon-Jung Ko walked into it, scratching her head, followed by Towalr and Sujian Deem. “Pass the transmission already into my office, Lieutenant Alavidze" Ko spoke into the bridge as the door closed. She sat down in her chair and faced the direction of the holographic interface.

As a figure appeared, the lights started to turn on at the holographic device. The figure is soon recognizable as Captain Ryoko Takato, the Task Force Commanding Officer of Task Force 86. She had her hands on her back and looked into the room. “Captain Yoon-Jung, Commanders Towalr and Deem.” Giving in a nod in their direction “Sorry for the sudden call.”

Ko shrugged a bit. “That is okay, Captain. It sounded urgent, so I gathered my First Officer and Chief Security Officer for this as you stated it had something to do with a security matter?" She crossed her arms slowly as she looked at the Captain before her. 

“Indeed it does, Captain” Ryoko confirmed. “Directive four has been initiated.”

“Directive Four?” Towalr looked puzzled at both Captains, not knowing what it meant. “I have not heard of this mandate?” 

A silence dropped when Towalr asked that, and a bit of awkwardness was felt. “It is the primary directive of the Fourth Fleet functioning. To react to any Borg presence that threatens the Federation's safety,” Sujian spoke, trying to hold his pose of standing at attention and trying not to roll his eyes. 

“Right, good to see some people know their fleet mission.” Ryoko nodded to Sujian and looked back at Ko. “Fourth Fleet Intelligence Office has been receiving disturbing reports in Beta Quadrant and more so in Delta Quadrant of Borg sightings. We do not know their goal before you ask what it is. But we like to be prepared for the Borg in any way possible. Learn from their behavior, be ready for anything, and if possible, prevent any aggression if they show it.” Ryoko shrugged a bit, knowing that the Borg was at their doorstep.

“The B-Borg?” Towalr manages to get out as with some fear in his voice. “Enterprise dealt with them! They shouldn't be a treat anymore?” 

Giving a slight nod, “We thought so as well. However, the reports are flooding in state something else. As I said, we do not know what their end goal is, why they suddenly start to cross their borders into the Gradin Belt or appear in Beta Quadrant. All we know is that we no longer can ignore it” Ryoko looked at Towalr and disliked the sight she was seeing, the coward without a spine. 

“So what do you want us to do?” Ko resumed and ignored the muttering Towalr who was cussing about upcoming dooms for themselves.

Ryoko looked back at Ko. “Well, I need to the Tokyo to move to Delta Quadrant as soon as possible. I know you guys started your job in the Deneb region, but this takes priority due to the nature of your ship function.” Ryoko took a  deep breath. “We need you to head to Delta-408, its a known graveyard in Delta Quadrant that has something you need to be able to continue your mission.” 

“And why would we enter such an area? What do we need to find at a graveyard?” Sujian asked, curious about the nature of their mission.

“The area is known to house Borg wrecked ships influenced by the neurolytic pathogen. The area is….a treasure cove for savager. So when you go in there, be on your guard, as we do not know how the Borg reacts or if the people present there have ill intentions.” Ryoko shrugged again, knowing she hadn't explained the mission clearly. "I need Tokyo to go in there and grab a sample of the neurologic pathogen."

“What! Are you crazy!” Towalr flared up against Captain Takato “You want to send us to certain death?!?"

“Contain your emotions, Commander. I do not appreciate your tone against me” Ryoko calmly stated. “Remember that this is not about Tokyo. This is not about you. This is about the lives at stake in the whole universe.” Ryoko defended her point “It is our duty to investigate the Borg's appearance and be prepared. Tokyo will get that element so that we are prepared.” 

The room got quiet as everyone knew what was at stake. Towalr looked in panic at everyone. “You've got to be joking right now?! Do you agree with such a setting of a mission? This is suicide! We are going into a hostile area to grab a sample?! Sending a Sovereign or Galaxy class! They are equipped for this!” 

Shrugging at Towalr's behavior, Sujian nods slowly. “It is not favorable for us to do this kind of mission, which can cause certain death for the crew.” He had difficulty backing Towalr up.

Rolling her eyes at that, Ryoko took a deep breath. “We are dealing with the shortage in personnel, equipment, and ships of the century. Yet you want me to send this mission to a ship that I do not have, that is more armed into a graveyard that could trigger gunfire or, even worse, signal for Borg backup?” 

“You need to look at the bigger picture. The Tokyo is well versed in armed weaponry to fend off some scavenger and fast enough to get out if shit hits the fan.” Ko looked at Towalr and Sujian. “Plus, it is our core duty to react to any Borg threats.”

“Exactly” Ryoko added, giving a stern nod toward Ko. “So, like it or not, Tokyo will move towards Delta Quadrant and have its gate open in a week. Get information from Starbase 38 and the DEI to get up to date with the current conditions and status in Delta Quadrant. Good luck. Takato out.” The hologram disappeared as the three stood there.

“You got to be kidding me…we will die if we enter that graveyard!" Towalr felt furious about the lack of common sense present in the room. But primarily disappointed in Starfleet, they would even dare to set up such a mission in the first place and left the room. “Madness!” He yelled while leaving.

Sujian shrugged, looking at the dramatic leaving of Towalr and wondering if it was an excellent choice to back him up against the Captains. He still had his little sister to consider in all this. “Well, I better get my Borg knowledge up to speed and training scheduled for the security team on how to deal with drones and such.” He looked at Ko. “Do you have any other orders?” 

She shook her head as she was still amazed by the dramatic exit of Towalr. “Please prepare everyone, check the armory, and get the weaponry tuned to potential Borg interactions. I will soon get a senior staff briefing ready for everyone to attend,” Ko said, taking a deep breath. “Dismissed.” As Sujian left the room, she tapped her comm. “Lieutenant Padgok, please plot an intercept course to Starbase 38 on the highest warp speed” 

“Aye, Captain.” A brief response came before the channel closed. So saw the star's direction change when the ship changed its course. “The Borg….why does it have to be the Borg” Ko shrugged and laid back in her chair.