“I don’t understand,” Captain Lewis snapped, the video link obscuring none of this displeasure. “We receive a distress call, and you’re taking the kid and her science ship in response?” It didn’t make a lick of sense to the old spook. Not with the Borg lurking.

“This thing with Beta Serpentis, it’s probably nothing,” Admiral Reyes reminded him. “But what you and the others are doing out here poking around the graveyard of Wolf 359, this might actually provoke them.” A Borg homing beacon had been activated here, and it didn’t just disappear of its own accord.

“Then why go to at all?”

“Because I’m curious,” Admiral Reyes admitted. “There’s not a hint of Borg activity out that way, and I trust that even Administrator Thoss doesn’t want to be assimilated, so it’s probably nothing, but that distress call didn’t come from nowhere. I want to know what prompted the call. It’s also an opportunity to extend a bit of an olive branch to our frigid friends.”

“At least take the Diligent,” Captain Lewis pleaded. He didn’t care one bit about extending an olive branch to a backwater colony, but what he did care about was the Borg. The Alita-class USS Diligent was a burly tactical interdictor, and Dorian Vox was a seasoned frontier CO who’d cut his teeth in the Romulan and Cardassian borderlands. If the Borg were involved, the Diligent would at least have a chance. The same could not be said for the Pathfinder-class USS Ingenuity and its baby of a CO who was still in diapers the last time a Borg Cube attacked the Federation directly.

“It was only a decade ago that the colony was threatening to leave the Federation,” Admiral Reyes countered. “Showing up with a warship sends the wrong message. As a guy who’s spent his life sneaking around, I’d think you’d get that as well as anyone.”

“Sure, but this isn’t a sneak and peek Allison,” Captain Lewis reminded her. “This is the Borg we’re talking about.” There was a deep sense of gravity in his plea. He didn’t understand why the Fourth Fleet was tiptoeing around the issue so lightly. They should have rallied the full might of Starfleet to respond.

“My mind is made up,” Admiral Reyes said as she crossed her arms in front of her chest. “I’m taking the Ingenuity, while you and the rest of the squadron continue to hunt for the Borg homing beacon.”

“Then at least take me with you,” begged Captain Lewis.

“You know I can’t do that Jake,” Admiral Reyes shook her head. How could he be so dim? As good a shooter as Lewis was, there was nothing one man could do if the Borg were involved. Plus, even if she wanted to take him, she’d been given strict instructions. “Fleet Command was very clear. No more skipping town for you until Drake is done with his investigation.”

“That’s a crock of shit, and you know it,” Captain Lewis snapped back. “There are more important things than some silly little JAG getting his rocks off interrogating me and my team for doing what needed to be done.” He would gladly lay his life down for the Federation, but sitting idle on account of orders from stupid bureaucrats while others risked their lives, that was where he drew the line.

“It is what it is,” Admiral Reyes replied flatly. She was not happy with the meddling of the new Task Force Commanding Officer, but she knew that if she ignored Grayson, the next call would be from Dahlgren or Ramar. She enjoyed relative autonomy, courtesy of her rank and tenure, but only so long as she didn’t become too great a thorn in their side. And Grayson had been clear where he stood on the matter.

Captain Lewis frowned. “You’re aware of Salvage Facility 21-J, right?” he asked, trying one last angle. “What if it is related?”

“It may well indeed be,” Admiral Reyes acknowledged. “And we’ll make sure to pay the old salvage depot a visit while we’re there.” The classified facility concealed within the dense gaseous upper atmosphere of Beta Serpentis IV had been where Starfleet had dissected and analyzed the Borg cube that had been destroyed at Wolf 359. “But that doesn’t change the fact that you and your team are staying put.”

“If you won’t take me or my team, at least take Dr. Brooks then,” begged Captain Lewis. “He’ll be far more familiar with the Borg tech in that facility than any of the children on Cora’s ship.”

“That much I can do,” Admiral Reyes agreed. It made sense to take the brilliant and seasoned scientist, but she didn’t appreciate how Lewis spoke of Commander Lee and her crew. They’d proven themselves in the Battle of Nasera, and then again with the incredible work they’d done rebuilding and supporting the people of Nasera III in the aftermath, and while they might not fit the Captain’s definition of an ideal officer, neither did he fit the definition of an ideal officer by most people’s standards.

“Thank you. And I just hope you’re right Allison.”

“As do I Jake, as do I,” Admiral Reyes nodded solemnly. Their conversation had reinforced the dangers of the web they’d found themselves within. “And if I’m not, do keep your ear to the ground and your hand on the throttle, because if things go south, and we may need you all, and fast.”

“I always will.”

Admiral Reyes hung up the link and glanced out the window. She could not shake the feeling that the Borg were out there, lurking in the darkness that lay beyond. She’d seen the reports. The Collective was up to something. But what? And was she making a foolish choice splitting up her new squadron like this?