Cromwell had to admit, he was impressed. They’d already gone through three secured entrances with increasingly scrutinized security, and now were making their way down a narrow stairwell to the secured storage bay in Devol Outpost. A few more steps down and they’d be at the Borg artifact. Initially, he’d intended to only have Tamlin, Stravek, and DeMont come down with a couple of Engineers, but after his talk on the comms with Pavel… He felt like making an appearance might be a good idea. 

The two security officers took up posts on either side of an overly wide door and pressed their hands into biometric readers on either side. An alarm chirped and the door opened to an airlock chamber. Pete and company stepped inside and the doors closed behind them. 

“Verifying identify with deep DNA scan,” A computerized voice replied. 

Cromwell was a little surprised when he actually felt a light tingle as the scan started. 

Stravek arched an eyebrow and looked over at his CO, “At least they are taking possession of Borg technology… seriously,” He offered. 

Cromwell nodded, “I’ll give ’em that.” 

“Identities confirmed,” The computer chimed happily and the lights in the chamber brightened slightly as the doors at the other end of the airlock opened. 

Cromwell lead the way into the bay and fought back a shudder as his eyes fell on what was resting there: A twenty by twenty chunk of Borg cube that had apparently been blasted out of it’s home by something powerful. A couple of floors worth stood there, complete with several regeneration alcoves, and many of the systems chirping and humming along as if there weren’t any problems at all. 

Tamlin grabbed the arm of one of the passing techs, who scowled at her, “It’s active?” She could barely hide the shock in her voice. 

“Non-critical and non-integrated systems are activated in a specific order so that we can study how they work without posing any serious risk,” The young man’s tone was full of disdain and the look he gave Abby could have melted ice. He jerked his arm free and moved on without another word. 

Stravek walked up behind Cromwell and spoke quietly, “I’d like to rescind my previous comment.” 

The Commodore suppressed a snort, but gave the Vulcan a grin and a nod, “I’ll make sure to note that in my report.” 

The doors on the opposite side of the bay opened and Shrini Pavel walked through, anger radiating from every fiber of his being. He stomped over to Cromwell and glared up at the taller man, “What’s wrong, Commodore? Had to come and make sure I did as I was told,” He sneered. 

Cromwell crossed his arms and gave Shrini and unimpressed look, “Well, I wanted to come and see an old friend.”

“I am not your friend.”

“Shrini–”

“No,” Shrini spat the word as he stomped his foot and banged his cane into the ground angrily, “If you would follow the maliciously misinformed orders of the Federation and take away something that has allowed me to give so much back to scientific community and the people in our galaxy, then you are no friend of mine.” 

Cromwell’s face changed at that, and he stood up a little straighter, adding to the already substantial height difference between himself and Pavel, “Doctor Pavel, this Borg cube fragment poses a clear and present danger to you and your researchers. I’m not going to go into this argument again. Either you’re here to help us with the destruction, or you’re going to go back to your office and leave my officers alone.” His tone earned looks from his crew members present, surprised to hear their usually affable and friendly Commanding Officer speak in such a stern way. 

Pavel looked as if he wanted to argue more, but just huffed and aggressively waved Cromwell off before making his way out of the bay. Once the doctor was gone, Cromwell turned back to the rest of the scientists at hand, “The same goes from you. If you are not willing to help my engineering crew dispose of this threat, then you can go elsewhere and find something to do.” 

“You can’t order us around,” The tech that Tamlin had grabbed said, sharply.

“I am here under orders from the United Federation of Planets. As you work for the United Federation of Planets, I absolutely can tell you what to do. I can also confine you to quarters if you don’t feel the need to follow the instructions of the Federation. It’s up to you,” Cromwell’s tone left no room for argument. 

After a moment, the researcher threw down his PADD and left the bay, followed by a few more of his colleagues. Cromwell looked around at the remaining staff and nodded, “Thank you for being willing to see reason. We appreciate any help you can give us,” He said, his tone returning to it’s usually gentle timbre. 

There were a few nods around the room as the researchers turned to the Engineers from the Lafayette and started discussing plans. Cromwell waved Tamlin, DeMont, and Stravek over. 

“I’m going to head back up to the Lafayette and keep an eye on things from there. Let me know if there are any changes down here, or if Pavel comes back and starts anything,” He cast a look around at the researcher’s mulling about with the Engineering crew, “And keep an eye on them… make sure they don’t change their minds about helping, yeah?” 

“Yessir,” Tamlin replied, along with nods from the other too. 

“Good.” Cromwell stepped back and tapped his combadge, “Cromwell to Lafayette. One to beam up,” 

Tamlin watched as their CO disappeared into a shimmer of particles, then turned back to the Borg relic, nervously rubbing her palms on her pants as she looked at it, “I don’t even know where to start.” She lamented. 

“Logic would dictate we should start with turning it off,” Stravek offered. 

Tamlin chuckled, “Fair point.” 

“How have they kept it secure for so long?” DeMont asked, nervously. “With any systems running, I’d be afraid it’d start trying to assimilate the compound.” 

“We’re uncased in ten feet of tritanium, and surrounded by a tachyon dampening field. All of the equipment in this room is generating an auto-modulating distortion field, so the Borg systems can’t actually see what it is or recognize it as something to assimilate into,” One of the nearby scientists explained as she approached. “I know that Doctor Pavel can be… a lot. But he hasn’t been taking this lightly.” 

Tamlin looked over at the young woman, probably close to her age, and smiled kindly, “I hope you understand we’re not happy to take away this thing. The signal it’s broadcasting is breaching all of your careful security, and the Borg will find it.” 

She nodded, “I understand. I’m not eager to be assimilated. I just hate to see it go. We’ve developed a lot of really good things from studying its systems.” 

“Good things can come from dangerous origins. However, now the risk is too great,” Stravek gave the young woman and slight bow as he spoke. 

“I understand,” She replied. “I’m Melissa Rodriguez, second level research assistant here at Devol Outpost. I’ll help you disable the systems and figure out how to disassemble everything.” 

“We really appreciate that,” DeMont replied with a smile. 

He looked up at the cube fragment as the other three set to work understanding how the systems setup, shaking his head. It was huge… this was going to take a couple of days at least to finish properly. He knew that it was severed from the collective and free of any drones or assimilation tubules, but he still couldn’t shake the lead ball in his gut when he looked at the thing. He’d never thought he’d be this close to anything related to the borg – and he’d never wanted to be – but here he was.

“DeMont! Computer whiz, we need you!” Tamlin called. 

DeMont shook himself from her ponderings and gave her an apologetic smile, “Sorry, boss! Computer Whiz, present and accounted for,” He ran over to join his friends. 

The task was at foot, and all of them were feeling uneasy around the relic, even Stravek, but there was nothing to do but set to it. The faster the got it destroyed, the sooner they would never have to look at it again. And that felt just fine to all of them.