“A moment, Captain?”

The request from Kendris, just in how she said it, conveyed the sub-text of privacy without explicitly stating it. The subtle bitterness Tikva experienced from the Commander confirmed it. Romulan emotions weren’t as subtle as Vulcan emotions most of the time, or as bland thankfully, making them difficult, for her at least, to read. But it was there, the bitterness she associated with a particularly average cup of coffee, no sugar or milk.

At least when Lin wants privacy there’s sweetness to it.

Not, and I can’t stress this enough, the time.

Oh, come on!

She nodded to Kendris and led the way to the ready room, passing off the ship’s keys to Rrr as she passed the Gaen officer, who merely nodded as their large hand closed around the pointless little artefact. Their presence removed from the bridge, the door closed and privacy sought, she turned to Kendris as she perched herself on the edge of her desk. “You’re still concerned if I shouldn’t let Velan take the lead, aren’t you?”

“It is a concern, yes.” Kendris had stopped just far enough inside the doorway for the doors to close and hadn’t moved a centimetre further. She’d assumed a parade rest; hands clasped behind her back and was doing her best to convey the Respectful Officer look. “There is also the matter of the situation aboard the station in general, which I’m more concerned about.”

“A shielded Borg drone is hiding in the computer core,” Tivka said, nodding in agreement. She pushed off the desk, waving Kendris to sit down as she circled around and collapsed into her seat. Her own, elevated seat. “Honestly, we still don’t know enough, but I certainly don’t like the idea of a drone in the computer core of a station like CR-718.”

Kendris hovered on the balls of her feet for a moment, having started to move without thinking, stopped herself and then ultimately accepted the offer she’d been given, sitting herself down with a bit more control than Tikva’s flop. “Of concern is the Commander’s report that it was adapted to their weaponry. If it’s adapted, how are they planning on dealing with it?”

Tikva couldn’t help the chuckle that spilt forth as she shook her head. “Sorry, sorry,” she excused herself. “Remember that fight she had back on Handl Dryf? With Hor’keth.”

Kendris nodded in ascent. “The honour duel that was a mask to get the other Klingon captains to go along with your little impromptu task force.” Kendris smirked slightly in recollection. “An impressive, if barbaric fight.” Then she nodded her head once, slowly as points came together. “She asked for replicator plans for a spearhead and a sword.”

“Starfleet has more than a few reports that show Borg shields working wonders against energy weapons, but miserably against a good old fashion kinetic attack.”

“Why though?” Kendris asked. “Surely the Borg would have devised a counter to such attacks as well.”

“Probably, but think of it this way,” Tikva said as she sat forward. “You’re a hegemonising swarm, out to absorb interesting and unique species. Most of them will have warp drives, moved out into the galaxy and likely have shifted their personal arms to energy-based devices for a variety of entirely sensible reasons.”

“Because they’re less barbaric, less likely to punch holes in hulls, or have stun settings,” Kendris offered. “To name a few.”

“To name a few, yes. So, you, a hegemonising swarm have a choice – prepare for the most likely weapon systems you’re going to run into, or weigh yourself down trying to prepare for every weapon system imaginable.” Tikva chuckled again. “The Collective is not ready for a spear.”

“Surely the Collective’s response to physical combat would be to attempt assimilation. The target is after all coming to them.”

“Remember how long the spear was Lin used against Hor’keth?”

Kendris’ brow furrowed for a moment. “About her own height. So, a respectful distance.” She pursed her lips, considering the situation a moment. “I withdraw my concerns. Well, not entirely ma’am.”

“I’m not happy either, but Lin likely has a plan. Now we just have to wait and – “ She was cut off as the door chime sounded. “Enter.”

As the door hissed open, Gabrielle Camargo stepped in, followed by Rrr and Sam Michaels. “We figured out what the Borg want with the station,” Gabrielle announced. “And it’s not good.” She waited till the door to the ready room closed once more, nodded to Kendris and then continued. “I’ve also got a stop-gap solution, but I don’t think anyone is going to like it.”

Tikva raised a hand, bringing quiet to the room that was now bustling with people and an array of emotions. “Wind it back Gabs and start with what the Borg want with the station.”

Rrr cleared their throat and Gabrielle stepped aside. “There’ve been several interesting subspace communications from the station, none of them vital, but they’re what is leading Lt Michaels and I to think the Borg are attempting to gain access to the Federation subspace network. Particularly the Starfleet channels.”

Kendris beat Tikva to the punch. “Define interesting communications.”

“Access requests to purely civil databases. System queries that wouldn’t require access codes or are freely available. Network status requests that a station like CR-718 would make regularly.” Rrr’s tone was matter-of-fact, as was normal. “If I didn’t know better, I’d assume a run-of-the-mill hacker probing network defences with harmless calls out and seeing what gets a response so as not to arouse too much suspicion elsewhere. But looked at in total, very interesting because why does a Starfleet communications station need to know what the weather is like on Bajor forty-seven times in five minutes.”

“Why keep it up once we arrived though?” Tikva asked.

“Because we’ve given no indication we know what the drone is attempting to do.” Sam had jumped in, then stepped back almost immediately before Rrr waved her forward to continue. “It’s a stealth attack and we’ve only just put it together. We haven’t taken action, so why change it? A change in tactics might have alerted a network admin somewhere who might start refusing all communications with the station, then they tell other admins and suddenly 718 would be off the network. So, play it safe for as long as you can.”

“Makes sense,” Kendris agreed. “And once they’ve broken encryption and access codes, then they can inject messages or commands into the network and no one would be aware. The Borg could send a software update out to Starfleet and cripple all your ships.” She paused for a moment and smirked. “Again.”

“And just in case, I have already taken preventative action,” Rrr spoke up. “No software updates aboard this ship, thank you very much.”

“We have to warn the fleet.” Tikva looked to Rrr and Sam. “I want an alert going out right away.”

“We’d have to leave the system,” Rrr responded. “Since our brief communications with the station’s shuttle, CR-718 is now jamming all local subspace communications.”

“Fantastic,” Tikva said, unable to help the sarcasm dripping from the single word.

“We do however have an idea to stop the station communicating with the rest of the galaxy. For an hour or two at least.” Gabrielle’s eyes lit up as she smiled, taking the lead once more. “And we have the Dominion and the Klingons to thank for this idea.”

“I’m not going to like this am I?” Tikva asked.

“Not one bit ma’am,” Rrr answered for Gabrielle. “Or far, far too much.”