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Star Trek Athena: The Prophecy - crobato
:: 06/07/01 ::
Chapter 5
Inside an asteroid belt, two Shadow class intruder ships lay hidden in phased cloak mode.
Major Riana still smarted from her recent demotion from previous rank. Evidently the rest of the Tal Shi'ar had discovered that the second Prometheus class vessel managed to escaped destruction, even though she swore the self destruction mechanism went off on the Athena. She could not understand what happened. She deemed herself ortunate that she kept command of the Shadow class IRW D'PakThau. They were still satisfied with her performance in battle, nonetheless. Priority in capturing or destroying he Prometheus class vessel, however, had slackened among the upper hierarchy of the Tal Shi'ar, realizing that even if the Athena is destroyed, the Section will still build another like her. The conclusion was that it would be better to spend vital resources in designing and building a new ship that can counter Section intruder vessels. They should have concluded that before they sent her off into that vain mission.
"We're being hailed. It's from Colonel Raek aboard the D'Durandal," said her Operations officer.
The window in her screen. "It's always pleasant to see your lovely face, Riana," Raek said. "I hope you are ready for this."
"We have installed the scanner design you have obtained from the Federation. According to what you have told me, Colonel, I hope for the sake of the Star Empire, it is not true." Riana said. "Has the device been tested?"
"Yes we have tested," Raek said grimly. 'Unfortunately, it works and everything said is true. That's only as far as you need to know, Commander."
"While I have shot at my people before, it was never at this scale."
"If a Romulan has been assimilated, he is no longer Romulan despite his appearance. Remember that, Riana." Raek said.
"It is understood, Colonel."
"We have a Warbird coming to our position," said the Science officer. "It is the IRW D'Suleen."
"Begin scans," Raek ordered. Riana watched Raek from her screens, turning cool but tense in his gestures. Turning to her Science officer, Riana barked. "You heard him, begin scans using the new device at once."
After a few tense seconds, the Operations officer responded. "We have a positive reading, Commander.
"The whole ship is assimilated, and yet it remains disguised as a normal ship." Raek said. "It will not be allowed to live."
Riana sighed. She had hoped it would not be this way. "Let's phase out of the asteroids. Approach the target, lock all weapons at the D'Suleen. Prepare to decloak and fire at my signal."
Her Tactical officer stared at her. "What is wrong, Tactical?" Riana asked. "They may still appear like Romulans to you, but inside, they are Borg. Keep that in mind. Your hesitation can cause the fate of the Star Empire."
"I apologize, Commander. I will not hesitate next time," he answered. "I am just not used to shooting at something that looks like our own people."
"We are being hailed from the D'Suleen," said the Operations officer.
"Romulan Shadow class vessels. This is Commander Semenek of the Imperial Romulan Warbird, D'Suleen, serving the Tal Preax, honor guard of the Praetor. Our tachyon scans have revealed your cloaked presence to us. Identify yourselves. If youre ships are Shadow class, they you must be Tal Shi'ar." The Warbird raised its shields and powered up its weapons.
If the ship is Tal Preax, then indeed how deep has the infiltration had penetrated inside the Star Empire? Riana thought. She looked at the window where Raek was, hoping she would get a clue what will be his next decision. Raek sat there, stern and sullen.
Then his response. "All ships decloak, raise shields, remain lock on the target, weapons armed. I will hail the Warbird."
The two Shadow class vessels emerged out of the asteroids, and took their visible form. They appeared like two green winged predators amidst a sea of floating rocks.
"Commander Semenek," he said. "We have reason and evidence to believe your ship has been infiltrated. We request that you stand down and be boarded for further examination and scanning."
"Infiltrated by whom," Serenek asked.
"Only by the Borg." Raek answered.
Serenek turned his back from the screen. When he turned to face the screen once again, his eyes glowed with red light.
"Species 3259," he said. "Your technological distinction will be added to the Collective. Prepare to be assimilated. Resistance is futile."
Riana stared at the transformation in horror. "All ships, fire at will!" Raek ordered.
"What are you all waiting for?" Riana shouted. "Commence fire!"
Phasers and disrupters from the D'Durandal and the D'PakThau torched the D'Suleen's shields. Then came a volley of plasma torpedoes. The shields thinned out, but it held. For a normal Warbird, the shields should have buckled even from the firepower of a single Shadow.
Then the Warbird transformed in front of their eyes. The smooth skin with windows became permeated with Borg implants and armor. The effect was a monstrous hybrid, the shell of a Warbird covered with gruesome patches of Borg technology.
"The Psychonic blaster has no effect against the D'Suleen!" said the Tactical officer. Riana should have known it would not work. Had the Borg adapted even to Tal Shi'ar's secret weapons?
A green beam shot out from the assimilated Warbird, nearly burning out half the shield capacity of the D'Durandal. "Borg Energy beam!" said her Tactical officer, indicating that the assimilated Warbird had acquired capability beyond its original design. "It has an energy output double of a normal Warbird's phasers."
"Retreat! Retreat!" Raek shouted. Riana could see from her screens, fire and sparks coming out from the bridge of D'Durandal. The assimilated Warbird continued to fire its energy beams.
The hunter had become the hunted at this point, and the hunted tried to run away.
The D'Durandal had engaged full impulse, but the D'Suleen was right behind. Before it reached the position where they had hit the rest of the fleet, the D'Suleen captured the smaller Shadow frozen in a holding beam.
"Change frequency modulation!" Riana ordered. "Tactical, keep changing the modulation for disrupters and phasers every time you fire!" The Romulans were not as adept as dealing with the Borg like the Federation, but she had read a few things the Federation found it willing to share with the Romulans. The D'PakThau unleashed its main armament of disrupters and phasers, blowing a weakness into the shields. Then a volley of plasma and photon torpedoes opened up the wound.
The holding beam broke off, and the D'Durandal sped away. Nearby a hidden fleet of smaller Romulan ships, Talon scouts, Shrike destroyers, Griffin and Raptor cruisers materialized from their cloaked positions. The giant Warbird turned towards the Shadow, and Riana for the first time in her life, faced the hideousness of a Borg ship in front of her eyes. For a warrior without fear, for the first time, she feared for her soul.
"One eighty degrees! Turn around! Full impulse!" She cried out. But energy beams lanced out from the assimilated Warbird, and the D'PakThau shook.
An energy beam fired and hte D'PakThau shook. "Shields down to fifty percent!" shouted the First officer. Sparks flew from controls in the bridge. "The Warbird is pursuing us."
Another energy blasted. "We have lost all rear shields."
We got to cover the rear, Riana thought. "Turn around one hundred eighty degrees and let them face our forward shields. Arm all weapons, maximum yield."
Like a cornered animal, the D"PakThau turned for a final hopeless battle. But it will go down fighting. The assimilated Warbird loomed over them.
Suddenly smaller Romulan Talon scouts flashed across, releasing photon torpodoes as they made their pass. Several torpedoes slammed at the rear shields of the Warbird. , and then phasers and disrupters from the Shrikes broke through.
The Warbird wheeled around to face the attackers assaulting its rear. But as it turned, it presented the exposed rear to the D'PakThau. As a rushing Griffin fired its torpedoes towards the Warbird's front, Riana saw her opportunity.
"Fire everything we have! Random modulation!" She shouted. Torpedo after torpedo flew into the opening in the rear shields. There was a brilliant flash of light as the torpedoes ignited the micro-singularity powering the Warbird's core. Pieces of Warbird tumbled out randomly in all directions of space, as a blinding shockwave spread out like a ring in all directions.
Riana breathed a sign of relief. That was a lot harder than what they had anticipated. Word coming from her Operations officer was that the D'Durandal suffered considerable damage against its engines, weapons and shield generators. With one Shadow ship going offline, that's going to stretch Tal Shi'ar operations hunting out the infiltrators.
* * *
They were the freed, the de-assimilated as they were called. Former drones, they werefreed from the clutches of the Borg and the hideous, inhuman implants that corrupt the flesh. But the scars of their experiences remained. Nanoprobes have modified the DNA of their brain celles to become receptors of the subspace psionic energies the Borg Collective emitted and linked themselves. In an older time and age, these energies would have been called psychic. Traumatized from their experienced, brains forever altered, they will remain receptors of the trillion voices the Collective call to themselves.
Aboard the USS Enterprise G, the de-assimilated serve as volunteer guides to search and hunt for the Infiltrators, like the hunting dogs sniffing out the prey for their hunter masters.
The trail of ghostly voices has led them to a ship, a massive starship.
"Captain, we have identified her as the USS America, a Galaxy class starship."
"Maintain cloak," Captain Wells said. "Steady on course, keep approaching her. Steady girl. Begin scans for Type B nanoprobes at the appropriate range."
"We have the ship maintained at Warp 6," said the ensign on the helm.
"Steady, steady," Wells said.
"Scans activated," Suraak said. After a few seconds, he came back with a response, and a grim look to the Captain. "We have a positive."
"How many are assimilated?" Wells asked.
"It is impossible to determine. We can only assume that it is total." Suraak said.
Wells exhaled. This was never always easy, to shoot another Federation starship. Or at least something that still looks like a Federation warship but wasn't inside any more.
"Crew, this is what we came here for. To hunt down the bastards before they have a chance. Yes we have given the secret services the information they need to start acting, but it isn't enough. If we can take down as many as possible, we can make an effective change, or at least slow down the cancer so it can be cured."
"Decloaking! Shields raised, phasers arming, torpedoes arming," Magh'var reported. "We are now being hailed from the ship."
The screen came online with the picture of a bearded Captain from the USS America.
"Is this some kind of a joke? Your registry number indicates Enterprise and I know the captain of the true Enterprise and its ship. Our scans indicate that your ship has a true Federation power signature, and the design appears Federation, but it is of no class that I have seen or in the databanks. You are requested to identify yourself. Your powering of weapons and raising of shields indicate a hostile intent. Power down, or we will engage you. You are confronting a Galaxy class starship that is among the most powerful in the Federation. I repeat, stand down, and identify yourself." The Captain said with a stern voice.
Captain Wells moved her hand towards her neck and made a cutting motion across it. The screen was immediately cut off.
"The Galaxy class has raised its shields and powering up its weapons." Magh'var reported.
"You may fire at will," Wells ordered.
"Delighted, Captain," Magh'var replied. A stream of torpedoes lashed out, and quickly reduced the America's shields to nothing. The America lashed back with phasers and torpedoes, chewing away at the Enterprise G's shields.
"Shields down to Seventy five percent. Activating emergency shield regeneration now." Magh'Var said.
"Captain, look!" Macek shouted. The Galaxy class starship began to change. Like sprouting plants filmed in time lapse video, Borg implants began to grow and sprout all over the clean curved form and lines of the Galaxy class ship, like metallic green glowing fungus. The whole process took only a few seconds.
"She's rapidly regenerating her shields!" Magh'Var said.
"A conventional Galaxy class starship cannot repair this fast," Suraak observed. "We are seeing the effects of Borg modification."
"Use the Breen shield disrupters and quickly follow that up with modulating phasers." Wells ordered. "Target its shield generators and warp engines."
Before the assimilated Galaxy class could regenerate its shields fully, the disrupters cut them down again. Before the target can adapt to the disrupters, phasers lashed out and blew away the shield generators of the assimilated ship. The USS America replied with a massive green energy beam that sent a massive storm of lightning cracking across the invisible curved surface of the bubble like shields.
"Shields are down to sixty percent!" Macek reported. Even the Borg a hundred years ago had such potent weapons that they could pose a threat to a Federation ship designed a hundred years later. "Shields regenerating!" Macek said. "We can't give them another chance or our energy reserves may end up depleted."
"Finish it off!" Wells ordered without batting an eye. Three torpedoes lashed out. The explosion broke the Galaxy class starship in a few large pieces. The warp nacelles with pylons attached flew off in opposite directions, and the saucer section tumbled. "Finish it off!" Wells repeated loudly, and the phasers obliterated what was left of the saucer section.
There was some shaking in her voice. Every time she was forced to destroy something that looked like a Federation vessel, it removed something out of her that can never be placed back. It was as if to save the universe, she has to lose her soul. For the crew, this was going to be another bug hunt, in a universe where once again, they were alone both as the hunter and the hunted. Even for the Klingon Magh'var, the thrill of battle has been lost long ago. There was no sense of honor or glory here. Only a repetitive motion of destruction.
* * *
Admiral Hurst had called his captains, commanders and staff once again. Most of them gathered, except those in patrol. Athena, whose ship was outside of the yard, managed to join in the briefing. Hurst did not object to her presence.
"We just got word that the USS America had been attacked and destroyed. This is a major Galaxy class starship with a crew of nearly a thousand people. Starfleet is not going to take this lightly." Hurst grimly said. "A Federation vessel has been reported leaving the area. It's hard to verify if it was the Enterprise G going into a hunt on its own
"It seems to fall into a pattern. Several ships among the Cardassians, Romulans and Klingons have been destroyed for no purpose."
"I would think that the Romulans, Klingons and Cardassians have already begun their cleansing operations. Why haven't we begun ours?" Boussard asked.
"That's kind of difficult to do," Garret said, "to go into a witch hunt among our fellow officers and ships."
"Yet it is something we must do," Boussard said. "What is wrong with Starfleet anyway? The Romulans, Klingons and Cardassians are willing to put sacrifices. What about us? I thought the Section would have the backbone to do what is necessary, but even they are starting to show this weakness in the gut."
"Take it easy, Jacques," Hurst said. "It's a far more delicate matter to us. Doctor Helen Shiner, how is the implementation of the new scanner devices going?"
"We have already implemented the device in almost all the ships. Our own test scans revealed the ship yard, our bases nearby and the ships assigned to this sector have not been infiltrated yet." Shiner said.
Both Captain Hussein and Captain Amritraj were technically, the first officers of a new Starfleet rank-Squadron Commanders-but maintain their official "Captain" designations. The new rank was essentially assigned to handle a wing of four escort ships, consisting of Defiants, Novas or Sabres, and was similar to ranks used with the Klingons for commanding squadrons of Bird of Preys. However, the new ranks remain subordinate to an Admiral or the Captain of a vessel with of a higher class level or superior tactical capabilities.
Hussein reported. "Our ships have begun patrols with the scanner devices. Our Novas and Sabres have been scanning every transport or tug coming into our area."
"The scanner design has also been implemented into a probe. Our Defiant squadrons have been laying probes with the scanners on strategic points throughout the sector." Amritraj said.
"So it appears so far that we are clean. Our patrols must remain vigilant." Hurst said.
Shiner interrupted. "Our main problem is that these devices have not been fully tested yet, for the simple reason we have not encountered a live infiltrator. We need a real field test."
"And you might get it, Doctor." Hurst said. "If the USS America had been an infiltrated ship, this would be as good as a chance to test both our devices and our assumption of the America."
"And if you have to go, we have to go soon with the fastest ships while the wreckage is still fresh and other Federation ships come to snoop around," Garret said.
"Exactly, you have been reading my mind, Garret," Hurst said. "Are you up to it, Athena?"
"Yup, Admiral, anytime. Looking forward to stretch the legs a bit," she replied.
"I will be on the Athena, with three of the fastest ships and the best scanning ability, the Boise, the Vanguard and the Kiev." Hurst said. "Doctor Shiner. You will come with me on the Athena."
"No problem, I like to be on the Athena once again," Shiner said.
"The Hiryu, the Lionheart, the Genghiz, and the Normandy must begin patrols in an ever widening radius from this base. But if you discover an assimilated ship, do not engage unless you have evident tactical superiority, or are able to rejoin with reinforcements. Is that clear? No heroics. The Lionheart and the Normandy will go together. The Hiryu and the Genghiz will make the other team. Maintain open encrypted to all our Section vessels. Hussein and Amritraj, maintain local patrols and defense of bases in the area, but be alert for any communiques."
"Nice to be working with you," Captain Isis Johnston said to Boussard, who responded with a handshake.
* * *
The four ships have gathered, with the USS Athena in the center, and the three Aegis class ships, port, starboard, and above. Conference windows were opened all the time on the bridge screen of the Athena, each for the Boise, Vanguard and Kiev.
"Okay ensign, plot a course to where the USS America was to have been destroyed," Garret ordered.
"We got a course, Captain," the ensign replied. She happened to look very much like Athena.
"Captain, I want maximum sustained speed for the Athena and all ships," Hurst said.
"Right away, Admiral." Garret affirmed. He turned to the ensign on the helm. "Did you hear that,ensign? Engage."
"Aye, Captain." Athena replied.
There was the whirring of warp engines, and suddenly the stars flashed by, turning into streaks of light.
As soon as the Athena engaged warp, the Boise, the Vanguard and the Kiev engaged.
"What happened to the ensign here before?" Ka'nal asked.
"He had to be assigned to the Genghiz. We're short of personnel around the area." Garret said. "I thought I would officially make Athena here an ensign. And get her dressed up in a proper Starfleet uniform than something with less taste and too short a skirt."
"Actually you just made this ship's main computer an ensign," Ka'nal said. "Or you just made this very ship an ensign. This is unprecedented on Starfleet."
"I think Athena deserves to be given an official Starfleet rank and responsibilities, right so, Admiral?" Garret said.
"You do whatever you want on your ship, Captain, so long as you make Athena a productive member of Starfleet." Hurst replied.
Athena stuck her tongue out at Ka'nal. "If it stops her from annoying me, Captain, I would be willing to welcome any position you give her," Ka'nal said.
* * *
"We are approaching the spot where the USS America was last seen, or should I say, destroyed." Athena said. "Anyone want to see the wreckage?"
"Of course, put on screen, Athena." Hurst said.
There appeared to be fragments everywhere, floating dead in space. There were portions of hull and broken nacelles that suggested the remains of a Galaxy class starship.
"Oh my god...." Garret said. "What can do this?"
"Like a real powerful starship?" Athena said.
"I'm not ruling out the Enterprise G. It may have both the motive and the power to do this." Hurst said. "Can we get scans? Doctor?"
Doctor Shiner stood next to T'pak, who was helping her precise calibrating and adjusting of the scanners. "We're ready now. Scanning." Shiner said.
"Oh my god..." Shiner said. "It is really working. We are getting positive results from the scans. There is this new nanoprobe design all over the wreckage. We're going to transport some of these nanoprobes into a containment chamber for further study."
"Do that, Doctor." Hurst said.
Conference windows came up on screen, with the faces of Shelly, Hoesch and Maeda from their respective ships. "We're getting results here too." Maeda confirmed. They had previously fitted all three Aegis ships with the scanner.
"The USS America is a Borg ship." Shelley said.
"How did it get assimilated? We know this is still the original USS America." Hoesch said. "My scans verified this as well. It was as if the entire ship, and all its crew were assimilated without them knowing."
"If they are assimilated, then there must be a precise place and time that this would happen." Shiner said. She turned to Hurst. "Admiral, what about logs and records of where the USS America had been going? If we can retrace her journeys backward, there must be some point she must have been assimilated."
"I already had this in mind." Hurst said. "Athena, do your job."
"Yes, Admiral," She affirmed. "This is like in those old 20th century B movies, where you have all these alien abductions and body snatching. But that's all in those mid country towns. Which is kind of stupid. If aliens are going to start body snatching, it's best they start with the heads of government first. That way you get control of the country in no time. Think of a way to bring all these heads of the government and military first, you know, all the top honchos and brass, into a single place. You know, like a big party. Then you assimilate them in one spot, and send them off."
Suddenly Hurst turned white and very quiet. "Athena, what did you say again? Did you say a party?"
"Yes, a party." Athena said. " Theoretically speaking of course. This may all be nonsense. But it's like the one B movie I've seen. They bring all these head of the government and military into one party, all conveniently in one place, and then wham, kidnap them and put them into mind control. Easy as that."
"Is there anything wrong? Admiral? You suddenly don't look so good." Garret asked. "I hope you're not sick, Admiral."
"No, no...Captain," Hurst said. "Hurry up with the logs, Athena?"
"I'm doing as best as I can, Admiral. It does not help if you have to do a subspace link to a base computer, Admiral. Here it is. It's a long list, I'm displaying on screen."
Hurst stood up, and with a shaking finger, pointed to a name: Siranau. "Oh my lord..." Hurst exclaimed.
"Isn't that the newest member of the Federation?" Garret asked. "Whose celebration you attended?"
"Yes. There are many dignitaries there, with big flagships, like the USS America. It would have been perfect," Hurst said. "The top heads of the Federation and Starfleet with their best ships, right in one spot."
"Are you seriously considering what Athena said?" Garret asked.
"Yes..." Hurst replied, his eyes staring straight into Garret's. "There is no pain in trying out anyway. We can scan the planet to be sure. In the meantime, I want a list of everyone and every ship who went to those celebrations, and subsequently soon after. "
"Right away, Sir!" Athena replied.
Hurst continued. "If they were quietly assimilating there, I would consider myself lucky not to have stayed long enough because of Wu's emergency call, the call being which was precisely because the sudden appearance of the Enteprise G at the Gate. I invited Wu to the banquet, and fortunately he was too shy to come down and preferred to do fiddly little things to his ship. And to think I was unhappy for him not to have joined me. That may have saved him."
"This still sounds a bit far fetched, but it makes sense in a way. What do you think Doctor?" Hurst asked.
"If I were plotting a point of infiltration, there is nothing better than a place where the targets can be made to all gather, without suspicion and under an atmosphere of enjoyment," Shiner said. " I say there is nothing to lose making scans of the planet. We have to begin somehow."
"Okay, then, Athena, plot a course to Siranau." Garret commanded.
"Aye, Captain," she replied.
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