CHAPTER 16

When Janeway and Seven emerged from the Control Center the rest of Voyager’s senior staff leapt to their feet and gathered around the couple. Quietly, Janeway and Seven brought them up to date on what had transpired and informed them of the strategy meeting the following morning. Janeway asked all of them to review any personal logs they might have concerning the Borg. More specifically their interactions with the Collective when Seven had been kidnapped by the Borg, Unimatrix Zero and their final interaction when they blasted through the transwarp hub and back into the Alpha quadrant. Everyone agreed to prep for the remainder of the night and meet at Janeway’s home for breakfast the next morning.

Janeway and Seven gathered their carryalls and bid good night to the senior staff and the admirals still discussing the evening’s events. Radcliffe had organized a hovercraft for them and the driver was waiting at the main entrance of Headquarters. He walked them to the cab and then excused himself to secure overnight accommodations in the transient BOQ at Headquarters. Janeway and Seven climbed into the cab and in a few short minutes were walking through the gate of Fremont Lane returning to their home.

The next morning Radcliffe arrived first and went into the kitchen to organize enough coffee for everyone while Seven put together a feast of french toast and sausage. By the time Janeway had emerged from the shower and finished dressing the aromas emanating from the kitchen drew her like a magnet. Radcliffe caught sight of her as she walked out of the master bedroom and by the time she reached the kitchen island had a fresh mug of coffee poured and ready for her. Nodding her thanks, she moved to answer the door chime that heralded the arrival of the rest of the senior staff.

The breakfast meeting was lively and Radcliffe soaked up the stories Voyager’s officers told of their adventures. He had, of course, studied the Borg during his time at the Academy and knew all the conventional wisdom Starfleet possessed of the Collective, but Voyager’s interactions with the Collective served to expand his understanding. The Borg Collective became almost a living entity for him as he listened to how Voyager, her captain and her crew had thwarted their attempts to assimilate and destroy the ship over and over again. Seven’s observations gave an insider’s perspective of the hive mind and provided a revelation to the Starfleet officers as well.

“If what Ronnik says is true the Queen isn’t dead. We know that Admiral Janeway infected her with the neurolytic pathogen because she lost control of the interspatial manifolds and the entrance and exit apertures of the transwarp hub. It had to have destroyed her. But now they’re saying that she’s not dead. I don’t understand how that can be,” commented B’Elanna.

“It is possible that the Queen we interacted with is indeed dead. But the Collective is about survival and there is always a selected female drone ready to be elevated to Queen. The adjuncts of Unimatrix 01 all carry special programming. Each of them has abilities outside the scope of ordinary drones. Either the secondary or tertiary adjunct is always female, but only one of them at any given time. That female was typically assimilated at a young age and raised within the Collective. In the event the existing Queen is deactivated or killed that adjunct will be elevated to control the hive mind and become the new Queen. She is assisted by the Primary Adjunct. An adolescent female will be programmed and trained to assume the duties of the elevated drone by the Queen and the other adjuncts,” said Seven impassively.

Every eye in the group widened and focused on her in amazement. “But, but…that would mean…then you were…but that …that’s not possible…is it?” sputtered B’Elanna.

Janeway stared at her fiancée for a long moment. “My God, I liberated the heir apparent from the hive mind! You were supposed to be the next Queen. No wonder the Borg kept coming after you: I kidnapped a Borg princess!” And now I’m going to marry her. How did I ever get so lucky?

“Well, that certainly explains your insufferable arrogance. And why you were chosen to speak for the Collective,” snorted B’Elanna indignantly. She caught a glimpse of Ethan and let out a hoot of laughter. “Breathe, Radcliffe, breathe!”

Tom thumped the young man on the back to jump start his diaphragm and the group around the table relaxed, chuckling. Seven regarded her partner’s aide with an amused smirk on her face.

“Will this adversely affect our ability to interact, Ensign Radcliffe?”

“I... you… Queen," he wheezed. "I…no, ma’am!” he managed with an audible gulp.

“That is very good news, Ensign. I would hate to have to drink sub-standard tea every time I visit my wife at her office from now on.” Radcliffe flushed red at the comment as the group howled with laughter.

“Wow…wife. You don’t think the arrival of the Borg will delay the wedding do you?” asked Harry.

Janeway laughed at the concern in his voice. “Absolutely not, Lieutenant. Not even the Borg can stop my mother from putting this wedding on. And the Starfleet brass wouldn’t think of crossing her and missing it. The wedding will proceed as planned, I assure you.”

Twenty minutes later the group entered the main entrance of Starfleet Headquarters and proceeded to the third floor conference room. Ethan saw to it that everyone had what they wanted to drink and then left for the transport center to take care of things at their Utopia Planetia offices.

Janeway was talking quietly with Seven, B’Elanna and Tom when a young ensign entered the room and told her there was a priority communication for her. She followed him into the COMM center and took a seat at the terminal he indicated. A moment later the screen came to life. Her former Tactical and Security Officer faced her.

“Tuvok! It’s wonderful to see you, old friend. How are you feeling?”

“I am well, Captain. My treatments are complete and have been deemed successful.”

“I’m so glad to hear that. When will you and T’Pel leave for Earth?”

“We should arrive at the Vulcan consulate in San Francisco early next week. We will be on Earth for the full week prior to your wedding.”

“That is good news. There are a few get-togethers planned and I know everyone will be anxious to see you.”

“I was contacted by Starfleet Security and notified that there was a Borg incursion in which you are involved. Do you require my presence earlier than planned?”

“No, my friend. Do you remember General Korok from Unimatrix Zero? He sent one of his ships here to pass along some tactical information they’d discovered. Apparently, the Collective has a new Queen and is rebuilding.”

Tuvok frowned at the news. “Does Korok deem the Collective a threat to the Federation?”

“They discovered something in the tactical logs they obtained when they took over some Borg ships recently. Starfleet is working to decipher the logs and the Free Borg ship that came to warn us is enroute to McKinley Station to help us interpret the tactical data. We’ll be able to build a working threat assessment once we have all the information.”

“I will keep in close contact with Security and Intelligence until we depart. Please contact me immediately if the threat assessment indicates imminent danger and I will arrange transport to Headquarters.”

“I don’t think that will be necessary, Tuvok, but I’ll let you know if I’m wrong. Either way, I’ll see you soon. Give my best to T’Pel.”

Tuvok made his goodbyes and signed off. As Janeway was leaving the room the ensign that had originally fetched her called her name.

“Captain Janeway? I’m sorry to keep you, but there’s another communication coming in for you. I’ll route it to the same screen you were on before, ma’am.”

Kathryn nodded and returned to the screen as it sprang to life. Facing her from what was obviously a ready room was a distinguished looking steely-eyed Starfleet Captain. His bald head took nothing away from his handsome features and the strength of his personality resonated in his speech and demeanor. Jean-Luc Picard was a force to be reckoned with in anyone’s book.

“Captain Janeway, I’m delighted you were available to take my call.”

“Good morning, Captain Picard. We still have a few minutes before the first planning meeting is supposed to start. What can I do for you?”

“Is there any additional information on what the Borg are up to? We’re making best possible speed, but Enterprise won’t dock at McKinley Station until very late tomorrow night. Will that put us behind?”

“I doubt it, Jean-Luc. The Borg vessel isn’t due into McKinley for fifty-six hours or so. We’ve downloaded the tactical logs they brought with them, but Intelligence is still working on decrypting them. Until the Borg arrive and help them out we’re all behind.”

“Isn’t Seven of Nine working on the decryption? I would think she would be the logical one to do so.”

Janeway’s clenched jaw told the captain of Enterprise much more than her words did. “So far Starfleet has shown a distinct aversion to the idea of Seven helping out.”

Picard shook his head, realizing just how valuable a resource Starfleet was discarding. “Perhaps we ought to speak privately as two captains who have extensive …experience …with the Borg?”

Janeway could work politics with the best of the Starfleet bureaucrats. “That might be an excellent idea, Jean-Luc. We’ll have to chat when you arrive. Until then, safe journey my friend.” Both officers nodded and the screen went blank. This time Janeway returned to the conference room without interruption. Taking her seat she updated her officers on the results of the calls she had taken. Everyone was excited that Tuvok’s health had been restored successfully and looking forward to seeing the Vulcan again.

As they spoke quietly among themselves the door opened and a striking blonde woman entered. Commander Elizabeth Shelby was Starfleet’s expert on the Borg and had been instrumental in rebuilding the fleet in the aftermath of the disaster at Wolf 359. She was only slightly taller than Janeway, but possessed the same commanding demeanor. Her curly hair was piled atop her head and a strong jaw below flashing green eyes gave ample testimony to her temperament. She moved gracefully into the room and dropped the stack of PADDs she carried onto the table. Leaning across the wide conference table and extending her hand she greeted those present. At least the only one who mattered to her.

“Dr. Hansen? I’m Elizabeth Shelby. I can’t tell you how much I’ve looked forward to meeting you.”

Seven hesitantly shook the offered hand. “How do you do, Commander? I prefer my Borg designation. Please call me Seven of Nine or just Seven.”

“Of course, Seven. What do you think about Korok’s warning?”

Seven glanced at Janeway before responding. “I have no data on which to base an opinion, Commander Shelby. I am waiting for the decryption of the logs like everyone else.”

Shelby looked confused for a moment and then quickly regained her equilibrium. “Of course. We’re all waiting to learn what tactical information is contained in those logs. Good morning, Captain Janeway. Would you introduce me to your staff officers?”

Janeway returned the greeting and proceeded to introduce the remainder of Voyager’s senior staff. Before she finished the door opened again and Admirals Nechayev, Ross, Chapman, Patterson and Quinn entered with their aides. Nechayev took her place at the head of the table and opened the meeting.

“Good morning everyone. If you’ll all get seated we’ll get started. Shelby, pass those PADDs around to everyone. They contain a partial decryption of one of the logs Ronnik transmitted to us. Our intelligence department is working on the rest of them, but it will take a while to make sure they’re decrypted and translated correctly. We’re hoping that Ronnik and his crew will give our Intelligence department some assistance once they reach McKinley Station.”

Tom Paris spoke up without thinking. “Why don’t you have Seven working on it? She knows all the Borg encryption algorithms and can translate the data…”

“Lieutenant, you’re in a meeting way over your pay grade. We will rely on proven Starfleet personnel and protocols to decrypt and translate the data nodes. It would behoove you to keep your opinions to yourself until someone with a higher rank asks for them. Am I making myself clear?” Nechayev’s tone brooked no argument.

“Crystal clear, Admiral.” Nobody in the room looked at anyone else, but the stunned looks on the faces of Janeway, Shelby and Patterson spoke volumes. Quinn’s face remained impassive.

“Then let’s continue. What we need to do today is to determine the most efficient methods of protecting the Federation and most specifically the Terran sector from a concentrated Borg incursion. Let me preface that discussion by stating that every operable ship of the line has been mobilized and is either enroute to its assigned area of operations or will be deploying from McKinley Station or Utopia Planetia within the hour. What we need to do here is to put together a plan for early detection of an incursion and for rapid communications and deployment of forces in the event of one.”

“Admiral, I would suggest that most of our emphasis be on early detection. If we control that, successful deployment to meet a threat will follow naturally.” Shelby was still somewhat dazed at the refusal of Nechayev to even discuss using Seven of Nine, but politically savvy enough to know that arguing would do nothing but hamstring their efforts when Nechayev dug in her heels.

“Starfleet Command agrees with you, Commander. I’m tasking you to develop sensor protocols and parameters to detect the subspace formations of transwarp and slipstream corridors.”

Shelby nodded. “We’re fortunate that when Voyager infected the Collective with their neurolytic pathogen four of the transwarp hubs were destroyed. That means that there are only one third of the possible exit apertures in our quadrant than there used to be. If we can determine how to configure our deep-space scanners we should be able to provide ample warning of an incursion. It also means that the Borg can’t invade with as many ships as they once could.”

Janeway and her staff listened as the Starfleet brass discussed their ideas with a dawning realization that Starfleet had no real understanding of how the Borg operated, let alone how to level the field of battle so that Starfleet stood a fair chance of defeating the Collective. Shelby had obviously studied the Borg, but her lack of firsthand experience with the Collective limited what she was able to do. What fueled Janeway’s fury was Nechayev’s persistent refusal to entertain any suggestion made by Seven of Nine or to even consider utilizing the former drone to develop a defensive strategy. Seven, for her part, remained impassive in the face of Starfleet’s obdurate stubbornness, but it was clear that she regarded their attitude as inefficient in the extreme.

After an hour and a half of frustration Janeway listened as Nechayev adjourned the meeting. “We’ll take this up again in three days when the Free Borg vessel arrives at McKinley Station. Until then this meeting is classified Most Secret and the highest security protocols apply to the discussion here.” She stood and began to gather the PADDS in front of her. When she had them in her grasp she nodded to Shelby and strode out of the room. Admirals Chapman and Patterson left together and Quinn quickly followed.

The Voyager crew gathered around their captain, most of the speaking at the same time. No one could believe that Starfleet was deliberately ignoring Seven of Nine’s capabilities to decrypt and translate the Borg tactical data. In addition, none of the suggestions made by any of them regarding sensor parameters had been adapted. The Starfleet brass had apparently decided to function as it always had. Unfortunately, old-fashioned protocols would not protect the Federation in the event the Borg attacked. Everyone in the room who had actually faced the Borg knew that, only the flag officers of Starfleet did not.

B’Elanna’s temper got the better of her for a moment. “I can’t believe Nechayev! It’s thinking like hers that’s going to get all of us on the front lines killed while she stays safe behind the blast shields here at Headquarters! And I noticed she put a rear-echelon officer in charge of the defensive sensor net. Like she’s going to know what to look for or how finely the arrays need to be calibrated! Dammit, Captain, unless something changes real fast this is going to be a disaster!” Tom’s elbow in her ribs shut her up and as she swung around to confront him caught sight of Commander Shelby standing by the conference table gathering her PADDs.

“I’m not quite the incompetent you make me out to be, Lieutenant,” she said stiffly.

Torres at least had the good sense to flush in embarrassment. “No offense intended, Commander. I let my mouth run away with me.”

“None taken,” Shelby said as she stalked out of the room.

“Well, that’s just great, B’Elanna. Now we’ve got Starfleet’s Borg expert pissed off at us! Way to go, honey.” Tom cracked. B’Elanna just smacked him on the arm.

“Don’t worry about that too much,” said Janeway, “I’ll head to her office and try to smooth things over. I’d have to do that even if B’Elanna didn’t shoot her mouth off; it’s obvious that Shelby’s recommendations won’t work if she sticks with conventional Starfleet protocols. We’re going to have to convince her to use more creative sensor configurations if there’s going to be any actual advance warning. Everybody, head to my offices at Utopia Planetia and start putting together a report of the sensor array configurations and enhancements we used around the transwarp hub and in the Northwest Passage. Do an analysis of the settings and try to determine the strengths and weaknesses of each set of configurations. Radcliffe will get you any help you might need. Seven, you’re with me. Let’s go try to corrupt Commander Shelby and bring her over to the dark side with us. We’ll join the rest of you as soon as we can.”

* * *

Commander Shelby was furious as she stormed out of the conference room and headed back to her office. The nerve of Janeway’s Engineering Chief! Hadn’t she tried to befriend Seven of Nine? Didn’t they realize how limited Starfleet’s options were? Couldn’t they see what she was up against? That thought suddenly brought her up short in her headlong rush.

Of course they knew what she was up against. They knew better than anybody what she was up against. They’d faced it themselves more times than any other Starfleet crew and survived to report back. They’d allowed themselves to be assimilated to infect the hive mind; they’d challenged the Collective at every turn. Janeway had taken on the Queen one-on-one to save Seven of Nine and her officers had actually prowled the corridors of Borg cubes. They didn’t have to rely on schematics to know what a Borg shield generator looked like; they’d seen them in person. They’d destroyed them with explosives to allow Voyager to beam technology and crew on and off Borg ships. They’d actually stolen a transwarp coil from a damaged sphere and used it to travel 20,000 light years! Oh yes, Voyager’s officers knew what she was up against; only too well.

Arriving back at her office she dropped into her chair and checked for any messages she might have missed while in the meeting. She put her elbows on the desk and rested her head in her hands as she contemplated the impossibility of erecting a sensor net around the Alpha quadrant that would give them warning of the imminent arrival of the galaxy’s worst thugs. The quiet chime of her door startled her a few minutes later.

Straightening up she called out “Come!”

The door opened to reveal Captain Janeway and Seven of Nine. The two women entered the office and hesitated slightly after greeting her. She gestured them to the chairs in front of her desk and leaned back in her own as they sat down.

“I came to apologize for Lieutenant Torres’ remarks,” began Janeway once they were seated. “She’s a brilliant engineer and there’s no doubt in my mind that we’d never have made it back from the Delta quadrant without her. But she has a rather volatile temperament and doesn’t think before she speaks on occasion. She truly didn’t mean any offense; she was just frustrated with the Starfleet ability to stonewall.”

“I didn’t take any offense, Captain Janeway. I understand how she feels. But you need to realize that there are some of us who take the Borg just as seriously as you do even if we haven’t been face to face with them.”

“I’m glad you feel that way, Commander. Because I’m going to be very frank with you right now. There’s no way that the protocols Admiral Nechayev outlined can possibly protect the Alpha quadrant. If the Borg opt to invade, Earth will be assimilated within a week.”

“I wouldn’t be quite that dismal in my predictions, Captain. But you’re right when you say that we need to think on a broader scale. I have some ideas for sensor calibrations that will increase their sensitivity by a factor of at least four.”

Janeway and Seven exchanged glances and Seven gave an almost imperceptible shake of her head. “We were thinking of some array configurations that were a bit more powerful than that,” Janeway said casually.

Shelby maintained her calm demeanor. “I don’t believe that you can configure our arrays to that scope of sensitivity and still maintain a contiguous net.”

“There are ways to overcome those gaps in the array coverage.”

“Captain Janeway, I’ll keep your comments to myself, but it seems to me as though you’re proposing untested and possibly dangerous sensor enhancements. I suggest you don’t mention them to anyone else.”

Janeway gave an internal sigh of frustration. “I understand your desire to adhere to Starfleet protocols, Commander, but you’re going to discover very quickly that the standard Starfleet protocols are totally ineffective against the Borg. Remember this: the Borg survive by adaptation. And they’ve assimilated a lot of Starfleet officers. They already know the standard protocols and have created ways around them. There is no way any standard protocol can adequately protect the quadrant.”

“I’ll take your comments under advisement, Captain. Thank you for your input.” Shelby rose and extended her hand. “And now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a meeting with Admiral Nechayev. I assume I can reach you at your office if I have any questions?”

Janeway stood and shook the offered hand. “Yes, I’ll be at Utopia Planetia for the next week. And you’ll be able to reach Seven at her office in Cambridge during that time too. After that we’re gone for ten days.”

“Vacation?” asked Shelby with a faint smile.

“Honeymoon,” replied Janeway with the wry grin her officers knew so well.

“I see. My congratulations to you both. I assume I’ll see you again at the meeting in two days. And now, if you’ll excuse me?”

Janeway and Seven took their leave and strolled to the transport center, deep in a discussion that continued through the shuttle flight to Utopia Planetia. By the time their shuttle touched down at the shipyards they had arrived at a plan of action.

“Now all we have to do is sell the crew on it,” commented Janeway.

* * *

“WE ARE THE BORG. YOU WILL BE ASSIMILATED.  YOUR BIOLOGICAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL DISTINCTIVENESS WILL BE ADDED TO OUR OWN. RESISTANCE IS FUTILE.”

Elizabeth Shelby’s head was pounding to the sounds of Borg drones moving toward her across the Control Center. Starfleet officers fired phasers which glanced harmlessly off Borg exoplating. Assimilation tubules shot from Borg hands as the drones approached her and reached for her throat…

“Computer, end simulation.” Shelby closed her eyes and rubbed her temple in a vain effort to eliminate the throbbing of her headache.

“Acknowledged. Simulation ended,” replied the computer.

“Commander, do you want us to reset and try it again?” interjected the holodeck officer.

“No, Lieutenant, I don’t think that will be necessary. Fifteen failures in a row ought to tell us something. It’s back to the drawing boards, I’m afraid.” She stood and wearily gathered her PADDs as the Control Center vanished around her to be replaced by the open struts of the holodeck grid. “Thank you all for your help this afternoon. I’ll call you if we need to reschedule more time.”

Nodding to the holodeck crew she exited the cavernous room and took a turbolift back to her floor of the Headquarters building. Once settled back at her desk with a fresh cup of coffee in her hand she began to mentally review the progression of the sensor array simulations they had run. Beginning with the most sensitive calibrations and adjusting to less and less sensitivity, each of the fifteen simulations had failed to provide advanced warning of a Borg transwarp incursion and Starfleet had been soundly defeated each time.