Star Trek Athena�The Gate Pt 4

There was the silent sound of feet running on thin sandals across the woods. It was the crack of pine leaves and cones that alerted her. For now, ears are more important than eyes. The sixth sense tells that something is coming, quick, the sound of the cracking leaves and rolling pebbles betraying where her attacker will soon strike.

Shiner bent down, her right hand on the handle of her katana. Shiner quickly unleashed her katana into the air in a wide cutting stroke, and there was a clash of metal. The somersaulting dark figure landed on her feet and turned around.

The ninja waved her finger left to right in a taunting manner. �Oh you�re good, Mom,� she said, �you�re good, but not good enough.� The ninja tore her dark mask off, revealing a short blonde head, a younger version of Shiner herself.

She somersaulted again, each hand with a ninja-toh blade held backwards, and Shiner cut the air with her katana. There was clashing and sparks where cold steel met.

Shiner charged forward, her katana slicing the air. But each trust, each slice was met by a parry from one of the ninja-toh, and she quickly found herself parrying Athena�s own attacks.

�Doctor Shiner, you are wanted on the bridge.� The voice came from her communicator attached inside her robes.

Shiner clicked on her communicator. �Right away. Athena, this has been a good exercise.�

�Oh man, just before I was about to whip your butt, Mom.�

�Ho ho ho, you cannot beat me fair and square using normal human parameters, Athena. But good try nonetheless. Computer end program.�

She went straight from the holodeck to the bridge without changing. Athena was with her.

�What�s with the samurai and ninja costumes?� Garret asked.

�We were just practicing,� Athena said. �You won�t know that, you overweight piece of trash!�

�Nice sword,� Garret said. �Normally bringing a blade to the bridge is against regulations, Doctor, but I will let it pass.�

Shiner lifted the sword. �Don�t underestimate what this thing does. In fact, I plan to bring it along when I board the Nexus. Despite modulating phasers, it only takes a matter of time before a Borg drone adjusts to all frequencies, and the combat deteriorates to hand to hand combat. This has been repeatedly shown in encounters with the Borg. And this---�

Shiner flashed the sword. ��will come in handy.�

�So Captain, do not underestimate what a low tech solution can do against a high technology race. In fact, all the commandos are required to carry blades�knives, swords, Klingon bat�leths, d�k Tagh, Kut�luchs�because everything always boils down to hand to hand combat.�

�A woman with a cutting edge,� Garret remarked. �I like that.�

�And you better keep your hands off from my Mom,� Athena snorted.

That moment, Drudge came in for his shift. He was carrying a d�Grath�a Gorn ceremonial sword�in a sheath around his hips. �I hope you don�t mind, Captain, I am aware of bridge protocol, but the Doctor here had earlier suggested that I do so.�

�Your idea?� Garret turned and looked at Shiner. Then he turned back to Drudge. �Carry on, but ask me first next time.�

�Transmissions coming in please from the USS Vanguard,� the Operations officer said.

�Bring it on screen,� Garret ordered.

�This is Captain Maeda of the USS Vanguard, I am requesting for Doctor Shiner if she is onboard the USS Athena.�

�I am she, go on,� Shiner said.

�Doctor, we have picked up two Borg ships in the area with our long range scanners. So far they have not detected us yet, but they don�t seem to be looking for anything. We will transmit images.�

�Show them on screen,� Shiner said.

Everyone�s eyes was transfixed on the screen staring at the two unusual images. �I�ve seen pictures of Borg ships before but never these. What is that?� Garret asked.

Shiner explained. �The first ship is a Class 4 Tactical Cube. Better armored and got more capabilities than a basic Class 4 Cube according to data sent from Voyager�s logs in the Delta Quadrant. I am surprised that we have a Class 4 Tactical Cube here. We have never seen these class of Cubes in the Alpha Quadrant. They can only be here if they�re escorting something very important.�

�An improved Cube? The old version was nearly enough to bring the Federation into extinction and now we have to face the next generation model?� Garret said. �You didn�t factor these into your briefing plans, didn�t you?�

�Nope, there was no way you can foreseen a Tactical Cube falling right in our backyard. But now that it�s here, you have to deal with it. Simple as that.� Shiner explained. �The other ship there is also a surprise, one that can make the situation even scary. That�s a Class 2 Diamond, and they won�t use a Diamond unless...�

�Unless what?� Garret anxiously asked.

�Unless----Captain Maeda, scan for field, subspace and subatomic particle readings in and around the Diamond,� Shiner requested.

�Already scanning, Doctor. Data being broadcast to the USS Athena.�

�We got the data, here,� T�pak said.

�Let me see,� Shiner said as she ran to T�pak�s console. Her face turned grim.

�What is it?� Garret demanded to know. �You got to tell us.�

�It�s a micro singularity. The Diamond is holding a micro singularity,� Shiner said.

�A small blackhole, if that is what you mean,� Athena added, trying to explain things clearer. �It�s like those Romulan Warbirds; they use an artificial micro singularity for their power source.�

�Exactly, a power source. There can only be one purpose for it. The micro singularity is going to be used to power the Gate,� Shiner said.

�Somehow, I suppose this isn�t good news,� Garret said.

�The hell it isn�t,� Athena said. �It means the Gate is about to go into full business, and all of customers are going to pass through the Gate. We don�t have enough time. The importance of the singularity can be seen if a Tactical Cube is escorting it.�

�I am getting another transmission. It�s from the USS Normandy. It�s Admiral Hurst.� The Operations officer said.

�Put it on screen,� Garret said. �Admiral!�

�Nice to see you, Captain, but I want to speak to the Doctor,� Hurst said.

�Admiral?� Shiner said.

�Doctor, why are you not on the USS Normandy? The Normandy is the flagship and current headquarters of this mission.�

�I had a change in plans, but it will suit us better. I need the Athena�s bioneural circuitry to assist me in decoding Borg controls and subspace transmissions. I�m afraid the Ambassador�s older computer system, even for a C refit, isn�t snuff enough for my purpose. Just trust me, Admiral.�

�Well, Doctor, if that is the case, Captain Garret must understand that he must transport you and the Science Away Team into the Nexus, once take over of the Nexus is completed.�

�Admiral, are you aware of the Borg Tactical Cube and Diamond sighting?� Shiner asked.

�Yes, Doctor,� Hurst replied. � That changes a lot of things. We�ve studied the Voyager-Borg data, and if a Tactical Cube is in the vicinity, then it must be protecting something extremely valuable to the Borg, or that Cube would already be rampaging its way to the Solar System with nothing to stop it. Any assessment on the Diamond?�

�Reconnaissance and data obtained from other races that had fought the Borg suggests that the Diamond is the Borg experimental technology ship,� Shiner explained. �It is mainly used to test and develop new radical technologies for the Borg. If the technology is dangerous to the rest of the Collective, the Diamond serves to isolate the effects of that technology. If so necessary, it can self destruct for a far lower loss of drone life and resources than an entire Cube.�

�In this particular case, we have observed that a Diamond may be holding a singularity. Whether the singularity is artificial or natural in origin, we do not know. But we suspect that the singularity is intended to be used as a power source for the Gate.�

�Capturing the Gate isn�t much of a use unless it�s got a plug on,� Hurst said. �I had already envisioned capturing the Gate without the Borg building its power supply, and building our own. That possibility only has a fair chance of success, but never a guaranteed one. If we allow the Borg to install its power supply��

�What you are proposing holds even greater risk,� Shiner objected. �If the Borg activated the Gate, there is no stopping them.�

�I have an idea, why don�t we strike at the Diamond itself? That would disable their entire operation if they don�t have a power supply,� Garret contributed.

�But for how long, Captain Garret? The Borg will build a new Diamond just as quickly and capture or build a new singularity,� Hurst said. �We must capture the Diamond also. Not only can we power the Gate with it, but the technology the Diamond holds will be invaluable. Knowing more about the Borg helps us defeat them in the future. The Federation and the entire Homo Sapiens cannot have a sure future unless the Borg threat can be contained effectively and consistently.�

�But the risk�� Shiner tried to say.

�If we try to win a battle against the Borg one at a time, one of these days, we will lose one battle and that will be it. Just one battle is enough to doom us completely,� Hurst explained. �Short term successes do not guarantee our long term survival. We must break their technology completely. We must bring the battle to them. The Gate is the key to that. Ultimately it will be between us and them, and only one will come out of it alive.�

�So long it does not break our backs first,� Garret said. �Erase my remarks, Admiral. I just can�t help saying it. The Athena and her crew will do anything to back this operation up. Just don�t stretch the objectives too much.�

�So how do you propose that we capture the Diamond, Admiral?�

�Maybe I can answer that,� Shiner said. �We will try to over ride its computer systems from the Nexus. But that�s a far shot. We might have to come in and kill all the drones inside it. And with both, we may risk the ship going into self destruct.�

�I think I may have a way,� Athena proposed. �If you can get the Diamond disabled and placed in a tractor beam, I may try to override the computer systems directly. Again that�s also a far shot, but I can react and think in the same speeds as their systems can. If I may suggest, the bioneural systems on board the Boise and the Vanguard could assist overriding their systems.�

�That sounds crazy, Athena, but it also may work,� Shiner said. �I will try to feed you as much data we have on the Borg neural networks. I need to get work on this right away. Admiral?�

�I am open to all ideas, Doctor, so long I get the results. Make the necessary preparations. We do not have much time to waste.

* * *

Admiral Hurst stood on the bridge of the USS Normandy, along with Captain David Wu. The Vanguard had been shadowing the Tactical Cube and the Diamond for a while. At the same time, the USS Boise and John Glenn had completed more recon scans of the Borg colony. The location of the bases, their inventory of weapons, are much more precise this time, and will be invaluable to the attack.
�The main threat is the Tactical Cube, but we have information that they may have Assimilators, Interceptors, and Spheres. They do not pose the same level of threat as the Tactical Cube, but in sufficient numbers, they may possess a significant threat.� Wu explained.

�How come we are unable to get an exact number of their ships?� Hurst asked.

�There is also a Borg Sensor Array that works like a subspace jammer. It�s been limiting the resolution of our long range scans. There is also a possibility that they are recently built by the Assembly Matrix.� Wu explained.

War is always about dealing with unknown and unexpected factors. There is always a cloud around everything. Not every knowledge is available or accurate.

For ship resources, they have already gathered enough Federation ships in the sector, including non Section ships that have pledged secrecy. But that may still not be enough.

Hurst let himself a moment of reflection of what is about to happen.

�Ships are now in position, Admiral,� Captain Wu said. There were two basic forces. One force was to draw the Borg fleet out of their defensive position, and the other was to make the assault on the Nexus itself. The scouts and ECM ships are all ready.

There is no turning back. �Begin Operation Gatecrasher,� Hurst declared.

* * *

�Aaargh! I got Borg Assimilators on my tail,� Hoesch shouted from aboard the Boise.

�I got them coming too!� Maeda reported from the USS Vanguard.

Their images on the screen aboard the Athena crackled and hissed from the subspace interference generated by the Borg ships.

�Steady...steady...head for the mine field, guys!� Shiner shouted, aboard the Athena.

�I got one a destroyer type Class Two Interceptor right behind the Boise, one Class Three Assimilator behind the Vanguard, one Interceptor and one Asssimilator heading right for us,� T�pak warned.

A new window came up, flickering with menacing faces. �We are Borg. Your resistance is futile. Prepare to be assimilated. Your technological distinction shall enhance the Collective.�

�Yeah...bring it on!� Athena remarked. She raised her middle finger prominently. �Right back at ya!�

Garret stared coldly at Athena. �What is this, a game? These guys are not your playmates, you know.� He turned his attention to the screen. � Helmsman, do a one hundred eighty degree turn and set course to the minefield.�

The warp engines whirred as the Athena banked towards her destination. Stars turned to spectral strips as the ship warped.

�What�s the status on the Tactical Cube?� Garret ordered.

�It�s not yet pursuing,� T�pak coldly observed. �It�s still escorting the Diamond and both ships have picked up speed towards the Gate.�

�Damn!� Shiner said. �They�re want to get the singularity safe first and get the Gate up. We need to draw the Tactical Cube out. And save your torpedoes, We do not want the Borg to adapt them prematurely, until we really need to.�

�I�m holding against the temptation to use aft torpedoes here,� Hoesch said, his image taking a window on the Athena�s screen, which had gone into multi-window mode.

�Reinforcing aft shields,� Maeda shouted, her image taking a window next to Hoesch�s. From Maeda�s window, Garret could see the Vanguard�s interior shake as the Assimilator fired its energy beams at her. Everytime the Borg fired, the window gets fuzzy with interference.

�Reinforce rear shields. Maximum energy!� Garret ordered.

�We�re over Warp 9.9 and the Assimilator is still closing,� T�pak warned.

The Athena shuddered as the Borg energy beam plastered her rear shields.

�That smarts right in the ass!� Athena cried out.

�Shields down to seventy five percent,� Ka�nal warned.

�Steady as she goes, and stop whining, Athena,� Garret curtly said. �We�ve toned down your pain sensors a bit before on your request, remember? So why are you still hollering?�

�I hate it when my paint job gets scratched, okay?� She replied.

The ship shuddered again with a hit. �Shields down to fifty percent!�

�I swear I�m getting my butt whacked!� Athena cried out.

�If you don�t shut up, I�ll do it myself!� Garret curtly replied.

�We�re almost to the minefield now!� the Helmsman shouted.

�Prepare for evasive maneuvers!� Garret ordered. �You call the shots Athena!�

�Roger, Captain!�

�Four...three...two...one...hang on!�

The Athena made a wild turn, forcing the standing crewmen to hold on against the special handlebars installed on the bridge, and the people sitting down to clutch strongly against their seats.

�When will they ever put seatbelts on a starship?� Garret exclaimed.

�That�s a narrow miss!� the Helmsman shouted, as a mine whizzed by Athena�s belly.

Led by the momentum of its greater speed, the Interceptor was the first to hit the antimatter minefield. With no time to adapt, the entire Interceptor lit up in a big fiery explosion.

The Assimilator right behind it was luckier, able to reinforce its shields and undertake emergency maneuvers as its partner slammed into the minefield. A few mines still managed to hit, and it emerged from the fire and smoke, damaged but still alive.

There was another massive explosion not far off, as another Assimilator smashed against the minefield in pursuit of the Vanguard. The Assimilator barely survived the minefield, but aft torpedoes from the Vanguard finished it off.

�Aft quantum torpedoes, maximum yield, fire!� Garret ordered. Three quantum torpedoes shot out.

The Assimilator had already lost their shields, and Garret watched as the screaming torpedoes went, one, two and three right into its fragile exposed matrix. He could see fire erupt from the insides. Two Defiants and a Sabre came swinging by, a volley of torpedoes headed for the stricken Assimilator, then strafing with phasers. The Assimilator ended with a massive explosion.

�We got a mayday on the Boise. Her warp engines had been damaged, and she is being boarded by the Interceptor.� Maeda shouted from the small window on screen showing the bridge of the Vanguard. �I�m moving in to assist her.�

�Damn, the plan�s falling apart too soon!� Shiner shouted.

Shelley�s face flashed in a window on the screen. �I�m moving in with the Kiev!�

Another face flashed in a window from Captain Atumbo of the USS Havana, a Niagara B refit. �Heading to assist the Boise now. We got engineering teams to assist in the ship�s repair and commando teams to help repel the boarders.�

�Things are looking grim here...� Hoesch�s face flashed in a small window at the bottom the screen.

�Hold on, Jonathan, help is coming your way,� Garret shouted. �Helmsman, get us to the Boise right away!�

The Interceptor�s shields went down a full third as the Kiev�s torpedoes and pulse phasers strafed it. But when it came to the Vanguard�s turn to strafe it, the Interceptor had adapted. Readings now show only a minimal reduction of the Assimilator�s shields.

�The Assimilator is adapting, changing all phaser and torpedo frequencies to random modulation. How are you all faring?� Maeda said on the screen.

�We�re transporting medical, engineering and commando teams into the Boise,� Atumbo said, �But get that Borg destroyer off our backs!�

A Sabre flashed by, smoking from its damaged engines, while a Nova A refit took hits as its front shield buckled from the energy beams of the Interceptor.

The small ships are buying the Boise time, Garret thought. �Drudge, arm with random modulation on all phasers and torpedoes,� Garret ordered. �Fire!�

At the same moment, the Vanguard also fired torpedoes and phasers. The first torpedo went through, cratering the skin of the Interceptor. The second and third torpedoes bounced off, but the Assimilator lacked enough energy for its shields to stop the on coming torrent of quantum torpedoes, now being fired from half a dozen ships.

Then suddenly the Interceptor was gone, and the torpedoes whizzed their paths in empty space. �The Interceptor hit transwarp,� T�pak said. �It�s gone back to the colony.�

�It�s going to warn the rest of the colony, it�s too late,� Shiner said.

(To be continued)

Star Trek Athena�The Gate Pt 5

�Thanks guys, I owe you all one,� Hoesch said on screen from the Boise. The Havana�s commando teams had contained the Borg boarders, and the Havana�s medical and engineering teams were quick in the repair and care of the wounded. �The Boise will be back up in no time.�

�The Borg Interceptor class destroyer is just too fast even for an Aegis class ship,� Shiner observed. �I don�t even think Athena could out run those ships. But like the Spheres, the Interceptor and the Assimilator class ships are mere fodder compared to a Cube, and worst yet, the Diamond. We need to be extra careful.�

�This is Captain Masaki here from the USS John Glenn. We have managed to home in on the Borg�s subspace links. Ready to jam.�

�The Borg will attempt to shift frequency. You must continuously anticipate this, Captain Masaki,� Shiner warned. �Begin jamming.�

�Understood, Masaki out.�

�This is Maeda from the USS Vanguard. We are ready to begin jamming.�

�This is Hoesch from the USS Boise. We are also ready to begin jamming.�

�Begin jamming everyone. Play around with the Borg subspace frequencies. Fill it with clutter, garbage, even music. Overload, interfere, just do anything to distract, intimidate, irritate, taunt or provoke the Borg...� Shiner said. �The attack on their subspace frequencies can greatly hurt their efficiencies.�

�In other words, you really want to piss them off,� Garret explained.

�Exactly. Captain Maeda, Captain Hoesch, Captain Masaki, maintain a position near the minefield. We�re going to draw them out this time,� Shiner said.

�Oh I see your point, clever, Doctor, clever indeed,� Garret said.

The Federation fleet quickly assembled back near the minefield.

�Sensors picking up the Tactical Cube has gone warp and is heading towards our area,� Maeda said.

�I got the Cube coming in too,� said Masaki.

�Magnify!� Garret ordered.

The giant Cube with its blocky chunky walls appeared on screen. It was as menacing and as ugly as any other cube, and all of it is heading their way.

�I guess it really looks pissed off now,� Garret said.

�New energy signatures coming from within the Cube itself,� Hoesch remarked from a small window on the screen.

�Something is coming out from the circular ports...one ...no, there is another one..two of them now...� T�pak said. �I believe they�re Class 3 Tactical Spheres.�

�Great, they�re falling for the bait!� Shiner said. �Admiral Hurst, do you copy this?�

�Yes, I am, Doctor,� Hurst said. �The Normandy and the Hiryu are on their way now. We are supported by various scout and science ships aimed to disrupt Borg subspace communications. When takeover of the Nexus is confirmed, Doctor, you and your science team will beam onboard.�

�We got that, Admiral. We�re ready when you are.� Shiner replied.

�Open the tactical map, Drudge,� Garret ordered. �On screen.�

Drudge displayed the fleet dispositions on the screen. Hurst is leading one fleet right into the Nexus with the main fleet, while a second fleet awaits in the minefield to hold the Tactical Cube and Spheres long enough.

�An energy beam from the Cube is blasting through the minefields!� T�pak warned.

�Warp! Warp! Warp! Now!� Garret ordered. The Athena shot out as the entire galactic horizon went up in a brilliant flash of light as hundreds of antimatter mines detonated in a wild chain reaction.

�My god!� Shiner exclaimed.

�We�ve lost several ships,� T�pak reported.

�Roll call! Operations, hail all survivors!� Garret ordered.

The screens fizzled and a window appeared. �Garret are you there?� It was Shelley�s face.

�Oh god, you�re still there, Ann.� Garret sighed in relief. �The Athena is okay. How is the Kiev?�

�She�s fine. She�s a tough ship for the wear and tear.� Shelley answered. �I�m not getting any response from the USS John Glenn, and some of the ships laying the minefield.�

Another crackling window in the screen appeared. Aside from the static, it was Masako Maeda�s face. �I got nothing from the Captain Masaki and the John Glenn. I saw they were headed towards the minefield for an intercept course on the Cube. I think he�s gone.�

�Oh my god! It�s my fault, my fault!� Shiner shouted. �My fault that ship and the others are all gone. I ordered the ship to head near the minefield.� There was both anger and tears in her face as she banged on the console with her fist.

Athena tried to comfort her. �Come on, Mom. These things happen, you can�t blame yourself for it.�

But Garret�s voice was stern and unrelenting. �Doctor Shiner. I have a good idea what you�re feeling now, but the rest of us is still alive and absolutely got no clue on dealing with the Borg. If you�re going to crack up right here and now, there will be more Federation ship wreckage, including this ship. You got to be strong now.�

Shiner wiped the tears off her eyes and straightened her skirt. Shiner looked at the cold steely eyes and the wry sense of humor of Garret. The man had faced death in the face before, and his feeling had hardened even for a relatively young officer. But she herself never had that experience to fortify herself.

�I suggest we must dispense of the emotional displays,� T�pak said. �The Tactical Cube is heading our way.�

�We still got the Havana, the Hainan, and the Boise, as for the larger ships,� Maeda said.

�I don�t think we can win a straight against a Cube with two Spheres. What we must do is hold it long enough for the Normandy to strike at the Nexus.

�The Havana is firing tri-cobalt torpedoes�a full spread.� Drudge said. �I got other ships firing tricobalts and quantum torpedoes, full yield with modulating frequencies.�

�There�s enough firepower there to blow a planet. Not even a Cube can withstand that much firepower even if it had the proper shield frequency. On screen�let�s watch its destruction,� Garret ordered.

The stream of torpedoes headed towards the luckless Cube. Huge fiery clouds engulfed the Cube as the torpedoes detonated.

Then amidst the clouds and fires, the Tactical Cube emerged, none better for the wear. Two Spheres orbited the Cube. There seemed to be a continuing arc of energy that connected the Spheres and the Cube. Garret�s mouth was agape as the scene revealed to his eyes.

�The two Tactical Spheres are reinforcing the shields of the Cube and regenerating whatever damage it has sustained,� Shiner observed. The two Tactical Spheres hovered around the Tactical Cube like cubs to a mother. �We got to take out the spheres first, or we�re not going to take them out at all.�

Garret sighed. It won�t be easy with the Tactical Cube covering them.

Shiner gathered her inner strength as she called on the Vanguard and the Boise to maximize subspace jamming.

�I could jam too, you know,� Athena suggested.

�Yes, you can, do it.� Shiner replied.

* * *

Elsewhere, the other team seemed to be having it easier. A flotilla of Nova and Spearhead class scouts, true to their name, spearheaded the attack with heavy subspace ECM jamming. Under ECM cover, the Hiryu went in and obliterated the Borg energy cannon turrets with quantum and tri-cobalt torpedoes.

The Normandy flew past the immense Borg assembly matrixes and detection arrays. The eerie green bases with their jagged twigs and frames gave Hurst an eerie feeling, like visiting a cemetery in midnight full of trees without leaves. The assembly matrixes have no tactical value, but the detection arrays do. The Nova and Spearhead scouts opened fire with photon torpedoes right into the arrays, and they blew like houses of cards.

While hardly cloaking technology, Federation starships could modulate their shields to minimize their sensor signature, creating a stealth effect without violating the Treaty of Algernon. All ships have modulated their shields to that effect.

�We got the Nexus sighted,� Captain Wu said.

�Bring it on screen!� Hurst ordered. All he could think of its when he saw the ominious immense green mass of conduits and scraggy metal was that this was one ugly m***f*k*r.

�Do you think the Borg may have already assimilated Breen shield disrupter technology?� Hurst asked.

�It�s a fifty fifty chance. I really don�t know, Admiral.�

�We�re about to find out. Let�s try out the Breen shield disrupter we�ve installed on the Normany� Hurst said.

�I got lock,� said the Tactical officer. �Arming the disrupter.�

�Open fire,� Wu ordered.

�The shields in the Nexus is still up!� the Tactical officer said.

�Fire again!� Wu ordered.

�No effect,� the Tactical officer confessed.

�Aye!� Wu sighed. �What now? Shall we try it out the old fashioned way? Brute force?�

Hurst shook his head negatively. �Modulate all weapons and take out its shields!� Hurst ordered. �I got no more time for this nonsense.�

The Normandy opened fire with phasers and torpedoes, and soon after, the Hiryu, the scouts and some accompanying Sabres and Defiants.

The torpedoes slammed one after another. The Nexus tried to modulate and shift its shields, trying to present a fresh face against the torpedoes once a facet gets worn out. But it was too overwhelming even for a Borg Nexus. The torpedoes and the sustained phaser fire eventually got the shields thin and then exposed.

�Hurry, we don�t have much time before the shields regenerate.� Hurst said.

�I got the Diamond sighted. It�s near the Transwarp Gate. It�s energy levels are high and it has been pumping energy to the Gate,� Wu said.

�If the energy reaches to a certain point, the Gate will be activated,� Hurst warned. �We must board the Nexus quickly! David, prepare for the marine assault. Captain Boussard, cover the Normandy!�

�Yes Sir!� Boussard said.

As the Ambassador C class Normandy passed over the Nexus, it began transporting the first wave of commandos. Fighting broke out all over the Nexus from dozen or more commando squads distributed widely and hitting inside the Nexus from all directions.

�Get me Doctor Shiner,� Hurst ordered. �We need to inform her to get ready for her science team to board the Nexus!�

* * *

The battle against the Tactical Cube has not gone either way. The situation had become more like gnats fighting a rhino. Massive subspace jamming against the Borg Vinculum subspace links have greatly compromised the efficiency of the Borg�s offensive weapons. But with the Tactical Cube�s powerful shields intact, and the Tactical Spheres continually regenerating them, the Federation ships could not exert any significant damage.

Suddenly the Tactical Cube began to turn away.

�What the?� Garret exclaimed.

�We got word that the Nexus is now being boarded,� said the Operations officer. �Admiral Hurst has issued an order that Doctor Shiner and her science team must get ready to board the Nexus.�

�The Tactical Cube is responding to the attack on the Nexus. It is returning back to assist it,� Drudge reported. �If the Cube returns, it can imperil the Normandy.�

�Continue to engage the Cube,� Garret ordered.

�Aye, aye, Captain,� Athena affirmed.

The other ships came to the same decision as Garret did and intensified their attacks.

�This is Lieutenant Ghia from Engineering. The Trojans are ready, I repeat the Trojans are ready!�

�Thank you Lieutenant,� Shiner affirmed.

�Trojan?� Garret asked.

�Drones that have been reprogrammed,� Shiner said. �Unlike the other captured drones, these ones are are intended to help circumvent the Borg security levels and subvert the Vinculum in the Nexus. We�re going to tap the Borg network through their minds. I�ve asked your Chief Engineer to help me in this task, if you don�t mind.�

�I don�t mind but it�s a feat accompli. I would rather that you ask me first,� Garret said.

�This is Lieutenant Ghia. Captain, I wish to make a request to join the science team. I�ve worked on Shiner�s equipment, and I want to be sure it can work. Lieutenant Van here can temporarily take my place.�

�I can handle it alone, Captain.� Athena said.

�You�re read my mind, Lieutenant Ghia. I need another person to go along with Doctor Shiner. Drudge! Take a security team with you and go with the science team.� Garret ordered.

Drudge smiled, his hand on the hilt of his sword. �Aye aye Captain!�

�I can do it myself, Captain,� Shiner objected.

�I would feel better if you got more support and protection. Like Drudge here,� Garret pointed to the Gorn with his thumb.

Shiner looked at Drudge, who grinned to make a display of his sharp curvy teeth.

�I think I feel better already, Captain.� She replied.

�I�m taking over the Tactical console,� Ka�nal said.

�Captain!� Ka�nal said. �I got reports that resistance is heavy in the Nexus. If we don�t stop the Tactical Cube, it will board the Nexus with reinforcements.�

�I know, I know!� Garret said.

�That�s not all. The Transwarp Gate is powering up. The Diamond is transferring power to the Gate,� Ka�nal said. �We got to stop that soon.�

�We just lost the USS Sarek! We just lost the USS Sarek!� T�pak warned. The USS Sarek is�was�a New Orleans class ship refitted to the �A� standard after the Wolf 359 battle. Part of its refit had been re-equipping with modulating shields and phasers, with additional marines for boarding and storage for mines. That was nearly two hundred lives lost in a flash.

The culprit was one of the Tactical Spheres. The Sarek had been attacking the Cube ferociously, but the Sphere had been as ferocious in its defense.

Out of the black came the USS Kiev with two Defiants in formation, one on each side. Right behind were two Sabres. Multiple volleys of torpedoes came screaming. The Sphere stopped the first three torpedoes, but the rest went through. As the Sphere burned and fragmented into pieces, the Defiants poured a deadly stream of pulse phasers while the Sabres pierced their targets with powerful Type X phasers. The multiple phaser fire ignited the Sphere into a brilliant explosion that shocked the Cube itself.

A window appeared in Athena�s screen with Ann Shelley�s smiling face. She waved a �V� sign before the window went out.

�Good shot, Ann!� Garret shouted. �That leaves us with one more Sphere.�

�Being done, Sir! Need permission to use tri-cobalt!� Athena said.

�Granted!

�The Cube is powering up for a transwarp!� T�Pak warned. �We better hurry!�

A volley of six torpedoes came out from the Athena, the first six were photon and quantum torpedoes set at various frequencies. The second Sphere neutralized the three photon torpedoes, but the quantum torpedoes exploded against its shields, reducing the shields to near nothing. A final torpedo, a tri-cobalt, went through the Sphere. Massive shockwaves from the sphere rocked the Tactical Cube.

Garret stood up. �Yes!� he shouted with a raised forearm.
�That one nearly tore the continuum fabric,� Ka�nal exaggerated. �It must have damaged the Cube too. Her power levels are down. She can�t trans-warp for the moment.�

The Boise, the Vanguard and the Havana came barreling down on the Cube. �They�re firing tri-cobalt torpedoes!� Ka�nal said.

What Garret saw rekindled hope in the entire mission. Three of the Tri-Cobalts exploded against the Cube�s outer shields, but the shockwaves ripped throughout the Cube. Wreckage flew out from the Cube, and fire erupted from large cracks. Then more of the torpedoes hit, and the Cube was engulfed with fire. Garret was sure that the Cube would be dead this time. It is impossible for anything not even the Borg, could survive so much that many Tri-Cobalts. There was enough firepower there to blow an entire planet.

But the Tactical Cube did emerge from the fire. It was burning, but still alive. Garret slowly reclined back his chair. The Tri-Cobalt is the Federation�s most powerful weapon, and the Cubes could survive them.

�A Cube is one redundant system after another, a system divided into many equal compartments. It uses force fields even within its own internal structures. It has its own regeneration procedures,� Shiner explained.

Suddenly a holding beam shot out from the Cube and grabbed the Havana. �I am requesting assistance,� Captain Atumbo shouted from a window on the Athena�s screen. �I am requesting assistance�we are being boarded on all sections!�

�Damn! The gaddam� Borg!� Garret shouted. �Open fire, Athena. Give it all you got, knock out the Holding Beam!�

Athena didn�t even wait to reply. Volleys of phasers and pulse phasers shot out, but the Cube deflected shot after shot. Some phasers hit within the Cube, but Athena could not be certain the exact location of the holding beam weapon. Torpedoes were being deflected this time.

It was a sick sight to see the Havana struggled in vain against the holding beam that pulled it toward the Borg ship. The ship tussled, moved and shook against the holding beam. The communication links were still on and they heard phaser fire and screams. It was like an animal in the clutches of death, resisting with every ounce of life in its body. But as the Borg said�

�Resistance is futile.�

The Havana has slipped within the perimeter of the Cube�s shields. �We got transporter activity within the Havana. It�s beaming the Trojan drones into the Cube itself,� Ka�nal warned.

�No, they�re too close!� Shiner shouted.

The Cube stopped its holding beam. Then in a second, everything became all too silent.

�Athena! Max shields and engage warp!� Garret shouted out of pure instinct.

Inside the Cube, thoughts of humanly bliss, of Unimatrix Zero swept throughout the ship, polluting its Vinculum. Unimatrix Zero is unacceptable. The sheer presence and existence of Unimatrix Zero is forbidden. It is wrong. There can be no acceptance, no other option. The Tactical Cube self destructed into a super nova, massive chunks of itself being blown outward in all directions. The shockwaves tossed the Athena like a toy in a storm. Athena�s own face frowned from the pressure and the impact, but the ship quickly regained stability.

�We�ve lost the Havana, Captain,� T�pak said. �She had a crew complement of three hundred.�

That was twice more people than the crew he had on the Athena. He looked at Shiner. �This battle better be worth it. We got over a thousand lives already lost here.�

�I can�t tell you if it�s worth it or not, but inside you know it does,� Shiner said. �I hope all the people who died knew that it was worth it, or I won�t be able to sleep.�

Garret put his hand on her shoulder. It was an assuring touch, and she touched his hand back. �I think you better dress up in your combat drone suit now. We�re heading to the Nexus now.�

* * *

From the lower engineering deck of the Athena, Shiner appeared on screen with her science team, all in the combat suits. Drudge had his own combat suit fitted for his size, and Shiner had made modifications to inject anti nanoprobe vaccine in Drudge�s suit. Ghia was also in her suit, and the Bajoran waved. Shiner made last minute injections on Drudge�s and Ghia�s arm. Drudge gave his thumb�s up, or for the better word of it, his thumb claw�s up.

�We got a Borg Assimilator on screen,� T�pak said.

�And it�s got a victim,� Ka�nal said.

Not far away, a Nova scout ship struggled in the throes of assimilation, as the Borg Assimilator held it in the crutches of its holding beam. The nanoprobes were so ferocious that they even ate through the Nova�s skin, and Borg implants sprouted from the hull of the ship.

The Nova suddenly exploded in a volley of torpedoes. Garret glanced up the screen where the torpedoes came from, and there was the silhouette of an Akira flashing by.

�It�s the Hiryu and that gaddam Boussard,� Garret said. There was about eighty lives aboard that Nova, and the gorilla just wasted them.

�That Nova was probably lost already. What Boussard did was mercy killing, or that Nova would be fighting us now,� Ka�nal said.

�Sometimes I wonder, Captain. You got a keen tactical sense, but I don�t know if you have the killer instinct to execute things through,� Ka�nal said. �Boussard isn�t that smart, but he�s got the cold blooded killing instincts to do what is necessary.�

Ka�nal can be painfully right, Garret thought. He may lack enough killer instinct. Is he too soft? He can�t be soft now. He must steel himself for the battles to come.

The Hiryu is pursuing the Assimilator now. Like a raging bull, the Hiryu blazed away with torpedoes and phasers at the Assimilator�s shields, leaving the Borg destroyer naked. Then in a pass, the Hiryu transported a Trojan drone into the Assimilator. There was a half a second silence as the Assimilator slowed down to a complete stop. It was a momentary calm before the Assimilator�s self destruction.

�We�re ready now, Captain,� Shiner said, her face beaming from the suit.

�All right then, begin hull separation!� Garret ordered.

The lower half of Athena�s engineering hull began to disengage, by itself worthy of a ship still as big and more power than a Nova class ship. Inside the lower hull is the Science team.

�Let�s cover the hull module to the Nexus. It will transport the team from there.� Garret ordered.

�Captain, I got new transwarp readings.� T�pak said. �It�s from the Gate.�

�On screen,� Garret ordered.

A thin glowing arc of energy connected the Diamond and the Gate. Power from the Diamond�s singularity flowed to the Gate. The Gate itself came alive. Lights rippled across its entire circumference. The space inside the circle became hazy, and then swirled into a whirlpool.

MORE!! This is really really good!

------------------
At that point, McDonald fired his gun three times in the air to emphasize his point. The crowd, estimated at 350,000, loudly cheered the new candidate.

"Let me make this clear: I am the law! I am your ruler! And you will have fries with that, motherf*cker!"

------------------
Access Password
47at
http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Stargate/9268/index.html

Star Trek Athena-The Gate Pt 6

The Diamond came out of the gate. �Oh my, a female drone�s best friend, courtesy of de Borg. Hmm.. It looks different from the other Diamond,� Garret said.

�We may be seeing a new Diamond subtype, maybe something we can tentatively call a Tactical Diamond. It appears to be coated with more layers of physical armor as with all Tactical subclasses, but I cannot imagine what additional capabilities it may have,� Shiner said.

�And I don�t want to find out. New type or not, we�re not going to waste our time,� Garret said.

A face appeared onscreen on a small conference window. �This is Hurst. Doctor, you better get your ass here right away. If we don�t get control of the Gate now, other Borg ships will follow.�

�Admiral Hurst, Doctor Shiner, if I may be excused,� Garret said. �What if you people are not able to secure control of the Gate? Whether you like or not, I�m going to blow that Gate out o the water.�

�Give me some time Captain,� Shiner requested.

�How much time?� Garret asked.

�The Gate has expended energy to bring in a small Diamond. My rough estimate is that it would take five minutes to pick up enough energy to get another Class II vessel in. Give me that five minutes, Captain.�

�You think you can override the Borg computer systems in five minutes?� Garret said.

�I hope so, we�ve been practicing this for quite some time.� Shiner said. �Now is as good as time as any to find out if what we practiced really works.�

�Five minutes is a bit risky, given that Diamond is going to get in our backs.� Garret said.

�As much as I hate saying this, and as much as I wanted to get that Gate, Garret is right. If we don�t stop the Borg from coming in soon enough, we have to destroy the Gate as a last resort. You got my full backing on this, Captain Garret,� Hurst said.

�You heard that Doctor?� Garret said.

�I heard you. This means we don�t have much time. We�re ready for transport.� Shiner said.

�Athena, prepare to disengage Vector Hull three!� Garret ordered. �Going to partial multi vector mode.�

�Aye aye, Captain.� She responded.

�The Hiryu and the Kiev had begun engaging the second Diamond, Captain,� Ka�nal said. �The second Diamond is headed for the Nexus.�

�We�ll cover Vector Hull three until she transports the team, then we�ll rejoin and engage the second Diamond.� Garret said.

The Athena�s third modular hull began to disengage from the rest of the ship, revealing a flat bottom frigate with a triangular shaped main hull.

�Vector Hull Three has disengaged,� Ka�nal said.

�Stay close to her!� Garret ordered.

A small conference window popped up with Shelley�s face. �The USS Kiev coming in. Assisting in covering your cargo, Captain Garret.� She said.

�Thanks, Ann. We need every help we can get.�

�We got an Assimilator heading our way, Captain,� T�pak said.

�Oh boy, just what we need now. We�re going to disengage Vector Hull Two!� Garret said. �Going into full vector mode.�

�Yessir! Captain,� Athena said with an old Navy salute.

The second hull separated from the triangular main hull.

�Arm all phasers and torpedoes. Random modulation, maximum yield. Prepare to fire on my mark.�

The Assimilator fired a energy beam against the main hull vector ship. The bridge rocked and a crewman fell off balance. The screens flashed, then shut down, then quickly went back on as redundant systems and energy reserves kicked in. Automated repair procedures began operation promptly.

�Why I oughta...� Athena said, shaking her fist. �This is all going to ruin my beautiful skin!�

�Fire!� Garret ordered. All three vector ships unleashed a hail of phaser and torpedo fire, all of which lighted the Assimilator�s shields with a glow and massive sparks.

�It�s going to RAM us!� Ka�nal shouted.

Before Garret could issue an order, the bridge of the Athena was swinging wildly with G forces that not even the gravity generators on board the ship could compensate. All three ships have banked on their side, with the massive Assimilator slipping underneath.

�That was too close, Athena! Oh no! It�s heading for the Kiev!� Ka�nal shouted.

�Ann!� Garret shouted.

The Kiev unleashed a stream of pulse phaser fire and torpedoes right through the Assimilators, whose shields have been worn out by the Athena�s multi vectored attack. Explosions rocked the interior of the Assimilator, but its sheer momentum could not be stopped. Neither was the speed of the fighter shaped Norway class. Like a bullet into a block of concrete, the sleek destroyer disappeared right through the Assimilator, cratering its center with a massive hole, and then came out of the other end, fragments flying about, the entire sleek ship tumbling without its winged pylons and engines.

�ANN!� Garret shouted.

The Assimilator erupted, pieces of strange, twisted Borg metallurgy flying in all directions with the glowing balls and sparks of fire.

A hazy, static filled window appeared on the Athena�s bridge. �This is Captain Ann Shelley of the USS Kiev...�

There was fire throughout in the image of the Kiev�s bridge. Shelley herself was bleeding from her head, her face and forehead, black with burns and ashes.

�...We are abandoning ship...We have lost all warp engines...Mayday, Mayday, we need rescue..all hands to the lifeboats...all hands, abandon ship...�

Garret was freaked out of the image of his old ship burning, dying in its final throes of life. His heart thumped and thumped with big beats. All he hoped was his friend Ann...Ann... Someone held his hand with a firm grasp. Garret looked up from his chair and his teary eyes stared at Athena�s.

�Don�t worry, Ann is alright. They got life boats,� Athena assured him.

On the screen, the Kiev�s lifeboats have separated from the main ship, which remained to be a burning lifeless hulk.

�Ka�nal, keep Vector ship One escorting Vector Ship three. I�ll have Vector Ship two rescue the lifeboats and survivors.� Athena offered.

�...No...� Garret said. �We got to keep on course. It�s important we get the science team intact on the Nexus. They�ll be okay in the lifeboats for a while. Get me Captain Wu on the link.�

Captain Wu appeared in a conference window on screen. �I saw what happened. You and I well know that the Kiev is my ship...our ship...and my feelings with it...I hope Ann is all right. I�ve already sent shuttles to pick Ann and her crew up. I just have so many mixed feelings.... but now is not the time to dwell on that...get the science team in...Wu out.�

�We�re approaching the Nexus. The Hiryu and the other ships are engaging the second Diamond,� Ka�nal said. �The science team is ready to beam in. We got the coordinates of the hall section where the Vinculum of the Nexus is located.�

A window flashed with Doctor Shiner, Ghia and Drudge giving their thumbs and claws up. Garret could see that both Shiner and Drudge brought their swords with them. There was a sense of poetic irony, that in a battle with the highest stakes in technology, it will all boil down hand to hand fighting. The team disappeared with the transporter beam in a wall of shiny sparkles.

* * *

As commandos would say it, they are facing �heavy resistance.� Immediately there was hand to hand fighting all over the section where the Vinculum is located. Ka�nal landed the science team and the Athena�s security team right behind where the Borg defenders were. With the slashing fast cut of ancient steel, Shiner cut through the walls of Borg drone with her katana. The drone�s portable shields were meant to block off phaser fire, but not the physical movement of a steel blade.

Drudge chopped across the walls of grey flesh and metallic wire and tubes with his huge sword. It was something like this he had prepared for with his hack and slash fantasies in the holodeck. But the villains this time were not Romulans but Borg, and the Gorn princesses were more like his Federation squad mates. Limbs and heads fell as the mighty Gorn warrior lopped off his prey like a skilled butcher. Blood and synthetic fluids mixed in dreary pools in the floor.

The Bajoran engineer Ghia was quickly preparing the Trojan drones. She was hurriedly keyboarding a small terminal hooked to one of the drones when a Borg head fell near her. �Drudge!� She screamed. �I�m trying to concentrate here!�

�Oh excuse me! I�m just trying to stop you from getting assimilated. Remind me next time to let the Borg pass through!� Drudge shouted back as he quickly lopped the head of another drone off.

�Drudge, cover us, I�m going to set up the drones with Ghia,� Shiner said.

�Roger, Doctor,� Drudge replied, fighting off drones with the tubules extended trying to assimilate him. But the tubules don�t seem to have any luck penetrating his thick armor suit, and they are too slow to avoid the swing of his massive blade.

�Got it!� Shiner shouted. The Trojans have interlinked to the local Collective through the Vinculum, which loomed above them.

Shiner looked around. The Borg had redundant terminals across the walls. Funny she thought, regardless of base or ship, Borg interiors almost always look the same due to the enforced commonality from their collective minds. On holodecks in the advanced technology node where she worked, she had practiced and trained her science team for an attempted boarding of a Borg ship. It is time to see if the rehearsals would finally bear fruit.

No Federation body or organization would ever agree on such a bold daring and risky mission. To attempt to board and capture a Borg ship or base. To �assimilate� the Borg instead of being assimilated. Yes, it�s crazy, but Shiner had concluded that its necessity made it inevitable. They cannot capture or learn more about the Borg without taking that bold step. Sooner or later, the Borg will adapt their new defenses and weapons. Like the force of nature they are, the Borg will reconquer them if they stay idle and unprepared. But how do you beat Nature?

You must learn how it works. You must learn how to make it tick. If Man learned to tame the weather and travel to the stars, Man can beat the Borg. But not without taking this bold step. Shiner looked around, looked to the Vinculum that stood on its pedestal, like the idol of a god in its sacred altar.

She knew the symbols on the Borg control panels like the back of her hand. Quickly she pressed a variety of them for a sequence. Just as quickly, they responded.

* * *

�Vector hull 2 and 3 rejoined.�

�Vector hull 2 and 1 have rejoined.� Ka�nal reported.

�Oh it feels so good to be complete once again,� Athena said, shaking her head and shoulders.

The scene around the second Diamond now appears like a swarm of bees buzzing a hive. Every attack the Federation ships tried, the Diamond�s shields repulsed them. When it seemed that the Diamond�s shields were sufficiently weakened enough to penetrate, it�s incredible regenerative powers brought the shields back up to full strength again. But the tradeoff from its regenerative powers was the enormous energies it consumed. As it repairs its shields, less power was devoted to the offensive energy beams, and the strikes against the Federation ships were as ineffective as the Federation ships was against the Diamond. The situation was turning into a stalemate.

Or was the Diamond simply buying time?

�Energy levels around the Gate is rising!� T�pak reported. �We got a transwarp engine signature coming from inside the Gate!�

This is not good, Garret thought. �On screen.�

The space inside the Gate had begun to twirl into a pink and purple whirlpool.

�Doctor! Doctor! Come in please! We got activity on the Gate. I think Borg reinforcements are trying to come through,� Garret said through the communicator links.

�Give us more time, Captain! We�re making progress!�

�We do not have time, Doctor. Time is not something I can give, and whatever that�s coming out of the Gate isn�t going to give you either. We will attempt to shut down the Gate by force or destroy it completely. Garret out.�

�NO!� Shiner shouted before she was cut off.

The Athena turned its nose towards the Gate itself. �Engage full impulse!� Garret ordered.

�Something is trying to come out of the Gate!� T�pak urgently warned.

The edge of a Cube began emerging from the whirlpool. Waves radiated and fluctuated the fabric of space and time from the point where the Cube began emerging.

�Tricobalt authorization granted, Athena. Voice Signature Captain Randall Garret.�

�Roger, Captain! All phaser banks and arrays armed. Torpedoes armed. Target locked. Random frequency modulation. Approaching target. Ready to fire.� Athena said.

�Twenty five percent of the Cube has emerged through the Gate!� T�pak warned.

�Fire!� Garret ordered.

Two torpedoes came out from the primary hull, then two torpedoes from upper engineering hull and finally two torpedoes from the lower engineering hull. As the torpedoes screamed towards their target, the phaser strips energized, and a sustained beam shot out, connecting to its target in the middle of the Gate�s ring. As the Athena came closer, pulse phasers from four cannons situated on the engineering hull filled the darkness with tracers.

The torpedoes slammed into the whirlpool, and the pinkish glow of the whirlpool turned brilliant white. In a bright flash, the piece of the Cube that emerged from the ring, broke off from the rest of the cube as the ring burned out. The space inside the ring turned empty, and stars can once again be seen right through it. The broken off piece of the Cube tumbled, burning, burning.

The massive energies built up in the Gate surged back to its source�the Diamond with the singularity power source�in a giant arc. The Diamond disengaged from the Gate, tumbling out of control. Garret could see fires breaking out throughout the ship, and sparks arcing throughout the Diamond�s internal structures.

�Yes!� Garret stood up, right fist clenched.

�We got word from Doctor Shiner that the situation aboard the Nexus has stabilized,� Ka�nal said.

This is good, Garret thought. The light in the end of the tunnel, the shimmer of hope, the real possibility of victory. There is a God after all...

* * *

Shiner worked on one of the Borg panels. Progress has been good. Once the Trojans managed to open a link into the Collective through the Vinculum, it exposed all the Borg communication protocols. The Vinculum was compromised. All the security pathways and gates fell one after the other. Viruses were sent into the Borg link stream, forcing more drones and computer systems to betray their security codes. Like wildfire the viruses were out of control. Even before the Borg central net could try to send self destruct commands, much of the net pathways were either cut or compromised. The self destruct commands were intercepted and neutralized.

�Admiral Hurst, we got command of the power centers. We�re putting the Nexus into minimal power mode. All defenses will be put to sleep.�

�Excellent, Doctor. Keep up the good work. I have been informed that Garret had stopped a Borg Cube from emerging from the Gate. An energy overload may have caused some damage to the Gate.�

�I could check it up, Admiral.� Shiner clicked on her communicator. She went to one of the control panels on the walls, and pressed on the symbols. �Yes there is damage on the Gate, but it seemed minor. It can be reparable. The Diamond power source is currently knocked out, powerless and paralyzed. There seems to be some damage on its power systems and much of its neural network, including its Vinculum. The damage though will not prevent the Diamond from being restored into operational status�in our command this time.�

�Excellent, Doctor. We want as much of the Borg assets working in our hands. Right now you got to hold on to our new fort. The Normandy is heavily engaged against the second Diamond. We can�t come to pick you up, not yet.�

�That is okay, Admiral. Things are under control here,� Shiner said. �If you can keep the Diamond off our backs, we will be fine here. Shiner out.�

As Shiner talked in her communicator and clicked on the control panels, a wounded drone had awakened. It slowly crept then stood up behind her. Shiner only saw his shadow, when his forearm grabbed her from behind. She vainly struggled but the drone was strong. From his right hand, four tubules sprung out, and he quickly pierced them on her neck through a weak spot around the neck of her armor.

There was a sickening thud as Drudge planted the edge of his heavy blade on the drone�s back. Shiner collapsed, coughing, her hands grabbing her neck, trying to tear her collar off. Ghia and Drudge ran to where she fell.

�Damn I was too late. We didn�t see that drone stand up,� Drudge said.

Shiner had previously injected herself and everyone of the boarding parties with nanoprobe vaccine, but from the looks of it, they were unable to completely stop the effects of assimilation. Shiner�s skin began to turn green, her veins started to protrude, and nanoprobe outgrowths began to sprout from her skin.

�Help me...get me back to the Athena...� Shiner cried out. �The medical facilities... have preset programs to deal with this...help me before its too late...� She vomited and gawked.

Ghia clicked on her communicator. �Captain Garret, this is Lieutenant Ghia here, answer me!�
�This is Captain Garret, what is it?� The voice in the communicator replied.

�We got a medical emergency here. Shiner get infected with nanoprobes. Drone struck her by surprise. I know you people are busy fighting the Borg ships out there, and I know we have other wounded here that require the same urgency of medical attention. But we cannot afford to lose Shiner during the execution of this mission or to the Borg with what she knows. We can take casualties but we simply cannot afford to lose her.�

�Shiner got infected?� Garret sounded upset. �Understood, we�re already on our way.�

�Mom!� Athena cried out. �Oh please, oh please, oh please...� Before Garret could order full impulse, the Athena shuddered with the full force of her impulse engines towards the Nexus.

�Whoa! Steady girl,� Garret said.

�My Mom got �Borged�!� Athena cried out.

�Your Mom hasn�t been �borged� yet, not yet at least, Athena. Be thankful she was thoughtful in designing and injecting that anti-nanoprobe vaccine. That would delay the effects of assimilation.�

�We�re in transporter range of the Nexus,� Ka�nal said.

�Get me Drudge in the communicator,� Garret ordered. �Drudge, Ghia, take care of the science team.�

�Right away, Captain,� Drudge and Ghia simultaneously replying.

�We got transporter lock on Doctor Shiner,� Ka�nal said.

�Beam her quickly! Ka�nal, take over the bridge. Athena, meet me in the medical bay.� Garret ordered.

Oh god, Garret thought. Just on the verge of victory, things started collapsing again. He ran to the turbolifts, and there to the sick bay. Oh, the sick bay, that�s one of the worst things about this ship. Unlike other modern starships, Athena�s medical bay was designed like an afterthought, as if people were expected either not to get sick or go straight to death. Understandable, given Athena�s clandestine mission purposes, but regrettable, since he really do need better facilities.

Athena was already there with a live human nurse on duty. Athena also plays EMH, or at least, a subprogram of hers. Garret could feel from the frown of her face the various mixed emotions Athena must be feeling. But despite her childishness and ditzy actions, Athena tend to be very cold and serious in times of crisis. Times like now.

Athena was running probes and scans along Doctor Shiner�s body. It was a bizarre sight since the patient on the table was a virtual twin of the doctor tending to her.

�Is she still Shiner? Is she still conscious?� Garret asked.

�Yes she is, oh Mom,� Athena said.

Borg implants have sprouted on her skin, but Shiner could still talk as herself even as she frowned and struggled against the internal forces of assimilation raging inside her body.

�Athena...thank god you�re here. I need you to activate Program B-Antivirus. I...installed the program in your computer banks before the mission. Hurry...� Shiner struggled in her words. She lifted her arm, now scarred with star and flower like Borg implants, to touch Athena�s own. Athena placed a gentle hand over Shiner�s hand.

�You will be alright, I swear...� Athena said. �Program B Antivirus has been located. Program now being activated.�

A scanner with a mechanical arm descended over Shiner�s body, and the arm began swinging to start a head to toe scan.

Athena looked into Garret�s eyes. �We have begun scanning. The scan is intended to find every nanoprobe, and then access their neural circuits, altering their command structures. This computer�my computer, is now trying to reprogram every nanoprobe to stop assimilation and instead heal tissue.�

Shiner�s muscles twitched and her face frowned as the scanning beam moved forward and backward over her body. �I�m trying to program every nanoprobe, and I have done a lot, but it�s impossible to do it all.� Athena said. �The reprogrammed or �good� nanoprobes are now in a virtual war inside Mom�s body against nanoprobes that have not been programmed yet.�

�The chart on the wall there shows the amount of reprogrammed nanoprobes versus not yet programmed nanoprobes.� Athena pointed. �If we can swing the tide of battle...�

Watching the chart, Garret has become aware that the battle between starships has now extended to a living battle inside a human body.

�Hang on, Mom.� Athena said, her hand tightly holding Shiner�s.

(To be continued)

Have you built a site yet to memorialize athenia ?

p.s. you are killing me...

------------------
Access Password
47at
http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Stargate/9268/index.html

------------------
Access Password
47at
http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Stargate/9268/index.html

Thanks for kind comments Bear.

Class summaries, hmmm. Most of these are just variants of existing classes designed to meet a specific need.

You can check the canon classes on the following webpages:
http://www.ex-astris-scientia.org/

and
http://thetrekker.homestead.com/starships1.html

Much of the non-canon classes and bases, like here for the Borg and the Romulans depicted in the earlier episode came from the game Star Trek Armada. YOu can check the artwork and designs at:
http://www.st-armada.com

Other than Athena herself, my own variants are:

Ambassador C refit---A number of older Ambassadors, and a few new hulls were built for the purpose as an assault cruiser and marine transport. Not intended generally for straight ship to ship combat, these are meant to assault ships, starbases and planets with marine boarders or away team commandos. If you remember the Ambassador class, that's one that made up the Enterprise C

Aegis class---Basically an Intrepid variant designed as a deep space, long range scanning scout. The Intrepid of course, is what the Voyager is. It uses the Intrepid main hull, but the lower engineering hull is changed. Instead, the lower hull is more like the Enterprise E (Sovereign class), with a small red round deflector, sharper in the front but fattens out to the rear. The wing pylons holding the warp engines/nacelles sweep back like the Ent-E, and the nacelle designs are also similar, which also echo that of the Prometheus and Nova class.

The new hull holds more shuttles and stores than the standard Intrepid class. It loses the adjustable warp nacelles of the Intrepid, but it's also simpler and easier to make. The warp engines are larger and more powerful.

Spearhead class---Basically you take the Nova class and change the main hull to something that looks like a spearhead---a sharp ellipsoid main hull that could hold greater crew, equipment and weapons. The increased weight of the front hull means more powerful engines are necessary. This is another deep space, long range scanning recon and scout vessel.

Nova A refit---You take the original Nova class science/survey vessel, take out the science and survey equipment and increase the weapons instead. The result is a small warship that is highly suitable for patrol and combat use for a lower cost than a basic Nova.

When I first posted this Nova refit in the Gate fanfic on other websites, this was about May 7, long before Endgame would depict Novas used in general combat.

Niagara B refit---The original Niagara was a fast cruiser with three overpowered warp nacelles. To make a cheaper simpler variant with lower performance but easier maintenance, this is a version with two nacelles instead, resulting in a more conventioanl design.

Borg Tactical Sphere---Again I posted this fanfic on other websites long before Endgame would show a more powerful and better armored Sphere as this one depicted in the story.

Borg Tactical Diamond---A more powerful and better armored Diamond.