Borg !

Thank you Ensign, I believe that everyone will have benefited from hearing this report and I now know that everything is being done to keep our intruder from returning. However, everyone must be on their toes just in case, as I believe that Ensign Barker is right, this may not the last time we will encounter Mr. Holmon or someone or thing like him. Captain Devore said. "I have another point of business. Ensign Barker you may have a seat. This concerns you."

"Yes sir." *I wonder what it could be.*

"I am sure that all you have heard about the rumours going around about our Chief Science Officer Lieutenant Ward everything from reassignment to being a liaison officer with the Klingon High Command. Well I am here to tell the that is truth to all of that. Upon his hearing of his assignment to the Leviathan, Lieutenant Ward had requested reassignment to the Klingon homeworld because his family is on an outpost near there. He didn't want to be too far from them and figured that since we were going to the Beta Quadrant, he would be better off on Kronus. However, Starfleet command thought it would be in our best interest to go ahead and send him forward to make arrangements for the Klingon Battle group to join us on our exploration mission. While there he was approached by Chancellor Gowlran to improve the energy collection device on one of their outermost planet. Well a freak accident cost him his life and us are battle group. The Klingons pulled out figuring that we were incompetent to conduct such a massive undertaking. Lieutenant Ward mission backfired even though it was an accident. He inadvertently caused the destruction of the Klingon's first undertaking of scientific exploration and development.

"So StarFleet Command has left me the duty to find a new Chief Science Officer and Ensign Barker, you have been doing such a fantastic job, I have decided to appoint you Chief Science Officer of the Leviathan. In addition, a 'lowly' Ensign can't well be in charge of other junior officers, so I have decided to promote you to the rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade. Please come forward."

The senior staff started to clap as Ensign Barker approached Captain Devore with a cheese-eating grin on his face. "Now you know, Lieutenant, you will now need to come to all 'Senior Staff' meetings whether or not I call for you or not." He said as he pinned the black pip next to Barker's gold one.

"Yes sir." He said taking Devore's hand and shaking it. "Thank you sir. I won't let you down."

"Well, Mr. Barker. If you continue to give me briefings like the one you just did, there is no way you can." Devore said smiling. "Carry on, Lieutenant."

Lieutenant Barker returned to his seat as did Captain Devore. Devore pulled out a PADD. "Okay the next piece of business is..."

[Captain. There is a subspace message coming in from you from Admiral Beard Priority One.]

"... Okay put it through the conference room."

[Yes sir.]

[Mark! Good to see you.] Admiral Beard said as his face popped on the front monitors.

"Admiral." Devore said with a smile nodding his head slightly in a greeting. "What can I do for you?"

[Well Mark... I see you have your staff with you.]

"Yes sir. We were going over some items of business and a little promotion."

[Oh really. Who is the lucky officer?]

"Lieutenant JG Chu Barker."

[Good. Congratulations Lieutenant.]

"Thank you sir," Lieutenant Barker yelled from his seat.

[Mark, I have a new Intelligence Officer coming to you. You need to stay put and allow her shuttle to meet you. Her name is Lieutenant Rashad T'Kul.]

*A woman! I hope she is cute!* Devore thought.

[She is quite a woman. Expert in the Borg which brings me to my next subject.]

"Sir?"

[I will give you some information now, but Lieutenant T'Kul has the full mission brief. We have lost contact with our ship, the *Blake* which we sent to the Neutral Zone to negotiate peace talks with the Romulan High Council. It was a routine mission nothing out of the ordinary. Then two days later, we lost contact with the Romulans.]

"Do you think this is an attack by the Romulans?"

[We presume that they aren't wanting to start a war with us.]

"Why sir?" Toran asked.

[A few days ago, they sent a message via one of their own scout ships about a mysterious wormhole which appeared in the Tares star system deep within Romulan space about 14 days ago. I am sending the full message with Lieutenant T'Kul, but I want you to listen to this.]

There was a moment of silence then a too familiar sound was heard. The echoing sound of millions of voices speaking as one.

[ "We are the Borg. You will be assimilated. Resistance is Futile".]

The entire staff began to fidget in their seats. Even Clairidge who had never encountered the Borg remember the haunting stories of Wolf 359.

[This is why I want you to wait for Lieutenant T'Kul then proceed immediately to the Tares star system to investigate. Mark I need not tell you the importance of this mission. If the Borg are back, we need the best ships we have to defend the Alpha Quadrant.]

"I understand Admiral."

[Good. I didn't mean to stifle your festivities, but this mission is urgent. Please get there and find out what the hell is going on.]

"Understood Admiral."

[Good luck, Captain. Beard out.] The monitor now displayed the Federation Logo.

"Okay, crew. Lieutenant Hansen, Lieutenant Toran I need you to see about modulating the shields and phasers. Lieutenant Barker, once Lieutenant T'Kul is aboard I want you to work with her and get me some kind of weakness for the Borg. I am not going to get caught with my pants down if it is in fact the Borg."

"Understood," Barker said. *Oooh boy!*

"Lieutenant Harris. I want battle drills conducted every hour and the results on my desk no later than 1800 daily."

"Yes sir."

"Dismissed."

" Leviathan This is the *Yuletide* requesting landing clearance." Lieutenant T'Kul said as she neared the Leviathan who was standing
motionless in space. *Wow. She is wonderful.* She thought as she came just under the saucer section.

[*Yuletide* This is the USS Leviathan, Please identify yourself.]

"This is Lieutenant Rashad T'Kul, serial number 003-FS-9990, authorization T'Kul 4 9 1 Chi."

A minute passed as the Leviathan ran authorization.

[*Yuletide* you are cleared to land in shuttle bay 2. Welcome aboard Lieutenant. The Captain would like for you to meet him in his ready room, Deck 1.]

"Acknowledged." *Haven't even gotten aboard and he is already ordering me around.*

The door chimes rang and Devore was in the middle of reading up on his new Intelligence officer. "Enter."

Lieutenant T'Kul entered the ready room and approached the Captain. "Lieutenant Rashad T'Kul, sir. Request permission to come aboard."

"Permission granted Lieutenant. Have a seat? Can I get you a cup of coffee of something?"

"No sir. Thank you." She said as she took a seat.

"Well. I hate to really push you to start, but I need information and need it fast. Why don't you go get put your things in you quarters then meet me back here. I need a mission brief state with all and any information that you have."

"I understand sir," She said getting up. "Sir?"

"Yes Lieutenant."

"Why did you offer me coffee if you were having me go and get set up first?"

"I wanted to see your reaction and how you would respond. You can tell a lot by the first 30 seconds of meeting someone new."

"And ?"

"It will have to be 60 seconds." Devore said with a smile.

Devore walked behind Rashad out the door. "Mr. Ambrose. How long till we reach the Tares Star System?"

"Sir at Warp 20 it will take us 12 hours."

"Very well. Set course to the Tares Star System Warp 10."

"Sir?"

"I need a little time to get some information."

"Aye sir."

"Lieutenant T'Kul. You have 2 hours to set up okay?"

"Yes sir and by the way. Please call me Lieutenant Rashad."

"Understood."