Danny Amor's Online Library/Danny Amor's Online Library - Volume 1.iso/html/startrek/old-incomplete/subjugation.p1-3

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From: [e-mail] (MR RL NICOL)
Subject: STORY: SUBJUGATION - PART ONE OF NINE
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Date: Thu, 6 May 1993 16:06:07 GMT

Just when you thought it was safe.....

With "I, Locutus" finished and out of the way, here is the
next installment, which I estimate to take about nine or ten
parts to complete (my rough draft says nine, but fleshing out
tends to make it longer than that).  As you'll no doubt latch
onto, this story takes place about three months after "I,
Locutus".  No, I'm afraid it does not feature the Borg.  But
it does include another group of critters which I've wanted to
see but which Paramount has decided against showing anymore.
If this is the only way I can get more enjoyment out of these
nasties, this is what I'm going to do.  I hope you enjoy it,
and as with "I, Locutus", I welcome any suggestions, comments,
questions (Boy, did I have some difficult questions with "I,
Locutus"), etc.  But enough blabbing and onto....


                         SUBJUGATION:

PART ONE:

The signal travelled through space unhindered.  It crossed the
void between the arms of Orion and Sagittarius, coming closer
to the galactic centre, then once more moving away, as it
neared its target.  Somewhere in Sagittarius, a reply was
sent....

                         * * * * * * *

Captain's Log: Stardate 73921.6 - The Enterprise remains in
orbit to help rebuild a shattered Earth.  The Borg threat may
be over, but much remains to be done....

"Captain."

"Number One,"  In the last three months he had memorised all
those names, saving him the embarrassment he always felt when
confronted by a familiar face, but with no familiar identity.

Riker pretended not to notice the slight hesitation in
Picard's voice, and continued: "Mr LaForge has announced that
the Enterprise is fully repaired, and ready to leave orbit any
time."

"My compliments to his Engineering staff." Picard allowed a
smile, though he didn't feel like it.  "Any news on Ranklin?"

Riker shook his head. "They're keeping the case under the
covers.  Probably feel it's got too much emotional attachments
for people, and they're right."

"Well, his plans almost led to the destruction of the Earth.
Hard not to get emotional over that." Picard muttered.

"They are giving out his historical files, though." Riker
said. "Saying how great a Federation Officer he was; put Earth
before himself...."

Picard shook his head.  "Showing the positive side, so when
they let him off a little lightly, it won't seem as if he
deserved worse."

"According to some of the testimony I've heard, his lawyers
are using the fact that he came out of a deep-space assignment
just recently as an excuse for his decisions - the `trauma of
being away, isolated from the rest of humanity'".  Riker
sighed.

"Not as isolated as I was."

                         * * * * * * *

DeSoto stared at the stars that stayed, unmoving on that
damned viewscreen.  So much for some adventure.  He had spent
most of his time on the Hood shuffling between starbases, and
now that he finally got reassigned, to what he had considered
would lead to more excitement, here he was just as bored, but
with not a soul for company, being stuck so far out in a rust-
bucket like the "Aries".

This was supposed to be Will Riker's ship, and I'm sure if he
had taken the offer up, he would be out here _doing_
something, not sitting on his backside, he thought.  That is,
if he hasn't gotten too soft on that bloody luxury liner.

He remembered that spacious bridge, comfortable chairs that he
had seen on his viewscreen when dropping off that betazoid,
Tam Elbrun, on the Enterprise.  God, it had looked wonderful.

Sitting here, staring at the border of Federation space and
looking into the darkness of the Tholian Empire was nothing
too grand.  Hell, there weren't even Tholian ships for
company.  After all, they didn't expect that much trouble when
the Federation's fleet had just been annihilated by the Borg.
And the Enterprise had had all the fun....

"Captain, sensors are picking up an unidentified vessel
approaching."

At last.

"Tholian?"

"No, sir.  It's coming from Federation space, but from a
largely unexplored sector."

"Put it on the main view screen, Mr Chalmers."  Now for
something other than those same damned stars.

The ship was only a pin-prick of light, but approaching
rapidly.  That much was certain.

"Speed - Warp nine, Captain."

"Weapons?  Shields?"

"I detect none, sir."  Chalmers answered.

"Have you tried hailing them?"

"On all channels, sir.  No reply." The young ensign behind him
replied.

"Continue hailing."

Time for decisions, DeSotto thought as he swung his command
chair around.  "Helmsman, take us alongside that ship.  Mr
Addley, I want an analysis of that ship's life-support systems
to see if it is safe to beam over."

His Bridge crew carried out their assigned duties and DeSotto
sat back to consider his next move.  Beam over there, of
course.  He looked over at Mr Chalmers, and was momentarily
happy that it wasn't Will Riker.

"I'll be leading the Away Team, Mr Chalmers."

"Of course, Captain." Chalmers replied.

Weak personality, DeSotto thought.  But all the better; at
least I get to do what I couldn't under Riker.  The thought
that he as Captain had been _under_ Riker, his First Officer,
was there with every mission, when Riker overruled his
decision to beam down every time.  Well, he had chosen his
First Officer carefully this time.  He wouldn't make that
mistake again.

God, he thought, I sound like a bitter man of fifty-two.  But
then again, maybe I am.

"O'Hillary, Kelmers, you're with me."  DeSotto said, lifting
himself out of his command chair and heading for the turbo-
lift.

DeSotto felt that familiar surge of adrenalin as the doors
closed, sealing the Bridge from sight.

Just think; I may never see that place again....

                         * * * * * * *

"Captain, Starfleet has given us clearance.  We're free to go
as soon as we're ready."

Picard nodded from behind the desk in his Ready Room.  "Have
the other ships arrived?"

"Those specialized to help the Earth and those who... fell
under the Borg influence?  Yes, sir." Riker nodded.

"Well, we've certainly been here long enough."  Picard sighed,
and for the first time, Riker sensed that his captain was
genuinely happy.  "Are all the crew back on board?"

"All but Doctor Crusher.  She's just come from helping some
victims and is saying bye to Wesley."

"Well, when she's aboard, tell Commander Data to set a course
for the Odremalia system.  There's been reports of dilithium
crystals there, and we're going to investigate."

Riker smiled. "A bit of a change in routine after the last few
months."

"About time." Picard agreed.

Riker turned to leave, but the Ready Room doors slid open,
revealing Troi.

"The crew all ready?"

Troi looked from Picard to Riker.  "Yes, I'd say so.  Most
have put the Borg incident behind them; the others I'm
attending to."

Riker nodded and exited.  The doors slid shut behind him.

"Yes, Counsellor?"

Troi watched Picard for a few seconds, then sat down in front
of him.

"I've come to make a request, Captain."

When it was evident that she was not going to elucidate,
Picard asked: "And that is?"

Troi remained silent for a moment, choosing her words.  "I
believe it would be in your best interests and in those of the
crew if you were to... take it easy for a few weeks."

Picard sighed.  "Counsellor, I've been doing that for three
months."

"No, you haven't." Troi said. "You engrossed yourself in the
maintenance of the ship and in helping out on Earth.  You
spent most of your time with the victims planet-side, against
my advice."

"They were my family, damnnit!"

Troi was silent.

"Maybe if you had a brother, you would realise what it is like
to lose one!" Picard turned from her and faced the window, the
stars moving as they always did.  Constantly shifting; he
begged them to be still.

"I can feel what it's like." She said, finally.  "But if you
don't put it behind you, you may lose more than a brother."

"I didn't even get to make up with him, talk to him..."

"You did."

"I did.  But I don't remember." He answered. "What good is
making up when you don't remember."

"He remembered." Troi responded.

She left her Captain alone, staring at the stars as if seeking
an answer.  He found no reply.

                         * * * * * * *

It was cold.  More than cold; down-right frigid.  And it was
also dark.

DeSotto moved to his left, training his portable light over
their surroundings.  He had only been aware of such darkness
in space-walks.  In this forbidding tomb of a derelict ship,
there was no light source, no warmth.  It was damn well below
arctic temperatures, making his ears ring.

"Life readings?" He asked, his vision momentarily hazed his
cloudy breath.

"I'm reading one, Captain, but very faint." Kelmers responded.
"In that direction."

DeSotto aimed his portable light in the direction Kelmers
indicated, then began to move forward.  There was a steady
crunch with every footfall, as each step broke through the
thin layer of frost and ice that covered the deck of the ship.

"Captain, the readings have changed."

The voice cut through the darkness to his ears and even though
he knew he wouldn't see anything, he still looked in the
direction from which it came.

"In what way?"

"I... I'm not sure.  I'm now getting variable readings, as if
we were surrounded by thousands of individual creatures, not
like anything I've known."

DeSotto swept the surroundings with his light.

Kelmers continued: "My tricorder detects no movement of any
kind."

"Well, I can make out nothing but these towering cannisters."
O'Hillary spoke up.  "Suppose they're in there?"

The three continued moving, towards the source of the original
life-sign.

"Captain!" It was O'Hillary who saw it first.  Preserved in a
large tube, the frost on the surface blurring it's exact
features.

"A humanoid.  But in suspended animation." DeSotto brushed the
thin layer of frost from the tube's portal and stared in.

The creature had a slightly green tinge, a mottled colour.
What would have passed for hair on a human was long and wiry,
falling over a large forhead in thick curls.

"But why in suspended animation, if this ship is travelling at
Warp Nine?"  Kelmers wondered out loud.

The excitement filled DeSotto at the mere thought of the
answer to that question.  "Unless it has come from so far
away, that travelling at Warp nine would take decades, perhaps
centuries to reach here."

The other two officers were silent for a moment, considering
this and all its implications.

"The other side of the galaxy?" O'Hillary finally spoke.

"Perhaps further."

Kelmer's gaze had been distracted to something else.  He
stared at it for a few brief seconds, then called out to
DeSotto, who joined him.

"What is it?"

"Our answer to this infernal boredom." DeSotto smiled.

The fist-sized creature remained motionless against the portal
of one of the large cannisters, frozen in time.

The reply had been received....

END OF PART ONE.

Part Two = tomorrow.



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From: [e-mail] (MR RL NICOL)
Subject: STORY: SUBJUGATION - Part two of nine
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Date: Fri, 7 May 1993 16:27:52 GMT

Something which I neglected to do in Part One, for which I am
sorry.  Just a big thank you to all those people who helped me
out by giving me the answers to some questions that were
needed in my story.  Too many people responded for me to name
you individually, but thanks again.  And, yes, I now know that
DeSotto is spelt DeSoto, so from here-on, I'll spell it
correctly.  Thanks again.

All the best,
Ryan.

                         SUBJUGATION:

PART TWO:

Admiral Hayes' face stretched across the light years, to stare
gloomily from the viewscreen of the Enterprise.

"No sooner are you out than there are more problems for you to
solve, Captain."  He said, quietly.  "You are to postpone your
mission at the Odremalia system and divert to the Federation-
Tholian Border."

"What is the problem, Admiral?" Picard asked, concerned.

Hayes was silent for a moment.  When he answered, his voice
sounded tired, drained of life. "The Tholians are claiming
that a Federation starship breached the border.  The ship was
confronted by two Tholian vessels and asked to return to
Federation space, but instead destroyed the one Tholian vessel
and disabled the other.  A confrontation with the Tholians is
the last thing the Federation needs at a time like this,
Captain.  Our forces are scattered and our resources are low.
Hell, in the past we could send the Tholians scampering, but
now, it would probably lead to mutual annihilation."

Picard nodded, slowly.  "Did they identify the Federation ship
in question?"

"That they did." Hayes answered.  His eyes focussed on Riker
momentarily.  "It was the Aries, under Captain DeSoto."

"What!" Riker stood up. "Admiral, the Tholians must clearly be
lying..."

"That is for you to find out, Enterprise." Hayes cut Riker
off, sitting up in his chair. "Good luck.  Hayes out."

The screen darkened, then returned the familiar setting of the
stars.

"Captain," Riker turned to Picard, "Captain DeSoto would never
do such a thing.  Now the Tholians clearly are up to
something, maybe testing us.  They know of our recent
encounter with the Borg...."

"You were offerred the Aries, weren't you, Number One?" Picard
interrupted.

Riker stiffened at the reminder of Picard's memory failure.
"Yes, sir.  I was."

Picard reseated himself in his chair. "Mr Data, set course for
the Tholian border.  Will, we won't make any rash judgements
until we arrive there and fathom out the situation.  Whatever
the reason for this, it should make itself quite clear once we
are there...."

                         * * * * * * *

No vessels, Tholian or Federation, greeted them.  Nothing but
empty space.  Half an hour ago, Data had confirmed that the
Aries was not on its normal patrol routes, and with that in
mind, Picard had ordered a thorough search along the border.

It had turned up nothing.

"There is definitely something wrong." Riker voiced as they
stared at the empty viewscreen, empty except for those distant
specks of light.  "The Tholians are up to something."

"What do you know of the Tholians, Commander?" Picard asked.

"Not much, to be honest." Riker said. "They are extremely
inflexible and they were responsible for the destruction of a
colony my father was on a few years back.  It is the
inflexibility that I mentioned which makes them particularly
ruthless.  If you don't play by their rules, you won't be
playing for much longer."

"Captain." It was Worf. "Sensors are picking up a ship;
entering visual range."

"Identification?"

The was a slight pause as Worf checked his instruments.  "It's
the Aries, sir."

Riker looked at Picard, not without a certain amount of
relief.  It was soon replaced by concern.  "I wonder why the
hell they're so far off their patrol route."

Picard nodded. "But they're clearly well within Federation
space.  Hail them, Mr Worf."

"I've been doing that, sir.  No reply."

The Aries drifted closer, on impulse power, isolated against
the back-drop of darkness.  On the screen, it looked small and
fragile.

"I wonder why the don't respond to us." Riker muttered.

The Aries was getting closer; by now its markings could be
clearly seen on the viewscreen.

"Life signs, Mr Worf?"

"In a moment, Capt....  Sir, we're being hailed!"  Worf called
out.

"On the main viewscreen." Picard turned to face the front of
the bridge as the screen came to life, revealing the face of
Captain DeSoto.

"Enterprise." DeSoto grinned across the vaccuum of space.
"It's been a while.  Please tell me you're here to give me the
ticket home."

"I wish that were all we were here to do." Picard smiled back,
then paused.  "Captain, have you had any confrontations with
any Tholian vessels recently?"

DeSoto's grinning face turned to one of puzzlement. "Sadly,
no.  Why do you ask?"

Picard hesitated for a moment.  "Would it be possible to meet
you and your senior staff, Captain?  At your convenience, of
course."

"I'd be delighted, Captain.  If you and Will can pull yourself
away from your holodecks and carpeted corridors, I'd
appreciate it if you two could come for dinner."  DeSoto
smiled.

"We're honoured." Picard nodded, glancing back at Riker.  "It
will give us the chance to catch up on old times, I'm sure."

DeSoto's smile wavered for a moment. "Of course."

"Until then, Captain." Picard said, then indicated for Worf to
cut the transmission.  "Well, Number One, you'd better put on
your best suit, because it looks like we're eating out
tonight."

                         * * * * * * *

"I honestly don't know what they are talking about, Captain.
As my ship's records will show you, I didn't put so much as a
ionization trail in their territory." DeSoto said, seriously,
his fork poised at his mouth.  "And the rest of my Bridge crew
will testify to that."

"I believe you." Picard said, having just swallowed a mouthful
of duck patie and instantly regretting it.  Obviously the
Aries had something wrong with their matter replicator as well
as many other systems.  "The thing is, we need to prove it to
the Tholian government, or we could be facing quite an
incident."

DeSoto nodded in agreement, but said: "They're stirring, Jean-
Luc.  And they know it.  They're trying to test our strength,
and the moment we show weakness, they're going to pounce.
Heaven knows, we have enough to worry about on the Federation-
Romulan border that we don't need an extra worry when it comes
to the Tholians.  Besides, I'd be suicidal to even attempt
crossing into Tholian space in this run-down ship.  That's
proof enough."

"Which brings me to ask," Riker said, "why exactly did you
leave the Hood for the Aries?"

DeSoto smiled and shrugged.  "I guessed I'd have more fun out
here on the Tholian border than I would inbetween starbases.
I guessed wrong."

"Makes me feel lucky I didn't take Starfleet's offer for the
Aries up." Riker grinned.  "But the Hood wasn't all that bad.
Do you recall that time on Traetes VIII, when we uncovered
that Ferengi base exploiting the protected vegetation."

DeSoto hesitated.  "Sure, Will.  But, Captain, I think it
might be in the best interests if we were to remain here for a
couple of days, maintain a presence along the border...."

"Aaah, yes." Picard looked up from the rim of his cup. "That
would be wise."

"If you like, I will make my ship's records available for
you." DeSoto said, placing his napkin on the table.

"If you could transmit it to the Enterprise, I would be most
grateful." Picard nodded, then stood up. "Well, Captain, that
was a most delightful meal and enjoyable evening."

"Thank you for the latter, but don't lie about the former."
DeSoto chuckled.  "And, Will.  It was nice to see you again."

"Likewise." Riker smiled, getting up.

"Mr Chalmers will show you to the Transporter Room." DeSoto
said, motioning to his First Officer.

The three officers filed out and DeSoto turned to O'Hillary.

"Now get rid of this filth and get me some real food."

                         * * * * * * *

"Well, that seemed normal enough." Picard said as he stepped
off the transporter pad.

Riker nodded. "I have to admit to a little disappointment,
though, Captain.  I can't believe Captain DeSoto has forgotten
so many good memories, that he didn't want to discuss things."

"He isn't the only captain who's forgotten so much, Number
One.  So don't hold it against him."

Riker hesitated, wondering if he had inadvertantly touched a
sore spot in his Captain, when Picard's communicator beeped.

"Picard here."

"Data here, Captain." The android's voice answered.  "Would
you please report to the Bridge.  Sensors are detecting a
Tholian vessel approaching."

                         * * * * * * *

"Report, Mr Data."  The words were out of Picard's mouth
seconds after he exited the aft turbo-lift, followed by Riker.

"The Tholian ship is holding on its side of the border,
Captain." Data replied as he got up from the command chair.
"The Aries has gone to red alert."

"Understood."  Picard lowered himself into the command chair
and Riker sat down beside him.

"Sir, the Tholians are hailing us."  Worf called out.

"Put it on the Main viewscreen, Mr Worf." Picard ordered.

For a few seconds nothing changed; then the stars disappeared
and were replaced with the image of a crystaline-like
creature, its eyes mere slits.  When it spoke, its voice had a
slight metallic ringing to it.

"This is Daratene of the Tholian Hegemony.  Do you respond?"

Picard was silent for a moment, then answered: "This is
Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the Starship Enterprise.  How may
we assist you, Daratene?"

The Tholian commander wasted no time in explaining.  "You will
hand over the captain of the starship Aries for contravening
the treaty signed between our two governments, Enterprise.
Should you do otherwise, you will be destroyed."

"Commander," Picard said, slowly. "I have the Aries' logs
which indicate there was no violation Tholian space on her
part.  Do you have evidence that contradicts that?"

There was no answer from the crystaline form; instead, it
continued to stare at them its piercing eyes shining with a
glow of their own.

Finally, "Here is the proof you seek."

The image disappeared abruptly and was immediately replaced by
stars, but not the stars that would otherwise shine from the
viewscreen.  The inscription on the bottom of the screen
clearly indicated it was a recording from a Tholian vessel's
log.  Suddenly, the Aries came into view, swooping over the
Tholian vessel and firing on another Tholian vessel, which had
just entered the frame.  The Tholians returned fire, but were
clearly outgunned, as the Aries spun round and fired three
fatal shots at the screen.  The viewscreen erupted into
flames, which were replaced by the glowering face of Daratene.

"Is that proof enough?"

"Commander, the Aries is opening fire!"

Worf's cry came too late as the Enterprise felt the full
barrage of the Aries' phaser batteries.

"They're firing on us!"

"Raise shields!  Red alert!" Picard yelled, holding onto the
arm of his chair.

"Sir, the Tholians are firing too, on us!"

"What the hell!" Riker yelled.  "I thought they wanted
DeSoto!"

"Lock phasers on the Tholian vessel and fire." Picard ordered.

Twin beams of energy seared through space, striking the
Tholian vessel dead-on.

"Minimal damage to the Tholian vessel, Captain." Worf
reported.

"Contact Captain DeSoto." Riker ordered.  "Ask him what the
hell he thinks he's doing!"

"It's no use, sir.  They're not answering any hails."  Worf
grunted.

Riker turned to stare at the viewscreen, and the Aries
barrelling towards them.

"She's arming photon torpedoes...!" Worf called out. "She's
firing....!"

END OF PART TWO

Part three to be seen.... Tomorrow.


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From: [e-mail] (MR RL NICOL)
Subject: STORY: SUBJUGATION - Part three of nine
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Date: Sat, 8 May 1993 16:01:09 GMT

                         SUBJUGATION:

PART THREE:

"Evasive action!"

But the order came too late.  Picard was thrown from his
command chair and was soon followed to the deck by Lieutenant
Worf, who had lost his hold on the security console.  The
lights dimmed a fraction, but enough for Picard to notice.

"Power levels are low, Captain." Data spoke from the Ops
console.

"Return fire." Picard ordered as he returned himself to the
command chair.

"Firing phasers."

After that last attack, the Aries had maneuvered away from the
Enterprise in order to get some room between the ships, but
that was of little use.  The beams of energy struck the
Federation ship on its port side, causing an eruption of
flames that quickly died as it came into contact with space.

"Location of Tholian ship?"

"Retreating back into Tholian space, Captain."  Worf replied,
heavily.

"Condition of the Aries?"  Riker asked.

"She has lost her aft shields, sir.  But they should be back
up momentarily."

Riker looked at Picard for confirmation, and found it.

"Assemble a boarding party."

Riker got up and headed for the turbo-lift.  "Mr Worf,
assemble a security team to meet me in Transporter Room 3."

                         * * * * * * *

The sparkle soon faded to reveal an empty corridor.  Riker
lowered his phaser slightly, and turned to Worf, at his right.

"Life readings?"

Worf studied his tricorder for a moment. "Most of the crew
seem to be below deck, Commander.  Trapped."

"A mutiny?"

"It is quite possible." Worf nodded.

Riker turned to the other four security officers who had
accompanied him. "Follow me.  We'll make our way to the
bridge."

The six-member boarding party moved silently through the
corridors of the Aries, using access tunnels rather than
turbo-lifts, which were probably being monitored.

Riker paused for a moment, clinging to the ladder he was on,
and looked down to Worf below him.  In the pitch darkness, he
could barely make out the massive form of the Klingon Security
Chief.

"How much further?"

The whisper echoed around them, the only sound besides the
clanging of footsteps on the metal bars caused by the rest of
the team catching up to them.

"Not much, Commander." Worf reported back, the faint light
from his tricorder revealing the scowl he always had on his
face.  "Perhaps a few more metres."

Riker continued up, then at the next hatch opened it, and
climbed out into a corridor, his phaser at the ready.  As he
looked around to make sure the area was clear, Worf clambered
out and was soon followed by the four security officers.

"Where are we?"

Worf studied his tricorder once more.  "The deck below the
Bridge.  The nearest turbo-lift is in that direction."

Riker nodded and headed off in the direction Worf indicated.
The hard uncarpeted floor was unusual for Riker, and every
step caused a loudness which made him wince and even more
weary of unseen listeners lurking in the rooms they were
passing.  The turbo-lift was just ahead, and phaser in hand,
Riker got ready to enter.

Just as he approached the doors to the elevator, they snapped
open.  Riker wasted no time.  He lifted his phaser and fired,
point-blank range into O'Hillary's chest.

The woman did not fall; in fact she didn't even looked
surprised.  With a power Riker would never have suspected, she
grabbed his arm with the phaser and swung him into the turbo-
lift, to smash against the back wall.  His face met the turbo-
lift wall with such force that it knocked the breath out of
him.  The phaser fell free from his hand and holding his head,
he collapsed to the floor.

Worf wasted no time.  With full klingon strength, he back-
handed the woman, causing her to stagger back.  The victory
was short lived, as she soon looked up at him, a cruel smile
twisting her lips.  Then in one movement, she launched her
entire body at the five Enterprise security officers.

Riker's vision turned to an undistinguishable blur, but he
managed to grope around the floor for his weapon, slightly
aware of the taste of blood in his mouth and nose.  In front
of him, chaos reigned as the sounds of a fight proceeded, and
he forced himself to his feet, grabbing hold of the railing in
the turbo-lift for support, while his other hand held the
phaser up.  He could make out shapes, the bulk of the Klingon
officer being one of them, in a blinding mass.  And the sounds
of screaming, and another's shouting with pure delight.

"Mr Worf, stand back!"

Worf saw the dazed Enterprise First Officer and the phaser in
his hand.  After one last well-placed blow to the head of
O'Hillary, to stun her momentarily, he dove backwards for
cover.  Just in time too, as a lethal beam surged from Riker's
phaser and struck the women.

O'Hillary grunted, but that was all.  Then she turned to
Riker, who was more stunned than she was, by what he had seen.
Riker wasted no time in releasing another beam of energy from
his weapon.  This time, O'Hillary fell to her knees.  The
other four security officers had by this time picked
themselves off the deck from where they had been thrown, and
joined Riker, their phasers set lethally high.

With a final groan, the woman fell head-first onto the deck.

"What is she, Commander?"

Riker wiped the dripple of blood that appeared on his lip.
"We'll find out later.  Right now, the Bridge is our next port
of call."

The six members of the Away Team piled into the elevator, and
Riker thumbed for the Bridge.

"My phaser alone should have been enough to kill her." Riker
muttered to himself.

"Do you think we'll come against a similiar resistance on the
Bridge?"  Worf asked.

"I hope to hell not."

The moment they felt the turbo-lift slowing, they readied
themselves, their phasers aiming at the door.  Riker braced
himself.  With a slight hiss, the doors parted, and he burst
out and dropped to one knee.  Worf was behind him, phaser
trained on one of the bridge officers who had turned at the
sound of the Boarding party.

Their phasers burst into action, not felling any of the bridge
crew at once, but slowly bringing them to their knees.  After
a few seconds of continual bombardment, they succumbed one by
one.  All but DeSoto.

The Aries Captain grabbed the front of Riker's uniform and
pulled him up, then brought him down on the helm console.
Riker felt pain shoot through him as the force destroyed the
numerous levers beneath him, digging into his back.  But the
Enterprise Security Chief acted quickly, discharging a lethal
force at DeSoto.  Riker's proximity to the Aries captain
caused him to feel the effects of the blast, though to a
lesser degree, and with sheer relief, he succumbed to the
darkness....

                    * * * * * * *

"Report, Doctor."  Picard said as he entered Sickbay, closely
followed by Data.

Crusher looked up from the diagnostic table on which Captain
DeSoto was lying, unconscious.

"I believe I've found the cause for Captain DeSoto's
behaviour, Captain.  Take a look at this."  The viewing panel
above the diagnostic bed lit up to a reconstruction of
DeSoto's face.  The image changed to a view of his skull...
and something small, almost centipede-like, attached along his
spinal cord.

"What is it?" Picard asked, but for some strange reason, this
view, this creature, seemed unnervingly familiar.  Too
familiar.

But whatever familiarity he and Crusher felt for it, was far
stronger in Data.  "We have encountered it before, Captain.
Many years ago."

Picard turned to look at the android.  He did not like to be
reminded of his loss of memory, but he brushed the irritation
away.  "In what way, Commander?"

Data looked at the two officers before him, uncertain.  They
had both lost a valued friend at that encounter, Walker Keel,
and both had been threatened by those who had been taken over
by these creatures.  The notion that such powerful memories
could be wiped away seemed unusual to a being who remembered
every fact he was ever exposed to.  But then the Borg were
capable of many unusual things.

"You were alerted to the presence of these creatures by a
trusted friend, Captain." Data explained. "However, you did
not believe him until he died under mysterious circumstances.
When you proceeded to Earth to continue investigations, we
discovered that key personnel in Starfleet had been co-opted
in a similiar manner.  We managed to destroy the majority of
the creatures, but never did discover to what degree they had
truly infested Starfleet command or the Federation."

Picard paused for a moment, taking this information in.
Finally, he turned to Beverly Crusher.  "Can you remove it?"

Crusher looked doubtful, but considered the problem.  "I'm not
quite sure, Captain.  I can try, but the thing is intricately
connected to Captain DeSoto's nervous system and brain."

Data added quickly.  "At our previous encounter, Doctor
Crusher discovered that it was impossible to remove the
creature without killing the host, Captain.  I doubt it would
be any different this time."

Crusher looked at Data, hesitating.  Did she actually find
that out?  She felt a slight pang of annoyance that this
machine would know things that she did, but which she now had
no memory of.

"I can certainly try."

Picard nodded.  "You do that, Doctor.  Even if it merely
confirms your.... previous discovery, it may give additional
insight into what we're dealing with."

                         * * * * * * *

"Report, Number One."

Riker's voice filtered through the intercom system to Picard,
on the bridge.  His injuries on the Aries hadn't been
sufficient to make his return to the Enterprise necessary, so
he had elected to remain on the other ship and help in the
investigation.

"Mr Worf is busy helping to free those crewmembers trapped
below decks.  There's no indication that they are being...
controlled like Captain DeSoto and his top officers.  Most of
them weren't even aware of what was happening during our
combat with the Aries."

"How did these bugs get aboard?"

Riker looked to his left slightly, then returned to gaze at
Picard from the viewscreen.  "According to the ship's logs,
they encountered a ship of unknown design and origins.  They
took some of these things back with them for study and God
only knows how these things took over."

Picard paused for a moment.  When he spoke, his voice was
filled with dread.  "Where is this ship, Number One?"

"I've plotted its course from the information supplied here,
Captain.  If it continues on its present heading, it will pass
through the Sol system and continue on to the Klingon Empire."

There was a moment of silence.

"But, Captain, that isn't the only problem." Riker finally
continued.  "If Captain DeSoto was lying to us, as it is only
reasonable to assume now, then that disable Tholian vessel
could very well be heading to the heart of the Tholian
Assembly."

Picard nodded.  "They could be carrying those creatures."

"And if that's the case, it's more than just the Federation
that is in danger.  This thing could blow up into a galactic
confrontation....."

END OF PART THREE.

Part Four coming soon...  at alt.startrek.creative.
everywhere.  I think...