Episode 2: Friends Like These
“WE ARE THE BORG. ASSIMILATION OF EARTH HAS BEEN POSTPONED PENDING EVALUATION OF TACTICAL BENEFITS ACCRUING TO AN ALLIANCE WITH DISPARATE SOCIETY KNOWN AS UNITED FEDERATION OF PLANETS. ALL EARTH VESSELS AND
DEFENCE SYSTEMS WILL ASSIST US IN THE DEFENCE OF EARTH. YOU MUST COMPLY. OUR SURVIVAL IS YOUR SURVIVAL.”
“What the Hell?” Asked Riker as the voice relayed across space to the speeding Enterprise clicked off. “Alliance? Assist the Borg? It must be some kind of trick.”
“The Borg are not noted for their subterfuge,” demurred Spock from the unmanned station he had commandeered at the back of the bridge.
“And the strong do not need to employ tricks.” Agreed Worf.
With 32 cubes they are indeed “strong”. Earth has twice barely withstood attacks by single cubes.” Said Data. “I estimate Earth’s ability to withstand a concerted attack from their present force to be...”
“Data...” warned Commander Riker.
“Uh...infinitesimal.” The android finished hurriedly.
“Neither do the strong seek alliances.” Offered Worf.
“Unless they feel threatened.” Observed Spock.
“But who could be scaring the Borg?” Asked Riker
“I’m not convinced, let’s not jump to any conclusions gentlemen,” ordered Captain Picard, “and infinitesimal though our chances may be, Mr Data, should the circumstances warrant it we will engage the Borg. How long until we reach Earth?”
“Twenty minutes.” The helmsman, Lieutenant Hawke, replied
“Not good enough. Picard to Engineering; I want more power Mr LaForge!”
“No can-do, Captain,” the Chief Engineer’s voice came back to him, “if I try to push any more out of her we’ll blow her circuits!”
“Well, blow her circuits then!” The Captain snarled, his hands gripping the armrests of the central chair, body straining forward as though willing his vessel to greater speed.
Spock raised his eyebrow speculatively. This was the first time the ambassador had observed within the current captain of Starfleet’s flagship the same fire that had so characterised a former holder of that position with whom he had had many adventures.
* * *
Green beams of energy leapt out between the Borg cubeships that circled the Earth, linking them in a dazzling geometric latticework that englobed the planet. Once, twice, three times the beams pulsed, then each of the triangles that formed the latticework was filled with a field of energy, green as the beams. The fields made up a shield that contained the entire planet, like a marble within a giant emerald.
No sooner had the shield been established than the ever vigilant sensors with which the Solar System was equipped detected another strange phenomenon. The transwarp rift by which the Borg had arrived had been quickly identified by comparison to the previous encounters with Borg technology. This new vortex opening near the Earth appeared to be a gateway to a dimension previously unknown!
