(+quot;As previously seen on Star Trek: The Next Generation+quot;...a recap of part 1) Rik

("As previously seen on Star Trek: The Next Generation"...a recap of part 1) Riker: FIRE. Worf: Fir-- Sir! Ship decloaking! [GRRR...] Riker: Belay that order. On screen. (MegaBorg vessel decloaking ...a brief description: One larger cube with what appears to be several Borg ships (as previously encountered) protruding off each side, save one. Remember: they come in force!) Wesley: It's humongous, Commander. (Riker gives him a "No shit, Wes" stare) Data: They have apparently adapted the Romulan cloaking system for their ship. Shelby: Lieutenant Worf, open a priority 1 channel to Starfleet... Riker: Belay that order *again*, Lieutenant. Shelby: They may attempt to transport Captain Picard to the second ship... Riker: I'm aware of that possibility, thank you. Mr Crusher, take us in closer. Geordi: Commander, our shields won't hold, if _they_ start shooting. Riker: These guys may not have adapted their shields for our high frequency modulated phasers, yet. Shelby: Precisely what I was thinking Commander. (bearing a "wish I'd said that" look) Worf: Permission to fire, Commander. (impatient & anxious as always) Riker: Fire phasers... (pphssssttt, phsssttt, phssstt!) Riker: ...but conserve enough power for our "deflector weapon". (explosions in space...the fiery blast, the thunderous booms...all in the vacuum of Trek space) Worf: Unnecessary Commander..._it_ has adapted. Data: Minimal damage detected...their repair systems are operational. (Booof! Enterprise shakes) Worf: Tractor beam! [foreboding bass beat as we fade out for a commercial break] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- -- [The Enterprise is in the death grip of the Borg tractor beams.] Geordi: Commander, at this rate of energy depletion, we've got 14 minutes before the "deflector weapon" is useless. Shelby: I recommend we fire now...sir...while our systems are still at peak capability. Riker: Not just yet. Data, what's the status of the first Borg ship? Data: (looking at the sensor readings...as Picard's Borg ship is out of viewer range, blocked by the MegaBorg vessel) It is closing on the "mother" ship...entering viewer range...now. (everyone looks up) Deanna: Will! I'm ... Riker: (turning to Troi, a brief thought of sexual pleasure, and he almost forgot the seriousness of their current situation) What is it?! Deanna: ...for a moment...I sensed the Captain. Riker: Are you sure? Deanna: I think so...no, I'm sure, it was him. But it's gone now. He must be resisting the "borgification". Shelby: If that's true...I want to lead a second away team and attempt to rescue the Captain. Data: In this case Commander Shelby, it would not be logical. The needs of the Federation outweighs the needs of the Captain...to paraphrase a proverb, the origin dating back to--- Riker: Enough! Lt Commander Shelby, assemble an away team of security personnel. (whoosh...as the turbolift doors are already closing after her) Wesley: Commander, look! (On the viewer, the smaller Borg vessel is "transforming". A "face" of the cube parts in a symmetrical fashion, as columns of "steel" are pushed out into space, revealing a glowing, intricate network of hardware. Similar transformations are made by the MegaBorg ship.) Data: The Borg ship is preparing docking operations. This would support the theory of their collective processing. Repair operations would then proceed faster. <<>> Riker: (tapping his communicator) Riker, here. Shelby: We're beginning our search...I've informed O'Brien to beam us-- [silence] Riker: Shelby? Shelby?! Transporter room...beam back the away team now! O'Brien: O'Brien here...I can't Commander. I've lost the fix on their communicators. Worf: Shields at 5%...we must do battle. Riker: We will. Geordi: Commander, it'll have to be soon. We're cutting it pretty close ...the "deflector weapon" won't put so much as a ding in their fender, if we don't use it in the next 3 minutes. Riker: 3? You just told me 14. Geordi: I did? That must have been 11 minutes ago. (as he turns back to his console) (How time flies...when you're having fun :) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----- (Enterprise bridge...no, they're on the bridge, not playing it... they play poker, remember? . . .) Riker: Ensign, bring us starboard to heading 035. Worf, prepare to fire on my command. Worf: Aye sir [under his breath, "I've been ready since last episode"] Wesley: Helm isn't answering. Manual override...no response. Switching to backups...still no--Wait! (ducks under his console) Riker: Wes, you got some gadget there to save the day? Wesley: No, sir. [thinking, "At least I don't remember it in the script"] (Through the viewer we see the Big E come about.) Riker: Hold that position, Ensign. Fire! Wesley: Ouch! (when his head hits the bottom of the console) (Meanwhile, an intensely radiant flash of light splashes the forward view screen, as the "deflector weapon" discharges at the docking sections of the two ships.) Riker: (Looking at the dazed wonder boy, sprawled on the floor) Didn't I tell you not to move? (On screen, there's debris hovering between the two Borg ships...the smaller one spinning irregularly, the larger listing like a sinking ship.) Worf: Tractor beams have been disengaged. Damage reports coming in...gggrrrr. Riker: What is it? Worf: I'm receiving cross postings from rec.arts.contrived.plots. (Pounds the console) Redirecting to /dev/null. Geordi: Damage is minimal. Radiation has been contained to the evacuated areas. I'll have what's left of our engineering staff go through secondary Jeffrie's tubes to repair shorted components. Riker: Mr Data, a report on effective damage to the Borg ships. Data: Docking facilities destroyed. Calculations show that if they concentrate all repair efforts on one ship, it could be operational within half an hour. Sensors, however, show they are attempting to stabilize at all levels. Riker: Any word from the away team? Worf: (shaking his head) Wait, sir. Message from Starfleet Command. Riker: Open channel. Admiral "Old Horny" Whats-His-Name: Commander Riker...what's your status? Riker: We sustained serious damage as a result of the "deflector weapon". Our energy levels are low, shields are down, and we still haven't located Captain Picard. Both Borg ships appear crippled...for the moment. Admiral: Both? Let me speak to Lt Commander Shelby. Riker: [clearing his throat] We lost contact with Commander Shelby and her away team almost immediately after their beam down. Admiral: Attempting to rescue Picard, no less. Prepare a report, immediately. I want to be briefed on everything, by the time I get there. We will rendezvous at your position in 47 minutes. (Viewscreen image of the Admiral blinks out to be replaced by the [still] menacing images of the Borg crafts.) Worf: Hailing frequencies closed. Riker: Mr Data...supervise preparation of the report. Mr Crusher, accompany me to Sickbay. (as the turbolift doors open. . .) Lt Commander....Troi. *You* have the bridge. (steps into the turbolift, grinning as the doors swish shut) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----- (In the turbolift...destination: Sickbay) Riker: So, how did you do it, Wes? Wesley: It was nothing...really, sir. Riker: Consider that an order, Ensign. Wesley: I..I must have accidently kicked out the power cord when the Borg's tractor beam locked onto the Enterprise. It just needed to be plugged back in. . . Riker: Oh. (a look of disappointment) [whoosh...as the doors open] Riker: What's going on here? (lined up along the corridor towards sick bay...crew members, lots of crew members....lots of *good looking* crew members, too :) ...complaining about headaches or dizziness or some other radiation induced problem) Dr Crusher: (hearing Riker's commanding voice, appears through Sickbay's doorway) Will...I'm glad to see you. (pause) Unless...You're not feeling drowsy, dizzy, or experiencing headaches, or-- Riker: No. We've got something to discuss. Dr Crusher: (Looking back at the dozens (maybe hundreds) of crew members not believing the medical monitor built into each of their communicators, when it says there's nothing wrong.) I've got the time, you've got the beard. (I know...bad pun.) Hi, Wes. Wesley: Hi. (Entering her little office, away from the examination rooms) Riker: I need you and Wes to prepare a weapon. Dr Crusher...ok, Beverly: I'm a doctor, not a weapons specialist. Riker: You might just make a fine *biological* weapons specialist. (Folks, this may start sounding "serious"...) Wesley: But, I don't know anything about...biology, physiology, or Borg-ology. Riker: No you don't...but you do know, nanites. Wesley: (a glimmer in his eye) Nanites? as a weapon? It could be done, but we might risk the Borg converting them or adapting to them. Riker: That's a chance I'm willing to take right now, especially since it appears that their repairs have practically halted. Beverly: I still don't know what you want, Will. A biological weapon... to what degree? It might kill the Borg *and* Jean-Luc. Riker: And Shelby too. (for a fleeting moment, he liked the idea) What about disabling the organic to cybernetic interface? Beverly: We haven't got a test subject. We don't even know if the organic half is human. I'll...I'll let you know. Wesley: I'll get right on it, Commander. Riker: Good. (and turns to leave) (...then again :) (Suddenly, a medical assistant bursts into the room.) Medic: Dr Crusher, we have an emergency. They're bringing him in now. (outside in the examination room) Beverly: What happened? Medic2: The ship board scanners must have missed him. He was in the...uh ...toilet, in an evacuated area. He absorbed a lethal dose. He muttered things about not reading the ship news, and expecting email through his communicator. Beverly: Prep the de-radiation unit. <<>> Medic3: Too late. He's dead, Bev. Beverly: Engage isolation field. Riker: What was him name, medic? Medic: "Rawdone", sir. Riker: Great...Rawdone, cooked well done, while on duty. Medic(s): Ugh. (I agree...this was a *bad* joke :) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----- (Entering the bridge) Riker: Any change? Troi: None. And thank you for that moment in command, Commander. Riker: You're hereby relieved. (smiles, noticing her voluptuous figure as she walks back to her chair to sit down) Worf: We are being hailed...by the Borg. Riker: Open channel...main viewscreen. Picard-Borg/Locutus: I am Locutus of Borg. Riker: I know...BTW, what does Locutus mean. Picard-Borg/Locutus: It is Borg for "Lord Dread". (Resuming a preachy composure. . .) You cannot resist the Borg. You cannot defeat the Borg. You are irrelevant. You are useless. Riker: (Ignoring that last statement, no matter how true it may have applied to him in the past.) Why are you going to Earth? What is your purpose? Picard-Borg/Locutus: We are the Borg. We seek the Creator. We seek NOMAD. Riker: Visual only. (Worf nods.) Data, look up references to NOMAD. Data: (Curling his right hand to a fist...<<>>. A four inch spike emerges from his knuckles.) This will permit faster retrieval. Worf: Where does he get all those wonderful toys? Data: (Inserting his "data spike" into the i/o port of his console...turn.) The most recent reference to NOMAD, is dated 32027.7, or 3451.9 by the TOS Stardate system. The Enterprise, NCC 1701, commanded by Captain James T. Kirk, beamed aboard, what appeared to be, an ancient Earth probe. Further discovery, revealed that it had combined with an alien probe. Incredibly powerful, it was believed its programming had changed to destroying "imperfect" life forms. It would now appear, that NOMAD was instead adapting them, in its image of "perfection". Riker: What became of the probe? Data: Records further show, that the probe was subsequently destroyed. Riker: How? Data: Not detailed. It would appear that the unit was transported to deep space, where it exploded...possibly, wide dispersion. Riker: What does the "T" stand for in Kirk's name? Data: That information is available only at the Starfleet Archive of Captain's Logs, First Officer's Logs & Ship Logs. Queries. What relevance is that to our current situation? What does the "T" stand for in your name, Commander? Riker: Never mind. Audio on. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----- Riker: Locutus. Your Creator, NOMAD, is no longer functional. It was destroyed decades ago. Appeal to "Picard", your human half...our records are accurate and do not lie. (Almost instantly, a Borg scout appears at the library console at the rear of the bridge.) Riker: Lt Worf, don't! Worf: GGRRRR. (Seconds pass, as the Borg scout bypasses login passwords and reviews the Enterprise's records. Finished, it turns to face the viewscreen.) Picard-Borg/Locutus: Deception is useless. Your records are irrelevant. You will serve...ugh. (Locutus is visibly in pain as his hands strain to reach for his head.) Troi: It's the Captain. He is resisting. Worf: (Seeing this as his only opportunity, he lunges at the Borg, still on the bridge. Without personal shields, the battle is well matched.) (No referee! This could get ugly folks...head butt. Another. Round- house kick...a low blow, another. . .) AAAAAAAWWWWWWWWW! (Gee, Klingons do have noids.) (Finally, Worf clearly has the upper hand; wrenching the Borg's arm backwards...further...<<>>--Sparks, wires, and hydraulic fluids ..."lifeless", Worf now drops *it* to the floor.) (Seconds later, the arm is beamed away, leaving the bulk of the Borg scout to rot on the deck.) Locutus: Rrr-resistance is...is... (Yet another Borg appears on the bridge, this one attempting to beam the first scout back with him.) Worf: AAAAAWWWWWWW! (*This* is the Klingon cry, warning the dead that a warrior is coming...and yet another wrestling match ...this time, Worf manages to separate the head from the torso...more than just sparks, wires, and hydraulic fluids this time...BLOOD!) SupremeBorgVoice: YOU DREW FIRST BLOOD! Everyone on bridge: Shut up, Borg-Breath. Don't have a cow! (At that moment Bev enters the bridge...approaching the first Borg, she takes some medical tricorder scans...nodding in approval.) Riker: Well? Beverly: It's done. Wes is in Transporter Room 3...he's coordinating with Chief O'Brien, to beam "his" nanites and a few of these (holding up a vile) into the Borg ships. This is an air borne virus... it reproduces like wild fire, but has a net life of 4 hours. I'm sure it'll affect the right hemisphere brain centers where-- Riker: Yes, yes, yes...but will it work? Beverly: It should. It's not lethal...but human or not, the recipient will be left with a massive headache...very much like a hangover. Worf: Ha! Nothing beats prune juice. Geordi: What about Wes's nanites? Any chance of them getting loose on the Enterprise and wreaking havoc ? Beverly: I'm a doctor, not a microtechnologist. Ask Wes...ahhh, there he is. Wesley: (beaming onto bridge...always will be a neat way to make an entrance) Ask me what? Riker: What will your nanites do to the Enterprise? Wesley: Nothing. I beamed them all over to the Borg ships. I modified them to consume any equipment not bearing a Federation Standards Approval, Federation Communications Code, or Klingon Underwriter's Laboratories label. But, I've destroyed the schematics, because it's too easy to add an inverter gate and turn it into a weapon against us. Geordi: Good idea...uhhh...is the channel with the Borg still open? I really hope they didn't hear that. Riker: I doubt it would matter. (On the viewscreen, Borg units are writhing on the floor, trembling, repeatedly banging their head into the same wall...utterly confused.) Worf: Commander. I have located members of the away team and I have a fix on Captain Picard as well. Riker: Have O'Brien beam them all to Sickbay. We'll meet them there. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----- (Sickbay) Riker: How is he? Beverly: I won't know until the headache stops. But the de-borgification went without a hitch. Some of the cybernetic implants were simply amazing. I asked Data to assist in backward-engineering some the stuff. Picard: Ugghh... Be-Bev-Beverly... (She rushes to his side, and takes up his hand to console him.) Picard: (Using his free hand, he brings it towards her face, stroking her neck, and then suddenly, his hand clenched in her hair, he draws her head down towards his face. . .) Resistance is useless... Worf: (drawing his phaser) He is *still* a Borg! (And just as suddenly, Beverly & Jean-Luc are locked in a passionate kiss. (My apologies for getting mushy here, folks.) Oh yeah, Worf reluctantly puts his phaser back on his belt.) Bedside spectators: Welcome back, Captain. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----- (The Final Poker scene (for the episode)...only the first of the season.) Riker: Well, Shelby...still like taking risks? Shelby: Only when the odds are against me. (genuine smile) Riker: (smiles back...glad that Deanna decided to sit out this game) Then I'll see your 50, and raise you 100. Geordi: I fold. Worf: Klingon honor dictates that I...(looks at his cards)...fold. Wesley: Uhm..I..I..I'll fo-...uuuhhhh! I'm in. (tosses in his chips) Shelby: (looks at Riker...covers her last chip with one hand...voila! a whole stack...neat trick) I learned that one from you. Call. (pushing the last of chips into the pot) Riker: You're short 10. Shelby: How about I offer...a gratuitous act? Riker: (Really grinning...and really glad Deanna isn't here.) 3 aces. Shelby: Beats my two pairs (This is poker to all you guys thinking "Ensign Gomez in Total Recall"...) Wesley: Not so fast. (showing a full house, kings over queens) Yahoo! (as he rakes in the chips) Data: I fail to see the significance of your enthusiasm, as these chips have no substantial value... Wesley: I won! (Taking Shelby's hand in his.) Data: Oh. (Crusher & Shelby exit) Did we achieve the desired effect? Riker: Absolutely. (Smiles.) (I have a feeling, some of us are going to see a lot more of Shelby :)