This is a RePost for all of you who missed it the first time and have been requesting to see it again. The authenticity of this synopsis is highly speculative. The original post never included a scource but it seems to incorporate all the rumors of plot elements that have been leaked from people at Paramount and are circulating on this newsgroup. Opinions about it's authenticity seem to be evenly split amongst people on this newsgroup. I tend to think that it may be the "real McCoy". It's fun reading, anyhow and would make for a great movie.
Tentatively scheduled for Thanksgiving '96, the next StarTrek movie (ST8) is currently being called "The Last Stand" - referring of course to the Borg invasion of Federation Space. The following is only a general synopsis of the "working copy" of the script. Many of the details in the script were sketchy and many things are still expected to change.
The movie will open with a fleet of Borg ships (new and old) ariving through the Wormhole by DS9. This comes as a surprise to the Federation who have been preparing for the Borg arrival from the Delta Quadrant. DS9 feebly attempts to hinder the Borg, but their efforts are in vain. The Borg effortlessly dissable DS9's defenses, leaving the space station helpless and adrift. During the Borg attack, however, Captain Sisko is able to evacuate all personal to the surface of Bajor. Deciding that he should stay behind with his people, Sisko orders Worf to take the Defiant to Earth to try to warn the Federation of the Borg's arrival. The Borg leave a few ships in orbit around Bajor, but it seems that their interest lie primarily in penetrating deeper into Federation space. Worf is met with little resistance from the orbiting Borg ships as he leaves DS9 following the main Borg fleet toward Earth.
Upon reaching Earth, Worf finds StarFleet and Borg ships engaged in battle. Realizing that StarFleet defenses have been caught off guard and are heavily outmathed, Worf joins the heat of battle. The Defiant is under heavy attack and it shields dissabled. Worf sets a kahmikaze course toward a Borg vessel, but is suddenly beamed out of the fiery Defiant moments before it collides. In dismay, Worf finds himself on the Starship James Kirk and is greeted by Admiral Picard who informs them that it is too late - further resistance is futile. The James Kirk is badly damaged but manages to lead a group of transport ships and other vessels away from the Solar System in retreat. Several Borg ships attempt to follow, but Picard is able to destroy them and the fleet warps off to safety. A sullen Admiral Picard then transmits an emergency coded starfleet message for all remaining Federation vessels to rendaveous in the Badlands.
Out in deep space on their first mission with the Enterprise-E, Captain Riker and First Officer Data receive Picard's encoded message and immediately set course for the Badlands. They arrive days later and are met with suspicion by Maquis scout ships on the outer fringes of the Badlands. The scout ships then lead them further into the heart of the Badlands where they discover a refugee camp of sorts comprised of various battle damaged Starships and other vessels. Amongst the Federation ships Riker and Data observe Cardassian, Vulcan, Maquis and many other non-federation ships. Data concludes that the Borg invasion must have been an all out invasion of all races in the Alpha Quadrant, not just Earth. Their darkened spirits are lifted for a moment when they receive a hail from Admiral Picard who then beams aboard the Enterprise to great Riker.
Their welcoming is subdued, however, as Riker notices the worry on Picard's face. Picard informs Riker that there is much that they need to discuss. In a private discussion in Riker's ready room, Picard informs him that it is merely a matter of time before the Borg discover their hiding place in the Badlands. In an attempt to organize this ragtag fleet of multi-racial starships, Picard was nominated as leader. Picard relates to Riker that he has extreme doubts about his ability at such a weighty position. He does not want sole responsible of the future of civilization. Suddenly, an emergency message comes through that Klingon warships have just entered the Badlands seeking refuge. Furthermore, the Klingons bring news that the Klingon Home World was ovverun and Gowron himself was assimilated. As they speak, the Klingon Ships come under fire from three decloaking Klingon Attack Cruisers. A Borgified Gowron hails the refugee fleet to announce that they will all be assimilated. Picard gives the order and Riker engages the Enterprise-E into battle. With the help of the refugee Klingon ships, Riker is able to destroy Gowron's fleet, but the victory is an empty one.
In a scene on board the damaged James Kirk, Picard is sitting solemnly by himself in the crew lounge. He is alone in the darkness feeling the responsibility of his position when a hand softly caresses his cheek. It is the hand of Beverly Crusher. Picard looks at her in shock and states his amazement at her being alive. She informs him she just arrived with the Klingon fleet. The starship she was serving on had been on it's way to the Badlands when they were intercepted by Borg scout ships. Their death was imenant when suddenly the Klingons decloaked and changed the tables. Although the warp drive on her StarShip was destroyed, the Klingons offered to take them on board in exchange for knowledge of where they were fleeing. Besides, she said, I could never stay away from you very long.
Moments before meeting with the commanders of the other vessels, Picard calls together his comrades from the original Enterprise-D. He tells them that it is good to see them all again, but that this may be the last time. For the first time in many years there is no clear road to travel. There clear choice to choose. "I am an explorer," he tells them, "not a warrior." The meeting commenses with the commanders and crew. Bitter arguing ensues between those who want to fight and those who want to flee. Picard is quiet but eventually controls everyone's attention when he offers a third option. Perhaps as Locutus he may still have some sway over the Borg. It may be possible that he could retain enough of his own will to ... But Crusher would not hear him out. She radically objected, saying that although such an operation may be possible, the Borg consiousness would quickly overrun any free will that an individual might have. Besides, Jean-Luc is needed here. Picard conceited, reaching the conclusion the he thought it would be best to retreat. Many at the table, including Worf, audibly objected to this, but Picard had made his decision. On his way from the meeting, Picard whispered something to LaForge whom had been listening by the door.
On various ships and in various corners, there are rising levels of dissent against Picard's ultamatum. Many Starfleet officers join Maquis and Klingon divisions in planning an attack on the Borg - Worf is amongst them. Picard, although largely unaware, gets wind of this faction and pulls Worf aside. Picard tells him that there is a time to fight and a time to retreat - and Picard is not sure what time they are facing now. But, he concludes, urge your people to have patience.
As the fleet begins to leave the Badlands, a singular ship turns and heads toward earth, it is the Starship James Kirk with Geordi at the helm. Riker onboard the Enterprise demands an explanation. It seems that Picard went through with his plan of Borgifying himself - as did many other participants whom were all on board. Geordi did not have time to explain the details but insisted that Picard's last wish was for the fleet to continue on its course. With a troubled face and tearse eyes Riker bids Geordi well and continues as leader of the fleet.
A visually upset Beverly Crusher leaves the bridge and beams over to Worf's vessel. She explains to Worf the situation and begs him to pursue - they can not let the Captain do this to himself. Beverly appeals to the crew on board bridge and Worf is won over. Hailing the other "sympathetic" ships, Worf belows that "Now is the time!". Worf sets a new heading following the James Kirk. As Worf and Beverly warp out of sight, Riker once again comes on the veiw screen demanding an explanation. He is answered by a warrior-clad Worf who informs him that many of "us" would rather die in battle than flee. More and more ships begin to peel off from the pack to pursue Worf. With nearly a third of his fleet gone, Riker is ill-prepared to face any encounter with the Borg. Faced with the delema of following through with Picard's last wish for the fleet to retreat, or turning back to fight, Riker chooses the latter and follows Worf into battle.
Onboard the James Kirk, we see Geordi make the final touches to Locutus and a sickbay full of other Borgified crewman. As tears roll out from beneath his VISOR, Geordi holds Picards human hand and says "God save us all." Slowly, Locutus begins to awaken and Geordi lets go. Locutus sits up and begins to contact the Borg consiousness. As Geordi leaves sickbay, the small group of Borg are transported on board the Borg MotherShip.
Meanwhile, near Earth, Beverly and Worf catch up with the James Kirk which does not respond to their hails. The nearby Borg mothership begins to fire on Worf's ship. The crew take evasive maneuvers and attempt to fight back, but the Borg weapons are too powerful. A hail from Geordi tells them to lower their sheilds and beam over. Just as they do their ship is destroyed, but Geordi has them safely on board the James Kirk. Geordi informs Crusher that they must leave immediately. Picard and the other Borgified crew members were volunteers on a suicide mission. They were surgically implanted with antimatter discharges timed to explode shortly after connecting to the Borg consiousness. Crusher locates Picard on board the Borg vessel and beams to his location.
Outside the Borg ship, the ragtag fleet arives and opens fire on the Borg. Other Borg ships come to the aid of their MotherShip. In the heat of battle, Geordi informs Riker that the MotherShip will explode in a matter of minutes. Riker alerts the fleet to this and they attempt to "push" the other Borg ships into a defensive stance around the MotherShip.
Inside the Borg MotherShip, an emotional Crusher pleads with Picard to listen to her. Don't let them overrun your humanness. The one thing that they cannot stop is love. "I love you Jean-Luc", she cries. We see Picard's face contort as he is fighting for control. She grabs his hand. I love you. Don't leave me, she cries again and again. In a fit of convulsions Picard falls to the ground. "We...I...We...," he struggles. Standing up again Picard reaches with his mechanical arm and wipes a tear off of Beverly's cheek - and reaffirms her love. At this moment outside the Borg ship, all weapons fire against Riker's fleet comes to a halt. Borg shields lower.
Holding Picard in her arms, Beverly beams back to the James Kirk. Seconds later the MotherShip explodes taking with it many of the other Borg ships nearby. The other Borg vessels drift in confusion as the emotion of love percolates through the collective. Riker's fleet fires relentlessly at the Borg destroying them all.
A final scene on Earth shows a destroyed StarFleet headquarters. In sort of a make shift hospital, Beverly tends to Picard who talks to Riker on a view screen. With this new unified fleet, Riker and his counterparts are slowly attempting to chase the Borg back out of the Alpha Quadrant.
From Space, we see the Enterprise-E and a new fleet of joint ships (Romulan, Klingon, Cardassian) jump to warp.
