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DS9 12x20 – "Futile"

DS9Continuing

DS9Continuing

Rear Admiral
Rear Admiral
 
Meanwhile...

TNG 17x20 – “CARTE BLANCHE”

Returning to the Azure Nebula and the devastated fleet, Picard calls Command for orders. There are none – Bacco passes on the message that Enterprise, Picard and anyone working with them have free rein to do whatever they can to stop the Borg armada, no questions asked. Enterprise rendezvous with Titan, Aventine and Voyager, and Picard holds a big meeting of all the captains to come up with options. Admiral Jellico orders the specs for transphasic torpedoes distributed to the entire fleet, even the Klingons. It’s a risk, but it is the only weapon they have that works. Chancellor Martok takes command of Sword of Kahless, joining General Klag on Gorkon, but it is not enough to stop the Borg from ramming right through their fleet and carrying on for Qo’noS. A desperate last defence is not enough to stop the Borg from destroying Deneva, one of the largest colony worlds. The entire planet is scorched, glassed, dead.

TTN 01x20 – “CARRION”

Hernandez forces one of the last subspace tunnels wide enough to let Titan return to the Azure Nebula, but Riker agonises over leaving his crew behind. On Axion, Inyx and Vale confront Ree about his violent actions towards Troi; Ree explains that his venom put Troi into stasis, giving her more time. Disgusted, Inyx forcibly whisks Troi away to attend to her. With Titan damaged from the journey, Ra-Havreii is forced to scavenge supplies and replacements from the corpses of the blockade fleet. Hernandez re-accustoms herself to being on a Starfleet ship after centuries away, and is delighted by the huge range of never-before-seen alien species onboard. She also realises that since leaving Axion, she is able to hear the voice of the Borg – as she experiences visions of Borg drones attacking her. Meanwhile the Borg attack Deneva, where Tuvok’s son Elieth sacrifices his own life to help others get away.

VOY 10x20 – “DODO”

Voyager has just barely survived the mass Borg invasion. Paris immediately takes command, getting Chakotay and Kim to sickbay. Half the crew is dead – Dr Kaz included, host and symbiont both. Paris activates a basic EMH Mark 1 to look after the fallen crew. When Titan, Aventine and Enterprise return, Paris meets with the other captains to discuss their options, but not before sending an encrypted message to B’Elanna – “Now.” In her tiny slipstream shuttle, B’Elanna dumps a load of random scrap... 4527 BCE: After the Caeliar cataclysm (TTN 1x16 “Whatever It Takes”), the third remaining city-ship Mantilis crash lands on a frozen Delta Quadrant world. Four crew from Columbia are aboard, and a handful of surviving Caeliar, including Lerxst and Sedín. Graylock asks where and when they are – Lerxst replies that they are 60,000 light years from Earth, and thousands of years in the past. There is nothing they can do – this is where they will all die.
 
TEASER​


FADE IN:


1 EXT. SPACE


The Vesta-class Aventine ZOOMS through open space at highest possible warp.

After a moment, the Sovereign-class Enterprise ZOOMS through space after it, chasing the Aventine.


PICARD (v.o.)
Captain Dax, please. See reason.​


2 INT. AVENTINE - BRIDGE


Captain EZRI DAX grits her teeth. Before her in the pit, flickering and wavering on the damaged transporter/holo platform, is a hologram of PICARD, pleading with her.


PICARD
(continuing)
Cease this futile pursuit and
return to the nebula with us.​


Dax looks past Picard to the helm station behind him, crewed by Bolian male lieutenant THARP.


DAX
Tharp, maintain course and speed.
(to Picard)
You saw the same readings I did,
Captain. More than seven thousand
Borg ships, heading straight into
Federation territory, not to mention
the Klingons and the Romulans.
What exactly do you expect me
to do about that?

PICARD
I expect you to act rationally. The
Borg armada has a head start on
you, and it’s moving away at
speeds we can’t hope to match.

DAX
Maybe you can’t. But the Aventine
has a quantum slipstream drive,
and this sounds like the perfect
time to fire it up.​


Behind her, first officer SAM BOWERS and science officer GRUHN HELKARA exchange a worried glance – they know the slipstream drive doesn’t work, but they can’t contradict their captain in public.


DAX
There’s a war on, Picard, and I
plan on being part of it. Keep
up if you can. Aventine out.

PICARD
Wait!​


Relief ops manager RIORDAN doesn’t know what to do, but Dax seems to be holding off...


PICARD
Captain Dax, please listen to me.
Sacrificing your ship and your
crew in this manner serves no
purpose. Going into battle against
overwhelming odds can be brave,
or it can futile. But going into
battle without a plan is worse
than futile - it’s wasteful.​


Dax fumes in her command chair - she hates the idea of doing nothing, but Picard is making good points. Plus she can feel her crew around her, agreeing with Picard.


DAX
What do you propose we do?

PICARD
We’ll contact Starfleet Command
and request new orders. They may
not even be aware that our ships
are still in service, after what
happened to the blockade fleet.

DAX
Contact Starfleet Command? No
offence, Captain, but that’s not
exactly the response I expected,
given your reputation.
(beat)
But... I suppose it can’t hurt to ask.
(to helm)
Tharp, bring her about and head
back to the nebula.​


Tharp works his panels, and we feel the ship SWERVE at high warp. The stars on the screen likewise swerve around.


PICARD
Thank you, Captain. I promise you,
we will stop the Borg. But blindly
throwing ourselves at a wall is
not the way. The Enterprise will
rendezvous with you at the
Azure Nebula. Enterprise out.​


Dax is a bit annoyed that Picard took control again right at the end. But she has been reluctantly convinced. Annoyed at herself for giving in, she looks to Bowers at her side.


BOWERS
You’re doing the right thing, Captain.

DAX
If you say so. I just hate feeling like
we’re running for cover when every-
one else is fighting for their lives.

BOWERS
Running for cover?

DAX
It’s the eye of the storm, Sam.
All the Borg ships are moving
away from the nebula. It’s the
safest spot in known space.

BOWERS
Which makes it the perfect place
from which to plan our next move.

DAX
I wasn’t aware we had a next move.

BOWERS
We don’t - at least, not yet.
But I have a feeling that’s
about to change.​


Dax turns back to look at the screen, not happy...



BLACK OUT



END OF TEASER​
 
ACT ONE​


FADE IN


3 INT. STARBASE 7 – COMMON AREA


The Andorian starbase’s version of the Promenade – a public thoroughfare with shops, bars and airlocks (as seen in DS9 9x05 “No Place Like Home”). And the place is in chaos.

The wide passage is packed with surging civilian EXTRAS – mostly Andorians but some other species for variety – shouting and pushing as they try to reach the airlocks. A handful of Starfleet OFFICERS are all trying their best to control the flow through the bottlenecks of the airlocks.

Admiral ZENKAR, the Saurian commander of this station, is there, trying to shout over the din but having no success.


ZENKAR
Everyone, please remain calm!
There is room for you all but we
must proceed in an orderly fashion
or you may come to injury.​


SHAR pushes through the crowd towards the Admiral. They speak quietly, not wanting to be overheard.


SHAR
Admiral – Captain Vaughn informs
you that the Kirk’s auxiliary craft
are available to assist in the
evacuation. Captains Sisko and
Henderson made a similar offer.

ZENKAR
Henderson? The Venture arrived?

SHAR
Yes sir, twenty minutes ago.

ZENKAR
Alright, thank you, Lieutenant.
Please make the arrangements.
(beat)
Although I’m not sure even that
will be enough. This crowd seems
to double by the moment, and they
refuse to follow my instructions.​


Shar pulls a tricorder from his back pocket and works its controls for a moment. He looks up at the taller Saurian...


SHAR
Cover your ears, Admiral.​


Zenkar looks askance at the junior officer, but does as he is told. Shar presses a final button on his tricorder...

...and an ear-splitting SQUEAL emits along the Promenade, much as in DS9 12x05 “Trial and Error”. All the extras CRINGE from the sound, covering their various auditory organs, knees buckling and antennae quivering.

After a moment, Shar cuts the signal, and SILENCE follows. Zenkar nods admiringly to Shar, then clears his throat.


ZENKAR
Everyone, please listen. We have
enough room for all civilians to
leave the starbase if you wish. In
fact, I actively encourage it. But
no-one will get anywhere if we’re
not calm and patient. Follow the
instructions of my officers, and
they will see you all to safety.​


Suitably cowed, the civilians begin to file through the airlocks in a much more orderly fashion.


SHAR
Admiral... do you really believe
anywhere is safe from the Borg?

ZENKAR
What I believe is irrelevant,
Lieutenant. This is about what
these people need to hear.​


Zenkar stands firm. Shar nods, understanding that.


4 ON SCREEN - NEWS REPORT


The public speaking platform we have seen before in such eps as DS9 10x11 “Harmony”, now viewed via a DS9 wall screen. Bajoran First Minister ASAREM stands at the microphone, shaken but holding it together for the sake of her people.


ASAREM (screen)
You will have all seen the news.
You know what has happened, and
what is coming. I have spoken with
the Chamber of Ministers, with
the Militia Over-General, and with
the Vedek Assembly... and we all
agree that any Bajoran citizen who
wishes to leave, to escape by any
means necessary, is free to do so.
There will be no judgement, no
shame. This is not a time for such
things. Every ship capable of
flight is, as of now, pressed into
service as an escape vessel.​


OPEN OUT to reveal...


5 INT. DS9 – COMMANDER’S OFFICE


...RO LAREN sitting behind her desk, watching this on the wall screen of her office. Major CENN stands nearby.


ASAREM (screen)
(continuing)
The usual restrictions on travel
through the wormhole are lifted.
Members of government in every
town, city, village and outpost
are as I speak receiving their
orders. Please contact them for
assistance. Good luck... and may
the Prophets go with us all.​


The broadcast ends, returning the screen to standard background data. Ro ponders the matter.


CENN
Well?

RO
Well what?

CENN
Are you going to go?
(no answer)
You heard her. All Bajoran citizens.
Not all except Starfleet officers.
You could go if you want. Leading
people to safety is as honourable
as staying to fight.

RO
Is that what you signed up for?

CENN
I stood by and did nothing while
the Cardassians raped my world.
I don’t intend to do that again.
But I’m not talking about me.

RO
Truth be told, for a moment there,
I couldn’t rule it out. But where
could we run to anyway? The Borg
will destroy Bajor, then chase us
down wherever we go.

CENN
You know I’ve read the prophecies
back to front a hundred times. And
there is no prophecy about Bajor
being destroyed by cybernetic
monsters from the Delta Quadrant.

RO
Just because there’s no prophecy
doesn’t mean it won’t happen.
Maybe the Prophets couldn’t predict
it because the Borg kill them
too on their way through the
wormhole to visit the Dominion.

CENN
The Prophets can’t be killed.

RO
Oh yeah? Read up about Keiko
O’Brien and the pagh-Wraiths.

CENN
It’s simply a matter of faith,
Commander. Even if you don’t
have faith in the Prophets, then
have faith in something.​


Ro doesn’t want to ponder the matter any longer, so she changes the subject.


RO
How’s the map coming along?

CENN
I’ve collated all reports from
Starfleet, and Mister Candlewood
has converted them into a visual
representation. It’s set for real-
time updates as we receive them.

RO
Show me.​


Cenn steps towards the screen. Ro gets up to join him.


CENN
Computer, display programme
Cenn Alpha.​


The screen changes again to display a MAP:


6 INSERT – THE MAP


The established MAP of Federation space, with BAJOR at the far left and the AZURE NEBULA at the far right. Major known systems are marked in between, including all the worlds already destroyed or attacked by the Borg.

Reports of sightings or attacks by Borg vessels have been converted into a slowly moving wave, creating an expanding red overlay across space, beginning at the Azure Nebula and spreading out into Federation, Klingon and Romulan space.

Cenn’s finger reaches in to point...


CENN (o.s.)
This is the advancing front of
the Borg fleet.​


7 BACK TO SCENE


Ro looks at this, daunted.


CENN
(continuing)
As you can see, Bajor is one of
the furthest Federation worlds
from the nebula. We have the
most time of everyone to prepare.
These worlds here... they’re
probably under attack already.

RO
And Starfleet has three hundred
fewer ships to defend those
worlds than it did six hours ago.

CENN
Yes, Commander.​


As they both stare grimly at the map...


8 EXT. SPACE – AZURE NEBULA


The starship graveyard, all that remains of the blockade fleet that once numbered more than three hundred ships. Debris tumbles, sparks explode, gasses hiss as they escape. Aventine and Enterprise both drift back into view...


9 INT. AVENTINE - BRIDGE


Seeing this on the giant main viewscreen, Dax is ashamed.


DAX
Lieutenant Mirren -​


Ensign Riordan looks around at her. Dax grits her teeth.


DAX
My apologies, Mister Riordan.
Please scan for distress calls,
survivors... anything.

RIORDAN
Will do, Captain.​


As the ensign begins his work, Dax glances at Bowers.


BOWERS
Mirren is in sickbay, Captain.
Doctor Tarses says she’ll be fine.

DAX
This ship already lost four senior
officers, Sam. Another three have
had their guts nearly torn out.
And I was so eager to fight...
that I abandoned all the people
who might need me right here.
(beat)
Maybe Julian was right.

RIORDAN
Captain! I’m picking up two
Starfleet distress calls. One’s
from Voyager...
(confused)
...and the other’s from Titan.

BOWERS
Titan? Titan wasn’t assigned to
the blockade fleet, it’s out in
the Beta Quadrant. Confirm.

HELKARA
Ensign Riordan’s readings are
confirmed, sir. The transponder
matches USS Titan, under command
of Captain William T Riker.

RIORDAN
Told you. In fact, I’m reading
transporter signals between
Enterprise and Titan already.

BOWERS
Picard’s helping his old XO.

DAX
Then we help Voyager. Tharp, track
the distress call and find that ship.
Bridge to engineering.

LEISHMAN (comm)
Go ahead.

DAX
Mikaela, prepare damage control
teams. Voyager needs our help.

LEISHMAN (comm)
Captain, you realise we just got
our asses kicked by the Hirogen,
right? You remember that?

DAX
Lieutenant, Voyager just got their
asses kicked by several thousand
Borg ships steamrolling over them.
Prepare your teams. Dax out.​


The line drops. Bowers offers her an encouraging smile.


BOWERS
You see? Things are looking
up already.​


Dax grumbles under her breath...


BLACK OUT


END OF ACT ONE​
 
ACT TWO​


FADE IN


10 EXT. SPACE


A BORG CUBE advances through space, huge, dark and ominous.

A small, helpless freighter vessel FIRES its feeble weapons on the Cube, to no effect whatsoever.

The Cube SHOOTS the freighter to atoms without breaking a metaphorical sweat, and keeps going.


11 INSERT – THE MAP


The line of the Borg armada has advanced a little from where we saw it only a matter of hours ago, spreading further into Federation and Klingon space. Several more ICONS representing star systems have turned RED.


CENN (o.s.)
Adelphous Four, Devnar Four, and
Yridia Prime have already been
attacked, their populations either
completely wiped out, or as near
as makes no difference.​


12 INT. DS9 - WARD ROOM


Cenn stands by the wall screen, which features the map, pointing as he mentions more systems.


CENN
(continuing)
Japori Two and Gamma Hromi Two
are being attacked as we speak -
Starfleet vessels are defending
them as best they can.
(points)
The Borg are also advancing into
Klingon space. Martok’s fleet has
successfully defended Morska, but
Beta Thoridor, Rura Penthe and
Khitomer have all fallen, and they
are heading for Qo’noS itself.​


Cenn looks out across the room, which features Cmdr Ro, Lt Cmdr EVIK, Lt NOG and Lt CANDLEWOOD from DS9, as well as Captain GOMEZ (human female) and Lt Cmdr TEV (Tellarite male), both of the Da Vinci. All look suitably horrified.


CENN
Projections suggest that the Borg
will reach -
(Fed side)
- Hyralan, Celes, Castor -
(Klingon side)
- H’Atoria and Archanis within the
next few hours.

RO
Thank you, Major. I don’t need to
hear any more right now.​


Cenn takes his seat at the table next to Ro, leaving the map up on the wall. Candlewood can’t take his eyes off it.


CANDLEWOOD
It’s like a great big dead zone,
from the Azure Nebula on out.​


Ro sends Candlewood a look - shut up.


RO
I want to know what our tactical
options are. What can we do to
defend Bajor and this station?
Everything’s on the table.

NOG
Captain Gomez, I was reading
through your reports. You were
working with Voyager recently?

GOMEZ
That’s right - on recreating the
enhanced shields and phasers
they were given by a friendly
Borg in the Delta Quadrant.

NOG
Any chance you do could the same
for DS-Nine? Or the Defiant?

TEV
(blustering)
Impossible. I already evaluated
that suggestion before you ever
made it, of course. And it is
quite out of the question.

RO
Why’s that?

GOMEZ
It turns out the method they used
was dependent on the Intrepid
class’s bio-neural circuitry.
Nothing else can handle it.

TEV
And since neither your Defiant nor
this Cardassian mining monstrosity
boast anything so advanced -

GOMEZ
(gently admonishing)
And neither does the Da Vinci...

TEV
- that advantage is sadly beyond
your grasp.

RO
Thank you for your explanation.

TEV
I sensed you needed it.​


Ro bites her tongue, while Candlewood desperately tries not to laugh. Gomez looks apologetic. Evik clears his throat.


EVIK
We do have one advantage, however
- Starfleet Command has finally
seen fit to distribute the specs
to create transphasic torpedoes.

CENN
To create what, sorry?

GOMEZ
Another toy Voyager brought back
from the Delta Quadrant. It’s the
only weapon that’s always worked
against Borg vessels.

EVIK
Starfleet kept a tight rein on the
technology to reduce the chances
of the Borg adapting to it.

CENN
But they’ve released it now?

EVIK
It was a weapon of last resort.
(glance at map)
We have reached the last resort.

RO
So we can install these torpedoes
on the Defiant? And the station?

NOG
Yessir. I’ve got every industrial
replicator on this “Cardassian
mining monstrosity” ready to
replicate its little heart out.

CANDLEWOOD
And I’ve already started work on
the programming. It’s tricky -
it’s all based on generating a
destructive subspace compression
pulse, which the torpedo delivers
in an asymmetric superposition of
multiple phase states. Which means
that every torpedo has to have a
unique transphasic configuration,
which is generated randomly by
a dissonant feedback effect.

TEV
(huff)
Obviously.

RO
Can you do it?

CANDLEWOOD
Well, given that I am awesome,
yes. It’ll be ready to install by
the time Nog’s replicated them.

RO
Okay, this sounds like progress.
Now what about Bajor? How do
we protect the planet itself?​


They ponder the question, seemingly without inspiration.


NOG
Captain... I’m just thinking back
to your assignment with Voyager.
Your report said you actually
managed to make the entire
planet of Troyius disappear?

GOMEZ
Only temporarily, but enough for
the Borg to lose interest and
pass the planet over, yes.​


Candlewood smiles quietly to himself.


RO
How did you manage that?

TEV
You wouldn’t understand.

RO
(grits teeth)
More importantly, can you do it
again - for Bajor?​


Gomez hesitates to answer...


GOMEZ
I’m sorry, Commander, but no. Like
Tev said, we already looked at that.
And I’m afraid the emissions from
the wormhole and the Denorios
Belt would prevent us from
doing the same thing here.

NOG
Like whatever stopped the Iconian
gateways from working here too.

GOMEZ
I guess.​


Hearing that, Cenn smiles broadly. Ro sees it...


RO
Major, what the hell are you
smiling about? They just told us
there’s no way to protect Bajor.

CENN
No, Commander. Sorry, but you
weren’t listening. What Captain
Gomez and Lieutenant Commander
Tev just told us was that the Prophets
don’t need us to protect Bajor...
because They’re going to do it for
us. Just like They always have.​


Evik shares a warm look with Cenn. Ro does not share it.


RO
Alright - John, Nog, get to work.
Everybody else... keep thinking.
Dismissed.​


They all get up from the table and leave the room in pairs - Gomez and Tev, Nog and Candlewood, Evik and Cenn. Ro sits at the table on her own, staring at the map. But then...


QUARK (o.s.)
Hmm-hmm.​


Ro turns to see that QUARK is standing in the open doorway.


RO
Quark - what are you doing here?

QUARK
I was looking for you. Firstly,
to ask for something from you.
And secondly... to ask if there’s
anything you need from me.​


Ro softens, and Quark takes the opening to enter the room.


RO
Thank you, Quark. But honestly,
I don’t think there’s anything
you can do right now.

QUARK
I can keep you fed and watered.
And... there’s always this.​


He steps up to the MAP of Federation space still on the wall screen, with its inching red line of death and horror.


RO
That’s supposed to be classified,
you know. Starfleet eyes only.

QUARK
I’m an important diplomat. And
a close friend of the station
commander. A very close friend.​


Ro gets up to join him at the screen, gazing at the map.


QUARK
This was what I wanted to ask
about, actually. I want to put
this map up in my bar.

RO
What? Quark, that’s... Absolutely
not. Why would you want that?

QUARK
People talk, Laren. They know
what’s happening out there. But
they have no way of knowing
the details, the specifics. This
map could give them that.

RO
I thought you wanted to keep
them distracted, not terrified.

QUARK
I’ve tried. It’s not working.

RO
Quark... aside from being against
my orders, I really don’t think
this is a good idea. What about
the Thirty-Ninth Rule?

QUARK
“Never tell your customers more
than they need to know.” I love
a woman who knows the Rules.
But I think they need to know this,
Laren. You lead these people now.
They deserve to know the truth.​


Off Ro, who is considering this...


13 INT. STARBASE 7 – COMMON AREA


Back to the Andorian version of the Promenade. The crowd of Andorian-and-other civilians has now thinned substantially, most of them away onto escape shuttles. Admiral Zenkar, Lt ch’Thane and the other officers herd the last few along.


SHAR
The transports are almost full,
Admiral. The starbase is almost
completely evacuated of civilians.

ZENKAR
Thank you, Lieutenant ch’Thane.
But I believe there are still a
handful remaining...​


Zenkar gestures, and Shar turns to see his bondmates - ANICHENT, DIZHEI and THIA, the last of whom carries their baby LATA - hurrying along the Promenade. They all look rushed and harried, with Anichent carrying three bags.

Seeing them, Zenkar politely excuses himself.


ZENKAR
I have business to attend to in
the command centre, Lieutenant.
If you’ll excuse me.

SHAR
Thank you, Admiral.​


Zenkar walks off, and Shar moves to greet his bondmates with intense hugs.


DIZHEI
Shar! Ch’te - do you know what’s
happening?

SHAR
Yes, Dizhei - you are all getting
on an escape shuttle immediately.
You must go, while there’s time.

ANICHENT
But Shar - what about you?

SHAR
I will be fine, th’se. And you will
all be fine too - if you get on
that shuttle and leave now.
Where is Charivretha?

DIZHEI
We could not contact her. I
assumed the Parliament...

SHAR
No matter. I will find her and
get her to safety as well.

THIA
Come along everyone, we should
do as he says. Good luck, Shar.​


Shar gives each of his bondmates another hug, antennae touching intimately. Finally he strokes the cheek of his young child, and places a gentle kiss on its forehead.


SHAR
And our future goes with you.

ANICHENT
We love you, Thirishar.

SHAR
And I love you too. More than
anything. Now go, please.

THIA
We will keep you Whole in our
thoughts, Thirishar.

SHAR
And you in mine. Go!​


They finally do. He watches them walk through the airlock and out of sight, refusing to let his fiercely roiling emotions out. They were the last to go.

He turns and stalks quickly down the empty Promenade...


SHAR
I must find zhavey.​


Off Shar’s determination...


BLACK OUT


END OF ACT TWO​
 
ACT THREE​


FADE IN


14 EXT. SPACE – AZURE NEBULA


Against the backdrop of swirling blue gasses and blasted starship husks, the four ships rest in loose formation, all looking beaten and bloodied.

Enterprise, Aventine, Titan and Voyager - the latter near-crippled from its encounter with the Borg armada.


15 INT. ENTERPRISE – CREW LOUNGE


NOTE: this scene will require coverage from all possible angles and perspectives, to be used in the respective concurrent episodes of all four series.

The door OPENS, and Dax and Bowers enter together. They see PICARD, WORF and PARIS already here, all looking tired and worn down, standing near some tables over by the expansive picture window. They all turn at the new arrivals...


PICARD
Captain Ezri Dax, Commander
Samaritan Bowers. Welcome to
the Enterprise’s crew lounge...
or to give it its full title, the
Happy Bottom Riding Club.​


As Paris chortles under his breath, Worf glowers darkly.


WORF
I refuse to call it that.​


Dax and Bowers shake hands all round, with an extra smile of friendship between Dax and Worf.


PICARD
I’ve had the steward set up some
food and drinks for us while we
talk – please help yourselves.

BOWERS
Oh thank God – I’m starving.​


Bowers heads over to the buffet which is laid out along the bar. Meanwhile the door opens again...


PICARD
Ah – and here comes our final guest
now, the very man who named this
venerable establishment.

WORF
And then transferred away so he
did not have to face my wrath.

RIKER
You’re still grumbling about that,
Worf?​


Joking to cover the sadness, RIKER enters and heads to greet his old friends. But behind him comes another figure who causes Dax to GASP in surprise – Columbia’s captain ERIKA HERNANDEZ (from ENT 4x03 “Home” et al).


DAX
(whisper)
Captain Hernandez...​


Not knowing anyone here, Hernandez only nods politely to all these people as she follows Riker into the room.


RIKER
Captains, Commanders, please
allow me to introduce a recent
guest aboard the Titan – Captain
Erika Hernandez, formerly of
the starship Columbia.​


Dax remembers...


16 FLASHBACK – DS9 12x15 “GHOST SHIP”


Dax climbing the back of crashed ship Columbia in the constantly shifting desert...

Then Dax exploring the dark and spooky corridors of the deserted ship, observing its shattered insides...


17 BACK TO SCENE


Ever the student of history, Picard reacts with amazement.


PICARD
The Columbia... you can’t mean
the original Columbia, surely?

HERNANDEZ
It’s a long story, Captain.

PICARD
No doubt. I look forward to
hearing it – at another time.
We have much to discuss first.​


Picard gestures for them to join him at the tables. Worf, Riker, Picard and Paris all do so, but Hernandez hovers uncertainly by the door. Seeing this, Dax approaches her.

NOTE: During the below segment, PICARD joins RIKER by the windows to talk (this conversation appears in TNG 17x20 “Carte Blanche” and TTN 1x20 “Carrion”). WORF speaks with PARIS across the coffee tables (this conversation appears in VOY 10x20 “Dodo”). BOWERS happily browses the buffet.


DAX
Captain Hernandez... it’s an
honour – not to mention a
surprise - to see you again.

HERNANDEZ
I’m sorry, have we met?

DAX
I’m Ezri Dax.

HERNANDEZ
Dax... I knew a Tobin Dax a long
time ago, in fact he calibrated
the warp coils of my ship. Was
he an ancestor of yours?

DAX
Not exactly – he was me. In a way.
I couldn’t tell anyone at the time,
but ‘Dax’ wasn’t Tobin’s surname
– it was the name of the symbiont
he carried inside him.
(touches own stomach)
And which I now carry inside me.​


Quietly surprised, Hernandez looks down at Dax’s stomach, then back up at her face. She blinks away the shock, rubbing her forehead as if working off a headache.


HERNANDEZ
I have to say, I’ve had my eyes
opened more these last few weeks
than the past couple centuries
combined. Talking dinosaurs,
cyborg kangaroos... now one life-
form living inside another. There
was a Trill on Titan’s crew – Keru.
Does that mean he has one of
these... symbionts, as well?

DAX
Ranul Keru? No, I don’t think
so – or at least he didn’t the
last time I met him.​


Hernandez looks around the room, at all these people hanging out and chatting like old friends.


HERNANDEZ
Well... seems like everybody knows
each other these days. I haven’t
known anyone from the Federation
in quite some time.

DAX
You know me.​


Dax smiles hopefully – Hernandez smiles back.


PICARD
Captains...?​


Dax looks over to see Picard expecting them. She beckons Bowers, who has stocked up on food for them both, and all three join the rest at the tables, making a total of seven.


PICARD
Commander Paris, will Captain
Chakotay not be joining us?

PARIS
Chakotay is in Voyager’s sickbay.
I’m in command for the moment.

PICARD
I see. Well then, to business.
Perhaps we could start by bringing
each other up to speed. The
Enterprise first fought the Borg
over Ramatis... sadly too late to
save the population. Then we
proceeded to Korvat - ten million
citizens died before we were
able to destroy the Borg there.​


17 FLASHBACK – TNG 17x15 “THIRD OF FIVE”


Over Korvat, Enterprise fires four TRANSPHASIC TORPEDOES at the Borg cube. Even as the cube is torn to pieces, it gets off one last shot - a thick beam of destructive green power that hits the surface, creating a MUSHROOM CLOUD of death.


18 BACK TO SCENE


WORF
But many thousands were saved.

PICARD
Indeed. It was in these encounters
that my chief engineer detected
sirillium traces on all the Borg
vessels. Based on decay rates, we
were able to determine they must
have come from the Azure Nebula.

DAX
And that’s where I come in.
The Aventine had been in the
Gamma Quadrant, investigating
the wreckage of an old Earth
ship - the NX-02 Columbia.

HERNANDEZ
(jaw drops)
The Columbia survived?

BOWERS
I’m afraid I wouldn’t say that,
Captain. The ship had travelled
through a subspace tunnel and
crashed on a desert world, with
no apparent survivors. I’m sorry.​


19 FLASHBACK – TTN 1x16 “WHATEVER IT TAKES”


Columbia PLUMMETS to the surface, CRASHING with deadly force into the shifting sands of the endless desert.


20 FLASHBACK – DS9 12x16 “THE BLAME GAME”


Dax and Kedair stand on the crashed Columbia’s back, gazing out across the desert while work bees dot the surface.


21 BACK TO SCENE


Hernandez steadies herself.


HERNANDEZ
That’s okay, Commander. I’d given
up on them centuries ago.

DAX
After some trouble with an alien
life-form that had taken up
residence in the wreckage, we
discovered the subspace tunnel
that had carried the Columbia
to the Gamma Quadrant... and
that tunnel brought us here,
where we found the Enterprise.

BOWERS
And discovered that there wasn’t
just one tunnel - there were
dozens, all intersecting here.

HERNANDEZ
That makes sense.
(off everyone’s
curious looks)
The Columbia was attacked during
the Earth-Romulan war. We limped
to the nearest world for help...
and that turned out to be Erigol.
The people were super-advanced
and super-pacifist, but also super-
isolationist. Once we were there,
they wouldn’t let us leave. Some
of my people objected to that.

WORF
What happened?

HERNANDEZ
They took a team to one of the
other city-ships, Mantilis, and
forced the Caeliar to open a
subspace tunnel -

DAX
Wait - did you say Caeliar?

HERNANDEZ
Yes, why?

DAX
The alien who killed some of my
crew and stole a runabout - it
called itself Arithon of the
Caeliar. He was looking for
something called the gestalt.

HERNANDEZ
I’d say he found it.

PICARD
I don’t understand.

RIKER
We checked the historical records.
Captain Hernandez’s account of
the destruction of Erigol, and the
date of the supernova that created
this nebula... are a match.​


22 FLASHBACK – TTN 1x16 “WHATEVER IT TAKES”


The planet of Erigol EXPLODES... subspace tunnels surround the planet as dozens of Caeliar city-ships try to escape through them. Only three succeed, plus the Columbia.


23 BACK TO SCENE


Picard realises the truth with amazement...


PICARD
The Azure Nebula is the remains
of the Caeliar homeworld?

HERNANDEZ
Apparently so. The city-ship we were
on, Axion, was one of only three to
escape that we knew of. But what
my crew had done made the tunnels
traverse time as well as space...
and we ended up hundreds of
years in the past... and deep
in the Beta Quadrant.

RIKER
And that’s where Titan found them.
We detected some distortions that
were similar but not identical to
Borg transwarp signatures... and
we fell into a trap. The Caeliar
didn’t want Titan to leave any
more than they did Columbia.

PARIS
Hold on - if you went back in time
by hundreds of years, how are
you still here now hundreds of
years after your own time?

HERNANDEZ
The Caeliar are effectively
immortal. And once they infused
me with their catoms... so was I.​


24 FLASHBACK – TTN 1x18 “ONE BY ONE”


In the Caeliar’s operating theatre on Axion, Hernandez is infused with catoms... and is reborn.


25 BACK TO SCENE


The scientist in Dax perks up...


DAX
Catoms - I’ve heard of those.
Programmable matter. They’re only
theoretical though - no-one has
ever been able to master them.

HERNANDEZ
The Caeliar did. They’re made of
them. And now, so am I, at least
partially. That’s how I was able
to use the tunnels to get Titan
back to the nebula, despite the
Caeliar’s... “reluctance”. They
tried to shut down all the tunnels
using soliton pulses to stop me.

PARIS
Then that’s what brought the Borg
armada down on the blockade fleet.
If the tunnels were being closed,
they were in danger of losing their
chance... so instead of sending
just one cube at a time, they
sent seven thousand.​


26 FLASHBACK – VOY 1x19 “APERTURE 27-C”


The subspace tunnel opens up, and thousands of Borg cubes pour through, utterly overwhelming the blockade fleet and ramming right through it like it’s not even there. Voyager is at the forefront and takes the brunt...


27 BACK TO SCENE


Paris looks back at them blankly, clearly haunted...


PARIS
Half my crew is dead now. Captain
Chakotay is in critical condition
under the care of an EMH with
three hours’ worth of experience.
My chief engineer says we only
survived because of the shield
enhancements the Da Vinci gave us.

DAX
My own chief engineer is already
leading damage control teams
to help Voyager’s crew.

RIKER
And mine is salvaging components
from the remains of the fleet.
We’ll share whatever we find.

BOWERS
I admit this is all fascinating,
but is any of it relevant to
stopping the Borg armada from
obliterating the Federation?
Seriously, what’s the plan
here? What’s our next step?

PICARD
The commander has a point. We
need to focus on the future, not dwell
on the past. I’m open to ideas.​


But nobody has any ideas to offer. They all gaze out of the window at the ship graveyard, an omen of what is to come...


BLACK OUT


END OF ACT THREE​
 
ACT FOUR​


FADE IN


28 EXT. ANDOR - THERIN PARK


The gorgeous public park area seen in DS9 12x05 “Trial and Error”. Grassy areas and gentle stone paths, with the tall and gleaming towers of the city beyond, and the snow-topped mountains further beyond that.


29 INT. VRETHA’S OFFICE


Shar barrels through the door without ceremony, into his mother VRETHA’s office. He finds her at her desk, gazing out of the window with its view across the city and park.


SHAR
Zhavey, what are you still doing
here? You should be on one of
the escape shuttles.

VRETHA
I am needed here, Thirishar.

SHAR
That is nonsense. There must be
continuity of government in the
event of a disaster. You are
government. You must leave.

VRETHA
Thirishar, my people need me. I
was elected to represent this
world. That is a duty I undertook
with the greatest solemnity, and
I will not abandon it now.

SHAR
Zhavey... no! You must -​


She gets up from the desk and takes him gently by the arms.


VRETHA
Thirishar, my brave chei. This is
where I belong, with my people.
You belong out there, with yours
– protecting the keep, as chan
does. Your family is away safely?

SHAR
Yes. But the shuttles could get
you to safety as well...

VRETHA
I will be safe here. With the
magnificent Starfleet Lieutenant
Thirishar ch’Thane to protect
me, how could it be otherwise?

SHAR
Zhavey... please...

VRETHA
It is my duty, Thirishar. I do
what is necessary to protect
my world, my people. I am the
mother you raised me to be.​


They lean in close, touching antennae.


VRETHA
You have your own duty to perform.
Go now. I will see you soon.​


Tears threatening, Shar backs away. They both know this is likely goodbye for good, but neither wants to spoil the illusion. Smiling with sad pride, Vretha watches him go.

He closes the door behind him. And a moment later, Vretha hears a ROAR and a SMASH – Shar has PUNCHed something in his fury. She forces back her own tears, and turns to look out of the window at her world again – while she can.


30 EXT. SPACE


Another BORG CUBE advances, with a SPHERE and an OBLOID visible behind it.

A Defiant-class ship, the Ajax, flies into view, pummelling the cube with its pulse-phasers. (This is part of the battle over Deneva, seen in TNG 17x20 “Carte Blanche”.)


31 INSERT – THE MAP


The red line of the Borg armada has inched forward a little more, a larger portion of the Federation now painted red.


EVIK (o.s.)
Are you certain this is a good
idea, Quark?​


32 INT. DS9 - QUARK’S BAR


The map shows on a large SCREEN hung from the first-floor balcony for the entire bar to see. Smaller versions are relayed on wall screens. In front of each, a small group of civilians have gathered to watch the map’s progress.

Evik stands with Quark at the bar, observing this.


EVIK
(continuing)
I can’t imagine it’s doing very
much for morale.

QUARK
They need to know we’re all in
this together, Commander. That
nobody’s keeping any secrets from
them. Isn’t it better to know for
sure, than to be forced to guess?

EVIK
What if they don’t want to know?

QUARK
Then they don’t have to. I’m not
forcing anyone to stay. I haven’t
seen a single Starfleet officer in
here all day except you.

EVIK
My officers are out offering their
support to the public. Except for
any with tactical or engineering
experience - they’re helping Nog
install the transphasic torpedoes.

QUARK
And how’s that going?

EVIK
Slowly. They’re complex beasts.
But it’s something to focus on.

QUARK
Well, tell them from me... drinks
are free at Quark’s for Starfleet
until this nightmare is over.

EVIK
...Really?

QUARK
No, you’re right, that’s a stupid
idea. I take it back. Drinks are
discounted. By ten percent.
For groups of six or more.​


Evik almost chuckles... until he hears a GASP of shock out among the crowd, from someone looking at the screens...


33 INT. DS9 - MAIN OPS CENTRE


Nog sits at the engineering console. He looks across to Candlewood at sciences, the other way to ALECO at tactical, down to Cenn at the ops table. All are working hard. Ro senses his distress, and approaches gently.


RO
Nog - you okay?

NOG
Just can’t help worrying about
Shar. And Captain Sisko and
Captain Vaughn... but mostly Shar.
They’re assigned to defend Andor
right now... and the Borg will hit
them before they hit us.

RO
I know. But we’re keeping an eye
on reports, we’ll know when...​


An ALERT sounds on Cenn’s console. He looks up to Ro.


CENN
More Starfleet reports. More
attacks by the Borg.

RO
Feed them into the map, Major.​


Reluctantly, Cenn does as he’s told. Ro and Nog look up to the main viewscreen, which shows the updated map...

...and both GASP in horror.


34 INT. ENTERPRISE – CREW LOUNGE


Dax is refilling her coffee when she hears a SMASH - a cup has dropped and broken. She turns and sees Hernandez nearby - staggering, something affecting her body...


WORF (o.s.)
Captain!​


Worf’s concerned bellow brings Dax’s attention to Picard, who is similarly affected, GASPING and SHUDDERING. Picard TUMBLES to the deck by the windows as Worf rushes to him.

Hernandez likewise CRUMPLES to the deck, and Dax rushes to her. Bowers, Paris and Riker just wonder what is going on.

From his place on the deck, propped against the chairs, Picard looks in horrified understanding across the room to Hernandez, who looks back in similar fashion...


PICARD
Deneva...

HERNANDEZ
Risa...​


35 INT. DS9 - QUARK’S BAR


Quark looks at the screen in horror, seeing the red line reach a certain planet - RISA.


EVIK
The Borg are attacking Risa...

QUARK
Moogie...​


36 INT. DS9 - MAIN OPS CENTRE


Nog looks in horror at the main viewscreen in Ops...


CENN
It’s confirmed. The Borg are
launching simultaneous attacks
on Deneva and Risa as we speak.

NOG
Moogie...​


Ro lays a comforting hand on his shoulder.


37 EXT. BEACH HOUSE - BALCONY


The open air balcony of Zek, Ishka and Prinadora’s house on the edge of an isolated Risian cliff edge. ISHKA stands on the balcony, looking out across the ocean...

...and in the distance, she can see the thick GREEN BEAM of energy coming down through the atmosphere and PUNCHING the planet’s surface, water evaporating into MIST around it as it inches slowly closer...


ZEK
Hee hee hee! It looks like a giant
Calabrian fountain.​


Ishka is terrified, but ZEK doesn’t see the danger coming. She turns and YELLS...


ISHKA
Maihar’du!​


The huge silent Hupyrian servant BURSTS through the doors from the house, stops in horror at the view on the horizon.


ISHKA
Get the shuttle ready.​


Maihar’du nods eagerly, and runs back into the house.


ZEK
Ishka, sweetness? Are we going
somewhere?

ISHKA
That’s right, Zekkie. We have to
leave, now.

ZEK
But I don’t want to leave.
(re the view)
It’s pretty.​


She GRABS his arm and DRAGS him grumbling back into...


38 INT. BEACH HOUSE - LIVING ROOM (CONTINUOUS)


...the main room of the house, with all its pretty white marble and garish gold decoration. PRINADORA, Nog’s mother and Ishka’s personal assistant, is just entering from another direction, looking confused...


PRINADORA
Ishka, what’s going on? Maihar’du
was moving faster than I’ve ever
seen him...

ISHKA
No time to explain. Don’t even
pack a bag, just help me get
Zek down to the shuttle bay.

ZEK
But I don’t wanna go! I want to
watch the pretty green fountain!​


Zek starts heading back out onto the balcony, determined, struggling against Ishka.


ISHKA
Prinadora, help me!​


The younger Ferengi woman moves to grab Zek’s other arm, but in doing she catches a glimpse of what’s outside...


39 EXT. RISA - SURFACE


The green beam of destructive energy, kicking up more dust and sea and mist as it inches its way closer to the house.


40 INT. BEACH HOUSE - LIVING ROOM


Prinadora gazes in horror...


PRINADORA
Ishka... what is it?

ISHKA
It doesn’t matter - help me!​


She looks back over her shoulder in desperation, and sees that Maihar’du is back. He nods his head enthusiastically again, indicating the shuttle is ready.


ISHKA
Zekkie, please, it’s time to go...

ZEK
No! You can’t make me!

MAIHAR’DU
NOW!!!​


They all look around in amazement - Maihar’du has never spoken aloud before, but he has full-on shouted now. That alone is enough to get Zek’s attention...


41 INT. CAVERN - STAIR CASE


The four of them - Ishka, Zek, Prinadora and Maihar’du - rush quickly down hard metal STEPS that switch back and forth like an old-fashioned fire escape, down through a cavern cut into the rock upon which their house was built.

TILT DOWN more, and we can see the former Nagus’s private shuttle sitting on a docking platform, its engines already running, its hatch open and waiting...


42 INT. FERENGI SHUTTLE - COCKPIT


Maihar’du dashes in and quickly takes the pilot’s seat, working the distinctive Ferengi controls to get the ship underway. The others pile into the shuttle behind him.

Zek takes the seat beside Maihar’du, CACKLING in excitement now - it’s like a game. Ishka makes sure to buckle him in safely. She turns to Maihar’du...


ISHKA
Go! Now!​


No time to nod, Maihar’du works the controls...


43 EXT. RISA - SURFACE


A HATCH in the side of the cliff opens, revealing a tunnel, and the Ferengi shuttle SHOOTS out of it.

It quickly turns, flying UP into the sky, and away from the ever-nearing destructive GREEN BEAM, which is pulverising the land and the sea into nothing but dust and gas...

FOLLOW the shuttle, up and higher through the atmosphere, until we pass through the exosphere...


44 INT. FERENGI SHUTTLE - COCKPIT


They are out into open space. Looking out through the front window, they see...

...two dozen other SHUTTLES of various configurations and sizes, all making a desperate life-or-death run for it.

Maihar’du looks to Ishka questioningly...


ISHKA
Anywhere. Just... away.​


Maihar’du nods and turns back to his controls. Beside him, Zek GIGGLES happily, innocent and ignorant as a child.

Ishka places a loving kiss on Zek’s giant bulging head, and another on Maihar’du’s. Then she turns to enter...


45 INT. FERENGI SHUTTLE - REAR CABIN


...where Prinadora is staring out of the rear window, at...

...the planet of Risa, with SIX BORG CUBES firing multiple giant beams of deadly green energy, scouring the entire surface clean, exterminating everyone and everything.

More shuttles and freighters and anything that can fly can be seen nearby, everyone desperately trying to escape.

Ishka joins Prinadora at the window, looking out at this view with horror. The younger woman turns with wet eyes...


PRINADORA
I don’t understand...​


And Ishka can’t explain.


Around them, the other shuttles JUMP TO WARP and one by one disappear into open space. We feel this shuttle RAMP UP...


46 EXT. SPACE - PLANETARY ORBIT


The tiny Ferengi shuttle JUMPS TO WARP as well, stretching out into the distance to escape by the skin of its teeth.

Leaving the world of Risa alone, being razed without any significant resistance by half a dozen deadly Borg cubes...


BLACK OUT


END OF ACT FOUR​
 
ACT FIVE​


FADE IN


47 INT. ENTERPRISE – CREW LOUNGE


Hernandez struggles up from where she landed on the deck, staring daggers across the crew lounge at Picard.


HERNANDEZ
You... You’re the one they call
Locutus.

PICARD
(horrified whisper)
How can you possibly know that?

PARIS
Wait, you can hear the Borg?​


Hernandez looks around at the other officers - Riker, Dax, Worf, Paris, Bowers. They all look disturbed.


HERNANDEZ
Are you telling me you don’t hear
it? I’ve heard it since the moment
we arrived in the nebula. But I
didn’t recognise you until...

PICARD
(steps close, quiet)
Do you know what you’ve been
hearing? Its name?

HERNANDEZ
Yes. Do you?

PICARD
To me, it’s just a roar of voices.
More a noise than a chorus.

HERNANDEZ
I hear all of them. Every voice,
adding to the others. But I
also hear the unifying voice.

PARIS
The Queen.

RIKER
Can you communicate with them?

HERNANDEZ
No. I can only eavesdrop on their
party. I’m definitely not invited.

DAX
It must be the Caeliar’s catoms.
The nanoscopic machines in your
body are tapping into the Borg’s
frequency somehow. Erika, you
mentioned the Queen - can you
tell if she’s leading the attack
on the Federation right now?​


Hernandez closes her eyes, listens quietly to the voices in her head...


HERNANDEZ
Yes. The armada is under her
direct control. She’s young, newly
installed. Full of fury. She even
thinks of herself as expendable,
as long as Earth is destroyed.

PICARD
But why? What’s driving them?

HERNANDEZ
I can’t tell. It’s too muddled.

DAX
(into action)
We have to use this.

PICARD
I don’t see how, if all Captain
Hernandez can do is listen in.
I hear their voice myself, and
all it’s done is taunt me.

DAX
But she hears it clearer than you.
That suggests her connection is
deeper somehow.

HERNANDEZ
Commander Paris - why do you
call her the Queen?

PARIS
It’s not her official name, it’s
just what we’ve all fallen into. I
guess it’s a metaphor - because
the Borg operate like a hive of
bees, with a queen in charge.

PICARD
You know that’s a flawed analogy,
Mister Paris.

HERNANDEZ
But it’s close enough to work with.
I can feel the Borg destroying
millions of lives on Deneva and
Risa right now, and I know
you can too, Captain.

BOWERS
(sudden inspiration)
Supercedure.

PICARD
I beg your pardon?

BOWERS
It’s the technical term for the
process by which bees replace
old queens with new ones.
(off their looks)
My uncle kept a few hives.

WORF
(quietly impressed)
You will present yourself to
them as a new Queen.

PICARD
Now hold on a moment. I’m hardly
an expert on the subject of bees,
but I seem to recall learning in
elementary school that most
bee-hives react to the arrival of
a strange queen by killing it.

HERNANDEZ
(thinking it through)
Then I won’t be a new Queen.
I’ll just impersonate the old one.

RIKER
How? I mean, I’m sorry but that
sounds kinda vague. What makes
you so sure you can trick them?

HERNANDEZ
Her voice - the Queen’s - is
unique. I can retune my catoms
to resonate to her frequency.
My thought patterns would be
a dead ringer for the Queen’s.

PICARD
This sounds incredibly dangerous.

DAX
We’re in a dangerous situation,
Picard. It’s time to start taking
a few risks.

PICARD
Risks are one thing, but you’re
back to suicide missions again.

DAX
You’re the one who said we
were expendable!

PICARD
Yes, but -​


Paris speaks out loud, rolling right over Picard. He is clearly getting into the plan-making mode.


PARIS
We’d need to patch her directly
into the Vinculum to make this
work. Any time we’ve tried to tap
into the Borg like that, there has
to be actual physical contact.

HERNANDEZ
So how do we do that?

PICARD
You don’t. It’s impossible. The
Borg will see you coming, and
their drones will overwhelm you.

BOWERS
Not if we take out the drones
first. Captain Hernandez
doesn’t have to step foot on
a cube until we’ve secured it.

PICARD
And how on Earth do you plan
to do that?

WORF
The Hirogen’s power dampeners.​


Picard looks in disappointment at Worf - et tu? Worf has the sense to look a little ashamed.


BOWERS
Those were only small scale.

DAX
Then we use the Aventine’s chain
pulsar weapon to drain their power
from a distance, and the Hirogen’s
dampeners for close range.

PICARD
You’d never get close enough.
They’d shoot you out of the sky
before you got anywhere near.

PARIS
Then we need the element of
surprise.

DAX
We need the slipstream drive.

BOWERS
With respect, Captain, slipstream
is not yet proven. The drive is
experimental, and it caused major
damage the last time it was tried.​


Picard breathes a sigh of relief - the plan is scuppered.


HERNANDEZ
What is slipstream drive?

DAX
It works by focusing energy via
the main deflector to break the
quantum barrier. It can take us
across light years in seconds. The
problem is the computer - it can’t
keep up. We designed the chroniton
integrator to scan a few seconds
into the future, give us time to
calculate the phase variables. It
still wasn’t enough. But we would
only need those few seconds -

HERNANDEZ
(shrug)
Doesn’t sound too complicated.
I can take a look at it for you
if you want.

PARIS
You’d need to find a suitable
candidate - something small,
a scout, travelling on its own.

HERNANDEZ
Captain Riker, I had a glance
around Titan earlier. It has
some pretty amazing sensors.

RIKER
Finest in the fleet.

HERNANDEZ
Then I’ll tap into those, find
myself a sacrificial lamb.

RIKER
I’ll put you in touch with my
chief science officer.​


And now Riker is turning against Picard as well. Why can’t they all see how wrong this is?


DAX
Then the Aventine slipstreams in,
and takes out their shields with a
quick chain pulsar and a couple of
low-yield transphasic torpedoes
before they know what’s hit them.

PARIS
I can give you Voyager’s enhanced
phasers and shields too.

WORF
I understood that those measures
required bio-neural circuitry.

BOWERS
Aventine has bio-neural circuitry.

DAX
Perfect. So then the strike teams
beam in with projectile weapons,
chemical explosives and energy
dampeners, and we go deck by
deck, section by section, till we
secure the cube. Then we send
Erika over to do her thing...
and we crown a new Queen.​


There, the plan is out. Dax, Bowers, Paris and Hernandez look between themselves proudly. Picard clears his throat.


PICARD
I certainly can’t fault your
ambition. But I cannot endorse
this plan. It’s beyond dangerous.

DAX
Picard, you’re the only one here
not onboard with this. Don’t you
want to stop the Borg?

PICARD
(incensed)
No-one in this room wants to stop
them more than me, Captain. But
you run the risk of giving the Borg
access to a staggering new level
of technology in the form of these
Caeliar catoms. That cannot be
allowed to happen. Furthermore,
the Borg are no longer mindless
plodding drones. You severely
underestimate their speed and
ferocity. This will not work.

DAX
Then what’s your plan?

PICARD
...I don’t have one. Yet. But -

DAX
Well I do. And more than half the
people in this room are with me.

PICARD
Captain, this is foolhardy, and I
forbid you to go through with it.​


Forbids her? Dax stands tall, straightens her uniform.


DAX
Everyone in this room honours your
rank and experience, Captain. But
I count the same four pips on my
collar as on yours, and I don’t
need your permission. I need to
do something... so I’m doing it.
(to the others)
Come on.​


Dax heads to the door, Bowers her strong right hand.

Paris puts down his coffee cup, and after a moment to smile - Dax reminds him of Janeway - he follows them too.

Then Hernandez follows Dax as well.


HERNANDEZ
You’re certainly not Tobin anymore.​


Riker is torn - Picard is his mentor, but he agrees with Dax on this one.


RIKER
I’m sorry, Jean-Luc. She’s right.​


And Riker heads over to join Dax.

At the door, Dax looks over her shoulder to make contact with Worf, and she can see the difficulty on his face. He does believe in her, but he has sworn loyalty to Picard. She nods to him, understanding - she does not blame him.

They depart, leaving only Picard and Worf remaining, against the backdrop of the ship graveyard.


BLACK OUT


END OF SHOW​
 
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