Star Trek: The Next Generation®: Greater than the Sum by Christopher L. Bennett

Author:Christopher L. Bennett
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Published: 2008-11-15T00:00:00+00:00

6

Enterprise broke orbit to intercept the Borg ship as close to the cluster’s edge, and as far from Rhea, as possible. It was slow going due to the subspace discontinuities, but the engineering team was able to recalibrate the engines more quickly than the Borg vessel was apparently able to, judging from the long-range scans. Picard found that somewhat surprising; if it was the Frankenstein, or indeed any Borg vessel that had been in contact with it, it should have at least partially adapted to the subspace distortions by now. Not that Picard was ungrateful for the advantage, of course.

The refractive effect of the discontinuities blurred sensor readings, but as they drew closer, Kadohata was able to report, “It’s not a cube, sir. Reads as irregular, starship-sized. It looks like the Frankenstein—but if so, it’s grown some more.”

Picard continued to stare at the blurry shape on the viewer as the two vessels drew nearer by fits and starts over the next hour. Gradually the image became clearer, an angular, asymmetrical construct bearing little resemblance to the Borg architecture Picard knew so well. Yet he realized there was something familiar about its design. “Number One, Mister La Forge,” he said, “does that shape remind you of anything?”

Geordi’s synthetic eyes widened. “No. It couldn’t be.”

“So you do see the similarity.”

“I do, sir.”

“As do I,” Worf added. “But I still recommend caution. We do not know what their intentions may be.”

“Would someone like to fill in the rest of us, sir?” Elfiki asked.

Instead, Picard said, “Hail them.”

“Aye, sir,” Choudhury replied, only a slight lift to her brows conveying her surprise. Her brows went up farther when she said, “Receiving a signal.”

“On-screen.”

The face that manifested on the viewer was at once familiar and strange: a pallid but youthful face with a snub nose and a wide, squared chin, topped by a high, hairless scalp. A number of cybernetic implants encrusted the man’s head, most notably a large, angular eyepiece with a multicolored, diffractive starburst pattern in its lens. Other portions of his scalp and jawline bore scars suggesting that other implants had been surgically removed.

“Captain Picard,” the man said in a tenor voice, one more roughened by time and hardship than Picard remembered it sounding. “I did not recognize your vessel, nor did I expect to find you here. Otherwise I would have contacted you before now. My apologies.”

“Hello, Hugh,” Picard said. “It’s been a long time.”

The former drone smiled. “Nearly a lifetime, as far as I’m concerned. Is Geordi La Forge still with your crew?”

At Picard’s nod, Geordi stepped forward into view. “I’m right here, Hugh. You’re looking…better.”

“The Liberated have done our best to divest ourselves of our Borg implants, though we have had limited success. But that is something we can discuss later, old friend. We are here on an urgent mission. A Borg ship is on course to attack this cluster.”

“We’re aware of it,” Picard said with interest. “Our mission is to make sure it does not succeed. Are you aware of what’s at stake?”

“Quantum slipstream propulsion,” Hugh confirmed.

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