The day began as any other. Monotony wasn’t so difficult to bear when each morning began with a sunrise and new air to breathe. Fairly well established now, the Alphan’s had been on the new planet for a little over two years. Their dwellings and villages had really taken shape and they had been basking in the serenity of their new world.
John rolled out of bed sleepily and searched for his wife. He had an idea of where she would be. He glanced back at his children who were content in their dreamland, then strolled out to locate Helena.
It didn’t take long as she was just down the hill, leaning against a large bolder and starring aimlessly out over the river that ran close to their encampment. On her face was a look of contentment. John snuck up behind her and gently placed his hand on her shoulder.
"Morning," he whispered.
"Good morning," she replied. "Isn’t it beautiful? I was just remembering what it was like to have to stare at four gray walls. We’re so fortunate to have found Loki."
"We earned it."
"Are the kids up yet," she asked.
"Sleeping away. Amazing how peaceful they are when they’re asleep."
Helena chuckled in agreement then turned her attention to the horizon. She resumed her blank stare not paying much attention to her husband.
John figured he’d leave her to her serenity. "You enjoy. I’ll go get a start on breakfast."
"Oh that would be wonderful, thank you."
John turned and headed back up the hill to their dwelling. Helena relaxed further as she glanced at her make-shift wedding ring. Someone in the technical section with a flair for art created it for them when they married.
Suddenly her attention was sharply diverted to a small light falling steadily out of the sky. Slowly she stood, never taking her eyes off the glowing object.
"John!"
Hearing the alarm in her voice he immediately turned and practically sprinted back to her side. By the time he’d reached her the object had disappeared.
"John, did we have any Eagles out this morning?" She asked
"I don’t think so. Why? What did you see?
"It was strange. A small glowing light that resembled a falling star. Except that it fell at a slow, steady pace."
"As if it were landing, " John finished.
There was barely a pause before he activated his comlock.
"Koenig to Alan Carter." He paused, giving him a chance to respond. "Alan Carter, come in."
Helena interjected-"He’s probably sound asleep."
"Doubt it. He’s on duty in an hour."
"Carter here,’ a voice jumped out of the comlock.
"Alan, do we have any Eagles out this morning?" John inquired
"No sir. Next flight isn’t scheduled until 0900. What’s up?"
"Helena saw something unusual. I’ll meet you at Eagle Control asap."
Helena stood and concentrated in that direction…"John…It pretty much looked like a ball of lights….distinct lights though. Not a meteor."
"Strange. We’ll check it out. I’ll be skipping breakfast."
"I figured. Keep me posted," she added.
Both take off towards their dwelling. Helena suddenly felt the need to spend quality time with her children…sensing that her peace on Loki was about to be disturbed. John changed in to his uniform and headed out towards Eagle Control.
The Eagle Control center was by far the largest of the Alphan structures constructed on their new planet. It was here that most of the hardware was stored from the old Alpha. It was the only facility with around the clock security. Alphans had pretty much settled down and turned to farming. Communications personnel were sparse, as only a few were needed to man the centers. Agriculture was foreign to most; however, alphan’s computers contained a sufficient amount of info needed to guide them and hydroponics helped!
It didn’t take too long before Tony & Maya joined John & Alan at the Eagle Control Room.
"Join us?" John asked as they walked in.
"Wouldn’t miss it, " exclaimed Tony.
"Helena saw what may or may not have been a meteor—a couple thousand kilos Northwest of here. Thing is…it appeared to be landing."
Maya added. "A ship?"
"She said it looked like a slow falling ball w/ lights."
"Sounds like a ship. Let’s go," barked Tony.
Tony quickly called for 2 security officers to join the trio. The three quickly made their way to Eagle 10 and began lift off. It had been a few months since John had flown. It felt good, he thought. Perhaps his feet had been on the ground too long. Tony was co-pilot with Maya and two security officers in the back. Take off was smooth and they were in the air in no time. Flying in the northeast direction, Tony & Maya began scanning for anything foreign.
"Commander," Maya began. "Sensors are picking up definite metallic composition. I doubt it’s a meteorite."
"Please tell me this eagle’s armed," John asked.
"Fully," Tony responded.
"Tony…try to make contact." John ordered.
"Yes, sir." He proceeded to open several channels to try to hail the object. "This is Alpha base calling on all channels to alien craft. Respond please. This is Alpha base calling on all channels to alien craft. Come in."
The silence was broken by Maya. "Commander! I’m picking up life signs."
"Why the hell didn’t we get those readings before?" Tony snapped.
"Could have been shielded. Maybe their shields are down." Maya responded
"Maybe they’re transporting to the surface," John added worried.
"Everyone arm themselves, " Tony stated to everyone in the Eagle.
The security guards in the back of the Eagle readied their weapons. One moved the controls from stun to kill. The other met his eyes with a worried stare.
Tony was cut short by Maya’s update…"Commander! I suggest we turn about immediately. I’ve picked up signs of advanced weaponry…And we’ve now got visual."
They all stared carefully at the ship. It was in the shape of a square…Incredibly intricate with complete wiring & mechanisms apparent from the outer hull.
"We’re not prepared for this…."John began. He flicked the cowlick to Eagle Control. Koenig to Eagle Control. We’re returning to base." Turning to Tony…."Let’s find out more about them from a safer distance."
"I definitely have a bad feeling about this," Tony added
"Thought that was my line, " added Maya, trying to add some levity to the intense situation.
"Sandra….go to red alert." John stated " We’re not sure what we’ve found here."
Red alert signals were achieved by central communications sending out a loud signal across everyone’s personal comlocks…whether they were turned on or off, the signal automatically sounded.
Most Alphans were already awake and attending to their daily activities. The red alert was a shock as their lives on their new-found planet had been uneventful and peaceful. However, as second nature, they quickly prepared for whatever danger that faced them. Quickly packing a few supplies, and grabbing their children, they took cover in a nearby cavern. This shelter was just recently completed. It was built in a nearby cavern where they house extra equipment and supplies in case of bad weather.
Tony jumped on the intercom " Security."
"Yes sir."
"I need 3 teams – fully armed and meet me at Eagle Control."
"Right away, Mr.Verdeschi."
"ETA in about 20 minutes."
Suddenly the Eagle was fired upon…only 1 shot & it missed.
"Warning shot," John stated.
"Oh yeah. They would have hit us if they wanted to," Tony added. "So much for laying out the welcome mat." He cracked a smile.
John flipped on the comlock again. This time to Alan. "Alan…You airborne yet?"
"We’re there commander," Carter responded. Just lifting off. "What are we up against?"
"Don’t know. Just one ship…appears to be very advanced."
"We’re as ready as we can be, sir," Alan added.
Meanwhile, at Eagle Control, 9 security guards were preparing for battle. Each armed with several weapons. Sandra sat at the helm coordinating.
All at once, Helena appeared on John’s viewscreen. "John…what’s going on?"
"Your UFO fired on us. Not sure of their intentions. However they appear hostile. Helena, prepare medical and take the kids—" He was cut off as his monitor suddenly went black. The same thing happened to every Alphan monitor….An android looking face appeared on each screen.
"We are Borg. Lower your weapons. You will be assimilated. We will add your uniqueness to our own. Resistance is futile." Just as suddenly as it appeared, the face was gone.
John sat for a moment...unable to speak…unable to move.
Tony snapped out of it and uttered, "What the hell?"
"Whoever they are, they didn’t come to make friends. Sahn. Try and raise that ship! Bombard them with communication and try to find out what they want." John began. He then conferenced in all communicators on Alpha…."Attention Alpha. This is Commander Koenig. We’re being invaded by a hostile race. Everyone move to the shelter as quickly as possible…and arm yourselves. All security personnel meet Tony at Eagle Control."
Alan commanded the Eagle team sent in for battle. "Shields at maximum," Alan instructed.
His co-pilot added to him, "I don’t see a way out of this one, Alan."
"There’s a way. We just haven’t found it yet." Basically just trying to encourage his friend.
"But can we find it in time," co-pilot added.
To the other pilots, Alan added, "Fire at will," Lasers had absolutely no effect. "Maybe something will get through."
The battle with the Borg cube was short…The Borg fired several precise shots that blew up all but one of the Eagles. The last Eagle crash landed.
No sooner had John finished his transmission he witnessed as all three Eagles in the air we plummeting to the ground …out of control.
"Shit!" Announced Tony.
"Alan!" John shouted. "Koenig to Eagle 5. Eagle 5…come in!" He could only watch helplessly as all three Eagles crashed. "They never even got a shot off."
"Security! I’m sure you all saw the aliens…this is not a drill. Let’s move!" Tony began. To John, "They weren’t even fired upon. What the hell do they have?"
John added, "Maya, have you ever encountered a species like this?"
"Not at all, commander. They seem to be android-like…I need further examination."
"Do everything you can."
Suddenly a transmission came up on the monitor. "Commander! They’re everywhere! They’re injecting some sort of substance in to us….it—" he was cut off. His face….still in the viewscreen. He stood frozen after a Borg had injected something in to his neck. His face turned gray and metallic looking, then collapsed before Koenig’s eyes. He briefly shouted out his name…and he was gone.
Grasped his comlock and called Helena….."Helena! Come in!" He shouted.
"John. What’s going on?"
"Get the children in the shelter…NOW! Whatever it takes, don’t let these creatures touch you. They’re somehow injecting something that immediately kills… Set up emergency medical as best as possible." Paused…."Keep safe," he pleaded.
"Attention all sections Alpha….Don’t allow these Borg to touch you….they kill by injecting some sort of substance. Take cover as quickly as possible." John turns to Maya..shouting, "What else have you found out about these Borg."
Frustrated, Maya slams down her fists on the console. "I’m trying Commander. Their craft is well shielded….it resists most of our sensors."
John, calmer now…."keep trying." Then turns to Tony. "What do you think?"
Shaking his head. "I just don’t see a way to stop ‘em. We’re just not prepared for this anymore. On Alpha, we’d have more resources. Here…we’re dead."
John buried his face in his hands and hoping a solution would present itselt.
Eagle Control wasn’t aware of the fact that the Borg drones had transported themselves on to each Eagle and began to assimilated. Sandra sat at a control desk watching in horror as her friends below were running for their lives. Children screaming-panic. She couldn’t hold back the tears. Their new home had been so peaceful—the paradise they’d spent years searching for was being stripped away in minutes. She knew the locked doors would provide no protection against the Borg and she sat….awaiting her fate.
The rest of the Alphans had no idea what was coming.
In Eagle 5, Alan lay unconscious…He woke to find his crew abandoned….He figure they must have left him for dead. Slowly he moved in his seat to make sure the injuries weren’t too serious. Just then he looked out the window and saw Borg drones…moving slowing and purposefully towards Alphan housing….Alan reacted quickly to aim the Eagle’s lasers to the aliens. He was relieved to find the weapons operational and fired. The laser immediately killed two of the dozen drones….He fired again and found the laser bounced right off of them. They were now shielded…He tried several more times to no avail. Next he tried to hail the commander but his com was dead. He tried to stand up and a wave of dizziness overtook him. He was forced to sit back down….He realized that he must be more seriously hurt than first anticipated, he sat and tried to repair the communications systems.
John, Maya, and Tony joined Sandra at Eagle Control. Tony’s security guards were waiting for him. Sandra pulled herself together and gave her commander a status. "Commander, there’s no escaping these Borg. They appear to be robots that kill with purpose…no remorse."
Maya stared out the window and added, "They move as though they’re under a central control. No individual thought. Yet they seem to be alive."
"They must have a weakness," John whispered.
Maya continued…"They’re controlled by a central control…. probably emanating from their ship. We can’t destroy it from the outside. We need to do it from the inside & get in to their collective brain."
"Can you transform in to a Borg?" John asked.
"I think so. They’re part organic…I should be able to—" She continued to stare out the window at the bedlam outside….She witnessed a Borg taking over a woman. Through determination she was finally able to transform herself in to a Borg. Reflexes caused all in the room to take a slight step back when they saw what Maya had turned into.
"Good goin’, Maya. See what you can find out, " John encouraged her.
Maya left the room and headed outside. There were Alphans running everywhere…seeking unobtainable shelter. Laser fire simply vanished when fired upon the Borg. They were slow but persistent. It seemed as though running from them only delayed the inevitable. She couldn’t help but notice Tony and his security team attempting hand to hand combat to no avail.
Trying to conceal her fear, she approached a Borg. To her surprise, he totally ignored her, as did others. They continued on their mission to destroy, while not taking in to account their surroundings. As if something was guiding them and they didn’t need eyes to see. She tried to collect what information she could as quickly as she could and report back. It wasn’t long before she felt a strange feeling of acceptance that things could not be changed. Their future was decided and it took great strength for her to overcome those feelings. She finally snapped out of it and walked slowly back to Eagle Control. Shocked she wasn’t followed, she entered and secured the door behind her. Immediately changing back in to Maya the first thing she noticed was John shouting over the com system.
"Retreat, Tony! Get out of there now!"
"We can’t just stand by while they destroy us," He snapped back.
"Get back to the shelter and secure it as best you can." John instructed.
John received an urgent call from Helena. She was calling from the caverns.
"John. We need help here. The Borg have been spotted outside the caverns," She paused for a response. The transmission was breaking up and she didn’t get a response back…."John. The children!"
"I know! We’re working on it," more static….."Helena?" No response. "Damn!"
Sandra spoke up…"Transmission lost, Commander."
All of the sudden, a Borg walked in to the room. First reaction was to aim their lasers. To their relief, it was Maya. She quickly transformed back. Koenig approached her desperately. "What did you find out?"
"A great deal, Commander. Their invasion will be complete once they’ve assimilated all of us in to their collective. We then become part of them-moving from planet to planet to conquer."
"They must have a weakness," John interrupted
All at once, Alan crawled through the door.
"Alan!" John shouted in relief. "What happened?"
"Catching his breath. I’m the only one that made it. When I saw a Borg coming in to Eagle Control, I figured I’d better do…"unsure, he continued…"well..something. Anything."
"We could use you. Are you OK?"
"OK enough." Alan answered. John rested his hand on his shoulders for reassurance.
Maya interrupted "I think we may have a chance. As they’re all interconnected and I’m hoping I can send a simple command will deactivate their network….something like shut down…regenerate…."
"What about a virus or a defect," John added
Maya and Alan listened closely.
"Implant a message that will tell them that we’re defective in some way…of no use to them. There’s no way we can destroy their ship….we’ve got to make them believe that assimilating us will do them no good."
"That might work. They’ll realize that it’s not worth the effort and leave…. hopefully," said Maya.
"What defect do we have?" Alan questioned.
John so desperately wanted to contact Helena for ideas and tried to think of something. "I don’t know…our brittle bones?"
Alan had an injury from sports and he remembered…our knees just weren’t built well. They’re made to move up and down- the patella doesn’t allow for side to side movement. I remembered from my days playing sports. Also, the shoulder can get thrown out awfully easy," Alan explained while rubbing his shoulder.
John adds, " just put out the message. That they just don’t want our fragile, human bodies. Move on."
"OK. Here I go. " Maya turned and left the room. Before long she came face to face with a band of drones. She looked in to their eyes and made the attempt to communicate. She could hear their thousands of thoughts simultaneously. She did her best to break through with her message. Once she’d thought she’d passed on the message, she stood motionless. She was afraid to draw attention to herself by leaving.
Soon the Borg were gone and she quickly made her way to Eagle Control. John was the first to speak. " Are you alright?"
" Yes, fine," she responded, catching her breath.
Sandra & Alan stood anxiously awaiting to hear if she was successful.
"Well?" John asked.
"I felt I had their attention. It’s difficult to know if I got through to them."
"We won’t know until they retreat." John added.
There was nothing more to do than wait.
Back at the caverns, Tony and his security team were standing between the Alphans and the Borg. They were slowly but steadily approaching. Helena was tending to the injured towards the rear of the cave. Concenrating on her many patients, she wasn’t aware the Borg had entered the cave until she heard a woman let out a terrifying scream. Tony and the others wee firing their lasers to no avail. Helena looked up just as a security officer was injected by a Borg. Two more fell shortly after as everyone crunched to the back of the cave. Helena started crying as she grabbed her children and pulled them to a far corner. Although it seemed hopeless she held her children tight and prayed for a miracle. She knew John was doing everything he could. Suddenly her comlock sounded. It was John.
"Helena? Are you alright?"
"John! They’ve entered the cave," she shouted frantically. "There’s nothing we can do."
Even through the small monitor he could see her tears. He pained at the hopelessness…he was frantic.
"Maya!"
"I don’t know! I did what I could!" She shouted back.
"Dammit! What did we miss!" He shouted. "We didn’t come this far for this."
He could do nothing….They starred at each other through the viewscreen…knowing this may be the last time they’d see each other. Helena just sat there. She clutched her children tightly with tears streaming down her face, shaking her head. "No."
Then, just as they killed another Alphan, they suddenly stopped in their tracks. Just as robots, they turned and marched out of the cave. No explanations.
"Helena sighed and took a deep breath. "John," She whispered over the comlock. "They’re leaving," more confident now…"They’re leaving!!!"
"Thank God, " John sighed. He also took a deep breath then embraced Maya. "you did it!"
She smiled…still motionless…in total shock.
Sandra burried her face in her hands and sobbed. Alan who was standing, slid down against the wall to the floor…starring at the floor in disbelief. "Sandra. Check to see if the Borg ship has taken off yet," John requested.
Still shaking, she forced her fingers to locate the correct controls…."Yes. They are lifting off."
They all left the Eagle Control room in relief. Maya ran out the door and searched for Tony. Helena wanted so much to run to John but she wouldn’t leave her patients. After reassuring the children that all was going to be OK, she returned to them. John was busy looking around to see if he could help anyone while heading towards the caverns. When John and Helena finally met, they had not a word to say. She simply stood and embraced him with the relief that there will be a tomorrow.