"We are the Borg. You will not be assimilated."
"I am Louis Torvan of the Shadows."
"The organization you work for is relevant."
"Our alliance will allow us to destroy our mutual enemy."
"The Federation will be assimilated. You will be spared."

"Well, we've got all the holes in the hull all patched up, and they're loading torpedoes as we speak." Grasmick told Admiral Bennett.
"Good, start recalling your crew, we need you to go to the Tholian border, an SSOS ship was tracking at least 3 Jem'Hadar bugships."
"Flying the flag of the Shadows I take it."
"Exactly. We have another problem. When the SSOS ship left, they detected what appeared to be quantum singularity." "Which suggests Borg."
"Exactly. Go find out what they are doing, and stop the bastards."

"Admit it, RJ, we're lost." Melissa Teahon said as she was hiking with her old teacher.
"Alright, we're lost, but we're making good time." Johnson said.
"That's what we get for letting you read the map, RJ." Teahon's sister said.
"That's enough out of you, LeAnne. If this tricorder of your sisters would work right, we'd be back..." Teahon interrupted Johnson.
"Shut up, RJ! So help me, you know my captain, blame him. I'll bet he..." Teahon was interrupted by her commbadge.
"Grasmick to Teahon."
"I don't believe this," she said, "Teahon here."
"Bad news, Melissa, shore leave is off."
"Why?"
"Can't say, by looking at the sensor screen here, you are standing next to two people who can't get ahold of this."
"They are scheduled to spend a couple of days with us on the Sovereign, can they still come?"
"If RJ or your sister ever tell anyone about what we do, you will personally beat them with the ugly stick. Standby to beam aboard."

"Ladies and gentlemen, this concludes the tour. Now, the Sovereign will be departing in one hour, and although things are getting hectic, Captain Grasmick will be here in a couple of minutes to say a few words," the tour guide said.
"Oh, good. Blaine, maybe we will get to talk to him." Shelby Aaberg said.
"I hope so. Look, he's here." Blaine Sexton said.
Grasmick walked into the room to speak to the tour group, "Ladies and gents, I'm extremely pressed for time, so if you have any questions, ask them quickly."
Aaberg spoke up, "Excuse me, most high Crazy Boy, me and our comrade would like to book a room."
Everybody was laughing at Grasmick's old nickname, "My, my, my. Two old friends of mine somehow sneak onto my ship. Well, I already have two guests, but I think I can..." Grasmick was interrupted by the intercom.
"Bridge to Captain, we just received a message from Starfleet Command. The situation near the border is deteriorating rapidly. We have orders to depart immediately." Tumok said.
"Ok, peoples, time for all but two of us to leave. Thank you for authorizing the tour, Captain," the tour guide said.
"Don't mention it."

Both Teahon's, Johnson, Aaberg, and Sexton walked onto the bridge from the turbolift.
Tac Wilson walked up to them, "Melissa, take your station. Johnson, good to see you again."
"Blow anything up lately, Tac?" RJ asked.
"On my own? No, but with photon torpedoes, yes." Tac replied.

Grasmick, Ryan, and Tumok sat in the observation lounge listening to Admiral Bennett, "It is going to be hell on Earth out there. The Tholians hate us almost as much as the Shadows do."
"I know that, Bob, but why would they start anything now? I mean, they are as scared of the Borg as we are. There is that quantum singularity that we detected, they would had to find it as well. And they were extremely grateful that we helped them fight off a Borg cube last year. I mean, we delay the SOB while the put up that energy web thing." Grasmick said.
"I'm aware of that. Just keep your guard up. Bennett out." The computer screen went blank.

The three of them walked out onto the bridge.
"Let's get this over with, departure stations." Grasmick ordered.
"The Dockmaster is signaling our clearance for departure, Captain." Tumok said.
"Tobin, ahead one-quarter impulse power. Take us out." Grasmick said. The Sovereign left the drydock.
"Number one, the ship is yours until we clear the orbit of Jupiter. Call me then, I'll be in my ready room." Grasmick said as he left for his ready room.

Grasmick sat down at his desk, "Computer, records search on Shelby Aaberg and Blaine Sexton."
"There are 250 results. Please narrow search."
"Limit search parameters to biographical information."
"One record available. Starfleet service record for Shelby T. Aaberg."
"What the hell?" Grasmick said to himself, "Display on monitor."

Johnson, Aaberg, at LeAnne Teahon sat in the crew lounge.
"So RJ, LeAnne and Melissa tell me you got them lost in a forest." Aaberg said.
"It was the tricorder! I'm telling you!" Johnson said.
"You are so full of crap, RJ." Grasmick said as he approached.
"Yo, G! Pull up a chair." Aaberg said.
"Shelby, join me in the anteroom, please." Grasmick said.
"Sure." Aaberg said as the walked towards the anteroom.

Grasmick locked the door behind them, "Computer, display the record I was viewing," he said as Aaberg's Starfleet service record appeared on the monitor, "Very impressive service during the Dominion war, ChowTong, DS9, Betazed, AR-558, and numerous other battles. You have an awards list almost as long as mine. So why does a Lt. Commander hide his job? Oh look, current assignment is with Starfleet Intelligence. Undercover work?"
"Something like that, very long story, G." Aaberg said.
Grasmick replied, "Uhh, call me sir. I'm reassigning you. Effective immediately and until this mission is over, you can call the Sovereign home."

The Sovereign was traveling at Warp 9.
"Commander Ryan, we are approaching the Tholian border," Tobin announced.
"Thank you, Emony," Ryan said, "Bridge to Grasmick, we are approaching the Tholian border."
"Slow ship to impulse, I'm on my way." Grasmick said.

Grasmick, Tumok, Aaberg, and Peterson were on the turbolift heading for the bridge.
"I just hope to hell that this isn't the Borg, again." Peterson said.
"Aaron, the odds of that are slim to none, we'll be seeing them again, it's just a matter of time. Tumok, I want you, Aaron, and Tac to begin working on a way to extend the period of time we can use our hand phasers and rifles against them should push come to extreme shove. Shelb, you'll be taking the ops position while Tumok is doing this. You up to it?" Grasmick said.
Aaberg snickered, "But of course. Who else will I be working with?"
"You should know that. Teahon will be taking tactical while Sammy is off shooting clay Borg targets. I just hope, that with both you and her on the bridge," Grasmick said as the turbolift stopped, "RJ, LeAnne, and Blaine won't be getting into trouble."
The group of them walked onto the bridge.
Grasmick said, "Tac, go help Aaron and Tumok play with guns!"
"YES! Borg adaptation?" Tac replied.
"You got it," Grasmick said, "Melissa, you will control the tactical station when Tac isn't shooting himself in the foot. Shelby will take ops. Get it? Good. Take your stations people, and for the love of God, don't shoot anyone, Tac."

"G, I've got a blip on the short range sensors." Aaberg said.
"Identify." Grasmick said.
"Quantum singularity, transwarp signatures," he replied.
"Battlestations."

The Sovereign roared to Battlestations.
"Shields at 100%, Captain," Teahon reported, "Wait, Jem'Hadar bugship decloaking off our starboard aft."
"They're flying the Shadows flag, G,"Aaberg said, "I've identified the ship that just popped out of the apparent transwarp conduit as a Borg Sphere. They're opening another conduit."
"Helm, pursuit course."

The Sovereign and the Borg Sphere emerged from the conduit.
"Teahon, Quantum Torpedoes." Grasmick said.
"Torpedoes ready," she replied
"Fire."

The Sovereign fired the torpedoes
"Direct hit," Teahon said as the Borg Sphere exploded.
Grasmick laughed, "Helm, where are we?"
Ensign Tobin was nearly ecstatic, "Remember the last time we went to the Delta Quadrant?"
"Why, yes I do Old Man." Grasmick said to his old Trill friend.
"Can we go to Stellar Cartography to pinpoint our exact location?"

Grasmick and Tobin stared at the massive screen.
"The newest star chart we have of this area is from the late 22nd century." Tobin said.
"The Heimler-Kehn probe, one of my ancestors ran it. The data that telescope brought in still rivals that of todays probes. Display our current position." Grasmick said.
Tobin adjusted the display, "What do you make of this?"
"Well, the closest star is Sienna-3A9F. No planets that we know of," Grasmick said, "But we'll find out now. Grasmick to bridge, plot a course to the Sienna system, Warp 7."

"We demand that the Borg start to honor their part of the agreement." Torvan said.
The Borg Queen was less then emotional, "You should have destroyed the Sovereign AND Grasmick when you had the chance."
"We weren't the ones who let him and his ship through the transwarp conduit," Torvan replied,
"What will you do? We have one ship, you have thousands. The Sovereign is almost to the Sienna system. Do something, NOW!"

The Sovereign entered the Sienna system.
"Preliminary scan, Mr. Tumok?" Grasmick said.
"Sir, the system has a star similar to that in the Terran system." Tumok said.
"Continue."
Tumok went on, "The system has only one planet, Class-M. Standby," Tumok paused as new information came in, "Sir, everything in this system can not be more then 1,000 years old."
"What?!" Grasmick gasped.
"Nothing seems to be wrong with the sensors, Captain. These readings must be accurate."
"My God, what are you showing us?" Grasmick said to himself, "Tobin, put us in standard orbit of the planet. I'm personally taking down an away team."

The Borg sat back and observed. They found themselves pinned by organic life forms. They would sit back and choose the Sovereign's weakest point and then begin assimilation.

"Sovereign to Grasmick, what is your status?" Commander Ryan asked.
"We are approaching a small hill which seems to have a cavern system under it."
"We are detecting a massive energy surge coming from it. Tread lightly, Captain. Captain?"
The comm line went dead.
"Grasmick to Sovereign, pick up, damnit!"
Wilson tried his comm badge, "No use, skipper."
"I see that, Tac. Tumok, try..." Grasmick was startled as the ground shook and opened up around them.

Grasmick, Wilson, and Tumok found themselves in a cave.
Tac spoke up first, "Where is this light coming from?"
Tumok was flabbergasted himself, "It appears to be coming from no where."
Grasmick made the first discovery, "Look at that door."
Tumok inspected it visually, "These carvings are very intricate. It appears to be of Earth origin," he looked at his tricorder, "But the materials are not native to our part of the galaxy."
Grasmick stared at the door, and knew where it came from.
"Jesus," he said.

Grasmick stepped up to the door, and gently touched it. It immediately opened.
"What does this mean, Chief?" Tac asked.
Grasmick thought for a minute, "I guess it means we go inside."
The trio walked into a large room. The room was circular, and had an object in the middle.
"A cross, can't be more then 5 years old," Grasmick then smelled it, "Pine, interesting. What is holding it in mid-air? I don't see an anti-grav system.
Tumok was stumped, "I think that..." he was interrupted by a voice.
"The faith of many believes," a man in robes appeared, "that I do such things, and they are right."
Grasmick was speechless, "Who...who..."
The man spoke, "Brandon, it is I, Jesus."

The trio stood back in awe.
"I...I don't know what to say." Grasmick said.
Jesus laughed, "That is understandable. You were brought to this part of the galaxy by my Father. A computer error would have kept you from entering the conduit."
"What is this place?" Tumok asked.
Jesus replied, "This is the Vault of Eternity. Here, my Father and I have stored many of his children's relics. Behind that door is Noah's ark. Behind that door is the Ark of the Covenant, and all of its contents," he chuckled a little, "And behind that door is my manger."
Grasmick was ecstatic to meet his savior, "Lord, why are we here? I am only one man, as are my friends. Do you wish us to return to Earth with these things?"
"When you return to your ship, you will not make known the existence of the Vault," Jesus said, "You will only tell that I came to you, and who I returned to you."
Tac asked, "Who?"
A door opened, and Grasmick nearly fainted at the sight of whom he saw.
Jesus said, "Brandon, when your father was killed and had been buried, I gave him back his life and brought him here, where he would remain until you came to get him. Now, the four of you must go."

The four of them were suddenly transported to the top of the hill that contained the Vault.
"Tac, give me your tricorder," Grasmick said, "Dad is in some kind of stasis, we need to get him to sickbay. Grasmick to Sovereign."
"Where the hell have you been?!" Commander Ryan said.
"No time to explain, Alex. Four to beam directly to sickbay."

Grasmick, Wilson, and Tumok walked onto the bridge.
"Why did y'all beam into sickbay?" Ryan asked.
"Not now. Report." Grasmick said.
"There are two unknown ships coming into visual range." Ryan replied.
"On screen."

The Borg had enough of Louis Torvan and the Shadows.
"The Borg will not be part of your personal revenge against Grasmick," the Borg Queen said.
Torvan was on his warship, "I demand that you fulfill this part of the agreement!"

"Oh shit, Borg and Shadows." Aaberg said.
"Shit is right. Go to Battlestations." Grasmick said.
Tobin looked at the viewscreen, "Look!"
Ryan stated, "Now where the hell are they going?"
The Borg ship was turning around and leaving the area.
"Who cares? Let's play games with the Shadows." Grasmick said.

"Louis, they are heading for that nearby nebula," someone said.
"Follow them."

"There is a problem with the nebula, Captain. Our shields will not function, and the visual will be inoperable." Tumok reported.
"Damn. Tumok, go help Aaron work the engines. Shelb, take the ops position."

"If they go in there, we'll lose them." Torvan's officer said.
"Warning shot."

A photon torpedo exploded under the Sovereign's saucer section.
Aaberg said, "That was close enough to make you pee your pants."
"They just don't want us going in there." Grasmick replied.
Gary Grasmick (the Captain's father) walked onto the bridge with Lt. Commander Teahon.
Teahon whispered to Gary Grasmick, "That would be Brandon in the captain's chair."
"One minute to nebula perimeter." Tobin announced.

Grasmick thought for a second, "Sammy, patch me in."
Tac activated the comm line, "You're on, Brandon."
Grasmick wanted to irritate Torvan, "This is Captain Grasmick, we tried it once your way Torvan and then found you right where I want you," Grasmick paused, "Torvan, I'm laughing at your so-called Shadows Supremacy."

"Full impulse power." Torvan said.
"Sir, if we follow them in there, we won't have a chance."
"DO IT!"

"I'll say this for the poor bastard, he's consistent." Grasmick said.
Tobin announced, "We are now entering the nebula."
The ship shook some. The visual went to a blur, and the shields went down. A moment later,
the Torvan's ship entered the nebula and the same happened to them.

The Sovereign and Torvan's ship began circling the inside of the nebula. That continued for several minutes, until the Sovereign caught a blip on their sensors, and the bridge crew could barely make out the outline of their opposing ship on the viewscreen. The Sovereign dove in from above behind the enemy.
"Phaser lock inoperative due to interference, Captain." Tac said.
"Best guess, Sammy. Fire when ready."

The phaser burst fringed Torvan's ship.
"Aft torpedoes, FIRE!"
They fired a torpedo, but missed the Sovereign by a large margin.

Grasmick saw what could be described as an image disappear from the viewscreen.
"Hold your course," he said.

Things became tense and still on both ship. The Sovereign's bridge crew and Grasmick's father stared at the viewscreen. Suddenly, Torvan's ship appeared directly in front of them.
"Helm, hard to starboard!" Grasmick yelled in hopes of avoiding a collision.
The mighty ship turned, but not in time to avoid a phaser barrage. The ship shook as phasers were carving into the side of the hull.
"Return fire!" Grasmick yelled.

The Sovereign's phasers hit the bridge module of their adversary.
Torvan saw that most of his bridge crew was dead, "Damn you Grasmick, I'll get you for this."
Surely, not much was left of Torvan's crew.

The ships began searching for each other again.
Tumok called from engineering, "Captain, the high concentration of Entron radiation in the nebula has rendered our warp drive nearly inoperable. It will take us several hours to bypass the correct power systems affected."
"Damn. Analysis anyone?" Grasmick said. "Your guess is as good as mine." Ryan said.
Teahon gave him a blank stare, "You wrote the book on the Enterprise, you tell us."
Grasmick thought for a minute. Indeed, many recent events in his life seemed to be patterned after Jim Kirk's experiences, and this one was no exception. God must have been leading him to these situations.
"Torvan is intelligent, but not experienced. He likes to bark up the wrong tree. His flight patterns indicate," Grasmick paused, "Two-dimensional thinking."
"So now what?" Gary Grasmick asked.
"Full stop." Grasmick ordered.
"Full stop, sir." Tobin acknowledged.
"Z minus 10,000 meters, standby photon torpedoes."
The ship took a dive.

Torvan wondered where he would find his rival. He also thought that he and his two friends made a mistake when they traveled through time to kill Grasmick's father. Would he have been a mellow man?

Torvan's ship flew straight ahead, and the Sovereign rose up behind it.
"Torpedoes ready," Tac said.
Grasmick stared at the viewscreen, "I'm gonna enjoy this. Fire!"
A torpedo obliterated the weapons module.
"Fire!"
"Another torpedo destroyed a warp nacelle.
"Signal Torvan, prepare to be boarded."

Torvan tried to stand, but he was injured badly. He heard Grasmick's surrender demand on the speakers, and vaguely saw his ship on the viewer. He struggled to a panel, and pressed al the buttons he needed to before he became unconscious.

"Captain, I'm detecting an energy surge in their warp drive system." Teahon said.
Grasmick walked to her station and studied the scan, "Oh hell, he's activated the self-destruct program. That'll release antimatter all over the damn place."
"G, can we beam over and stop it?" Aaberg asked.
"No, and if that is anything like a standard Jem'Hadar warship, we have four minutes to get the hell out of here," Grasmick tapped his commbadge, "Grasmick to engineering, Aaron, I need warp speed in three minutes or we're all dead," no answer, "Aaron?! Emony, get us out of here, best possible speed."

The Sovereign turned around and began to fly out of the nebula.
"Commander, we will not be able to reset the power system in time." Tumok said.
Peterson replied, "Yes we will. Interface our computer with the on the skipper's runabout. Download warp drive program Grasmick 92-A."

"Time?" Grasmick asked.
"3 minutes, 33 seconds." Tobin said.
"Distance from that ugly pig?" Grasmick asked.
"5,500 kilometers." Tac replied.
"We're not going to make it, are we?" Gary Grasmick asked.
The captain shook his head no.
The comm line came on. Torvan spoke, "No, no you can't get away. So called heroes never get away. For hate's sake, I'll..." the line went dead.
Someone checked an engineering monitor, "Sir, the mains are back online."
Grasmick mumbled, "Great, Aaron," then yelled, "GO TOBIN!"
The Sovereign went off to warp, as Torvan and his ship exploded.

They all stared at the viewscreen, which was now working properly, and saw what remained of the giant fireball.
Grasmick tapped his commbadge, "Engine room, well done, Aaron."
"Brandon," Teahon said, "We seem to have another guest, which brings the total to 3 or 4." She was looking directly at her Captain's father.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Grasmick stood up, "This is my father."

To be continued...