"Brandon, there is one thing I just don't understand. If you are some sorf of great engineer, why aren't you designing starships or somthing?" Commander Ryan asked Captain Grasmick in his ready room.
"Who's saying I havn't already?"
"You mean to say you have?"
"Well, I can't talk about that."
"Damn you anyways."

"Bridge to Captain Grasmick," Tumok interrupted, "Incomming transmission from Admiral Bennett."
"Thank you, Tumok, I'll take it in here. Perhaps you had better leave, Alex."
"Sure, Sure." Alex said as she returned to the bridge.
Captain Grasmick flipped up his computer moniter and pushed a button, "What can I do for you, Bob?"
"That's up to you and the Sovereign. We lost contact with a science outpost near the Dominion border. The problem is that it is somewhat deep in our territory and the Jemmies aren't prepared to do deep strike missions like this."
"Does the Dominion have cloaking technology?"
"We don't think so, but that is one of our theories. Get to the Cardinal system as soon as you can. That is, we want you there yesterday."
"We're on the way."

Grasmick ended the transmission, and said out loud, "God, why does this always seem to happen when I'll have civillians aboard?" He then left for the bridge.

"Alex, who are our guests and are they aboard?" Asked Captain Grasmick as he sat in his chair.
"Sir, Transporter Room 2 just said that they beamed aboard. Our guests wish to surprise you about their identities."
"Oh just what I need! Oh well, signal the starbase we are leaving orbit."
"Thank you," the captain replied after the signal was sent, "Ensign Tobin, plot course for the Cardinal system, maximum warp."
"Course laid in, sir." replied the Ensign.
"Engage!"
With that response, the Sovereign began the 4 hour trip to the Cardinal system.
"Alex the bridge is yours, I'll be in the confrence room." said the Captain.
Alex felt like playing with her skippers head, "Why not use your ready room? Ohhh, you want to play with the display models!"
"I LIKE THE DAMN VIEW OUT THE WINDOWS!"

The ship's lounge was somewhat full, yet somewhat empty, just how Counselor Hathaway liked it. She saw the ships "guests" sitting at a table, and thought she would introduce herself. She walked over to the tabe, "Hello! You must our guests, I'm Commander Hathaway, ships counselor."
"We're friends of the captain. Can you take us to him?" replied a red-haired woman.
"Sure. WAIT! You're, you're..." Hathaway couldn't finish her sentence, so the "guest" interrupted.
"If you have me confused with an Olympic track athlete, you would not be mistaken. Let's have Captain Grasmick introduce us"

Captain Grasmick sat at the table where he normally briefed his officers with a huge pile of PADD's in front of him. He then heard the door bell chirp, because he had locked the door.
"What now? ENTER!"
The door swooshed open, and Hathaway and the ships guests walked in. Captain Grasmick was sitting in the chair with his back to the door.
Hathaway said, "Captain, our guests are here to see you."
Grasmick turned around and stood up, "Alright, who are they," Grasmick was unable to finish that part of the sentence, "HOLY CRAP! Hathaway, I'd like to intoduce you to three friends of mine from high school, Randy "RJ" Johnson, and LeAnne and Melissa Teahon. I believe you three have met my ships counselor."
"We sure did, Crazy Boy." LeAnne said.
Hathaway was puzzled, "Crazy Boy?"
"I'll explain later."
"That's right you will, I have to be somwhere else now anyway."

Hathaway left the room, and Captain Grasmick spent the next two hours catching up with his friends.
"So you were actually on the Enterprise?" Melissa asked.
"Yep! Best damn ship I've ever served on, even beats out my first and second commands."
RJ asked and joked, "What do you mean 'first and second commands? People can't like you that much."
Grasmick replied, "You've been around your wacky experiments again, haven't you? I commanded the San Francisco Fleetyards before I took over the Sovereign. Anyway, back to the Enterprise. We had a rather unpleasent experience on her when I 'transferred off.' "
"What kind of experience would this be?" LeAnne asked.
"Surely you three heard about how she was destroyed. I'm not talking the new Enterprise-E, I'm talking Enterprise-D. You see, there was this wacko El Aurian scientist, and some renegade Klingon's with a Bird of Prey. We were at Veridian III, when...." Grasmick was interupped by the intercom.
"Ryan to Grasmick, we are approaching the Cardinal system."
"We're on the way. You three MUST see me in action. Being an engineer and a starship captain are the things I do best."
The foursome departed for the bridge.

Grasmick sat down in his chair, "Tac, is there anyway we can use an inverse tachyon pulse to detect cloaked ships?"
"It's possible, but we don't have the right equipment."
"Very well. Begin active scans, if the Jem'Hadar decide to come out of no where, I want to know before they think about it. Also, where is the science station? Put it on screen."
Tac scanned the area for the science station, "Captain, I've scanned the area for the science station, but..."
"But what?" the now puzzled captain asked.
"I'll show you." Tac put the science station on the screen.
"What the?" Grasmick said as he stood up and saw that all that remained of the station was floating debris, "Analysis, Tumok."
"The station appears to have been under heavy fire, there is also a distinct magnetic resonance signature on the debris." said Tumok as he gave his analysis.
Grasmick was now turning pale, "Oh shit."
Ryan was confused, "What is it? Have you seen somthing like this before?"
"Think people, a magnetic resonance signature, the Borg footprint. Go to red alert, raise the shields and keep them up until I say otherwise. Ensign Tobin, my old Trill friend, put us in a staionary orbit around one of the poles of the fourth plantet, the EM field should render us undectable."
"Brandon," RJ said, "what is this?"
"RJ, remember how you tought me Biology and Chemistry in school? Well I can safely say this has NOTHING to do with those."

"Captain, we are now in a stationary orbit above the North pole of Cardinal IV." said Tobin.
"Thank you. Now we wait," replied the captain, "Open a channel to Admiral Bennett."
It only took a minute before they all were staring at Admiral Bennet's face on the screen. "What do ya got, kid?" Bennett said.
"Don't call me kid, and we'll up to our necks in Borg."
"Good God. I can spare 5 ships from border patrol duty, but"
"BUT WHAT, ADMIRAL? YOU KNOW AS WELL AS I DO THAT THOSE 5 SHIPS PLUS US DON'T STAND A FLYING BANANA'S CHANCE AGAINST A BORG CUBE! Now let me calm down. Do you know how hard it was to keep the Endeavor in relatively one piece three years ago when the Borg came knocking? I do, I was the chief engineer."
"Look, I know you and ships named Enterprise don't like the Borg too well. Hell I'm surprised that because of the same incident you speak of, the Enterprise crew isn't still cleaning dead Borg of the hallways. Do what you guys can, and, well, you know my flagship is the Akaria, I'm 4 days away, the other 5 ships are 3 days away."
"Wish us luck, boss, we're gonna need it. End transmission."
The Teahons stared at each other for a minute before Melissa turned toward the captain, "What now?"
"We wait. And we pray."

They only waited only a day. Grasmick rushed to the bridge when he heard the news. "Put it on screen. Wait a minute, that Borg ship is only a small scout."
"Correct, Captain," Tumok said, "but never the less we should take precautions."
"Quite true. Number One, you may hate me for doing this. Tobin, plot an intercept course and engage. Tac, make phasers ready."

The Borg scout ship almost immediately cought sight of the Sovereign and began to retreat. Grasmick was shocked, "What's this? Are they scared of us? Tac, fire phasers." No one was prepared for what happened next. Tumok spoke first as the ship began to shake, "The Borg have opened some sort of transwarp couduit. We are trapped and cannot break out."
"Hold us steady, that's all we can do. I saw one of these when I was on the Enterprise-D." replied Grasmick.

The trip in the transwarp conduit didn't last long before they emerged. "Tobin, maintain pursuit of the Borg. Tac?"
"Yeah?"
"6 Tri-Cobalt torpedos, please."
Tac pressed a few buttons, "Ready, sir."
"Fire."
With that order, the 6 torpedos were fired. And with those, the Borg ship blew apart.
"Good firing, Tac. NOW, people, where the hell are we?"
Ryan looked at her little computer console, "Captain, have you heard of the Delta Quadrant?"
"You best be joking."
"No sir, I'm not."

The time came for a meeting of the Sovereign's senior officers. "This is just great, Aaron. Can you recreate the conduit?" asked the Captain of chief engineer Peterson.
"Not likely. You guys recreated that conduit on the Enterprise, how did you do it?"
"I didn't. I wasn't in engineering when they opened the 'tunnel'. What do you think, Alex?"
"I think we are to far away from home," Commander Ryan replied, "That is, to far from home with limited resources and civillians who have families that are probably having a fit now."
"Uh, thanks for the interpretation, Commander. Tumok," said the Captain, "what do you think we should do next?"
"Captain, I would recommed that we attempt to find conventional means home. Therefore, we will have what you humans call 'backup.' " replied the half human, half Vulcan operations officer.
"I would agree with Tumok, Skippper," Peterson added, "if we can't reopen the conduit, we need somthing to fall back on."
"Hummm. Alright, begin looking for wormholes and such. Should I assume that it would take us a very long time to get home at warp?"
"Yes, Captain, that would be a logical assumption." said Tumok.
"Hathaway, how is the crew handling the situation?" Grasmick asked.
"They seem to be handling this quite well, actually. I'm more worried about your guests," the counselor replied, "and you."

Grasmick sat alone in his ready room. He said to himself, "Where did I go wrong?" He then heard the doorbell chirp. "Enter," the Captain replied, and then his 3 guests entered.
"Where did I go wrong? That Borg ship was just heading home, I didn't need to follow it." Grasmick said to them as they stood in front of his desk.
"You didn't know where it was going," LeAnne replied, "What if it would have went to Earth? You did the right thing."
"Yeah, and look where it got me, this ship, my crew, and you three." the Captain said.
Melissa asked, "Just what is it with the Borg and you anyway?"
Grasmick replied, "Let's just say, that they once nearly killed a friend of mine; and 3 years ago when I was the chief engineer of the Endeavor, I lost about 92 % of my engineering staff. That doesn't include friends of mine on other ships. The friend of mine who I mentioned earlier nearly lost his new ship to the Borg in that same battle."
"Just who and what ship would that be?" RJ asked.
"My friend that I speak of just happens to be Jean-Luc Picard, and that new ship would be the new Enterprise, NCC-1701-E." Grasmick said.
RJ and the Teahon's began to walk out of the room. LeAnne stopped at the door, looked at the captain and said, "We don't blame you."

"Bridge to Captain Grasmick," Commander Ryan said, "Please come to the Bridge."
Grasmick replied after a brief pause, "I'm on the way."
Grasmick sat in his seat, "Report."
"We're tracking a standard large Borg cube closing in on our positition." Tumok reported.
"Have they detected us?" Grasmick asked
Tumok gave the reply, "Not yet sir, if we maintain a position in the nearby nebula, we should be able to remain so."
"Good work, Tumok. Move us into position, Tobin." Grasmick said.

Borg operate as one. "Starship detected, Federation Starfleet, Sovereign-class, assimilate." a Borg, or maybe all the Borg said, as the Borg are all in a 'collective.'

"Uh-oh," Tac said, "I think that they spotted us."
Grasmick asked, "Tumok, what kind of gas is this nebula made of?"
"There is a high concentration of Dilinnium Tetramarshalide, which I assume is what you are looking for." Tumok replied.
"YES! Ladies gentlemen, and distinguished guests, be prepared to watch me show off a little bit of engineering skill. Grasmick to engineering, Aaron, we're using the Bussard Collectors or Ramscoops as you call them to collect some Dilinnium Tetramarshalide."
"Acknowledged." Peterson said.
"Tobin, activate the collectors and move us threw the nearest cloud of that gas." the Captain said.
"Aye, sir." Tobin acknowledged. The Sovereign began collecting the gas.

The Borg detected the increased activity. "Increased activity. Begin counter maneauvers."

The Sovereign was heading at full impulse towards the Borg cube. "Steady as she goes. Hold it, NOW! BLOW OUT THE RAMSCOOPS!" the Captain ordered, "MOVE US OUT OF THE WAY OF THAT DAMN THING!" The Sovereign flew over the top of the Borg cube.

This was an unpleasant experience for the Borg. "Hazardous material detected, Dilinnium Tetramarshalide. Open transwarp conduit for evasive."

"Sir, the Borg are opening a transwarp conduit!" Tobin announced.
"FOLLOW THEM," the Captain shouted, "move us in front of them if you can." The Sovereign entered the conduit, and flew past the Borg.
"Tac, fire 10 Quantum Torpedos into the transwarp conduit before the Borg come out." the Captain ordered
"Fireing." Tac replied. After this the conduit closed.
"What is going on?" Ryan asked. About that time, the conduit reopened.
Tumok said, "The Borg cube appears to be heavily damaged. My scans suggest that it may explode anytime.
"Let's help it. Tac, throw a Tri-Cobalt torpedo at it." Grasmick said.
"Throwing it. Direct hit." Tac replied. At that time, the cube exploded in a ball of fire.
"Tobin, where are we?" Grasmick asked.
"Close to home. Gamma quadrant, close to the wormhole!" Tobin said in a surprised state.
The whole bridge crew began celebrating. Ryan looked at the captain, "You aren't happy."
Grasmick shouted out, "THINK PEOPLE, DAMNIT! Gamma quadrant, near the wormhole, DOMINION TERITORY! Tobin, plot course for the wormhole, maximum warp, I want those engines to give everything they've got!"
"Commander Peterson won't like us pushing the engines like that, but the Jem'Hadar won't like it either." Tobin said.
Grasmick replied, "I don't know weather to slap you or promote you for that remark. Engage."

"Sir, there is a Jem'Hadar ship closing in on our position." Tac reported.
"Oh fun. Tobin, how far to the wormhole?" Grasmick said.
"3 minutes until we have to drop out of warp and go to impulse for wormhole travel." Tobin replied.
It was a long 3 minutes. Both the Sovereign and the Jem'Hadar ship dropped out of warp at the same time.
"Tac, let's not waste anytime. Continous fire, photon torpedos. Don't stop until that ship is gone."
"Aye, sir." Tac replied.
The Sovereign entered the wormhole, and the Jem'Hadar followed.
Ryan said, "I thought that they don't go in the wormhole since that thing with Captain Sisko."
"That is what I thought. I guess the they can't be cut off from the Alpha Quadrant since they annexed Cardassia," Grasmick replied, "and thanks for not fireing torps in the wormhole, Tac."
"No prob, Skipper." Tac said.

A feeling of disbelief fell upon the crew of Deep Space 9 when Captain Sisko made the announcement, "The Sovereign was lost while investigating the disappearence of Science Station 422 in the Cardinal system. Now you all know what this means, the Dominion gets a big morale boost because of this." Sisko was then interuppted by Chief O'Brian.
"Captain, the wormhole is opening." he said.
"Red alert. Worf, get to the Defiant." Sisko replied.
Kira then made a discovery, "Captain, there are two ships: A Dominion battle crusier, and..." Kira couldn't finish her sentence.
"And what?" Sisko asked.
"The Sovereign."

"Tac, finish off that Jemmie ship." Grasmick said.
"With pleasure." With Tac's response, the Dominion ship fell apart from the Sovereign's weapons fire.
"Ryan, open a channel to DS9." Captain Grasmick ordered.
"Channel open and on screen." Ryan said.
Sisko spoke first, "We heard you were dead."
Grasmick said, "Ben, I'm too stubborn to die in combat. Now a question, can we dock at your nice space station?"

Grasmick was releaved that the ordeal, and the breifing for Admiral Bennett, were done. "So, Admiral, do you think that we should expect the Borg to be back?" Grasmick asked.
"Likely. They probably want to assimilate you now as much as they wanted to and still want to Picard." Bennett replied.
"Oh I just don't want to even think of becomming a Borg," Grasmick was interuppted by his Ready Room's doorbell, "I've got people at my door, talk to you later. Computer, end transmission, " Grasmick sighed, "What now? Enter." His guest LeAnne walked in.
"Crazy Boy, our transport is here to take us back to Earth. RJ and Melissa are already onboard. I've got a couple of things to say to you first before I leave." she said.
"What would those be?" Grasmick asked.
"One, you are still crazy; and two, I may have an Olympic gold medal, but you deserve one for what you did. Some would even call you a hero." LeAnne said.
"Well, if you say so." Grasmick said. Then they both started laughing.