Path: moe.ksu.ksu.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!uwm.edu!spool.mu.edu!tulane!rouge!tlb2665
From: tlb2665@usl.edu (Burleigh Thomas L)
Newsgroups: alt.startrek.creative
Subject: ST:USS Cavalier, Total Repost (LONG) with note from author.
Message-ID: <1992May24.163906.18770@usl.edu>
Date: 24 May 92 16:39:06 GMT
Article-I.D.: usl.1992May24.163906.18770
Sender: anon@usl.edu (Anonymous NNTP Posting)
Organization: University of Southwestern Louisiana
Lines: 1018

^L
Hi there,
 Still working on the story. Just finished chapter 14. Since new people
seem to join the newsgroup between chapters, I decide to repost everything
I got so far. Following the page break are chapters 1 through 14. If you've
already read up to chapter 13, just go ahead and press the 'n' key now,
since I'm posting chapter 14 once I finish transmitting this.
Enjoy! Any and all feedback welcome. (i.e. fan mail :).......
^L
                               U.S.S. Cavalier
                                  NCC-6926

                              Technical Summary
^L
1. Power system.  Instead of the classical power system used in StarFleet
vessels (DiLithium mediated deuterium/anti-deuterium anniahlative reactors),
the Cavalier (class ship) uses the Federation's first Foilated Zero-Point
Energy Extraction devices. Using a stacked series of alternating, oppositely
ionically-charged plates of diamondized Carbon-60 (Buckminister-Fullerine -
a.k.a. Buckey-balls), the Zero-Point fluctuations cause by colliding molecules
are uniformily produced for a steady, and almost unlimited, power source.
  The FZPEE is controlled by the insertion of the positive-ionized C-60
plates, which are alternatively attached to side plates of unionized C-60.
As these plates are inserted into the FZPEE, the power extraction rate
increases exponentially. (NOTE: self-destruct, up to a level that can tear
apart an average solar system, is accomplished by the RAPID insertion of
the plates - thus power level output increases must be carefully regulated to
prevent accidental self-destruction.)
^L
2. THRUST AND MANEUVERING. Scaled-down FZPEEs are used for this as regular
impulse engines are used on other Federation ships.  In an emergency, these
thrusters can be used as long-range beam weapons with a heat level of the
surface of the Earth's sun through the use of rotary-directional shrinking
nozzles with uniform thrust output on all thrusters to maintain ship's
orientation.
^L
3. INTERSTELLAR DRIVE.  Instead of the standard Warp Drive, the Cavalier can
travel across the Galaxy in an instant thanks to the Einsteinian Gravitational
Molecular Orientator and Rotory device. (The EGMOR system is the end product
of the discovery of Albert Einstein's lost papers; which documented how he
sent a sea-vessel into the future by use of alternating magneto-generators.
After cross-referencing with the Entropic Speed of Light theory (i.e. the
net entropy of a system is the result of the loss of speed of light as
time passed, causing an increasingly smaller value of E for E=mc**2.) After
much research, it was demonstrated that magnetically uniformily oriented
molecules can behave as they would forward or backward in time through the
use of a sequentialy alternating magnetic rotary field to increase the
electrons' orbital speeds.  Thus, such a system of matter can exceed the
current speed of light by the appropiate application of the magnetic
rotary field, where the value of c for that system of matter is closer to
the near infinite value of c that it was around the time of the Big-Bang.)
^L
   The EGMOR system consist of North and South magneto-field generators
located at the top and bottom of the ship to get all molecules of the ship
in the same N-S gravitational orientation, and of the alternating rotary
magneto-field generators located evenly around the cirumference of the
ship to produce the time-effect effect. NOTE: the latter is also used for
the anti-matter beam weapon system, as discussed below.
   Retractable, scaled-down, standard warp nacelles are available in the
event of a total EGMOR failure.
^L
4. WEAPONS.
   a. Particle weapons. The EGMOR circumference generators can all rotate
90 degrees to create a powerful particle accelerator that can propel sub-
atomic particles to near light speeds.  Aiming and beam control is through
escape tubings on each generator.
   b. Heat beams.  As discussed above, the FZPEE thrusters can be calibrated
and aimed for very high intensity heat beams.
   c. Tele-torpedoes.  Transportable torpedoes with scaled down FZPEE devices.
Destructive force of each capable of destroying moons and smaller planets. Use
only on StarFleet Release Authority!
   d.  Phasers and torpedoes.  Standard versions of each included.  Note:
phasers can be fired for longer as the HFPEE devices are not energy limited.
   e.  Self-destruct. See notes above in para. 1.
^L
                   Star Trek: USS Cavalier
                          Chapter 2
                         "March Past"


     "Computer, hold." Riker said, softly.
     (Now THIS is something else!) he thought to himself. (A self-
destruct that can take a solar system with you.  Though, if I had
my own way, I'd just calibrate that FZPEE whatever to blow up the
entire Borg sector and send it off to them on some old cloaked
ship...)
     His rumminations were rudely interupted by the comm-board on
his desk.  Or, to be more exact, his first officer's voice from
his desk.
     "Sir," said a low, scratchy voice with a slight English accent,
"the command staff is here and ready for our briefing."
      "Yes, Number One, come in." Riker thumbed the reverse button
for the display as HIS command staff entered the ready room.
       First, as always, was his First Officer, Commander Louis
Burke Thompson, cross-commissioned in Science and Command.  As a
man, he really wasn't to much to look at: average height and build;
brown, brushed-back hair; mustached; with a regular oval face with
only a slightly long nose as its only accent.  But it was his ablities
and character that got him this assignment.  He inhereted a strong
aptitude for science from his father - a designer of computerized
emgrams.  His command abilities came naturally during his service to
StarFleet.  He was a hard, no non-nonsense, almost humorless officer.
There was almost a constant cruel and aggressive nature in everthing
he did.
      (You know,) Ricker thought (, Louis here could just might be
the Klingon spirit personified.  I wonder, will he ever relax 
enough to REALLY make friends with anyone?)
      Thompson, was followed by Surgeon/Commander Amanda T'Por and
Lieutenant Commander David Jonathon Shaw; respecively the Ship's
Doctor and the Chief Engineer. The later was a taller, slighty built,
bispecaled man.  His relaxed and down-to-earth character was offset
by his legendary temper.  Still, he was probably the best nuts-and-
bolts engineer in all of StarFleet - he JUST got reassigned from the
research group that developed the EGMOR and FZPEE systems. Still,
considering how different he was from Thompson, Riker couln't help but
wonder how and WHY Shaw and Thompson were such good friends.
       Dr. T'Por, on the other hand, was a beautiful woman that any
red-blooded man would kill or die for.  A Vulcan/Human, she was well-
tanned, shapely, volmpuous, a tad bit short, with long wavey dark hair
and ears which BARELY gave away the Vulcan side of her genetics.  Riker
thought her to be in the same class as Deanna Troi, as did most others.
However, she was no dim-brained beauty - as her StarFleet record showed.
She was more human than Vulcan; unlike most half-breeds, she rejected the
Vulcan way of life for the human - but not before mastering Vulcan
mysticism!
       Riker noticed Dr. T'Por and Thompson exchange almost coyish grins
as they sat down. (Surely,) Ricker thought in amazement, (she couldn't
have something for THOMPSON!  Maybe, I've underestimated him..)
       Shaw was mumbling something to Thompson about "it should work out
okay"; which Riker didn't really catch, but shook him into getting started
with the business at hand.
       "Okay, folks," Riker started, "before I brief you on our mission,
just give me a quick verbal once-over of your departments."
       "Sir," said Commander Thompson, "all personnel assigned to this ship
are present and ready for duty.  The Cavalier as a whole is ready for duty
with each Bridge department at full ready status.  Commanders Shaw and 
T'Por can report in detail on their departments."
       "Thanks, Thompson. Dr. T'Por, you're next."
       "Yes, sir." (She has a rather sultry voice, too) Riker added to
himself. "I just finished my review of all medical files of the personnel
on this ship, with no major issues to report.  Also, I also finished
researching and formulating working theories on Borg physiology, bio-tech
functions, and operational psychology - at your somewhat puzzling request,
sir." she said with a questioning tone on the last breath.
        "Very well, you'll know why in a few minutes. Shaw, go ahead."
        "Aye, Sir." Shaw said in his rapid voice, which was cursed with a
natural, slightly sarcastic, and wholly unintended tone.  "We got the
finishing touches done up on all the new systems - at a hundred percent
ready, Sir.  I might add that if we didn't have to ferry those S.F.
diplomats here to Romulus and hang around for a few days in high orbit..."
        "Understood, Commander." with only a slightly hard edge in his
voice (Unintentional or not, this man will probably have to walk on egg
shells around here until he gets something done about his tone of voice.)
Riker thought before diving into his part of the meeting.
        "And I want to thank you all for your hard work so far. I hope
that you keep it up." Riker said, a bit intruigingly, as he walked to
the main screen and finger the start switch.
        "As you all know, the Federation and Romulans are in the final
stages of negotations for a Romulan role in the Federation.  The Fed
has a strong interest in this since Rom space, which we cannot use as
of yet, is right between Unexplored and Federation space."
         Riker pulled up the Galaxy map on the computer screen; which
displayed the Milky Way galaxy as currently divided: Federation, Klingon,
Romulan, Fergani and other minors, Borg space (as speculated) and the
remaining Unexplored space.
         "Our mission is to make jumps around the boundries of Romulan
space and to enter Borg space.  Once there, we will conduct a reconnaisance
of their limits of advance into non-Borg space.  We have been cleared to
use our cloaking device, and to engage targets of opportunity - read, the
Borg - as it doesn't interfere with our recon mission...."
          The comm panel on the table spoke up with, "Bridge to Captain
Riker."  It was one of the new communications officers, once of the good
number of new faces Riker recently inherited.
          "This is the Captain."
          "Sorry to interupt, Sir.  A priority request from the Romulan
Medical Center to you beam down to there immediately.  Ambassador Spock is
urgently requesting you."
          "Spock?" Riker asked noone in particular. "Very well, send their
coordinates to Transporter Room 1 and have them ready to beam me when I get
there. Riker out." he finished.
          "Thompson, take charge of the ship."  Then, addressing his three
officers of his command staff, "You all got access to my brief in the 
computer.  I'll answer any questions when I get back."
          With that last remark, Riker turned heel and marched out the door.
^L
                            ST:USS Cavalier
                               Chapter 3
                           "Legacy of Spock"


The first thing Riker heard was voices. Voices coming from down the hall
he just beamed into.  There was no-one here to direct him, so, he just took
it upon himself to find Spock.
   When he reached the end of the hallway, Riker found himself facing a
hospital room with the famous Ambassador Spock lying in bed.  Spock didn't
look to be in too good of shape.  He had various devices attached to his
body and a good number of bio-med computers monitoring him.  There was a
weak and feeble aura to the man, and Riker didn't think anyone could get so
wrinkled.
   Standing next to Spock's bed was a young, teenaged looking Romulan who Spock
was speaking to.  While trying to stay out of view, Riker tuned himself in to 
what was being said.
   "D'Tan," said the old, feeble voice, at barely above a whisper, "now that
my disease is almost finished with its work on my body, I leave to you my
legacy and my role in the re-unification of our peoples.  It is on your
shoulders that rests the burden of leadership for the growth of the new Romulan
philosophy.  Serve the people well, and serve my memory well."
   D'Tan, who was obviously struggling against tears, took Spock by his hand to
say goodbye.  But Spock move D'Tan's hang to Spock's face.  Then Spock put his
fingers onto D'Tan's face for a mind-meld.
   After a few minutes Spock's hand fell to his side.  D'Tan clasped Spock's 
hand for the last time, as said, "Goodbye, my friend."
   Riker ducked back some as D'Tan turned to leave the room.  D'Tan was 
obviously distraught, as he didn't even notice Riker as he walked past him in
the hallway.  Riker then marched quickly into Spock's room. (I hope I'm not too
late!)
   When Riker reached the bed, Spock looked as though he had passed away. Then
he opened his eyes and said, "Captain Riker, I assume."
   "Yes, Sir.  I'm here like you wanted.  But what do you want with me?"
   "I'm sure that you know of the new Romulan philosopy that is spreading here-
the movement that I led.  It has grown and now many of the Romulan leaders are
embracing it.  This is what has led to the renaissance, and to their wanting
to pursue peace with the Federation."
   "Yes," Riker nodded in confusion, "but what does this have to do with me?"
   Spock continued, "This peace will come, but there are problems.  The data
chip has all that you need to assure this peace.  You will also find the
coded permits of the Romulans to traverse their space."
   Spock then briefly fainted.  Riker shook him gently until he came around
again.
   "Why would the Romulans let me travel freely in their space?" Riker asked.
   "Their new philosophy is only the catalyst of peace.  Their real reason
is that they are under threat of the Borg!"
   Then Spock gave up his ghost.
^L
                            ST:USS Cavalier
                               Chapter 4
                           "A Gambit Begins"


  Back on board the Cavalier, Riker was reviewing the data-chip Spock gave
him.  He had filled Thompson in on his encounter with Spock, but told 
him to maintain preparations for the jump around Romulan space.
  (So,) Ricker thought, (THAT is why the Romulan's are more interested in
peace.  They're gonna need our help against the Borg - probably in the near
future.  Really should let the Federation know about this; or, should I see
how long it'll take the politicals to figure this out?) 
  He grinned at that last thought.  There was no love lost between Riker and
the StarFleet politicians.  As Riker considered his personal distaste at his
past diplomatic forays, he thought about how politics seemed to be just
diplomacy of the masses.  How could anyone do THAT for a living?
  (Naw, better tell them about it.  Fun as it might be, I'd really be letting
Admiral Picard down.)
  Admiral Jean-Luc Picard was now the StarFleet Chief-of-Staff, Operations.
  Riker thumbed the computer to continue and absorbed its last tidbit of
information.  (Yikes! This IS bad!  One of their planets nearer the Borg
border bit the dust - lost a colony too!  Spock wasn't exaggerating, they
ARE in trouble with the Borg!)
  Riker considered his current StarFleet orders.  The Cavalier was to survey
planets already done in by the Borg a good while back - stricly reconnaisance.
And, to attack/destroy any Borg ships they ran into - but not to LOOK for them!
Now, he was going to a planet that, in all likelyhood, the Borg where still
around.
  Well, the cloaks should keep the Cavalier well hidden enough.  But, making
attacks, as per orders, would interfere with their survey.  Okay, so no
attacks!  Orbital passes while max on the sensors, and camoflauged away teams
for ground recon if any Borg troops detected on the ground. No more than an
hour or two there, then we head off to our first OFFICIAL destination - and
advise StarFleet afterwards, if the game was worth the candle!
  Riker keyed his computer then hailed Navigation, "This is the Captain.
Lay in a course THROUGH Romulan space to these coordinates. Tell Commander
Thompson I'll be on the Bridge in just a second. Captain Riker out."
 (Well, lets see just how much faith in command I've managed to instill so
far.)  Riker walked to his mirror, conducted the Picard Maneuver on his
red tunic, and strode onto the Bridge.
 Riker entered the Bridge and saw everyone at there stations working
copiously. Everyone except Thompson, who was doing something with Shaw at the
Engineering Station.  Thompson, saw Riker enter, out of the corner of his eye,
came to attention, and barked, "Captain on the Bridge!"
 "Carry on." Riker said before anyone else could jump up. "Computer, inter-ship
communications."  The computer responded with it's acknowledgment signal, and
Riker addressed the crew of the Cavalier.
 "All hands, this is the Captain speaking.  We are going to make a jump through
Romulan space to a world recently "assimilated" by the Borg.  We've just been
cleared to do so.  We will remain cloaked and stealthy.  We will avoid
confrontaion with the Borg, if at all possible.  Away teams, assemble with
weapons and holo-corders, in camoflauge, to the transporter rooms for ground
recon and surveys.  Captain Riker, out."
 "Mr. Thompson," Riker said facing his First Officer, "I'm ready for the jump
when you are."
 "Yes, sir." Thompson replied. "And, Mr. Shaw and I have a pleasant surprise
for you."
 "I could use a PLEASANT surprise, Mr. Thompson.  What is it?"
 "All the Captain needs to do is sit down and enjoy the ride."
 (Now, what does he mean by THAT?)  Thompson wasn't given to assumed 
informality, like Shaw, so Riker new he was serious.  Riker sat himself down
on his command chair, squared his shoulders, and said, "Very well, engage!"
 Then all of a suddend Riker was sitting alone in a starfield!
^L
                            ST:USS Cavalier
                               Chapter 5
                            "Roller Coaster"


   Then stars came into view.  As Riker glanced at the stars, he began to
recognize the local Romulan constellations.  Then, thin lines of blue formed
far around him and took the shape of an outline of the USS Cavalier - scaled
to perspective size with Riker sitting at the appropiate postion in this ship.
   "Captain Riker, sir," said Chief Engineer Shaw, in a suspiciously formal
voice, "I present to you the Captain's Holoview System."
   (So THAT'S what Thompson and Shaw were being so covert about!) Riker thought
with amusement.  He held off on similing though until he was sure of one thing.
   "Okay, I can't see any of you - can any of you see me?"
   "No, Sir." replied Thompson. "All of us share the same view here on the 
Brige - except we have view of our stations, just as you have view of your
command chair."
   Riker glanced around to ensure that he could see the controls on his seat.
He then allowed himself to smile.
   "This is all very nice and well," said Riker, "but why start this up now?"
   "Well, sir," jumped in Shaw, "we're jumping through Rom space and will be
swinging by some astronomical features of their space.  Good chance for some
visual recon - even on flyby.  But more important, you should feel in your
bones what exactly an EGMOR jump is like - and what better way than THIS?"
   "Very well, Shaw, you're forgiven!" Riker exclaimed roughly. But, before
letting Shaw build up his indignation, Riker asked, "Are you ready to get us
under way?"
   "Yes, sir. Awaiting you command."
   "Very good." Riker said, re-squaring his shoulders on the command chair,
"Engage."
   "Firing impluse engines..." Riker looked back to where the outline of
the impulse engines were and saw that their outline changed from blue to red.
   "Engaging EGMOR." He looked around and saw the outlining ring of the 
Cavalier change to red also just as the starfield started swooping away.
From looks alone, they were moving at the equivalent of Warp 9.
   Yet they still kept moving faster and faster.  As their apparent 
acceleration continued to climb, the ship passed near various points of
interest.  They speeded over, under, and flanked various nebulae, stars, and
interstellar clouds.
  ("Visual recon" my ass!) thought Riker (this is a god-damn roller-coaster
ride!)
  Just as Riker was getting ready to verbally tear into Thompson, the ride
ended and they were near a yellow star, obviously in a solar system - their
desination.
  (Save it for later.) he thought to himself. Then addressed the Bridge, 
"Impressive.  But for now, I'd like to see my Bridge. Holoview off." And, the
Bridge came back into view.  Thompson and Shaw looked rather contrite as they
saw traces of displeasure in Riker's face.  Well, let them have the chance to
save some face.
  "Helm, take us into standard orbit, equatorial inclination 45 degress.  Mr.
Shaw, maintain sensor scans on the planet and system.  Mr. Thompson, deploy the
away teams simultaneously."
  "Aye, Sir." everyone chorused as they set about their duties.
^L
                            ST:USS Cavalier
                               Chapter 6
                           "The Surveilance"


  Away Team #4, a.k.a A-Team #4 (after an old 20th Century television show),
beamed into a clear field near a treeline.  Their leader, Ensign Karng, had
them take cover and establish local security just inside the treeline. After
ensuring his two Automatic-Phaser gunners were covering the open field, he
ordered his Holo-corder team to attempt long range scanning on the city that
laid about a mile away through the clearing and on the group of Borgs who were
doing something to the ground about 300 meters away (Lucky they're too 
busy do God-knows-what to see us!).
  The female that was surveying the city crept up to Karng, covered her viewing
screen with her hand, and tabbed a button with her thumb.  On the mini-screen,
a miniaturized overhead view of the city appeared.  The city was comletely
trashed; but, judging from the readings, a long series of trenches cut through
the city and it's surrounding areas.
  Nodding his head, with his face still holding its puzzled look, Karng gave
the girl a thumbs up then pointed her back to her security position.  The
A-Team was on strict noise discipline.
  Then the other one from the Holo-corder team crept up and thumbed his
display.  On his mini-viewer some type of two-handed planting device came
into view.  Karng had noticed earlier that all those Borgs were planting the
field - marching down the field and working with clocklike precision.
  Karng pointed at the man's Holo-corder then at his Comm-Badge.  A faint blue
aiming beam struck the badge.  He tapped his badge and the info from the
Holo-corder was transmitted to the Cavalier.
  Karng had just started the process again with the other one, when everyone
in the team heard a deep, rumbling sound.  Then coming at them from the
direction of the city, a scaled-down Borg ship was rapidly approaching. Before
anyone could react, a series of phasers struck out from belly of the ship and
carved rows of trenches up to and through the A-Team's position.
  This, in itself, wasn't too bad - noone was hurt.  What was bad was that the
stray energy from all the phaser beams overloaded Karng's Comm-Badge, causing 
it to emit a high-volume, high-pitch noise - the noise that gave them away to
the Borgs.
  The Borgs reaction was not instantaneous, but still violent.  They all 
dropped their poles, grabbed their weapons and opened fire on the A-Team while
advancing.
  "Fire!" Karng ordered his men - this after giving a Klingon battle cry.
  Their fire was pretty effective at first, but was becoming less and less so.
The Automatic-Phaser gunners were sweeping their rapid phaser pulses across the
field while the others used precision aiming.  They were able to kill one Borg
at a time at first, until they started using their personal shields.  Then it
took two simultaneous hits to take out a Borg.  
  Then three.
  Then four.
  They took out the last Borg just 50 meters outside of their perimeter.  Karng
told his prisoner team (until now only a contingency duty) to secure the Borg.
Then he openned a channel to the Cavalier.
  "A-Team Four to Cavalier." he prompted.
  "This is Commander Thompson. Go ahead, team four", his communicator replied.
  "We just engaged about 12 Borg soldiers. Successfully.  One injure team
member.  Mild - not critical."  Karng caught his breath quickly then went on.
"We've secured one dead Borg for study.  There's more, but they're in the open.
Request instructions."
  "Karng," Riker came onto the net, "keep your channel open.  I want to 
beam....".
  Riker was rudely interupted by an explosion that wrecked Karng Comm-Badge.
A moment later a rather disturbed Karng was on the air.
  "Karng to Cavalier!  We are under attack again!  About 25 of them this time.
Phasers ineffective.  We've got one serious casualty.  We need some cover fire
and to beam out of here now!"
  "Roger, Karng.  Give me a bearing to them and hang tight."
  "Bearing 215 degrees, true north.  Distance 250 meters and closing."
  A quick moment later, Riker came back on.  "Karng.  Here's what we're gonna
do.  On your mark, we'll fire torpedoes just to their rear to take them out.
Right after the first one hits, your team will beam out.  Have all your people
open a channel now.  Understood?"
  "Yes, Sir.  Stand by."
  Karng moved his people closer together and had them open their Comm-Badges.
  "Mark!"
^L
                            ST:USS Cavalier
                               Chapter 7
                             "Discovered!"


  The photon torpedoes struck the ground just behind the Borgs. The blast took
out most of them.  The rest were distracted by the blast, and did not see the
Away Team beam back up to the Cavalier.
  Commander Thompson, with an emergency medical team, met Ensign Karng and the
Away Team #4 as they appeared on the transporter pad.  Karng filled Thompson in
on the results of his reconaissance on the planet's surface.
  "Well," Thompson replied, "This pretty much matches up with the results we've
received from the other A-Teams.  I'm going make my report to the Captain. Go
ahead and take care of your troops.  Lieutenant Comeaux," he said as he turned
to the Transporter Chief, "prepare to beam the other teams back."
  When Thompson stepped back on the Bridge, Captain Riker was at the Science
station with Lieutenant Darby, Second Science Officer.  They were reviewing
the sensor scans of the planet.  Thompson strode up behind Riker as Darby was
finishing up with her explainations.
 "So, in a nutshell," Riker back-briefed, "we've got these little Borg ships
flying around in there atmosphere blasting away the ground into alot of rows,
and Borg troops on the ground walking all over those rows."
 "Yes, Sir." Thompson replied softly from behind Riker, so as not to startle
him too much.  "I just got back from talking to Ensign Karng.  These Borg
troops are using these metal poles to plant something in the ground after its
torn up.  We've got on of these, along with a Borg soldier, locked in the 
Transporter Grid."
 "Transporter Room," Riker said tapping his Comm-Badge, "beam the Borg soldier 
to the Brig, and that device with all your scan data, to Dr. T'Por."  Riker
turned to Thompson, "something tells me they're not up to anything directly
military."
  Thompson nodded his head as he considered it. "I think your right.  But we
better start getting out of here before the Borg start adding things up."
  "Agreed,  Thompson.  Have the other teams beam back up.  Mr. Shaw, prepare
for our next jump...."
  Something slammed into the Cavalier.  Something that, to Riker's experience,
felt alot like a phaser blast!
  "Report!" Riker yelled to Thompson, as they, and everyone else, got back on
their feet.
  Thompson keyed the Tactical station, then replied, "We just took a phaser 
hit.  No casualties..."  He pressed a few more controls, then continued,  
"incoming ship.  Looks like a Borg!"
  "They were able to detect our cloak?!" Riker asked.
  "Yes," Shaw added, "but not directly.  They laid in a pattern of fire around
the upper thermosphere of the planet.  They got lucky and hit us...  hard.
Cloaks are down.  One the EGMORs is stuck.  Won't be able to jump for another
ten minutes."
  Lieutenant Aoura at Communications then added, "Captain, incoming hail from
the Borg...."  He adjusted some controls at his station as he listened. Then
he turned to his captain, "guess what they're saying."
  "I've got a good idea.  Shaw, can we still use the EGMOR for particle beams?"
  "Yes, but the repairs will have to wait."
  "Okay people," Riker addressed the Bridge as he approached his command chair,
"we're going to take on the Borg.  HoloView on with tactical.."
  Riker sat on his chair at faced the Borg ship, "....let's see what she can
do."
^L
                            ST:USS Cavalier
                               Chapter 8
                           "Baptism of Fire"

  Once the Holoview came on, Riker faced the Borg ship speeding up to the
Cavalier. They, Riker was thinking, are still waiting for a response to
their hail. (Buddy, you're mine!)
  "Full power to shields," Riker ordered, "ready phasers and torpedoes.
Ready front thrusters for heat beams. Ready EGMOR for anti-proton beams.  
Mr. Shaw, steady increases on main FZPEE to maintain - yell if it gets up to
fifty percent.  Let's go with an Alpha attack."
  When StarFleet was developing the Cavalier, a ship that could take on the 
Borg, they realized that firepower alone wouldn't do the trick. Tactics were
necessary. Tactics that would succeed.
  The Alpha attack was a rather simple tactic.  The heat beams would bore a 
hole through a Borg ship to it's power center.  Then particle beams would shoot
through this hole. If sucessful, the ship would either blow up or totally
shut down, depending on the results of the Borg ships still unknown power
source reacting with high concentrations of sub-atomic particles.
  "Sir," spoke up Lt. Darby at Communications, "the Borg are still waiting for
a response."
  "Well," replied Riker, "let's give it to them."  Then addressing Thompson
at the Tactical helm, "lock on the heat beams and fire."
  Thin beams of bright white light jumped from the Cavalier to the center of
the side of the Borg ship facing them. Sparks lept from the point of impact,
making a rather impressive pyrotechnic display.
  "They've raised shields."  spoke up Lt. Samek at the Science helm. "But,
their not effective. Heat beams have cut about half-way to the core so far."
  "Maintain firing," Riker responded to the Bridge, "prepare the anti-photon
beams to fire on Mr. Samek's mark - yell when the heat beams reach the core."
  "Sir," said Lt. Samek, "the beams are just about there.  Their structural
integrity is decreasing..."  Then glancing at a red light the just started
flashing at his station, "They're powering up phasers!"
  "Shaw!" barked Riker, "increase main FZPEE by ten percent and channel power
to shield output!"
  Blue streaks of phasers leaped out from the Borg ship and struck the
Cavalier's shields just as their output increased.  They bounced off the
shields, rattling the Cavalier rather radically.
  "Damages?" Riker asked Thompson.
  "Minor, Sir.  They probably didn't expect...."
  Cdr. Thompson was rudely interuppted by a bright red thrust of light that
was where the Borgs just were.  A second later, it dimmed considerable, and
everyone saw the Borg ship reeling away from the Cavalier.  It spun on an
axis of red plasma shooting out of the hole they just punched in it.
  Everyone watched in awe as the ship separated its distance while being 
pushed and twirled by its new source of thrust. Such girations from a mass
about as big as a regular terrestial moon was a rather impressive sight.
What they saw next blew them away.
  Or, more accurately, blew the Borg ship away - leaving a cloud of fine
debree with a small star shining in it.
  Riker, staring in steady amazement at the cloud that remained from the Borg
ship, slowly sat down on his command chair.
  A moment later, he spoke up, "Power down main FZPEE to normal levels," he
softly ordered, "Stand down from red alert."
  The crew on the bridge busily resumed their duties as Captain Riker sat
there in deep thought and amazement.  (WHAT have I got my hands on here?  What
manner of ship is this?!?)
  Commander Thompson walked up before Riker.  Constant stoic expression in 
place, he said, "Captain, I think I can explain what happened."
  "Make it so." Riker said staring strait into his eyes.
  "Well, Sir, the Borgs MAY be less powerful than we thought.  Judging from
what just happened here, and from what the Science helm detected, the Borg
ship seems to get it's power from a perpetual fussion reaction of some sort.
The ship itself must be, as a primary function, a large, complex lattice-
structure to contain the reaction. Or, as an analogy, the reactor structure
itself."
  Riker mentally chewed on this for a moment.  This would explain what just
happened.  Their heat beams broke down the "reactor structor lattice"
Thompson just theorized.  Then the fussion reaction would leak out....
  "But a fussion reaction on this scale?"
  Shaw jumped into the conversation ,while still working at his Engineering
station, "Sir, I got some ideas about that I'm working on here. Since the
twentieth century, various people have speculated that planetary gas-
giants were stars that failed.  My guess is that the Borg either make gas-
gaints into what you could call "mini-stars" and build the ship around it;
or, sorta vice-verse, building a ship around a "smaller" gas giant then 
making it into a mini-star.  Alot of guesswork in this idea, though.  The
computer should get the details to either confirm or throw out this theory."
  "So," Riker said, "you two are trying to tell me that a Borg ship is really
a massive application of TWENTIETH century technology?"
  "Yes, Sir." Thompson replied. "Warp and other capablities added on as they
assimilated other races."
  "Incredible.." Riker thought out load.  Before he could continue Dr. T'Por
entered the bridge. She entered the Bridge just as Riker said "incredible".
  "If you're talking about what I learned about the Borg, Sir, I must agree
with you."
  Riker spun around to T'Por.  (What NOW?) he thought to himself.  But T'Por
spoke before he could.
  "I just finished studing those planting devices the Borg soldiers were using
on the planet's surface.  And, it's not anything mechanical they were doing -
they were planting seedlings!"
  The situation was quickly getting over his head.  First the Romualan
legacy imparted to him by Spock; then their unauthorized exursion through
Romulan space, into Borg space, and their combat with a Borg vessel.  Riker
was thinking that the latter was really the only thing than went right.
  However....
  "Lt. Darby," Riker asked, "Did the Borgs do anything on sub-space radio?"
  "I'm afraid so, Sir.  I got a track on some trachyon emissions.  If we could
move to intercept them, we could learn about their communications some more.
And, maybe even jam it."
  "People," Riker said standing up, "I think we just about in over our heads.
We took a chance coming here.  We did good, too.  But the situation is 
becoming too much for us to keep acting independently.  It's time to talk to
StarFleet!"
^L
                            ST:USS Cavalier
                               Chapter 9
                               "Argument"

   And, Captain Riker did talk to StarFleet. Specifically, he had words
with Admiral Jean-Luc Picard, Chief-of-Staff, StarFleet Operations.
   (Boy!) Riker thought, (did we have words!)
   Riker could deal with the fact that Picard wouldn't be happy with his
independant actions. But, come on, he was once a captain himself!
Certainly, he couldn't have lost ALL his understanding and experience from
his rather long command of the Enterprise.
   Yet, his anger was clear - the last image of his angry face still burned
in Riker's mind.
   "Will," he flamed, "I refuse to believe that you didn't think you had to
notify us about your situation! It wasn't THAT critical that you get
underway immediately! Of course, your success won't vinicate you either.
But, I'll clear you for your time-travel mission to intercept that Borg
transmission. IF your luck holds out, you MAY get your you-know-what out of
it's fire! Picard out!"
   (Yes,) Riker thought, (he was DEFINITELY angry. But, that desk of his
doesn't give him the right to turn his back on his years of experience. At
least I got the chance to tell him so!)
   Riker seriously doubted that he and Picard would resolve their
differences, or even be on good speaking terms, any time too soon.
   Riker walked into the bridge and addressed Cdr. Thompson, "Louis, are we
ready to get underway?"
   "Yes, Sir.  We have courses laid for short-term time travel and for two
interceptions of they tachyon stream. I'm thinking with the first
interception we analyze it, and with the second one we jam or scramble it.
   "Very good," Riker said with a grin, "you might make a smart captain one
day." (Maybe even sooner than you think!) Riker added to himself. 
   "Thank you, sir."
   "Lt. Samek," Riker addressed his Science Officer, "report on this planet
we're now orbiting?"
   The Cavalier was in orbit around the first planet they were SUPPOSED to
be at. There wasn't really too much to learn about this one. Some Borg
technology left behind and the planet prolifered with new species of
vegetation.
   "Nothing new to report, Sir." replied the young Vulcan officer.
   "Very well," Riker said sitting down and addressing the Bridge, "let's
get underway.  Holoview on; proceed when ready."
^L
                                ST:USS Cavalier
                                 Chapter 10
                                "Radio Race"

  The large grey and black-stripped saucer, the whole of the USS Cavalier, 
towards the nearby sun. As it neared the low point of its pass, the ship
extended its internal nacelles. At the low point of the orbit, these 
radiated blue light; generating a low-level warp field. Then, the Cavalier
disappeared in a brilliant flash of blue light.
  Time travel had begun.
  From Riker's view, avec Holoview, his field of vision grew increasingly
white; like entering a thick cloud.  He found that his thoughts, in spite of
any efforts he made, kept going back to the recent past.  Thoughts of his
order to engage, his argument with Picard, the destruction of the Borg ship,
the arrival at the Borg planet, his flight through Romulan space, and the
death of Spock, flashed through his mind as he recalled, involuntarily, the
recent past.  Riker was finally able to clear his mind as the white cloud 
cleared from view, and he returned to the space the men called Real.
  "Status report," Riker ordered.
  "Time travel successful, sir," responded Lt. Samek, "according to our
quantam clocks. Course to intercept Borg tachyon stream calculated and
relayed to Navigation."
  "All ship systems nominal, Sir." added Cdr. Thompson.
  "Very well," said Riker, "cloaks up and engage."
  The Cavalier retracted its nacelles as it accelerated and shimmered to
invisiblity.  Shortly after it circled past the sun, Lt. Samek spoke up
again.
  "Sir, we are approaching the Cavalier."
  (A time paradox is the LAST thing I need right now!) Riker thought to
himself.   "Give it a wide berth, but magnify it into view."
  As busy as Riker was before he took command of the Cavalier, he never
got the chance to conduct the service-honored tradition of inspecting his
new command.  Well, this will just have to do.
  Ensign Duhon at Navigation slowed the Cavalier ever so slightly so that
Riker could get a good stare at his ship.  Riker stood in a salute, and
after a moment's silence ordered the ship underway.
  The Cavalier sped out of the solar system after the Borg's tachyon
stream. Riker was reviewing his hopes that they could scramble it before
it could reach the Borg Uni-Mind when the Alert chime sounded from his
command chair.
  "Approaching the tachyon stream, Sir." Samek said.
  "Thompson, have your Holoview identify the target." Riker said.
  "Yes, Sir." Thompson responded.  After touching a few keys, he got the
stream in view as a long, thin, green line to their front.
  After studying this for a moment, Riker issued commands, "Duhon, move us
to intercept the head of the stream.  Darby, prepare for cryptographic
analysis.  Thompson, full shields and ready all weapons."
  The Cavalier rushed foward past the tachyon stream and slowed down just
slightly ahead of it.  Riker turned and saw the green stream heading 
strait at him.
  "Everyone ready yourselves.  All hands brace for impact."
  Riker had been shaken around a good bit more in the past than he just was.
But many of the new hands felt decidedly nauseous at the stream hit the ship,
shudddering it rather violently.
  But the crew on the Bridge did their duties.  Lt. Darby read the entire
stream into his computer systems.  At the same time Cdr. Thompson fire the
heat beams and phasers into the tachyons.
  These tachyons increased their sub-molecular velocity as result of being
heated by the Cavalier heat beams.  Thus, the majority of the tachyons
bonded with the high energy particles of the phasers.  They were now
effectively scrambled.  But,  their amplitude magnified substantially.
  On the Borg home planet, a HUMAN male walked to his communication console
in response to its alert buzzer.  He tapped a button on the console and
said, "Uni-Mind, incoming transmission from Cyborg Ship #12.  Emergency
codes being used."  Keying a few more buttons, the receiver's television
screen came to life, "Uni-mind, we are in imminent threat of destruction.
We have engaged a powerful vessel of unknown origin that was interfering with
or work on Assimilated Planet #57.  This is what it looks like..."
  But before the viewscreen could show the Cavalier, it blew up from the
tachyon overload; killing its blonde-haired male attendant.
  The USS Cavalier just claimed its first living being.
^L
                                ST: USS Cavalier
                                   Chapter 11
                                 "The Discovery"

  "Results, Number One?"" Riker asked of Thompson.
  Commander Thomspson looked up from his tactical display and replied, "We
apppear to have been sucessful, Sir.  The tachyons have been scrambled -
the Borgs won't be able to read it."
  "And, I've managed to get a good reading of the tachyon stream, Sir,"
added Lieutenant Darby at Communications, "I'm feeding it into the computer
and we'll have it deciphered in just a while."
  "Well done, everyone." Riker said, breathing a sigh of relief to himself.
"Lay in a course to our next destination.  And let's see if we can't play by
the rules a little better..."
  Riker was rudely interrupted by a violent impact on his ship, which knocked
almost everyone off their seats, and took the Holoview offline.
  "Thompson!", Riker barked, "what's going on?"
  "We've been grabbed by some sort of tractor beam!  We being pulled very 
fast!"
  "Can we see where it's coming from?"
  "No, Sir.  The source is too far away!"
  "Full reverse!  Mr. Shaw, all possible power to thrusters!"
  All the thrusters on the Cavalier fired against the direction of the large
orange beam that had it covered.  The ship nudged slightly backwards for a 
second, but the beam was to powerful.
  "Ineffective!" reported Lt. Cdr. Shaw from his engineering station, "we're
still being pulled towards it.  Accelerating more rapidly - structural stress
increasing by a factor of two."
  "Lay in a reverse course on the EGMOR and engage at maximum power!" Riker
ordered. (Ya'll aren't getting me without a fight), he thought to himself.
  This, however, was also ineffective.  The Cavalier continued to accelerate
in real space as it was pulled past a nearby star.  The ship's rapid
acceleration near the star caused it to enter a wormhole.
  "We just entered a wormhole!" yelled Thompson at his Tactical helm.
  "Structural stress increased by two and a half." added Shaw.
  Riker glanced across his bridge - noticing that light was starting to bend
slightly already - as he considered the situation.  His ship, even at full
power, wasn't able to break out of this strange tractor beam.  The beam was
now gone, after depositing them into a wormhole.  Whatever technology did this
was probably way beyond that of the Cavalier.  (Well, we tried.  Better try a
plan B.) 
  "Divert full power to shields and weapons.  Orient the EGMOR for particle
beams." Riker ordered.
  "We're starting to come out of wormhole already," said Thompson.     
  "Understood. Maintain Red Alert."
  "Aye, Sir."
  "Sir," spoke Lt. Samek at Science, "we're picking up very unusual readings
strait ahead."
  "Is the Holoview working again?"
  "In just a minute, Sir." replied Thompson.
  "Okay, then. On main screen."
  On the screen appeared one of the most unusual sights mankind ever witnessed.
A large cube, a little larger than a terrestial planet, was slowly rotating on
one of its points.  It mostly looked like a planet - there were land areas with
many patches of green, and large bodies of water.  However, the points of the
planet-cube were obviously occupied by industrial technology.
  But, what really blew everyone away was the planet's sun.  Well, they 
couldn't see it - in it's place was another large cube.  This one bigger than
a yellow star!  Through it one stream of steady sunlight shone through, aimed
directly at the planet-cube.
  Riker slowly walked to the view-screen to take in the spectacle before him.
Without taking his eyes of the screen, he asked of anyone there,
"Explainations, anyone?"
  "Planetary engineering, Will," replied Dr. T'Por, whose entrance into the
bridge wasn't noticed.  "I think we may be looking at the first fully
controlled solar system."
  "And there's only one race I can think of who could do such a thing,"
replied Riker.
  "The Borg," Amanda nodded in agreement.
  Almost on cue, a figure materialized in a field of shimmering blue light.
A young, attractive female emerged, glanced around the bridge.  It seemed as
though see was struggling to accept something she had seen. Then imposing 
control on herself she spoke.
  "I don't believe this!  You're HUMAN!"
^L
                                 ST:USS Cavalier
                                  Chapter 12
                                   "Diversion"

  "Well, most of us are human," Riker responded after he quickly recovered
his mother-wit. "And just what, or who, in the hell are YOU?!?"
  This was a rather good question.  The attractive lady that had suddenly
materialized in the Cavalier's bridge was scantily dressed in a pink,
loose fitting outfit which was just a set of shorts and a sleeve-less top.
The material wasn't too thin, but it was obvious that she was unholstiered.
  Around her face and arms were various miniature appliance.  There was a
red monocle over her right eye, various wires and braces over her arms and
legs, and metallic-like sandals on her feet.
  "I am Barbara Glenser, Historian Primary of the UniMind," she started.
Her voice was a smooth contrallo - almost sultry. "We pulled your ship over
here because we thought we discovered a new powerful race.  No other
technology has stood up to our Cyborg ships, much less kept them from their
holy task."
  "Holy task?!?!", Riker asked in bewilderment. Anger rising in his voice,
"what kind of task would a genocidal race like your's find HOLY?!"
  Riker was going to take a step forward when he noticed something unusual
on the viewscreen.  Someone had typed upon it. It read, "Keep her talking.
Amanda's going to take her out! Thompson."
  (Very clever!) Riker thought to himself. This Borg lady couldn't see the
screen as she was facing Riker by the command chair. (Get lucky Amanda!)
thought Riker as she inched herself foward from behind.
  "In all the races of the Galaxy, there is one primary goal that is strived
for.  The achievement of godhood.  The merging of all souls into one grand
life-force. This is our Holy Casue - to merge all the souls possible into
one life-force. To assimilate as many as possible..."
  Riker saw Dr. T'Por move her right hand into the finger-position for a
mind meld. She quietly shuffled a few more inches closer.
  Riker stood and put his hands behind him; like he was in an enjoyable
debate. "But tell me, how does the destruction of numerous planets and 
races help achieve this?"
  "As we encounter new races and/or planets, we study its potential. A few
assimilate themselves with us freely. However, most have such stubborn ideas
- like individuality, freedom. These ideals are irrelevant in the Grand
Design. Such races are an abomination to the Cause.  They are ultimately the
Unholy. They deserve their fates under our hands, enforced by our cyborgs.."
  Riker risked another glance to Dr T'Por.  She was just under a foot away
from the woman now.  (What's she waiting for?) Riker thought. Then a new 
message appeared on the screen, "When it happens, duck! Thompson."
  "So, you see," Gensler continued, "what we are doing is speeding up the
inevitable.  And, in the end, the Federation's resistance is irrelevant."
She paused and assumed a reverent tone, "We do not defy the prophet sent
from the Queue Ones to our forefathers."
  "The Queue Ones?!?" Riker exclaimed in shock.
  Everyone on the bridge (indeed - in the ship, in the Federation) knew of
the galactic menace called Q.  The phoentics were too close to be
coincidence.
  T'Por jumped Gensler once she heard the name of Q.  She locked her left
hand in a nerve-pinch and set her right hand into a mind-meld.  Genlser's
arm shot up and shot a small bolt of electricity - a purely reflex action.
  Riker ducked the shot and watch it hit and dissipate on Thompson's
station.  Thompson, after a quick check of his station, tapped his
comm-badge, "Security to the bridge!"
  Riker and Thompson had both of their phaser pulled out and aimed at
Gensler.  Two more phasers, those weild by the security team, joined in.
  None were going to shoot however as Dr T'Por was still connected with
Gensler.  They both stood there in a silent, yet obvious, battle of minds
and wills.  They were both covered with sweat, shaking and slightly swaying
as their contest quietly raged on.
  Until they both let out a short gasp and Gensler threw T'Por to the
floor.  She was seething at everyone on the bridge, "You cosmic bastards!
How dare you set the witch on me to rape my mind!"
  The thought of treating with an ANGRY Borg didn't especially thrill
anyone on the bridge. So, in almost perfect unison, the fired their phasers
at her.  
  Unfortunately, the shots bounced of her personal shield.
  "You'll have to do better than that!" she yelled.  "Enough of you!
Prepare to be assimilated!"  She turned her back them and teleported of the
bridge.
^L
                                ST:USS Cavalier
                                 Chapter 13
                              "Heavy Engagement"

  "Battle Stations!", commanded Riker.
  This call was right on cue with an automatic red alert that just sounded
on the Cavalier.
  "Captain," said Thompson, at his Tactical station, "incoming Borg ships
at all directions!  Counting twenty-six of them!"
  "Twenty-six?", Riker asked in amazement. "Tactical display on the
TriScreen."
  Riker and Thompson regarded the situation as displayed on the TriScreen.
Centered on it was a miniature hologram of the USS Cavalier, surrounded by
like representations of the Borg ships on the outer edge of the display
area.  Each Borg ship has terse information on it concerning its energy
levels, combat readiness, and an arrow for its trajectoy heading.  Two
things were obvious to the Captain and First Officer in considering their
options....
  All the arrows on the Borg ships were pointing at the Cavalier....
  The formation of the Borgs ships was shaped like a cube!
  "Encagement, sir?" said Thompson.
  "Yes, yes.." Riker thought out loud, nodding his head, "they want to
assimilate this ship; so, they'll try not to destroy it if they can help
it.  Their sensors are telling them how powerful we are. So...," Riker
snapped his fingers, "they're gonna encase us in a hollow cube made up of
their ships so they can take us apart!"
  "Helm," Riker looked up at his Bridge as he decided on his
counter-tactic, "engage course 180 mark 0 at full thrust - dead on to the
Borg ship at that heading. Mr. Shaw, orient the EGMOR for particle beams -
anti-proton - and extend the emergency nacelles.  Thompson - phaser,
torpedo, anti-matter, and anti-photon spreads as grazine fire; and,
target the heat beams to center mass - just like an Alpha attack."
  Riker sat down squarely on his command chair, then added, "Acknowledge
when ready."
  "Course laid in," responded Ensign Comeaux, at the Helm.
  "EGMOR ready, nacelles out," added Lt. Cdr. Shaw, at Engineering.
  "Targeting sequence laid in," finished Cdr. Thompson.
  Riker reviewed the TriScreen for one more second; making sure this was
how he wanted to do it.
  "Okay, folks. Let's get out of this mess. Helm, engage."
  Ensign Comeaux engaged the thrusters, and the Cavalier banked in an 180
degree arc and shot towards the Borg ship.  As the Cavalier approached, the
TriScreen showed the closer ships slowing down and the furter ones speeding
up. (They obviously have thier hearts set on this) Riker thought to
himself.  Just then, the Borg ship they were approaching let loose with a
volley of phaser fire - shaking the Cavlier quite respectably.
  "Shields holding," Shaw reported.
  "Steady as she goes," Riker told the Helm.  After another volley struck,
Riker ordered, "all possible power to shields and weapons. Commence grazing
fire when ready."
  The Borg ship was on the main screen. Riker watched as his phaser fire
danced across the Borg's shields, the impacts of his torpedo spreads
impacted on the shields, the anti-matter bolts made dents on the shield
sphere, and as the anti-proton beams knocked of large chucks of the Borg
ship.
  But the Borg ship did not take this punishment sitting down.  The
frequency and intensity of their phaser volleys increased dramatically. As
much as one part of Riker was enjoy this slugging contest, his concern for
his ship came first.
  "Lateral evasive maneuvers, Helm," he ordered, "buy us some relief."
  The Cavalier bolted left, right, up, and down; dodging volley after
volley of the Borgs phaser fire - with only of few of the Borgs shots
making their mark.
  "Energy levels on the Borg ship down by fifty percent," reported Lt.
Samek, the Vulcan at the Science station.
  "Great!" responed Riker, "Thompson, fire the heat beams."
  Riker looked back at the main screen to watch the thin, bright white
beams bore into the Borg ship.
  "Mr. Shaw," said Riker without taking his eyes off the viewscreen,
"engage warp four, heading zero mark minus twenty, at my command."
  After a moment of assaulting his keypads, Shaw responded, "Ready,
Captain, for your command."
  Riker's face was made of chiselled stone as he watch the heat beams
boreing into the Borgs ship.  (Any moment now...)
  Just as he caught a glimpse of a bright red light come from the Borg
ship, Riker barked, "Engage!"
  The Cavalier shot in warp underneath the Borg ship as it exploded.  The
fireball pushed on the Cavalier's shields, pushing her her downwards.  This
unexpected push temporarily caught the inertial dampeners off guard,
causing everyone to float a couple of inches off the floor for a couple of
seconds.
  "Status report," Riker said, after he got his feet, and his lunch, back
down.
  "No significant damage to the ship," reported Thompson.
  "Good. Mr. Shaw, ready the EGMOR to get us out of here...."
  Just then the red alert sounded again.  Riker spun back to the main view
and saw that the Borgs ships were closing in on him again, this time at
warp speed. (Damn, these mothers are TOO determined to get us!)
  "Sir!" yelled Shaw, "one of the EGMOR units shifted off its turret. It'll
take about fifteen minutes to repair!"
  "Son of a bitch."
^L
                                ST:USS Cavalier
                                 Chapter 14
                             "The Riker Maneuver"

   "Bring up the Holoview", Riker ordered.
   The bridge disappeared and was replaced by a field of stars. Then the
thin blue lines that outlined the USS Cavalier shown. Riker turn and saw
that the Borg ships - all 26 of them! - were closing in fast.
   As they were getting closer, the Borg ships were taking on a definite
outline of a cube. Which, they apparently intended to trap the Cavlier in.
   Closer and closer....
   (Alright,) thought Riker, (let's see how close you want to play it!)
   "Helm, increase to Warp 5."
   "Yes, sir." the helmsman responded.
   After a moment, Cdr. Thompson spoke up from his Tactical helm, "Sir,
they are up to Warp 5.1 and closing."
  "Also," piped up Lt. Cdr. Shaw at Engineering, "the Emergency Warp
Nacelles can only go up to Warp 6. I should have the EGMOR drive up in
about five minutes."
   "Make it sooner if possible, David." Riker responded. Then addressing
the helm, "Ensign, keep us just ahead of them. When they get too close,
nudge up the Warp by .1.  Keep do it to by us some time."
   The helmsman kept the Cavalier ahead of the chase through inspiration
and much heavy presperation. As the Borg ships got close enough to just
surge forward and enclose the Cavalier, they would speed forward just a tad
bit more, making the Borgs have to compensate and try again. This game of
chicken continued for serveral minutes until Shaw spoke up.
   "Sir, we're now at Warp 6 - the maximum rated speed. The emergency
nacelles will automatically shut down in a few minutes. But, I'll have the
EGMOR up in about two."
   "Captain," replied Thompson, "not good enough. They'll have us trapped
by then!"
   "Helm," commanded Riker, "lateral evasive manuevers, but not too radical
- let them get behind us before the next evasion."
   The Cavalier slowly shot left, right, up and down, with the Borgs surely
and steadily following suit. The tension level on the bridge was, by now,
up to the highest it could go. Everyone on the bridge breathed a sigh of
relief when engineer Shaw reported that the EGMOR was ready. But, instead
of ordering a course forward and away - what any sane person would had done
- Riker ordered the unexpected.
   "Maintain lateral evasions. Lay in a course down and back and engage to a
full stop on my mark."
   Riker sat in his command chair without further comment. Although he
couldn't see the faces of his bridge crew, he could almost empatically
sense what was going through his crew's mind. (Good god,) they must be
thinking, (he gone mad!)
   But, there was no comment from the crew. Riker had been successful in
similar situations in the past. They all executed their orders in spite of
their doubts. Call it faith in command.
   Riker watched as his ship once again jerked away from the opening of the
really giant cube outline by the Borg ships. He then barked, "ENGAGE!"
   The Cavalier shot downwards, then slowed back behind the Borg ships.  As
Riker had guessed, the Borg ships were automatically adjusting to the
Cavalier's course changes.
   So, the three top forward ships shot downwards and automatically slowed
down as the Cavalier had done. But the ships behind them weren't able to
react to the head ships in time.
   The Cavalier bridge crew watched in fascination as the Borg ships rammed
into each other. Some pairs of ships exploded as they collided. Most of
them however bumped into each other knocking large chunks off of each
other. About half of these ships exploded from the large loss of mass
comprising their main internal reactors.
   A few of the ships managed to evade and avoid the chain collision. And a
few of the ones that did ram weren't destroyed yet.
   The Cavalier's crew jumped up and cheered as the mass destruction
finished.  The Holoview went off and Thompson brought the sight of the
aftermath on the main viewer. Riker calmed the cheering down just a little
bit.  Then, with a huge grin on his face, he turned to his first officer
and said, "Cdr. Thompson, signal the Borg to surrender!"
^L
--
Thomas L. Burleigh (take your pick:) | InterNet: tlb2665@usl.edu
 University of Southwestern Louisiana| Voice: (318) 232-8298
 Fleming Co.s, Inc.                  |* My opinions are mine alone!  *
 LA Army National Guard              |* You hear me?! They're MINE!! *