If anybody had told Walter Lockridge that they would actually be able to evacuate 25,000 people in the limited time available to the GS1 crew he’d have laughed himself into a hernia. But damn if they weren’t doing it. Ron Boutin and Mike Vollmer both knew of a method to covert standard cargo transporters so that they would be capable of beaming human beings. They were working furiously to covert as many cargo transporters as they could for that purpose. So far they’d converted three and so GS1 was able to beam a couple of hundred people at a time to waiting starships sent by The Bajorans.

       In addition, A surprise helping hand had come 3 hours into the evacuation, when the Pirate Raider fleet led by the notorious Hevain ap Lothari had simply de-cloaked at a distance and offered to help evacuate. Lockridge had been about to tell them to go to hell, when Captain Mallory had stepped up beside him and accepted their help, promising them amnesty for the duration of the crisis – as long as neither he or his people tried anything. Lothari had agreed, although he didn’t sound happy about it. Once the connection was closed, Mallory had then muttered something about it being a shame they couldn’t spare anyone to go undercover as a refugee on one of the ships to find out what they could.

       Lockridge stood at his station in the middle of Command & Control, the brains of GS1. His commbadge was open to half a dozen channels as he was juggling numerous tasks. He been forced to pull a dozen crewmen from other departments and press them into service over at Flight Control. It was a major miracle that they hadn’t had a collision between starships although they’d come too damn close so many times that Lockridge simply gave up count. The major thing was that the evacuation was going well and it looked like they would make their deadline.

       And then Lockridge had the sinking feeling that the problems would really start then. He’d served with Captain Mallory and Commander Fotheran for some time now. He’d always admired their mutual confidence and daring. And Wally Lockridge had always been the first to step to their side when it came time for action.

       But this was different. Lockridge could see it for himself. This was the first time Captain Mallory and Commander Fotheran were facing The Borg.

       They were scared.

       And Lockridge had never seen either one of them scared before. Until it came to The Borg. Not that Lockridge blamed either one of them. The Borg scared the felgercarb out of him as well.

       Ronald Boutin walked up and handed his longtime friend a PADD. “Mike and I have converted two more cargo transporters for public evacuation. We can’t convert anymore than that. There’s too much vital Starfleet technology that has to be beamed out of here.”

       “Hey, I’m just glad you guys did what you could. We’ll meet the deadline, sure enough.” Lockridge replied. “Thanks, Ron.”

       Boutin nodded, started to turn away but was held up by Lockridge’s hand on his arm. “Hey, Ron.. lemme ask you something.”

       “Sure, Wally. What’s up?”

       “This isn’t going to end good, is it?”

       Boutin frowned slightly, which only emphasized his owlish appearance. “What do you mean by that, Wally?”

       “Captain Mallory and Commander Fotheran. They’re not acting the way they usually act.”

       “And how would you expect them to act, Wally? We’re talking about THE BORG here..” Boutin motioned for Lockridge to step to one side of the hysterically busy C&C where they could talk privately.

       “Wally, Captain Mallory and Denys are two of the most individual individuals I’ve ever met. You know what I mean?”

       Lockridge nodded. Indeed he did. Boutin continued.

       “For such strong willed individuals as them, The Borg is a whole lot scarier to them. Captain Mallory and Denys pride themselves on their uniqueness, their humanity. For them, the most important thing is that they are both one of a kind and can’t be duplicated. The Borg threatens to take that away. The Borg would strip Captain Mallory and Denys of what makes them special and unique. As they would all of us.”

       Lockridge cocked his head as he regarded his friend. “You too, Ron?”

       “I am unique in this universe. As you are. As Felicia is. Our uniqueness in The Borg Collective would go only to serve their goal of assimilating other species. I wouldn’t like to see that happen.” And suddenly, Boutin smiled. “And I don’t think we’d still be friends, Wally.”

       Lockridge smiled back. “I gotcha, buddy. Let’s make sure that doesn’t happen, okay?”

       Boutin reached out a hand to grip Lockridge’s shoulder. “In all the years we’ve served with Captain Mallory and Denys have they ever let us down?”

       “No…no, they haven’t. You got a point there.”

       “Then do what I do. Trust them. I haven’t seen anything yet this universe thrown at Captain Mallory and Denys Fotheran they couldn’t beat. And that includes The Borg.”

       “I guess that’s why you’re going to be my best man,” Lockridge said, his grin increasing. “You always know the right thing to say and the right time to say it. I hope you’re as eloquent when it comes to the toast at the wedding.”

       Boutin’s smiled increased. “You asked her, then? She said yes?”

       “No, dammit! When I have had the time? I was going to ask her at the party but The Borg had to spoil it all!” Lockridge snapped. “Dammit, Ron..I had everything planned and then this had to happen. How is somebody supposed to plan for a life when at any minute you’ve got something like The Borg or V’ger or The Founders or The Great Terror or WHATEVER just pops up at any moment?”

       Boutin took his friend by the shoulder and turned him around firmly to face him. “Walter…that’s exactly WHY you do plan for your life.”

       Both their commbadges spoke: ||/\||Lieutenants Lockridge, Goodluck and Boutin please report to Captain Mallory’s office on the double||/\||

       Lockridge groaned. “Now what?” he tossed his PADDS on his desk and feel into step beside Boutin as they wended their way through the rushing throng of Starfleet servicemen, junior officers and technicians. There was a lot of dismantling being done as only whatever technology that was absolutely necessary to keep the base operational would remain. That in itself didn’t seem like much of a vote of confidence to Lockridge.

       A scowling Felicia Goodluck caught up with them as they boarded one of the lifts that would take to the uppermost section of C&C where Captain Mallory’s office was located. “I’ve got nothing but respect for the Captain but I hope like hell this isn’t going to be just a pep talk. I’m busier than a Bolian belly dancer down there.”

       “That bad?”

       “Bad isn’t the word for it!” Tiny as she was, Felicia’s anger seemed to make her swell up. “Naturally somebody let the word leak back to The Alpha Quadrant that The Borg are on their way. Since then every single communication channel I’ve got has been jammed with hysterical transmissions from people wanting to know have their family members and friends been evacuated yet.” Felicia’s anger subsided a bit. “Not that I can blame them. But the media people refuse to stick to their properly designated channels and they keep piggybacking onto Federation channels trying to get information which further slows things down. And if that wasn’t enough I’ve got Starfleet Headquarters demanding situation updates every five minutes.”

       “So pass them onto Captain Mallory or Denys.”

       “I can’t!”she cried in frustration. “They’ve both been sealed up inside Captain Mallory’s office for the past hour and she’s refused any and all transmissions. She says they’re planning strategy and can’t be disturbed!”

       “You should have passed them on to Colonel Dianora. She’d have straightened them out.”

       “Hell, she straightened me out. She stared at me with those creepy blue eyes of her and told me in no uncertain terms that she and her Marines were busy.” Felicia shivered. “She always did freak me out.”

       The lift stopped the three disembarked. Boutin chuckled. “Why? She’s never done anything to you.”

       “Besides those creepy eyes? Her height. Women have no business being that tall.”

       Boutin and Lockridge stifled their laughter as the door to Captain Mallory’s door whooshed open at their approach. Apparently she had been expecting them and had unsealed the door and given it orders to automatically open on their approach, identifying them by their unique commbadge signatures. The three quickly entered and lined up in front of her desk. Patience O’Malley was already there they saw with some surprise. She was standing at attention and they lined up beside her.

       Eve came around the wide, kidney shaped desk, her hands clasped behind her. Fotheran rose from his chair and also stood, hands behind him. Lockridge wondered what had happened now. Even Fotheran looked grim as a tombstone.

       “I’ve asked the four of you in here because even though we’ve got a crisis on our hand there is a situation that needs to be resolved. It has to be done in a manner that both Mr. Fotheran and I dislike but given the circumstances we have no time for anything more elaborate.”

       Lockridge tried to read Fotheran’s face, hoping that maybe he could get some sort of sign as to what exactly what the hell this was about. A hunk of dilithium had more expression than Fotheran’s face.

       Eve stopped in front of her four officers and looked even at their faces before continuing: “Each one of you have served under my command with noting but distinction. Each one of you have given me nothing but your best and far beyond that. When Commander Fotheran and I have undertaken missions that were questionable, you four did not hesitate to stand at our sides even though some of those missions might have ended in disgrace or even death.

       “There’s something I have for each of you that has long been overdue. Mr. Fotheran and I had wanted to have a ceremony befitting this moment but-“Eve broke off and her hands came from behind her back. In them were four small black boxes and she handed one each to Lockridge, Boutin, Patience and Felicia. They opened them. Boutin and Patience said nothing. Lockridge grinned widely and Felicia’s lower jaw flopped open.

       Inside the boxes were separate sets of gleaming gold and onyx pips. The pips of Lieutenant Commander.

       Eve stepped forward swiftly to shake their hands and give them a kiss on the cheek, adding “Congratulations!” as she did so. A now grinning Fotheran added his handshake as well.

       “Had you going there for a minute, didn’t we?” Fotheran’s grin was malicious as he accepted a hug from Lockridge as well.

       “You like trying to give people a heart attack, don’t you?” Felicia chided, playfully punching him in the arm. She turned to Eve and in a more subdued and respectful voice said, “Ma’am, I think I can say I speak for us all: Thank you so much. And not just for these-“she held up the box of pips. “But for an extraordinary experience that we’ll all remember and treasure for the rest of our lives.”

       “However short they may be,” Fotheran muttered. Patience whacked him gently upside the head. And considering that she was capable of bending a tri-steel bar into a pretzel shape, her control was admirable. Otherwise Fotheran’s head would still be bouncing off the walls.

       “You didn’t get anything you didn’t deserve. All of you. I’m just glad I was able to get Admiral Riker to authorize the promotions before he went through the wormhole. The necessary paperwork had already been processed and all I was waiting for was confirmation from Starfleet Headquarters. Fortunately Admiral Riker is quite used to doing things irregularly and he approved the promotions on his authority.” Eve said seriously. “I’ve served with quite a few crews in my time and I can say honestly that you’re the best.” Eve’s eyes took them all in, shining with pride. “And if this does prove to be our last battle together then I want you four to be remembered with the highest rank possible. The ranks you deserved.”

       The room was silent for a minute with the emotion that suddenly filled it as the six people stood looking at each other, realizing that this might be the last time they would be together like this. Characteristically, it was Fotheran who broke the mood.

       “Okay, that’s enough! You got your baubles; now go earn ‘em! Back to work, everybody.”

       “When do we report to ColdFire, Commander?” Boutin asked.

       “In exactly one hour. Except for Felicia and Patience.”

       Felicia and Lockridge both halted in their tracks. They looked at each other then at Fotheran. “Denys…I mean, Commander Fotheran-“

       “It was my decision, Wally.” Eve said firmly. “Patience, Felicia, Victor and Dianora are all going to remain on GS1 while the rest of us go to confront the pyramid in ColdFire. The four of them are going to be in charge of the defense of the station.” Eve’s voice became slightly sterner. “Patience and Dianora are going to be on the frontline actively fighting off any attack. That means they’re the most at risk of being assimilated.”

       It was Boutin who got it first. “You want Felicia and Victor to be well clear so that if necessary, they can activate the self-destruct and blow up GS1.”

       Fotheran reached out and placed a hand on Lockridge’s shoulder. “You know what’s at stake here, Wally. The Borg can’t be allowed to have the base under any circumstances.”

       The box with the pips in his hand suddenly felt heavy as lead and his throat felt packed with cotton as he said; “Yes, sir.” He abruptly whirled and stalked out of the office, Felicia close behind him.

       Boutin said to Fotheran, “He’ll be okay, sir. It’s just that…well; he and Felicia thought that if the end came…they’d at least be together.”

       “I know. Tell him I’m sorry, okay?”

       Boutin nodded miserably and left the office, passing a tall, raven-haired woman dressed in the uniform of a Starfleet Marine Colonel who entered. She was fully as tall as the six foot Denys Fotheran but due to the painfully straight way she carried herself she appeared to be even taller. Her face was beautiful but angular, harsh. There was no softness in her amazingly light clear blue eyes. Her hair hung as straight as her spine down her back. Dianora of Thymiscria raised an already arched eyebrow in the direction of Eve Mallory as she said; “Something I missed?”

       “Nothing you’d be interested in. It’s got to do with feelings,” Fotheran answered. Dianora merely gave him a frosty glare and handed Eve a PADD.

       “My Marines are ready, Captain. Here are the plans for their deployment at the critical areas of the base. “

       “How many can I have for ColdFire?”

       “I’ve assigned you a dozen. If you need more-“

       “No. You’ll need them more than I will. Whatever’s going to happen up there is going to happen fast.” Eve handed the PADD to Fotheran. “Anything you’d care to add, Commander?”

       “Nah. I’m sure that with her usual disgustingly efficient perfection, The Warrior Princess has everything covered. I’m going to go make a last sweep of the base and make sure everything’s been done. C’mon, Patience and keep me company.”

       “Commander Fotheran.” Dianora’s voice had enough authority in it to stop a bloodmad Klingon in his tracks. Fotheran stopped and looked over his shoulder.

       “Yes, Colonel?”

       “It’s well known that I have little liking for you. But I do respect you and I respect your friendship with Captain Mallory. I trust you to keep her as safe as you possibly can during your encounter with The Borg.”

       “You just be sure and keep your ass unassimilated, Warrior Princess, so we can continue disliking each other well into our old age.” Fotheran left the office, obviously well pleased with having the last word.

       Eve grinned as she sat on the edge of her desk. “After all this time you should know better than to try and match witticisms with Denys.” She commented wryly.

       “I was not. I was stating what is in my heart. Which under normal circumstances I would rather rip out of my own breast than reveal to that thief.” Dianora came closer took Eve into her long well muscled arms and bent her head down. The office was silent for long minutes as their kiss had to communicate days, months and even years of passion and love into a painfully short amount of time. But at last it had to end and Eve rested her head against Dianora’s soft bosom and sighed. Dianora stroked her red hair and said softly; “You are greatly troubled.”

       “More than you could ever know, Di.”

       “You think we go to meet our gods this day?”

       “No. I think that…I think..” Eve suddenly broke off and stepped back. She took Dianora’s hands in her own and said, “Di…suppose you found out something truly awful about me?”

       Dianora suddenly smiled and it was astounding at how her face transformed from such a severe countenance to one of overwhelming joy and love. “I know all there is to know about you, beloved. There is nothing in your heart that I do not know and rejoice in the knowing.”

       “There are many things you don’t know about me, Di. Trust me on this. Some of these things may be revealed quite soon.”

       “Does it concern The Borg?”

       “Yes. Yes it does.”

       “Do you wish to tell me now?”

       “I want to…but I’m afraid. So very afraid. I don’t know what you’ll say or do or-“

       Dianora hushed her with another kiss. When it was over she stepped back and said quietly; “Go and meet your enemy and confront your fear, beloved. And when this day’s battle is done you will either tell me here on GS1 or in the world beyond as we lie on the golden banks of The Elysian River. But have no fear on what I will think or do. I love you.” Dianora softly kissed her once more. “And now, I have my duties and you have yours.”

       Eve watched her go, eyes shining with tears as Dianora left her office. Once alone she wiped her eyes and took in a deep breath. Well, that was it, then. There were no more steps to take except for the last one. She tapped her commbadge: “Mallory to ColdFire”

       ||/\||Vollmer here, Captain||/\||

       “Beam me directly to the bridge, Mike. I’m going to supervise final preparations from there. We ready for departure?”

       ||/\||Yes, ma’am||/\||

       “Good. As soon as Denys is finished down here and beams aboard we’re going to depart. Have Mr. Grunnig lay in an intercept course. We’re not going to wait for The Borg to come to us. We’re going to them.”

C H A P T E R   S I X