Removing the Shroud of Darkness

Posted on Mon Mar 9th, 2020 @ 2:34am by Division Admiral April Dragon & Fleet Captain Racheal Yamaguchi & Fleet Captain Torilla Yamaguchi & Grand Admiral Julia Antilles-Yeager

Mission: Mission 60: Atlas Falls
Location: High Orbit over B Kayor
Timeline: 1730Hrs, Local Time - April 8th, 2392

Right about seventeen hundred thirty hours, local time, several Federation and Akurian ships arrived along with a Borg cube which set off every single alarm in all directions for the second time in two hours, however this time most of the people involved were already informed

Lieutenant Yamaguchi commented. "Preparing to inset into high orbit.. the other ships are doing the same." he commented.

"Thank you El Tee.. Fine flying." McKnight commented with a smile before he turned to Zuko. "Well... This just got stupid." as Nettles turned. "Fleet Admiral Yamaguchi is hailing... She'd like a word skipper."

Zuko raised an Eyebrow. "Well, that was fast, alright answer her."

Nettles nodded. April Yamaguchi's face appeared on the viewscreen. "Zuko... Tell me something... What's with the Cube?... I mean I'm sure you have a reason for its presence and the fact that I have half the Federation screaming blue bloody murder in our general direction at the present time."

Zuko explained himself, though rather simply," Well, you could try hailing the cube itself, but needless to say, they no longer are Borg."

Then before April could respond, three 15 million ton Cardassian Legate Damar Class Cruisers dropped out of slipstream in the system, prompting Zuko to add," Oh and the Cardassians have decided to provide medical assistance as well."

April regarded the display, she noticed the three new Cardassian ships and the massive Borg cube in silence before she turned back to Zuko. "Well... I look forward to reading your after action report." she smiled. "I'm going to go get a cup of coffee... Then I can.. actually make myself useful." she smiled sweetly at Zuko. "Babylon Control out." and with that she tapped the display, it went black as April sighed. "I'm getting more grey hairs thanks to this job..."

James Sommerville turned to April. "Someone should nominate Captain Zuko for a medal... He caught us a Queen and a Cube... We can finally turn the tide against the Borg."

"Sure... go for it." she clearly didn't take it seriously as she replicated herself the cup of coffee she needed as James Sommerville walked out the door, muttering to himself.

April meanwhile went back into the nearby command center. "So.. Julia... Whats with the Cardassians these days?"

"What do you mean?" Julia inquired.

"I mean.. Why are they here... Wanting to help us... Do they even know the meaning of the words 'Humanitarian assistance'?."

"I cannot believe you just said that to me." Antilles-Yeager responded. "That has such an astounding level of ignorance.... Have you not been keeping up with the Cardassians?"

"No... Not my domain."

"Oh dear god... Remind me to have your husband spank you please?"

April regarded the other woman. "You are so reminded. Its been awhile." she paused. "Wait... you know Franklin?"

"I've known him longer then you... and.. remind him that he still owes me .... Its time or rather long past time I collected.." the other woman smiled lasciviously at April. "If you are well behaved, you can join us.."

April blinked. "You bedded my husband?" as if stating the obvious helped.

"Oh calm down.. He was my friend long before he was your husband." Antilles-Yeager responded in a droll tone of voice.

"Why you!" Yamaguchi growled

"You're the one who didn't keep up... I did so... What can I say?" Antilles-Yeager chortled, clearly enjoying herself at the other womans expense.

"Can we please focus... on the Cardassians?"

"What about them?" Antilles-Yeager responded. "You want to talk to them?.... Well.. you have my permission to do so."

Yamaguchi glared as her opposite number with a dark glare as Antilles-Yeager smiled in amusement. "Well... go for it. Don't let me stop you."
she turned to Nevanzi. "Well Nevanzi.. You could always contact them..."

Nevanzi gave both of them a glare, thinking that both of them where acting like children. He then turned to the Akurian comm officer present, Hail both the cube and the cardassians, find out what they are here for.

The officer nodded and first brought him into contact with the Cardassians. The Cardassian officer introduced herself," I am 6th Legate Yukri Karav. I am here to offer Medical assistance wherever you need it."

Nevanzi nodded. "Very well, Ill put you in contact with Division admiral Firespirit, he is coordinating our medical efforts right now."

Yukri nodded and closed the channel, then Nevanzi switched his attention to the borg ship, opening a channel to it.

The response was almost instant. "I am the Borg, can I help you?"

Nevanzi was a little creeped out by the statement however he didn't show it. "There are a couple senior starfleet officers here who want to discuss things with you regarding your sudden appearance."

Yamaguchi heard the female voice as she turned her head. "That cannot be who I think it is.." she said quietly.

Yeager regarded her opposite number. "Who do you think it is?"

"She almost sounds like... my mother.."

"Awww... darling. How could you forget your dear old mother!."

April blinked. "What.... the ... fuck..." she responded. "This is impossible... My mother died.."

"Typical." the Borg responded. "I find your lack of faith in me so deeply disturbing.." a loud sigh could be heard.

"Wait.. hold it." Julia Antilles-Yeager responded. "What are you doing here?"

"The Collective are sundered and I am here to try and save what I can of the Collective, someone might as well have our last hope... Our database is yours..." the Queen intoned with a smile. "Along with my half billion drones.. Every single last Alpha Quadrant citizen the collective has..."

Antilles-Yeager shook her head. "I'm a a loss for words.."

"Don't worry dear... Happens to us all." the Queen replied.

Nevanzi then commented flatly," You know one of you is going to have to explain this to the Federation council and the CiC."

April turned to Julia as the two pointed at each other. "You do it-no you do it." as the two began to overlap each other."

There was a soft sigh from the com system. "You two are acting like children." came the voice of the Borg Queen. "Lest you forget Ladies.. I am still here." as the two continued to bicker. "Akurian Commander.. Could you drop your shields a moment?"

Nevanzi sighed then hit a few commands on the control console. "Yeah your clear."

"You'll have them back in a moment." came the response from the Queen, the two women were still bickering but they suddenly stopped when they dematerialized.

April Yamaguchi found herself in a Borg corridor with no idea of where she was or where anyone else was, two Borg drones looked like they were regenerating as she rounded the corner and went down the hallway.

"Show yourself!" April called aloud.

"Nope... You want to waste time with arguments like little children..." came the response from the Queen which honestly sounded a little on the creepy side. "Oh Julia... I wouldn't go that way..." as a smile graced the face of the Queen.

"Oh I don't have the time for this!" came the response from Antilles-Yeager.

"But you have the right to waste everyone elses time... Including my own... Should I just say 'Sorry boys, deals off. I'm going to go back to the Collective with you two aboard." a loud sigh could be heard. "Are you two prepared to behave or do I need to arrange for something.. a little more elaborate!"

April responded this time. "No... I think you've made your point."

"Have I now...?" came the response as April was suddenly beamed to somewhere else on the cube. April looked around as she recognized an assimilation chamber. "You going to assimilate me now?"

"No.. I want your attention... Do I have it?"

"Yes.." April responded.

"Good... Now that I have your attention... Try and keep up..." she said in a tone that one usually reserved for poorly behaved children who had neither her respect or her affection. "Now.. I am here to gift this cube, the drones on it and a backup of the Collectives entire database to the Federation. The Collective is undone... We have fallen.. poof.. nadda, finito. caput... Do you understand... you can party.. because the Collective will haunt your dreams nevermore."

April tapped the control display, the arms locking her in parted as the tall woman stepped out. "You always did have a rather perverse sense of humor... Where is Admiral Antilles-Yeager?"

"There." as the other woman was suddenly beamed exactly where the Queen wished for her to be moved to. "Now... our time is indeed limited... Because my enemy will soon become your enemy and you have a great deal to do.. both of you so sort it out please and stop wasting the time of everyone involved." and with that the Queen beamed both Yamaguchi and Antilles-Yeager back to the small base where they had been originally.

Yamaguchi regarded the cube on the display. "I need to make some calls..."

"Yes.. as do I." Antilles-Yeager responded. "I'll call.. the council."

"I'll breif the CinC." Yamaguchi turned and quickly departed as Antilles-Yeager paused. "I've never encountered a Queen before.."

Nevanzi remained silent on this latest development, which really could have had better timing.