Resistance

Posted on Wed Jul 1st, 2020 @ 12:32am by Commander Samantha Howard & Captain Shran dh'Klar & Commander Jonathan Grayson & Lieutenant Commander N'Sachzny P'Glosho & Lieutenant Commander Estella Stratton

Mission: The Borg Encounter

Sam initiated the comm call the moment they rematerialised on the platform.
=^=Howard to Captain, can you get a lock on Commander Grayson? We got separated and he didn't beam back with us=^=

Shran looked at Celes who knew instinctively what to do and began trying. "Unable to transport him captain. He is in a highly shielded area. He is also surrounded by dozens of drones according to sensors" she said in a dejected tone.

"Damn..." Shran cursed under his breath.

"Request permission to implement a rescue plan and recovery operation" Sachzny said from her station. She knew the chances of success without further losses would be marginal. If the Borg got hold of the sensitive Starfleet information that Jon knew though, the consequences would be potentially horrendous.

"Agreed," Estella echoed the request, barely managing to keep her voice even. She couldn't just sit idly by and lose another person. Not to the Romulans. Not to the Borg. Not to anyone. The Counselor took a deep breath and glanced between Dr. Howard and the Captain, before looking to Sachzny for support. Jon had years of service under his belt. That alone could prove a danger if the Borg got their hands on him.

"Permission denied" said Shran sternly. Keep us in orbit, keep weapons locked on the Borg vessel. Sachzny, you have the bridge. I'll be in my Ready Room." Shran walked with a purpose, obviously agitated to the Ready Room.

"Understood Captain" Sam replied and nodded to the rest of the Away Team. They would rescue the XO, just not yet.

The Counselor's hand fisted and she bit back what might have been a curt response. To lose any member of the crew to the Borg was unacceptable. Yet, she wanted to trust Shran's judgment. Though, there was no denying that after their most recent mission, Estella questioned a bit.

*On Borg Ship*

Drones grabbed Jon's arms and led him down a series of corridors. He wondered where they were taking him then sighed. He'd find out soon enough. Even as he vowed to fight and not lose himself.

Sachzny felt rather than knew Jon was in trouble, then she heard his message and it pained her greatly. *This is not goodbye, they shall not have you*, she responded. Now once again she must rescue her friend, but this time the danger was far increased and the results of failure would be death itself. She began reading everything in the database about the Borg, then taking her hand she placed it on the console.

Deep within her mind a fountain of knowledge now flowed about the Borg, every advantage every flaw every cause of their demise. Then a small flicker of hope, species 8472. There lay an answer, but could she convince such a species as the Borg that she was 8472?

Jon *heard* Sachzny's reply and it brought him peace. He knew Sachzny and her resolve. He also knew she would leave no stone unturned to rescue him but would it be enough?

The entourage finally stopped and a metallic voice spoke to Jon. " Commander Jonathan Grayson, First Officer of the USS Washington NCC-81533-E. You shall speak for us."

Jon shook his head, "I will not. The Federation will fight you! We've beaten you before and we will again."

"The past is irrelevant. Only the present matters. We will add your own distinctiveness to our own. Your culture will adapt to service us. Resistance is futile." With that a drone extended its fist towards him and injected him with its assimilation tubules and then Jon was led away.

*Aboard the Washington*

Using her connection to Jon, she knew just where to find him. But to make sure Sachzny used the sensors to exactly pin point Jon's location, now all she needed was a diversion. The original away team could provide that, Sachzny was sure they'd want to do that.

She on the other hand would have to mask her normal life sign's, and when scanned produce 8472 life sign's. Those could only be found in the records of a vessel called Voyager, so transferring every little detail to a holodeck she prepared to see and learn about the species called 8472. Suddenly she found that the material she required was marked classified and required the Captain's authorization.

Shran took a sip from his glass and then tossed the glass across the room, the glass shattering as it impacted the wall. This was one of the worst possible scenarios he could imagine. "Computer, pull up all information on the Borg" he said, marching towards his desk.

*Borg Ship*

Jon was led away and into yet another part of the Borg ship. He was placed on a Borg version of a biobed (only after a brief but violent struggle. He was strapped down. Then a drone was at his side with a hypo that was placed to his neck, *Essie! I love you!* It was his last thought before the hypo was activated and the contents inserted into his blood stream. Instantly his skin became ghostly white. His struggles stopped and he lay still. Still part of his mind was unaffected. The link between himself and Sachzny.

Drones hovered and moved around the bed, placing augments on his person. A mechanical arm was placed over his right one. An enhanced eye socket was fitted over his left. Commander Jonathan Grayson was gone. Now there was only Gramolous.

Back on the Washington Sam had her nose deep into the previous medical reports from the finest minds in Starfleet regarding reversing the assimilation process of a Borg. As the hours passed she had a decent idea as to what would be involved, it would be a long and complex procedure and would challenge her medical team and their resources. Ultimately she knew they would be successful, she wouldn't settle for anything else.

Taking a break from her notes she went to inform the Captain of their progress, pressing on the door chime of his ready room and waiting to be allowed entrance into the captain's office.

The door opened, Shran standing face to face with her. "Sorry doctor" he said avoiding running into her. "I assume you wish to provide an update."

" I do Sir. Sickbay is ready and prepped for any rescue mission. We're up to date with the latest Borg reversal procedures and are ready for any altercations with the Borg" Sam announced, trying to read the facial expression on the Captain's face and coming up with 'pissed' and 'determined'.

"Very well. We are getting him back. I just hope you are up to the task of fixing Jon once we get him." Shran moved past her as he came back onto the bridge. "Sachzny, I want you to gather a 6 person team to recover Jon. Take Ayana and whatever other personnel you feel will best help you and bring Jon back. I want weapons all set to different modulations to give you all the best chance possible. I fear this will have to be a smash and grab operation. And expect the unexpected. We will do our best to cripple the Borg vessel prior to you arrival."

*Borg Ship*

Jon rose from the biobed, his augments complete. He walked with machine like precision. It was time to contact the Washington and tell them their fate. He reached an open area and a viewscreen activated. He could see the Washington before him. He hailed the ship and patiently waited for a reply.

Her link with Jon had become a burden and a help now, she knew and felt him being altered, but could also keep him located and if required inform the Doctor as to what to expect.

Sam had lingered on the bridge for a few moments after her brief discussion with the Captain, and was shocked to see the image of the newly assimilated Commander Grayson appear on the viewscreen. Her expression was neutral although her heart ached to see a friend have to endure so much. There was the occasional tiny gasp unable to be stifled heard from around the bridge.

Jon/Gramolous shifted his gaze to Samantha. "Howard, Samantha. Chief Medical Officer." He said in a stiff monotone. His gaze moved again and it found Essie. "Stratton, Estella, Chief Counselor... Essie." Again the stiff monotone. "I am Gramolus of the Borg. Continued resistance is futile." He stated and awaited a reply.

Estella had turned to follow Sam when a familiar voice filled the bridge. It was Jon's voice. Yet, she couldn't bring herself to turn back around to face the screen. Not without first whispering a prayer and making the sign of the cross so as to brace herself for what she feared she was about to see. When she did, the Counselor's breath caught in her throat and she had to put a steadying hand on the console near her to keep herself from crumbling to the floor.

Sam moved over to Essie, placing a supportive hand on her shoulder. The tone in Jon's voice was chilling. All of his knowledge about them, about the Washington, about Starfleet was now with the Borg. They'd have to pull something very unique out of the hat to rescue him.

The Counselor squared her shoulders and brought a hand up to cover Sam's, which she gave a small squeeze. It took everything in her not to go to her knees, or cry when she heard Jon use his pet name for her with that hollow tone. Estella glanced toward Shran, waiting to see what he would do or say.

Sachzny had returned to the bridge to gain access via the Captain to the information she wanted, the view that greeted her greatly saddened her. Her closest friend had been abused, turned into an automaton a puppet for aliens. As Shran spoke to her, she resolved to reclaim her friend.

She touched Shran's shoulder to gain his attention, "I both require and need you to allow me access to this information, so I can formulate some kind of action plan to recover the Commander". Her mind was shielded against Jon's thoughts, even she no longer trusted the being on screen. But with care she could tap his mind, and remove vital information on what the Borg intended.

Jon stared impassively at Shran, seemingly taking no notice of Sachzny. He spoke again. In the same hollow, chilling monotone. "Captain Shran dh'Klar, surrender your vessel. You and your crew will be assimilated to serve us. We will add your distinctiveness and that of the crew to our own. Resistance is futile."

"Resistance my ass" Sam cursed underneath her breath, glancing towards the Captain to gauge his reaction. As always he was as cool as a cucumber, and Sam drew strength from his demeanor. He had a plan, she was sure of it.

Jon's gaze swung fractionally to Samantha. "Doctor, your emotional outburst is pointless. You will be assimilated." He looked back at Shran. "Lower your shields Captain." His voice cold and inhuman.

Sam had the decency to blush as Jon responded to her words. She bit her tongue and kept her words to herself despite the overwhelming urge to say "I'd like to see you try". She kept the words within her mind and took a deep breath to calm herself. It hurt to see Jon as a Borg but she also knew she had the ability to reverse the process once they'd rescued him. That thought alone provided comfort.

The Washington rocked under the barrage of Borg weaponry, everyone grasping whatever they could to remain upright. The onslaught was relentless even with the Washington now returning fire.

"Shield failing Captain" Came the call from the rear of the bridge, then with a glimmer of a Borg transporter the Captain himself vanished. Sam shared a shocked look with her fellow senior staff. Now they were screwed.

Estella averted her eyes from the open communication's screen as the Captain disappeared in a flash of blue light and Jon spoke to them again in that same hollow tone. Her fingers though bit into her palms, leaving small crescent marks. One way or another, they were all getting out of this alive.

Jon spoke again. "Your Captain is ours. We will add his distinctness to ours." The tone cold as well as satisfied. Surrender." He demanded.

Sam paused for a moment, considering the discussion she had had with Sachzny and Estella in sickbay a few minutes ago. The Captain wasn't privy to that plan, neither was Jon which now worked in their favour. The Borg would anticipate a rescue mission, but would they expect this kind of rescue mission?

"Over my dead body" Sam replied, stepping forward and regarding the drone that was Jon with a cold glare. With a nod to the comms officer the connection was cut, allowing those that were left to speak freely.

"I want you two to take an away team, just yourselves and 2 security officers. I'll give you all the inoculations so you'll be safe against the mental side of assimilation. I'll try and keep close so we can beam you back with Jon and the Captain" Howard said, regarding the remaining senior officers with confidence " You can do this - go bring them home"

The Counselor's hands relaxed at her sides and she gave a nod. "Whatever you deem necessary, Doctor," Estella replied with a note of anger and resolve.

On the Borg ship Jon stared impassively at the blank viewscreen. The Federation crew would soon join join the ranks of Borg drones.