Newsgroups: alt.fan.q,alt.startrek.creative Path: tivoli.tivoli.com!geraldo.cc.utexas.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!howland.reston.ans.net!ix.netcom.com!netcom.com!aleph From: aleph@netcom.com (Aleph Press) Subject: The Game Board (VOY, Q) Pt. 1 Message-ID: Organization: NETCOM On-line Communication Services (408 261-4700 guest) Date: Sun, 26 Mar 1995 02:45:23 GMT Lines: 206 Sender: aleph@netcom.netcom.com Xref: tivoli.tivoli.com alt.fan.q:1256 alt.startrek.creative:7283 This story is by Scott Gastineau, not by me. Send all e-mail and comments to Scott at gastisc@wkuvx1.wku.edu. Part 1 --An opening shot is scene of the Starship Voyager moving through space as-- --the voice of Captain Janeway is heard as she enters an update into her-- --captain's log.-- Catherine Janeway: Star date 49567.8. We are presently moving through the Delta Quadrant at top warp speed, as we have been doing for the past few weeks now. The engines have performed extremely well so far, and Chief Engineer Torres reports no problems with the ship's propulsion systems. All in all, I would have to rate the Voyager's performance as being excellent despite the stresses that have already placed upon its unexperienced systems. The crew has also handled itself extremely well, somehow escaping, or simply postponing, a case of Beta Quadrant doldrums. They persever and perform there duties with professional care, or even enthusiasm when talk of a spacial anomaly is in the air -- an anomaly that could provide a faster route home. We believe that we may have located one not far off of our present course. In asection of space that Mr. Neelix has insisted he has passed through many times, a star has been located which he has told us should not be where it is. --The view changes to inside the ship, just infront of one of the turbo-- --lifts. Commander Chakotay is present and seen casually parting with-- --crewmen headed towards there duty stations.-- Chakotay: I have to report to the bridge. I'll see you later. Janeway: (Janeway's voice over a commlink) Janeway to Commander Chakotay, report to the bridge. Chakotay: I'm on my way, Captain. (Chakotay speaks as he enters the turbo lift) Chakotay out. (Turbo lift doors close) Bridge. (The turbo lift pulls him upwards, but then stops with a jolt) New star ships. (pause) Computer what's wrong with the turbo lift? Computer voice: Turbo Lift One is has stopped moving. Chakotay: I know that, computer. Why has it stopped. Computer voice: Cause unknown. Chakotay: (Taps this Comm Badge) Chakotay to Quartermaster Department, Shipfitting division. Shipfitting: This is ship fitting. Chakotay: Turbo Lift Number One has broken down. I want you to get right on it. Shipfitting: We'll have you out ASAP, Commander. Chakotay: I remember how to climb a ladder; I just want this turbo lift working again. Shipfitting: It will be up and running before you know it, Commander. --On the bridge, the turbo lift door opens, and Chakotay climbs up through it-- Chakotay: I wouldn't suggest using Turbo Lift One. Janeway: I'll take your word for it, Commander. Chakotay: (Takes his place) Should I assume that we've reached sensor range of mysterious star? Janeway: Almost. We'll be within sensor range in less than one minute. Neelix: Within sensor range of what? It's nothing more than some type of reflection. Or maybe its even pirates baiting a trap for whomever tries to investigate. Chakotay: There's a lot of empty space around that star. It's not a very good location for pirates to set up shop. Neelix: All that I know is that I've been through this stretch of space about a hundred times. Never once was there a star here, or even the makings of star. Janeway: Then perhaps what we're seeing is a star on the other side of a worm hole. A worm hole that could bring us closer to home. Kim: The star is within sensor range, Captain. Janeway: Put it on the screen, Mr. Kim. Kim: Aye, Captain. --A red blur appears on the viewing screen-- Janeway: Why are we not getting a clear picture, Ensign? Kim: We are. It appears to be a red dwarf star surrounded by a thick gaseous cloud. Tuvok: I should point out that a miniature nebula is as of yet an undiscovered celestial phenomenon anywhere else in the charted galaxy. Neelix: That's not supposed to be here either. Janeway: Bring us in closer Mr. Paris. I want a full sensor sweep. Paris: Yes, Captain. Kim: (puzzled) Captain, sensors are picking up another ship between us and the star. Neelix: Pirates, what did I tell you? (to Tuvok) What did I tell them, Mr. Vulcan? Pirates. Janeway: Yellow alert. What's your analysis, Ensign Kim? Kim: It appears-- well, it appears to be a Federation ship, Galaxy class. Chakotay: Are you sure? Kim: No, but that's what sensor's show. Neelix: Is there anyway that another of you Federation ships might have found out where you were and came looking for you? Chakotay: No, the most likely explanation is that this is some kind of trick. Tuvok: Commander, although trickery is the most probable explanation, it is still itself highly improbable due to the general lack of knowledge about Federation ships to be had in the Delta Quadrant. Janeway: Bring us closer to that ship, Mr. Paris. Put it on the viewer. I want positive identification. For now, open hailing frequencies. Kim: No answer to our hail, Captain. The unidentified ship is not moving, but its shields and weapons are powered up. Janeway: Full shields. Drop us out of warp and park us right next to the other ships hull. Paris: You've got it, Captain. --Voyager comes to a stop directly next the other ship.-- Janeway: (Watching the other ship on the monitor) I recognize that ship. Chakotay: Who doesn't recognize that ship? Kim: Computer confirms identification. It's the Enterprise, Captain. I don't know how, but it's definitely the Enterprise. -- Close up of Enterprise-D with Voyager-- Janeway: Are there any life forms aboard that thing. Kim: Over a thousand. It's carrying a full compliment. Janeway: Hail them again. Kim: Still no answer, Captain Janeway. Chakotay: Is there any sign of damage that could explain a downed communications system? Kim: No Captain. It seems to be in peak condition. Neelix: You people are acting like this Innerprise is some type of ghost ship. Kim: That's "En-ter-prise," and it is. Janeway: They may still be in some type of trouble. Perhaps they're all incapacitated due to some new disease. Is there any way that we can send a boarding party onto that ship? Tuvok: Negative Captain. Our transporters are incapable of beaming through the Enterprise's shields. Kim: Captain, I'm reading another ship approaching from the direction of that star. It doesn't match anything in our database. It's less than the size of a shuttle craft and I'm reading two life forms aboard. Tuvok: The Enterprise is turning to meet the the approaching ship. Janeway: So there is someone activity going on inside after all. Hold our present position and go to red alert. --The small ship, looking much like a flashlight, approached the Enterprise.-- --The Enterprise fires a phaser beam at it, but the smaller ship's shields-- --hold. When the small ship grows close enough, it emits a strong light-- --from its forward section that covers the entire Enterprise. The light-- --fades away.-- Tuvok: The Enterprise's fore and aft shields are dropping. --The Enterprise fires again and this time destroys the small craft.-- Kim: The smaller craft has been destroyed, Captain. Tuvok: The Enterprise can't maintain its shields They're failing. Chakotay: That ship was on a suicide run. It's mission was to disable those shields. Tuvok: The smaller craft was obviously no match for the weapons that it was facing. I believe that it was specifically designed and built for its mission. Janeway: Someone is willing to sacrifice a lot to disable the Enterprise's defenses. There were two people aboard that ship. Mr. Neelix, can you identify it? Neelix: What? Janeway: The ship that was just destroyed, Mr. Neelix. Can you identify it? Neelix: Me? Do I know that ship? Uh, no. Tuvok: An away team can now safely beam aboard the Enterprise. Janeway: Assemble an away team of security personnel immediately, Tuvok. Kim: Too late, Captain. The Enterprise is powering its impulse engines. It's pulling away. --Enterprise moves forward-- Kim: They're out of transporter range, Captain. Janeway: Mr. Paris, match speed and follow that ship. We're not going to lose it. Paris: Setting course. Engaging impulse engines. --As the Voyager begins to move forward, it is struck by a jolt. Lights-- --flicker on the bridge-- Janeway: What was that, Ensign? Are we under fire? Kim: I don't know, Captain. Paris: It's like we just passed through a brick wall that we didn't notice notice before. Janeway: Full stop. Give we a view from the stern of the ship. --On the view screen, they see a symmetrical grid made of lines of green-- --light behind the ship-- Kim: It's a force field, Captain. It wasn't there before. Janeway: Or maybe we just didn't see it. The Enterprise was on the same side of this barrier as we are now, wasn't it. Paris: Yes, Captain. Janeway: That goes a long way toward explaining why the shield breaking craft didn't attack us as well. Take us back through, Mr. Paris. Pairs: Turning about, Captain. Engaging impulse engines again. --Voyager bumps against the force field.-- Paris: We're not making it back with the same engine power that we used to come through earlier. Janeway: Increase engine power all the way up. Kim: Force field is still holding, Captain. Paris: This isn't working. Janeway: Fire phasers. Tuvok: Firing. No effect. Kim: Field has changed zero point zero percent. Tuvok: Even with maximum possible effect, a photon torpedo would not be sufficient to break through the field. Multiple torpedoes might be sufficient. Janeway: I hate it when this happens. Fire two photons simultanieously. Tuvok: Still no effect, Captain. Janeway: Full stop. How far does the field reach? Kim: All the way to sensor range, Captain. It's a two-dimensional plane that divides were we are from where we were. Paris: We can crawl in, but we can't crawl out. Chakotay: Captain, I would like to lead an away team onto the Enterprise while its shields are still down. I can take a shuttle craft, while the Voyager stays here and tries to figure out how to break through that force field. Janeway: Agreed. Chakotay: Mr. Tuvok, you're with me. (Makes his way towards the turbo lift) Janeway: Be careful Commander. It looks like there's a war going on out there, and a shuttle craft isn't much cover. Chakotay: I'm always careful. Tuvok: Commander, I do not suggest using that-- Chakotay: (Steps into turbo Lift One, then turns around) The crewmen in shipfitting work fast, Mr. Tuvok. --Shuttle craft is seen leaving the Voyager-- Newsgroups: alt.fan.q,alt.startrek.creative Path: tivoli.tivoli.com!geraldo.cc.utexas.edu!cs.utexas.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!ix.netcom.com!netcom.com!aleph From: aleph@netcom.com (Aleph Press) Subject: The Game Board (VOY, Q) Pt. II Message-ID: Organization: NETCOM On-line Communication Services (408 261-4700 guest) Date: Sun, 26 Mar 1995 02:48:28 GMT Lines: 194 Sender: aleph@netcom.netcom.com Xref: tivoli.tivoli.com alt.fan.q:1257 alt.startrek.creative:7284 This story is by Scott Gastineau, not by me. Send all e-mail and comments to Scott at gastisc@wkuvx1.wku.edu. Part 2 --Scene change to the Conference Room where all the remaining senior-- --staff have met to exchange ideas about the situation.-- B'elanna Torres: For the last hour and a half, we've thrown everything we had at it. (Points the the field on a monitor) From our most high tech ideas to our most low tech ideas, nothing worked. Not a techion beam, not a static warp shell, not a pulse of ionized particles. Even the phasers and photons failed to produce a reaction. It's the most frustrating problem that I've ever been assigned. Paris: Can't we just find the power source and take that out? Every force field has a power source. Janeway: Not this one, Mr. Paris. Torres: The energy flow is coming from no identifiable direction. The power isn't coming from anywhere. Janeway: Perhaps a fifth dimensionally located power source, then. Torres: I suppose that's possible, but it would take a huge distribution device wherever that power source is. Furthermore, we can't do anything about if its located outside our universe. Voice: Captain Janeway, this is the bridge. Janeway: Janeway here. Voice: We've received a strange message through sub space on the Federation frequency. It's only audio, and we thought that you would want to hear it. Janeway: Yes, I'll take it here. Message: A nice move Number two, but I'm not going to fall for the ridiculous notion that a real Federation star ship just happened into the game board in the Delta Quadrant. You've known me long enough that you ought to have realized I wasn't going to be distracted. The Voyager will be destroyed just like the rest of your pieces. Paris: Someone definitely knows we're here. Janeway: I recognize that voice from some records shown at a Star Fleet briefing a while back. Computer, run a vocal matching test for this recorded voice against any all alien voices in your database. Computer: Testing. Match has been found with ninety-five percent accurate match. Alien's name is Q. --Scene change to aboard the shuttle craft-- Tuvok: We are nearing transporter range with the Enterprise, Commander. Chakotay: Good, it took us long enough to catch up with it. (looks behind him) Men, set you phasers to heavy stun and prepare to be beamed aboard. Tuvok: The Enterprise is slowing down, Commander. The Enterprise has now come to a full stop. Chakotay: Tuvok, what is that infront of the Enterprise? Tuvok: Sensors show another force field, identical to the first. Chakotay: But now, instead of being behind us, its above us. What is it's position relative to the force field we encountered on the Voyager? Tuvok: The force fields lay in a exact ninety degree angle in relation to each other. Chakotay: I don't think that they are two different force fields anymore. It think that it's one large force field shaped like a cube. Tuvok: That would place us inside the cube. Chakotay: And the miniature nebula in the center. We're going to have to investigate that place, later. (gets up and Tuvok follows) What's you rating, Mr. Jaroslav? Jaroslav: I'm a crewman first class, Commander. Chakotay: Do you think that you can monitor us, work the transporter, and if need pilot the shuttle craft at the same time? Jaroslav: Definitely, Commander. Chakotay: Then energize. --Chakotay, Tuvok, and three other security personnel are beamed inside one-- --of the cargo bays of the Enterprise-- Chakotay: Chakotay to shuttle craft. Can you read me? Jaroslav: Affirmative, Commander. Chakotay: We're inside a cargo bay, and we're now going to try to make our way to the bridge. Keep a transporter lock on us at all times. Jaroslav: Yes sir. Chakotay: Chakotay out. (Chakotay waves for the others to follow him) --The five make there way through the halls and personal quarters-- David: It thought that sensors showed this ship had a full crew aboard. I wonder why we haven't seen anyone. Tuvok: There is a way to answer your question Crewman David. Enterprise Computer, beside the members of this party, where are the rest of the occupants of this craft located? Computer: All personnel are at their assigned work stations. All Children are located in the nursery and classrooms. Tuvok: It is illogical to have all three shifts working simultaneously. Chakotay: Not if you're being commanded by a slave driver. --Group enters a turbo lift-- Chakotay: Bridge. (turbo lift rises) We still don't know what to expect when we reach the bridge, so don't fire unless I say so. (turbo lift stops) --a small device that looks like a sprinkler in the middle of the turbo-- --lift ceiling fires five phaser blasts down at the group, disintegrating-- --their hand phasers. As they grab their hands in pain, the turbo lift-- --door open revealing the bridge. No one seems to notice their presence.-- Chakotay: (steps out first and is immediately followed by the others) (to no one particular) Your turbo lifts are even worse than ours. Tactical Officer: We are not authorized to communicate with the enemy. Chakotay: Why od you consider us your enemy? (no answer) David: (in a half-whisper to Tuvok) Sir, all of these bridge officers are exactly the same person, like they're clones. Tuvok: There is no need to inform me of the obvious, Crewman. (looking closely at the person working comm) Fascinating. Chakotay: (to whomever is listening) We are from the Federation ship USS Voyager! Does anyone understand?! Guy in Captain's Chair: There's no need to shout. Commander Chakotay, I presume? Chakotay: Yes, I am Chakotay. --Guy in captain's chair rises and turns around so he can be seen-- --he is Q in his red Star Fleet uniform-- Q: (stands and tugs the front of the uniform downward) I am Q. (pause) Chakotay: Q? (he knows who Q is, but he's still a little shocked) Q: You were expecting perhaps Baldy? Chakotay: I was expecting an apology for blasting our hands. Q: It was your fault for assuming that you could simply walk aboard my bridge fully armed, or otherwise carrying some virus with which you would infect my entire crew. Chakotay: Why would we purposefully do such a thing? Q: I never said that you knew about it. I'm quite sure that you think you have nothing to do with the game and that you came aboard this ship on your own free will. That is why I had the turbo lifts refitted to destroy any artificial weapondry brought aboard the bridge and sanitize any passengers carrying biological weapons. Tuvok: We have heard of you before, Q. Q: There are very few beings in this universe that haven't, Lt. Tuvok. Tuvok: If you are as powerful as you claim, then from whom do you fear attack? Q: Q2. Tuvok: We do not understand this. Q: You're not just whistling Dixie, either. You can't even imagine how much you don't understand. Chakotay: You're also supposed to be omniscient. Why don't you know whether or not we were sent by this Q2. Q: Omniscience of a member of the Continuum does not extend to matters where another member of the Continuum has interfered. I know THAT'S not above your collective head. Chakotay: None of that is really important. Can you take the Voyager back to Federation space? Q: Caaan I? Yeeeessss. Wiiill I? No. I refuse to be distracted from the matters at hand. And speaking of which, your time is up. This ship is scheduled to meet another in few seconds, and the rules specifically prevent me from mucking with natural time flow. Chakotay: What if we're not willing... --Q waves his hand, and the away team is transported back to their-- --shuttle craft-- Jaroslav: What are you, I mean welcome aboard, Sir, -- what happened to your hands? Chakotay: Not now, Crewman. Tuvok: Mr. Jaroslav, if you would turn around, you would realize that another ship is approaching us from the starboard side. Jaroslav: Oh, yes Sir. It's come to a stop next to the Enterprise. It's another Galaxy class vessel. Sir, it's the Enterprise again. --A second Enterprise-D comes to a stop next to the first-- Chakotay: With identical crewman, why not identical ships. Tuvok: The situation does lead to the question of why Q requires a star ship. (takes the other seat in the front) Chakotay: I've got a lot of unanswered questions, Tuvok. Open a channel with the second ship. Maybe it's captain will be more helpful. --On a small monitor, the image of the Enterprise's bridge appears with Q-- --in the captain's chair-- Chakotay: I said to hail the second ship, Tuvok. Q: This is the second ship, Chakotay. And I already told you that I don't have time for you right now. I have to escort the first ship to a defensive position where its shields can be repaired. If you attempt to follow these ships, you will be destroyed. (screen goes blank) --Both Enterprises move away simultaneously-- David: Commander, if I may ask a question, why weren't we destroyed just now if Q believes that we're his enemies? Chakotay: Why didn't he destroy us on his bridge or in that turbo lift? Tuvok: Although being extremely intelligent, Q has always conducted himself in highly illogical manners in the past according to knowledgeable sources. Chakotay: It's not that simple. Q said that we were there to distract him. I'm thinking that he thinks (pause) that if he lets us live, then his real enemy, this Q2, will keep working with us, and he will be the distracted one. This is some type of strategy game he's involved in. Tuvok: Should I send a sub-space report of our experience to the Voyager? Chakotay: First, plot a course for the Voyager and engage. No matter how detailed your report is, I think that I'm still going to have to personally explain what happened. Besides, my hand is killing me. Newsgroups: alt.fan.q,alt.startrek.creative Path: tivoli.tivoli.com!geraldo.cc.utexas.edu!cs.utexas.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!agate!news.ucdavis.edu!csus.edu!netcom.com!aleph From: aleph@netcom.com (Aleph Press) Subject: The Game Board (VOY, Q) Pt. III Message-ID: Organization: NETCOM On-line Communication Services (408 261-4700 guest) Date: Sun, 26 Mar 1995 02:51:38 GMT Lines: 340 Sender: aleph@netcom.netcom.com Xref: tivoli.tivoli.com alt.fan.q:1258 alt.startrek.creative:7286 This story is by Scott Gastineau, not by me. Send all e-mail and comments to Scott at gastisc@wkuvx1.wku.edu. Part 3 --Scene opens aboard the Voyager, in sick bay-- Zimmerman: (moving a healing ray across Commander Chakotay's hand) This is the absolute worst first aid job I've seen. Chakotay: Have you ever seen another before, Doctor? Zimmerman: (finished) Humph. No, but it was still a lousy job. How does your hand feel? Chakotay: A little stiff. Zimmerman: That's from allowing it to go untreated for so long. It will pass. Chakotay: I have to get to the bridge. (stands) Zimmerman: I haven't released you yet. I want to give you a full physical before release and the same goes for the rest of the away team. Chakotay: We'll catch up on our physicals when we're out of this mess. Janeway's voice: Commander Chakotay, report to the bridge as soon as possible. Chakotay: I was already headed that way, Captain. Janeway's voice: (humorously) That's what they all say. Chakotay: Lieutenant, let's go. Tuvok: (standing and following) Affirmative, Commander. Zimmerman: Now wait a minute! Tuvok: Computer, discontinue program. (exits with Chakotay) Zimmerman: (grumbles) Thankyou. (disappears) --on the bridge-- Janeway: Captain's log supplemental. --Tuvok and Chakotay enter through Turbo Lift one-- Janeway: Never mind, Computer. I'll do it later. (turns) Welcome back aboard, Gentlemen. Chakotay: I was a bit surprised that you didn't meet us in sick bay. Janeway: Lt. Torres had come up with a new idea for cutting through the force field at about the same time as you arrived. Chakotay: Did it work? Janeway: Not a scratch. Chakotay: (sitting) We have reason to believe that we are surrounded by this force field. Janeway: We already knew. While you were gone, we sent out some probes to scan areas beyond the range of our sensors. We found all six inter- ior sides of the cube. But, I'm more interested in your conversation with Q. Chakotay: It's all in the report. Janeway: No, all the facts are in the report. I want to know how he seemed to you. Was he upset? Was he annoyed by our presence? Chakotay: He was acting hurried and a little nervous, but also a little jolly. I think that he was actually enjoying our being here. Janeway: I don't know whether that's a good thing or a bad thing. Chakotay: Neither do I. Janeway: Mr. Paris, set a course for miniature nebula. We're more likelyto find answers there than we are sitting here. Chakotay: Course laid in. Engaging at Warp Two. Janeway: Mr. Kim, I want you to continue scanning for any other space craft. Kim: Aye, Captain. Tuvok: Captain, we must consider that possibility that cloaked ships are also inhabiting this region. Janeway: I had already been thinking about that, Mr. Tuvok. Unfortunately, there's nothing we can do about it. So, we'll just have to stay on our toes. --Voyager nears a large and dense gaseous cloud-- Janeway's voice: Captain's log supplemental. We have just arrived at the edge of a miniature nebula surrounding a small and uncharted star. Unable to leave this hazardous region of space, we search for answers here at the heart of a giant puzzle. My personal hope is the entity Q2 will be more hospitable than Q1. --On the bridge-- Kim: Captain, I'm picking up a large vessel approuching from the nebula's far end, starboard side. Janeway: On screen. --A grey cube appears on the screen-- Chakotay: Magnify. --The Borg Cube becomes obvious-- Janeway: Mr. Tuvok, is that what I think it? Tuvok: Affirmtive, Captain. It is a Borg vessel, identical to the Borg craft that invaded the Federation. Kim: The Borg are guided by the goal of absorbing entire cultures. They shouldn't interpret our one ship as a treat. Janeway: Try to hail them. Kim: No responce. They're scanning us, Captain. Tuvok: Captain, I strongly suggest we reinforce the shields. Janeway: No, take absolutely no action that could be interpreted as aggressive. Kim: They've stopped scanning us and are now returning to their original position. Janeway: Tell me more about the miniture nebula. The Borg might be guarding it. Kim: Well Captain, this thing that we've been calling a miniature nebula is actually quite dense. It's composed of an unusual mixture of hydrogen and oxygen atoms. It's almost breathable. Chakotay: Can we pilot the Voyager inside this cloud? Kim: If the interior of the cloud is like this, then we can. It's density blocks any in-depth sensor study. Tuvok: Captain, it is likely that one side of this conflict created this cloud in which to hide valuable items or from which to prepare surprise attacks. If that is the case, then we are likely to encounter strong defensive measures inside to prevent intruding attack parties or spies. The Borg cube could only be the beginning of a defensive force. Janeway: I hadn't thought of that. That makes it all the more likely that we'll find Q2 inside. Take us in, Mr. Paris. Paris: We are now entering the cloud, Captain. (pause) We are half way to the star, and density is increasing. We are experiencing considerable resistance. Tuvok: Heat that has been insulated by the star raises the expected temperature of this area. However, temperature on hull is still well within safety limits. Kim: Captain, sensors detect a small planet orbiting the star. (showing surprise) It's an M-class planet. Janeway: Bring us into orbit around that planet. On screen. --Small silver colored planet with three tiny moons appears on viewing screen-- Janeway: Why is that planet so reflective? Kim: Sensors show that the entire surface of the planet is covered with an energy storage grid. I also can see an advanced aqueduct system and numerous underground communities. Chakotay: Any life forms? Kim: Affirmitive, Commander. I detect several hundred humanoid life form from all types of various races. Also, I detect a total of about one hundred life forms on the three moons. Structures exist there as well. Janeway: Hail the planet and the three moons. Kim: No response to our hail, Captain. Chakotay: Should I lead another away team? Janeway: No, this one is mine, Commander. Mr. Tuvok, you and I are beaming down to that planet's surface. Inform Mr. Neelix that he is to accompany us. Tuvok: Affirmative, Captain. --On the sandy shore of an Ocean, Janeway, Tuvok, Neelix, and Kess-- --materialize. All about them, large constructions similar to satellite-- --dishs but flat and metallic surround them in a grid formation of evenly-- --spaced rows and columns.-- Neelix: And another thing, you didn't have to come down here with us. Are you determined to always place yourself in unnecessary danger? Kess: There are supposed to hundreds of different races on his planet, Neelix. We could find another Occupa here just as easily as we could find any other race which you could identify. Neelix: We could also find another slave trader with an unhealthy interest in you. Janeway: Will the two of you kindly take break and resume your argument when we're back aboard the Voyager? Tuvok, what do you make of these things (gestures to th nearest construction) Tuvok: I hypothesize that these are solar collection devices, and that they represent identical devices covering the planet. Energy is collected on this planet, and then transferred to the moon stations, where it can then be given to docked space craft. The alien space craft may be dependent upon frequent refueling in order to function. Otherwise, they may only require the excess power for energy that grant them a technical advantage in battle. Janeway: So whomever controls this planet, controls the energy. Tuvok: That is the logical conclusion. Janeway: (seeing three other people, a young female alien on the beach gathering sea shells in a basket and two males on the top of a cliff arguing over something) Follow me. --The party approaches the female-- Janeway: Hello, my name is Catherine. Alien: You startled me. Do I know you? Janeway: No, but I'm glad to see that our universal communicators still work. Alien: I don't understand. Janeway: It's not important. What are you doing. Alien: I'm collecting shells that can be used for medicines. Oh, I'm not supposed to say that without asking whose side you are fighting for. Janeway: We're not on anyone's side, except for our own. Alien: Then I can't speak to you. (head down) Excuse me. (runs away) Janeway: (turns attention to the two on the cliff) Hello, up there! --They both look down at her-- Janeway: Could you two gentlemen answer some questions for us? --They ignore her-- Neelix: The taller of the two is a Zahn. They became extinct over a century ago. Tuvok: And his companion seems to be identical in appearence to the workers that I encountered aboard the Enterprise. Kess: He doesn't quite seem real to me. I can't explain it, but neither of them do. Neither does this place. I know its real, but it seems very fantastical at the same time. --In a flash of white light, Q2 appears behind them. He is dressed in the-- --same star fleet uniform that Q wore earlier.-- Tuvok: Are you the being that is called Q-two? Q2: First of all, it's spelled "Q2." Secondly, I'm called a lot of things. Some call me Q2. Some call you "the captain's errand boy." (looks at Neelix) Neelix: Uh-oh. Janeway: Then you also know that I am Captain Janeway of the Star Ship Voyager. We come in peace. Q2: Now Babe,... Janeway: Babe? Q2: (in a very matter-of-fact tone) Babe. Tuvok: A twentieth century Earth term. Janeway: I know what it means. (to Q2) We came here looking for some answers. Q2: Then you had better bring some questions. Janeway: Why are you at war with the being we call Q? Q2: It's not a war. It's a game. We created this planet, that star, the gas cloud, and all the space ships and the beings inside them. Janeway: And the force field shaped like cube? Q2: Of course. We couldn't allow the game to spill out into the rest of the Delta Quadrant. That's why we constructed the game board. It's all in the rules. Neelix: (about to say something, but Janeway signals for him not to speak) Janeway: We don't know these rules. Q2: The rules of the game. Two million, eighty-nine thousand, one hundred fifteen and a half of them. Frankly, even if you did know them, I don't think you could understand most of them, but they're all rules that I and Q agreed to before the start of the game. A lot cover very basic stuff like, "No time manipulation" and "No wormholeing." Janeway: Q is working under the assumption that you brought us to use against him. Q2: Well, I fully agree with assessment, only I believe that he created you. I'm sure that you believe otherwise, but your opinion really doesn't count. Janeway: Is there any way for us to get out of the game? Q2: Alive? Well, you could join my side. Then, when I win, you may be free to go. The field encompassing the game board will vanish. Tuvok: And how long would you estimate that your victory would take to achieve? Q2: Not long. Around four or five of your years. I can't say exactly without knowing what Q is going to do. Janeway: And what are our chances of surviving until then? Q2: Too low to warrant mention, but if you side with Q, then you definitely won't survive. Kess: Excuse me, but if you don't mind my asking,... Q2: Not much. Kess: Well, what is the point of this entire game? Q2: The same point as every game, to win. A while back, Q saved the multiverse as we know it from total annihilation, and then traveled to a parallel universe and told Peter David all about it. Personally, I don't see that as such a incredible thing, but the rest of the continuum thought that it was pretty hot. Q received the status of Continuum First Member. It's an unofficial position, but the most respected in the entire continuum I want that title. The only way that I could win it from Q was to defeat him in a fair game of strategy. Q was so full of proverbial hot air, that he decided he could defeat me, and he accepted my challenge. Janeway: What exactly does the game involve? Q2: Everything. We control every aspect of the game, down to the cellular level of each mortal involved. Take that guy for an example. (points to the taller of the two individuals on the cliff's edge) Now, the short one is Q's character. He's attempting to bride my character into switching sides. They've been bartering over the price. Watch. --The the shorter being hands the Zahn a small pouch, and then leaves him.-- Q2: And he was successful. I predicted this a while back, and arranged a surprise for him. --The Zahn suddenly doubles over with pain, stumbles, and falls of the cliff-- --to the beach below.-- Kess: Ahhhh! (dives her face into Neelix's shoulder) Q2: (jovial) Viral infection number forty-three! Death within five second guaranteed! Neelix: Why did you let us in here anyway? Tuvok: (inspects the body) Q2: It's in the rules. Any matter or energy that enters the game board by its own power is fair game for either side to use against the other. That was the purpose of the one-way force field. I must admit that at the time we were thinking about meteors and comets, not Federation star ships. Tuvok: (Gestures to the body) Is that why you claim to be winning the game? Q2: That and the fact that I choose my space craft better. Q has some weird fetish for that one stupid ship. It can split into two, so can a rock. I chose a mixture of varied types of star ships. My flag ship is a Borg Cube, the same Borg Cube that invaded Federation space a few of your years ago, very historically accurate. Kess: (whispered to Neelix) And this one seems to have a fetish for cubes. Janeway: Q2, listen to me. Q refused to let us out of the game. All we want to do is get out alive so we can continue our journey home. You can do the same thing, and you can even return us back to the Alpha Quadrant where we belong. Please help us. Q2: (faking tears) Oh, that's so beautiful. (serious again) No. I won't help you. I won't help you because I don't like you. I think that your people and the Delta Quadrant deserve each other. Janeway: Even if we are inferior beings, you still have no right to treat us so cruelly. Q2: Right?! You still just don't understand the fact that I'm omnipotent, do you? I decide what rights I have, and I decide what is right. Tuvok: (standing beside Janeway) A good way to judge the character of a person is observation how that person responds to others from whom that person does not need anything. Q2: (touching his own forehead) I'm actually developing a head ache. This human form is as worthless as communicating with you humans. That idea that Q enjoys talking to you is ridiculous to me. Do you have any idea how much I've had to restrict my own intelligence just to carry on this conversation? Janeway: You won't win anything by insulting us. Q2: That's absolutely right. There is only one way to win the game, and that's to destroy all of the other player's ships. That's exactly what I'm going to do. Q was wasting his time when he arranged to have you here. Get off my planet! --Q2 disappears the some way he entered-- Neelix: What a jerk! Kess: I think that if he were to spend me time being mortal, than he would have a lot more respect for us. Tuvok: Our situation is hazardous, Captain. It would appear that in order to stand the best chance of surviving, we must choose one side or the other, and choices are limited. A decision must be made. Janeway: Not really, Tuvok. Think about what he said. He said that we could go free as soon as someone wins the game. Tuvok: Correct, Captain. Janeway: And he also said that someone wins the game by destroying the opponent's space ships. Tuvok: Correct, what is your suggestion then? Janeway: We're going to win this game ourselves. --Neelix and Kess look shocked-- Janeway: (touches her comm badge) Janeway to Voyager! Chakotay's voice: Chakotay here. You sound excited. Is everything all right? Janeway: Not for Q and Q2 it's not. I know what we have to do. Four to beam up. --Away team disappears-- --Aboard the Voyager's bridge, Janeway and Tuvok enter from Turbo Lift One.-- Janeway: Status report, Commander Chakotay. Chakotay: Nothing happened while you were down there. Janeway: Mr. Tuvok, prepare three photon torpedoes and select the star bases on each of the three moons as targets. Tuvok: Targets selected and torpedoes ready. Janeway: Fire at will. Tuvok: Firing photon torpedoes. Three direct hits, Captain. Janeway: Now fire a phaser beam at the planets surface. Paris: Where are you shooting, Captain? Janeway: Anywhere, Mr. Paris. Tuvok: Firing phaser beam. --View screen shows a phaser beam connecting with the planet. A ring of fire-- --emerges from that point and spreads around the entire planet, leaving a-- --charred look behind it.-- Tuvok: The phaser beam caused a chain reaction. The entire power grid on the planet's surface been incinerated. Janeway: And what about the underground cities? Kim: Sensors show that they were destroyed too. The only life forms left in the area are inside this ship. Janeway: Mr. Paris, plot a course to take us out of the miniature nebula. Ensign Kim, find me that Borg Cube. Newsgroups: alt.fan.q,alt.startrek.creative Path: tivoli.tivoli.com!geraldo.cc.utexas.edu!cs.utexas.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!agate!news.ucdavis.edu!csus.edu!netcom.com!aleph From: aleph@netcom.com (Aleph Press) Subject: The Game Board (VOY, Q) Pt. 4 Message-ID: Organization: NETCOM On-line Communication Services (408 261-4700 guest) Date: Sun, 26 Mar 1995 02:53:30 GMT Lines: 260 Sender: aleph@netcom.netcom.com Xref: tivoli.tivoli.com alt.fan.q:1259 alt.startrek.creative:7287 This story is by Scott Gastineau, not by me. Send all e-mail and comments to Scott at gastisc@wkuvx1.wku.edu. Part 4 Kim: We've located the Borg vessel, Captain. Janeway: Bring us right up next to it. Paris: Aye, Captain. Janeway: Janeway to transporter room number three, I'm going to need to transport an away team through a set of Borg sheilds and back again a few minutes later. Can you do it, Seska? Seska's voice: If I understand Borg defenses correctly, then penatrating the first time should be easy, but as they adapt, the sheilds should increase in power and bringing them back would be the problem. If the away team boosts the singals of the comm badges before hand and if I increase transporter power to maximum, I should be able to bring them back safely. Janeway: If that's your best, then I'll take it. Janeway out. Chakotay: Exactly what is it that we're trying to do? Janeway: Commander, I need you to head an away team of six members. You'll be beamed aboard the Borg Cube. Find me a Borg, any Borg. Beam him or her directly to sick bay. We'll be ready for you. Chakotay: I think I understand. --Chakotay exits through turbo lift-- Janeway: Mr. Tuvok, I'm going to need you to stay here. Your mission is to keep the Voyager's shields up dispite anything that the Borg may throw at us. Figure out a way. Kim: (stands) Captain, I request permission to accompany the Commander aboard the enemy ship. Paris: Kim, are you nuts? Kim: I elected to take extensive study courses on the Borg while at Star Fleet academy. I don't mean to be at all disrepectful, but those studies simply weren't available, well, back in, I mean when the commander was younger. Beside, this will only be the second time in history that star fleet personel will be aboard a Borg ship. I want to be able to say that I was part of it. Janeway: Granted, you may accompany the away team as an extra member, but you'd better hurry if you want to want to catch up with them in the transporter room. Kim: Aye, Captain. --Away team materializes onboard the Borg cube It consists of Chakotay,-- --Kim, and five security officers.-- Chakotay: It looksas though we've picked what must be the one part of the ship without any Borg on it? Kim: According to my studies, the Borg should ignore us until we perform some type of hostile action. If we're not a threat or a mission objective, then they shouldn't care what we do. (Kim works a tri-corder) Chakotay: Well, there's no one here. Let's move on. --Team moves into a small empty room with one of the Borg at the opposite-- --repeatedly pressing the same button on a wall console.-- --On the bridge of the Voyager, the ship suddenly shakes-- Tuvok: The Borg vessel has locked onto the Voyager with a tractor beam and is attempting to bring us in closer to itself. Janeway: Full impulse power in reverse. Paris: Captain, I'm able to hold her steady, but our impulse engines are no match for that thing. Maybe we should jump to warp while we still might be able to. Janeway: Maintain present position. We're going to buy the away team however much time they need. --Inside the Borg Cube again-- Chakotay: (Taps the borg on the back of his right shoulder) Excuse me. (When there is no response, he takes hold of the shoulder and pulls the Borg to face him) (Chakotay fires a hand phaser directly into the Borg's face) (Chakotay and security personel catch the Borg as he falls) Kim: Commander, tricorder detects several Borg moving this way. I think we've produced a reaction. Chakotay: Give me the extra comm badge (takes badge and places it on the captured Borg) (presses own comm badge) Away team team transporter room four, lock onto all eight comm badge signals and beam us directly into sickbay. --The door to the small room opens as transport begins. Several Borg fire at-- --the fading figures, but their weapons pass through the transient bodies and-- --damage the console on the wall behind them instead.-- --Away team materializes in the Voyager's sickbay were Zimmerman, Kess, and-- --B'Elenna are already waiting for them. The security officers lay the borg-- --down on a table.-- Chakotay: Activate sickbay emerg-- Zimmerman: (interupts) I'm already quite activated, and the captain has briefed me on the situation, thankyou. Lt. Torres, is your equipment ready? B'Elenna: Yes, let's get to it. Kim: How can we help? B'Elanna and Zimmerman together: Stay out of the way. --On the bridge-- B'Ellena's voice: Sickbay to bridge. We are beginning work on the prisoner. Janeway: Be quick about it, Leuteneint. Tuvok: Sheilds are holding steady at ninety-four percent of full power captain. Janeway: Maintain present position, Mr. Paris. Paris: You're the boss. --Sickbay-- Computer voice: Patient is awake. Borg: (Sits up, and knocks a security guard to the floor) --Bridge, another jolt-- Pairs: They've grabbed us with another tractor beam. we're being pulled into close weapons range. --Sickbay-- Borg: (First throws anothe security officer across the room, and then aims his weapon a Chakotya) Resistence is futile. B'Ellena: Arrhhhh! (punches the borg across his jaw) Borg: (Knocks Torres down with his free arm) Zimmerman: (calmly) Ensign Kim, perform the Vulcan nerve pinch on the patient. Borg: (looks at Kim and stands) Kim: What?! Borg: (Aims at Kim) Zimmerman: (Raises his hand to the back of the Borg's neck) --The sound of a hypospray is heard and the Borg collapses over the table-- --again.-- Zimmerman: Thankyou Ensign. Kim: (quietly) Anytime. Zimmerman: Kess, will you see to the fallen security officers? Kess: Right away. Chakotay: (helps B'Ellena to her feet) How are you, B'Ellena? B'ellena: Fine. (pushes him out of the way) Just let me at those circuits! (begins connecting her equipment to the Borg) --Borg Cube fires at the Voyager-- --Bridge-- Tuvok: Captain, the Borg ship has engaged its weapons and is attempting to cut through the Voyager's shields. Sheild power has dropped to sixty percent. I am now randomly adjusting shield frequencies and transfering shield strength from the aft to fore sections. Janeway: Pull power from other systems into the shields. Use anything. Even life support if you have to. Tuvok: Shields holding at forty percent. --Sick bay-- B'Elanna: Connection complete. Zimmerman: The patient is ready for data transfer. B'Elanna: Sending command. Chakotay: How long is the command? B'Ellena: Only one word, "sleep." Zimmerman: The patient has recieved the data implant and is ready to be returned his vessel. Chakotay: (touches comm badge) Seska, this is Chakotay. The prisoner is ready to be immediately beamed. Seska's voice: Commander, I doubt that I'll be able to penetrate the Borg shields this time. We might have to replace him manually with a shuttle craft. Chakotay: That was the original plan, but we're running out of time fast. Try sending his single back along the Borg tractor beam. Seska: Engaging transporter. --Borg is beamed away-- --Borg cube fires a second beam at the Voyager-- --Bridge-- Tuvok: Shields are dropping again. Thirty-eight percent. Thrity-five percent. Thirty percent. Paris: Captain, the Borg's weapons have disengaged! Tractor beam has dissengaged also. Tuvok: the borg Cube's shields have dropped. --Chakotay and Kim enter the bridge from turbo Lift One.-- Chakotay: Personally, I didn't think that it would work. Janeway: Hand out congratulations later. Chakotay: Yes Ma'am, Captain. Kim: (Taking the Ops station) All systems aboard the Borg cube have shut down, Captain. Janeway: What do long range sensors show? Kim: Multiple star craft closing in form all directions. Janeway: Mr. Paris, I need you to keep us right here, until I say so, and then I want you to gun the engines. Understood? Paris: Oh Yes. Kim: The ships have been identified. They are several dozen identical copies of the Enterprise. --Several Enterprises swarm around the Borg cube and fire at it-- --Voyager's bridge, Neelix enters.-- Janeway: Welcome, Mr. Neelix. You're just in time for the fireworks. Chakotay: Q2 should be responding by now. Kim: Captain, that breakdown of Borg systems has begun. I suggest that we get out of here. Janeway: Not, yet. If we leave now, we'd confirm both Q's suspitions of a trap. Kim: They're here, Captain. I detect about fifty sheild breakers closing in to assist the Borg Cube. There's also a large spherical ship approuching from within miniture nebula. Neelix: That's a Douglasian Class 5 fighter. It has no long range weapons, but it can move right up next to another ship, and and snap it apart with a static warp shell. They don't make those anymore. Tuvok: Three Romulan Warbirds, a Klingon Bird of Prey, and four unidentified ships decloaking near the Borg Cube. Kim: Captain! The Borg Cube has reached a critical stage! Janeway: Warp speed, Mr. Paris! --Voyager leaves area just before the Borg Cube explodes and destroys all-- --other ships around it.-- Kim: The Borg vessel was complete destroyed, Captain. Sensors also all nearby craft were destroyed with it. Janeway: Stop us before we ram into that force shield. Paris: Full stop, Captain. Can I breathe now? Janeway: Permission to breathe granted. Scan for any other ships in this sector. Kim: We're the only ones. Tuvok: It was very illogical for either of the Q's to risk all of their ships at once. Janeway: Yes, illogical, but also characteristic. Neither one was willing to give up any advantage to the other for fear of losing, even at the risk of their entire fleets. Let's start looking for left overs anyway. Kim: Captain, when the Borg ship distructed, it seems to have caused a chain reaction inside the miniture nebula. It's now errupted into a huge plasma storm. Janeway: Let's have a look at it. --Image appears on the view screen that is identical to the bad lands seen in-- --the pilot episode of VOY-- Janeway: Mr. Paris, take us back. I want some up close sensor readings of that plasma storm. Paris: Your wish is my command, Captain. Kim: Ship decloaking to the starboard side at ten thousand meters! It's the Defiant! --Defiant moves infront of the Voyager, and then comes back toward it.-- Tuvok: Shields are completely recharged, Captain. Janeway: Lock on with all weapons. --Defiant fires phasers at the Voyager.-- Tuvok: The Defiant made a direct hit, Captain. Shields holding. Janeway: Evasive maneuvers! Paris: Hold on! --Defiant fires six photon torpedoes at the Voyager head-on. Voyager spins-- --ninety degrees counter clockwise on its bow-to-stern axis. Photon-- --torpedoes pass by above and below the Voyager. Defiant passes by.-- Janeway: Good move, Mr. Paris. Fire phasers. Tuvok: Firing phasers. Phasers missed. The Defiant is counter attacking with phasers. --Bridge shakes and lights go out-- --Kim is knocked out of his station and strikes his head-- Tuvok: The Defiant hit us again. Shields at fifty percent, Captain. Janeway: Mr. Neelix, see to my ensign. Tuvok, is there any category in which the Voyager out performs the Defiant? Tuvok: No Federation vessel surpasses the Voyager's maneuverability at high impulse speeds. Chakotay: The Defiant is turning to make another attack. Janeway: Tom, take us into the Plasma storm. Do whatever you can to lose it. --Voyager dives to surface of plasma storm and doeges the giantic flares-- --shooting up and down. The Defiant follows, firing more photon torpedoes-- Chakotay: The Defiant is still behind us. --Voyager shakes with another blast-- Tuvok: We've been hit with another phaser blast. Shields at thirty percent. --As the two ships turn a tight corner, the Defiant fires phasers and hits-- --the Voyager again.-- Tuvok: Sheilds at ten percent. Life support is failing. --In engineering-- B'Elanna: We've lost warp core stability. I'm attempting to regain control. --The Voyager barely clears a rising plasma flare. The Defiant passes-- --through and explodes-- --On the bridge, the captain is seen.-- B'Ellena's voice: I can't regain control of warp core stability! Warp core breach immin --B'ellena's message is cut short as a white light engulfs the scene-- Newsgroups: alt.fan.q,alt.startrek.creative Path: tivoli.tivoli.com!geraldo.cc.utexas.edu!cs.utexas.edu!convex!news.duke.edu!agate!news.ucdavis.edu!csus.edu!netcom.com!aleph From: aleph@netcom.com (Aleph Press) Subject: The Game Board (VOY, Q) Pt. 5 (End) Message-ID: Organization: NETCOM On-line Communication Services (408 261-4700 guest) Date: Sun, 26 Mar 1995 02:54:19 GMT Lines: 70 Sender: aleph@netcom.netcom.com Xref: tivoli.tivoli.com alt.fan.q:1260 alt.startrek.creative:7288 This story is by Scott Gastineau, not by me. Send all e-mail and comments to Scott at gastisc@wkuvx1.wku.edu. Part 5 --Janeway opens her eyes and finds herself sitting in a wooden chair that-- --is floating in outer space. Across a wooden table, Q and Q2 sit opposite-- --of her. They are both holding their arms in a folded position, and they-- --both look very angry.-- Janeway: Where is the Voyager? Q2: The Voyager was vaporized. Q: Congratulations, Captain. You blew up your ship. Janeway: Then why am I here? Q2: Because you won the game before your ship was destroyed. Q: Really Janeway, you weren't even invited to play. Janeway: It wasn't just me. Everyone aboard the Voyager beat you two, and we did it fairly. Q2: (to Q) This is what you get for bringing her into the game! Q: Don't try to blame this fiasco on me! You sent the Voyager into the game! Janeway: Excuse me! I was told that once the game had ended that the Voyager and its crew would be free to leave. Q: Janeway, my dear, you may get up and walk away at any time, but without a ship I don't think you'll last very long in deep space. Janeway: So why did the two of you bring me back? Q2: You see, we still both agree that the Voyager did not enter the game board by chance. Even if it was neither of us, some member of the continuum still brought you here, knowing full well what you would do. Janeway: That doesn't change my situation. Q: It does change ours. It is very embarrassing for both of us to be defeated by a human, even a talented one. Q2: So this is what you're going to do for us, Janeway: I'm not taking orders from either of you jokers. Q: What my colleague meant to say was that we have a deal to offer you. Janeway: So what's the deal? Q: The only way that we can prevent news of this event from ever spreading is to stop the event from ever occuring. This requires your permission, and the permission of your crew, whom you may represent in this matter. Basically, I and the charisma machine (gestures to Q2) will be the only beings ever to know what really occurred here. You will lose all memory of your accomplishment. Janeway: But the Voyager would be restored to the condition that it was in before we entered the game board. Q: (to Q2) Isn't she a bright girl? Q2: I still don't like her. I like her even less now. Janeway: What if I also demand that we be returned to the Alpha Quadrant? Q: Can't do it. Q2: That would alert the other members of the continuum to the fact that something unusual happened between us. They could figure out the rest on their own. Q: No favors, or we gain nothing from the deal. Janeway: Then I accept the deal as it stands. Q: Allow me to do the honors. (raises his hand to snap his fingers) Q2: (hand shoots up and snaps fingers first) --Another flash of white engulfs the scene-- --Voyager glides through space-- Janeway: Captain's log supplemental. The unidentified star that we were observing earlier has now vanished. If there was a wormhole there, then it's gone now. We are therefore resuming our original course towards Federation Space. It's a long road that lies ahead of us. I am not sure how we will be able to cope the crisises that we will face in the future. I'm not sure how I will handle the responsibility. This is an untested ship, moving through space with an untested crew and an untested captain. Ending