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DARK FRONTIER Episodes 109 & 110 Part F

 

In the Sickbay's medical lab, on the monitor there, Seven is displaying the schematics and specifications of the bio-dampener.

Seven: "It prevented the Borg from detecting them. They referred to it as a bio-dampener. The device creates a field around the body, which simulates the physiometric conditions within a Borg vessel." Tuvok: "Camouflage." Seven: "Precisely."

Tuvok to the Doctor: "We need four of these devices. How soon can you replicate them?" Doctor: "I'll have to tailor each unit to its users physiology. A few hours at least." Tuvok: "Begin immediately. I'll inform the Captain." He leaves.

Doctor: "Ingenious design." Seven: "The Hansens were resourceful." Doctor: "Sounds like you're warming up to your folks." Seven: "It was merely an observation." Doctor: "This is an important stage of your social development, Seven. Try not to think of it as simply a research project, but as an exploration of how you were raised."

Seven: "My parents underestimated the Collective. They were destroyed. Because of their arrogance, I was raised by Borg."

Upset, she walks out. (The screenshot shows the view into Sickbay from the corridor outside.)

She stops and changes direction when she sees several crewmembers - she does not wish to speak to them.

She finds a quiet place where she stops and tries to overcome her attack of anxiety and feeling of dread brought on by the Borg Queen's ultimatum.

Janeway: "Captain's log, supplemental. Operation Fort Knox is ready to proceed. All departments are standing by and I've given the order to begin at 0600 hours."

Captain's Ready Room. Janeway: "Coffee? You look like you could use some." Seven: "No." Janeway: "It's a human vice you might want to try one day. Keeps you sharp." Seven, non-commitally: "One day."

Janeway: "I've been fine-tuning our game plan for tomorrow morning, and I've decided to reassign you to the Bridge."
Seven: "Captain."
Janeway: "I'm concerned about Voyager's safety, and if the sphere decides to attack I'll need your expertise at Tactical."
Seven: "I should be on the away team."
Janeway: "B'Elanna will do just fine in your place."
Seven: "You may encounter unexpected obstacles - forcefields, encryption codes. I'm the only member of this crew who can anticipate them."
Janeway: "You underestimate the rest of us?"
Seven: "And you underestimate the Borg."
Janeway: "This is more than just a question of tactics. I'm concerned about your well-being and your ability to perform on this mission."
Seven: "Your concern is unwarranted."
Janeway: "Is it? I'm not the only one who's worried about you - Chakotay, Neelix, the Doctor, we've all noticed changes in your behaviour. You are preoccupied, agitated, and you're making mistakes. Don't get me wrong. I appreciate your efforts, and we couldn't have come this far without your help, but it's obviously taken its toll." She sighs. "If I'd realised how those journals were going to affect you I never would have pushed you to read them, and I'm not about to ask you to face the Collective in your present frame of mind."
Seven: "The past several days have been difficult, but I must join the away team and I assure you I will not make another mistake."
Janeway: "I've made my decision, Seven."
Seven: "If I don't go, this mission will fail."
Janeway: "You sound awfully certain about that."
Seven: "I know the Borg."
Janeway: "And I know you. There's more to what you're saying. What's wrong?"

Seven: "Over the past two years, I have become familiar with the individuals on this vessel. Voyager is my collective now. Your survival is important to me. I am willing to risk my own well-being if it increases our chances of success. Assign me to the away team. Please." Janeway considers then nods. "Thank you."

Janeway, as the other turns to leave: "Seven." She goes up to Seven. "You've made remarkable progress as an individual and as a member of this crew. For what it's worth, Voyager wouldn't be the same without you."

Next morning: Operation Fort Knox - for real.
Borg Collective: "A vessel has been detected. Unimatrix 424 grid 03. Activate."
A drone on the target Borg sphere scout ship activates and steps out of his alcove.

The drone heads for a specific control console.

The drone.

The drone activates the viewing screen.

Borg Collective: "Vessel identified. Federation Starfleet class 2 shuttlecraft. Three lifeforms."

Bridge. Torres, at the engineering II station: "The sphere is maintaining course."

Chakotay: "Move the shuttle in closer." Paris: "The Borg are still ignoring it." Chakotay, via comms: "Bridge to Transporter Room 2." In the transporter room, Janeway and the away team are taking up positions on the transporter pad. "They're not taking the bait."

Transporter Room 2. Janeway, via comms: "Shuttle status?" Chakotay, via comms: "All systems go. False bio-readings are holding steady." Kim: "How about a phaser shot across their bow? Might grab their attention." Seven: "No, the shuttle would be perceived as a threat and they'd destroy it." Janeway, via comms: "Commander, increase the energy output of the shuttle's warp profile. That should present a more inviting target."

Chakotay nods to Paris who does so.

Aboard the Borg sphere.
Borg Collective: "Warp signature detected. Prepare for assimilation. Relevant technology. Engage tractor pulse."

Voyager's Bridge.
Paris: "They've got it. They're pulling it in, toward a docking port along the central radius. Five hundred metres, two hundred, they're dropping shields."
Chakotay: "Energise."
Torres: "They're in."
Doctor, monitoring from the secondary tactical station: "Bio-dampeners are stable. They're as good as invisible."
Chakotay: "The sphere?"
Torres: "The shields are back up. They're assimilating the shuttle."
Chakotay: "Keep a sensor lock on the away team. Maintain course."

On the Borg sphere, Tuvok follows Kim as Kim uses his tricorder to locate their destination.

Seven and Janeway proceed toward the target transwarp coil chamber.

Borg Queen's voice, via Seven's neural transceiver so only Seven can hear her: "Never forget who you are."

Seven remembers herself as a Borg drone.

Janeway: "Seven," Seven jumps and gives a small squeal of alarm, "are you alright?" Seven recovers hersself. "Proceed." They carry on toward the transwarp coil chamber.

Kim: "Primary shield generator. Got it." Tuvok: "Spatial charges here, there and there."

Kim opens the case he has brought, which contains three explosive charges.

Janeway and Seven proceed toward the warp coil chamber.
incidental music on the Borg sphere, includes sound of the housing of the transwarp coil lifting up

As they enter the transwarp coil chamber, Seven hands Janeway the transport enhancer she has been carrying.

Seven activates the control that opens the transwarp coil housing, which lifts up out of the way to expose the transwarp coil.

Janeway starts setting up the transport enhancer. As she does so....

Seven works to disengage the transwarp coil from its circuitry.

Kim places the explosive charges while Tuvok keeps watch.

Via comms: "Tuvok to Janeway, charges set. Returning to transport co-ordinates."

Seven: "The transwarp coil is offline." Janeway: "Tuvok, now."

Tuvok: "Activate the charges." Kim presses a button on the tricorder.

Below 4 pictures: Kim's explosive charges detonate, damaging the Borg systems and putting their shield generator offline.

Voyager's Bridge. Paris: "Their shields are down." Chakotay: "Lock onto the coil and energise."

The transwarp coil is beamed off the Borg sphere to Voyager. Chakotay, via comms: "Target obtained."