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SCORPION Episodes 68 & 69 Part B

Janeway enters engineering to find Chakotay and Torres working at a console, waiting for her.

Janeway: "What have you got?" Chakotay: "Some bad news. The long range probe we sent out two months ago has stopped transmitting." Torres: "At first I thought it was a problem with the communications grid, then I cleared up the last few seconds of telemetry. Take a look at this." She activates the wall-mounted monitor which shows a variety of telemetry including the pictures taken by the probe. The probe is in deep space when suddenly a Borg cube flies into view. The probe is captured by a Borg tractor pulse. The vast interior of the Borg cube is seen, then the close-up view of a Borg drone examining the probe. Chakotay: "This could be it, Captain - Borg space."

A meeting of the senior staff is in progress in Voyager's Briefing Room. Janeway has just finished updating the staff about the probe and the significance. Also present are Chakotay, Torres, Tuvok, Paris, Kim, Neelix and the Doctor. Everyone looks tense - this is the day they've all been dreading.

Janeway: "We don't know exactly how many vessels are out there, but their space appears to be vast. It includes thousands of solar systems, all Borg. We are no doubt entering the heart of their territory. There's no going around it, but there may be a way through it."

Chakotay moves to the wall monitor and taps a control. A star chart appears. Chakotay, indicating the thin "ribbon" on the star map: "Before the probe was disabled, it picked up a narrow corridor of space devoid of Borg activity. We've nicknamed it the 'Northwest Passage'."

Torres: "Unfortunately, the passage is filled with intense gravimetric distortions, probably caused by a string of quantum singularities."

Paris: "Better to ride the rapids than face the Hive."

Chakotay: "Exactly. We're going to set a course for that corridor and go into full tactical alert." To Tuvok: "Where do we stand with weapons?"

Tuvok: "I have reprogrammed the phaser banks to a rotating modulation. But I suspect the Borg will adapt quickly." Chakotay: "We can use every edge."

Chakotay to Kim: "Ensign?" Kim: "I've already configured the long-range sensors to scan for transwarp signatures - an early warning system." Chakotay: "Good work." To the Doctor: "Doctor, how are you coming on the medical front?" Doctor: "I've analysed every square millimetre of the Borg corpse we recovered three months ago. I'm closer to understanding how their assimilation technology works and I might be able to create some sort of medical defence." Chakotay: "Redouble your efforts. This is your top priority."

Chakotay: "Neelix, I doubt we can resupply the ship any time soon."
Neelix: "No problem, sir. I'm working on a plan to extend our food and replicator rations."

Janeway addresses them all: "We have to act fast. The Borg have captured one of our probes - they know we're out here. We'll do everything in our power to avoid a direct confrontation. But if and when we do engage the Borg, I'm confident that we'll be ready. I have faith in each and every one of you. Let's do it."

Voyager's crew make urgent preparations for a likely encounter with the Borg. In engineering Torres hurries to check equipment.

An access panel is opened and Torres checks inside.

Ensign Brooks and Crewman McKenzie rush down a corridor, transporting equipment.

Chakotay: "I want to cut down on the time it takes to seal off the decks."
Kim: "In case we take on some uninvited guests."
Chakotay: "Exactly. And I want to increase the magnitude of the forcefields."

Crewmembers get out phaser rifles out of a weapons locker. Janeway looks on.