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SCORPION Episodes 68 & 69 Part R

USS Voyager holds position in the strange "fluidic space".

In the cargo bay, Chakotay and Tuvok confront Seven of Nine. Seven of Nine: "Our entry into fluidic space has created a compression wave. They know we're here. A fleet of bio-ships is already converging on our position. Time to intercept: three hours, seventeen minutes." Chakotay surmises: "You've been here before. How else could you know about 'fluidic space'?" Seven of Nine ignores him: "We must prepare this ship for the altercation. We will construct-" Chakotay presses his earlier question: "Why? Why were you here?" He surmises: "You started this war, didn't you? What's the matter? Our galaxy wasn't big enough for you? You had to conquer new territory. But this race fought back - a species as malevolent as your own." Seven of Nine: "Species 8472 was more resistant than we anticipated. Their technology is biogenically engineered. It is superior to that of all other species we have previously encountered." Tuvok: "Which is precisely what you wanted." Seven of Nine: "They are the apex of biological evolution. Their assimilation would have greatly added to our own perfection." Tuvok: "So instead of assimilating these aliens you opened a door for them into our galaxy." Seven of Nine: "There is only one course of action: destroy them first. My subspace link to the Collective has been weakened by the interdimensional rift. We cannot signal for help. We are alone. We must construct a complement of bio-molecular warheads and modify your weapons to launch them." Chakotay: "I've got a better idea. Why don't you open up that rift again and take us back." Seven of Nine: "If I did that, you would no longer co-operate." The Doctor signals Chakotay. comms. signal Chakotay, via comms: "Go ahead." Doctor, via comms: "Report to Sickbay at once." Chakotay: "On my way." He and Tuvok leave.

Chakotay enters Sickbay.

Janeway is on her feet, in uniform, standing by the primary bio-bed, reading a PADD. She has fully recovered. Chakotay: "Captain."

Doctor to Chakotay: "Ah, as you can see, I've repaired her neural damage." He is pleased with himself. "Ensign Kim, the Captain. I'm two for two." Janeway: "Doctor, if you'll excuse us a moment." The Doctor glances at her grim expression, then at Chakotay, and realises they wish to talk to each other. Doctor: "Gladly." To computer: "Computer, deactivate EMH program." The Doctor vanishes.

Janeway rapidly approaches Chakotay. "The Doctor brought me up to speed. But he couldn't tell me what I really wanted to know: why?" Chakotay: "The Collective ordered me to reverse course, travel forty light years back the way we came. What would you have done?" Janeway: "I probably would've reversed course, maintained the alliance as long as possible." Chakotay: "In my mind, the alliance was already over." Janeway: "You never trusted me. You never believed this would work. You were just waiting for an opportunity to circumvent my orders." Chakotay: "Trust had nothing to do with it. I made a tactical decision." Janeway: "And so did I." Chakotay: "They've been taking advantage of us from Day One." Janeway: "We made concessions. So did they." Chakotay: "They lied. The Borg started the war with Species 8472." Janeway is startled by this news. "We've only got one Borg left to worry about. We should try to disable her and get back to the Delta Quadrant. We might be able to duplicate the deflector protocols they used to open a singularity." Janeway: "No. I won't be caught tinkering with the deflector when those aliens attack. There is no other way out of this, Chakotay. It's too late for opinions, too late for discussion. It's time to make the call! And I'm making it. We fight the aliens, in full co-operation with the Borg." Chakotay: "I was linked to a Collective once, remember? I had a neuro-transceiver embedded in my spine. I know who we're dealing with! We've got to get rid of that last Borg, and take our chances alone!" Janeway, firmly: "It won't work." They are at an impasse. They look at each other in frustration and exhaustion. Janeway: "This isn't working either. There are two wars going on. The one out there, and the one in here. We're losing both of them." Chakotay remembers Seven of Nine's words: "'It will be your undoing.'" Janeway: "What?" Chakotay: "Our 'conflicted' nature, our individuality. Seven of Nine said that we lacked the cohesion of a Collective mind, that one day, it would divide us and destroy us. And here we are, proving her point." Janeway: "I'll tell you when we lost control of this situation, when we made our mistake. It was the moment we turned away from each other. We don't have to stop being individuals to get through this. We just have to stop fighting each other."

USS Voyager in 'fluidic space'.

Tuvok brings Seven of Nine to the Bridge. She is surprised when Janeway stands up from the captain's chair and faces her.

Seven of Nine: "Captain Janeway." Janeway: "I've relieved Mr Chakotay of his duties, and confined him to the Brig. I'm back in command." Seven of Nine: "And you understand the situation?" Janeway: "Completely." To Tuvok: "Tuvok, give her the nanoprobes. Work with her. Build as many warheads as you can, and start modifying our weapons systems." Seven of Nine looks mildly surprised - she was not expecting this. Janeway to Seven of Nine: "I suggest we think about enhancing our defences, as well. If we're going to fight this battle, I intend to win it."

Seven of Nine: "We are in agreement." Janeway: "Good. This is the plan: we engage the enemy here, in their space. We show them what they're up against. If they have any sense of self-preservation, they'll back off, pull their ships out of the Delta Quadrant. That's provided the weapons are effective. If they aren't," making a little joke, "it's been nice working with you."

Janeway addresses the crew. "We've got to get this ship armed and ready in under two hours." She sits down in the captain's chair, fully in command. "We're going to war."