A Stilled Heart [✱12]

Posted on Mon Mar 9th, 2026 @ 11:27am by Lieutenant Commander Alph & Ensign Mana'i & Major Victoria, Daughter of Kalath & Lieutenant Akaar Zuul & Lieutenant Valerie Gordon & Cadet Senior Grade Camilaar 'Cam' of Rhade & Warrior Choq, Son of None & Cadet Senior Grade Iplik, Son of Raavon
Edited on on Mon Mar 9th, 2026 @ 11:29am

1,070 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: UnderMind [4]
Location: IKS Praxis' Claw, Engineering Overlook
Timeline: After [✱7]

Some quick work by Lieutenant Gordon to overwrite the door controls allowed them access to the area where senior engineers would supervise the main work areas. It was a well protected area a thick sheet of radiation treated transparent duranium within a reinforced edge structure that still allowed almost total visibility with emergency bulkhead doors to seal in case of danger, understandable given the rate of error within Klingon manufacturing and engineering.

Below, they could see the main engineering section, and within, Borg drones were moving.

All the drones appeared to be Klingon, recently assimilated. They were disassembling components from the room's major installations, the warp core, the batteries, and another rear-central pillar that Alph could not identify the function of. They were taking the components they had removed back towards and out the exit, back to the front of the ship. Curiously, they had not assimilated many terminals other than those connected to components they were disassembling.

Choq surveyed the scene with concealed dismay. So many warriors fallen to the machine-curse of the Borg. The pillar behind the warp core caught his notice. "I do not recognise that cylindrical installation. It is not a standard feature of Defense Force vessels."

“Some secret technology High Command could be testing perhaps? Anything new could explain the Borg’s presence here.” Akaar offered, “they do like new technologies and knowledge,” he eyed the pillar suspiciously.

“If one of us could sneak over to take scans of it quietly and report back,” Camilaar spoke as if he didn’t realise he’d might be a great candidate to do as he suggested. He sniffed the air around them and eyed those present. “Is it hot in here or is it just me?”

"There's not a single fibre of my being that wants to, but if the Borg are paying that much attention to it, I should probably figure out what it is. If there's enough of it left to make that kind of determination." Lieutenant Gordon told the group, her positivity wavering, but not dimmed. "I defer to your judgement on the best way to do that, Major." She looked to Kalath.

"We may need to split up. But we can't assume the Borg will stay passive if they catch sight of us. Any suggestions, Mr Alph?" Kalath asked the Android.

"It is difficult to say," Alph began, looking down through the protective screen. He placed his hand on the surface as he had often seen organics do. "They are unlikely to respond to our -" Alph stopped suddenly when all the drones looked suddenly up at once, focusing exactly on his position. He had not predicted that manner of reaction. A moment later, each began to finalise its task and move to the exit. It was not fast, but they were fleeing.

Choq was surprised to see the drones go. In any other enemy, he would take this for fear. But the Borg had a mind he had no pretensions of understanding. At their speed, they would be easily caught up with.

“Oh,” Akaar commented, it ended with a squeak, he coughed. “That’s not good.” He added as the drones left the area.

Similarly Camilaar squeaked without any words, he audibly gulped as he watched the drones exit. He eyes wide with barely controlled feared afforded to him by his Starfleet training being fresh in his mind.

Kalath was a little disappointed to have been right. She'd hoped the old stories about Borg just letting people walk around them unbothered were true. Oh well.

"On second thought; Lieutenant Gordon, take everyone you might need to learn what was going on in Engineering, you may also be able to take some control of the ship. The assimilation of systems appears minor. They did not intend to stay." Alph realised time was wasting. "There is a lift on the other side of this supervision point." Alph indicated on the opposite end of the rectangular walkway from where they were.

It was a quick trip across, and the non-turbo lift arrived slowly and noisily. All climbed inside. "I believe Major that those of us not involved in securing Engineering should pursue the drones." Alph told the group, straining to be heard over the noisy lift mechanism in dire need of lubrication.

"I agree." Kalath said simply. "Commander Alph, assist Lieutenant Gordon in securing Engineering. Take the cadets and Mana'i," Kalath ordered, wanting to keep the trainee officers and their multiversal ally away from the potential fighting, "The rest of you with me, we're going forward." Kalath instructed as the lift stopped and opened, releasing the group out into main engineering.

"Got it." Gordon said with an affirmative nod. "Let's go, Cam." Gordon said, her focus obviously on the strange machine.

“Aye,” Camilaar squeaked again and coughed as he moved to follow Gordon. His normal voice returned but slightly shaken, “I hope there are ducts we can quickly get into, I’d imagine Borg don’t often move fast in tubes and ducts.” He continued in an attempt to distract himself.

Choq moved silently in step with Major Kalath.

Once the teams had divided, Gordon turned to Mana'i. "So, Ensign. Sorry we haven't really been introduced before now. Do you, uh, know much about machines?" She asked the woman, hoping it wasn't a stupid question, and to find a task to assign her to. The reports she'd read said Manai's culture was relatively undeveloped, despite being machines themselves.

“Hi, I’m Cadet Camilaar of Rhade,” the Felinoid introduced himself quickly with a little wave of his hand.

"I do. Not quite your brand of machines, but yes, I do." Mana'i smiled through her Kanohi mask. "How may I be of assistance?"

"Well, our computers are slightly easier, but can you have a look at their system, see if you can make sense of the interface? Nothing advanced, just whatever you can figure out." Gordon instructed her.

"Cadet Iplik, send an update via the arrival point to Commander S'Lace, let her know the situation and what we're doing." Kalath said as an afterthought as she went to open the doorway to leave.

"Yes ma'am." Iplik said, looking around as though he'd forgotten he was wearing the comms backpack. He removed it and began to set it up to broadcast back to the beachhead, where the officers keeping their landing spot secure could let the Hercules know.

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