Stardate: 71005:2200
Title: Is Resistance Always Futile? (Part 1)
Author: Ensign 'Sparky'
Time: Concurrent with "The Joker Cometh"
Scene: Horizon / Planet-Side


Three had been monitoring the readings from the planet, all combadges and every sensor reading from both the future-Horizon and this Horizon when he detected the beam-out from the future-Horizon as well as the unusual readings from the surface.

"Computer, initiate tactical program Sparky Alpha 1."

<Command confirmed>

Before the bridge crew realized what was happening the majority of the away team had been beamed to the Bridge. As soon as they appeared Three was moving.

"Captain, I request permission to retrieve our other crew members. I have been monitoring everything that has been going on down on the surface and have been running a program that is attempting to create a signal that can bypass the interference caused by the crystals. The program will be completed in approximately..."

There was a sudden beep as the program completed itself, and Three stopped speaking as he remotely accessed the results of the program.

"Ensign, you were saying," came the Captain's voice.

There was a long pause as Three's eyes began to jerk around in what looked like he was reading something.

"Ensign?" Said the Captain with a slightly raised voice.

With a sudden jerk Three focused his eyes on the Captain.

"Sir, there is a way to transport a total of three people through the interference caused by their structures. I understand that we have 3 people missing as well as one from the future-Horizon, although his lifesigns have already faded and I suspect he is dead. I am able to beam down and place these beacons onto our people, at which point they can be beamed up to the ship."

"What do you mean you can beam three people through the interference? Three altogether or one at a time?" Asked the Captain.

"The structures appear to absorb the various emissions over time, and as such I believe we can beam a signal through the interference three times before it too is absorbed by the crystals; I will have to find another way out of the corridors. Once I leave the ship you will receive a priority message from Starfleet Special Operations; it will explain everything. I thank you for my time here." For the first time in anyone's memory, Three actually smiled. "'Time' - a rather interesting word to use. Goodbye."

Before anyone could stop him, Three was beamed off the ship and onto the surface...


=/\= Somewhere beneath the planet's surface =/\=

Autumn was gripping Lily's hand; just as she was beginning to black out she saw the familiar shimmer of a transporter beam and the vague shape of a large being approaching her. She raised her hand to defend Lily in an almost instinctual way.

"Fear not, I am here to save you," came an oddly sounding voice. For a spit second she thought it was the Borg, but before that thought fully seated itself, the blackness of unconsciousness took her.


=/\= The Bridge of the Horizon =/\=

Seconds after Three had vanished there was the shimmer of a transporter; there on the deck of the Bridge lay Lily and Autumn.

"Captain, I am receiving a priority message for you. It is being routed to your Ready Room automatically," Ensign Khalid reported.

"Very well. Get the Commander and the Captain to Medical. Everyone else, man your stations. Be prepared for anything."

With that the Captain moved into his Ready Room; on his desk station awaited the message.


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Ensign 'Sparky'
Tactical Officer
USS Horizon
NCC-72400
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