Horizon

Back on Starbase 10, Samji was frantically looking for solutions to the renewed attack that wouldn't result in what was left of Lotus Fleet being utterly destroyed. He had called a meeting with his senior staff, or those that had not been seriously injured, and they were seated around a table in front of him near a series of windows that happened to show the fire of the Azimuth Horizon anomaly in the distance. It was now bigger than ever and he stared at it with concern and the heavy weight of responsibility lining the forehead and cheekbones of his youthful but weary-worn dark-skinned face.

He shook off the feeling of dread that came from seeing the anomaly renewed, knowing that it wasn't his issue to solve anymore. He had passed that burden along to the ship commanders that were there to do their duty and put a stop to it, whatever the cost. Turning toward the officers assembled before him, including his First Officer and Engineer who had both recently returned from a mission corralling some shuttles; the very shuttles that were now bits and pieces of debris swirling through the Anomaly like the massive tornadoes found in the American midwest.

He had explained the situation and they were now debating different options. "We can't contact the Lotus but they've heard the distress call. Maybe they'll provide support," offered Lieutenant Jorga.

"In just under three hours if they set out now," argued Rexil, pointing out that it would probably be too late at that point to do anything anyway. "And they have to stay where they are for Phase three of the operation."

"The transwarp drive could still be used," grunted the Tellarite Engineer. "It hasn't been used yet. One jump and they have to come back to Starbase 10 to get the drive repaired, but it's an option."

"Of course, if all the variables came together it is an option," responded First Officer Karen Schmidt. "There's still the issue that the enemies will arrive long before Phase three is complete." She frowned and showed her age through her own set of worry lines defining her forehead. She was actually quite a bit older than Samji himself, but was still very fit and attractive... when she wasn't running on no sleep for the last thirty hours.

"This isn't getting us anywhere," Samji snapped, His usual calm demeanor was breaking down under the stress. "Let's not talk about what they might do. Let's talk about what WE can do!"

The silence that proceeded was not encouraging.

"There just isn't enough time, Sir," responded the tactical officer on duty. The young Ensign was looking down while he said this, as he was not too keen to give his superior bad news. "There is approximately fourty-five minutes left before they could even possibly get there. Perhaps the Alsea and Spectre will finish their part of the operation and be able to retreat in time. They are fully aware that they'll stand a much better chance tactically if the fight occurs here near the Starbase."

"It is likely they will follow them here," Karen agreed. "At this point, taking the Starbase is a better move for them than messing with the Anomaly more. Both the Klingons and Romulans will likely see this as a necessary base of operations, and after our presumed destruction, will fight amongst themselves to capture it."

"I'd rather not leave that to chance..." replied Samji, drifting off wearily.

"Sir... you may have to contact Captain Paris," Grok said finally. He was the only other one to see the communique sent from Rear Admiral Kotari, and was saving this for the inevitable conclusion when there was no other option that could be conceived.

"Yes, I suppose you're right. He's not going to like this," Samji said with a shake of his head. At the inquisitive looks in the room, Samji explained. "Back at Starfleet Headquarters, he's occasionally informed me of how he's managed to go thirty-eight years without going into transwarp and intended to never attempt it again. I'm going to have to ask him to break his streak."

"Tom Paris? I thought he's been overseeing the new development projects at Utopia Planetia," inquired Commander Schmidt.

"He has... but they have sent him to bring us one of his new designs: a heavy-explorer that they've been designing and building for eighteen months now. They decided that we need the support. It's apparently the most top of the line engine built to date, designed by Captain Paris himself, and more importantly: it presumably has a stable transwarp drive."

Eyebrows were raised at this statement, in anticipation and excitement, even from the usually rational Tellarite. They were all aware of the Lotus' current transwarp drive, which as far as they knew had not been tested yet. It was a cobbled-together project by Starbase 10 Engineers from salvaged Borg sphere and cube parts following the invasion, but it was inefficient and required a massive amount of power to operate; and as Sangliar had mentioned, it could only be used once without the need to repair it again, which was a massive undertaking made easier at a starbase.

The new engine was likely also made possible by salvaged Borg tech recovered by that devastating war. Only this time instead of being pieced together in a hurry, it was slowly and methodically examined, researched, and reverse-engineered by dozens of technicians and engineers at Utopia Planetia. Therefore, it would be stable and efficient; the first one ever to come out of Starfleet.

Following the excitement were confused looks accompanying the obvious question hanging in the air. It finally was addressed by Samji. "They had to rush the ship out of drydock early and the drive has not been thoroughly tested. They wanted to allow time for that to occur here."

"It seems the only option, however," he continued. "I will get on the comm and ask him to get as close to the Alsea and Spectre as he can manage. They still won't be a match for the full force but they can cover the backs of the Alsea and Spectre as they high-tail it back here."

And with that, the meeting was dismissed... but not before Dr. Michaels, silent up to that point, asked one remaining important question. "Sir, if I may ask... what is the name of this ship?"

Samji had been purposefully avoiding answering this question, but he finally had to smirk at the irony of what he was about to say...

"It's... the U.S.S. Horizon."

And with that, Samji left the conference room with a half dozen officers behind him looking wide-eyed at each other in astonishment, before continuing straight through Ops to his personal office to make that all-important call.

The face of Captain Tom Paris appeared on the viewer in Samji's office and smiled at seeing is old friend and former student.

"Allen," he said, "it's good to see you well. Or I suppose I should call you 'Sir' now!"

"They'll be none of that," responded Fleet Captain Samji in mock anger and smiled back. After so many years, he could never imagine his former Starship Design instructor and thesis adviser calling him "Sir".

He suddenly became serious again and looked into the wrinkled but healthy face of his old mentor capped with a mop of dirty-blonde hair. "We could really use your help, Tom."

"I hear you have quite a doozy on your hands... and that you're givin'em hell. Good job Allen," he said in support to try to ease the tension. Then became more serious himself as he said, "I'm sorry Starfleet couldn't give you more support. There's more on the way, but they had short notice and everyone's still recovering from the Borg War."

"Even you it seems," Samji said, pointing to a still reddish scar across the old Captain's face.

"Yeah, I thought I was a goner" confirmed Paris. "Until I saw all those cubes just explode in front of my eyes. I've dealt with many cubes in my days on Voyager, but that was one for the books."

Despite his position on Utopia Planetia, Paris, along with many other Captains who were thought to be in retirement were recalled to command warships. Especially those closer to Sol due to how far the Borg were able to penetrate into Federation space.

Turning back to the situation at hand, Paris said, "Well we're about seventy-five minutes away, Fleet Captain, what else can I do for you?"

"You're not gonna like it..." warned Samji.

"Uh oh. Do I need to be seated?" he joked.

"How would you feel about testing out that fancy new transwarp drive?" Samji asked.

Paris' previously jovial face turned instantly into a frown. "No..."

"'Fraid so. We need you to go to these coordinates as fast as you can. Hopefully there's a conduit you can hook into that passes by there." Samji sent him the details and he looked over it.

"I believe so. If it works, it would cut our trip down by about 95%," Paris replied as he punched in a few calculations while performing some of them in his head. "Would put us there in about 8 minutes."

"That would be fantastic. Don't worry, I'm sure it will be fine. You've gone through before... if you hadn't you'd still be out there in the Delta Quadrant, right?"

"Yeah, thanks to a little help," Tom responded, speaking of a visit they had from a future Janeway who had guided them through. It was also his engine this time and he knew everything about it. "We'll provide your officers whatever assistance we can... Sir," he added, in respect, despite Samji's wishes. "You can count on that."

"I know Captain," Samji replied in an equal show of respect. "Best of luck."

And with that he closed the comm and sat back, realizing that it was pretty much all up to them now. All he had to do was wait and hope.