Captain Samson Bradley stood in the center of the bridge, coffee in hand. The evening shift started a few hours ago, and he had been preparing for rest. That had changed when the latest sensor reports had come in from P82343. His usually relaxed look had tensed, and he was fighting the urge to pace the carpet in front of the command chairs. The rear turbolift doors opened, admitting several of the senior staff. They relieved the junior officers, starting their work. He waited a beat as the dismissed crew briefed the senior group. Once that was done, he turned his attention to his Science Chief, Ensign Lita Morrison, “What do we know?”

Lita’s eyes widened as she caught up: “Unusual readings from P82343 on a biometric spectrum, but not an active one. It’s latent and very faint.” Her hands worked the console, and the other crew listened as they completed their tasks. Samson caught a frown as she looked from screen to screen.

“Ensign?” He was curious and concerned. Whatever it was, it had brought the massive Typhoon-class starship to a dead stop.

Her voice tightened the longer she spoke. “I’m reading structural remains on the far end of the planet as well. Something is interfering with the sensors and the readings. It’s not an active signal.” She adjusted the sensors as she went, eliminating each suspicious variable. “The closest I can approximate without getting closer is that the interference is similar to a radiation area.”

He remained standing, “When was the last time a survey team was out here?”

She accessed the log on the planet, “Fifteen years ago, sir.”

Samson stared at the planet that lay in the distance. He felt a tug in his gut. What was out there, he wondered. He said, “Fifteen years is a long time. Helm, intercept course. Yellow alert.” The lights faded into a dull yellow as the soft klaxon echoed deck to deck. The shields engaged, and weapons systems were placed on standby. Minutes passed as the planet grew in size until it filled the screen. He turned back to the Science II station across the bridge.

Lita was silent, her mouth agape. She tapped at the console, running the scan for a fourth time. She turned to face her captain, “I’m reading remains of an older settlement. The other reading…is unusual.” She tapped at the console, and the viewscreen changed to reflect her display. The rest of the bridge crew gasped at the sight.

Samson clicked his tongue, “Unusual is a word.”

On the screen, the wreckage of a Borg Cube rested in the curve of a low mountain, shattered pieces and parts scattering down the hills and into the plains leading to the worn remains of the settlement. Plant life had been working its way into the wreckage. The greenery created an eerie illusion of the terrifying green lighting that often glittered out of an active cube.

He asked, “How long has it been here?” He had a bounty of questions.

Lita shook her head, “The interference is getting in the way of the detailed sensors. We’re working on identifying the source. We can mitigate it, or if we find the location, shut it down.”

Samson replied, “See it done. Have Commander Vargas meet me in my ready room. Lieutenant De La Fontaine, you have the CONN.”

“We are deep in the rimward, Captain.” Commander August Vargas stood, PADD in hand, reading the updated data. Samson had started the conversation by asking how a Borg Cube could escape any kind of visibility. “The settlement isn’t on any maps, official or otherwise. Montana Station is making inquiries.”

Samson sat on the couch against the windows of his ready room. The Borg were not just a scary monster under the bed or in the dark closet. They were the monsters stalking you down the well-lit street with no fear. What were they doing way out here? What had brought them down on the planet below? “It’s still strange.”

Vargas answered, “Strange is our business. With all the sensors and science labs they packed into this ship, we’re uniquely suited for an investigation.” He watched the face of his mentor and captain carefully. “You’re still concerned.”

A grumbling growl was the captain’s initial reply. “You don’t underestimate them, even if the trees are growing through the superstructure. There’s a reason there are several units and even classes on them in the academy – they tested us to our limits…and they’ve never stopped. Frontier Day was a reminder of how dangerous they remain.”

Augusto blanched, growing silent in contemplation. He nodded quietly, “Even as fresh as it is in my mind, I sometimes forget. Thank you for reminding me, sir.”

Samson pushed off the couch, “History is a tough teacher.” He picked up a PADD from his desk and handed it to his XO. “Assemble the Hazard Team and have them briefed on what we know so far. Whatever is down there, we’ll have to find out the old-fashioned way.”