Story [Star Trek] Rebellion!

Stardate 52003.2

You will disarm your weapons and escort us to Sector Zero Zero One. If you attempt to intervene, will we destroy you.

Benjamin Sisko?s eyes bolted open at the voice in his nightmares. The same nightmare he?d had every night for the past six years. The mutilated form of Jean-Luc Picard, assimilated and transformed into the Borg Speaker Locutus. Demanding the surrender of Starfleet as they massed at Wolf 359 to stop the advancing Borg cube from reaching Earth.

The cube that smashed its way through the meager taskforce and destroyed Sisko?s life. His son Jake and wife Jennifer, blown into space when a Borg torpedo struck their section of the Saratoga?s hull.

The fate of the galaxy had changed that day. After the Enterprise crew had destroyed the Borg ship, Starfleet Command had actually given Picard back his ship! Like nothing had happened. The man had been responsible for the deaths of nearly eleven thousand people and the loss of forty starships. And they put him back in charge of the flagship of the Federation!

Sisko still remembered the long trip back to the Terran system aboard the rescue vessel Olympia. He?d spoken with the ship?s counselor about the loss he?d suffered. The pathetic shrink thought he would learn to live with it and become stronger because of it. That part was true.

One week after the infamous ?Battle of Wolf 359? Sisko had marched down the corridors of Headquarters and burst into the office of Admiral Owen Paris.

?You gave him back the Enterprise!? he shouted.

Paris remained cool and collected behind his desk. ?I?m well aware of your loss, Commander and I have nothing but sympathy for what you?re going through, but you?re tone is approaching the line, Mister Sisko. It was the assessment by both Starfleet Medical and Doctor Crusher that Picard was fully capable of returning to duty and the influence of the Borg Collective has been expunged from him. And quite frankly, Commander, it really is none of your business.?

Sisko fumed and failed to keep his temper in check. ?I?ll tell you this Admiral, as long as Picard retains command, I?ll fight it. I?ll fight it at every level. The man murdered thousands! He has to answer for that.?

Paris rose to his feet. ?Commander SIsko, I?ll pass along your opinion to the Command Council. And since I know what you are going through right now, I?ll give you this one chance to leave this office and this matter will be closed and off the record. One more word and I?ll order a full investigation into your ability to command. Now.? He picked up a data padd from the desk. ?You?re new orders. You?ve been given command of the Utopia Planita Shipyards. It will be your task to coordinate with Starfleet Tactical. They?ve been designing new ships and weapon systems capable of combating the Borg. I think this may be the best fit for you. Report to your new assignment in three days.? Before Sisko could utter another word Paris said, ?You?re dismissed.?

Sisko had spent nearly a year at Utopia, advancing his plan. He built the Defiant, he designed the quantum torpedo, the ablative hull armor, and the phase-shifting cloaking device. Quietly he cultivated allies from across the Federation. Those who thought the Borg were the single greatest threat in history and Starfleet must be prepared. He spoke passionately in speeches across the Alpha and Beta Quadrants for militarizing Federation space. New orbital weapon platforms had been designed, planetary shields were developed. He?d advanced Federation weaponry by two centuries in ten months.

But the Federation Council refused to listen. Speech after speech, Sisko declared that the Federation was on the edge of an abyss. That if they did not take a more militarized approach, the Borg would return and assimilate the quadrant.

?Starfleet is not a military organization,? Federation President Amitra had said. ?And the Federation will not place itself on a war footing against a foe that resides in the far reaches of the Delta Quadrant. The Federation has heard your concerns, Commander