“Commander?” 

“Yes Lieutenant?” 

“Sir, we’ve just lost a patrol squad on sensors. They were there, and then they suddenly vanished.” 

The watch commander made his way over to look at the screen, and watched as the Lieutenant played back the sensor readings. 

“Maybe they went to investigate something. Are you detecting any abnormal energy readings, weapons fire, or engine overloads?” 

“Negative. However, I have tried to ping their communication systems and have not received a response. Even if they were out of range, I should have gotten a signal.” 

“Run a level three diagnostic on the primary sensors, and switch to backup. Scan the region again and then try and ping their comm systems. If you don’t get a response, we’ll send a runabout to investigate.” 

The Lieutenant began carrying out the orders as the watch commander issued them and a few moments later came up with the same result.  

“Commander, it’s not a malfunction. There is definitely something strange going on.” 

“Very well. Send out a runabout to recon the area and report back. Maybe they ran into something that knocked out their communications and engines and are stranded out there.” 

“Right awa….my god!” 

The watch commander had been heading back to his station when he heard the outburst and spun in place. 

“Report!” 

“Commander, I’m reading an unknown number of ships heading this way at warp. Size and configuration do not match any known species. They are coming in from the same direction as the patrol ships.” 

The watch commander began to pale, fearing the worst. 

“Borg?” 

“Negative Commander. Not unless they have greatly changed their power readings and vessel configurations. These are unlike anything we have encountered before and they will be here in less than an hour.”