The Romulans used their advantage to send strike after strike towards the base and to keep moving to avoid returning weapons fire.  

When the base’s defensive systems came online, the powerful deflector screens powered up, as did the phaser cannons and torpedo launchers. As the Klingons had learned decades ago when attacking Deep Space Nine, Federation bases were capable of dealing out destruction on a mass scale.

The base Engineers immediately went to work trying to keep the base's outer doors working. When they had tried to open them, they had jammed closed.  

Not bothering to make proper repairs, they began disconnecting the locking mechanisms so the doors could just be pulled open with brute force. It would take them a little time, but every available tech and Engineer was working on the problem.

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Officers were in and out of the Command Center in an almost constant stream. Everyone was trying to take care of their respective duties as quickly as possible, and that fact took many all across the station.  

When Dan and Sam entered into the chaos that was the Starbase's Command Center, Dan immediately spotted Ray Gage.  

Rushing over to him, motioning for Sam to follow, Dan hoped that Gage would be able to explain the situation, as, if at all possible, Dan didn't want to bother any of the Station Personnel... they looked much to busy... and he could understand why. 

"Ray, what in god's name is going on here?" He shouted, instantly regretting not putting a more 'official' spin on it.  

You and Gage may be friends, but considering, you're both on Duty... you really can't go around calling superior officers by their first name all the time... 

Waiting for a response, Dan could only hope the situation would soon become clear... for now he didn't feel comfortable taking action without knowing more... he wouldn't risk his ship and crew without more information...

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As a few more minutes passed, Melissa managed to walk along the upper ring of the command center and decipher what she could from snippets of conversation and glancing at consoles. Ray tried to do a bit of the same thing but for some reason most crew didn't seem to like having a commodore glancing over their shoulders. He may have been out of duty uniform, but the rank pips were still on the collar of his long sleeved under portion of the regular uniform.  

They both met back near the doors at the rear of the command center. Just then Dan and Sam entered. "Ray, what in god's name is going on here?" "I wish I knew completely Dan." Ray let the rank thing slide. It was a pressure situation and they were friends after all. The only thing he was worried about was the edge in Dan's voice. He has something new to worry about. He just got her back and now this... He let the thought slide off. "Melissa and I just made a quick round of the center. What have you found out?"  

"From the looks of it the Romulans are hitting the base with quite a fleet. At least two battleships, a few heavies and an assortment of smaller ships." Melissa replied. 

"I saw the scans on one of those battleships, they easily outgun one of our heavies and are an even match for one of our own battle ships. What about the doors?" Ray asked.  

Melissa's face grew grim. "One of the engineers was swearing and pounding on his console. The outer doors were jammed closed when they tried to cycle them open. The Romulans have concentrated an intense attack on that section. Apparently they have forgone making repairs and are disconnecting the locking mech. The doors should be able to be pulled open with brute force." Her face gre solemn again. "There are engineers dying by the dozen out there trying to solve this."  

"Damn!" Ray slapped his fist into his other hand. He hated being cooped up but this could be a disaster. If the Romulans got just one ship inside they could start to pick the base apart. If they got in... 

Ray started to have the beginning of a plan but it would be risky and they would need some help.  

"Dan, we need to get Tam, Yssy, Thrawn and Rayne up here. I have an idea but I want to run it past them."

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Beckett had to catch his breath after running to the command center. He saw the assembled officers and wondered why they weren’t on their ships.  

“Report to your ships immediately.”

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It now seemed that quite a group was gathering near the entrance to the Command Center and rightfully so. The CO's were trying to get answers and knew their ships were stuck in the dock.  

The first person arriving was just the person Ray was looking for, his new FO. As she asked Dan to point him out Ray saw her face flush. He smiled reassuringly. "I'll save him the trouble Commander. I am Commodore Gage. The reason I summoned you was to inform you that you are now the First Officer of the USS Republic under my command." He watched her for a reaction but kept right on going. Let her sort it all out later, right now I need a FO in the worst way. "Commander, I need you to do two things..." Just then Commander Rommel, the man in charge of the Republic's flight groups arrived as well. Ray noticed his approach and stopped midsentence to address him. "Commander Rommel, I'm glad you are here. First let me introduce you to Commander Patricia DeLacroix, the new FO of the Republic." The two exchanged brief greetings then Ray got right down to business. "I need you two, Commanders Rommel and Delacroix to get the crew aboard the Republic and get her ready for departure in the quickest way possible. As soon as I have things in hand here I'll join you aboard. Understood?" They both nodded. "Excellent. I'm counting on you both, as exemplary officers to get the ship ready."  

He hated having to be a bit short with his people as they were the ones carrying orders out and deserved an explanation, but the situation warranted quick action. 

Ray then noticed that the other CO's had arrived. He was relieved to see Yssy arrive and inquire as to the situation in her no nonsense tone and then the swirl of an incoming transport materialized Tam. The only CO missing was Matt Thrawn who was no doubt already aboard his ship. There wasn't any more time so Ray moved ahead and would fill Thrawn in via comm later.  

"Thank you all for getting here quickly. Here's the situation as it stands. SB1 is under major attack from a Romulan fleet consisting of: Two Battleships, Three Heavy Cruisers, four Light Cruisers, two frigates and a scout ship. They have concentrated their fire on the reactors, repair yards and primarily the docking doors." Ray paused for a second as the tempo of the room seemed to pick up then return back to its earlier frenzied pace.  

He continued. "The doors are jammed closed but the base engineers have deactivated the locking mechanism and are going to brute force the doors open. I then have a plan for how we will exit. With those doors open only the shields are keeping anything from entering the base and when a ship leaves the shields need to cycle to let it through." Ray made sure everyone was following and they were, he picked up the pace of his words.  

"What we will do is have the Gettysburg and Dauntless rotate onto a side so they are facing back to back, their shield grids interlocking. The Titan and Yoritomo will be situated just above and below the cruisers and the Philly will be right on the tail of this with the Republic's fighters in a screen behind that. Once the doors are fully open the whole group accelerates out at full impulse and starts in on targets of opportunity. The Republic will be right behind."  

"Everyone in agreement?" Nods from around the room. "Good lets get to our ships."  

Just then FAdm Beckett entered the command center, short of breath as he obviously ran the entire way there. “Report to your ships immediately.” 

Ray stepped forward, "We were just doing that sir. I've conceived a plan to get us out there once the doors are open enough to let us out. Unless you have further orders?"  

The other CO's started to exit as Ray waited to see what the FAdm had in mind.

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Battle raged in the Sol sector. The Romulans, hell bent on destroying Star Base 1, launched volley after volley towards the monstrous base. In return, the Star Base launched its own volleys. Quantum torpedo turrets fired torpedoes in groups of five and the massive Type IV phasers also found their mark. Unfortunately, the massive doors of Docking Bay 3 were stuck closed, not allowing the small armada of ships within to aid in the battle.  

In the vicinity of Mars, a subspace tear in space slowly formed. A large green ball of energy came from the tear, heading directly for Star Base 1. It impacted with the base and in one fell swoop, the shield generators failed leaving the massive base defenseless.

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With an audible beep the communication channels of all Romulan and Federation ships opened.  

[We are the Borg, Lower your shields and surrender. We will add your biological and technological distinctiveness to our own. Your culture will adapt to service us. Resistance is futile.]

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Beckett couldn’t believe his eyes. In one volley, the Borg had taken down the powerful shields of SB1. This couldn’t have happened at a worse time. The Federation was just starting to push the Romulans back and now an old enemy had returned.  

“Computer, open a secure channel to the Federation President’s office, emergency code Alpha-Alpha-Beckett-One.”  

[Jon, what in God’s name is happening up there? We are reading Romulan vessels and unknown ships attacking the shipyards and the star base. We have scrambled planetary defenses.] 

“Madame President, we have no time for that now. The Borg have returned. They’ve already fired on the shipyards and I suspect their next target will be Star Base 1, as our shields are offline. I am ordering Starfleet and the Federation to initiate the Armageddon Directive, effective immediately. 

The President sat back in her chair, stunned. She knew what the Directive was, but had never dreamed it would be used.  

[Very well, Admiral. You know what you need to do. We’ll take care of the rest and send out the subspace warning to all Federation members. Good luck to you Admiral and Godspeed.] 

The channel closed and Beckett spoke directly to the computer. The CO’s that remained stood in awe, not sure what the Armageddon Directive was or if they really wanted to know. 

“Computer, this is Fleet Admiral Jon Beckett. Implement the Armageddon Directive.”  

[Please enter the command access code.]  

“Command Access Code is Zeta-Beta-Alpha-Omega-Beckett-One-Two-Seven-Seven-Four-Three-Omega-Omega…”  

Before he could finish entering the command access code, three Borg suddenly appeared in the middle of the Command Center. Beckett and the other officers noted almost immediately some striking differences from the Federation’s last contact with the Borg. These Borg didn’t move in an awkward, mechanical style, but moved with the fluidity of a non-mechanical species. With a quick flick of its wrist, one of the Borg fired a dart at a Vulcan sitting at the tactical station.  

Beckett didn’t see the dart impact. Instead he focused his attention to finishing the command access code. His excitement led him to yell the completion of the code. “Omega-Alpha-Phoenix!”  

While Beckett finished entering the code, the other two Borg focused their attention on Beckett. Before they could fire their darts Beckett completed the code, initiating the Armageddon Directive. Upon utterance of the word Phoenix, Beckett and all CO’s were enveloped in the blue light of transporters.

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The Command Center was abandoned.  

The only proof that it had once been occupied, was the corpses that littered the floor. The Borg had assimilated those they could capture, killed those they could not, and transported to other parts of the station to continue building their collective.  

The main Starbase computer failed, as did the backup batteries. Shortly after, the Command center was engulfed in explosions as Starbase One was completely destroyed.