32.Cardassians are no more, we get major Populsion research loss and Ferengi declare war upon us. This also trapped our main fleet outside the green range, again. We did manage to destroy the local Husnock raider, though.
Few turns later, we get upgrade in energy. As you can see, it allows us to construct starbases but we can't really maintain or utilize them properly.
Borg Cubes, at least 8 of them, are now in Klingon, Ferengi, late Cardassian and Romulan space. Two of them approaching Ariannus system in our territory.
At Turn 271, Selay is no more, as is Berentalia system, that vast system in Romulan space we discovered and planned to colonize so long, long ago.
Few turns later we save Kholfa system in Klingon space just in a nick of time. We lost, suprisingly, 'only' 11 ships, including all five Nebulas -
Cpt.Kor is no more. Or, he might be actually in better place than we are now.
There are two other cubes in the area and Admiral Cain is rushing reinforcements from our territory - 22 or so ships, mostly destroyers and light cruisers.
At Sol and Yridia, we're constructing two reinforcement fleets - 6 Mirandas and 2 Ambassadors, and Oberth in each of them.
Two turns later this happens, and USS Winslow A, Ambassador-class cruiser, is finished at Yridia.
===
Borg Drone puts three tokens on the grid and leans back into straight position.
"You, Species 5618, call it, Check-Mate. Resistance is futile."
President Haspen grumbles, looking over the grid. He then looks to the right, at similar four tokens in Dullisian, Ariannus, Melina and, most importantly, Yridia system.
"Indeed we do. If assimilation of Ferengi will complete, Klingons win by the rules. But if we leave for Armus, you will sweep into Klingon space, making Ferengi the winners. If we somehow win both of those fights, you're already one foot in our space, conquering our colonies. Nice one."
"We, do not conquer. We assimilate." The drone responds.
"Oh, sorry. My mistake. But, tell me... you were Captain Hyo, right... tell me then, Hyo--"
"My designation is Three of Ten, Secondary Adiunct of Unimatrix 001."
"...Tell me, Hyo, do your ship detect any... time disturbances building-up nearby?"
The drone jerks to the side, it's mechanical hand whirling for a while, before the Borg again looks at President Haspen with cold, emotionless eyes.
"Vessel 237 point 4 confirms existence of a time distortion."
"See, we are armed with transphasic particle generator, right on board of USS L'Aventure."
"That will not stop us."
"Oh, no no no, I'm sure it won't stop you now, but, ask your mighty Collective, what happens, if such thing would be, for example, detonated between Alpha and Delta Quadrant, say, around 279 weeks ago, when the Humans just started their journey into space?"
The drone blinked few times, a small cirle implant clicking few times on it's right hand. Suddenly, the drone pointed it's left arm at the Haspen to shoot him with a disruptor, but last thing that the drone saw was the blue particles of transportation effect.
===
Bridge of USS L'Aventure C, Miranda-class destroyer, NCC-21264.
Officers look at President Haspen, who just materialized on the bridge. After he nods, everyone assumes their positions. First Officer comes to his side.
"Gravitational disturbances are calculated for the slingshot operation, transphasic generator is secured, we gathered more food and dilithium that we will need to get to the other quadrant and back. All is set, sir."
The President nods again and then sits down in the Captain's chair. He takes a brief look at Earth, his home, home of the brave fifty who are with him on L'Aventure.
"Let's have hope, that by abandoning this Universe to the Borg, we will save the other from suffering the same, gruesome fate! Engage!"
A small blue vortex opens before the Miranda, engulfs it, and then...
...everything changes.//Honestly, this was a damn check-mate. No matter which Cube(s) we would intercept, either Klingons or Ferengi would die, making the other race a winner. And what I haven't shown was Cube entering Yridia and cutting population in half already, crippling our starship construction capabilities.
So I decided to make 'The End' a bit more Star-Trek'y and include some time travel shenaningans
I hope you liked this LP, even if it was so full of Borg in the end. Next time, I'm going to do this without random events - as far as I know, it will also disallow Borg to appear. And then we can have proper war games with Cardassians and Romulans.
See ya!
