Captain's log, stardate 52234.2. Long range scanners have detected substantial Borg activity ahead. Voyager has subsequently altered course to bypass the sector but is limited by the position of a neutron star.

Captain Kathryn Janeway stood on the bridge, a thoughtful hand poised at her chin.

"If we get any closer to this neutron star we are going to be sucked in faster than a Tachyon particle. Seven, is there any indication that the Borg are aware of our presence in this sector?"

"No indications have been detected as of yet captain however there is substantial interaction between Borg vessels in and around the sector. Such activity is…" Seven paused as if to find the precise words "… unusual considering our present location."

Kathryn's head swung around to Seven who was standing behind her. "Unusual?" she questioned.

Seven looked for a moment as if she were trying to soften the blow; she was well aware of the crew's tendency to succumb to unproductive bouts of anxiety as far as the collective were concerned. However, her scans were conclusive and the captain needed to be informed.

"Well… activity such as this is more akin to that found near the hive in Borg territory."

Seven concluded that she had given the captain enough information for her to comprehend the dangers that the situation presented.

Kathryn's eyes widened momentarily before she turned again and spoke, almost as if to herself.

"Hive-like activity. Hmm, and yet no indications that the Borg are so much as aware of our presence? Unlikely," she concluded. "What are they up to?" she said, staring out at the myriad of stars which stretched ahead of them, as if by looking hard enough she could find out. She abruptly shook her head and announced her decision,

"For now we maintain course. Keep us at a safe distance from the neutron star Tom; and Seven, I want a continual sensor sweep of the area. I want to know the minute their scanners detect us."

Kathryn left the bridge and strode towards the captain's ready room, needing time to collect her thoughts. She was swiftly followed by Chakotay who had some concerns of his own.

"Captain, a word," he said, chasing after her.

Kathryn would have liked a few minutes to herself before a confrontation with Chakotay. There was no room for uncertainties in discussions with him and as much as she valued his input, she needed clarity in her own mind before she faced him.

"Chakotay?" she questioned, passing through the doorway and moving behind her desk. In her mind it always acted as some kind of a barrier between the two of them and it reminded Chakotay of her status as captain.

"Have you considered the possibility of bypassing the star completely from the other side?"

Kathryn looked him straight in the eye. "I have considered it but it will take a considerable amount of time off our journey and scanners indicate that there is a dense nebula at the other side." She sighed suddenly and gave up on the tech talk; she couldn't help but be straight with Chakotay. "Whichever way we go there are dangers. Do we go into uncharted territory which could take light-years to pass through and which we can't even map through our scanners, or do we hold course and get out of this damned sector as fast as we can?"

"I have to tell you Kathryn that the crew are unsettled. There are rumours that the Borg are planning to occupy the whole of this sector, and the whole of the quadrant come to that!"

Kathryn sat down slowly in her seat in a controlled and calm manor. "All the more reason for us to find the quickest path back to the Alpha Quadrant Chakotay."

"That's if we make it there. Don't you think they are a little too close for comfort?" he countered.

Kathryn held up her hands. "And if we take a detour? That would only give them more time… do whatever it is they are doing! And how long do you think it would be before they caught up with us Chakotay?"

Chakotay wasn't to be put off. "Well then let's find out more of their plans. Either way, how can we defend ourselves by ignoring what is clearly happening out there?"

Kathryn suddenly lost patience and the weight of the responsibility made her defensive. "What would you have me do? Take on the whole Borg Collective single-handedly?"

"Not single-handedly," he snapped back. She always took all responsibility upon her own shoulders but they were all in this together! He took a moment and a deep breath to pull himself in line, "you have the support of the crew at your disposal don't forget."

Kathryn could foresee another heated moment between the two of them and took a second to calm her already tightly strung nerves. Chakotay was invaluable in his role as a go between, linking the crew and the captain, but it was at moments like these when Kathryn wondered if he fully understood the stresses of having to be the one to make a final decision on behalf of every crew member.

"And what did the crew have in mind?" she said slowly, in an attempt at quelling her frustrations and passing some of the responsibility over to him. She was willing to listen if he had a better solution.

"The crew are divided," he admitted. "Some are nervous about the latest Borg activity in this sector and want to know more, some want to avoid it."

"And you?" she put to him.

"We seem unprepared either way," he said suddenly, voicing his concerns. "Even if we get past this sector, how can we be sure that they won't pursue us further: even as far as the Beta quadrant and beyond."

It was the 'and beyond' that had bothered Kathryn more and more recently and she was sure that Chakotay had known this. They were in some ways in an ideal position to find out more about the Borg's plans for domination, however they were one starship among a whole battalion of Borg vessels, and possibly more. There was only so much she could do. The welfare of her crew was utmost in her mind and getting them safely back to the Alpha quadrant was her primary objective.

"Let's get home Chakotay before we take on the entire Borg Collective! With all the data we have collected I'm certain that we will have sufficient defence should the Borg or any other Delta quadrant species set their sights on the Alpha quadrant."

"I hope you're sure about that," he replied.

Kathryn wasn't sure, and she was even less sure moments later when a sudden jolt almost threw her out of her chair.

"Captain to the bridge," she said, tapping her combadge.

"We have lost warp drive captain," came the controlled voice of Tuvok.

"Impulse engines?" she asked.

"Ineffective," came the reply.

"Diagnosis?" she asked, with a little disbelief.

"We appear to caught in some kind of extreme magnetic force field emanating from the neutron star and another unconfirmed body."

Kathryn didn't like the sound of that. "Borg initiated?" she asked.

"Unclear captain."

Tuvock had the annoying habit of only supplying the most unspeculative information.

"Seven, have scanners detected any evidence of Borg intelligence?"

"Negative captain."

"Janeway to engineering, is there any way to get us through this 'magnetic field?"

B'Elanna answered a little apprehensively. "I've never seen anything like this captain; the warp core may as well be offline."

"Are we facing a breach?" she asked.

"No," came the reply. "The warp core is stable but utterly ineffective at present."

"Reverse thrusters Tom?" she asked.

"Useless." He confirmed the worst.

"So to all intents and purposes we are trapped," Kathryn said to Chakotay, "a sitting target for anyone."