Control Room, Metroid, VideoLand.

Ridley's evil face was on the viewscreen.  "Dr. Wily tells me that his diabolical scheme worked almost perfectly, MotherBrain."

            "Almost?" she demanded.

            "Yes, almost.  MegaMan's still around.  True, Dr. Wright and Dr. Cossack are gone, but he was hoping that Wright wouldn't have had the foresight to lock MegaMan, Roll, and Rush in a capsule.  Ceres Space Station is long gone.  Chief Aran is landing on Zebes' surface."  MotherBrain's evil smile returned.

            "Good," said MotherBrain.  "I'm glad those Chozo nitwits are history.  Just guard the remnants they left behind, Ridley.  As soon as Samus gets her hands on the morphing ball and the first set of missiles, let the pirates loose on Crateria {krah-teh-ré-ah} and fill the halls of Brinstar {brihn-stahr} with our lovely monsters."

            "I obey," said Ridley.  "Zebesian Tourian is ready for you, MotherBrain."

            "Excellent.  I shall be coming soon.  Heat up Norfair {nór-fehr}, flood Maridia {mah-rih-dyah}.  Tell Kraid {krehyd}, Phantoon, and the other guys to get ready.  This time, I want Samus stopped for good!"

            "Yes, Thine Evilness.  The heat-proof cell is ready for your prisoners."

            "Good, Ridley.  Is your clone ready?"

            "Yes, ma'am."

            "Great.  Send him to your Norfairian hideout.  I have a feeling that the other guardians will fail, though Kraid's gotten very powerful.  Samus may still have the Varia.  She'll be sweating, but she won't get damaged by inner Norfair's heat.  As, I hope, won't our prisoners."

            "They'll be enjoying 27� Celsius�."  [� - 80� Fahrenheit.]

            "Excellent!" said MotherBrain.  "See you later, Ridley."

            "See you later," replied Ridley.

            King Hippo asked, "Gee, MB, do you like him better than me?"  He grinned stupidly.

            "Yes!" snapped MotherBrain.  "And that's Queen MotherBrain, you idiot!  Ridley doesn't tolerate any B.S. from anyone!  You two are lucky that he's not in charge of you!"

            "They're lucky I'm not in charge of them," said Liquidator.  "I would hate to clean their clocks, which I should have to do if I were in charge of them."

            "Our clocks aren't dirty!" said King Hippo.  "We just got 'em back from the cleaners!"

            MotherBrain shouted, "Shut up, idiot!"  She grabbed him around the enormous stomach with her right tentacle.  "Before I turn you in to the N-Team!"

            "Anything but that!" begged the idiot.  King Hippo and Eggplant Wizard might well have been two of the most idiotic creatures in the universe, but they were loyal.

            "Good!"  MotherBrain's tentacles were conducive to electricity.  It worked in her favour.  She electrified King Hippo for a moment, then let go of him and let him crash on the floor.

            "Thanks for sparing me, Your Braininess," muttered King Hippo.  Something beeped at Eggplant Wizard's console.

            "Incoming!" exclaimed Eggplant Wizard.  "Tygra and Thunder Kittens preparing to beam to Metroid!"

            "The Thunder. . . oh, darn it!" said MotherBrain.  "I'm not ready to take on the Kittens yet.  Get us to Zebesian Tourian!!"

            Liquidator said, "I am activating the transporter."  He pressed a button on his station, and he, MotherBrain, and the two idiots, the only Brain-Team members on Metroid at the moment, were transported to Zebesian Tourian.  After that, the prisoners were transported to the heat-proof cell in Zebesian Norfair.

            A moment later, the molecules of Tygra and the Thunder Kittens materialised in the room.  The three looked around.  "She isn't here," said Tygra.

            Wilykat looked at the terminal where Liquidator had been a moment earlier.  "So!" he said.  "The scum transported out an instant before we got here."

            "Where did they go?" asked Wilykit.

            "Zebesian Tourian," answered Wilykat.  "I would bet that MotherBrain has big plans for that planet.  Says here that they expanded their fortress so that it encompasses approximately ninety-seven and two thirds percent of the planet, rather than the previous forty-nine and three quarters percent."  Wilykit cleared her throat.

            Tygra asked, "What about Commander Steelheart and Captain N?  What did MotherBrain do with them?"  Wilykat input a command so that he might see a recent transport log.

            "They, Captain Picard, Lieutenant Worf, Darkwing Duck, and Romulan Centurion Kranos were in the same dungeon cell where Steelwill, Quicksilver, and Bluegrass had been kept.  Right after the villains beamed out to Zebesian Tourian, Steelheart and the others were transported to Zebesian Norfair."

            "Norfair?!?" exclaimed Wilykit.  "It's too darned hot there for much of anything to survive because it's near the core of Zebes.  Out of the group, I would suspect that only Steelheart could survive the intense heat of inner Norfair, and her barely."

            "It says here, 'Heat-proof cell in Zebesian Norfair.'  I think that they aren't in danger from the heat of Norfair, 'Kit."

            "Let's go," said Tygra.  "This place gives me the creeps, because it's usually full of them."  He tapped his communicator.  "N-Team Transporter, transport three to the Palace of Power."  They were transported there.

            * * *

            Command Centre, Hawkhaven.

            "You sure you're not straining yourself, Quicksilver?" asked Steelwill.  "I mean, you're still not completely up to par, according to Dr. Hernández."

            "I'll be fine, Will," said Quicksilver.  "All I'm doing is keeping an eye on the sensors.  I'll send you if anything potentially dangerous comes up.  I know enough to follow doctor's orders."

            "Okay, Quick," Steelwill told him.  "I like the SuperFriends.  However, Jayna is extremely cautious.  Can't blame her, since the Cardassians conquered Exor, the homeworld of her and Zan."

            "Right."  The door of the turboelevator opened, and Bluegrass emerged, Side Man on his left shoulder in hawk-form, the Laser Guitar hanging on his back by the strap.

            "Hello, friends!" said Bluegrass cheerfully.  "What's happening?"

            "Not much," replied Steelwill.

            "I see.  Can I check on Wingie's lair in person?  El Quacko'll be sleepin' now, and I really wanta make sure no mean ol' hombres're messin' 'round out there."

            "Sure," said Quicksilver.  " 'El Quacko'?"

            "Darkwing let Zan and Robin look around the Tower by themselves," Steelwill said.  "I trust them.  Still, you probably ought to make sure they're okay, Bluegrass."

            "All rightie, then," said the pilot à la Ace Ventura.

            "Can the Ace Ventura, please, Bluegrass," said Steelwill.  "I can hardly stand that idiotic twentieth-century movie character."

            "Oh.  Okay, Will."

            From Steelwill's panel came the voice of Zan, who said, "Zan to Hawkhaven from Darkwing Tower.  Respond, please."

            Steelwill tapped a button and said, "Hello, Zan.  This is Lt. Steelwill.  What would you like?"

            "I don't want to be considered a pain, Steelwill, but can you come over here, please?  This is a face-to-face matter."

            "I cannot, Zan.  However, Bluegrass wants to go check on you."

            "Okay, sir.  Thank you."

            "You're welcome," Steelwill said.  "Bluegrass's practically on his way.  Steelwill out."  He tapped the button again.

            "See you later, cowboy," Quicksilver said.

            "Later, Quick," said Bluegrass.  He tapped his communicator.  "N-Team Transporter, take one man and his hawk to Zan's present location in Darkwing Tower."  Bluegrass and Side Man were transported to Darkwing Tower.

            Quicksilver sighed.  "Will, you're going to kill me."

            "No, I won't," Steelwill said.  "Why do you say that, though?"

            "I think I'm. . . I'm in love with Steelheart."  Steelwill turned and looked at him.

            "I wouldn't kill you for that, Quick.  And I've known that you seem to be in love with her.  Little things in your behaviour that one wouldn't notice.  In football, you see, I have to notice the unnoticed."

            "I see," said Quicksilver.

            Lana's voice came over Steelwill's control panel.  "Princess Lana to Hawkhaven.  Come in, please."

            Steelwill tapped the button once more.  "Hawkhaven here, Princess.  Lt. Steelwill speaking.  Something happening?"  Quicksilver got up and came over to Steelwill.

            "I think it would be better to explain this in person, Steelwill," said Lana.

            "All right, Princess," Steelwill said.  "I'm coming.  Lt. Steelwill out."  He tapped the button a final time and then got up.

            "I'm coming along, and you can't talk me out of it," said Quicksilver.  If Steelwill were any judge, Quicksilver looked as good as ever.

            "I know I can't," said Steelwill with a grin.  He pressed a red button on his console.  "Copper-Kidd, this is Lt. Steelwill.  Report to the Command Centre as quickly as possible."  Kidd materialised near them.  "That's a new one.  Kidd, take over for us.  Quicksilver and I are going over to the Palace of Power to see what Princess Lana needs."

            Saluting, Kidd said, "Yes, sir!"  Kidd took his station.  Steelwill smiled at hearing Kidd's natural voice.  It was smooth and clear.  This was the first time he had decided to leave his chirp-to-sound translator in his quarters.  On his homeworld, visual communication - writing and visual signals - and a chirping system, identical to Morse code in British English, were used.  Their race had understood the phonetics of the humans' language and quickly allied with second-Earth.  Ever since he had become a Silver Hawk, Kidd had been trying to learn to speak phonetically in words rather than his Morse code chirping.  His chirp-to-sound translator worked nicely, but it could only use a monotone voice except in extreme emotion.  Recently, under Steelwill's observation, Kidd had mastered all of the sounds necessary to correctly pronounce English and French.  It was fortunate that his voice would not soon begin wavering with voice maturation, along with the rest of his body, because, as every member of his race (like those of the Thunderian species, it should be noted) naturally had an unusually wide pitch range, he could always use any pitch he wanted.  He in particular had an exceptionally wide range, as wide as a piano's or an organ's.  He preferred Kevin and Wilykat's normal tenor range.

            "Good job, Steelwill," said Quicksilver.

            "I only guided him," said Steelwill.  "He did the hard part."  Steelwill tapped his communicator.  "N-Team Transporter, transport two to the throne room in the Palace of Power."  Steelwill and Quicksilver were transported there.  Kidd smiled proudly.

            * * *

            Darkwing Tower, Darkwing's Earth.

            Robin had come to the lower floor of the hideout before Zan called the Silver Hawks.  Now, Bluegrass was there, and Zan had explained the situation about Felipe and Diego.  Diego had explained that he and Felipe had been searching for Kevin, Wilykat, and Wilykit and had found the warp.

            "I see," said Bluegrass.  "Glad you called, Zan."

            "Just trying to keep my nose out of trouble, Bluegrass," said Zan.  "My sister helps me get out of it, and she's not here."  Robin smiled, amused.

            Diego said, "Well, now that we're here, what shall we do?"

            "I usually don't have to deal with this sort of thing, so I don't know what I gotta do," said Bluegrass.  "Pardon my powerful diphthong in English."  �Creo que hablo mejor el español {Kráy-ó káy ahb-ló máy-çó ráy láys-pah-nyól} [Spanish] (I believe I speak Spanish better).�  He definitely spoke Spanish better than English, especially in pronouncing.

            "Maybe," said Diego, smiling, in English.  "I think you speak it quite well."

            "Hey!" said Bluegrass.  "I got a pal who's familiar with what should be done.  Way past the guy's bedtime, but he's probably awake."  He tapped his communicator.  "Bluegrass to Copper-Kidd.  Respond, please."

            Kidd responded, "Copper-Kidd here, Bluegrass.  Lt. Steelwill and Col. Quicksilver have gone to see to something in VideoLand."

            "I see," said Bluegrass.  He noted that Kidd was using his natural voice.  It sounded much better than the voice used by his chirp-to-sound translator, and Kidd spoke better English than a great percentage of humans!  "I'd like some assistance."

            "Well, I would not want to get Quicksilver angry," Kidd replied.  "You will have to come here if you specifically require my assistance."  Bluegrass noted that Kidd did not use contractions in English yet.

            "All right, Kidd," said Bluegrass.  "I'm a-comin'.  See you in a moment."

            �À bientôt {Ah byehⁿh-tó} [French] (See you soon),� Kidd had replied before Bluegrass terminated the communications link.  Kidd had studied French because it had sounds that several other Romance languages did not have, including nasal vowels.  He had also studied Italian and Spanish.

            "Would you two like to come to Hawkhaven with me?" Bluegrass asked Diego.

            "Of course," said Diego.  "How do we get there?"

            Bluegrass moved over to them.  "This here's how we do it now."  He tapped his communicator.  "N-Team Transporter, transport three. . ."

            "Excuse me, Bluegrass," Zan interrupted.  "May I come?"  Bluegrass nodded, and Zan went to him.

            "Transport four to the Command Centre of Hawkhaven," amended Bluegrass, who, with Diego, Felipe, and Zan, was transported to the specified destination.  Robin returned upstairs to continue his personal tour of the computer.

            * * *

            Throne Room, Palace of Power, VideoLand.

            ��Jode a MadreCerebro!  {Çó-tháy ah mah-thráy-sáy-ráy-bró!}  [Spanish]  (F*** MotherBrain!)� exclaimed Steelwill.

            "Will," warned Quicksilver.  "You know Steelheart wouldn't like to hear you say that Spanish J-word."

            "Oh, damn it, Quicksilver!" said Steelwill.  "The unluscious lump of brain-poop kidnapped my sister, and you tell me to watch my bloody mouth!"

            "Though Quicksilver undoubtedly has a good point, we have other business," said Wilykit.  "The time we waste gives MotherBrain more advantage."

            "Uh, oh!" said Wilykat.  "Wilykit, the grey abomination is laughing."

            "Why?"

            "Robin's alone in Darkwing Tower at the moment!  MB must need to get him for some reason."

            "She's got three N-Team members, two members of the Enterprise crew, and one of the Kazara crew."

            "Well, she's not going to get any SuperFriends," said Steelwill.  "I'll personally see to that!"

            "I'll come along," said X.  "I would see her who would rule the galaxy beside her evil stepson."

            "Very well, X," said Steelwill.  "Let's try not to fight unless MotherBrain forces us."

            "Great idea," said X.

            Kid Icarus announced, "The Enterprise is entering orbit around the Palace.  The Kazara-cus is doing the same."

            "Yike!" said Wilykat.  "MB, Dr. Wily, and Liquidator are on the verge of transporting to Darkwing Tower!"

            Steelwill announced, "X and I're flying!"  He hit his communicator.  "N-Team Transporter, transport X and me to the upper floor of Darkwing Tower!"  He and X were transported there.  After a few moments, Wilykat's eyes widened.  They told everyone. . .

            "Move, Wilykat!" said Quicksilver.

            "Yes!" said the male Thunder Kitten.

            The female said swiftly, "I'm coming!"  She tapped her communicator.  "N-Team Transporter, two to Darkwing Tower!"  The Thunder Kittens were transported there.

            "Somebody get me Link, please," said Quicksilver.  Link materialised a microsecond later, along with Wesley, Riker, Data, LaForge, Jayna, Tomalak, and Torreth.

            "Sorry for the unannounced beamdown," Riker said.

            "That's okay," said Lana.

            Quicksilver said, "Link and Tygra, we must talk.  I hear the drums of war beating in the distance.  Awful music they produce.  They approach slowly, yet too quickly."

            "Yes," said Tygra.  "Awful music whose every note strikes terror in good souls and fuels evil souls."

            "I hate war," Wesley said.

            "Welcome to the club, Wesley," said Tygra.  "Thunderians prefer fighting honourably.  I normally prefer not fighting at all."

            * * *

            Darkwing Tower, Darkwing's Earth.

            Robin was sitting at the computer and seeing how the Brain-Team had ultimately formed.  He heard molecular transport.  "That you, Zan?" he asked.

            "Not even close!" replied a voice that shocked him.  He turned and saw MotherBrain, Wily, and Liquidator.  "Two more guesses, birdy!" said MotherBrain.  "What's my name?"

            "Your name is MotherBrain!"

            She grinned wickedly.  "Correct!  To you, that's Queen MotherBrain, soon to be Empress MotherBrain!  Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!"  Wily removed a remote control from his coat.  Liquidator grabbed Robin by the arms and lifted Robin out of the chair.

            "Hey!  Who're you?"

            "I'm Liquidator, first officer of the Brain-Team."  He carried Robin over to MotherBrain.  "And proud of it!"  Steelwill and X arrived.

            "All right, MotherBrain!" shouted Steelwill.  "Release Robin, and then release my sister, you big unluscious lump of brain-poop!"

            "No," said MotherBrain plainly.

            Wily said, "Hello, android.  Who are you?"

            "I am X," said X.  "MegaMan X, brother of MegaMan.  Licensed to chill."  His right wrist and hand retracted into his arm, and his blue X-Buster popped out in its place.  He aimed the end of the X-Buster at Liquidator.  With his left hand, he pressed a button on the X-Buster.  "Release Robin, you bounder, or you shall be frozen!"

            "Better yet, let's play a new game," said Wily.  He pressed a button in the centre of the remote and held it.  "We're ready, Prince Ludwig!"  MotherBrain's grin grew even wickeder.  Wily released the button.  Two beings materialised in the place.  Most of their bodies were covered with a dark computerised suit.  Each had an eyepiece, with most of their heads exposed.  They were bald.  Their flesh was a deathly blue, and their faces were expressionless.

            "Are these Borg?" asked Steelwill.  He saw that their ears were pointed.  Every physical characteristic that was revealed on each of the two Borg reminded Steelwill of Wilykat.

            "Correct," said Wily.

            "They both look like Wilykat!"

            "Excellent observation, Steelwill," said MotherBrain.  "Reveals a lot about the Borg's origin, it does.  Wilykat-Race members are naturally physically stronger than any given member of any given species of which we know.  Borg, get X and Steelwill!"  The Borg approached Steelwill and X.  Steelwill blasted one with his shoulder laser.  When he fired at the other, that other was protected by a shield.

            "What!"

            "The Borg adapt," said MotherBrain.  X knocked out that Borg with ice from his X-Buster.  "That better not be the best you can do, X!  There are only two people in this galaxy to whose strength and cunning the Borg can never adapt, and they aren't even here!  In fact, if the Borg try to assimilate those two, their entire computer system will shut down."  Two more Borg materialised.  Each took something from one of the fallen Borg who had arrived earlier.  The fallen Borg disintegrated.  One second later, the molecules belonging to the Thunder Kittens materialised brightly, and the next second, Wilykit was glaring at MotherBrain.  MotherBrain's confidence disappeared, as did her smile.  "Oh, no!  Not you!"

            "Yes, us!" said Wilykit.  "Release Robin immediately, and capitulate!"

            "I will release him, Thunder Kit, but I'll not capitulate.  The war must start.  This galaxy must be rid of the good infesting it!"

            "On Old Thundera, you would pay severely for your evil crimes.  You would spend the rest of your mortal life in prison unless you successfully pled for mercy."

            "THAT'S WHAT THEY TOLD THOSE MEMBERS OF THE WILYKAT-RACE WHO BELIEVED IN UNITISM AND BECAME THE FIRST BORG!!!"  Wilykit gasped.  "Yes, Kitten!  My dear Ludwig knows the story of the renegades who escaped the prison on Thunderius, stole the ship, and went to the Galaxy of Léi.  It happens to be true.  Ludwig now controls those Wilykats, along with others who were assimilated into the Borg."

            "Well, I'm not to be held accountable," said Wilykit.  "The Borg may be an offshoot of my race, but they do not hold the blood of my family.  As if that actually matters in our society anymore."

            MotherBrain said, "True, Thunder Kitten.  If their microcircuitry were no encumbrance, the 95% of the Borg that belong to your race would happily give up their Unitistic ways."  She smiled evilly again.  "However, that will never occur, now that my dear Ludwig controls the Borg!"  A rage entered Wilykit.  She would have loved to smashed MotherBrain into oblivion, but that would have been stupid.  MotherBrain had not physically attacked her.  Now that she thought of it, MotherBrain had never physically attacked her in person.  "Well, I've gotta run.  Ludwig just composed a symphony, and he wants me to hear it.  'Bye!"  MotherBrain, Liquidator, and Wily were transported to Zebesian Tourian.  Angrily, Wilykit clenched her bare teeth.  She closed her eyes.  Instantly, the circuitry in the brains of the two Borg present was crushed by her anger.  The Borg fell to the floor.

            In Ancient Thunderian, Wilykit vowed, "You will be stopped, Ludwig von(Bowser)Koopa!  I promise you that!"

            Robin asked in English, "What does that mean?"

            "She just swore to the evil Ludwig that he would be stopped," said Wilykat.  "Without using any bad language, mind you!"

            Robin indicated the two Borg.  "What's with these two?"

            "My anger severely damaged their mind-control circuitry," said Wilykit.  "They were dead, anyway.  Circuitry regulated blood-flow, and circuitry rather than the brain ultimately controlled the body.  It's horrible that their spirits were dead before they were truly sentient.  And yes, I am incredibly ticked off."  She sighed and smacked her communicator.  "Tygra, this is Wilykit.  Come in, please."

            "Tygra here," responded Tygra.  "Everything fine out there?"

            "Not exactly.  None of us are injured, of course, but you remember that story about the renegade Wilykats escaping to the Galaxy of Léi?"

            "Yes.  What of it?"

            "You were wrong, Tygra.  It did happen.  Those renegades became the first Borg."  She looked at the two dead Borg.  "And our enemy, Ludwig 'Kooky' von(Bowser)Koopa, now controls them."

            * * *

            Conference Room, Palace of Power, VideoLand.

            Quicksilver was at the head of the table.  To his left was seated Wesley, as was Torreth to his right.  Lana was at the other end.  Tygra was to her right, Riker to her left.  From Wesley to Tygra, in order from closest to Wesley to closest to Tygra, were Robin, Jayna, Tomalak, Wilykit, Data, and Steelwill.  From Torreth to Riker, in order from closest to Torreth to closest to Riker, were Kid Icarus, Link, MegaMan X, Wilykat, LaForge, and MegaMan.  Since the table was long enough to accommodate forty people, - nineteen on each long side and one on each end - there would be plenty of room for anyone who wanted to join in.  Almost anyone could feel the tenseness as Wilykit and Steelwill related to everyone what had recently happened on Darkwing's Earth.  Steelwill was so tense that he could not even sit in his chair between Tygra and Data.

            "Well, we know part of the story about those blasted Borg," said Riker.  " 'Unitism.'  The Romulans, the Klingons, and the Federation should avoid it."

            "I definitely agree, Riker," said Tomalak.  "Of course, I know the Klingons would believe the Borg dishonourable, and I concur."

            "A little Thunderian history lesson," said Wilykit.  "Do you have the laser disc I asked you to bring, Wilykat?"  Wilykat pulled a small plastic case out of his pocket and handed it to her across the table.  She opened it and pulled out a compact disc.  "Good.  Thank you."

            "You're welcome," he said.  Holding it with her index finger through the middle and her thumb on the edge, she got up and went over to Quicksilver.  After she handed it to him, he put it in a disc-player installed in the table in front of him and played it.  The screen at the opposite end of the room was activated, and Lana turned around to see it.  They were shown a side-diagram of a solar system.  A circle went through the fourth and fifth planets.  Also, the fourth and fifth planets were white, while the other planets were black.

            "This was the thirteen-planet Thunderian Solar System," said Wilykit.  "The fourth and fifth planets from the star, Thundersol, were Thunderius and Old Thundera.  They revolved around each other in a trojan-like orbit.  I know that in the Federation's terms, the two planets were class-M.  Thunderius was nearly class-L.  Also, little life was produced on that planet.  About two million Earth and Thunderian years ago, the Thunderian species was born.  Roughly six hundred sixteen thousand years ago, history began on Thundera.  That was 615 000 before Jaga, or before Christ."

            "That is interesting," said Data.  "Your species developed in a short time, compared to others, including the Bajorans.  What is the technical name you have for yourselves?"

            "It is a bit long," said Wilykit.  "We specify kingdoms, phyla, classes, orders, families, geni, and species like you.  The kingdom is Animalia, the phylum Chordata, the class Mammalia, the order Primates, and the family Hominidae."

            "Like many other humanoid organisms," remarked Data.  "Such as Homo sapiens, Klingo erectus, Romulo-vulcus sapiens, and Cardassio pre-sapiens."

            "Exactly," said Wilykit.  "Our genus is Tonitrio-homo, our species feli-sapio-avancius."

            "Interesting," said Data.  " 'Feline, intelligent, advanced Thunderian man.' "

            "At least the name for Cardassians means 'pre-intelligent Cardassian,' " said Torreth.  "If they were really intelligent, they wouldn't have agreed to Prince Ludwig's terms."

            Wilykit said, "I must concur.  Anyway, from that time until 200 000 before Jaga, our technology became equal to that of the late 20th century to early 21st century on Earth.  I believe that the era of primitive space-travel and industry on Romulus was the 12th saeculum {sahy-ku-lum} [Latin] (century)."  Torreth nodded.  "Very well.  We had discovered early that Thundrillium was a valuable resource for producing nonpolluting energy in large quantity.  Everything went well until 300 B.J.  That was when the Panther-Race, the most warlike Thunderian race, - and they admit it - released their telepathic powers on the Lion-Race, which ruled Thundera.  The Panthers wanted to control the planet, feeling they were superior.  In 200 B.J., everything deteriorated to the Thunderian Wars.  I cannot compare it to anything your species would have experienced.  I believe the closest possible reference is the Vulcan Wars.  Telepathy was a very dangerous and highly abused weapon.  Our telepathy had been refined at the time of the 200th millennium before Jaga and was used as the main weapon in the Thunderian Wars.  In the year of 0 exactly, Jaga the Wise was born.  When he came of age in Ann�so Jaghes�so {ah-nyeuh-só zhah-gáy-seuh-só} [Ancient Thunderian] (in the year of Jaga) 15, the same as A.D. 15, he took control and ended our wars.  In A.J. 25, the Thunderian Republic was the entire planet, and we quickly advanced our computer technology.  Five hundred years later, two fifths of the galaxy was the Thunderian Empire, the member worlds entering it as they would in the Federation."  As she talked, the images on the screen illustrated in detail what she was discussing.  "In 900, the belief called Unitism was born.  Wilykats belonging, quite ironically, to the three weakest families in the race - Buénoport {bwáy-nó-pórt}, Scôchi {shaw-ké}, and Leicûs {lehy-kus}, I believe - tried out this belief.  To almost every Thunderian, individuality is important.  Those Wilykats believed that everyone should be identical and have the collective mind of all rather than individual minds.  When they forced others to join, they broke law of a person's right to individuality and were sentenced, after a tremendously fair innocent-until-proven-guilty trial, to life imprisonment.  I mean it; all sides, including the defence, agreed that the trial was extremely fair.  If we find a copy of the transcript of that trial, we'll let you see it; the Vulcans could not use more logic and precision than we did in that trial.  We did it so everything was perfectly just.  They did not beg for mercy.  However, they escaped the prison to which they had been taken and stole a prototype ship from Thunderius, which had been colonised centuries before.  That ship had a maximum speed of warp 20 and our first attempt at a cloaking device.  Since that time, we have not made a cloak that works correctly.

            "For this discussion, this is as far as we need to go."  The screen deactivated.  "Your ships will obtain more extensive detail of Thunderian history during the data-transfer."  Quicksilver handed her the disc, which she returned to Wilykat, who put it back in its plastic container.  Wilykit sat in her seat.  "Are there any questions?"

            "Yes," said Data.  "Where did the Wilykats obtain the circuitry necessary for creating the Borg?"

            "Replicators on the ship, most likely," said Wilykit.  "Medical technology was so advanced even in A.J. 100 that circuitry could be implanted directly into a humanoid's brain at birth.  However, this is not common by any means, least of all in perfectly healthy people."

            "I see.  Thank you."

            "Pardon me.  What was weapon technology like?" asked Riker.

            "Back in 900, we didn't even use hand-held phasers," said Wilykit.  "We used more primitive weapons that what you use.  Now, we know how to assemble handheld disruptors, as well as disruptor cannons for ships.  However, we prefer using more primitive weapons.

            "Has anyone any more questions?"  There were none.  "Very well.  Now, we go onto the next topic.  Tygra?"

            "Thank you, Wilykit," Tygra said.  "Our major concern, of course, is the Brain-Team along with the Cardassians.  The N-Team has no ships powerful enough to chase down or take on Ludwig von(Bowser)Koopa's Warbird if need be.  We have the knowledge, but we don't have access to all the materials needed.  We also don't have the knowledge to make a cloaking device that will shield us from Ludwig's sensors."  He looked in Wesley's direction.  "The Enterprise's cloak, I believe, can evade the Warbird's means of detection."  He looked in Commander Torreth's direction.  "The Kazara's disruptor technology is at present advanced beyond Thunderian.  Combined with Klingon and Federation phaser technology, it would be enough at least to give the Warbird a good fight."

            "Excuse me," interrupted Tomalak.

            "Yes, Admiral?"

            "You also said that the Warbird has a speed capacity of warp 29.9.  Neither the Kazara nor the Enterprise has that kind of warp capability."

            "That's true, but I was about to mention that.  One thing Thundera and Thunderius had that neither Earth, Romulus, nor any other planet in your sixth of the galaxy had was something called triberyllium.  It was used to create the hyperdrive warp system, which uses triberyllium rather than dilithium.  They create a type of envelope different from that of the regular warp drive."  Tygra tapped a button in front of him on the table.  On the screen, a ship was shown entering warp.  Below it, the same ship was entering warp in a different manner.  The first entrance into warp was less violent than the second.  "The first entrance into warp was made with the hyperdrive warp engine, while the second was with a regular warp engine.  Unlike normal warping, 'hypering,' though we don't usually call it that, does not cause a trenching effect.  The first ship to fall prey to a warp trench was a Plundarrian ship trying to launch a sneak attack on the Thunderian Empire.  When we found out how dangerous the combination of regular space and subspace was, we knew we had to make a warp engine that would carry us into subspace in a manner different from a dilithium warp engine.  Therefore, the triberyllium hyperdrive warp engine was created.  Triberyllium at its present stage of refining can take a ship safely to hyper 318.9 without fracturing.  This equals a speed of warp 31.89.  Warp 30.8 is the absolute maximum speed that any ship using dilithium can hope to obtain.  The beauty of the matter is that warp engines need very little modification to become hyperdrive warp engines.  The most important step of course is replacing dilithium with triberyllium.  However, less matter and antimatter are required for triberyllium.  A replication system can reproduce the correct isotope of triberyllium for hyperdrive warp engines.  Also, there are some minor nacelle adjustments that one would have to make.  Nothing difficult for a competent engineer.

            "If the Romulan and Klingon Empires, the Federation, and the N-Team co-operate, we can outclass and outgun the Cardassians and stop Ludwig before he causes too much damage.  After conferring with Lion-O, third-in-command of the N-Team after Steelheart and Captain N, I shall render the N-Team's official offer to help later today.  You should contact your governments for approval if each of you approve."  He directed this last statement to Wesley and Tomalak.

            "We'll contact the Klingon government as well," said Wesley.  "What exactly do you propose, Tygra?"

            Tygra said, "I propose that the Romulans, Federation, Klingons, and N-Team co-operate and construct a ship approximately the same area as the evil Ludwig's Warbird."

            "That would be one heck of a tall order," Lana said.  "Where will we get all that material?"

            "The planets in the Klingon Empire have a lot of starship-making material," said LaForge.  "There would be enough for a hundred ships that size."

            "Very well," Tygra said.  "We ought to build in orbit around the Mushroom World.  That way, we can take advantage of that planet's defensive systems, advanced beyond those of all other N-Team bases.  It receives much less trouble from outer space than the others."

            "Definitely," agreed Lana.  "The best incentive we can offer is that this co-operative effort is probably the best way to de-fuse the new Cardassian threat."

            "That'll work a miracle with the Prætor," Tomalak noted.