Borg drone

• Appearance: Pallid humanoid representative of various species covered in technological implants
  • Singular elements of the Borg Collective
• Biological notes
  • Two sources for drones (TNG Novel: Greater than the Sum)
    • Assimilated individuals
      • Invasive assimilation process transforms captured individuals into drones
        • Injected nanoprobes produce internal modifications and cybernetic implants (Star Trek: First Contact; VOY)
        • Surgical modifications provide more significant changes (TNG: "The Best of Both Worlds")
          • Gametes are harvested during modifications to provide genetic material for generating incubated drones (TNG Novel: Greater Than the Sum)
      • Most commonly deployed within core territory (TNG Novel: Greater Than the Sum)
        • Largely due to potential for reassertion of individuality upon communication failure with broader Collective (TNG Novel: Greater Than the Sum)
    • Incubated drones
      • Developed from gametes harvested from assimilated drones (TNG Novel: Greater Than the Sum)
        • Provided testosterone or analogue to encourage muscular development (TNG Novel: Greater Than the Sum)
      • Preferentially deployed in remoter regions (TNG: "Q Who"; TNG Novel: Greater Than the Sum)
        • Much less capable of questioning identity as members of the Borg collective should suppression of individual psyche fail (TNG Novel: Greater Than the Sum)
      • Development of reproductive organs suppressed due to irrelevancy (TNG Novel: Greater Than the Sum)
• Technological notes
  • Extensive cybernetic implants to provide greater usefulness to Collective
    • Implant control centralized in cortical node located within drone cortical array (VOY: "Human Error", "Imperfection")
    • Enhanced physical and sensory capabilities
      • Individual drones have minimal access to personal sensory feed, provided only basic monochrome vision, auditory perception (TNG Novel: Resistance)
        • Sensory cortex reconfigured for extreme attentional control and focus according to directives of Collective (TNG: "Q Who"; TNG Novel: Resistance)
    • Suppression of psyche
      • Cortical node provides emotional monitoring, triggering shutdown of higher brain functions upon detection of heightened levels of emotional stimulation (VOY: "Human Error")
    • Potential adaptation to nearly all forms of energetic or particle discharge
    • Constant subspace interconnection with Collective network via cortical node (VOY: "Human Error", "Imperfection"; TNG Novel: Greater Than the Sum)
      • Connection mediated by vinculum processing devices located within every individual Borg vessel and outpost (VOY: "Infinite Regress")
        • Subspace interconnections between vinculums via central plexuses form foundation of local Collective network (VOY: "Infinite Regress", "Unimatrix Zero")
          • Galactic transwarp network serves to generate interlink across wider distances where subspace connection less feasible (TNG Novel: Greater Than the Sum)
          • Borg vessels and outposts capable of functioning without connection to greater Collective, though return to Collective usually high priority for any such separated vessels (TNG Novel: Greater Than the Sum)
      • Interruption of connection results in sudden disintegration of drone (TNG: "Q Who")
        • Malfunction of communication implant can potentially avert disintegration (TNG Novel: Vendetta)
      • Potentially a telepathic aspect as well (Star Trek: First Contact; TNG Novel: Resistance, Before Dishonor, Greater Than the Sum)
        • Judging by Jean-Luc Picard's continued connection following removal of all Borg implants
        • No signs of known telepathic contact, but not ruled out
    • Personal adaptive forcefield capable of deflecting any form of energy or particle beam when properly tuned (Various)
      • Incapable of deflecting solid matter (TNG: "Descent"; TNG Novel: Greater Than the Sum)
    • Various anti-tampering measures in place to prevent cyberattack (TNG Novel: Vendetta)
      • Acceleration of internal temperature resulting in self-combustion (TNG Novel: Vendetta)