Borg designations = ranks?

[Melakon]

Seven of Nine, Tertiary Adjunct of Unimatrix Zero One, is of course the most well known Borg designation. But what do these designations actually signify?

Is the Unimatrix number indicating a region of space, or her group of 9 drones? Memory Alpha says the term is used interchangeably. Due to all the qualifiers (Tertiary Adjunct), there must be millions or billions of drones designated as Seven of Nine throughout the entire Collective.

Was she the equivalent of 3rd Officer for her group of 9? Or for Unimatrix Zero One, whatever it was?

It seems like the meaning of designation was purposely left vague, maybe just to drive us crazy thinking about it.

[JirinPanthosa]

I see Borg designations more like positions in a collectible set.

Like, how a set of action figures may say "Janeway: 1 of 10, Chakotay: 2 of 10", etc.

A borg unit is like a squad, a group designed to carry out a specific purpose. There are nine Borg required to perform that function, and Seven's role in that happens to be delegated the seventh role.

[Melakon]

I started thinking about this a few weeks ago, because of "Survival Instinct", which I've not seen in years, and maybe only once. She has the highest number (7), and bosses the others around until they start regaining their individuality. It suggests there were an 8 and 9 in the group originally, with perhaps higher authority than she.

[Brit]

Melakon wrote:

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I started thinking about this a few weeks ago, because of "Survival Instinct", which I've not seen in years, and maybe only once. She has the highest number (7), and bosses the others around until they start regaining their individuality. It suggests there were an 8 and 9 in the group originally, with perhaps higher authority than she.

Yes I would buy the higher authority idea because in the Raven flash back portions of Unimatrix Zero we do learn that the designation Unimatrix one indicated drones working with the Queen

[Guy Gardener]

After Dark Frontier, Seven had a new job, which means that she had a new designation.

"Princess"

[Brit]

Guy Gardener wrote:

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After Dark Frontier, Seven had a new job, which mean she had a new designation.

"Princess"

You are right, infact I kind of believe that was her designation all along.

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I think if there's any meaning to the designations, it's just the order in which the drones are introduced to the group. The Borg don't have any apparent use for ranks. All drones are equal, but openings within a subgroup can be filled at any time.

Meaning, "Seven of Nine" would not have been less important than One through Six, or more important than Eight and Nine. That just happened to be the order in which those positions became filled.

[Melakon]

Checking character bios, I see my authority theory is incorrect. Two of the other three lower number survivors were Primary and Secondary Adjuncts, so should have been able to countermand Seven's instructions.

I guess it was just her bossy nature coming out.

Looks like you're right, Mr. Laser Beam.

[Guy Gardener]

When Seven gave her team of engineers Borg designations in the Omega Directive, Harry slacked off and buggered about.

She demoted him.

Which was conveyed by a "higher" designation number.

[Mr. Laser Beam]

^ She was probably just bullshitting him.

I mean, in a collective, all drones are supposedly equal. Logically speaking, then, questions of rank or importance could never apply...

[Melakon]

Guy, it's logic like that which explains why you and Mr. Laser Beam are Admirals.

We really need a :salute: smiley for cases like this.

[Guy Gardener]

It's not about rank.

It's about how important the work that is given to each drone that can be trusted to do well because there's a spectrum of how good each engineer is and who can be trusted to do good work more or less than the others.

Considering Harry's Hissy fit he certainly thought it was real slap in the face.

SEVEN: Crewman Dell, I'm assigning you a task more suited to your abilities. Calibrate the ionic pressure seals on the observation ports. Your new designation is Three of Ten.
DELL: Yes, ma'am.
NEELIX: I've got more isolinear processors for you to install.
KIM: Thanks, but I need to get the power relays online first.
NEELIX: Are you sure that's a good idea? Ensign Wildman was assigned to that.
KIM: This is ridiculous. I'm not going to waste time just because Seven wants to turn this team into her own private Collective.
NEELIX: She says it's more efficient.
KIM: Maybe for a bunch of Drones.
SEVEN: Six of Ten, this is not your assignment.
KIM: Please, stop calling me that.
SEVEN: You're compromising our productivity. I'm reassigning you to chamber maintenance. Your new designation is Two of Ten.
KIM: Wait a minute, you're demoting me? Since when do the Borg pull rank?
SEVEN: A Starfleet protocol I adapted. It's most useful.
KIM: I'm glad you're not the Captain.
CHAKOTAY: How's it coming?
SEVEN: The crew can be quite efficient when properly organised. The harmonic chamber will be completed within the hour.
CHAKOTAY: Good. I'll let the Captain know.
SEVEN: Has she retrieved any new data from the surface?
CHAKOTAY: Not yet. They're still trying to access the primary test chamber.
SEVEN: Were there survivors?
CHAKOTAY: A few. The Doctor's treating them in Sickbay.
KIM: Commander. Seven's taking this hive mentality just a little too far. Designated functions, numbered Drones. I wouldn't be surprised if she started plugging us into alcoves.
CHAKOTAY: When in the Collective, Harry, adapt.

Okay, demotions go down. And she assimilated the tactic from Janeway... Who had Janeway demoted in Season 4?

[Melakon]

Maybe Seven was foreseeing Tom's demotion in Season 5.

[Guy Gardener]

A lot of her crew would have been demoted to make way for the Maquis.

Poor Joe.

[lurok]

Well at least that explains a little why Seven was such a martinet in Survival Instinct. I always wondered why the others didn't say: who the frak put you in charge?