here's the preview: Spoiler and what is going on here? are the borg getting a new queen (again)? EDIT to add: When devastating truths behind the Mars attack are revealed, Picard realizes just how far many will go to preserve secrets stretching back generations, all while the La Sirena crew grapples with secrets and revelations of their own. Narissa directs her guards to capture Elnor, setting off an unexpected chain of events on the Borg cube.
If they chop up another Voyager crewmember and turn her remaining head evil I am done with this show lol, give me a fenris rangers spin off featuring 7 not saw part 2.
Nice Spoiler: spoiler scene with 7 of 9 and Elnor! Begins at 27:00 https://intl.startrek.com/videos/watch-jonathan-frakes-and-brent-spiner-head-to-the-ready-room Shit just got real for Elnor. Chopping up people not so much fun when one of yours dies? He seems to have an experience with an artifact on the cube, then desperately hugs Seven, LOL.
The opening scene looks like a flash back from Commander Oh presiding over a Zhat Vash initiation ceremony. Not everyone makes it...some/many commit suicide, those that survive are changed forever. That Dr Jurati did not feel the full force of despair after the mind meld probably means Oh held something back from the secret.
I don't think the Commodore would be stupid enough to show it all to her, just enough to ensure her cooperation. Otherwise it could have killed her. We don't have all the pieces yet. That does look like a Transwarp conduit. @iamzod Is the Borg cube using it to escape or is it being created by something incoming. Squeaky Bum Time.
Also try to take a look at as many faces in that initiation ceremony as they could all be members or maybe even heads of the Cabal.
Possibly yes, its highly likely we will see the Commodore there which means others may be high ranking members as well. Assuming they survived and depending on how long ago it was.
Spoiler There are ten beings in the 'ring' at the start (eleven if you count the one just outside the ring); so out of that group perhaps the "Conclave of Eight" are the eight (out on the ten/eleven) who survived that experience (whatever it was)