Drone Types

[Mr Silver]

Any information regarding the function of the various Borg Drones? I know that on VOY its mentioned there are...

*Tactical Drones
*Medical Drones
*Adjunct Drones (whatever they are)

Also what function constitutes removal of a limb or eye? In "Unimatrix Zero Part II" we see that neither Tuvok, Janeway or Torres have had any of their limbs or eyes replaced with a prosthesis or device, is there any real reason behind this? (except of course saving money in future episodes, by not having bionic props, etc) The same happened with Picard, he was assimilated and neither his arms or eyes were replaced with Cybernetics (although someone did mention they toyed with the idea of giving Picard a bionic arm).

From my own perspective, Its logical that a Medical Drone would have an arm replaced with a Multi-Function Servo Arm, while a Tactical Drone would perhaps have an Eye replaced

Thoughts?

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

I have a suspicion that on the early Borg episodes, on TNG, that EVA drones were seen as well. Can't prove it, though.

 

[Timo]

The whole idea of specialized drones may be flawed: it was mere speculation by the apparently tragically misinformed Hansens, after all.

The only time somebody else besides the Hansens spoke of a "type" of drone was when Seven mentioned that Species 4228 (the Hazari) make for excellent tactical drones in "Think Tank". Nothing indicated that this would translate to them being specially equipped or constructed, though.

Also, "It's Only a Paper Moon" proves that our heroes could easily have lost limbs or other organs to the Borg. Perfectly unnoticeable replacement organs could have covered the losses with the audience being none the wiser, just like Nog got a new limb that wasn't "artificial" in any real sense. It was simply another Ferengi limb that more or less perfectly and seamlessly matched the one Nog had lost.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Mr Silver]

Also, "It's Only a Paper Moon" proves that our heroes could easily have lost limbs or other organs to the Borg. Perfectly unnoticeable replacement organs could have covered the losses with the audience being none the wiser

That is true, but if you notice Nog, he walks with a slight limp, post replacement, I'm not saying that this refutes your opinion, but it does say that "being none the wiser" isn't strictly true

Another example is in VOY when an alien species detects with a tricorder scna, that Tuvok has had his Elbow joint replaced with a prothesis, again indicating that replacement organs and limbs are noticeable, again throughout VOY, on occasions the crew rely on Seven's "Occular Implant" to see what cannot be detected on sensors, most apparent in "Scientific Method"

We know from "Unimatrix Zero Part II" that Janeway, Torres and Tuvok were all intact, in the episode itself, none of the party had any significant modifications done, except for B'Elanna who had a "Sub-Vocal Processor" fitted and of course they were all each equipped with a "Neural Transciever" (rendered ineffective by the Doctors Suppresant) and Nanoprobe-Tubules

 

[Unicron]

The game Star Trek: Borg introduces a new race called the Bijani, who have the ability to enter a "pain trance" which is designed to protect their higher brain functions if the body is severely injured. Apparently this is also sufficient to protect those functions from Borg assimilation, leaving the Bijani still more or less aware and in control even though they develop Borg implants. However, in the absence of using the trance, they are still vulnerable like any other species would be.

 

[Timo]

That is true, but if you notice Nog, he walks with a slight limp, post replacement

Dr. Bashir would insist that this was purely psychosomatic. Perhaps Picard never got psyched up about his seamlessly replaced arm, having grown so used to his artificial heart already? Perhaps Janeway was made of sterner stuff than Nog?

again indicating that replacement organs and limbs are noticeable

With tricorders, yes. Doesn't mean there would have to be visible seams. The TNG makeup artists did consider giving Picard's right arm a different hue, with a relatively prominent seam, from "BoBW" onwards if the writers decided this should be a replacement (either real or artificial), but the writers never decided. Doesn't necessarily mean Picard didn't get a new arm. Nog's leg didn't have a seam.

We know from "Unimatrix Zero Part II" that Janeway, Torres and Tuvok were all intact

To be exact, we only see them intact afterwards. The EMH says he has been able to extract "most" of the Borg stuff by the time the end credits roll; we never learn if he ever got all of it out.

But apparently replacing limbs is trivial, and eyes would have been no problem for Dr. Pulaski, either. In contrast, some of the internal stuff would have been beyond UFP science, as e.g. Picard never got rid of his Borg hotline...

We know drones are often built piecemeal. First, there's the kidnapping and the injection of the stuff that turns you grey (with Picard in "BoBW", these were separate incidents; usually they are combined). Some constructs pop out of the skin at that stage, too, apparently built by the nanoprobes. Then there's more conventional surgery to install bulky external devices, as seen in "BoBW" but also in for example ST:FC. Perhaps Janeway's party would have received the ocular implants eventually? Perhaps Janeway herself would not have gotten one, as long as she was kept "free-willed" enough to serve as a negotiator on the Unimatrix Zero issue - but would have been "properly equipped" once her negotiator role ended and she was fully assimilated?

Timo Saloniemi