Assimilation

This article regards assimilation of lifeforms, see Assimilated Vessels for details of how the Borg proceed with the assimilation of starships.

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Injection tubules protruding from the knuckles and assimilating a member of species 10026.

Assimilation is the term used to refer to the process of the Borg Collective taking other lifeforms, technology, vessels, and even entire planets by force and enslaving them. In doing so all of the species relevant (useful) knowledge and experience is retained and absorbed into the Hive Mind, being redistributed to every single member of the Borg Collective whereas the irrelevant information is simply disregarded and erased.

Not all species qualify for assimilation; the Borg seek to attain increasingly advanced technology, vessels, stations, or orbital devices which possess significantly high-power signatures, warp signatures also the possession of noteworthy weapons or defense systems will be considered sufficient grounds to warrant assimilation. However, demonstrating the possession of standard warp technology and particle weapons are by themselves insufficient grounds for assimilation, when the species displays poor technological capabilities, they must then possess beneficial or unique biological traits such as a display of extremely high intelligence, physical strength or mental prowess.

Initial Assimilation Process

The Assimilation process of life forms typically begins with a Drone or other members of the collective getting within arm's reach of the target then attempting to inject nanoprobes into the target with assimilation tubules, allowing the assimilation process to begin as the victim begins conversion into a new drone. Typically, at this point assimilation is inevitable and any attempt at resistance is futile because the victim will become a drone.

Nanoprobes assimilating blood cells as evidenced in (VOY - "Scorpion")

Upon injection, the nanoprobes immediately latch on-to biological cells and utilize a retrovirus to attack and re-writing their DNA coding to alter the victim's biology. This prevents the body from rejecting foreign objects and the plethora of synthetic devices to follow. (Ent - Regeneration.) In the process, the nanoprobes infiltrate the brain and induce a temporary coma in the victim to prevent psychological and physical damage. The nanoprobes the proceed to reconfiguring the brain's neural pathways, allowing the brain to tune in-to the frequency of the hive mind and hear the voices of near-by drones at close range without any technological aid (Voy - Dark Frontier, First Contact, ENT - Regeneration).

Scans showing nanoprobes modifying the internal organs.

Once the DNA and biological restructuring is completed, the nanoprobes will converge in important locations and begin to form mechanical structures inside the victim. Inside of or attached to the victim's head are a: Vocal sub processor, Ocular implant, Cortical implant, Cortical array, Cortical Node, Cranial transceiver, Interlink node, Neural processor, Neuro-processing adjunct, Neural transceiver, and Sensory node. Inside of or attached to the victim's chest are Designator interface circuits, a Micro connector, a Regenerative shield, and a Thoracic assembly. While the brain is undergoing the continuing process of restructuring the entire autonomic and renal system in the body are all being augmented and replaced by devices.

As the implants are being constructed, the interlink is prioritized so the Borg hivemind can communicate with the victim. Once the node is completed and link with the Collective established, the victim is now a Drone that is capable of carrying out the Collective's orders, despite likely being incomplete, and the collective has added its biological distinctiveness to their own.

Partial Assimilation

A partially assimilated ensign.

At this point, newly assimilated drones will not have their life signs read as their previous species due to it being irrelevant - they are now Borg drones. Despite likely being incomplete and not undergoing physical augmentation to gain the implants and cybernetics fully assimilated drones have, partially assimilated Borg are still dangerous and have the following:

1. Skin pigmentation and alteration via DNA manipulation
2. Neural Pathway restructuring allowing for technology and mechanical parts
3. Biological regeneration abilities
4. Musculature and skeletal enhancement - super strength
5. Interlink nodes resulting in connection with the collective consciousness
6. Injection tubules
7. Group Consciousness of surrounding drones
8. Personal force field
9. Spinal clamp allowing for fast reaction times and physical reinforcement

While not as capable as finished drones, partially assimilated drones still have extensive modifications from their nanoprobes. For example, Borg devices formed replace the functionality of organs such as the heart, spinal cord, blood vessels, salivary glands, pancreas, hair and sweat glands, allowing drones to synthesize nutrients their biological systems previously required. The lungs under-go a similar transformation - Another device constructed by the nanoprobes allows for autonomous the oxygenation of the blood, removing the need to inhale gasses. The musculature of new drones is also greatly enhanced throughout the entire body, granting partially assimilated drones' strength of at least two times greater than that of a human's strength.

Borg Drone adapts, using the regenerative shield as evidenced in (Star Trek: First Contact)

As far as offensive capabilities go, new drones have the ability to attack others in the form of enhanced strength and are able, if they get the chance, to use their new injection tubules, allowing for assimilation, despite the drone being newly assimilated it's self. For defenseive capabilities, the drones of course have their enhanced strength, but they take defense one step further because the nanoprobes construct a personal force field for the drone. This allows it to adapt to energy weapons fire, making weapons useless and forcing the user to remodule the energy frequency of the weapon to attack successfully again. If one opts to not use energy weapons on the drone, they will still have a bad day as partially assimilated drones have a spinal clamp - a form of technology housing the spinal cord which speeds up neural transmission activity, protects the spine from damage, and regenerates the spine when broken or damaged and strengthens the spine, allowing drones to fall or leap from great heights without trouble or spinal damage.

Full Assimilation and Drone Augmentation

Following partial assimilation being completed and once the Drone is able, the drone will attempt to make its way to other Borg so it can undergo physical augmentations to increase its capabilities.

Assimilation Arm aboard the Borg Cube as evidenced in (TNG Best of Both Worlds).

Upon arriving at the designated location, usually an assimilation chamber, for processing, it will prepare to undergo extensive changes to make it more efficient and better serve its intended role in the collective more efficiently.

Typically, the following are added to a drone (typically replacing biological parts):

1. Cybernetic arm equipped with plasma weaponry
2. Borg eye lens allowing for enhanced vision
3. Exo-plating to reinforce the drone's body

Drilling through the pupil as evidenced in (Star Trek: First Contact).

Drones are equipped with a cybernetic arm that can interact with electronics that is also being equipped with a plasma weapon. Borg eye lenses allow drones to see at different wavelengths and make out more details. Exo-plating is installed on the drone to protect it from blunt force damage. The Borg drone also gains the following abilities:

• Super-human strength via the prosthetic limbs and exoskeleton.

• Discharge protection of up-to 5 million gigawatts.

• Enhanced vision, capable of detecting irregularities in space-time.

• Enhanced mental capabilities as a result of the neural processor.

• Infinite knowledge allowing the completion of any task whether it be medical, scientific or engineering due to the drone's uplink to the Collective.

• Particle weapon defense via the personal regenerative shielding.

• Constant transporter lock via the cranial transceiver.

• Enhanced regenerative capabilities and drastically improved immune response via the nanoprobes.

Once augmentation and modifications to the drone are completed, the victim is now a fully assimilated Borg drone that is ready to be assigned its task and serve the collective.