Borg and non-energy weapons

Question for Trek fans about the Borg... by ratbrainbasher on 2015-06-26 06:40:00 UTC Reply

I noticed that the Borg have armour plating on their bodies, that, according to Memory Alpha, allows them to survive in space. Is it supposed to protect them from vacuum, however? I can't imagine it does, because in First Contact we see several drones on the outside of the Enterprise, without EVA suits. However, their eyes were completely intact! They weren't even wearing helmets.

I know this must seem trivial, but it's important to the backstory of a character in one of my fanfics, and I don't have time to do proper research.

Eyeballs don't pop under vacuum. ;) by Huinesoron on 2015-06-26 09:02:00 UTC Reply

What they tend to do is freeze, which I imagine would be quite uncomfortable.

But... this is Star Trek. Don't they have forcefields, like, everywhere? I'd just assume a forcefield 'spacesuit' until told otherwise.

For that matter, do the Borg still have biological eyes which are covered in fluid? Do they have respiratory systems any more?

hS

Well there is also the Borg Adaptation by [EvilAI]UBEROverlord on 2015-06-26 19:40:00 UTC Reply

It can prevent phaser fire from being effective, so why could it not prevent the effects of vacuum?

I assumed the Borg can't adapt to physical harm. by ratbrainbasher on 2015-06-27 02:12:00 UTC Reply

Which is to say, mass pushing against mass. After all, Picard guns down two of them in a holodeck with the safeties off. And I mean they had about a hundred rounds pumped into them, not just one or two shots, so they would have had plenty of time to adapt. I'll probably just attribute it to nanoprobes, like they did with all of Seven's stuff. Since the character I need to know this for has more implants than Seven, I could probably get away with it.

If I remember... by [EvilAI]UBEROverlord on 2015-06-27 02:39:00 UTC Reply

Then again I have not seen First Contact in a long time, but I thought Engineering had created a way to nullify the adaptation for temporary periods of time.

But also nano-probes work. They always work.

You are correct, on the second count. by ratbrainbasher on 2015-06-27 06:05:00 UTC Reply

And not completely incorrect on the first one. It was Worf who had a couple of phaser rifle augmentations, but the first one was good for only twelve shots(Likely distributed throughout the team), and the second was good for a whopping-single shot. On that note, do you think it would be a good idea to use various sharp and blunt objects against the Borg, like batons or machetes? Again, this is for the fic I'm writing, and it's good to have a Trek fan who can take things seriously. (You should see the people I normally ask stuff like this. You'd be appalled at their responses.)

I am only a casual fan by [EvilAI]UBEROverlord on 2015-06-27 07:39:00 UTC Reply

But I see no reason why non-energy weapons would not work. Because if I remember correctly the Enterprise was able to destroy the Borg by ramming the Cube. So I imagine that would also apply to smaller scale weapons. But I am not certain.

Borg and non-energy weapons by Cyba Zero on 2015-06-28 11:17:00 UTC Reply

Generally I would say sharp over blunt - Worf's mek'leth was effective in First Contact, and I'd imagine a blunt item would simply bounce off the exoplating unless the wielder was very strong indeed.

Also, in Star Trek Online, anything that deals physical or kinetic damage they cannot adapt to. The only problem is if you choose to use a sword or similar melee weapon against the Borg... you're in melee range of the Borg, which means assimilation range.

Now if one used something like a crossbow or longbow, that might be very effective.

Welcome back! by Desdendelle on 2015-06-29 16:44:00 UTC Reply

I haven't seen you in ages! How have you been?
As a welcome-back gift, have this cup of confused Lapsang Souchong tea — it is not quite certain whether it smells like a campfire or not, so please be gentle with it, OK?

*Sips gently* by Cyba Zero on 2015-06-30 16:13:00 UTC Reply

Mmmmm, delicious, thanks!

Actually, I do still check the Board regularly - I'm just prone to periods of lurking. Things are going fairly well at the moment - how are you?

Well... by Desdendelle on 2015-06-30 17:53:00 UTC Reply

My term of service is nearly over; I'm slowly checking job openings and what not and worrying myself silly about the change from a soldier to a Law student. Other than that, life's pretty good, I guess.

Seems logical to me by [EvilAI]UBEROverlord on 2015-06-29 04:47:00 UTC Reply

I cannot really remember First Contact, but seems reasonable.