Answering the Question on Everyone's Mind (Part 2)
Posted on Sun Nov 9th, 2025 @ 1:57am by Captain M'Raz & Lieutenant Commander Jason Reeves & Lieutenant Tavin Suárez & Lieutenant H'iri & Lieutenant Noah Clarke & Lieutenant Aubrie Fox & Lieutenant Richard Pierce MD & Ensign Kaelun Merak & Lieutenant JG Diana Morrison & Crewman Michał Lipinski
2,481 words; about a 12 minute read
Mission:
Collating Data
Location: Conference Room | Bridge | USS Crazy Horse
Timeline: MD004 - 1400
Commander Reeves had sat back listening to the conversation and the debate. "Our priority should be finding a way to disable this hive like mind of theirs. Whatever we develop will be short lived if these other Borg catch wind of it and work on adapting. Priority should be focusing on breaking that link they have with one another."
"Where's the data on the idea of a hive mind," Raz asked of his First Officer.
"Based on reports of those who have encountered the Borg," Jason replied. "Someone described the encounter to be home hive like. Maybe I am making an assumption. But they're basically machine. Is it too far-fetched to believe that they're so coordinated due to some technical advantage?"
"Enhanced cybernetically," Raz said, mulling over the possibilities as he spoke. "The security images we've gotten back indicate that. Also clear that its a somewhat rapid process from witness accounts. But to say that they're machines? That's not an assumption I want to make without something to back it up." He turned toward his science officers. "Is this idea going to be part of your investigations?"
Lieutenant Jora Thalis nodded. "It will be, Captain. Team Two is analyzing all witness accounts and medical observations of the assimilation process. Understanding the balance between biological and technological components is critical to identifying vulnerabilities. We'll know more once we've completed our systematic analysis."
Ensign Kaelun Merak leaned forward slightly. "Yes, sir. The distinction between biological and mechanical is crucial for both approaches—whether we're disrupting nanoprobe communication or attempting reversal protocols. My team will be examining that interface specifically. If they're more machine than organic, or vice versa, it changes everything about how we design countermeasures."
Kaelun was already mulling over the different approaches he'd have to take with his countermeasures. From his own personal experience with the Borg while fleeing from Earth, he already was leaning more towards the things being more machine than anything that could be considered organic.
"Good, good," Raz said, nodding, "and something else I want everyone to consider. Specialists. People who have devoted their lives to a particular discipline ... for example, a weapons designer. Someone with the kind of expertise we could make use of ... in preparing our people for the fight. I want all of you to give that some thought. People we could look for specifically."
Tavin leaned forward a bit in his chair. "If I may. I know that I am the new guy here," prefaced Tavin. "This discussion of biological or mechanical, of a theoretical hive mind have made me ponder. Though we know little about these Borg, we are not entirely ignorant to lifeforms with a similar neural link. The Bynar of the Beta Magellan for example..." the intelligence officer postulated.
"They may operate in something similar. Bynar operate in pairs of two, but as a whole their society is for lack of a better term, dictated...orchestrated by a Master Computer. The Bynar are genetically bonded to one another. Should something happen to one of the two in the pair, the survival of the other is unlikely," explained Tavin.
"An interesting speculation," Raz said as he turned toward his Chief Science Officer and Ensign Merak. "Worth considering? This ... by the way ... is our new Chief Intelligence Officer. Last minute addition to the crew."
"Tavin Suárez," he added introducing himself. "Last minute and a little late to the party."
Yeoman Lipinski tapped away at any PaDD. Bynar he had never even heard of them before. They were likely not the sort to venture to Risa.
Ensign Merak's hands tightened slightly on the table edge as he recalled the memory. "I was aboard the USS Portland during the evacuation. We were carrying refugees from the surface—people who had been attacked by the Borg during their escape but managed to reach the transport ships. Several of them began converting while we were underway."
His voice grew quieter. "The assimilation process was already well underway by the time medical teams realized what was happening."He looked around the table. "What struck me was the coordination. Three people—strangers who had boarded from different evacuation points, being treated in different sections of sickbay—all reached a critical stage of conversion at nearly the same moment. They moved with perfect synchronization, as if they were extensions of a single consciousness rather than individual entities. No visible communication between them, no signals our sensors could detect."
Kaelun's jaw tightened at the memory. "Security managed to subdue one of them near the main corridor. The other two immediately adjusted their tactics and approach without any apparent exchange of information. It was like watching one mind operating three bodies, even though these people had never met before boarding the Portland."
He pulled up his notes on his PADD. "At the time, I thought perhaps the nanoprobes were following some kind of pre-programmed protocol. But if Lieutenant Suárez is right about a hive mind structure similar to the Bynar—if they're operating as nodes in a collective consciousness rather than individuals—it would explain what I saw," he said, trying his best to hide the discomfort of recalling the memory.
"Both you and Lieutenant Thalis will be pursuing this line of research," Raz said. His light gray gaze, perceptive and quick, caught the subtle lines of tension in the young ensign's expressions and movements, and made a mental note to speak with the department heads about monitoring their department and making use of counseling services. Now, there was a question -- did they even have counseling services? "As scientists, I don't have to caution you about remaining objective. Gather facts and let them speak rather than trying to prove any particular hypothesis. We can't afford to make mistakes."
Diana Morrison had been sitting quietly at the far end of the conference room table. "I'm already booked for the next month with the number of requests for counseling services. Those numbers are likely to increase over a period of time, once people start admitting to themselves that they need counseling.
"And department heads should also be referring people to you that they see as needing some support," Raz said. He met the gaze of his senior staff, one by one. "If our counselor gets overwhelmed, I'll see about getting her some help."
"Thank you, Captain," Melissa responded. "Have the feeling that I will seriously need the assistance."
While Raz was undoubtedly right about what he was saying, they were going to have to make some sorts of leaps to get to hypotheses to test anything. "Captain," H'iri interrupted in a soothing tone. "I think we all know how important this is, especially those of us who barely escaped with our lives. No matter what we can prove, eventually we are going to need a way to test it and that's another risk."
"From reports, I don't think anyone has actually captured any of the Borg," Reeves brought up. "When they're killed, they transport the body back to wherever. But if we could actually get a hold of a Borg. That would help put an end to much speculation."
"While testing might be ideal," Raz said, "I'm not ready to risk the crew until we know a bit more. We're going to make a stop at an Intel outpost I know of. We might be able to get access to the Starfleet Intelligence database." He stared down at his paws for a moment, lying along the arms of his chair, and willed his claws to retract. "After that, we're going to put the Ghostkin technology to work." He looked up, a predatory gaze in his light gray eyes. "We're going to try to penetrate Sol System. Get a closer look at what the Borg are doing."
"Once we have more data," Raz continued, "we'll see about trying to get one of these Borg. But before that, we'll have to be sure that we can do it safely."
Sitting next to Raz, the Commander noticed the look in his eyes. It was a familiar look that Reeves had seen a dozen or so time when it came during their time when dealing with the Cardassians. The Crazy Horse was about to embark on a hunt, and it was nice to know that they were about to seriously find a way from going from the prey to the predator. Hopefully they wouldn't get themselves killed in the process. "Do you think there is a way to adapt this Ghostskin technology to the runabout we acquired?"
Lieutenant Tavin Suárez interjected "I would imagine if the technology is compatible with the Crazy Horse, implementation on a smaller runabout would be feasible, if not easier. However, engineering is not my strong suit. Captain, I agree with your caution. I do not believe we should capture one of these Borg dead or alive until we are prepared to contain it."
Lieutenant Noah Clarke, who had been silently listening and taking notes on a tablet-sized PADD, glanced at the intelligence officer and nodded politely before commenting, “The Ghostskin technology consists of just the prototype system newly installed aboard the Crazy Horse. It requires a large power source and it’s integrated with heat sinks and other systems. A shuttle doesn’t have the space or power for all that. ‘Minimalist’ is a term I heard from shuttle designers.”
"I see," Raz said with a slight nod. "Investigate this further and report back. It's a good idea to have the same protection for the shuttles that we have for the ship."
“Aye, sir,” Clarke replied and made a note of exploring the idea. Like all technology, things became more efficient and scaled down in resources over time but with current conditions, he mused that it would take up some limited shut eye time to draft up a report, warts and all.
"Alright, anything else," Raz asked as he surveyed his department heads.
"No, Captain," H'iri replied with a purring grin.
“Everything appears to be in order, Sir,” Fox replied confidently from her corner, her gaze sweeping across the room to ensure that every detail was just as it should be. Her voice was steady, reflecting her thorough examination of the situation. She shifted slightly, straightening her posture, ready to address any concerns that might arise.
Popeye had been quiet the whole time, hands folded on the table, eyes tracking every speaker. Not dismissive — calculating. When Raz’s question hung in the air, when the last department head had spoken, he finally leaned forward. There was no flair. No bravado. Just truth. “Yeah,” he said, voice low. “I’ve got something.”
He looked around the table — to Reeves with his tactical ambition, to the scientists hungry for answers, to the Captain using the word hunt. His gaze finally settled on Raz.
“You’re all talking about capturing one of these things like it’s a tactical objective. Like we can plan it, pull it off, and walk away with a specimen in a containment cell.” His jaw tightened. “I’ve seen what even one partially-converted victim can do inside a sickbay. It took five people to restrain her — and she wasn’t even fully gone.”
He tapped one finger once on the tabletop — not for attention, but emphasis. “You don’t capture the Borg. They take you.” His gaze flicked briefly to Kaelun — just long enough to show he remembered every word the ensign described about those three synchronized bodies aboard the Portland.
“You want to get one alive? Fine. But if Sickbay ends up with an assimilating crewman on a biobed — there is no ‘maybe.’ There is no containment scenario where they don’t try to spread.” He sat back a fraction, tone firm, controlled. “So here’s my recommendation.” He met Raz’s eyes directly.
“Before this crew even thinks about going hunting, I want engineering to work with me on a hard-wired kill protocol. A failsafe. Something that shuts down every system in whatever room that Borg ends up in. No power. No force fields the Borg can override. No computer network they can access. Just four bulkheads and a very permanent dead end.”
He let that sit. The weight of it. “And I want authorization — in writing — that if containment fails, I have command authority to terminate the subject.” A beat. “No debate. No hesitation. No waiting for permission over comms.” Popeye’s voice didn’t rise, but the bluntness of it landed like impact. “We’re not going to lose another crewman to idealism.”
He glanced toward Morrison, the counselor, sympathy in his eyes but no apology. “And if that sounds cold, then you haven’t seen what assimilation looks like up close.” Silence stretched for a moment. Popeye reached for his PADD, ready to log the request formally.
Then, with that dry, exhausted edge returning. “When we’re done hunting Borg, Captain — I’d like to bring everyone home with the limbs and personalities they started with.” He folded his hands again, signaling he was finished.
Raz's eyes narrowed and a deep grumble rolled through his chest. "You stride the line between insubordination and common sense, Doctor. And you don't listen well. You should do something about that. Now," he said as he resisted the urge to climb to his feet, "listen. NOTHING comes aboard this ship until I say so. I have no intention of bringing a live Borg on board. Not the way things stand. Nor have I said anything about capturing a dead one either. All I said was ... I want more data before we make any move."
"You are making a lot of assumptions about what the Borg can do based on what you think you saw in Sol System. Maybe you're right, maybe you aren't. That's to be determined. What I saw ... was Captain Istrade moments before her death and that of her whole crew telling us, showing us, that these Borg are our own people. Or were. Not that that will save them if they threaten this ship or my crew."
"So," Raz said, baring his teeth slightly, as he continued. "No Borg on board. If that changes, then we will all talk about what that would look like. How it would work. And ultimately, it will be my decision as Captain. Not yours. Dismissed."
Captain M'Raz
Commanding Officer
USS Crazy Horse
Lt. Commander Jason Reeves
Executive Officer
USS Crazy Horse
Lieutenant H'iri
Chief Operations Officer
USS Crazy Horse
Lieutenant Aubrie Fox
Chief Security/Tactical Officer
USS Crazy Horse
Lieutenant Jora Thalis (NPC)
Chief Science Officer
USS Crazy Horse
Lieutenant Tavin Suárez
Chief Intelligence Officer
USS Crazy Horse
Ensign Kaelun Merak
Science Officer
USS Crazy Horse
Lieutenant Richard Pierce, M.D.
Chief Medical Officer
USS Crazy Horse
Crewman Michal Lipinski (NPC)
Captain's Yeoman
USS Crazy Horse
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