User:McGig/Sandbox/Borg Collective Ships

"We are the Borg. Lower your shields and surrender your ships. We will add your biological and technological distinctiveness to our own. Your culture will adapt to service us. Resistance is futile."

    —The Borg

"You can't outrun them; you can't destroy them. If you damage them, the essence of what they are remains; they regenerate and keep coming. Eventually you will weaken, your reserves will be gone… They are relentless."

    —Q

Borg Collective starships are some of the most imposing, feared vessels in the Milky Way galaxy. Borg ships are designed for functionality over style and are often stylized in basic geometric shapes. As part of their functionality, Borg vessels are largely decentralized. They have no distinct bridge or engineering section, and do not require living quarters; instead, the corridors of each Borg vessel are lined with Borg alcoves so that drones may effectively regenerate in sections where they work.

Each Borg vessel is controlled directly by the Hive Mind, allowing for quick response time and adaptation in combat. Additionally, Borg vessels have a high rate of regeneration which can make them effective in combat with over half of the vessel inoperable. In the end, each Borg vessel is designed for one purpose: the effective, swift, and overwhelming assimilation of other species to add to the perfection of the Borg Collective.

Borg Probe

Borg Probe-class scout ship
Information
Affiliation	Borg Collective
Status	Active
Type	Scout ship
Role	Patrol ship Scout ship
Service
Operator	Borg Collective
Population
Standard Complement	100 drones
Dimensions
Length	360 meters
Width	120 meters
Height	100 meters
Propulsion
Propulsion System	Warp drive Transwarp drive
Armaments
Energy Weapons	High yield plasma disruptor beams
Torpedo Launchers	1 fore launcher
Shields	Deflector shields
Template:Specification

The Borg Probe is one of the smallest vessels in the Borg fleet, primarily tasked as a long-range scouting vessel. The Probe is often assigned to scouting and intelligence gathering on low-resistance targets for potential assimilation and relaying that information back to the Collective. Due to the nature of their assignments, these vessels are also often the first ones encountered by unassimilated species. While a Probe is more than capable of engaging in the assimilation of any given pre-warp civilization, they will typically avoid confrontation with warp-capable civilizations while attempting to learn as much as they can before engaging in attacks on soft targets for final intelligence gathering before a Cube is tasked with assimilation.

In Play

• Probes are the first order of Collective starships and therefore the most common. They lead any proper invasions by the Collective, scouting any potential targets. They also form the border guards for the Collective's territory.
• Borg Probes are used by the Collective as scouts, in low-intensity conflicts or against pre-warp civilizations in lieu of larger vessels.
• Probes will avoid conflict whenever possible, but if forced to fight, will fight to the best of their ability, relaying all tactical knowledge to the Collective for as long as possible.
• Probes should not be underestimated. Given time they will adapt and become formidable foes to any starship.

Borg Sphere

Borg Sphere-class long range tactical vessel
Information
Affiliation	Borg Collective
Status	Rolling about
Type	Long Range Tactical Vessel
Role	Long Range Tactical operations Scouting in force
Service
Operator	Borg Collective
Population
Standard Complement	~11,000 drones
Dimensions
Diameter	600m
Propulsion
Propulsion System	Warp drive Transwarp drive
Armaments
Energy Weapons	Tractor beams Plasma beams
Torpedo Launchers	Torpedoes
Shields	Deflector shields Ablative hull armour
Template:Specification

Borg Spheres are used by the Borg as a combined long-range tactical and scout vessel, able to defend itself without reinforcement from nearby Cubes and operating far from replenishment by themselves. They may also be used by some Cubes as a form of auxiliary vessel.

The exact role and niche these craft fill in the Borg fleet is oft debated and likely will never be completely resolved. They are clearly the next rung up from Probes on the ladder of escalation, followed immediately by Cubes.

Engagement with a Sphere is not to be taken lightly. In 2378 a Federation task force of 27 ships engaged a single Sphere to little effect, victory only coming at the hands of the USS Voyager (NCC-74656) from within the vessel.

In Play

• Spheres are the Collective's second-order starships. They will likely be the first to respond to problems relayed by Probes. They may also be dispatched ahead of probes on missions where the Collective suspects or knows about medium-resistance targets that do not call for a full Cube.
• These are mid-level Borg assets and more than capable of handling the grunt work the Collective requires completing. Highly capable and competent combatants, it should be remembered that even a Federation task force couldn't immediately stop one of these vessels.
• Due to their size regeneration and combat endurance isn't as deep as that of the Cubes. This may allow a clever plan to exploit such a weakness, but be wary, the Collective is always watching.

Borg Cube

Borg Cube-class
Information
Affiliation	Borg Collective
Status	Active
Role	Planetary assimilation Medium to High Threat engagement
Service
Operator	Borg Collective
Population
Standard Complement	~64,000 to ~130,000 drones
Dimensions
Length	3000m
Width	3000m
Height	3000m
Propulsion
Propulsion System	Warp drive Transwarp drive
Armaments
Energy Weapons	Cutting Beams Tractor Beams Plasma Beams
Torpedo Launchers	Magnetometric guided charge missiles Torpedoes
Shields	Subspace Fields Electromagnetic field Force fields Adaptive shielding
Template:Specification

"At twenty-two hundred hours and twelve minutes, a distress signal was received at Starbase 157. The Lalo reported contact with an alien vessel described as "cube-shaped". The distress signal ended abruptly. She has not been heard from since."

    —Vice Admiral J.P. Hanson, 2366

When most sentient lifeforms think of the Borg, the infamous Borg Cube will be one of, if not the first, things that come to mind. These terrifying engines of destruction are the Borg Collective's primary platform for force projection and assimilation. The top warp speed for a Borg Cube is still yet to be discovered as in every engagement the Borg have demonstrated an ability to always keep up if not outright outrun, their prey.

The combat capabilities of a Borg Cube are formidable enough that the Federation is lucky to have survived two single Cube assaults to date. After the disaster of the Battle of Wolf 359 the Federation began crash R&D and construction programs just to rebuild the loss of 39 starships and then to prepare for any future engagements. These preparations came to light in the Battle of Sector 001 wherein a second Cube engaged a Dominion War-era battlefleet and was still able to breach all of the Sol System defences before being destroyed in Earth orbit.

These vessels are equipped with a myriad of offensive and defensive technologies from numerous species that the Borg have assimilated. They are quick to adapt to weapon systems deployed by those resisting them and equally quick to adapt their weapons to bypass the best defences presented to them. Starfleet's own rotating modulation systems for phasers and shields are directly inspired by the Borg, but still fall short in a prolonged engagement.

Perhaps the most terrifying aspect of a Borg Cube however is it's sheer ability to absorb damage even when its defensive systems fail while maintaining peak combat efficiency. The second Cube to assault Earth was suffering from heavy damage with a faltering power grid while still handily destroying Starfleet vessels. This is due in part to their effective and adaptable defensive systems but also to their own regeneration capabilities that allow a ship to repair itself. While not as effective in combat, outside of combat this would allow a Cube in short order to return to full combat effectiveness quicker than any resistant force likely could. If a Borg Cube is retreating, it is merely to regenerate before returning promptly to finish the job.

If a Borg Cube is spotted, do not engage. Maintain distance as best as possible and report to Starfleet or the nearest allied power immediately. Do not pose a threat to the Collective and monitor the situation until such time as Starfleet Command comes up with a plan of action. If in doubt, break contact and retreat as best as possible. Utilise any and all evasive techniques to break sensor contact and vacate the area.

In Play

• Borg Cubes are the Collective's heavy-handed fists. They will respond to the destruction of Borg ships to investigate the cause and remove the obstacle for assimilation to ensure such destruction doesn't occur again. They will also be dispatched on high-priority missions that require success. They are the second to last rung on the ladder of escalation for the Collective and their deployment signals an absolute dire situation.
• Borg Cubes are relentless juggernauts and nigh-unstoppable engines of destruction. Starfleet has only engaged en masse two Borg Cubes and lost numerous ships in each engagement. Any encounter with a Cube should not be taken lightly and considered an extreme threat to the Federation, if not the collected powers of the Alpha and Beta Quadrant.
• The appearance of a Cube in any given sector should be a cause for grave concern. Consider a Borg Cube more akin to an ongoing natural disaster - figure out how to stay alive, how to evacuate the area and how to help people as best you can while doing so. You do not fight nature, you endure it.

Borg Tactical Cube

Borg Tactical Cube-class
Information
Affiliation	Borg Collective
Status	Active
Role	Planetary Assimilation High Threat engagement
Service
Operator	Borg Collective
Population
Standard Complement	~64,000 to ~130,000 drones
Dimensions
Length	3000m
Width	3000m
Height	3000m
Propulsion
Propulsion System	Warp drive Transwarp drive
Armaments
Energy Weapons	Cutting Beams Tractor Beams Plasma Beams
Torpedo Launchers	Torpedoes
Shields	Subspace Fields Electromagnetic field Force fields Adaptive shielding
Template:Specification

"If the Continuum has told you once, they have told you a thousand times: DON'T PROVOKE THE BORG!!!"

    —Q, to Q Junior

While the Borg Cube is the Collective's solution to most problems, there tend to be problems where resistance from adversarial powers is remarkable or exceedingly persistent. The Collective has a solution for these situations - the Tactical Cube.

These behemoths are not quite as universally well-rounded as the standard Cube, specialising in the elimination of resistance to pave the way for follow-on Borg vessels. Their primary visual distinction is the large ablative armour plates adorning the exterior of the vessels. These plates can range in thickness across the hull and in some locations extend into the hull of cube, dividing the vessel up into sections in an effort to minimise the spread of internal damage and contain catastrophic hull breaches.

The full combat capabilities of a Tactical Cube are unknown at this time, but it is assumed to be sufficiently advanced enough beyond a standard Cube for the Borg to have invested time and material into their construction and maintenance. That all Cubes haven't been converted to Tactical Cubes must speak volumes for either their lack of versatility, complexity in construction or consumption of limited resources in construction that is limiting their numbers at this time.

In Play

• This is the ultimate expression of the Collective's resolve. Tactical Cubes will be dispatched against targets that have shown a peculiar level of resistance to the Collective's other ships. They also form the defensive line around Borg Diamonds, ensuring their safety from aggressors. These are not dispatched lightly, but when they are, they likely will be escorted by standard Cubes.
• If a Tactical Cube is present, escape is your best, if not only option to survive.

Borg Diamond

Borg Diamond-class command and control vessel
Information
Affiliation	Borg Collective
Status	Active
Type	Command and control vessel
Role	Large-scale local-area coordination
Service
Operator	Borg Collective
Dimensions
Diameter	700m
Propulsion
Propulsion System	Warp Drive Transwarp drive
Armaments
Energy Weapons	Plasma beams
Torpedo Launchers	Torpedo launchers
Shields	Deflector Shields
Template:Specification

The Borg Diamond, also known as the octahedron, is a purpose-constructed vessel for the Collective, outside of their normal operating modalities. The vessel operates as a command and control vessel during campaigns against powerful or resilient enemies requiring a more focused resolution pathway and minimised subspace latency for adaptation and engagement approach dynamism. It is suspected that the vessel acts as some form of long-range, high-bandwidtch communication platform to the nearest Unicomplex, then repeats to nearby vessels which lack such inbuilt capabilities themselves.

If a Borg Diamond is operating in the area, it is a clear sign the sector is of importance to the Collective and other forces are nearby. Do not engage. Do not conduct further scans. Disengage and report all findings to Starfleet or the nearest allied power immediately.

In Play

• These vessels are unlikely to be encountered by Starfleet vessels at all as their defensive screens will intercept any intruders.
• These are high-priority Borg assets and will not be operating alone or unprotected. Expect heavy resistance just attempting to get near one to positively identify it.
• While capable of combat themselves, these vessels will prioritise retreating to the nearest combat-capable Collective vessel if required in order to let more capable and deadly assets deal with the abnormally resistant target.