“Collective” is episode sixteen of season six of Star Trek: Voyager.
Harry, Tom, Neelix and Chakotay are playing poker in the Delta Flyer. Harry suspects Neelix is hustling them, even if it is the first time he’s played poker. Tom suggests betting on tomorrow’s work detail. It turns out that Neelix did have a good hand, beating Chakotay and Harry. Tom, however, is staring out the front in horror, as a Borg cube is bearing down on them. Pity; his hand was the winner.
The cube looks a bit damaged though it knocks out their warp drive. Neelix reports the cube’s power output is fluctuating and the Delta Flyer, unbelievably, knocks out their main propulsion. However, they are tractored into the cube and Harry is knocked unconscious by an explosion.
Neelix is woken from a nightmare about Chakotay having been assimilated by Chakotay. Chakotay suggests that was premature, but not by much; he thinks they are in an assimilation chamber. Tom is there but Harry isn’t. There’s also a dead drone, victim of a botched assimilation.
On Voyager, Tuvok reports the Delta Flyer‘s ion trail has ended. B’Elanna detects a Borg cube. Seven reports the cube’s propulsion system is offline. The damage isn’t that severe and the drones should have repaired it. The cube opens fire but keeps targeting different systems. Seven reports their attack strategy is erratic and inefficient. And finished, according to Tuvok; the cube’s weapons are disabled. Bizarre. B’Elanna thinks this was too easy. Not kidding. Tuvok can pick up non-Borg lifesigns, including a Talaxian. They don’t appear to be assimilated but the shields prevent beaming out.
Seven thinks she can explain the behaviour. There should be thousands of drones. She can only detect five. The Borg give their usual ‘Resistance is futile’ speech but the captain convinces them to behave or she will resume firing. The Borg agree to return the crew in return for Voyager‘s deflector. Odd. Giving it would cripple Voyager. Seven says the drones have lost their link to the Collective; the deflector would allow them to regain it. The captain wants to stall and tells the Borg they need to see the crewmembers are still alive.
Seven is beamed over and encounters dead drones and given directions to a maturation chamber with a baby inside. Then the Borg arrive, all five of them. All children. She states they are not fully matured; where are the others. All the others are deactivated. Seven is not impressed with the neonatal drones; they should still be in maturation chambers. One states they have matured for long enough. Seven thinks this is doubtful. The leader, First, doesn’t want to cooperate. Seven checks anyway; the vessel is severely damaged and they won’t be able to repair it themselves but she can help. First, she wants to see the hostages. Chakotay tells her to give his regards to Harry. Seven wants to return with a drone and a data node to find out what happened, because it could happen again.
On Voyager, Janeway wants Tuvok to activate Harry’s comm badge. In sickbay, the Doctor says the drones were killed by a spaceborne virus that adapted to Borg physiology. Tuvok asks if it targets Borg. Yes, and other cybernetic organisms. Surely Tuvok isn’t thinking of using the pathogen as a weapon? Clearly, he is. Captain Janeway wants it isolating as an option in case the drones don’t cooperate.
Harry is brought out of unconsciousness by his comm badge. He makes his way to the cockpit and starts altering the system so he can reply safely.
First is being decidedly noncooperative. Captain Janeway thinks these drones are erratic, not predictable like adult drones would be. Tuvok describes their behaviour and calls it typically adolescent, no matter what the species. Killing five child drones isn’t a great option. Getting them free of the Borg would be better, but dealing with First is difficult.