A fictional species from Star Trek. The Borg are a Machine/ Organic symbiosis. The largest Machine component is a large cube containing several thousand Organic components each heavily modified by cyborg prothesis. Each cube has a single collective mind identical to all the others. The entire species can behave as if it was one being with a single purpose, and the Organic distinctions between one/ many do not apply. Individual Organic (or rather cyborg) Borg units do not appear to be sophont because they do not seem to be self aware. They also completely lack emotion. The Borg can grow by normal Machine construction and artificially aided Organic reproduction of their omponents. They also incorporate captured technologies from all species encountered, and modify encountered species, removing any capacity for independent thought and incorporating them as an additional type of Organic component. Within the universe of Star Trek, Borg technology is superior to that of any other Main Sequence species. They posssess a technological advantage comparable to that posssed by Elder or Retired species in the Galaxies. They have no aim other than exponential growth.
The Borg are principly a cautionary tale against extensive cyborging
(compare with Daleks, RoboCop, et cetera).
Almost all organic species would consider incorporation in the Borg undesirable. By suggesting that a
Borg-like state is a natural consequence of cyborging, cyborging is strongly discouraged. The Galactics
consider human invention of such ideological discouragement to be 'fortunate' (some attribute it to hidden
Patrons). Humans are more tolerant of cyborging than Galactic tradition
dictates, so anything that discourages them indulging in the loathsome practice is desirable.
(by Robert Shaw)
e3v5r1