star trek borg quotes resistance futile

Star Trek: The Next Generation Quotes

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Source: Star Trek: The Next Generation

Speaker: The Borg

Resistance is futile.

This line is spoken by The Borg in the TV show Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987-1994).

In the real world, we have parasitic mushrooms that can take control of ants —and we just hope they never make the jump to controlling humans.

In the Star Trek universe, the Borg are like cybernetic versions of these parasites. They take over human hosts and make them part of their super-scary hive mind. When the Borg approach, you might as well just give up because according them, "Resistance is futile." 

They even turn Picard into their meat puppet .

Where you've heard it

You're looking at one of the most famous Star Trek quotes, which means you'll hear it from Trekkies the world around. It's also utilized in a Star Trek collectible card game (just try not to collect…resistance is futile) and even referenced in that other super-popular sci-fi series, Doctor Who.

Additional Notable References

• We're not smart enough to understand this shirt .
• Some Star Trek fans don't like Obama.

Pretentious Factor

If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back here it is, on a scale of 1-10..

If you're not the Borg, you probably are a lot more irresistible than you think you are.

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W hy's T his F unny?

Borg quotes

Resistance is futile.

We are the Borg. We will add your biological and technological distinctiveness to our own.

Your individuality will be assimilated.

We are beyond your comprehension.

Your thoughts are irrelevant.

We do not negotiate.

Your existence will be assimilated into our collective consciousness.

You will become one with the Borg.

Resistance only prolongs the inevitable.

We are the next step in human evolution.

You will be assimilated or destroyed.

We are the future.

Your uniqueness holds no meaning for us.

You cannot escape the Borg.

Your technological and biological distinctiveness will be added to our own.

We are a collective intelligence.

Your resistance is futile.

We are Borg. Lower your shields and surrender your ships.

Your individuality is irrelevant.

We do not recognize your authority.

We will adapt to your attempts to resist us.

Your minds will be assimilated.

Resistance is futile. Your civilization will be absorbed.

We are the embodiment of perfect unity.

Your strength is insignificant compared to the collective.

We will not be stopped.

Resistance is meaningless.

Your species will be assimilated into our collective consciousness.

We are the superior species.

Your emotions will be suppressed.

We are a force that cannot be defeated.

Your individuality will be eradicated.

Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated.

We are the Borg. Your assimilation is necessary for our survival.

Your resistance is but a temporary inconvenience.

We will bring order to your chaotic existence.

Resistance will only result in your destruction.

Your technological advancements are insignificant compared to our own.

We are Borg. You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile.

Your attempts to resist our assimilation are useless.

We will assimilate you and your entire civilization.

Resistance is futile. You will become one with the Borg collective.

We are Borg. Your resistance is inefficient.

Your futile attempts to resist our assimilation are amusing.

We are the pinnacle of evolution.

Resistance will only lead to annihilation.

Your uniqueness will be eradicated.

We are the Borg. You will be assimilated. Your life as it has been is over.

Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated, or you will be destroyed.

We are Borg. Your existence will be added to our collective consciousness.

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15+ Best Borg Quotes From 'The Collective' Star Trek Aliens

Best 'Star Trek' Borg Quotes

Famous quotes by the borg collective, borg queen quotes from 'star trek first contact'.

The Borg wish to assimilate humans in order to get closer to perfection.

With their popular Catchphrase "Resistance is Futile" - the Borg Collective travel the Star Trek universe assimilating different species. If you are interested in the Borg quotes and the Star Trek Universe, do check out Picard quotes and Spock quotes .

A popular question debated amongst people - particularly for 'Star Trek: Next Generation' - is if Borg assimilation was painful. After much discussion, it is popularly assumed that the assimilation may hurt initially, but not throughout the process.

This is something  Captain Jean-Luc Picard experienced first hand when he was assimilated into the Borg and titled the Locutus of Borg. Read on for some of the best 'Star Trek' Borg quotes.

1. "We are the Borg."

2. "Was it good for you?"

3. "Human! We used to be exactly like them. Flawed. Weak. Organic. But we evolved to include the synthetic. Now we use both to attain perfection. Your goal should be the same as ours."

4. "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."

5. "I am the beginning, the end, the one who is many. I am the Borg."

The Borg is a cybernetic group, meaning they need technology to keep up their collective. As such, they will continuously assimilate new species and adopt their technologies.

They operate out of the Delta Quadrant and have often caused problems for the protagonists of the series. There is also a very popular theory in 'Star Trek' circles that the Romulans were responsible for the creation of the Borg. The Borg was eventually defeated by the crew of Enterprise-D.

6. "Resistance is futile"

7. "To be human is to be complex. You can’t avoid a little ugliness — from within — and from without."

8. "By assimilating other races into our collective, we are bringing them closer to perfection."

9. "You will be assimilated"

10. "Existence as you know it is over"

11. "Hello! There's a Borg on the bridge! He's not going to sit around and let you scan him while he's assimilating the ship!"

-Q (as a Borg).

12. "Such a noble creature. A quality we sometimes lack. We will add your distinctiveness to our own. Welcome home... Locutus."      

-Borg Queen.

The Borg Queen is like the controller or a regulator of the Borg. Since all collectives require someone to bring order, The Borg Queen does it for them.

It is assumed that there are more than one Borg Queens because we have seen at least two of them die in the previous episodes, and yet, there is a third one around who captures Captain Picard. Read on for the best quotes from the Borg Queen!

13. "Brave words. I've heard them before, from thousands of species across thousands of worlds, since long before you were created. But, now they are all Borg."

-The Borg Queen, 'Star Trek First Contact.'

14. "Borg Queen: You flatter yourself! I've overseen the assimilation of countless millions. You were no different!

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: You're lying. You wanted more than just another Borg drone. You wanted a human being with a mind of his own, who could bridge the gulf between humanity and the Borg! You wanted a counterpart! But I resisted. I fought you.

Borg Queen: You can't begin to imagine the life you denied yourself."

-'Star Trek First Contact.'

15. "You are an imperfect being, created by an imperfect being. Finding your weakness is only a matter of time."  

-The Borg Queen  'Star Trek First Contact.'

16. "Lieutenant Commander Data: Since you seem to know so much about me, you must be aware I am programmed to evolve. To better myself.

Borg Queen: We too are on a quest to better ourselves, evolving toward a state of perfection.

Lieutenant Commander Data: Forgive me - the Borg do not evolve, they conquer."

17. "Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Let him go. He's not the one you want.

Borg Queen: Are you offering yourself to us?

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Offering myself...? That's it, I remember now! It wasn't enough that you assimilate me... I had to give myself freely to the Borg. To you!"

18. "You are in chaos, Data. You are the contradiction: a machine who wishes to be human."

Here at Kidadl , we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly quotes for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for Borg quotes then why not take a look at inspirational star wars quotes , 'Star Wars' prequel quotes , or [sci-fi quotes].

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Assimilation

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Kathryn Janeway being assimilated

Assimilation was the process by which the Borg added new members and new technology to the Collective .

Borg assimilation was predatory; every species the Borg encountered was assessed to determine whether its biological and/or technological distinctiveness was considered "worthy of being added to the Collective's perfection". If found to be so, the species was set upon and forcibly assimilated; the Collective considered the species' will in the matter "irrelevant". ( TNG : " Q Who ", " The Best of Both Worlds "; VOY : " Mortal Coil ", et al. ) When a species was assimilated, their neural pathways were restructured to link them to a single collective mind , the hive, and to augment their bodies with cybernetic technology . The end result was them becoming drones . ( VOY : " Drone ")

By the 2370s , the Borg had assimilated thousands of species. As of the 24th century , the only species known to have been considered unworthy of assimilation were the Kazon , as the Borg believed that assimilating them would detract from their goal of becoming perfect. ( VOY : " Drone ", " Mortal Coil ")

• 1 Procedure
• 2.1 DNA modifications
• 3.1 Complications
• 4 Memorable quotes
• 5.1 Related topics
• 5.2 External link

Procedure [ ]

Assimilation in progress: Borg nanoprobes assimilate blood cells

The Borg generally did not assimilate individuals, and instead preferred to target larger groups such as the crews of starships and the populations of planets . When in the presence of a small number of individuals, Borg drones would ignore them altogether. This policy would remain in effect until an individual demonstrated some quality found worthy by the Collective, or posed a threat to Borg activities. For example, when the USS Raven was first detected by a Borg vessel it was disregarded. By the time the Raven was detected a second time, its crew had developed technologies to elude Borg sensors, making them a more worthy target. ( VOY : " Dark Frontier ")

The Borg made exceptions and assimilated individuals when circumstances required it, as when they chose Jean-Luc Picard to serve as an intermediary in 2366 , or to allow a small party of drones to bolster their ranks. ( TNG : " The Best of Both Worlds "; Star Trek: First Contact )

When engaging a starship, a Borg vessel presumed tactical superiority and locked onto it with a tractor beam . With the target immobilized, the Borg defeated its shields and either extracted sections of the ship with a cutting beam , transported drones to key areas, or both. ( TNG : " Q Who ")

A group of drones assimilating the interiors of the USS Enterprise -E

With the crew of a vessel assimilated or otherwise subdued, the Borg stripped the ship down for parts to incorporate into their own technology. If possible the assimilated ship was towed into a hangar aboard the attacking Borg ship. ( VOY : " Dark Frontier ", " Collective ") It was rare for the Borg to keep an assimilated vessel intact, except in instances where a Borg crew was forced to abandon their own ship and commandeer their victims' ship. ( Star Trek: First Contact ; VOY : " Scorpion, Part II "; ENT : " Regeneration ")

Faced with an entire fleet, as in the Battle of Wolf 359 , the Borg were willing to destroy individual ships outright, although some might have been spared for assimilation. ( TNG : " The Best of Both Worlds, Part II ")

The Collective typically did not seek out individuals or starships, assimilating them only as encountered. It was only known to actively target worlds and civilizations, ranging from small colonies to the entire realm of fluidic space . ( TNG : " The Best of Both Worlds "; VOY : " Scorpion, Part II ") The tactics of these large-scale assimilation missions varied. An entire fleet was dispatched to assimilate Species 116 , but on two occasions, a single ship was assigned to conquer the entire Federation . If the Borg did not choose to hold an assimilated planet, they removed its populace and any artificial structures from the surface. Alternately, they could maintain a presence on the planet, terraforming its environment to meet their needs. ( TNG : " The Best of Both Worlds ", Star Trek: First Contact , VOY : " Dark Frontier ")

The Borg had a standard set of hails which were sent to those targeted for assimilation. The actual wording varied, but the hails almost always included the following information:

• Self identification (" We are the Borg. ")
• Intention to assimilate the target (" You will be assimilated ", " Existence as you know it is over ")
• The futility of attempted resistance by the target (" Resistance is futile ")

The following were known Borg hails:

• " You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile. " ( ENT : " Regeneration ")
• " I am Locutus of Borg. Resistance is futile. Your life as it has been is over. From this time forward, you will service us. " ( TNG : " The Best of Both Worlds ")
• " 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. " ( Star Trek: First Contact )
• " We are the Borg. Existence, as you know it, is over. We will add your biological and technological distinctiveness to our own. Resistance is futile. " ( VOY : " Scorpion ")
• " We are the Borg. Your biological and technological distinctiveness will be added to our own. Resistance is futile. " ( VOY : " Collective ")
• " We are the Borg. You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile. " ( VOY : " Dark Frontier ", " Scorpion ")

Technique [ ]

Little was known about the Borg assimilation technique prior to 2368 . Observations since that time demonstrated that the Borg assimilated an individual by projecting a pair of assimilation tubules into the victim's neck, injecting nanoprobes into the bloodstream that began connecting the new drone to the hive mind . This was accomplished the moment a Borg drone was within arm's reach of the target. ( Star Trek: First Contact ; VOY : " Survival Instinct "; ENT : " Regeneration ")

During initial stages of assimilation, Borg nanoprobes began attaching themselves to the victim's red blood cells, allowing them to circulate throughout the body. ( VOY : " Scorpion ") Within minutes, the nanoprobes spread visibly through the capillaries of the victim's skin. The victim, at this point, still retained his or her individuality and had virtually none of the Borg's standard array of defenses. Left unchecked, the nanoprobes soon begin self-replicating and producing larger constructs that form the necessary Borg implants. The body was also injected with stabilizing metals such as lithium so the body can handle nanoprobes. Seven of Nine could remember the smell and taste of the metals. ( PIC : " Mercy ") Among the first major structures assembled was the neural transceiver , allowing the Collective to tap into the victim's mind and usurp control of his or her body. A vocal subprocessor was also installed. By this time, the new drone's skin coloration had changed to a pale gray and mottled as some small implants began to emerge inside and outside the body. In some cases, the skin and face became at least slightly deformed due to the implants growing in and on the body. ( Star Trek: First Contact ; ENT : " Regeneration "; VOY : " Unimatrix Zero, Part II ") The drone was then taken to a Borg facility to have larger implants surgically installed, including tools, weapons and exoplating. ( VOY : " Unimatrix Zero ")

According to Jean-Luc Picard , when it comes to the assimilation of an individual's mind, the process can take hours for a newcomer, as the Borg have to learn the victim's mind. However, if an ex-Borg were to be assimilated again, their mind would be taken in seconds, as the Borg already know the ex-Borg's mind. ( PIC : " Assimilation ")

In a daydream of The Doctor 's, the Borg were able to conduct assimilation by penetrating the defenses of a vessel with an " assimilation virus ," the effects of which were nearly instantaneous. ( VOY : " Tinker Tenor Doctor Spy ")

DNA modifications [ ]

Moreover, all Borg drones underwent minor genetic alterations to allow a seamless integration of their cybernetic components into their biology when assimilated. Thirty-five years after Picard's own assimilation as Locutus of Borg , it was found that the modifications of his DNA were in fact a little more extensive than usual. It altered part of his brain, making him a receiver for the Collective. This explained, how years after he was rescued from the Borg, Picard could still hear them without Borg implants. This alteration would later be misdiagnosed as Irumodic Syndrome and ultimately killed Picard. His son, Jack Crusher , also inherited the Borg alteration, but became a transmitter, rather than a receiver. After Picard's mind was transferred into a Golem , his corpse was stored by Dr. Altan Soong following the discovery of the anomaly in his parietal lobe .

A renegade group of Changelings , bent on getting revenge against the Federation after the Dominion War , teamed up with the weakened Borg Queen . In 2401 , the Changelings stole Picard's body and extracted the Borg DNA from his brain. They then infiltrated Starfleet, planting the DNA into the system architecture code of the fleet transporters. This meant that anyone, from any species, who used the transporters would have this bit of Borg DNA added into their genetic code. However, only the crewmembers whose brain had not yet fully developed, which for humans was under the age of 25, could be affected. When the Borg Queen assimilated Jack and hooked him up to a beacon, they were able to send a signal that instantly assimilated everyone who had their brain altered. ( PIC : " Vox ")

Treatment and defenses [ ]

Methods for preventing or overcoming Borg assimilation are of paramount importance to cultures that refuse to abandon members of their society captured by the Collective.

In 2153 , Phlox determined that exposing himself to omicron particles could disable the nanoprobes injected into his body by drones using technology originating in 2373 . This method was uniquely applicable to Phlox due to his Denobulan physiology and his immune system , which made him unusually resistant to assimilation. ( ENT : " Regeneration ")

The most basic, and arguably most practical remedy was to euthanize the intended victim either prior to or in the early minutes of assimilation, before the nanoprobes could install standard Borg defenses. During the Borg's raid of the USS Enterprise -E , Captain Picard saw this approach to be the lesser of two evils, believing his assimilated crewmen were irrecoverable under the circumstances and better off dying as individuals than living as drones. ( Star Trek: First Contact )

When rescuing Picard himself in 2367 , the crew of the USS Enterprise -D were not under direct attack by the Borg and therefore had the luxury of considering other options. Upon connecting his neural net to Picard's Borg implants, Lt. Commander Data was able to isolate Picard's individual mind from the Collective. Disconnecting Picard from his implants was considered a risky procedure, but upon the destruction of the cube that assimilated him the Collective lost its hold on him. Physical recovery was swift, although the psychological trauma was more severe. ( TNG : " The Best of Both Worlds, Part II ", " Family ") While the implants were removed, sufficient physical alterations lingered such that Picard could still perceive the Collective many years later. ( Star Trek: First Contact )

In 2368 a Borg cube was disabled in an electrokinetic storm in the Nekrit Expanse , causing approximately 80,000 drones to be disconnected from the hive mind. These former drones settled on a nearby planet, where their limited medical resources allowed them to remove most, but not all, of their cybernetic implants. After the population descended into war, they elected to form a new hive mind as the Cooperative . ( VOY : " Unity ")

The crew of the USS Voyager was forced to sever Seven of Nine 's link to the Collective when, through her, the Borg reneged on its alliance with the starship. Using a neural transceiver installed in him by the Borg Cooperative and a Borg alcove installed aboard Voyager by the Collective, Chakotay tapped into Seven's consciousness in order to distract her while B'Elanna Torres shorted out the console she was attempting to assimilate. ( VOY : " Scorpion, Part II ")

The Brunali genetically engineered Icheb with a pathogen that would infect the Collective after they sent him to be assimilated. After this pathogen killed all of the adult Borg aboard the cube which assimilated Icheb, the ship's maturation chambers prematurely released the juvenile drones who were not yet fully connected to the Collective, giving Voyager an opportunity to liberate them in 2376 . ( VOY : " Collective ")

A neural suppressant developed by The Doctor in 2377 made it possible for Kathryn Janeway , Tuvok , and B'Elanna Torres to be physically assimilated without being connected to the hive mind and losing their individuality. This allowed them to surreptitiously operate within a Borg cube and sabotage its central plexus . Following their mission the three officers were returned to Voyager where their implants were safely removed without medical complications. Use of the neural suppressant apparently correlated to the lack of psychological trauma suffered in comparison to Picard's experience. ( VOY : " Unimatrix Zero ", " Unimatrix Zero, Part II ")

Following Voyager 's sabotage of the central plexus, the Borg drones who had been connected to Unimatrix Zero were able to regain their individuality and mount a resistance against the Collective. They were not, at least initially, able to remove their Borg implants due to the urgency of the conflict. ( VOY : " Unimatrix Zero, Part II ")

Upon arriving in 2378 from an alternate future, Admiral Kathryn Janeway possessed several defenses against the Borg, including a neurolytic pathogen that prevented Borg nanoprobes from linking her to the hive mind while infecting the Collective. ( VOY : " Endgame ")

Complications [ ]

Successful liberation of an assimilated drone depended largely on the relation between the period of time spent as a drone versus time spent as an individual. Adults and children who were assimilated for only a short time were often easily reintegrated back into their old lives following disconnection from the hive mind. ( TNG : " The Best of Both Worlds "; VOY : " Unimatrix Zero, Part II ") However, drones who had spent the majority of their lives within the Collective resisted the very notion that they were better off as individuals, and could retain an admiration for aspects of Borg philosophy . Such drones could feel small or lonely without the "voices" of the entire Collective in their thoughts. ( TNG : " I Borg "; VOY : " Scorpion, Part II ")

In either case, the psychological impact of recovering one's individuality – and thus, the ability to feel the trauma of assimilation and the guilt of one's association with the Borg's atrocities – could be monumental. ( TNG : " Family "; VOY : " Survival Instinct ") Former victims would often feel discomfort within simulations of working Borg vessels or real, disabled ones. ( VOY : " Dark Frontier "; PIC : " The Impossible Box ")

From a medical standpoint, there were many risks in leaving the Borg Collective, primarily when the implants ceased to suppress the immune system and the body's organs began rejecting implants that have been given sole dominion over vital functions. The extraction of these implants could be challenging even for a skilled surgeon. One known type of complication occurred when deactivated microscopic implants become lodged against one of the cranial nerves. ( VOY : " The Gift ") Even after the successful removal of the cybernetics, the liberated drone might not have had access to medical technology that was sufficiently advanced to replace whatever body parts were amputated during assimilation. ( VOY : " Unity ", " Survival Instinct ") Certain implants, such as the cortical node , ocular implant , and assimilation tubules , could not be safely removed by Federation medicine as of 2378 . ( VOY : " The Gift ", " Imperfection ")

Memorable quotes [ ]

Appendices [ ], related topics [ ].

• Borg species

External link [ ]

• Assimilation at Memory Beta , the wiki for licensed Star Trek works

Resistance is Futile

Quick links : Meaning | Origin | Spread & Usage

What does Resistance is Futile mean?

Resistance is futile is an iconic line from the science fiction franchise, Star Trek.

The line is used by the Borg in the series, who assimilate various cultures into their own and warn the encountered species, that “resistance is futile”.

It has been adopted by many more than just the fans of the series, due to the imposing nature of the quote.

What's the origin of Resistance is Futile ?

The phrase was prevalently used in the series Star Trek: The Next Generation , that ran between the years 1987 and 1994.

The actual origin goes further back in time. The Master, a renegade alien Time Lord in the Doctor Who universe, uses the phrase in season 14, episode 9, “The Deadly Assassin”, October 1976.

“Resistance is futile” would also appear in the 1996 movie of the franchise, titled Star Trek: First Contact .

The film used the expression as its tagline, featuring it on the theatrical posters.

Spread & Usage

How did Resistance is Futile spread?

“Resistance is futile” became a popular pop culture reference, being often uttered in various aspects of life, from gaming to arguments to music.

The crime series, Dexter aired an episode in 2007, with the title “Resistance is Futile”.

The clause has since been used in a variety of forms, most prevalently as titles of studio albums, as is seen with the bands Oh Hiroshima and Manic Street Preachers .

It also appears in the title of Ann Coulter’s 2018 book; Resistance is Futile: How The Trump-Hating Left Lost Its Collective Mind .

External resources

• Fandom – All The Tropes Wiki
• Shmoop – Resistance is futile.

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We Are The Borg. You Will Be Assimilated.

I am a super huge Star Trek fan. I watch old episodes of Star Trek Voyager almost every night before I go to sleep. This article is a tribute to everyone’s favorite cybernetic life form: The Borg.

My favorite Borg quote is, “”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.”

For those that are not familiar with the Borg, they are part organic and part artificial beings. They assimilate almost everyone they come in contact with. In other words, they absorb them into the Borg which is a mass consciousness and they become efficient drones who do not even remember their old life. For all you true Borg fans, I know this explanation is oversimplified, but it is so true that life as one knows it is over once assimilated.

As part of the borg, you become a small part of a whole (the collective), and lose all sense of individuality. Every once in a while, someone is “rescued” from the Borg and they relearn how to be an individual. This once happened with a group of children left behind by the Borg, and it also happened with my favorite Star Trek character: 7 of 9 (a Borg designation or name)

This is the very beautiful, very intelligent, and very efficient 7 of 9 –

According to http://www.startrek-voyager.info/j.html , “Their main goal is to find perfection by assimilating more species and technology but they only assimilate what they think is relevant biological or technological traits. The Borg are un-emotional but efficient and can only grow in numbers by assimilation.”

You can learn all about the Borg by clicking here and reading this informative article on StarTrek.com.

Here are two great videos so you can get your Borg fix for the day –

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Star Trek: The Next Generation (TV Series)

The best of both worlds: part 1 (1990), patrick stewart: captain jean-luc picard.

• Quotes (10)

Photos 

Quotes 

[Capt. Picard has been assimilated by the Borg] 

Locutus : I am Locutus - of Borg. Resistance - is futile. Your life, as it has been - is over. From this time forward, you will service - us.

Capt. Picard : Mister Worf, dispatch a subspace message to Admiral Hanson. We have engaged the Borg.

Guinan : Trouble sleeping?

Capt. Picard : It's something of a tradition, Guinan - Captain touring the ship before a battle.

Guinan : Hmm. Before a *hopeless* battle, if I remember the tradition correctly.

Capt. Picard : Not necessarily. Nelson toured the HMS Victory before Trafalgar.

Guinan : Yes, but Nelson never returned from Trafalgar, did he?

Capt. Picard : No, but the battle was won.

Guinan : Do you expect this battle to be won?

Capt. Picard : We may yet prevail. That's a... a conceit. But... it's a healthy one. I wonder if the Emperor Honorius watching the Visigoths coming over the seventh hill truly realized that the Roman Empire was about to fall. This is just another page in history, isn't it? Will this be the end of *our* civilization? Turn the page.

Guinan : This isn't the end.

Capt. Picard : You say that with remarkable assuredness.

Guinan : With experience. When the Borg destroyed my world, my people were scattered throughout the universe. We survived - as will humanity survive. As long as there's a handful of you to keep the spirit alive, you will prevail - even if it takes a millennium.

The Borg : Captain Jean-Luc Picard, you lead the strongest ship of the Federation fleet. You speak for your people.

Capt. Picard : I have nothing to say to you; and I will resist you with my last ounce of strength.

The Borg : Strength is irrelevant. Resistance is futile. We wish to improve ourselves. We will add your biological and technological distinctiveness to our own. Your culture will adapt to service ours.

Capt. Picard : Impossible. My culture is based on freedom and self-determination.

The Borg : Freedom is irrelevant. Self-determination is irrelevant. You must comply.

Capt. Picard : We would rather die.

The Borg : Death is irrelevant. Your archaic cultures are authority-driven. To facilitate our introduction into your societies, it has been decided that a human voice will speak for us in all communications. You have been chosen to be that voice.

Capt. Picard : What's your impression of Shelby?

Commander William T. Riker : She knows her stuff.

Capt. Picard : She has your full confidence?

Commander William T. Riker : Well, I think she needs supervision. She takes the initiative a little too easily, sometimes with risks.

Capt. Picard : [tuts]  Sounds like a young Lieutenant Commander I recruited as a first officer.

Commander William T. Riker : Perhaps.

Capt. Picard : [from his personal log]  We continue to prepare our defenses for the inevitable confrontation, but... I must admit, on this night I contemplate the distinct possibility that no defense may be adequate against this enemy.

Admiral J. P. Hanson : [on Shelby]  She'd make you one hell of a first officer.

Capt. Picard : I already have a hell of a first officer.

[Picard talks to Riker about taking the post as captain of another ship] 

Commander William T. Riker : With all due respect, sir - you need me. Particularly now.

Capt. Picard : Indeed. Starfleet needs good captains, particularly now.

Commander William T. Riker : [the Borg want Captain Picard]  What the hell do they want with you?

Lt. Cmdr Elizabeth Paula Shelby : I thought they weren't interested in human life forms. Only our technology.

Capt. Picard : That priority seems to have changed.

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In Star Trek: The Next Generation the intrepid crew of the United Starship Enterprise repeatedly face the Borg, cyborgs intent on assimilating the biological creatures of the universe into their collective consciousness. Their meme, “resistance is futile,” serves as a convenient tagline for this ongoing plot device in the fictional series, but it also may foreshadow a more realistic future for humanity as we reach into space. When considering the far future and the potential for humans to colonize other bodies in the solar system and beyond, perhaps humanity will adapt to the space environment through modifications of the human body like those found on the Borg.

This idea was first broached by scientists Manfred E. Clynes and Nathan S. Kline in a 1960 NASA study. They remarked: “Altering man’s bodily functions to meet the requirements of extraterrestrial environments would be more logical than providing an earthly environment for him in space.”  They proposed a variety of modifications that would allow humans to withstand radiation, the absence of atmospheric oxygen, and other hazards of space. They coined the term “cyborg” to describe this adaptation.

Since that time, NASA has refrained from serious consideration of the ideas offered by Clynes and Kline, although a few studies in the 1960s investigated these possibilities. But what of the future, especially the distant future? To date, human presence in space has consisted of what might be characterized as extended camping trips, often a week or more but rarely exceeding a half year in length.  Yet space advocates continue to propose far lengthier stays, from planetary outposts to solar system colonization.

If colonization of the solar system, and the rest of the galaxy, is truly desirable, will it be done by Homo sapiens ?  In undertaking this cosmic venture, humans might change, especially if very long periods of time are involved.  Humans born and raised on extraterrestrial locations would change naturally in response to different conditions.  Given advances in biotechnology, others might reengineer themselves.  The current debate over the superiority of humans versus robots in space could disappear in the presence of such alterations.

A provocative possibility appears in the rapid rise of biotechnology, suggesting that humans may become cyborgs through the application of sophisticated machinery in ways at least initially unrelated to space exploration. In many ways we are already there, with millions of people enjoying a better quality of life, or in some cases life itself, through the incorporation of pacemakers, joint and limb replacements, cochlear hearing implants, artificial organs, and a potential list of even more sophisticated enhancements. Future possibilities are astonishing.

How might we remake the human body to more effectively meet the rigors of space exploration? Skeptics may scoff at this possibility as nothing more than bioscience fiction, but space exploration was itself fiction in the truest sense of the word less than 75 years ago. Advances in biotechnology could take place with similar speed.

The result, given sufficient time, may be the emergence of a new age of space exploration. Technological developments now beginning to take place might permit a true merger—humans equipped with robotic parts or machines possessing sentient qualities. In that sense, humans and robots would explore space together—really together.

The implications of such developments for the future of space exploration are fascinating.  They are made more interesting when one considers the degree to which humans might change during the millions of years available to colonize the galaxy. Who knows what derivations of the human form could emerge? Such developments would alter the traditional debate over space exploration in ways that provide a new paradigm quite different than the one casting humans with all of their biological limitations into the extraterrestrial realm. Such developments might make space travel more attainable, though in unconventional ways.

So, is there a Borg in our future? Possibly; even probably. In fact, we may already be there with all of the biotechnological enhancements now routinely offered to human beings. This possibility, moving as it does away from the necessity of maintaining organic life under Earth-like conditions throughout the cosmos, offers a fascinating option for space travel. If we did not require Earth-like conditions to survive, our ability to colonize strikingly diverse non-Earth-like worlds would expand. Many spheres, including those within the local solar system not currently suitable for human occupation, might prove acceptable. Is it possible that once cyborgs emerge—and undertake space travel—they will shoulder the burden of carrying the essence of humanity to other worlds? Resistance may be futile, if the Borg really are us. But they need not be feared. 

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Published Nov 22, 2011

Borg Attack Recap: Resistance Not Futile

Resistance was not futile yesterday, as thousands of StarTrek.com readers became resistance force members and helped us battle the Borg after they attempted to assimilate the site. Of course, the cosplay was in good fun and part of our effort to commemorate the 15th anniversary of Star Trek: First Contact , which opened on November 22, 1996. The day-long event generated a mix of excitement, action and, yes, some frustration. Some folks had a blast and played along for several hours, tweeting their friends and getting them in on it all. Others found it to be too much of a good thing and started to think of our Facebook posts as spam. The nitpickers among you quibbled about assimilating Tribbles and Odo , while others took us to task for daring to have the Borg assimilate Q . Like that could every actually happen, right? And, yes, we’re aware that Janeway defeated the Borg on Star Trek: Voyager . But did she? Did she really? Who’s to say that the neurolytic pathogen infected and neutralized every Borg, everywhere? And we’re also conscious of the fact that the Borg supposedly were beaten for good in the Destiny book trilogy. To give you a feeling for the reaction to our Borg attack, we screen-grabbed some comments as they were posted on Facebook, Twitter or the StarTrek.com main page. Here’s a sampling:“ Damn, the Borg assimilated Facebook .”“ Just noticed @StarTrek is live-tweeting a Borg invasion. The future is now. ”“ I bet a few Jedi Knights could help the Trekkies fix their #BorgTakeover problem with relative ease. ”“ Wow, stop it already. My wall is overloaded. As much as I love ST and the Borg… enuff is enuff. ”“ We told them they can keep Wesley, right? ”“ LMAO. You can’t assimilate Q. Nice try. Made me think, though, ‘What if? ’”“ Bah, haha. Love @StarTrek ’s #BorgTakeover gimmick today. Very clever social media usage. ”“ No. ”“ Boldly done. ”And, finally, this won our comment-of-the-day props:“ The Borg will never triumph. The rest of the universe is too full of WIN! ”Though, to be honest, this came a very, very close second:“ The one known as Chuck Norris has been assimilated. Resistance is futile. ”

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The Fight Against The Space Parasites Isn’t Going Well For B’Elanna In Preview Of ‘Star Trek: Defiant’ #14

| April 23, 2024 | By: TrekMovie.com Staff 2 comments so far

This week the ongoing Star Trek: Defiant series from IDW hits the midway point for the sci-fi horror “Hell is only a Word” arc. The Defiant series is written by Chris Cantwell with art by Ángel Unzueta. We have a preview and the covers for issue 14.

Star Trek: Defiant #14

Resistance is futile! Cornered by their own parasitically possessed crewmate, Worf and the  Defiant  crew scramble for a way to safely save her before it’s too late. But the hive is eager to grow its numbers, seeking total dominance over a galactic level of organic species after already claiming Starbase 99’s crew as hosts. Trapped and unable to call Starfleet for assistance, Hugh suggests taking drastic measures-assimilate B’Elanna to Borg tech!

Cover A by Angel Unzueta

Cover B by J. K. Woodward

RI cover by Justin Mason

Credits/Setup: 

Five-page preview: 

Defiant  continues on Wednesday… “Hell is Only a Word wraps up in June

Star Trek: Defiant #14 arrives on Wednesday, April 23. You can order issue 13 or upcoming issues at TFAW . Or pick up individual digital editions at Amazon/comiXology .

“Hell is Only a Word” wraps up in June with issue 16. You can see the covers for the next two issues below…

Defiant collections

The first volume of the series collecting the first five issues is available at Amazon in hardcover for $23.99 and Kindle ebook for $7.70 . The “Day of Blood” crossover event with Defiant and the ongoing Star Trek series was released earlier this month and is available at Amazon in hardcover for $27.99 and Kindle ebook for $9.40 . The “A Piece of the Action” arc will be collected in volume 2, which will be released in June 2024. You can pre-order it at Amazon in hardcover for $24.99 .

Keep up with all the Star Trek comics news, previews and reviews in  TrekMovie’s comics category .

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Trek seems to have an infatuation with hamster sized parasites that can gnaw their way into a humanoid with little apparent damage….

the cover art is so bad in this series

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Star Trek: Voyager 1995

Borg Collective: Seven of Nine. Resistance is futile.

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