The Borg and the Q continuum

[Shrykull]

I've been wondering just what the borg might think about the continuum. They definitely know about it, from when they assimilated Picard, and perhaps any other species that knew about him or the collective.

I'm trying to remember the Voyager episode where Q's son appears and strips seven naked, she didn't make any kind of remark as to what she or the collective though of the continuum then, I wonder if the borg possibly ever consider the continuum a target for assimilation, yes it sounds impossible given a member of the Q's powers, but we've never really known the borg to negotiate or just give up on assimilation of a species because they were too powerful.

[Admiral_K]

Well the original Borg only attempted to assimilate the Enterprise after boarding her, and determining that her defenses were inadequate to defeat them did they try to assimilate the ship...

[Robert Walper]

I've been wondering just what the borg might think about the continuum.

For all we know, the Borg might consider the Q continuum the goal which they wish to achieve.

They definitely know about it, from when they assimilated Picard, and perhaps any other species that knew about him or the collective.

Granted, but if they lack the capable to target any member or group of these "omnipotent" beings, they can't really do anything other than drool(metaphorically speaking).

I'm trying to remember the Voyager episode where Q's son appears and strips seven naked,

STVOY "Q2". Source of Borg tactical information, thus I'd be familar with it.

she didn't make any kind of remark as to what she or the collective though of the continuum then,

Could be knowledge that remarks on her behalf would result in nothing really more than amusement on his part.

I wonder if the borg possibly ever consider the continuum a target for assimilation,

They may classify the Q as a potential target, but probably haven't the faintest clue on how to go about trying to capture one. Since the Q aren't directly attacking the Borg(frankly, they've been known to serve up targets on dinner plates), the Borg's most likely perspective is to simply ignore them. That's what Seven's inclination was.

yes it sounds impossible given a member of the Q's powers, but we've never really known the borg to negotiate or just give up on assimilation of a species because they were too powerful.

In this case, the Borg may simply have to capitulate to the idea "assimilation is futile".

[Metrion Cascade]

The Borg may not even understand that the Q exist. They may only have a few listings of unexplained phenomena that happen to be the work of the Q, but are too weird an irrational for the Borg to figure that out.

[Robert Walper]

The Borg may not even understand that the Q exist. They may only have a few listings of unexplained phenomena that happen to be the work of the Q, but are too weird an irrational for the Borg to figure that out.

That is also a possibility. But as he said, they assimilated Picard, and they should know all that he knows. And he knew of Q, and possibly the Continuum at that time as well.

[Metrion Cascade]

The Borg may not even understand that the Q exist. They may only have a few listings of unexplained phenomena that happen to be the work of the Q, but are too weird an irrational for the Borg to figure that out.

That is also a possibility. But as he said, they assimilated Picard, and they should know all that he knows. And he knew of Q, and possibly the Continuum at that time as well.

They can assimilate his thoughts, but his concept of the Q may not translate if it's in a form they can't digest. They may not be able to distinguish between it and Christianity or Bajoran spiritual beliefs. Chances are they'd acknowledge the literal events, but see them in a more objective light. But given Q's more or less constant appearance, his demonstrated abilities, and his own presentation of himself as a member of a race, I'd agree the Borg are likely to see him as a member of a race, even if they disagree with Picard's interpretation of what he is. They'll probably try to rationalize biological and technological explanations for what he's able to do, and want to assimilate him to find out.

[Robert Walper]

They can assimilate his thoughts, but his concept of the Q may not translate if it's in a form they can't digest. They may not be able to distinguish between it and Christianity or Bajoran spiritual beliefs.

A very interesting point. However, I believe Picard himself is not religious in any recognizeable form, and his impression of Q is as a lifeform, although granted a very powerful and apparently unusual one.

Chances are they'd acknowledge the literal events, but see them in a more objective light.

I'd readily suggest that myself.

But given Q's more or less constant appearance, his demonstrated abilities, and his own presentation of himself as a member of a race, I'd agree the Borg are likely to see him as a member of a race, even if they disagree with Picard's interpretation of what he is. They'll probably try to rationalize biological and technological explanations for what he's able to do, and want to assimilate him to find out.

Sounds about right to me.

[Jeremy]

Several times, if I remember correctly, species have tried to upload problems with no soultions into the Collective. Could the original programmers of the Borg have created something that blocks Religion and Super Beings so to avoid having a crash?

[Shrykull]

Several times, if I remember correctly, species have tried to upload problems with no soultions into the Collective. Could the original programmers of the Borg have created something that blocks Religion and Super Beings so to avoid having a crash?

Well in The Omega Directive seven said they assimilated someone how believed Omega was a drop of blood from thier creator, and looks for more solid facts than something like this.[/i]

[Robert Walper]

Several times, if I remember correctly, species have tried to upload problems with no soultions into the Collective.

So far as I know, only the Enterprise crew created a method of attack that would have the Borg Collective try to solve an unsolveable problem. Other "one shot" methods of attacks against the Borg have been tried as seen in Voyager, but each as failed, with the most damage being a Borg vessel disconnected from the Collective as a whole.

Could the original programmers of the Borg

Huh?

have created something that blocks Religion and Super Beings so to avoid having a crash?

The Borg are familar with religions and worship of supreme beings. They should even be aware of seemingly extremely powerful beings, like the Q. The first something they classify as irrelevent, the latter as something that is in all probability beyond their current capability to assimilate.

[Sharp-kun]

Could the original programmers of the Borg

Huh?

They had to start somewhere, and so someone would have had to program all the stuff that keeps the Collective running.

[Frank Hipper]

Do the Q exist as corporeal beings in their "natural" state?
If not, it could pose some serious problems for the Borg, with their reliance on requiring something tangible to assimilate in the first place.

[General Zod]

from everything we've seen about the Q continuum ala voyager, i'd say it's safe to say that the borg are non-corporeal. they simply take on corporeal forms so that other 'more limited' species can perceive them.

the borg, being corporeal, i would imagine count as more limited, and could only really perceive a Q if the Q allowed them to do so. otherwise the Q are simply too powerful for the borg to present much of a threat, if any.