Poll of the month: I, Borg (the xBs of Star Trek)

[Gogigobo Fairhug]

Ever since Q clicked his fingers and sent Captain Picard and the crew of the USS Enterprise-D hurtling across the galaxy, the Borg have held a deep fascination for many Star Trek fans and characters alike.

Over the years and the various incarnations of Star Trek, the Borg have been a continuous threat to all known life that they have encountered. 

Picard himself was, of course, assimilated and became Locutus. Commander Chakotay experienced what it was like to be part of a Borg hive-mind thanks to Riley Frazier and her “Co-operative”. Even Captain Archer had a run in with the Borg, though it would be two-hundred years before Starfleet would come to realise the full extent of the horror that awaited them, with things really coming to a head at the devastating battle of Wolf 359.

And who could forget Excretus of Borg?! (Oh, Bradward.)

Still, others have been able to look past the gruesome appearance of the cybernetic implants and see that there is more to the collective than meets the eye.

Annika Hansen’s parents found the Borg fascinating enough to want to study them up close, Geordi La Forge and Dr. Crusher were willing to vouch for Hugh and prevent him from being used as a weapon to disable the entire Collective and Captain Janeway not only forged an uneasy (albeit temporary) alliance with the Borg, she eventually freed several drones from the hive-mind, as well as aiding the liberated drones of Unimatrix Zero.

All of this leads us to the events of ‘Picard’ and the “xBs” of the Artefact, where we are reunited with Hugh and learn that perhaps resistance is not futile and there is a possibility of life after assimilation, after all. 

Still, according to Hugh himself, the xBs are among the most despised people in the galaxy, seen as either a commodity to be exploited, or Frankenstein-esque monsters to be feared.

However, those like Hugh, who were fortunate enough to regain their independence, have given us as Star Trek fans some of the most poignant, memorable, thought-provoking and emotional moments in the franchise’s history.

With that in mind, this month, we are asking you to vote for your favourite “xB”. Come on, show these misunderstood, unfortunate souls the love they deserve!

[Doz Finch]