There was no way out. The Romulan research vessel had been quickly incapacitated by the Borg Sphere. A flurry of emerald blasts had knocked out propulsion, shields, weapons. Its drifting hull was dragged unceremoniously into the jaws of the enemy vessel. Every bulkhead and energy source would be consumed and reassigned to a new form.
Some of the crew had already given up. Standing in shock at their terminals awaiting orders or slumped down in thought. Others were preparing weapons for a final stand by the ship entryway. The ship creaked with a dull clang as it docked. A security officer started to hyperventilate holding her weapon. Drones had not beamed aboard because they didn't need to. They had remotely hacked their computer system and disabled the self-destruct.
Romulan computer terminals and stations now displayed a red clawed emblem. Before a corrupted display was a young engineer. He stood behind the security line trying to regain control. Beads of sweat rolled down his forehead and dripped onto the wires connecting his tablet to the terminal. He cursed as the words "Access Denied" flashed again.
Across the speakers a chilling anthem spoke with countless voices, "We are the Borg. We have analyzed your defensive capabilities as unable to withstand us. We will add your biological and technological distinctiveness to our own. Your culture will adapt to service us. Resistance is futile."
Red emergency lighting flickered as steam entered from outside the hull. A dozen disruptors pointed ready. The wide door opened with green bright light of the Sphere blinding the Romulans. As their eyes adjusted, they saw what had to be hundreds of drones standing still. Rows of bald heads with tubing all sharing the same expression. The uniform spacing of the formation would have been lauded by military brass back at their boot camp. Every Borg was covered in the same dark exoplating and greyed flesh. The sound of servo motors whirred to life as manipulators and enhanced joints activated.
A phalanx of armored torsos marched up the ramp as the defenders opened fire. Green shielding rippled from the cybernetic forms that were unphased. The Collective had transmitted the weapon frequencies from the ship's security records. The intruders entered the ship and began to fan out from the T shaped corridor.
Dusky bodies blotted out the green dawn. They were endless, leaving no empty space in their assault. Red lasers from optical implants danced up and down marking targets now only meters away. They could now stare into the remaining eyes of the machined beings. Terror had gripped the crew long before the drones would. What had been an abstract dread was now real and imminent. The hyperventilating guard was now in full panic kept firing her energy weapon at different targets. Shields showed that the Borg had adapted.
Their commander yelled and charged with a sword. Confident strength radiating as he swung at the front line. A towering drone grabbed the sword with a claw. The creature looked Hirogen in origin. The metal screeched as the blade stopped moving. He collided with the wall of drones. The impact struck his nose and caused him to land on his buttock.
He tried to pull his weapon free. His stomach lurched; two thick legs were planted over him. The exoplating was such that the wires and implants were merged with the skin. It reminded him of bramble coursing through soil. The metallic roots spiraled up the thighs to a codpiece that rose to layers of durable plating that had no openings for his blade.
The cybernetic being still held the sword by its blade and lifted him by his collar. Another drone, a former Orion with its color washed out, extended an arm to his chin. Fingers pressed, holding his head still. The other arm raised and stopped centimeters away. Injector tubules shot into his jugular. The fist hovered as two sharp needles pulsed fluid into him.
He croaked in shock. Like frost spreading on a window, spindles of gray emanated out from the punctures. Within seconds that side of his face started to look like an extension of the drone's own skin. His hand slipped and the sword clattered to the ground. He pounded against the metallic chest, kicking the codpiece to no avail. He could barely tell which drone was assimilating him as he grew slack. His expression went from a grimace to a hollow stare as his body became suggestible.
The Hirogen drone transferred him to the care of the former Orion. The needles withdrew. He was in shock, surprised that he wanted to obey his captor. His limbs moved, responding to the input of the drone. After being in charge so long the change of pace was pleasing. A cybernetic afterlife was not what he had imagined for his post career days. To the side of his face a web of implants hardened and spread. The physical presence of the drone would guide him into the Hive mind. He wondered what his role and designation would be. His Borg identity had started to emerge.
The Romulans saw their leader stop struggling as the drones flowed like water around them. Up close the bionic creatures were ruthlessly efficient in ceasing their resistance. Yells filled the hall as any melee assault was quickly outnumbered and outmuscled by three or four drones neutralizing them at a time. Their coordination was flawless and calculated. Moving as a unit to encircle those that required assimilation. A blunt punch from a manipulator arm flung a crewmember to the floor. Another drone kneeled and pinned their hips against their torso. The individual squirmed, "Please, don't!" Preparation was irrelevant. A scream pierced the air before silence.
Another officer gave up modulating their disruptor and fled up a ladder only to have their legs yanked down by two drones. His arms continued to reach for the ladder as their claws injected him for transformation. He started to comply as his hand lowered in defeat. A row of drones climbed up the ladder instead. Their heavy forms were surprisingly agile. Shouts were heard as the front line fell apart.
