New Assimilation Technique

For decades, the Borg had been attempting to assimilate the Federation. Everything they tried failed. Even Locutus was a spectacular failure and the Queen had especially high hopes for that one. Now, with the utter collapse of nearly 85% of the transwarp network and mounting resistance from the humans, the Collective had to try something more radical. The Collective had encountered many unusual technologies over the centuries. The most recent, though, was so unusual that only one species possessed it. They had been known as the Orichalco. The Orichalco had a special fondness for entertainment. The Collective had no real use for such things. However, the technology involved could be modified to serve a more useful function in the Collective. The Orichalco's personal hologram technology could be used by the Borg to allow secretive assimilation of new drones. Considering the humanoid brain's immense allocation of resources towards the pursuit of pleasure, this hologram technology would prove to be most useful if it worked as well for assimilation as it seemed to for recreation.

The Collective now had the means with which to finally complete the assimilation of its greatest adversary, The United Federation of Planets.

"Federation vessel designated USS Enterprise identified in spacial grid 232, bearing 187 mark 34. Commencing stealth assimilation."

Meanwhile aboard the Enterprise...

"Captain, Borg cube detected."

"What are they doing?"

"They seem to be scanning us, sir."

"Just scanning? Any weapons signatures?"

"No weapons have been detected. At least they are not powered up yet, sir. They seemed to just be scanning us intensely, sir."

"As long as they are not doing anything more than scanning us, let them be. We wouldn't want to appear aggressive to them."

"Yes, sir."

"We are the Borg. Resistance is futile. Your life as it has been is over. From this moment forward you will service...us. Your technological and biological distinctiveness shall be added to our own."

"Captain, the Borg cube has fired at us."

"Shields up. Return fire!"

"Sir, weapons are having no effect!"

"Rotate the frequencies!"

Aboard the cube...

"Federation vessel has not detected probe. Target attachment confirmed. Initiate decoy destruction of cube."

Back on the Enterprise...

"Captain, we have destroyed the Borg cube."

"Understood. Track any remaining pieces large enough to pose a threat and log this encounter. I'm going to be in my ready room trying to figure out why the Collective would attack in this manner."

"Yes, Sir."

Moments later the cube was little more than space debris. What Captain Picard did not know was that the ship would soon be just another part of the Collective. The probe had latched onto the outer hull of the saucer section just outside the quarters of the ship's doctor. While Doctor Crusher was on duty, the probe began its programmed task. Passing harmlessly through the hull, the probe dropped to the floor of the doctor's quarters and rolled under the bed. Coming to a stop against the outer bulkhead, the probe cracked along its center-line and split open. The cluster of nanoprobes inside then began to alter the wall and the bed. Slowly the bulkhead warped and twisted until it had little if any resemblance to the Starfleet original. While the bulkhead merely changed its texture, material, and colors, the bed had undergone a slightly more noticeable change. The bed now resembled a Borg maturation chamber in adult size.

Well, it did for a few seconds until the holocloak kicked in and altered it to look like its old Starfleet issue self. Moments later, Doctor Crusher entered having just finished her shift in sickbay.