posted
I have to say that this whole things seems a bit unorganized. (And don't say anything about VGR being unorganized all together. I know it has its rough points, but what doesn't?). Anyway, these are a few of my observations.
Apparently, the Borg must differentiate between a number (for example, 6) and that number behind a zero (i.e.: 06). Yes, I know mathematically there is no difference. But, if there are sooo many drones (even on the Unicomplex alone there were trillions), it would eventually get cumbersome to say something unimatrix three-million-two-hundred-seventy-thousand. It is much easier to simply differentiate between something like 5 and 05. I know this sounds strange, but it does explain why Seven of Nine apparently didn't know the Queen even though she was from unimatrix 01 and the Queen from u.m. 1. Perhaps unimatrix 1 and unimatrix 01 are different unimatrices.
And about unimatrices, I noticed that there are two definitions:
1- a small group of Borg drones (ie: Seven of Nine was from Unimatrix 01) (Seven also says that a unimatrix is the Borg equivalent to the family in "Someone To Watch Over Me.")
2- a spatial region of some specific measure (ie, a battle in "Dark Frontier" took place in unimatrix 424, grid ???).
Personally, I think the writers just enjoy mixing the word unimatrix with various numbers. What do you think?
------------------ "Questions, comments, bring them to me. Problems, take them to Kinis."
posted
I haven't seen anyone put that much thought and energy behind the interpretation of a single digit in a long time. About the writers, I once heard that they were backed up by scientists to make the technobabble credible. If that's still true I wouldn't hear the difference anyway, 'cause I'm just a regular joe. With a regular job. But the babble sure sounds right coming out of 7o9's lucious lips.
And Torres's!
And well, okay, Janeways. Gotta be fair.
------------------ -You're crazy!!! -Funny, I thought I was pisces!
posted
And what about the way the Borg identify the species? The humans are Species 5xxx in the Alpha Quadrent. The species in the Delta Quadrent are in the 1xx range. Does this mean that the Borg originally start with a species then moved outward?
------------------ "Women feel the emotions of happiness, hatred, anger, helplessness, and desire.
Men on the other hand feel the guy version, Horny."
posted
Some of the confusion might actually be an intentional effort to make the Borg system seem...complex. That is, to reinforce the idea that not only does the Borg hivemind think differently, they organize things differently as well.
------------------ "Stirs a large iron pot. Casting a spell on Vermont." -- John Linnell
posted
Presumably, the Borg number species as they make contact w/ them. Hence, the first species they contacted is Species 1, and the most recent one is much higher (I believe they were up to 10000-something in "Dark Frontier").
Apparently, the Borg also have a problem w/ cardinal and ordinal numbers. Hugh was Third of Five, whilst Annika Hansen became Seven of Nine.
------------------ "Agh! Save me from the wee turtles!" -Groundskeeper Willy, The Simpsons
posted
Well, who ever said that unimatrix 3 million 2 hundred thousand 3 hundred fourty-one is cumersome to say in borg-ish? Maybe they say unmatrix blah or something like that.
------------------ USS Infinity NX-157240 First Transwarp Ship of the Fleet Epsilon Omega Shipyards
"It's like I said, the more things change, the more they stay the same."-Unknown Vulcan Philosopher
posted
Personally, I like the current system for naming drones better. "Third" is about the only one that sounds good out of its bunch.
------------------ Elim Garak: "Oh, it's just Garak. Plain, simple Garak. Now, good day to you, Doctor. I'm so glad to have made such an... interesting new friend today." (DS9: "Past Prologue")
posted
It was species one-zero-zero-two-six. And why do the Vulcans have a relatively low three digit number, when we're up in the 5000's? Anyone have a list of species designations?
And I think borg designations are divided into things besides unimatrices. Unimatricies may be simply the group of drones that work directly for the each vessel's queen, or are somehow in connection with the queens (wherever they may be) and carry out their orders. Unimatrix zero-one would be the primary queen. Seven of Nine was originally "Seven of Nine, Grid nine-two of subjunction twelve". Presumably, she was given a promotion at some point...
------------------ Meddle not in the affairs of Dragons; for you are crunchy and good with ketchup.
posted
From what we've seen in the shows, the collective talks to itself in Federation Standard. The only reason they "have" to speak anything is for our benefit; using anything but the subspace transceivers would be a waste of resources. I find it hard to believe they haven't assimilated a Binar or two, no pun intended.
On the designator issue, I think that the writers just decided that "Seventh (of Nine)" didn't sound as good as "Seven (of Nine)".
posted
Well, they could still call her "Seven", but, for consistency's sake, here full designation should have been "Seventh of Nine".
------------------ Rimmer: "Holly, put a trace on Paranoia." Holly: "What's a trace?" Rimmer: "It's space jargon. It means 'find him'." Holly: "No it doesn't. You just made it up to sound cool." -Red Dwarf: "Confidence & Paranoia"
posted
Speakingof the Borg designations, there "ranking" system confuses me too. In "Survibal Instinct" we meet 2, 3 and 4 of 9 alomg with the lucious Seven. 2 identifies himself as PRIMARY adjunct to unimatrix 01, 3 as AUXILARY (I think), and 4 as SECONDARY. In Scopion, 7 says she's TERTIARY adjunct. This would mean that Seven in lowest in "rank" amoung the four of them, yet she seems to be in charge. Also, she demoted Harry once when she took command of a team on Voyager and he got closer to 1. So which is it? Is First of Nine in command, or is Ninth of Nine?
posted
Ninth (Nine) of Nine is presumably closer to "command."
------------------ Elim Garak: "Oh, it's just Garak. Plain, simple Garak. Now, good day to you, Doctor. I'm so glad to have made such an... interesting new friend today." (DS9: "Past Prologue")
posted
Perhaps an adjunct is rather a low rank. Therefore, the primary adjunct is the one who actually does the adjunct work (whatever that is). If something happens to him/her/it, these duties don't really have anyone lower to fall onto, so they go to the next person up the chain-of-command. Kind of like, if the lowest-ranking crewman on a ship died, there would be no-one lower to take over, so his/her/its job would have to be done by his/her/its superior. If somebody killed Lister, Rimmer would have to do his work. :-)
------------------ Rimmer: "Holly, put a trace on Paranoia." Holly: "What's a trace?" Rimmer: "It's space jargon. It means 'find him'." Holly: "No it doesn't. You just made it up to sound cool." -Red Dwarf: "Confidence & Paranoia"
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