Malicious Compliance [✱24]

Posted on Tue Aug 11th, 2026 @ 6:00am by Lieutenant Commander Alph & Locutus of Borg & Major Victoria, Daughter of Kalath & Lieutenant Akaar Zuul & Lieutenant Valerie Gordon & Warrior Choq, Son of None & Sergeant Jepok
Edited on on Tue Aug 11th, 2026 @ 6:03am

1,655 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: UnderMind [4]
Location: USS Hercules, Briefing Room
Timeline: After 'Strange Bedfellows'

"...after review of the Klingons aboard the vessel, I am satisfied that the threat of assimilation is over, most are already reasserting their individuality, the rest should be restored within a few hours. For those that have been physically modified the road to restoration will take longer, but that is a matter for them to deal with. Mr Alph, what is your report on the state of the Borg and their vessel?" S'Lace asked.

"From my inspection of the sphere, I am confident that Locutus' explanation about the damage to the vessel was accurate. There were numerous remains of drones found throughout the vessel, all of whom showed signs of implant failure from exposure to subspace radiation. Although I remain suspicious of his motives and the ease with which we have gained his cooperation, I do not believe Locutus has misled us or withheld the truth." Alph said, before bringing up a hologram of the sphere.

"The vessel itself is likely not able to travel under its own power, it is years behind on required maintenance and I would not presently classify it as spaceworthy. It may be more practical to scuttle it than to attempt to tow it back to DS13. I calculate a 47 percent chance that the vessel will lose structural integrity in any faster-than-light transit that is not the result of its own warp engines, which insofar as I can tell, are non-functional." Alph explained, the hologram of the sphere showed a laundry list of defects and issues that would hamper any attempt to get the thing operational, let alone moving.

"I'm all in favour of blowing it up. I can't see them being alright with that though." Kalath suggested. "Is there any reason we can't just leave them here?"

"I believe we have an obligation to provide assistance, to leave them in a remote area of space like this, even without the ongoing threat of subspace radiation, is still likely a death sentence for the remaining Borg." Alph responded.

"From what I could tell about their systems, there were nowhere near enough of them to operate the vessel. Even if we could or would help them with repairs, I don't think they'd be able to run the ship." Gordon added, thinking again about the strange decentralised Borg engineering.

"We could split the ship into 3 and 2 sections tractor either the Borg or Klingon ship if we need to get back in a hurry," Akaar said, "study of the Borg ship would be a tactical advantage to see about learning more about transwarp conditions and whatever technology isn't beyond repair. I have to strongly advise we try to keep the Borg ship," he told the group.

“It could take weeks to get that thing into a condition that’ll allow us to tow it without it breaking apart from gravitic stresses. And that’s assuming we don’t also need to help the Klingons get back.” Kalath disagreed.

"Do you know if anything is worth salvaging?" Akaar inquired.

“Alph, what do you think?” Kalath asked.

"There are a number of components that can be extracted, as well as several data-cores that should allow us to learn all we can from the experiences of this vessel, even if it cannot be salvaged in its entirety." Alph explained.

"Very well. Unless there is anything further, could the negotiation team please join me in transporter room two in fifteen minutes. Dismissed." S'Lace told the assembled crew.

---

IKS Praxis' Claw
Conference Room
15 minutes later

S'Lace, Kalath, Gordon, Alph and Zuul were accompanied by Choq and a handful of others as they returned to the Klingon vessel, with the clearance of Major Klaang, still the ranking officer until the assimilation of the senior officers had been reversed. They arrived in a conference room where the lights flickered.

Gordon sat in one of the large seats. She wasn't expecting padding, and was pleasantly surprised.

Kalath also took a seat, nodding to Sergeant Jepok, who waited in the corner. She hoped he remembered their earlier discussions.

Akaar took a seat after the others did, he folded his arms across his chest as he might start to fidget.

Right on schedule, the Borg appeared in a green transporter shimmer.

"Welcome, I am Commander S'Lace." The Vulcan said to the Borg.

"Greetings are irrelevant. We are here at your instruction. Commence negotiation." Locutus said.

"Perhaps you would prefer to take a seat?" S'Lace suggested to the four Borg.

"Seating is irrelevant." Locutus responded.

"Alright." S'Lace said, realising her decision to attempt social graces was perhaps unwise. "We have analyzed your vessel and determined that your numbers are insufficient to operate it. You have said you will not seek to assimilate the unwilling. How then do you plan to continue your existence in its current form?"

"We have analyzed Klingon databases. There are many individuals who will seek and accept assimilation voluntarily. Force will not be necessary." Locutus said.

S'Lace's brow furrowed with subtle concern at that, but she looked to the others for their reactions or responses.

"Why the change of heart?" Gordon asked. "The Borg never took no for an answer before. If it's because you know the Collective is dwindled down to almost nothing, why would we trust that you won't just start assimilating by force again once you have numbers on your side?"

"Trust is required. We ask your cooperation in good faith. We are unable to demonstrate what will happen in the future." Locutus said.

"Without your vessel and it's assimilation chambers, how do you plan of offering assimilation? Not to mention the fact that your remaining numbers cannot fly the vessel so you cannot go anywhere unaided." Akaar begun. "It seems you have no courses of action, and I doubt our Captain will authorize us to aid in any forms of assimilation, directly or indirectly."

"We are capable of assimilation without the vessel." Locutus said without elaboration.

He gestured at Locutus. "After some thought, being Borg isn't a species or natural evolution, it was forced upon you and all drones. It isn't a culture or society due to that forced state. Unless you and your 3 colleagues actually wish to remain Borg without any doubt now or in the future, which will be forever tainted by the Collective's actions you cannot deny that you will be met with hostility wherever you go." Akaar gave an open hand gesture. "What if any you assimilate wish to no longer be Borg, will you allow their restoration and departure?"

"Borg feel only the will of the collective. There is no will to leave the collective. Only unity and purpose." Locutus said.

“The argument that people don’t want to leave because they can’t make choices anymore isn’t a persuasive one.” Kalath argued.

"I concur." S'Lace added.

"We do not require your permission to exist." Locutus said. There was no defiance in his tone, but it was a line pulled from elsewhere, not a Borg sentiment.

“Hard disagree.” Kalath said, looking to the trio she’d made arrangements with earlier. “Scorpion.” She said suddenly, knowing Alph, Gordon and Jepok knew what to do. She removed her phaser from her belt and fired it across the table on heavy stun into Locutus.

Jepok did the same with his disruptor, firing the weapon on the closest thing it had to a stun setting into the back of the nearest drone.

Gordon did likewise, drawing her weapon and firing a stream of nadions into her assigned target, aiming to stun it heavily.

Alph also opened fire with his phaser quickly, disabling the last Borg drone still standing.

Choq's hand moved immediately to his mek'leth, but it was clear the sudden escalation was over. An unexpected development from Starfleet. He did not disapprove.

Akaar stared at the others who acted but looked at each of the drones, he recalled a similar event in Voyager's logs. He would have hoped to have been part of that plan but perhaps there hadn't been time. He stood to keep an eye on the downed drones and Locutus, in case they somehow retaliated.

"Major, what is the meaning of this?" S'Lace said, standing suddenly. There was an imperiousness in her voice that suggested she vigorously disapproved.

“Apologies Captain. But Mr Alph and I did some searching earlier, and we came to the same conclusion as Mr Zuul. Being assimilated isn’t a culture or society with any inherent protections. They have no legal right to remain assimilated. Now we can unassimilate them, and see what the people underneath have to say. If they’re still sore about it, I guess they can sue me.” Kalath said with a shrug.

Gordon felt a sudden pang of guilt she didn't hide well. She didn't know S'Lace wasn't in on the plan.

"I see. In future I would appreciate some warning if you intend to open fire during negotiations, Major." S'Lace said, leaving a beat for it to sink in.

"But, it is difficult to argue with the results. I'll instruct the crew to keep an eye on their vessel in case of some sort of dead man's switch, but otherwise I believe we're done here, for now. Lieutenant Gordon, I'd like you to accompany me in overseeing the restoration of these individuals. I believe it will be as much engineering as medicine." S'Lace instructed. "The rest of you are dismissed."

"My apologies, Captain. Won't happen again." Kalath said earnestly, before making her way out of the room.

"De-Borging isn't my area of expertise Captain, but I'm happy to help where I can." Gordon told S'Lace with a smile.

"Zuul to Security, I need a security team to help us in the briefing room, Captain, permission to assist?" Akaar asked without taking his eyes off the Borg.

"Please, Lieutenant. Take them to where the other assimilated are being treated." S'Lace told Zuul with a nod.

 

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