Locutus Ascendant: The Moment Hope Dies and the Borg Are Weaponized
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
The away team returns with devastating news: Picard has been transformed into Locutus of Borg, shattering any hope of a simple rescue and stunning Riker.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Frustrated, defiant, and emotionally raw—her hope for Picard’s salvation clashes with the cold calculus of survival.
Shelby storms onto the bridge, her frustration and urgency palpable as she pleads for another rescue mission. She argues passionately for retuning the phasers and consulting Starfleet Command, her voice rising with each rebuttal from Riker. Her body language is tense, her hands gesturing emphatically as she fights for Picard’s life. When Riker overrules her, she is left standing in stunned silence, her defiance giving way to a quiet, seething resentment. She represents the voice of hope and desperation, clinging to the possibility of a miracle even as the reality of the situation closes in.
- • Convince Riker to attempt another rescue mission to save Picard, even against overwhelming odds.
- • Ensure that every possible tactical advantage is exploited before resorting to destructive measures.
- • There is always a way to turn the tide, even in the darkest moments.
- • Starfleet’s protocols and chain of command should not override moral imperatives like saving a life.
Detached and devoid of emotion, operating purely as a conduit for the Borg’s will—yet his physical presence and voice evoke the ghost of Picard’s humanity, making his assimilation all the more tragic.
Picard—now Locutus—appears on the viewscreen, his body encased in Borg cybernetics, his voice a chilling fusion of his own cadence and the Borg’s cold efficiency. He delivers the ultimatum ‘Resistance is futile’ with eerie detachment, his words carrying the weight of an inevitability that sends a chill through the bridge. His presence is a grotesque parody of the man he once was, a living testament to the Borg’s power to erase identity and will. The crew watches in horror as the captain they loved is reduced to a weapon of their enemy, his humanity stripped away.
- • Deliver the Borg’s ultimatum, ensuring the crew understands the futility of resistance.
- • Exploit the crew’s emotional ties to Picard, using his assimilation as a psychological weapon to break their resolve.
- • Resistance is meaningless in the face of the Borg’s collective will.
- • Individuality is an illusion—assimilation is the only path to true purpose.
Contextually somber, with an undercurrent of quiet sadness—though his synthetic nature prevents overt emotional display.
Data stands near the turbolift, his expression neutral but his posture conveying the gravity of the situation. He delivers the news of Picard’s assimilation with clinical precision, his voice devoid of emotional inflection yet carrying the weight of the revelation. His role in this moment is purely informational, but his presence underscores the irrevocable nature of the loss. He does not react to the emotional outbursts around him, instead focusing on the tactical realities—such as the Borg ship’s regeneration—that will shape Riker’s decision.
- • Provide accurate, actionable intelligence to the crew to inform their tactical response.
- • Support Riker’s command by offering logical analysis, even in emotionally charged moments.
- • Emotional reactions, while understandable, must not impede critical decision-making in high-stakes situations.
- • The crew’s survival and mission success are paramount, even at the cost of personal attachments.
Grieving internally but externally stoic, channeling his sorrow into action to honor Picard’s memory and serve the crew.
Worf moves swiftly to the tactical station, his Klingon intensity barely contained as he confirms Picard’s assimilation with a blunt ‘He is a Borg, sir.’ His loyalty to Picard is evident in the way he clenches his fists, but his discipline as a Starfleet officer keeps him focused on the task at hand. He executes Riker’s orders without hesitation, from confirming the Borg hail to firing the deflector weapon. His actions are efficient, almost mechanical, but his eyes betray a flicker of grief—one he quickly suppresses in favor of duty.
- • Support Riker’s command without question, ensuring the *Enterprise*’s survival and the destruction of the Borg cube.
- • Honor Picard’s legacy by executing his final orders with the same precision and courage Picard would have demanded.
- • A warrior’s duty is to fight until the end, regardless of personal loss.
- • The Borg must be met with unrelenting force—there is no room for mercy or hesitation.
Stunned grief transitioning into resolute determination, with underlying guilt and sorrow for the sacrifice of his mentor and friend.
Riker stands at the center of the bridge, his body language shifting from stunned silence to steely resolve as he processes the news of Picard’s assimilation. His hands grip the edge of the command chair, knuckles whitening, as he weighs the impossible choice between loyalty to his captain and the survival of the Federation. When he finally speaks, his voice is low but unshakable, delivering the order to fire with quiet authority that masks the emotional turmoil beneath. His decision is not just tactical—it is a moral reckoning, one that redefines the rules of engagement in this war.
- • Destroy the Borg cube before it regains warp capability, ensuring the survival of the *Enterprise* and the Federation.
- • Honor Picard’s legacy by making the hardest choice—sacrificing him to save countless others, even if it haunts him forever.
- • The Borg must be stopped at all costs, even if it means violating personal and moral boundaries.
- • Picard would understand—and ultimately approve—of this decision, as the greater good must prevail over individual lives.
Desperate and heartbroken, clinging to the slimmest hope that Picard can be saved, even as the reality of the situation crushes her.
Beverly steps forward, her voice trembling with emotion as she pleads for Picard’s life. ‘Will, he’s alive... if we get him back, I might be able to restore...’ Her hands are clasped tightly, her eyes searching Riker’s face for any sign of hope. She is the heart of the crew in this moment, the one who refuses to let go of the possibility that Picard can be saved. Her plea is not just medical—it is deeply personal, a testament to her bond with Picard and her unwillingness to accept his loss without a fight.
- • Convince Riker to delay the attack, even for a few moments, to give her a chance to attempt Picard’s restoration.
- • Remind the crew of the human cost of their actions, ensuring they do not lose sight of what they are fighting to preserve.
- • As long as there is a chance, no life should be given up for lost.
- • The Federation’s strength lies in its refusal to abandon its people, no matter the cost.
Urgent and somber, with a deep sense of responsibility for the lives at stake—both Picard’s and the crew’s.
Geordi stands at the engineering station, his fingers flying over the controls as he diverts warp energy to the deflector and monitors the Borg ship’s regeneration. His voice is urgent but steady as he delivers the grim update: ‘They could be capable of warp any minute.’ He locks eyes with Riker, his expression grave, fully aware of the weight of the decision being made. Geordi is the voice of reason and realism, grounding the crew in the harsh truths of their situation. His technical expertise is critical, but so too is his ability to convey the stakes without panic.
- • Ensure the deflector weapon is ready and functional, giving the crew a fighting chance against the Borg.
- • Provide Riker with the unvarnished truth about the Borg’s capabilities, so he can make an informed decision.
- • Technology and ingenuity can turn the tide, but only if wielded with precision and courage.
- • Sometimes, the hardest choices are the ones that define who we are as a crew and as a Federation.
Deeply empathetic and sorrowful, sharing in the crew’s grief while remaining composed and supportive.
Troi stands near the counselor’s station, her presence a quiet but steady force amid the chaos. She does not speak, but her empathetic gaze lingers on each crew member, particularly Riker, as they grapple with the weight of the moment. Her role is not one of action but of emotional support, a silent anchor for the crew as they confront the unthinkable. Her silence speaks volumes—she understands the depth of their grief and the impossibility of their choice, and she offers what solace she can through her mere presence.
- • Offer emotional stability to the crew, helping them process their grief and make the necessary decisions.
- • Ensure that the crew does not act out of pure emotion, but rather out of a place of clarity and purpose.
- • Even in the darkest moments, the crew’s bond is their greatest strength.
- • Grief and loss must be acknowledged, but they must not paralyze action when lives are at stake.
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
The Main Viewer dominates the bridge, its screen filled with the haunting image of Locutus—Picard’s assimilated form—delivering the Borg’s ultimatum. The viewer is not merely a communication device in this moment; it is a portal into the crew’s worst nightmare, a visual manifestation of their failure and the horror of what Picard has become. The Borg’s hail, the cold efficiency of Locutus’ voice, and the eerie fusion of Picard’s cadence with the collective’s tone make the viewer a vessel for psychological torment as much as tactical information. Its glow casts long shadows over the bridge, amplifying the tension and despair.
Warp energy, the lifeblood of the *Enterprise*, is diverted from the ship’s propulsion systems to power the deflector weapon. This act is a calculated risk—one that leaves the ship vulnerable if the Borg counterattack or if the weapon fails. The rerouting of warp energy is a tangible representation of the crew’s desperation, sacrificing their own mobility and safety for a chance to strike back. Geordi’s hands move swiftly over the controls, his voice steady as he confirms the energy is ready, but the weight of the decision hangs heavy in the air. The warp energy is not just fuel; it is the crew’s last resort, a gamble that could mean survival or doom.
The Enterprise’s main deflector, repurposed as a weapon, is the crew’s last hope against the Borg cube. Geordi and Wesley have rerouted warp energy into it, transforming it from a navigational tool into a desperate gambit to overload the Borg’s warp core. The deflector’s activation is the culmination of the crew’s ingenuity and desperation, a symbol of their refusal to go down without a fight. Its firing represents not just a tactical move, but a moral crossroads—one that forces Riker to choose between destroying the Borg (and Picard) or facing annihilation. The deflector’s energy surge is palpable, a physical manifestation of the crew’s resolve and the stakes of their decision.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
The Main Bridge of the *Enterprise* is the epicenter of the crew’s crisis, a high-tech command center pulsing with urgency and dread. Red alert lights cast a crimson glow over the faces of the crew, while the blaring klaxons underscore the stakes of every decision. The bridge is not just a setting—it is a character in its own right, a space where the weight of command is felt in every breath. The tactical displays flicker with warnings of the Borg’s regeneration, the viewscreen looms with the image of Locutus, and the turbolift doors hiss open to deliver the devastating news of Picard’s assimilation. The bridge is a pressure cooker of emotion and action, where the crew’s bonds are tested and their fates are decided.
Organizations Involved
Institutional presence and influence
Federation Starfleet is invoked in this moment as both an ideal and a constraint. Shelby’s plea to consult Starfleet Command represents the crew’s instinct to defer to the broader institution’s guidance, particularly in a crisis of this magnitude. However, Riker’s refusal to delay—*‘There’s no time’*—highlights the realities of wartime command, where split-second decisions can mean the difference between survival and annihilation. Starfleet’s values (protecting its people, upholding the Prime Directive, resisting tyranny) are tested here, as the crew grapples with whether to follow protocol or act on their own initiative. The organization’s presence is felt in the tension between Shelby’s insistence on consultation and Riker’s decisive action, a microcosm of the larger debate within Starfleet about how to wage this war.
The *USS Enterprise-D* is more than a ship—it is a symbol of Starfleet’s ideals, a beacon of hope in the face of the Borg’s relentless advance. In this moment, the *Enterprise* is a microcosm of the Federation itself, struggling to reconcile its core values (compassion, individuality, resistance to tyranny) with the brutal realities of war. The crew’s actions—Riker’s order to fire, Shelby’s plea for another rescue, Beverly’s emotional appeal—reflect the broader tensions within Starfleet: the desire to save lives versus the necessity of preemptive strikes, the weight of command versus the bonds of friendship. The *Enterprise* is not just a vessel; it is a stage for the moral and tactical dilemmas that define this war.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"Riker informs Shelby of the time limit before they have to disengage - The away team returns with devastating news: Picard has been transformed into Locutus of Borg, shattering any hope of a simple rescue and stunning Riker."
Key Dialogue
"DATA: *Sir, Captain Picard has been altered by the Borg. We were unable to retrieve him...* RIKER: *Altered... ?* WORF: *He is a Borg, sir.*"
"SHELBY: *We'll go back... I need more people... we need to retune the phasers again... we'll get him out of there...* RIKER: *We can't maintain pursuit. We don’t have the power. Prepare to fire.* SHELBY: *At least consult with Starfleet Command.* RIKER: *There's no time.*"
"PICARD/BORG: *I am Locutus of Borg. Resistance is futile. Your life as it has been is over. From this time forward, you will service... us.* RIKER: *Mister Worf... fire.*"