Astromech Driod vs. Cube

[Cosmus, Bounty Hunter]

Can the little astromech stop the cube in time without alerting the borg?

I doubt it, due to sheer numbers. An R2 would probably have a copy of its schematics, so it could potentially be capable of altering its output plug to connect to the cube, but it's only one droid. Even if it has the potential, I doubt it would last long enough.

[darthdavid]

Can the little astromech stop the cube in time without alerting the borg?

I doubt it, due to sheer numbers. An R2 would probably have a copy of its schematics, so it could potentially be capable of altering its output plug to connect to the cube, but it's only one droid. Even if it has the potential, I doubt it would last long enough.

I sorta agree. It would have to jury rig some sort of interface or send a warning home. If it could interface or send a message it wins, otherwise it dies.

Also, join the penguins. At the very least peck the gnomes.

[General Zod]

if R2 could get to the cube's schematics, he could find out about the borg 'sleep mode', shut down the cube and then happily go to work making alterations as he sees fit while the borg are asleep.

[Lancer]

if R2 could get to the cube's schematics, he could find out about the borg 'sleep mode', shut down the cube and then happily go to work making alterations as he sees fit while the borg are asleep.

this is assuming that R2's probe is compatible with borg technology, that the Borg , aginst their usual adaptation routines, did not try to correct the backdoor that Data was able to find only when directed by Picard (who was and still is connected to the borg, both in BotW and First Contact), that R2 wouldn't be assimilated by drones drawn to new tech, or destroyed by drones who view AI's as imperfect by nature.

[Embracer Of Darkness]

I think that the obvious questions are as follows...

Would R2 be noticed by The Borg?
Personally, I'm pretty damn sure he would. The Borg, by nature, try to assimilate that which they do not understand, and R2 is an extremely impressive and advanced machine. I doubt R2's ability to fend off thousands of drones.

Would R2 be able to interface with The Borg's systems?
We honestly have no idea at all, however, the idea has been raised that R2 could alter a part of himself to accomplish this. This brings us to the next question.

Would R2 be able to access The Borg's programming and "software"?
On Star Trek we've seen on many occasions that 24th Century vessels have to "configure" and tinker with their computers systems to be compatible with 20th Century binary computer technology. There is only a difference of four Centuries, and they are from the same universe (and species no less). R2 is thousands of years ahead of the Star Trek universe in terms of technology, and is from a different universe. I think the chances are pretty damn close to impossible of R2 simply accessing The Borg's systems.

[Embracer Of Darkness]

Addition: Which brings us back to question one. While R2 is spending time trying to figure out how Borg computers work, how to interface with them, and how to access them. Would he not be captured and assimilated*.

*Personally, I doubt the Borg could assimilate R2.

[Shroom Man 777]

Are the Borg warp cores as feeble as those of Starfleets? If so then all the R2 needs is to poke it with a stick and it goes BOOM!

And now crammed up is a cube? I mean, is every corner filled with Drones? If not then the R2 can go to parts where there are no drones and go into the warp core and tissue paper it and BOOM!

And how cavernous is a cube? Maybe the R2 could use its jetpacks to avoid the drones and then go to the warp core and.... meh, I'm being repetative now.

Or it could just send a message to the local defense force and then they could intercept the cube.

[Embracer Of Darkness]

Are the Borg warp cores as feeble as those of Starfleets? If so then all the R2 needs is to poke it with a stick and it goes BOOM!

While that's funny as hell, it has no relevance to the debate at hand in any way. Besides, we've never seen evidence that Borg power systems are as idiotically fragile as Starfleet ones.

And now crammed up is a cube? I mean, is every corner filled with Drones? If not then the R2 can go to parts where there are no drones and go into the warp core and tissue paper it and BOOM!

That would depend, we've seen Borg cubes with nearly empty corridors, but we've also seen Borg cubes where drones almost had to push by eachother. Either way, there would more than likely be at least one or two drones in a corridor, with alot more on the way if they've scanned R2. If faced with just one or two drones, however, R2 would most likely be able to simply outrun them. They're slow as hell, as we all know.

And how cavernous is a cube? Maybe the R2 could use its jetpacks to avoid the drones and then go to the warp core and.... meh, I'm being repetative now.

Again, that would depend. We've seen Borg cubes which look damn sparse with the odd walkway throughout the interior, but we've also seen cubes which look extremely crampt and tightly-packed. If it's one of the tightly packed ones then R2 should be able to fly around inside, but he wouldn't accomplish hacking the computer if he's flying around would he? If it's a tightly packed cube, then R2 is a sitting duck.

Or it could just send a message to the local defense force and then they could intercept the cube.

Erm, I thought that this scenario was an Astromech droid Vs. a Borg cube, not "Astromech droid and local defence force Vs. a Borg cube." People generally get bitchy when a third-party is introduced to help, why should this scenario be any different?

[Embracer Of Darkness]

If it's one of the tightly packed ones then R2 should be able to fly around inside, but he wouldn't accomplish hacking the computer if he's flying around would he? If it's a tightly packed cube, then R2 is a sitting duck.

Sorry, this should've read:

"If it's one of the sparse and open ones then R2 should be able to fly around inside, but he wouldn't accomplish hacking the computer if he's flying around would he? If it's a tightly packed cube, then R2 is a sitting duck."

[Straha]

Hey, what do you think the Borg would do with the R2 unit if it was captured?

Probably dismantle it as obsolete like Locutus said they would do with Data, even though Data was much smarter then your average borg.

[Elim Garak]

a single Astromech droid has found it's way onto a borg cube, being too small and too few numbers to be considered a threat or even enterrogated by the collective the R2 unit has had no trouble leeching power for it's suplies off the cube's central powersource. It then realizes that the borg are heading for it's owner's home. Can the little astromech stop the cube in time without alerting the borg?

Might as well ask whether a mouse can stop a squad of marines. First of all, it won't be able to gain access to the Borg computer systems - not unless they've recently assimilated an SW ship with a convenient droid socket, and connected its computers to it. Second, as soon as an attempt to access the ships' systems is detected, a couple of drones will simply drop by and assimilate the obsolete piece of junk.

BTW, wasn't R2 already assimilated? I believe it is canon - First Contact.

[Darth Wong]

Only Polinger would compare Borg drones to a squad of Marines

[Elim Garak]

Yes.

If R2 is typical, then he has demonstrated computing ability that exceeds that of Data in BoBW

Umm... Where exactly has he demonstrated that?

and would, IMO, be smart enough to try sleep eventually.

Maybe in a couple of hours. But of course its attempts would be detected immediately, and he would be assimilated within less than a minute of beginning his assault.

And an astromech would sacrifice itself without question to save its owner's planet. So it blows the cube up a la BoBW.

What makes you think the Borg haven't secured those functions yet? After all, if they haven't then why didn't the numerous attempts to access their systems allowed this? Why isn't it standard tactic to just kidnap a drone and put the ship to sleep?

This makes the leap that it can jack in to the cube however.

[Elim Garak]

Only Polinger would compare Borg drones to a squad of Marines

I thank you. I am making a force comparison. I think they are called analogies or something.

An astromech is to 30,000 Bofg as:

a. rabbit :: bear \\doesn't work - Bun-Bun
b. a mouse :: a squad of marines
c. 13 catatonic monkeys :: a roman cohort
d. 20-30 ewoks :: a legion of Empire's best stormtroopers + 4 AT-STs

BTW, why aren't quotes working? I am new to the web forums...

Stop disabling the BBCode

[Embracer Of Darkness]

Why's nobody replied to my posts, is this possibly the first time I've had something intelligent to say?

Come on guys, give me some feedback.

[Trogdor]

I think that the obvious questions are as follows...
Would R2 be noticed by The Borg?
Personally, I'm pretty damn sure he would. The Borg, by nature, try to assimilate that which they do not understand, and R2 is an extremely impressive and advanced machine. I doubt R2's ability to fend off thousands of drones.

R2 may be extremely impressive, but you wouldn't really know it just to look at him. I mean, he's a rolling cylinder robot. I think it's really only a question of whether the astromech in question can interphase with the cube and whether or not the Borg notice its hacking before it's too late for them.

[Embracer Of Darkness]

I think that the obvious questions are as follows...
Would R2 be noticed by The Borg?
Personally, I'm pretty damn sure he would. The Borg, by nature, try to assimilate that which they do not understand, and R2 is an extremely impressive and advanced machine. I doubt R2's ability to fend off thousands of drones.

R2 may be extremely impressive, but you wouldn't really know it just to look at him. I mean, he's a rolling cylinder robot. I think it's really only a question of whether the astromech in question can interphase with the cube and whether or not the Borg notice its hacking before it's too late for them.

The Borg do not look, however, they intensively scan. The Borg would scan R2, and they would see unfamilliar technology. Hell, they will probably even find minerals and compounds they've never seen before. R2 would be like gold to a Ferengi if The Borg ever saw him.

[Ender]

Yes.

If R2 is typical, then he has demonstrated computing ability that exceeds that of Data in BoBW

Umm... Where exactly has he demonstrated that?

Everytime he calculates a hyperspace jump. Low end he must be able to do 1E27 calculations per second. Compare that with what Data can do, as per "Measure of a Man". R2 far outstrips him.

and would, IMO, be smart enough to try sleep eventually.

Maybe in a couple of hours. But of course its attempts would be detected immediately, and he would be assimilated within less than a minute of beginning his assault.

Prove it.

And an astromech would sacrifice itself without question to save its owner's planet. So it blows the cube up a la BoBW.

What makes you think the Borg haven't secured those functions yet? After all, if they haven't then why didn't the numerous attempts to access their systems allowed this? Why isn't it standard tactic to just kidnap a drone and put the ship to sleep?

Prove they have hardended their computer systems and altered tactics so that they will attack intruders.

This makes the leap that it can jack in to the cube however.

He doesn't ahve to jack in, we've seen droids to regular wireless transmissions, he can get in that way.

[Ender]

Why's nobody replied to my posts, is this possibly the first time I've had something intelligent to say?

No, we are still waiting for that.

[Embracer Of Darkness]

Why's nobody replied to my posts, is this possibly the first time I've had something intelligent to say?

No, we are still waiting for that.

Congratulations on your +1 waste of time post.

Seriously now, did I make a good point or not? R2 is a painfully obvious target for the Borg, after scanning him they would want him. It's also very debatable that R2 could actually interface with Borg computer systems.

[Lancer]

Yes.

If R2 is typical, then he has demonstrated computing ability that exceeds that of Data in BoBW

Umm... Where exactly has he demonstrated that?

Everytime he calculates a hyperspace jump. Low end he must be able to do 1E27 calculations per second. Compare that with what Data can do, as per "Measure of a Man". R2 far outstrips him.

Don't astromechs like R2 use stored, pre-calculated jumps? ICS seemed to imply that they did.

[Sharp-kun]

Umm... Where exactly has he demonstrated that?

Everytime he calculates a hyperspace jump. Low end he must be able to do 1E27 calculations per second. Compare that with what Data can do, as per "Measure of a Man". R2 far outstrips him.

Don't astromechs like R2 use stored, pre-calculated jumps? ICS seemed to imply that they did.

Off the top of my head, in the X-Wing books, Wedge has Gate compute jumps on the fly.

[Ender]

Umm... Where exactly has he demonstrated that?

Everytime he calculates a hyperspace jump. Low end he must be able to do 1E27 calculations per second. Compare that with what Data can do, as per "Measure of a Man". R2 far outstrips him.

Don't astromechs like R2 use stored, pre-calculated jumps? ICS seemed to imply that they did.

They store coordinates, they have to calculate the jumps from place to place.

[Worlds Spanner]

1. The Data vs. R2 thing is DONE, even in the short time I've followed everything here. Come off it already. R2 > Data, but that doesn't prove anything here. IF R2 > Data AND Borg > Data, the R2-Borg relationship is a question mark.

2. The scenario presumes that R2 has been scanned and classified as a 'non-threat,' and then a) leeched power from the Borg and b) figured out the Cube's course. Clearly the Borg are not jumping on the R2 unit, although it probably wouldn't take that long to determine their course.

Therefore, we return to the original question. "Can the little astromech stop the cube in time without alerting the borg?"

Can it stop the Cube? Most likely. Without alerting the Borg, certainly not. They'll notice when they shut down or change course. Then they'll classify the R2 as a threat, and attempt to assimilate it. Unless the R2 unit can shut down or blow up the entire cube, its technology will be assimilated.

However, if the R2 sent a communication, as was suggested by Darth Wong, it could probably remain undetected.

So, can it stop the Borg? No. If it can interface it will be noticed when it tinkers, if it can't then it's game over anyway.
Can it get the Cube stopped by others? Yes, if it's the right model.

I really don't think that the R2 can succeed without sending a communication, which makes other questions irrelevant. I suppose it still matters if we care about the manner of the R2 unit's failure.

Also, apologies in advance for not responsing to responses to me. I'm leaving the country for 10 days tommorrow morning. If the thread is still alive when I get back I'll see what's been said.

[Slartibartfast]

I'm starting to think that the Borgs use the Raiders of the Lost Ark-style of "assimilating technologies".