In Star Trek Picard season one Borg drones are ejected into space. Seven of Nine seems upset at this. But what's the big deal, as Star Trek First Contact has shown that Borg drones can survive in vacuum? All she has to do is beam them back on board and they'll be fine.
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6Active Borg with shielding, presumably. Whereas these are inactive Borg– ValorumCommented Mar 7, 2022 at 9:38
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3Does this answer your question? Can Borg survive in outer space without an environment suit?– F1KrazyCommented Mar 7, 2022 at 11:21
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5@sno The top-voted answer on that question explains that the Borg in First Contact were only in a vacuum for a few hours, and that Voyager had already established they can only survive in a vacuum for 24 hours or so before needing to replenish their oxygen. That would explain why Seven of Nine was upset: the Borg drones wouldn't have died immediately, but they would die eventually. Perhaps I should make this an answer?– F1KrazyCommented Mar 7, 2022 at 12:15
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1So you see people vented into space, to drift for eternity. Fun, hm?– DevSolarCommented Mar 8, 2022 at 11:24
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4Wouldn't you be upset if you witnessed people being thrown overboard into the middle of the Atlantic, even if you knew they could swim (for a bit)– HorusKolCommented Mar 8, 2022 at 11:55
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1 Answer
According to the top-voted answer on this question, Star Trek: Voyager establishes that Borg drones can only survive in the vacuum of space temporarily, not indefinitely. The question itself notes that the Borg in First Contact were only in a vacuum for a few hours.
I believe the episode referred to in that answer is S4E1, "Scorpion, Part II". At one point in that episode, Seven of Nine and a group of other Borg drones are in the cargo bay, attempting to create a quantum singularity. Chatokay depressurises the cargo bay and all but Seven of Nine are ejected into the vacuum of space.
Memory Alpha's article on the episode notes:
Seven of Nine, having emerged from the Jefferies tube, and able to survive in a vacuum for a limited time as Borg drones are capable of doing...
When I have more time I will try and find a clip of the episode and get a more direct quote.
So Seven of Nine's upset reaction in Picard seems to be a combination of two factors:
- The ejected Borg would not have been killed immediately, but they would have died eventually.
- Seven of Nine knows first-hand how unpleasant it is to be ejected like that.
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1Oh, looks like I guessed right about SoN having a bad run in with a vacuum!– AncientSwordRage ♦Commented Mar 7, 2022 at 12:49
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3@FreeMan There's always somebody who watched any episode last night– JacquesCommented Mar 8, 2022 at 11:28
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1It's also possible that drones don't normally carry an oxygen supply and did so specifically for their mission with the deflector. Commented Mar 8, 2022 at 15:12