Fabula
Object
Object

Borg Adaptive Protective Field

A localized, translucent/shimmering energy membrane that forms a semi-transparent halo around a Borg in Main Engineering, absorbing and redirecting incoming phaser beams and siphoning ship energy. The field's surface ripples as it draws anomalous vectors and interfaces with systems, allowing the protected Borg time to scavenge components and dematerialize while crew and tactical teams react to its presence.
6 appearances

Purpose

To provide a localized defensive and protective energy barrier for the USS Enterprise's engineering spaces, absorbing or deflecting incoming fire and shielding critical systems and personnel.

Significance

The field's inability to stop adaptive enemy action converts a tactical breach into existential crisis: phaser absorption erodes confidence in Starfleet defenses, forces Picard and senior staff into desperate, morally fraught decisions, and marks a narrative turning point from intrusion to inevitability.

Appearances in the Narrative

When this object appears and how it's used

6 moments
S2E16 · Q Who?
Scout Through the Shields — Engineering Incursion

An emergent localized force field surrounds the second Borg, absorbing phaser fire and permitting safe access to back panels; narratively it materializes the Borg's adaptive technological defense and frustrates conventional weaponry.

Before: Not present in the scene prior to the second Borg's manifestation.
After: Active around the second Borg during phaser exchanges, then disappears after the adaptive Borg completes its scavenging and dematerializes.
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S2E16 · Q Who?
Scout Through the Shields — Q's Cold Lesson

A localized force‑field effect forms around the second Borg (described as absorption of phaser energy); functionally it shields the scout from energy weapons and enables continued access to ship systems during the drain.

Before: Not present or inactive in the specific bay prior to the second scout's appearance.
After: Active transiently around the second scout and then dissipated after the scout dematerialized.
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S2E16 · Q Who?
Scout Breach — Neutralize Ordered, Adaptation Revealed

A localized, translucent engineering force field is observed as part of the adaptive Borg's defense: it dampens and absorbs phaser impacts, enabling the second scout to operate while protected and to drain the rear panel unimpeded.

Before: Not present or inactive in the immediate bay prior to the second scout's manifestation.
After: Temporarily manifested around the adaptive scout during engagement, then collapses or disappears after the scout dematerializes.
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S2E16 · Q Who?
Tractor Beam Assault — Hull Carved Away

A local force field (noted by Data) maintains the integrity of the damaged hull after the shields fall — a critical stopgap that prevents immediate decompression and allows for damage assessment and life‑support triage.

Before: Not yet invoked for the excised area (shields were active prior to collapse).
After: Active, maintaining hull integrity around the damaged saucer section to prevent catastrophic decompression.
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S2E16 · Q Who?
Carved Out — Hull Breach and Irreversible Loss

An internal force field is reported to be maintaining the Enterprise's hull integrity after the saucer section is cut away, preventing immediate decompression and allowing the ship to stabilize despite the catastrophic structural loss.

Before: Not specifically active (standard structural integrity systems in place).
After: Active, sustaining hull integrity around the damaged region and preventing immediate catastrophic failure.
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S2E16 · Q Who?
Hull Carved Away — Guinan's Warning, Q Revealed

A localized force field is noted as maintaining the integrity of the remaining hull after the Saucer section is removed, preventing immediate further decompression and buying critical time for damage assessment and life-support checks.

Before: Idle or inactive with normal engineering parameters.
After: Activated to stabilize the compromised hull and maintain ship integrity where the Saucer was cored away.
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