Note: The following remarks refer specifically to the Borg collective. The Starfleet Military Reserves recognize a fundamental difference between the Borg collective and individuated Borg. Individuated Borg (example: the being known as Hugh, discovered in 2368 by the crew of the USS Enterprise) are individuals, and may be negotiated with. All reasonable efforts will be taken to establish cordial relations with individuated Borg. This stems from reasons of ethics as well as the possibility that they may provide information crucial to the understanding and eventual defeat of the Borg Collective.
This document covers the following topics, with special commentary as regards the BORG, the primary reason Starfleet Military Reserves was created:
SECTION I - The principles of LOAC and the Borg
The Laws of Armed Conflict (LOAC) define how we fight a war. In the case of the Borg, Starfleet Military Reserves (SMR) operates under modified guidelines.
Section II: - Noncombatants
The Borg are all combatants. This simplifies our rules for targeting considerably. The only noncombatants you are likely to encounter during action against the Borg are beings who are attempting to avoid the Borg. Every effort will be made to rescue sapients threatened by the Borg within SMR-protected space. The only allowable exception to this rule is if the rescue attempt significantly increases the likelyhood that the Borg will get past our defenses and threaten more people than those in immediate danger.
The Borg themselves do not recognize noncombatants. Nevertheless, SMR noncombatants will wear identification appropriate to their protected status. The presence of such identification is not expected to confer any special protection from the Borg, but neither is it likely to draw undue attention from them. This policy simply allows us to identify our own noncombatants. In any case, SMR noncombatants are unlikely to be present in great numbers during counter-collective actions.
If a noncombatant is threatened by the Borg, they are have the right to self-defense just as they do when confronted by conventional antagonists. The Borg are unlikely to disproportionately retaliate against a corpsman for defending himself when attacked. Remember, you always have the right to self defense. This includes the right to defend yourself, other SMR personnel, third party noncombatants, and SMR property.
Just as the Borg neither have nor recognize protected persons, they also neither have nor recognize protected places. Just as we identify our protected persons, we will continue to identify protected places, given enough time, in advance of a Borg incursion.
We must remember that the Borg are guided largely by military necessity. SMR will therefore attempt to adhere to the principle of Chivalry by not placing militarily important assets near protected sites. The Borg are very likely to attempt to deal with the most pressing military targets first, saving less threatening objectives for later. It therefore makes sense to ensure that places we desire to protect (and may need shortly, as with hospitals) are not made tempting targets for a Borg attack.
SECTION III- Weapons
Since the Borg represent such a severe threat to the SMR and its allies, the types of weapons we are allowed to use against them include many which are otherwise banned by treaty. The only restrictions are if they cause unnecessary suffering to non-participants. If they do they remain illegal. Poisons, asphyxiating (choking agents), and other gases are illegal, largely because they represent a greater threat to those using them than they do to the Borg. Biological and biogenic weapons are also illegal for the same reason.
Individuals expected to confront the Borg in combat will be provided with the best weaponry for that purpose SMR can devise. In light of the fact that few sidearms seem to be effective against the Borg for more than a few shots, personnel are authorized in advance to make any modifications necessary to render their sidearm effective in their own defense. Any weapon which proves effective is authorized, provided it does not cause irreparable damage to the environment. SMR engineers are authorized to assist efforts to modify weapons, should their duties permit. Experience with the Borg suggests that their adaptability depends, in part, upon not having every known defense active at once. SMR does not know how many types of defenses the Borg are able to simultaneously activate, but the availability of a variety of different types of weapon may provide the advantage necessary to survive an encounter with them. SMR will not deny its personnel this advantage.
Under certain circumstances, quantum deconstruction (QD) and subspace-damaging (SD) weapons may be used. The only authority which can authorize the use of these weapons is the SMR Commander-in-Chief in conjunction with the jurisdictional government at the site of proposed use. Most nations protected by SMR forces have agreements of pre-approval on record with SMR command, to expedite the necessary use of otherwise-proscribed weapons.
If SD weapons or QD weapons are authorized, they will be loaded aboard the vessels authorized to use them, and the arming codes and launch codes (two different sets of codes) will be provided to the ship's commanding officer and first officer. Both officers must input their arming codes or the weapon will not arm. Launch codes are required or the weapon will not launch. The ship's medical officer and the ship's counsellor are provided lockout codes which allow them to negate launch or arming codes, should the command crew, in their medical opinion, be unfit to make such a decision. As with the arming and launch codes, the lockout codes require the cooperation of both individuals.
The Rules of Engagement governing SD weapons preclude their indiscriminate use. The primary function of the subspace-damaging weapons in the SMR inventory is to force Borg cubes to "drop" out of transwarp so they may be engaged at a distance from protected space. This means that the damage to subspace is limited to an area far from well-travelled spacelanes, and to a volume less than 5% of a standard astronomical unit across -- a needle in a seldom-travelled haystack.
SECTION IV - Prisoners of War
The Borg do not take prisoners-of-war. This does not mean that we may kill any Borg we encounter. If a Borg is disabled such that it represents no threat, we are obligated to attempt to capture it if possible. If it is injured we are obligated to render it such medical care as we would if it were an ally.
Past experience has shown that Borg isolated from the collective tend to individuate, becoming free of the collective. Individuated Borg are not a threat, and may prove to be an asset in our struggle to remain free of the collective. Captured Borg will be restrained only to the degree necessary to prevent them from returning to the collective or harming their captors. Unnecessary cruelty is strictly proscribed. A captured Borg is not the collective. Retaliating against the collective by abusing an individual Borg will not be tolerated.
The author gratefully acknowledges the assistance of the following people and agencies:
Paul Cargile, for encouraging me to undertake this projectAnd Charles David Sands, for answering a few questions that probably didn't make sense at the time.