The starship encounters a Borg cube operated by immature drones. 

(Originally aired February 16, 2000)  

Story by Brannon Braga & Joe Menosky
Teleplay by
Michael Taylor
Directed by Allison Liddi 
GUEST STARS  Ryan Spahn
- First Manu Intiraymi
- Second Marley McClean
- Borg Girl Kurt Wetherill
- Twin Cody Wetherill
- Twin 
WHAT HAPPENED 
A shuttle. Chakotay, Harry, Tom and Neelix play poker. Neelix claims it's the first time he's played, but the others wonder if they're being hustled. Neelix appears about to win with a flush, but suddenly Tom is staring out the window, mouth agape.  There's a giant Borg cube, just outside the shuttle. "Battle stations!" Chakotay shouts. "And I had a full house," says Tom wistfully. (more spoilers)  ANALYSIS  "Collective" is a surprisingly absorbing episode, considering that Borg-related themes have been repeatedly explored on Voyager. The turmoil of adolescence injects a volatile element into the now-familiar psychodrama of post-Borg life, and Seven growing into her maternal responsibilities will be interesting to observe.  Recently, moreover, Voyager's decision-makers have taken an admirably hardheaded attitude in dealing with aggressors. Last week, Chakotay pulled no punches against venal fight promoters, and now we see Janeway stockpiling bio-weapons for possible use against a youthful but dangerous foe.  Such actions stand in welcome contrast to Starfleet's quasi-pacifistic approach that Janeway in particular has occasionally fallen back upon. Recall, for example, her appalling unilateral disarmament in the face of the formidable Species 8472 during a previous season.  Nonetheless, fulfilling the series' dramatic potential at this juncture would require the emergence of an entirely new opponent, one so powerful and determined that Voyager must grapple with it on a recurrent basis. It's not yet clear whether any such entity is present in nearby sectors of the Delta quadrant.  WHAT WE LEARN  The Borg can behave in a manner similar to that of a present-day "deadbeat dad."  DANGLING PLOT THREADS  Two of the Borg children came from unidentified species. Might they harbor hidden attributes wholly unfamiliar to the Voyager crew?