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| + | '''Wolf 359''' (also '''CN Leonis''') is a [[star]] located about 7.7 [[light year]]s from [[Sol]] in the [[constellation]] of [[Leo]]. It is a [[flare star]] that modern [[scientist]]s have determined is a [[red dwarf]], [[spectral class]] M6, massing 0.093 of Sol with absolute magnitude +16.56 |
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| − | {{Battle Data |
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| − | |conflict=Battle of Wolf 359 |
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| − | |image= |
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| − | |caption= |
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| − | |partof=the Borg Invasion |
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| − | |date=[[Stardate]] 43997 |
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| − | |place=[[Wolf 359]], [[Sector 001]] |
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| − | |result=Decisive [[Borg]] victory |
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| − | |combatant1=[[Borg Collective|Borg Collective]] |
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| − | |combatant2=[[United Federation of Planets]] |
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| − | |co1=[[Locutus of Borg]] |
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| − | |co2=J. P. Hanson† |
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| − | |strength1=1 Borg Cube (spacecraft) |
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| − | |strength2=40 Federation vessels |
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| − | |shiploss1=Minor (if any) |
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| − | |shiploss2=39 starsships |
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| − | |casualties1=Minor (if any) |
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| − | |casualties2=11,000+ casualties |
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| − | }} |
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| + | Wolf 359 is most notable as the site of the first major engagement between [[Starfleet]] and the [[Borg]]. In [[2367]], a fleet of [[starships at Wolf 359|39 ships]] under the command of [[J.P. Hanson|Admiral Hanson]] was destroyed in the [[Battle of Wolf 359]] by a [[Borg cube]] commanded by [[Locutus of Borg|Locutus]]. Captain [[Jean-Luc Picard]] of the [[USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D)|''Enterprise''-D]] had been [[assimilated]] by the Borg, and as Locutus, unwillingly provided them with a decisive advantage through his knowledge of Starfleet technology and tactics. |
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| − | The '''Battle of Wolf 359''' took place in [[2367]] in the [[Wolf 359]] system, some 8 [[light year]]s from [[Earth]], between the forces of the [[United Federation of Planets]] and the [[Borg]]. It is recorded as one of the most destructive battles in [[Federation]] [[history]] prior to the [[Dominion War]]. |
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| + | This led to the Federation fleet, tasked with preventing the advance of the Borg to Earth, being quickly overwhelmed and utterly destroyed. Approximately 11,000 lives were lost in the battle ([[TNG]]: "[[The Best of Both Worlds, Part II]]"). |
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| − | == Prelude to Wolf 359 == |
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| − | On [[stardate]] 43989.1, the [[USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D)|USS ''Enterprise''-D]] arrived at [[Jouret IV]], after contact with the [[New Providence]] [[colony]] was lost 12 hours earlier. The colony was found to have been completely destroyed, literally scooped from the [[planet|planet's]] surface. |
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| + | After the disasterously one-sided engagement, the Borg cube advanced towards Earth. It quickly breeched the Mars Defense Perimeter by defeating the much smaller and weaker force available there and took up position over the Earth as it prepared to assimilate humanity. |
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| − | [[J.P. Hanson|Admiral J.P. Hanson]] and [[Lieutenant commander|Lietenant Commander]] [[Shelby]] of [[Starfleet]] [[Starfleet Tactical|Tactical]] arrived to investigate the disappearance. An [[away team]] determined that the colony was wiped away by [[weapon]]s similar to those found on the [[Borg cube]] encountered by the ''Enterprise'' in [[System J-25]]. Starfleet immediately began preparations for a possible Borg invasion. |
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| + | The [[USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D)|''Enterprise''-D]] had been disabled in a previous contact with the Borg that took place shortly before the battle at Wolf 359. Had she been able to join the fleet there as planned, it is very likely that she, too, would have been destroyed. Ultimately, the Enterprise was able to destroy the Borg cube and end the threat by turning Picard's knowledge of the Borg, gained as Locutus, against them. |
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| − | [[Admiral]] Hanson returned to [[Starbase 324]] to discuss strategy with [[Starfleet Command]]. Starfleet imposed a fleet-wide standing [[Yellow Alert|yellow alert]], and warned all Federation and allied outposts. That evening at 1900 hours, the [[USS Lalo|USS ''Lalo'']] departed [[Zeta Alpha II]] on a freight run to [[Sentinel Minor IV]]. At 2212 hours, [[Starbase 157]] received a signal from the ''Lalo'', reporting contact with a cubical object. The signal was cut off mid-transmission, and no response was received to further hails. |
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| + | Among the ships lost at Wolf 359 were the [[USS Melbourne|USS ''Melbourne'']], command of which had been offered to Commander [[William Riker]], and which he had declined. |
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| + | Also lost was the [[USS Saratoga|USS ''Saratoga'']], where then Lt. Commander [[Benjamin Sisko]] was serving. Sisko lost his wife [[Jennifer Sisko|Jennifer]] in the destruction of the Saratoga, and Sisko long blamed and hated Picard for his role in her death. ([[DS9]]: "[[Emissary (episode)|Emissary]]") |
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| − | Upon receiving this information from Admiral Hanson, the USS ''Enterprise'' set a course for the ''Lalo'''s last known location. With [[Starfleet]] reinforcements at least six days away, the ''Enterprise'' was on her own. En route to the coordinates, contact was made with the unknown vessel: a Borg cube. News was relayed to Admiral Hanson, who had begun to assemble a fleet to combat the invasion. The Borg demanded that the ''Enterprise'' [[captain]], [[Jean-Luc Picard]], beam himself aboard their vessel, for an unspecified purpose. After a brief exchange of fire, the ''Enterprise'' retreated into the [[Paulson Nebula|Paulson]] [[nebula]], the Borg vessel close behind. |
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| − | Hiding in the dust cloud, the ''Enterprise'' and her [[crew]] prepared for the inevitable conflict. Attempting to force the starship out, the Borg launched magnetometric-guided charges into the nebula, causing minor damage to the ''Enterprise''. Picard ordered the ship out of hiding, and in the ensuing attack, Picard was captured by the Borg, who then left at high [[warp]], en route to [[Sector 001]] and the core of the Federation. |
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| − | The Cube maintained its course, with the ''Enterprise'' in hot pursuit. [[William Riker]], as acting Captain, planned to force the Cube out of warp in order to attack it using the ''Enterprise'''s [[deflector dish]]. An away team led by Lt. Cmdr. Shelby was sent over to the vessel, and succeeded in disabling the Borg's warp drive. In the process, it was discovered that Captain Picard had been [[assimilation|assimilated]] by the [[Borg Collective|Collective]]; he had been transformed into a Borg [[drone]] with the designation [[Locutus of Borg]]. Having temporarily disabled the Cube, the ''Enterprise'' launched its deflector weapon. |
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| − | == The Battle == |
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| − | The Cube easily shrugged off the ''Enterprise'''s assault, with the unwilling aid of Picard's knowledge, and resumed its course to the [[Sol]] [[Sol system|system]]. The ''Enterprise'' was forced to stay behind, having suffered extensive damage to its [[navigational deflector|deflector array]] and [[warp core]]. In the meantime, Admiral Hanson and Starfleet Command had hastily assembled a fleet of 40 starships, with more on the way. The [[Klingon Empire]] was in the process of dispatching warships of its own to assist in the defense, and the possibility of requesting [[Romulan Star Empire|Romulan]] support was even considered. |
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| − | Around stardate 44002.3, the Cube entered the Wolf 359 system. Locutus hailed the assembled fleet, ordering them to disarm and escort the Cube to the Sol system. Immediately thereafter, the fleet engaged the Borg. |
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| − | The [[USS Melbourne|USS ''Melbourne'']] was the first ship destroyed, with its [[saucer section]] partially vaporized while approaching. The [[USS Saratoga|USS ''Saratoga'']] was quickly neutralized thereafter. When the starships ''[[USS Yamaguchi|Yamaguchi]]'' and ''[[USS Bellerophon|Bellerophon]]'' rushed to rescue their trapped sister ships, they too were destroyed along with numerous other starships entering the combat zone. |
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| − | After bare minutes of combat, the fleet was faced with utter defeat. Admiral Hanson attempted to rally the remaining ships to launch a last-ditch assault, but his ship was destroyed shortly thereafter, the admiral presumed dead. |
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| − | Ultimately, 39 starships were lost with a total loss of more than 11,000 lives. Many of them were assimilated. Only one starship managed to escape the disaster. |
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| − | ==The Aftermath== |
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| − | Following the battle, the cube resumed course towards Earth, completely undamaged. The ''Enterprise'', having finally completed repairs, raced to catch up to the Borg. Using the recaptured Locutus and his link to the collective mind of the Borg, the ''Enterprise'' crew managed to plant subversive commands to deactivate and destroy the Borg ship in Earth [[orbit]]. |
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| − | Although the outcome of the invasion could have been much worse, the result of the battle was nothing short of disaster. With so many starships assigned to long-range missions of exploration, Starfleet was left with fewer ships for defense duties in the Federation core systems, weakening their relative position with neighboring races, including the [[Cardassian Union]]. |
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| − | [[Commander]] Shelby took command of a special task force to rebuild Starfleet's strength. Construction of new starships was accelerated, but it took several years for Starfleet to return to previous deployment levels. Perhaps more importantly, Starfleet's entire philosophy began to tend towards more offensive, combat-ready starships. Previously controversial designs with heavy armaments, such as the [[Defiant class|''Defiant'' class]] and [[Prometheus class|''Prometheus'' class]], gained more support. |
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| − | Although most of the major battles of the [[Dominion War]] seven years later were fought on a much greater scale, Wolf 359 itself will be remembered as the incident that broke decades of near-total peace for the Federation and heralded a tumultuous decade of conflict to come. |
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| − | ==See also== |
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| − | *[[Starships at Wolf 359|List of starships at Wolf 359]] |
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Revision as of 00:26, 4 August 2006
Wolf 359 (also CN Leonis) is a star located about 7.7 light years from Sol in the constellation of Leo. It is a flare star that modern scientists have determined is a red dwarf, spectral class M6, massing 0.093 of Sol with absolute magnitude +16.56
Wolf 359 is most notable as the site of the first major engagement between Starfleet and the Borg. In 2367, a fleet of 39 ships under the command of Admiral Hanson was destroyed in the Battle of Wolf 359 by a Borg cube commanded by Locutus. Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the Enterprise-D had been assimilated by the Borg, and as Locutus, unwillingly provided them with a decisive advantage through his knowledge of Starfleet technology and tactics.
This led to the Federation fleet, tasked with preventing the advance of the Borg to Earth, being quickly overwhelmed and utterly destroyed. Approximately 11,000 lives were lost in the battle (TNG: "The Best of Both Worlds, Part II").
After the disasterously one-sided engagement, the Borg cube advanced towards Earth. It quickly breeched the Mars Defense Perimeter by defeating the much smaller and weaker force available there and took up position over the Earth as it prepared to assimilate humanity.
The Enterprise-D had been disabled in a previous contact with the Borg that took place shortly before the battle at Wolf 359. Had she been able to join the fleet there as planned, it is very likely that she, too, would have been destroyed. Ultimately, the Enterprise was able to destroy the Borg cube and end the threat by turning Picard's knowledge of the Borg, gained as Locutus, against them.
Among the ships lost at Wolf 359 were the USS Melbourne, command of which had been offered to Commander William Riker, and which he had declined.
Also lost was the USS Saratoga, where then Lt. Commander Benjamin Sisko was serving. Sisko lost his wife Jennifer in the destruction of the Saratoga, and Sisko long blamed and hated Picard for his role in her death. (DS9: "Emissary")
From Memory Alpha [1] -- the free Star Trek reference