TF01 3,THE BORG TIMELINES 4,by Richard Shelford By careful scrutiny of each episode concerning this amazing race, quite a lot of information can be discovered, and from that, even more assumed. The Borg are one of TNG's most unusual characters, and also one of the most enjoyed by fans, appearing in some stunning episodes. This article is a look at the Borg timelines, those events that affect the Federation and the Star Trek characters. Where Stardates are not exact, the event occurred between the two Stardates given. Stardate 1312.4 - 1329.8 Year 2265 ----------------------------------- The decimation of Guinans homeworld, by the Borg. A small number of Guinans race resist and become spread throughout the Galaxy. It is unknown where Guinan was at this time, however she did say, "I wasn't there, personally." During the late 19th Century she was living on Earth. However, it is certainly possible she had moved on by 2265. She later told Hugh Borg, "Resistance is not futile." This event occurs the year after James T. Kirk assumed command of the USS Enterprise, NCC 1701. Year 2348 --------- This is the next significant date in out wander along the Borg time lines. This was the last time Picard visits Labbare, his home town, deep in the French wine making countryside, until "Family", (Stardate 44012.3) when he returned during his recovery from his assimilation into the Borgs collective consciousness. Stardate 41986.0 Year 2364 ---------------------------- It is not until 2364 that the Borg reach Federation territory. Outposts either side of the Neutral Zone with the Romulans are destroyed. These are the outposts on Delta Zero Five and Tarod Nine. The investigations of the USS Enterprise, NCC 1701-D under the Captaincy of Jean-Luc Picard reveal that the outposts have been literally scooped from the surface. It is originally believed to have been a destructive force of the Romulans, however, an encounter with a Romulan vessel, the first in 53 years, reveals that it was an unknown alien force. Stardate 42761.3 Year 2365 ---------------------------- Whilst on the frontier of Federation space Q returns to the Enterprise, expressing a desire to become a member of Starfleet, which is refused by Picard. Q proceeds to hurl the Enterprise 7000 light years across the Galaxy to the unexplored sector J25. It is in this sector that Guinans home world is located, (now presumably uninhabited). The Enterprise' sensors provide readings of a similar nature to those discovered at the destroyed outposts along the Neutral Zone. Where there were once civilisations, there are only great scars in the surface of planets. Ignoring the advice of Guinan, Picard opts to stay, using the opportunity to explore, where upon the Enterprise encounters a cubical ship, many times the size of the Galaxy class vessel. Guinan identifies it as the vessel of a race known as The Borg. The alien vessel proceeds to remove a section of the hull, resulting in the loss of 18 lives. The Enterprise flees, and the Borg give chase. At the request of Picard to end this demonstration of the Borgs power, Q returns the Enterprise to Federation space. Stardate 42923.4 Year 2365 ---------------------------- The USS Enterprise participates in war games for tactical preparation for possible conflict with the Borg. This occurs near the Braslota Star System. Stardate 43539.1 - 43587 Year 2366 ------------------------------------ It is at this time that Lieutenant Commander Shelby assumes charge of Borg Tactical Analysis, under the command of Admiral J.P. Hanson. After the experiences of the Enterprise at J25 it is the considered opinion that the Borg will be heading for Federation space, presumably for the assimilation of its peoples. The encounters with the Enterprise, and its assimilation of the outposts along the Neutral Zone provided the Borg with necessary knowledge of Federation technology, culture and species in preparation for the assimilation. Stardate 43957.2-43989.1 Year 2366 ----------------------------------- The Borg attack Federation colonies on Jouret IV. Jouret IV sends out a distress signal. Stardate 43989.1 Year 2366 --------------------------- Responding to the distress signals from Jouret IV the USS Enterprise discovers that the New Providence colony has been destroyed. The method of destruction is identical to that found in system J25, and on the outposts along the Neutral Zone. Lieutenant Commander Shelby of Borg Tactical confirms the presence of The Borg in Federation space, from the magnetic resonance traces left on the colony. The Borg attack the Starship Lalo, which sends a distress call, received by Starbase 57. The USS Enterprise engages the Borg. The Borg proceed to kidnap Captain Jean Luc Picard, and assimilate him into the Borgs collective consciousness. He is given the name Locutus of Borg. This is to aid the assimilation of the human species. Stardate 44001.4 Year 2367 --------------------------- The Borg vessel assumes a course to Sector 001, the Terran System. It is intercepted by a fleet of 40 Federation and Klingon Starships at Wolf 359 of which it destroys 39. The Borg had access to the knowledge and information of the human Picard. This enabled the destruction of the vessels. One of the Starships is the Saratoga, of which Commander Benjamin Sisko served as first officer. Jenifer Sisko, his wife is killed during the destruction of the vessel. Benjamin and his son Jake escape on a lifeboat. The Borg vessel resumes its course towards Sector 001. The USS Enterprise, (now under the Captaincy of William T. Riker) chase the Borg, and successfully abduct Locutus of Borg from the Borg ship. The Borg ship resumes its course. Lieutenant Commander Data establishes a link to the Borgs neural network, via Locutus, and, with the help of Captain Picard triggers a low level sub-command which "tricks" the Borg into thinking it is time to regenerate. The Borg vessel, suffering a malfunction caused when its entire power net feeds back on itself, self-destructs. Stardate 45852.1 - 45854.2 Year 2368 ------------------------------------- A Borg scout ship crash lands on a moon in the Argolis Cluster. Of the five crew members, four are killed. Stardate 45854.2 Year 2368 --------------------------- Whilst on a charting mission in the Argolis cluster, the USS Enterprise receives a distress signal from a nearby moon. The investigating away team discover a crashed Borg vessel, with a seriously injured Borg in the wreckage. At the insistence of CMO Dr Beverly Crusher, Picard agrees to transport the injured Borg to the Enterprise, where its wounds were repaired. Taking advantage of the situation, Picard orders Lieutenant Commanders Data and La Forge to design an incursive program, (a Borg virus) to destroy the race. However, during the Borgs stay he exhibits the characteristics of an individual, and is given a name, Hugh, and even resorts to calling himself I, instead of We. Picard alters his orders, deeming that it would be wrong to use the unsuspecting Borg to destroy his race. Hugh decides to return to the crash site, to prevent his race from destroying the Enterprise, and his new found friends, in an attempt to retrieve him. It was hoped by the crew of the Enterprise that Hugh's sense of individuality would be carried throughout the Borgs collective consciousness. The Borg collect Hugh from the surface of the moon, and return him to their collective mind.