Editing Battle of Wolf 359 (section)

==Prelude to the Battle==

In 2366, on stardate 43989.1, the USS Enterprise-D arrived at [[Jouret IV]] after contact with the [[New Providence]] [[colony]] was lost twelve hours earlier. The colony was found to have been completely destroyed, literally scooped from the [[planet]]'s surface.

[[Rank|Admiral]] J.P. Hanson and Lieutenant Commander Shelby of Starfleet Tactical arrived to investigate the disappearance. An away team determined that the colony was wiped away by weapons similar to those found on the [[Borg Cube]] encountered by the Enterprise in System J-25. (TNG: "Q Who") [[Starfleet]] immediately began preparations for a possible [[Borg]] invasion.

Admiral Hanson returned to [[Starbase 324]] to discuss strategy with [[Starfleet Command]]. Starfleet imposed a fleet-wide standing yellow alert, and warned all Federation and allied outposts. That evening at 1900 hours, the [[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.
"...We have engaged the Borg."

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 [[Rank|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]], with the Borg vessel close behind.

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.

The cube maintained its course, with the Enterprise in hot pursuit. William T. 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 taking the Borg cube out of warp. In the process, it was discovered that Captain Picard had been assimilated by the Collective – he had been transformed into a Borg drone with the designation [[Locutus|Locutus of Borg]]. Having temporarily disabled the cube, the Enterprise launched its deflector weapon. (TNG: "The Best of Both Worlds")

The cube easily shrugged off the Enterprise's assault with the unwilling aid of Picard's knowledge, and resumed its course to the [[Sol]] system. The Enterprise was forced to stay behind, having suffered extensive damage to its deflector array and [[Warp Core]]. In the meantime, Admiral Hanson and Starfleet Command had hastily assembled a fleet of forty 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]] support was even considered. (TNG: "The Best of Both Worlds, Part II")