Editing Species 8472 (section)

==History ==

In their search for further species worthy of assimilation, the Borg first encountered Species 8472 after they found a way to enter fluidic space in the 2370s. However, Species 8472 turned out to be immune to the Borg's assimilation attempts and the invasion of their realm provoked a war, which quickly evolved into the first real threat the Borg had faced, and according to Seven of Nine, was the first species to offer "true resistance to the Borg". With their superior technology, Species 8472 was able to annihilate large numbers of Borg and their ships and even planets. Species 8472 was forced to retreat when the crew of Voyager armed warheads with modified nanoprobes capable of destroying their bioships. (VOY: "Scorpion", "Scorpion, Part II", "Prey") 

When they retreated to fluidic space, one member of Species 8472 was left behind and was relentlessly hunted by a group of Hirogen hunters for several months. This individual was later rescued by the crew of Voyager, and Captain Kathryn Janeway intended to return it to fluidic space. Seven of Nine, however, refused to open a rift to Species 8472's realm. Shortly afterwards, in a struggle with one of the Hirogen hunters aboard Voyager, Seven of Nine took the opportunity, in defiance of Janeway's orders, to transport the individual to the Hirogen starships, which then broke off their attack. (VOY: "Prey") 

===The "Federation" threat=== 

Concerned about the threat posed by Humanity with its modified nanoprobe-warheads, Species 8472 created a simulation of Starfleet Headquarters on Earth inside a Species 8472 terrasphere in the Delta Quadrant as a training ground for a potential infiltration of the Federation, modifying many of their kind to look like Alpha Quadrant species. Their main goal was to uncover if the Federation is planning an invasion of their realm. However, they made a few major inconsistencies, such as Ferengi in Starfleet or obsolete uniforms. Some were completely uncomfortable with the fact they were in the forms of "inferior" lifeforms, who need to eat, sleep and were unable to communicate telepathically. However, the Voyager crew discovered one of their training grounds, having found transmissions with a Federation signature, which took them a week to track. When discovered, Species 8472 captured Commander Chakotay, Voyager's first officer and believed that a fleet was on its way. Voyager managed to convince Species 8472 that the Federation had no hostile intention toward them by giving them their modified nanoprobe warheads in hope that Species 8472 could adapt their vessels in exchange for their techniques on how to look human. (VOY: "In the Flesh") 

===Aftermath=== 

The Borg continued to patrol a border between our galaxy and fluidic space. Axum suggested that he would try to make contact with Species 8472 after he was liberated from "Unimatrix Zero". (VOY: "Unimatrix Zero, Part II")