Star Trek: Armada III begins with the first stirrings of the Dominion War and allows players to take command of five unique factions, the United Federation of Planets, the Klingon Empire, the Romulan Star Empire, the Cardassian Union/Dominion Alliance, and the Borg Collective. Explore strange new worlds, seek out new life and new civilizations, and boldly go where no one has gone before.
After first contact with the Borg at system J-25, Starfleet knew that it was only a matter of time before the Borg attacked the Federation. Their exposure to the Federation's most advanced starship would certainly have piqued their interests. Unfortunately, for much of the 18 months following the J-25 incident Starfleet's response was weak and directionless, with various admirals taking different stances on how best to prepare for a Borg attack. Eventually Starfleet Command started taking the issue seriously and began drawing up new defence plans. Unfortunately, by then it was far too late.
When one of the Federation's outermost colonies was suddenly obliterated, an investigation quickly revealed that the Borg were in fact responsible and that an incursion into Federation space was underway. Starfleet veteran Admiral Hansen began assembling a task force to repel the invasion, while the Enterprise was assigned to intercept and delay the Borg if possible.
The Enterprise was initially successful in delaying the Borg, but was eventually overwhelmed. When Captain Jean-Luc Picard was kidnapped and transformed into the Borg Locutus, the Borg's purpose in Federation space was revealed - the assimilation of Earth.
A Federation fleet of 40 starships met the Borg Cube at Wolf 359. While ill-prepared to engage a technologically superior foe, Starfleet was confident that the strength of numbers would prevail.
The Borg engaged the fleet with calculated efficiency. With the assimilated knowledge of Captain Picard at their disposal, Starfleet's tactics and weapons had little effect and the Borg smashed through each line with ease. The battle quickly dissolved into a desperate struggle, as Starfleet attempted to surround and overwhelm the Cube.
It was to no avail. The Battle of Wolf 359 lasted mere minutes. By the end of it, all 40 Federation ships were lost, 11,000 Starfleet personnel were dead, and the Borg Cube proceeded towards Earth unopposed and completely undamaged.
Nice. :-)
A minor nitpick: According to Admiral Satie in "The Drumhead", 39 ships were lost at Wolf 359.
And according to Admiral Hansen himself he had 40 ships at Wolf 359. It's one of those inconsistencies Star Trek is known for. The consensus among fans (and trust me, this has been discussed at length) is that 39 ships were destroyed entirely. One ship was salvaged and later repaired, though all on board were killed during the battle.
That's how time and historians change history. Soon it will be 38 ships, then 20. In the end you will hear that one single ship has defeated the Borg, Nazis and bio-terrorists in epic battle for freedom by forward phasers only.
Good points.
USS Righteous
He could have simply rounded up, since when he said it he was being somewhat casual. Or 40 could have been the plan, but one didn't make it to the battle in time since the fleet was assembled somewhat hastily, or one could have dropped out due to problems, etc (similar to Picards fleet in Redemption part 2). I'd guess it's also possible that a single ship was completely incapacitated but not destroyed, in which case the Borg (because they are the Borg) would no longer see them as a threat and move on to other targets.
It's also theorised that the 40th ship was meant to be the Enterprise herself, but she was fashionably late to the party. Wesley's fault.
The first theory is favoured however due to visual evidence. As the Enterprise passes through the debris field a mostly intact Cheyenne-class starship is seen drifting in the background. The actual studio model was portrayed as having had large portions of its outer hull torn open, but was otherwise intact. It's probable this is how the crew died while leaving the ship in a salvageable state.
As I said, this has been researched and theorised to hell and back. :D
Official UFP Starfleet Chair Command commentary:
Die in cold vacuum of space or die in fireball, crushing Borg cube from inside out on high warp speed?
Really, Federation should have used POWER RAM and fireships. Sluggers.
"Activate the Photonic Cannon"
"The Photonic Cannon is online"
"You will be assimilated"
"Over my dead program..."
DAT SAUCER AFT
too soon bro for wolf 359 so many deaths man too soon :)