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Wolf 359 was the primary of the Wolf system. This system, located approximately eight light years from Sol, was in the Alpha Quadrant.

Location[]

In 2259, the location of this star was labeled on a stellar cartography chart that was seen on the USS Enterprise's ready room viewscreen. This star's symbol had a blue color, indicating that it was affiliated with the United Federation of Planets. (SNW: "Strange New Worlds", "Spock Amok", "A Quality of Mercy")

In 2364, the location of Wolf 359 was named in a star chart of a stellar neighborhood with Sol at the center. This chart was stored in the USS Enterprise-D library computer. Later that year, the chart was scanned by Outpost 63. (TNG: "The Naked Now", "The Last Outpost", production art)

In 2371, the location of Wolf 359 was named in the star chart Data and Picard were studying in stellar cartography on the USS Enterprise-D. (Star Trek Generations, okudagram)

In 2399, the location of Wolf 359 was labeled in a a Federation star chart that was in Fleet Admiral Kirsten Clancy's office at Starfleet Headquarters. This system was in or near to Federation space, (PIC: "Maps and Legends")

In 2401, the location of Wolf 359 was labeled on a star chart that was seen on the USS Stargazer's bridge viewscreen. The chart was used to show the location of the combined Starfleet-Borg armada and where it needed to go to face a galactic-level threat. (PIC: "Farewell")

Later that year, Wolf 359's position was labeled on a star chart used by Captain William T. Riker during his attempt at finding the last known location of the SS Eleos XII. (PIC: "The Next Generation")

In 3190, the location of Wolf 359 was labeled on a star chart used by Commander Paul Stamets for tracking the movement of the Dark Matter Anomaly through the galaxy. (DIS: "The Examples")

Battle of Wolf 359[]

Wolf 359 wreckage 2

Several destroyed starships at Wolf 359

Main article: Battle of Wolf 359

The Wolf system was the site of the first large-scale engagement between Starfleet and the Borg. In early 2367, a fleet of at least forty ships, under the command of Admiral J.P. Hanson, moved to intercept a Borg cube, en route to Earth, at Wolf 359. The Federation fleet made their stand there and engaged the cube represented by Locutus in the Battle of Wolf 359. (TNG: "The Best of Both Worlds") Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the USS 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. Thirty-nine Federation starships were massacred, resulting in approximately eleven thousand deaths or assimilations. (TNG: "The Best of Both Worlds, Part II", "The Drumhead", DS9: "Emissary", VOY: "Unity", "Infinite Regress", "Unimatrix Zero")

The Enterprise-D arrived late to the battlefield only to find the wreckage and debris of the starships destroyed by the Borg. Among the ships lost at Wolf 359 were the USS Melbourne, command of which had been offered to Commander William T. Riker prior to the battle. (TNG: "The Best of Both Worlds, Part II") Also lost was the USS Saratoga, on which then Lt. Commander Benjamin Sisko was serving. Sisko lost his wife Jennifer in the destruction of the Saratoga, and for a long time, Sisko blamed and disliked Picard for his role in her death. (DS9: "Emissary") Also lost was the USS Constance, on which Liam Shaw was serving. Shaw was one of only ten randomly selected to board the one available life pod out of fifty, leading to severe survivor guilt that ultimately led him to confront Picard over his role in the battle in 2401. (PIC: "No Win Scenario")

Appendices[]

Background information[]

The location of Wolf 359 was depicted in the chart naming stars within twenty light years of Sol. The chart was drawn by Rick Sternbach for the Star Trek Spaceflight Chronology in the late 1970s. Found on page 77, this chart showed Earth commercial and exploration routes after the use of warp drive began.

According to the Star Trek Encyclopedia (3rd ed., p. 582), this star was "located 7.8 light years away in the constellation Leo" and was "the fourth-closest star to Earth."

According to StarTrek.com, Wolf 359 was 7.6 light years (2.35 parsecs) from Sol. [1]

According to Star Trek: Star Charts (p. 62) and Stellar Cartography: The Starfleet Reference Library ("Federation Historical Highlights, 2161-2385"), Wolf 359 was a M-class star.

Apocrypha[]

David Gerrold's novel The Galactic Whirlpool mentioned Wolf 359 as the next most likely destination undergone by a colony of Humans who left Earth decades before the 22nd century.

Comics of the DC TNG volume 2 series mention Wolf 359 was maintained as a wreckyard of the doomed ships, as depicted in the stories "The Worst of Both Worlds, Part I!" and again in "And Death Shall Have No Dominion". Star Trek Online also depicted such a memorial.

External links[]

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