Star Trek’s idyllic utopia might try to move past it, but it is defined by conflict. From the long moral question of whether or not Starfleet is a military or scientific organization at its core, to the deadly wars that have pushed it to defend its greatest ideals, Star Trek as we know it cannot exist without battle—and the sting of defeat. Which is why one of its most iconic moments isn’t a stirring speech or wanderlust-driven exploration, but a terrible, terrible loss.
First depicted in the legendary Next Generation two-parter “The Best of Both Worlds,” the Battle of Wolf 359 is actually barely seen on screen in the episode. And yet, its infamy, its context, has persisted for generations—shaping not just the legacy of The Next Generation and successor series like Picard, but DS9, and the very heart of Starfleet itself. There may have been greater battles, longer wars, more shocking acts of death and destruction—but it’s hard to imagine what Star Trek could ever do to top the reach and importance of Wolf 359.
