History Recap / StarTrekPicardS3E10TheLastGeneration

* ArcWelding: A variation. While the Federation-Borg conflict began on TNG, VOY had developed its own distinct Borg arc that branched off from the main narrative. After being implied last episode, VOY's Borg arc now formally circles back to and merges with the primary TNG Borg arc (as the events of "Endgame" and the damage Janeway did to the Collective are the catalyst for this final apocalyptic campaign.)

* ArsonMurderAndLifesaving: Captain Tuvok confronts Seven Of Nine for helping the old Enterprise crew hijack the Titan. Before he can finish, Seven Of Nine announces that she is resigning from Starfleet. Tuvok then shows her a holo-recording of Captain Shaw (shortly before his death), giving his evaluation of Seven, commending her for her courage, loyalty and willingness to [[ScrewTheRulesImDoingWhatsRight go against the rules if it's the right thing]], and recommending her for promotion. Tuvok then tells Seven, "Resignation denied. Captain."

*** This also applies to the USS ''Syracuse'', from which Geordi gained the ''Enterprise's'' new secondary hull. While the actual ship undoubtedly had a distinguished career, and likely saw action in the Dominion War, it will live on as part of the ''Enterprise'' legacy. In fact the entire Galaxy class itself will live on as part of her legacy as well.

* DrivesLikeCrazy: Data upon flying the ''Enterprise''-D into the superstructure of the Queen's cube. Justified, as Data's superhuman reflexes and perception make him the only member of Team Picard capable of such piloting.

** Justified. All Starfleet vessels are now under Borg control thanks to the Fleet Formation synchronization protocols and assimilated crew members. The hijacked Starfleet armada moved so hard and so fast that any other nearby non-Starfleet Federation or civilian vessels have already been destroyed (or [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere fled for their lives]]) in the interim while Team Picard was grabbing the ''Enterprise''-D from the Fleet Museum at Athan Prime (however far away that is from Earth). Superman, for all intents, literally can't even fly into Gotham.

** Back in [[Recap/StarTrekPicardS3E06TheBounty "The Bounty"]], Jack tells Seven of Nine that the refit Constitution class ''Enterprise''-A was his personal favorite. In the post-credits stinger, a model of the ''Enterprise''-A can be seen in Jack's quarters. Blink, and you will miss it.

* DidntSeeThatComing: The Borg Queen though the Beacon was safe from enemey fire deep inside the Cube. She never anticipated that Picard's team would be daring and crazy enough to actually fly the ''Enterprise''-D ''into'' the Cube itself.

** In the final scene in Ten Forward, Riker says this looks like the end of the road. He's talking about last call (and Guinan trying to get them out of the now-closed bar). But of course, it's also talking about the closing minutes of the series finale and the last apperance of the TNG characters.

** Upon beaming over to the Cube, Picard discovers they're in even worse trouble than they thought. Not only is the Borg Queen is still alive, but she's gone completley insane and devolved into an OmnicidalManiac. So, if they can't stop the Collective here and now, it won't just be the Federation that falls. The reborn Borg Collective will spread throughout the stars and annihilate rather than assimilate every single lifeform in the galaxy.
** Played for BlackComedy in the Stringer. Having experienced and survived his father's archenemey (the Borg), Jack now find himself facing his father's ''other'' pain in the ass (i.e. Q).

As the above distress signal fills subspace, the ''Enterprise''-D finds a Borg cube lurking in the skies of Jupiter. Aboard is Jack Crusher, now designated as Vox, confirmed to be broadcasting the Borg signal that controls Starfleet. The cube disarms its weapons and lowers its shields, inviting the Federation contingent aboard; most of its power readings are going to powering the signal. Picard, Riker and Worf resolve to beam aboard the cube and track down Jack's lifesigns and cut the signal off at the source. Picard leaves Commodore Geordi La Forge in command. As they leave the bridge, he says, "ItHasBeenAnHonor," suggesting he expects a OneWayTrip.

* HonorForReason: After completing their mission objective, Riker and Worf go back for Picard -- and despite knowing it's a one-way trip and they're likely going to die once the ''Enterprise'' destroys the beacon. Riker's loyalty and love for Picard won't allow him to leave his former Captain behind. This honor and loyalty, of course, ironically is what ends up saving them all (as Deanna senses Riker's location in the dead zone through their empathic bond).

* GetOutOfJailFreeCard: After saving the Federation from a Borg takeover and near-annihilation, Starfleet can't exactly court-martial or dishonorably discharge Picard, Riker, Seven, and the 1701-D/E command crew for offenses and criminal acts throughout the season not without igniting a political firestorm across all 4 Quadrants.

* WhatAPieceOfJunk: When the ''Titan'''s sensors register the ''Enterprise'' at Jupiter, Seven deduces it's Team Picard engaging the Borg. Raffi's understnadably skeptical, pointing out the "D" (or what's left of her) is ''ancient'' (both in comparison to a Borg Cube and the rest of the hijacked Starfleet). Seven counters that's ironically it's greatest stregnth -- that it ''can't'' be hacked by the Borg (and Raffi, now seeing her point, agrees).

* LockedOutOfTheLoop: Since the TNG cast fled ''Titan'' last episode, Seven and Raffi have no idea what Geordi's plan was (as there was no time for him to share it before the shuttlebay deck came under attack). So, when the ''Titan'' first registers the ''Enterprise''-D's presence in the Sol System, both Raffi and Seven are initially confused as to what the hell this is (at least until Seven puts the pieces togethr and deduces Team Picard's plan).

* FromBadToWorse: Upon beaming over to the Cube, Picard discovers they're in even worse trouble than they thought. Not only is the Borg Queen is still alive, but she's gone completley insane and devolved into an OmnicidalManiac. So, if they can't stop the Collective here and now, it won't just be the Federation that falls. The reborn Borg Collective will spread throughout the stars and annihilate rather than assimilate every single lifeform in the galaxy.

* BaitAndSwitchComment: In the final scene, Data's given the honor of the TNG crew's final toast. He stands, gathers his thoughts, strikes a dignified pose...and then starts reciting that naughty limmerick from "The Naked Now". Everybody immediately starts shouting at him, leading Data to mock-pout he's ''never'' going to get to finish that limmerick.

** Nearly 30 years after the last time we last the TNG characters playing poker together...and Worf ''still'' can't win a poker hand if his life and honor depended upon it.

** While the remaining rogue Founders are taken into custody, their final fate (if Starfleet imprisoned them indefinitely like the Female Founder, or if they were extradited back to the Gamma Quadrant to face the wrath of their fellow founders) is left unrevealed.

** While the remaining rogue Founders are taken into custody, their final fate (if Starfleet imprisoned them indefinitely like the Female Founder, or if they were extradited back to the Gamma Quadrant) is left unrevealed.

* WorfHadTheFlu: The Borg super-cube looks immensely terrifying, and the ''Enterprise''-D is a 40 year old ship that would ordinarily be ridiculously outmatched even if she were in peak condition (which she isn't), but the Borg are in even worse shape. The cube is only 36% functional, most of the Borg drones -- the Queen included -- are necrotic and barely surviving, and is devoting most of its resources to the assimilation signal that is controlling Starfleet on the other side of the Sol System. While it still has way more guns than the ''Enterprise'', it simply can't muster the power necessary to make those guns as effective as they would be in a proper engagement.

* YouCantGoHomeAgain: A villanious variation. The Borg Queen's ranting ("No roads by which to return home!") is an indirect mention of ''Voyager'''s destruction of the Borg Transwarp Hub over 20 years earlier. This confirms the cascade effect from the destruction of its interspatial manifolds did indeed bring down the entire Transwarp Network, further crippling the Collective.

** Jerry Goldsnith's ''First Contact'' theme (which had been part of the End Credits music throughout the final Season) returns one more time to underscore Picard's final PatrickStewartSpeech.

-->'''Picard:''' There is a tide in the affairs of men which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune; Omitted, all the voyage of their life is bound in shallows and in miseries. On such a full sea are we now afloat; And we must take the current when it serves, or lose our ventures.”

* PatrickStewartSpeech: Given the honor of the TNG crew's final toast, Picard's very last speech of the franchise is, fittingly, one more recitiation of Shakespeare (specifically Brutus' speech to Cassius from ''Julius Caesear'', Act 4. Scene 3:

* LoopholeAbuse: Q's return from the dead in the Stinger despite his death last Season. Q ''is'' 100% definitely dead -- at least at the end of his own personal timeline. But being a non-linear being means there's an infinite spectrum of hims out there that ''aren't'' dead yet to keep coming back and harassing Picard and his progeny for a long long time to come.

* LoopeholeAbuse: Q's return from the dead in the Stinger -- or at least how it can be Q despite his death last Season. Q is 100% definitely '''dead''', at least at the end of his own personal timeline. But, being a non-linear being means there's an infinite spectrum of hims out there that aren't dead yet to keep coming back and harassing Picard and his progeny for a long long time to come.

* ThisIsGonnaSuck: Played for laughs with Worf's agonized groaning after Picard produces the deck of Poker cards. His head's bowed in resignation, knowing he's gonna get his ass kicked at the poker table (and does).

* UnresolvedSexualTension: Seven tells Sidney LeForge to ignore any orders that Jack gives on the new Enterprise. She says she always does (Whilst smiling) and Jack smirks to himself.