Following the destruction of the USS Enterprise-D in Star Trek Generations, the bridge crew, with the exception of Worf, were transferred to the new Sovereign class starship, the USS Enterprise-E. Shortly before the beginning of the film, a Borg cube ship has entered Federation space on a course for Earth. However, instead of stationing their most advanced vessel among the fleet assembled to protect Earth, Starfleet has assigned the Enterprise to patrol the Romulan Neutral Zone. Starfleet orders Jean-Luc Picard to do so in case the Romulans decide to take advantage of the situation. However, he is fully aware that the real reason is that, due to his past experience with the Borg, Starfleet considers him too unstable to lead a ship into battle against them.