Object

Road Network of the Sixth Planet

A network of engineered corridors across the sixth planet's surface: straight, human-made travel corridors now broken and interrupted across desiccated ground. Surfaces buckle and fissure; intersections and shoulders imply former organized transit. These fragments function as an evidentiary map of abandonment, orient investigators toward ruined settlements and materially index the timing and extent of devastation—signaling both technological capacity and catastrophic decline.

3 appearances

Purpose

Served as the planet’s transport infrastructure, connecting settlements, industrial installations and logistical hubs for the former inhabitants.

Significance

Functions as a decisive piece of forensic evidence: the engineered, systematized layout proves large‑scale, organized habitation and supports the crew’s conclusion that an industrial civilization existed and was recently stripped away, reframing the mission from routine survey into a criminal/forensic inquiry.

Appearances in the Narrative

When this object appears and how it's used

3 moments

S2E16 · Q Who

Pattern of Annihilation — First Contact with the Borg

The ruined roads on the sixth planet are read by Data as forensic evidence of an industrial civilization suddenly stripped of machines; they function as tangible clues that redirect the mission from survey to investigation of a systemic remover.

Before: Appearing on long-range sensor imagery as intact linear systems indicative of past infrastructure.

After: Reaffirmed as evidence of large-scale removal and referenced as proof of prior devastation.

View full event

S2E16 · Q Who

The Borg Vessel: Collective Revealed

Ruined Roads on the sixth planet are cited by Data as forensic evidence of industrial civilization now torn apart — they function as an off‑ship clue tying the approaching vessel to widespread planetary devastation.

Before: Detected on planetary scans as intact traces of prior infrastructure amidst desolation.

After: Remains detected; used as corroborating evidence in threat assessment.

View full event

S2E16 · Q Who

Guinan Names the Borg — Hope for Parley Dies

Ruined roads on the sixth planet are cited by Data as concrete visual evidence of sudden, large‑scale removal of machinery and infrastructure—an ominous clue that frames the approaching vessel as a harvester rather than a conventional aggressor.

Before: Detected in planetary imaging and awaiting full analysis.

After: Elevated in importance: used immediately to infer the nature and severity of the threat posed by the incoming ship.

View full event