I just wondered about this. Picard was given orders by Admiral Hayes to patrol the Neutral Zone and steer clear of the Borg incursion of Sector 001. Picard later decided the Admiral could shove those orders up his ass and went anyway, which eventually led to the defeat of the Borg in the 24th century, and later in the 21st century. Now, this is all and good. Everything worked out for the best. But, would his superiors see it this way?
What if the Enterprise had lost? Then, the Borg would have control of a Borg-ified state of the art Sovereign-class starship to do with as it pleases in the 21st century.
What if the Borg could use their neural link to Picard to gain a tactical advantage over the Federation fleet amassed over Earth?
What of the countless crewmembers who died/became Borg who wouldn't have died had Picard NOT joined in the battle? We know the Borg assimilated at least decks 26 to 11, so we don't have exact numbers as to how many were Borg-ified, but I imagine it's a lot.
Now, you could also argued that Picard saved the battle at Sector 001. We don't know if he did or not. The fleet could have stopped the cube without his help (albeit with more loss of ships and lives). Picard may have just sped up the end of the battle.
You could also argue Picard saved Earth. Well, so did Admiral Kirk, who, along with other charges (which did not include the deaths of 2/3rds of his crew), was still dropped in rank. So, why didn't Picard at least get a rank deduction? Or any discipline at all?
What if the Enterprise had lost? Then, the Borg would have control of a Borg-ified state of the art Sovereign-class starship to do with as it pleases in the 21st century.
What if the Borg could use their neural link to Picard to gain a tactical advantage over the Federation fleet amassed over Earth?
What of the countless crewmembers who died/became Borg who wouldn't have died had Picard NOT joined in the battle? We know the Borg assimilated at least decks 26 to 11, so we don't have exact numbers as to how many were Borg-ified, but I imagine it's a lot.
Now, you could also argued that Picard saved the battle at Sector 001. We don't know if he did or not. The fleet could have stopped the cube without his help (albeit with more loss of ships and lives). Picard may have just sped up the end of the battle.
You could also argue Picard saved Earth. Well, so did Admiral Kirk, who, along with other charges (which did not include the deaths of 2/3rds of his crew), was still dropped in rank. So, why didn't Picard at least get a rank deduction? Or any discipline at all?
