Visible crew/equipment: When the camera turns to face Tuvok as he approaches the crazed Hirogen, two stage crew members can be seen at the left side of the screen. The first is a rather plump man wearing what appears to be dark pants, and a short sleeve light shirt, while the second is squatting down in front of the first wearing shorts. (00:09:05)
Visible crew/equipment: After Paris hails Tuvok about the problem in the mess hall, a brawl breaks out. When the new Hirogen Alpha enters the galley to access the com relay, just as this Alpha removes the front panel in order to transmit a signal, the actor's green tape mark is visible on the floor. (00:39:00)
Visible crew/equipment: During B'Elanna's turn as the EMH protagonist in the Doctor's holonovel, when mustached "Marseilles" (Tom) enters the room, there are two red T-marks on the floor near the door. Then during Neelix's version as the EMH, when "Captain Jenkins" (Janeway) orders "Tulak" (Tuvok) and "Kymble" (Kim) to take the EMH for reprogramming, white T-marks are visible on the floor. (00:11:40 - 00:15:15)
Chosen answer: Before Q sent the Enterprise to the beta quadrant to officially contact the Borg, there were already indications that the Borg was beginning to reach Federation territory. There were remarks towards the end of the first season of the Next Generation that several of the furthest Federation outposts were being attacked by some unknown enemy. They suspected the Romulans, but when contact with the Romulans was re-established, they learned that it was not them. The Hansens had simply figured things out much earlier than anyone else in the Federation. They learned about the Borg nine years earlier, but Starfleet mainly took notice when their outposts started getting wiped out. It is logical to assume that there were indications of Borg scouting parties and research efforts well before that.
Garlonuss ★