I've been known to bust TNG's balls for subpar cold opens. TOS: "We've receive a distress call from Starbase 1234. NO ONE HAS SURVIVED THE ROMULAN DEVASTATION." TNG: "LTCDR Data is having a birthday party for his cat." But tonight I must tip my hat to TNG. I mean, not on comparison, because TOS was "The Trouble With Tribbles," which, I'll admit isn't the most riveting cold open, but it is perhaps the most iconic Trek story. Ever. That said, TNG was the Borg Hugh episode. And we shall not talk about the resolution of the episode, but the cold open... "Captain's log: We are mapping Sector 1234." "Sir, we're receiving a distress call." "Send off a landing party." "I'm receiving weak lifesigns." [moves some suspiciously cube shaped wreckage] "HOLY FUCK, A FUCKING BORG!"
Of course if it was a TOS episode, it would've been pretty short, because instead of bringing it back to the Enterprise, patching it up, and teaching it how to say "The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain" without a noticeable accent, Kirk would've fucking vaporized it on the spot. And they'd have all laughed about it on the bridge, cue end credits.