In the Star Trek universe, as my friend Adam pointed out (12 years after the fact), the Borg identify themselves in two different ways.
Hugh, before he becomes an Individual, identifies himself as Third of Five. Then, some years later, Voyager adopts Seven of Nine.
We assume Microsoft must have done a software upgrade for the Borg in the intervening time, which would explain the arbitrary, meaningless change.
February 3, 2009 at 2:27 pm
The difference in syntax is easily explained: “Seventh of Nine” doesn’t sound as good as “Third of Five” and “Three of Five” doesn’t sound as good as “Seven of Nine.” THE END.