After an inquiry into the disastrous testing of the MARS stealth system aboard the Inquiry-class starship Thesis, Starfleet Command relieves the the captain of her command, opting to merge the crew with that of their aging counterpart, the USS Santa Fe. Whilst undergoing an overhaul, the ship has all traces of the controversial system removed, and is recommissioned with a new name and a new commanding officer. Redesignated as the USS Temeraire, pronounced Tem-uh-rare, the ship’s technological advancements and experienced personnel make her a perfect candidate for a new mission.

Captain Tharia sh’Elas must unite the two crews and settle any animosity among the backdrop of what is an unexpected trip to the Romulan border. A visit from Commodore Uzoma Ekwueme, the commander of the Fourth Fleet Expeditionary Group, presents sh’Elas with both orders, and a warning: something is stirring across the border…