Together with much of the Fourth Fleet, the USS Ahwahnee deploys to the Delta Quadrant’s Gradin Belt to investigate and reduce the impact of Blood Dilithium growth that has swept across the region. Violent anomalies, Hirogen and aggressive Deovore Imperium forces are all deadly threats for the ageing light cruiser. The Ahwahnee is therefore assigned to chart a rogue planet in an area of subspace turbulence not far from Starfleet’s makeshift forward operating base at the Markonian Outpost. As they leap forward into the unknown, Captain Felrak Vordenna must make a journey of discovery within his own mind when the Blood Dilithium’s effects take hold.