During the Four Years War between the United Federation of Planets and the Klingon Empire — twenty years before the five-year mission of Captain Kirk — Fleet Captain Garth and Captain Jakande are on a top secret mission of their own. Without warning, their two star-ships are ambushed by three Klingon battle-cruisers, leaving an important Starfleet dignitary fighting for his life. Outmatched and outgunned, staring into the face of certain destruction, there is only one desperate option left for these two brave officers and their crews.