After spending nearly two days in an Underspace corridor the USS Paramount emerges somewhere on the other side of the galaxy. As they try to find a sign of where they might be they come across a peaceful yet politically unstable and technologically superior civilization ruled by an oligarchy. During first contact negotiations, the oligarchy becomes split 50/50 on whether they desire continued communication with the Federation. The debate between the two opposing factions is heating up. However, amid the military build-up, an all too familiar adversary/ally is discovered to be influencing politics.