Starfleet is still trying to recover from the after effects of the Frontier Day incident, where many good officers and civilians had lost their lives. This means that experienced crew will be relocated to different locations where their experience is more needed. A logistic nightmare, but one that is doable. The former crew of the USS Mariner, while the ship remains in dry-dock, is relocated to Hecate Station. There, they find a station that is supposed to be the frontline defense against the potential Klingon aggressors, to be in a shady and fragile state.

A lot of work awaits the new crew to deal with all the problems that they just inherit.