The year is 2403- a period of great excitement for Starfleet’s venerable Task Force 23, as they take delivery of their first ever Constitution III-Class explorer: NCC-91781, the latest in a long line of ships to carry the storied name of Yorktown. Joining the likes of such proud ships as the Calypso, Yamato, and Aurora, expectations are high for the new vessel, as its success could pave the way for a new generation of explorers with the capability to go further than Starfleet has ever gone before.

At the same time, changes are taking place in the mysterious Sector 5591, which has been off-limits to Starfleet since its initial charter in 2297. The main governing body of the sector, the Moldoviț Regime, has collapsed under its own hubris, its people having grown tired of having to put up with famine after famine while their rulers live like kings. After a brutal civil war, millions lay dead, the economy is in ruins, and the new Provisional Government needs a strong guiding hand to help them through this period of reconstruction. Thus, they have conscientiously elected to break their centuries-old policy of isolation and seek Starfleet’s assistance. With Task Force 23 having won the commission to render aid to the Annexari people, it’s a win-win situation- a first-contact opportunity, a boost in both morale and public relations, and- perhaps above all else- a prime opportunity to put their new Constitution III through its paces. Thus, the crew of the Yorktown, commanded by the eager yet unproven Commander Hikari Karibuchi, will have just under a week to get the Yorktown ready before they set out for Sector 5591, and the boundless wealth of discoveries that await it…