After a rescue mission gone awry, the USS Truckee is unable to return home nor contact Starfleet. They are effectively trapped in the Ba’ku system. To make matters worse, they soon learn they aren’t alone: the Vaadwaur have arrived. The USS Truckee must fulfil the Federation’s mandate as the protectorate of the Ba’ku. How can a lone California-class stand up to the might of the Vaadwaur? They’ll have to get creative. Perhaps the Briar Patch will be the key to their survival.