After the defeat of Nero, James Kirk is granted the command of the USS Enterprise. Kirk's former commanding officer, Christopher Pike, continues to be his direct superior and less than two months after the battle for Earth Pike issued official orders to Kirk, his crew, and the newly repaired Enterprise.

'As you know, the Alpha Quadrant remains mostly unexplored and those sectors that have been mapped are often less than peaceful. It is now your mission to explore those sectors that remain obscured and to bring the diplomatic initiatives of the Federation to the attentions of all unknown species.'

Now, the Enterprise finally has the opportunity to boldly go where no one has gone before ...