Located in an area of non-aligned space near Federation and Romulan
territory, the Kondaii system is home to a unique stellar phenomenon: a
spatial rift that opens every three years in proximity to the system’s
sole inhabited planet. Only during this brief period is communication
possible with the small, mineral-rich planetoid inside the rift. The
local population has established a mining colony on this planetoid, and
for the limited du ration that the rift is open, a massive
interplanetary operation is set into motion: ferrying mineral ore to the
home planet while simultaneously transferring personnel and
replenishing essential supplies and equipment—everything necessary to
sustain the colony before it once again enters forced isolation.
While studying the rift, the science vessel U.S.S. Huang Zhong is severely damaged and crash-lands on the planetoid. After the Starship Enterprise arrives
to conduct rescue operations, evidence quickly points to the rift’s
artificial nature. It is a feat far beyond the capacity of the local
inhabitants, and presents an alluring mystery for Captain James T. Kirk
and his crew. It also attracts the attention of the Romulans, who are
most interested in studying and perhaps seizing this supposed advanced
technology—by any means necessary.