Captain James T. Kirk and the crew of the Enterpriseare sent to evacuate the Federation mining colony Vesbius, a frontier settlement that is on the brink of an extinction-level event, threatening the lives of all the colonists and the disruption of ore production vital to Starfleet. However, the colonists refuse to abandon this frontier settlement, not wanting to leave their claims. It is after these irrational decisions that First Officer Spock suggests that perhaps an unexpected ally could aid the colony and help complete the mission....