Next Generation meets New Frontier as Captain Jean-Luc Picard joins forces with Captain Mackenzie Calhoun to track down and confront the hidden architects of the recurring plague that is threatening the universe.

Captain Calhoun of the Starship Excalibur is ordered to Earth, where his experience with the Thallonion Empire makes him an invaluable to Starfleet Intelligence in their investigation of a Thallonion nobleman. Commander Riker, in temporary command of Calhoun's Excalibur, engages a swarm of Romulan warbirds and captures the Romulan leader, Sela. Battle damage, however, leaves the Excalibur adrift in space with all its computer systems offline, no navigational controls - and a decidedly uncooperative captive. Meanwhile, the information Calhoun discovers leads him to a man named Gerrid Thul and Thul's associate Kwint - and Kwint turns out to be none other than Captain Jean-Luc Picard!