Short Version
{{Spoiler}}
As the film opens, the Captain's shuttle is descending onto Chiron IV. Soon, the shuttle loses guidance, and begins to drop into a dive. With the death of a hundred and fifty people imminent, Hunter orders Intrepid to fire torpedoes, destroying the ship.
One month later, the survey teams are still setting up the colony. When Dr. Garren and Captain Merik attempt to contact the Ariadne, they find that both of their combadges are not functioning, and they head back to the settlement. An unknown, organic ship approaches Intrepid from the colony. When Intrepid follows it, the vessel opens fire. The vessel continues its attacks on the Federation ship, until a single phaser attack disables it, provoking an autodestruct. As Intrepid scans the planet, they see the Colonial Convoy, powerless and hanging in orbit, including Ariadne. Back on Intrepid, the crew identify a dampening field that is preventing the ships from drawing power, based on the planet, but cannot find its definite location. Meanwhile, Surai drones swarm across the planet. Lt. Stiles manages to locate the origin of the field to within a two kilometer radius, but no more specific. Hunter objects to obliterating the whole area, pointing out the survey teams may still be on the planet. Instead, he leads an away team to pinpoint the generator. Having found out that Nevar is ating under sealed orders, Prentice confronts Nevar, who is talking with an unseen officer. This conversation implies some sort of a conspiracy related to the Surai. After a conversation which yields no results between Prentice and Nevar, Nevar returns to browsing "non-existant" files.
The away team splits up, and the second group (Cole, Caed and Garren) locate the generator. In space, a number of Surai ships drop out of warp, heading towards the planet. A fiften-minute deadline is set for the away team. Meanwhile, Caed's team frantically tries to fend off drone attacks as Intrepid destroys the Surai vessels S'Ceris, Hunter, Garren and Merik arrive, holding off the drones. Prentice prepares to obliterate the target area, when S'Ceris identifies the correct target. Low powered phaser fire from the Intrepid destroys the power source, shutting off the field, and the drones shut down. The Surai vessels flee, unpursued by Intrepid The episode ends with a group of figures in a darkened room discussing the Surai. These are presumably the group that Nevar was taking orders from.
Long Version
{{Spoiler}}
As the film opens, the Captain's shuttle is descending onto Chiron IV, in order to deliver supplies to the fledging colony. Soon, the shuttle loses guidance, and begins to drop into a dive. Unable to make use of the transporters, Commander Hunter attempts to slow the shuttle using the tractor beam, but the high momentum prevents this. Finally, with less than fifteen seconds until a destructive collison, he orders Intrepid to fire torpedoes, destroying the ship.
After the credits sequence, we cut to a point one month later, with the colony being slowly established. The Merchant Service informs Commodore Prentice and Commander Hunter that they wish to take control of system defenses, a position fomerly taken care of by Starfleet and Intrepid. Prentice pleads the case, but the motion is carried, and system defences fall into Merchant Service's hands.
On the planet, Dr. Rick Garren and Captain Jago Merik are surveying the planet, Garren scanning and Merik making sketches. When the pair attempt to contact the Ariadne, they find that both of their combadges are not functioning, and they head back to the settlement.
Aboard Intrepid, Cole and Caed are arguing about a method of translating ancient Romulan tablets. S'Ceris scathingly points out that since Cole does not speak Latin, there is little reason to suspect that he speaks a dead Romulan language.
The argument is cut short when an unknown, organic ship approaches from the colony. It evades Intrepid, not responding to hails. When Intrepid follows it, the vessel opens fire. The vessel still refuses to respond, and continues its attacks on the Federation ship. As the ship comes round Intrepid's port bow, a single phaser attack disables it, provoking an autodestruct.
As Intrepid scans the planet, they see the Colonial Convoy, powerless and hanging in orbit, including Ariadne.
On the planet, Garren and Merik argue about the possibility of a Starfleet conspiracy to cripple the colony. In orbit, the ships are without life support. An ominous rumbling prompts Garren and Merik to leave the building.
Back on Intrepid, the crew identify a dampening field that is preventing the ships from drawing power, based on the planet. The crew rule out bringing the ship into the planet's vicinity, as well as beaming the crew off the convoy. The crew continue to search for the origin of the field, but Lt. Stiles points out they have little time to do so. As Surai drones swarm across the planet Lieutenants Caed and S'Ceris are scanning the debris from the scoutship. Finally, the pair discover something important, but it is not stated.
Lt. Stiles manages to locate the origin of the field to within a two kilometer radius, but no more specific. Lt. Nevar suggests sweeping the entire area with phaser fire, but Hunter objects, pointing out the survey teams may still be on the planet. Finally, Hunter decides to actually go down to the planet to pinpoint the generator, and manages to boost the range on the transporter in order to do so. The Commodore reminds Hunter of the dangerm but approves the mission.
On the surface of Chiron IV, Garren attempts (without success) to restore his phaser to working order. The two quickly move off, the drones behind them. Commodore Prentice talks to a nearby admiral, who drops hints about Lt. Nevar attacking under sealed orders. Prentice confronts Nevar, who is talking with an unseen officer. This conversation implies some sort of a conspiracy related to the Surai. After a conversation which yields no results between Prentice and Nevar, the Liuetennant searches for information on the Surai. The computer informs him that there is no such information, until he inputs his security code, allowing access to the "non-existant" files.
The away team beams down, with partially-working phasers (they work only at the "higher settings". Dialogue confirms this does not include stun.) The team splits up, Hunter and S'Ceris together, Cole, Garren and Caed in a group also. The second group identifies the power source, and heads in to check it out, despite Cole's worryings that this is too easy.
In space, a number of Surai ships drop out of warp, heading towards the planet. A fiften-minute deadline is set for the away team. Hunter and S'Ceris run into Merik and Garren, and end up in an armed confrontation. Eventually, Hunter convinces Garren to lay down arms and co-operate.
Meanwhile, Caed's team frantically tries to fend off drone attacks as Intrepid is attacked by the Surai. Nevar uses his "hunch" about the Surai to drop three undetonated torpedoes, then explode them with a second spread, destroying the ships.
S'Ceris, Hunter, Garren and Merik arrive, holding off the drones. Prentice prepares to obliterate the target area, when S'Ceris identifies the correct target. Low powered phaser fire from the Intrepid destroys the power source, shutting off the field, and the drones shut down. The Surai vessels flee, unpursued by Intrepid
The episode ends with a group of figures in a darkened room discussing the Surai. These are presumably the group that Nevar was taking orders from. Merik and Garren discuss the events, concluding that Starfleet could have still been responsible. A montage sequence in Hunter's quarters concludes the film.
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