Book One of Two.
The original Enterprise, under the command of Captain James T Kirk, destroys a Romulan Warbird in the area known as the Badlands (an area well known to fans of the later television series.) Microgravity shifts wreak havoc with the ships system and seems to make crew members sick.
Although Dr McCoy diagnoses the crew with an overdose of radiation, the destruction of the Warbird sends an Artificial Quantum Singularity hurtling off to the nearby Badlands. Cardassian ships from the other side of the Badlands seem to threaten the Enterprise, but the sudden return and disappearance of the singularity forces both ships to return home, unsure what has happened.
The "Enterprise-D", under the command of Captain Jean-Luc Picard, is on a routine survey mission in the Badlands in preparation for the Cardassian/Federation treaty. Commander Riker's shuttle is mysteriously damaged and he falls mysteriously ill, but an uncooperative Cardassian cruiser suggests he is merely suffering from space fever. As tensions rise and no explanation can be found, Captain Picard is forced to consider the possibility of Cardassian sabotage!
