Three months after the catastrophic attack on Zaran IV, Lakota Squadron has been dissolved, leaving its members scattered and demoralised. Commander Noli Auru, demoted and restored to her previous position, finds herself reassigned to the USS Columbia, a Galaxy-class starship long past her prime. In the shadow of disgrace, Noli and a handful of familiar faces must grapple with their shared failures as they prepare for Columbia for her latest mission.

The arrival of their new captain—a figure from the past with burdens of his own—only heightens the tension. But when Starfleet issues an unexpected, devastating new directive, the crew finds a spark of purpose: the ship is to be retired in a year’s time, decommissioned and consigned to the annals of history. Together, the crew vows to restore Columbia’s legacy, ensuring her name is remembered not as a relic of failure, but as a symbol of resilience and honour.

But with time running out, the stakes are high and redemption is hard-earned. And every action has the potential to define this epic final chapter…