Shortly after making the stunning revelation that it has joined with Federation's newest adversary, the Typhon Pact, the Gorn Hegemony suffers an ecological disaster that destroys the hatchery world that nurtures their civilisation's warrior caste. The rest of Gorn society quickly tries to find a replacement warrior hatchery world.

The Gorn had already been investigating traces of an ancient but powerful "quick terraforming" technology left behind by a long-vanished race that may have been responsible for habitability of many of the worlds on the Gorn frontier. Such a technology promises to restore the Gorn civilization's status quo, but if certain Gorn factions gain control of the technology it will upset the balance of power within the Gorn Hegemony and the Typhon Pact. Two galactic quadrants will be in danger - and the civilization on the planet Hranrar will become extinct.

The U.S.S. Titanbegins pursuing this potent technology as well, in the hopes of using it to heal the wounds the Federation sustained during the recent Borg crisis (Destiny). Captain Riker must balance his responsibility for his crew's safety against protecting the Hranrarii. With the Typhon Pact fleet nipping at his heels, Riker must find a way not only to stop the Gorn (without violating the Prime Directive), but also to gain control of the ancient terraforming tech. Of everyone serving aboard Titan, only Commander Tuvok (a witness to Project Genesis's unintended effects) truly understand how dangerous such planet-altering technology can be, even when used with the best of intentions. . . .