Nine years ago, Chief of Security Dorian Gabriel lost his fiancé when she was inexplicably murdered while working on a joint Romulan-Federation project. A culprit was never identified, but various sources pointed towards her Romulan supervisor Dr. Kur'ann and his Nausicaan bodyguard as playing significant roles in her demise.

Although Dr. Kur'ann was never charged with Dr. Morgan's murder, he certainly paid the price. Within two days of a violent confrontation with Dorian, both Kur'ann and his Nausicaan bodyguard were found within his quarters, dead from several stab wounds to the chest with a bloody comm. badge belonging to Dorian lying several feet away from the gruesome scene.

Dorian was charged with the murder of both men despite his plea of innocence. However, the subsequent investigations did not produce sufficient evidence to warrant a conviction or even a trial on the matter. Their murders remained unsolved and Dorian was able to move on with his life, until several sources from outside the Federation began to call for the investigation to be re-opened and Dorian tried for the murder of a Romulan citizen.

Deep Space Five's Executive Officer and Judge Advocate General officer, Commander Karen Villiers has spent the past month performing a subtle investigation into the matter while various government officials have called for more direct and swift action on the matter. Despite this, Commander Villiers has managed to convince the Federation to try the Starfleet officer on the station with Starfleet legal counsel. Dorian must now face the legal system that he swore to protect while simultaneously discovering the political machinations determined to ruin his career and life.

Meanwhile a nearby planet has undergone a Civil War and the opposition eventually overthrew the Government and declared that they were breaking away from the Federation.

The Federation has decided to stand back and wait to see how the situation would play itself out, but in the meantime they want to provide humanitarian aide however possible.

On the way to the planet the runabout is shot down and it crashlands behind enemy lines. The crew will have to fend for themselves until they can reach safety or rescue comes.