En route to a diplomatic mission, the Enterprise receives a distress call from the USS McRaven. As the Enterprise approaches the area where the McRaven appears to be, the crew encounters an anomaly unlike anything they've ever experienced. Space itself seems inconsistent, warping, changing appearance. But during the brief periods of calm, they locate the McRaven along with other ships of various origins, all tightly surrounding and being held in place by an enormous unidentified vessel.