The USS Dalton went missing in 2380, while studying the Vaulteran Nebula in Bolian Space. However, information has come in that a trader on Freecloud has information about where the Dalton is located. The information is coming into Astrea as the traders were setting up shop on Freecloud, a planet in the Alpha Doradus system, known for being a Mecca for businesses, free traders, and others.

The Pakleds are already interested and may have made an offer, and Astrea is hoping to intercept this information.

The Alpha Doradus system is a long way from Bolian Space, located in the Beta Quadrant just outside of both Federation and Romulan Space. What brought the Kzinti traders way out there with this information? The clues will eventually lead Astrea into the Typhon Expanse, an uncharted region of space rife with hidden dangers.