For the crew of the USS Enterprise, our galaxy must seem a distinctly unfriendly place. This year, the Milky Way will be the victim of attacks by at least three planet-killing entities including a perfection-seeking machine, a giant robot, and an enormous single-celled amoeba-like creature. Faith in our commanders will be shaken as one by one a Starfleet Commodore becomes dangerously unhinged after losing his entire crew; a high-ranking ambassador is accused of a murder on board the Enterprise; and a Starfleet Captain sells out his crew by offering them the choice between a life of luxury or the gladiators' arena on a Roman-style planet. Old adversaries, the Klingons, will resurface to foster instability, whether by inciting rebellion in stable societies, by giving advanced weapon technology to primitive races, or by poisoning vital food supplies. And Kirk's crew will discover that life is even more violent in at least one parallel universe. Luckily, some light relief is provided in the form of Harry Mudd's army of eager-to-please android women, and of course, those "little bundles of pure love," the Tribbles. Lastly, we must welcome a new navigator to the Enterprise: step forward, Pavel Andreievich Chekov. The Voyage continues.