The U.S.S. Enterprise is commandeered by Admiral Simon Reeger to track down and destroy an invisible alien ship. With the command crew out of contact, Lt. Cmdr. James T. Kirk finds himself at odds with the order to destroy an entire planet.

Anson Mount (Captain Christopher Pike)
Ethan Peck (Lieutenant Spock)
Jess Bush (Nurse Christine Chapel)
Christina Chong (Lt. La'an Noonien-Singh)
Celia Rose Gooding (Ensign Nyota Uhura)
Melissa Navia (Lt. Erica Ortegas)
Babs Olusanmokun (Dr. Joseph M'Benga)
Martin Quinn (Lt. Montgomery Scott)
Rebecca Romijn (Commander Una Chin-Riley)

Paul Wesley (Lt. Cmdr. James Kirk)

Currie Graham (Turr)
Dan Jeannotte (Lt. Samuel Kirk)
Joe Morton (Admiral Simon Reeger)

Bianca Nugara (Cadet A'Sha)
Ewa Wolniczek (Yeoman Vanek)

• While Pike, Number One, and Uhura are on an away mission on the moon Sigma-287D, they are held hostage by a group of Andorian mercenaries.
  
• Admiral Reeger sabotaged George Kirk's career after the Battle of Zeta Reticuli during the Klingon war and took credit for the victory.
  
• Scotty wears a skant style uniform in this episode (as Uhuru usually wears).
  
• Uhuru is promoted to Lieutenant junior grade.