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The official prequel to the motion picture.

Description[]

The countdown to the motion picture event of 2009 begins here, in the exclusive comics prequel to the upcoming blockbuster Star Trek! J.J. Abrams, Roberto Orci, and Alex Kurtzman present the origin of Nero, the mysterious Romulan who will ultimately threaten the survival of the entire universe. Don't miss this first chapter in the story that brings Star Trek back to the big screen!

Summary[]

Stardate 64333.4. Deep in Romulan territory... Where only a few have gone before...
Narada in the Hobus system

The Narada mining in the Hobus system

In the Hobus system, the Narada, a Romulan mining ship under the command of Captain Nero, is in orbit of a barren planet. Aboard the ship, Nero and his crew are preparing to extract minerals from the planet. His second-in-command, Ayel, informs him that they have achieved depth and that the extraction team is prepared to launch at Nero's command. Upon hearing that core samples from the planet contains large deposits of decalithium, a rare isotope which holds great value in the Romulan Star Empire, Nero gives the order to begin extraction.

Before they can begin extraction, however, Narada's sensors detect extreme fluctuations coming from the Hobus system's star. Nero orders the extraction crew to disengage and return to the Narada, after which a massive solar flare erupts and heads towards them. With interference from the star preventing transporter use, Nero sends an evac shuttle to retrieve the extraction team. Nero orders the helm to lay in a course for Romulus and to engage as soon as the shuttle returns. Ayel tells Nero that they cannot leave without retracting the drill, to which Nero replies that they have no choice. With all crew members safely aboard, the Narada warps out of the star system as the solar flare envelops the planet.

On Romulus, Federation Ambassador Spock is preparing to address the Romulan Senate.

"Romulus. My home for the past forty years. When I first came here I was with the underground reunification movement. Hiding in tunnels, working in shadows. But slowly I saw those few Romulans who were open to outside ideas grow into many. Romulan society went through several years of transformation. Curiosity, tolerance, and diplomacy ceased to be forbidden words in the Empire. Finally, immigration laws were passed, and I was allowed to live legally on Romulus. After years of covert resistance, I could finally assume the role of Ambassador and work for peace without fear of reprisal. But there is still a long way to go."

Spock presents his case to the Senate: the Hobus star is dying, and will soon go supernova, and the Romulan Empire is in danger because of it. He reveals that the star's eruption days earlier not only obliterated the planet but converted the planet's mass into energy, increasing the star's power. More eruptions have occurred since then and the star's power is increasing in intensity. It is Spock's belief that, once the star goes supernova, it will devour not only nearby systems, but the Romulan Empire, as well. His proposed solution is to use decalithium to create highly volatile "red matter," which can be used to create an artificial black hole that can devour the Hobus supernova before it spreads. However, the technology used to process decalithium into red matter can only be found on planet Vulcan.

Spock's solution creates a stir in the Senate, and one senator accuses Spock of being involved in a Vulcan plot against Romulus. The Praetor calls order amongst the senate and apologizes for his colleagues. However, the Praetor is unconvinced that the Hobus star is a threat to the Empire, as Romulan scientists studying the star did not come to the same conclusions. He also assured Spock that the Romulans would not simply hand over a rare and valuable material such as decalithium to the Vulcans, despite Spock's good intentions.

At this point, Nero, who is representing the Mining Guild, calls for a point of order. Upon being recognized, Nero tells the Senate how he and his crew witnessed the star's first eruption and how they barely escaped with their lives. He defends Spock, stating his belief that the Ambassador's conclusions are not far-fetched and that the Empire is running out of time. The Praetor dismisses Nero, however, referring to Spock's conclusions as hasty, drastic, and in need of further investigation. The Praetor then pronounces the proceedings to be closed.

Nero and Mandana

Mandana finds Nero troubled

That night, Nero is at home with his wife, Mandana, who is pregnant. Nero tells Mandana that he would never betray the Empire, but he must do something about the star even if it means disobeying the Senate. Mandana replies that he has a loyalty to himself as well as the Empire, and that he will never fail as long as he does what his heart tells him. Later, Nero meets with Spock and offers his services and those of his ship and crew to mine the decalithium Spock needs. Spock reminds Nero that he would be disobeying the Senate and if he is caught, he would spend the rest of his life in prison, never to see his family again. Nero replies that if he does nothing, he would lose his family anyway, and he would do anything to save his wife and the Empire. After looking through Spock's telescope and seeing how massive the supernova has become, Nero tells the Ambassador they must leave now. As Nero leaves to round up his crew, Spock thanks him for his help and his trust.

Mandana and Nero

Nero and Mandana's farewell

Nero convinces his crew to take part in the mission, despite their reservations. As he is about to depart, Nero says goodbye to Mandana, promising to be back before their child is born. Mandana then reveals that their child is a son, and proclaims that he will be a miner like his father. Nero and his crew then depart with Spock. Aboard the Narada, Nero tells Spock that his decision to help him was rash and wonders if he can really trust him. To this, Spock offers to mind meld with Nero, to show that he is telling the truth. Nero agrees, but breaks off the meld after seeing images of Mandana.

In the Kimben System, the Nerada begins mining a planet for decalithium. Suddenly, three Reman warbirds warp into the system. Before Nero can raise shields, several Remans transport onto the bridge and take over the ship. Nero's female crewmember manages to grab one of the Remans' disruptors and aims it at the leader of the intruders, demanding that they drop their weapons. Just then, the Narada is rocked by an explosion outside the ship: a Federation starship has begun attacking the Reman vessels.

The commanding officer of the Federation ship hails the Remans:

"Attention, Reman ships! This is Captain Data of the U.S.S. Enterprise. You will cease hostilities at once."

TO BE CONTINUED

References[]

Characters[]

AyelDataMandanaNeroSpockThrai
Referenced only
GodSular

Starships and vehicles[]

Evac shuttleUSS Enterprise-E (Sovereign-class) • NaradaReman starship

Locations[]

Hobus systemKimben systemRomulus
Referenced only
RemusVulcan

Races and cultures[]

androidHumanRemanRomulanVulcan

States and organizations[]

Federation StarfleetMining Guildreunification movementRomulan SenateRomulan Star EmpireUnited Federation of PlanetsVulcan Council

Science and technology[]

black holedecalithiumdeuteriumdrillenergygravimetricsiridiumradiationred mattersolar flarespacestarstar systemsupernovatransporterwarp speed

Other references[]

ambassadorcaptaingodimmigrationmind meldminingstardate

Appendices[]

Related media[]

Background[]

  • This issue was originally available in two covers; an art cover by David Messina and a photo-cover. Both featured Nero and were in the style of early teaser posters for the film Star Trek.
  • The issue was reprinted in the Countdown series omnibus in April 2009.
  • In June 2009 the issue was reprinted in Star Trek Comic #1. The Comic presented this issue and "Countdown, Number Two" together as "Countdown, Part 1".
  • In July 2009 this issue was reprinted for a limited release at the San Diego Comic Con. The reprint featured a new cover, featuring the combined artwork for the series, which was signed by the writers. This reprint was limited to one-thousand copies.
  • Spock's reference to Romulus being his home for forty years created some confusion amongst readers, suggesting a much later era, closer to the time of Star Trek Online. It was corrected to twenty years in the trade paperback version and later reprints, clearly referring to his arrival on Romulus in 2368 in the TNG episode: "Unification".
Countdown Online comparison

A comparison of the Starfleet uniforms in Countdown and Online

  • The Starfleet uniforms featured in this issue are modeled on the uniform design for the 25th century Starfleet to be featured in the forthcoming video game Star Trek Online, by Cryptic Studios. This was achieved via a collaboration between IDW and Cryptic, which meant the comics also had to be checked by Cryptic, as well as CBS and Paramount (owners of the Star trek franchise) and Bad Robot (production company of the movie) in the approval stages.[1]

Images[]

Connections[]

Stories set in the Kelvin timeline
comics When Worlds Collide: Spock Confronts the Ultimate ChallengeNero (1234) • Starfleet Academy (12345) • Star Trek Movie Adaptation (123456) • IDW Star Trek: Volume 1 (Where No Man Has Gone Before: 1, 2The Galileo Seven: 1, 2) • Volume 2 (Operation: Annihilate: 1, 2Vulcan's Vengeance: 1, 2) • Volume 3 (The Return of the Archons: 1, 2The Truth About Tribbles: 1, 2) • Volume 4 (1314Mirrored: 1, 2) • Volume 5 (17181920) • Countdown to Darkness (1234) • Volume 6 (After Darkness: 1, 2, 324) • Volume 7: The Khitomer Conflict (1234) • Khan (12345) • Volume 8 (Parallel Lives: 1, 2I, Enterprise!: 1, 2Lost Apollo: 1, 2) • Volume 9: The Q Gambit (123456) • Volume 10 (Behemoth: 1, 2Eurydice: 1, 2, 3Volume 11 (The Tholian Webs: 1, 2Deity: 12Flesh & Stone) • The Spectrum War (123456) • Live Evil (123) • Reunion (12) • Legacy of Spock (1234) • Connection (12) • Manifest Destiny (1234) • Stranger Worlds (123456) • Boldly Go: Volume 1 (123456) • Volume 2 (789101112) • Volume 3: IDIC (123456)
novels Star TrekStarfleet Academy (The Delta AnomalyThe EdgeThe Gemini AgentThe Assassination Game) • Into DarknessThe Unsettling StarsMore Beautiful Than Death
video games Delta Vega: Meltdown on the Ice PlanetAcademy TrainerCadet Training FacilityD-A-CRace to DestinyThe Mobile GameStar TrekRivalsDark Remnant
board games Expeditions live-action shorts Transporter CommercialBrilliant Enterprise CommercialCollision insurance commercialBold Explorers
websites Starfleet ShipyardDossiersExperience The Enterprise apps Star Trek App
prequels in original timeline Countdown (1234)

Timeline[]

Published Order
Previous comic:
first issue of the miniseries
Star Trek: Countdown Next comic:
Countdown, Number Two
Chronological Order
Previous adventure:
Don't Cry
Miral's flashback
Memory Beta Chronology Next adventure:
Countdown, Number Two

Publication history[]

21 January 2009
First released by IDW Publishing.
7 April 2009
Collected in the Star Trek: Countdown omnibus paperback edition. (IDW Publishing, ISBN 1600104207)
8 May 2009
United Kingdom omnibus. (Titan Books, ISBN ISBN 978-1-84856-435-0)
14 October 2009
Collected in the Countdown omnibus hardcover edition. (IDW Publishing, ISBN 1600106390)
16 November 2009
Omnibus packaged with Star Trek 2009 film in UK Region 2 DVD, resized to 4.25" x 6.44".
5 July 2016
Collected in the Countdown Collection's Volume 1 omnibus. (IDW Publishing, ISBN 978-1-63140-632-4)
5 January 2017
Collected in the Graphic Novel Collection's Volume 1 omnibus. (Eaglemoss Collections)
14 June 2023
Collected in the Library Collection's Volume 1 omnibus. (IDW Publishing, ISBN 979-8-88724-008-4)
Translations[]
15 April 2009
German: Collected in the German paperback omnibus. (Cross Cult, ISBN 978-3-94124-806-9)
April 2009
German: Collected in the German hardcover omnibus. (Cross Cult, ISBN 978-3-94124-807-6)
26 November 2009
Spanish omnibus release. (Editorial Drakul, ISBN ISBN 978-8-49353-487-5)
November 2010
Italian omnibus release. (Ultimo Avamposto)
30 August 2017
Italian: Collected in the Italian release of the Graphic Novel Collection, Volume 1. (RCS MediaGroup, ISSN 977228074425770001)

External link[]

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