Plot
In 2233, the Federation starship USS Kelvin is investigating a "lightning storm" in space. A Romulan ship, Narada, emerges from the storm and attacks the Kelvin. Narada's first officer, Ayel, demands that the Kelvin's Captain Robau come aboard to negotiate a truce. Once aboard, Robau is questioned about an "Ambassador Spock", whom he professes not to know, and the current stardate. Narada's commander, Nero, kills him, and continues his attack on the Kelvin. George Kirk, the Kelvin's first officer, orders the ship's personnel, including his pregnant wife Winona, to evacuate the ship while he pilots the Kelvin on a collision course with the Narada. At the cost of his life, Kirk ensures Winona's survival, and she gives birth to their son, James T. Kirk.
Years later, on Vulcan, a young Spock is invited to join the Vulcan Science Academy. Discovering that the Academy views his human mother Amanda Grayson as a "disadvantage", he decides to join Starfleet instead. On Earth, Kirk becomes a reckless but intelligent young adult. After a bar fight with Starfleet cadets accompanying Nyota Uhura, Kirk meets Captain Christopher Pike. He encourages Kirk to enlist in Starfleet Academy, where he meets and befriends the cynical doctor Leonard McCoy.
Three years later, Commander Spock accuses Cadet Kirk of cheating during his Kobayashi Maru simulation. The disciplinary hearing is interrupted by a distress signal from Vulcan. With the primary fleet out of range, the cadets are mobilized. McCoy and Kirk board Pike's ship, the Enterprise. Realizing that the "lightning storm" observed by Vulcan is similar to the one that occurred at the time of his birth, Kirk convinces Pike the distress signal is a trap.
Enterprise arrives at Vulcan to find the the fleet destroyed and the Narada drilling into Vulcan's core. Narada attacks the Enterprise and Pike surrenders, giving Spock command and promoting Kirk to first officer. Kirk, Hikaru Sulu, and Chief Engineer Olson perform a space jump onto the drilling platform and disable it. However, Nero launches "red matter" into the core, creating an artificial black hole that destroys the planet. Spock rescues the Vulcan high council and his father Sarek, though his mother dies.
As the Narada heads toward Earth, Nero tortures Pike to gain access to Earth's defenses, and Kirk is stranded on Delta Vega after attempting mutiny. Kirk encounters an older Spock, who explains that he and Nero are from 129 years into the future, when Romulus was threatened by a volatile supernova. Spock's attempt to use "red matter" to create a black hole and consume the supernova failed, and Nero's family perished. Narada and Spock's vessel were caught in the black hole, sending them back in time. Nero stranded Spock on Delta Vega to watch Vulcan's destruction.
Reaching a Starfleet outpost, Kirk and Spock Prime meet Montgomery Scott. With Spock Prime's help, Kirk and Scott beam onto the Enterprise. Following the elder Spock's advice, Kirk provokes Spock into attacking him, leading Spock to relinquish command due to being emotionally compromised. After talking with Sarek, Spock decides to help Kirk. While Enterprise hides itself under the gas clouds of Titan, Kirk and Spock beam aboard the Narada; Kirk rescues Pike while Spock uses the elder Spock's ship to destroy the drill. Spock leads the Narada away from Earth and sets his ship to collide with Nero's ship. Enterprise arrives and beams Kirk, Pike, and Spock aboard. The older Spock's ship and the Narada collide igniting the "red matter" and consuming the Narada in a black hole.
On Earth, Kirk is promoted to the rank of Captain in command of the Enterprise, while Pike is promoted to Rear Admiral. Spock encounters his older self. Having selected a planet for the surviving Vulcans to colonize, the older Spock persuades his younger self to continue serving Starfleet, encouraging him to do what feels right, instead of what is logical. Spock remains in Starfleet and becomes first officer under Kirk's command. Enterprise goes to warp as the elder Spock narrates the "where no-one has gone before" monologue.
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