Star Trek : The Beginning Star Trek : The Beginning was the tentative title for an abandoned plan for the eleventh " Star Trek " film . Development and abandonment . Developed by Paramount Pictures , under then President Donald DeLine , the film was associated with veteran " Trek " producer Rick Berman and producers Kerry McCluggage and Jordan Kerner and written by " Band of Brothers " writer . Jendresen had completed a first draft of a script , titled " Star Trek : The Beginning " . It was dated . However , the project was scrapped following the entrance of new studio President Gail Berman , in favor of , which was directed by J . J . Abrams . According to Jendresen , the film would have bridged the gap between the end of and the beginning of . It was Jendresen ' s hope that the story , which depicted the Earth - Romulan War , would be part of a trilogy of films . Jendresen went on to blame a " regime change " at Paramount Studios for the death of the film . The story , which Jendressen quoted as being " big and epic " , would have taken place " a couple of years after the end of the events of " Enterprise " but well before the original series , and it would look at the inciting incident that started everything " . Jendressen also explained that the story would have focused on a small group of people , particularly one character , but it would not have been a traditional " Star Trek " captain or crew . In addition , it would have featured " a couple of ships , including a principal ship " . The central character of the trilogy , stated Jendresen , would have been a progenitor of James T . Kirk named Tiberius Chase . Before the planned film was officially shelved , Rick Berman spoke to press sources and indicated that Paramount was ambivalent about the storyline , which would have featured no established " Star Trek " characters , and that the studio was considering shelving the concept . ( ) Later , there were rumors reported by " Dreamwatch " magazine that Paramount had decided to cancel plans for a possible eleventh film " entirely " , thereby concluding the " Trek " film series and citing a source that stated it would be " a long time before Paramount backs any future " Trek " films or TV shows " . This ultimately proved to be false , with the development and release of , spearheaded by J . J . Abrams . As recently as , screenwriter Jendresen spoke with press about the project , reiterating details about the storyline and his thoughts about the Paramount " regime change " . Jendresen also revealed that Rick Berman was attached to the project in name only , saying that the veteran producer had nothing to do with the new project . Jendresen also stated that he hoped his story would appear in the future , in the form of " Star Trek " novels . In 2006 , a new was proposed , and the captain shared the surname " Chase " and also fought the Romulans . Story and characters . Details of the film ' s story were revealed in a write - up of Jendressen ' s script by " Ain ' t It Cool News " ( AICN ) in October 2007 . The story is set in August and September of 2159 , four years after the events of the " Enterprise " episode and two years before the events depicted on the holodeck in the " Enterprise " series finale , . At this time , Earth is going through a number of political changes . With the recent establishment of the Coalition of Planets ( the beginnings of which were witnessed in and " Terra Prime " ) , extraterrestrials are becoming more common and accepted by Human s . In addition , there is talk that the militaristic United Earth Stellar Navy ( UESN ) may be merging with the exploratory Starfleet . As stated by Jendressen , the script centers on the character of Tiberius Chase , a top - notch pilot in the UESN . Having graduated from UESN academy , Chase wants to be accepted into the prestigious Starfleet but his attempts have been hindered due to the stigma of his family name . The Chase family , as it turns out , is associated with an Earth - based xenophobic faction similar to Terra Prime . Terran isolationists situated in the Mühlig - Hofmann Mountains in Antarctica , this faction wishes to end contact with alien races to preserve the Human gene pool . Due to Chase ' s association with such a group , Starfleet is reluctant to trust him , unsure as to his exact agenda . In the meantime , a massive Romulan fleet is heading towards Earth , using a trajectory which conceals it behind Earth ' s moon , Luna . A preliminary attack force begins attacking Earth in various locations , including San Francisco , Los Angeles , Honolulu , New York , Beijing , Moscow , London , Cairo , and Athens . The Romulans demand that Earth surrender and turn over their Vulcan population for extermination . Their goal is to " cleanse " the galaxy of their logic al Vulcan cousins ( though it is unlikely the Humans know of this desire in order to keep with canon ) . Unprepared for Earth ' s defiance in meeting their demands , the first Romulan fleet calls for further assistance while continuing their own assault . Starfleet and the UESN defend Earth , but the battle isn ' t going well . With a second wave of Romulan ships just two weeks away , Tiberius Chase hatches a plan to bring the battle to the Romulan space . His plan is to fly into the heart of the Romulan Star Empire and disrupt their war - making capabilities . Starfleet and his superiors refuse to listen to him , however . Unwilling to give up and let Earth lose to the Romulans , Chase and the few who agree with his plan acquire a nuclear bomb from the isolationist base in Antarctica . They then hijack a small vessel , the USS " Spartan " , from a drydock orbiting Saturn . The story ends with the " Spartan " making its way towards Romulus on its dangerous mission to bring the Romulans ' battle to their own doorstep . The story also involves the relationship between Chase and Penelope Gardner , with whom Chase is in love . Penelope is the daughter of Admiral Gardner ( mentioned several times throughout " Enterprise " ) and is described as " a school teacher from Iowa . " Not coincidentally , James T . Kirk would be born in Iowa in 2233 . Chase sends " love letters " to Penelope as he heads into battle . Admiral Gardner , in the meantime , works to defend Earth from the Romulans . Other characters in the script include Chase ' s father , Otto , as well as a Lieutenant " Jaxx " , a ensign named " Ogg " , and a Vulcan engineer named Skal . The latter is the designer of the NX - Omega warp engine , the first engine capable of warp 8 . According to AICN ' s write - up , the NX - Omega is ready for launch ; this seems to contradict the final episode of " Enterprise " in which Captain Jonathan Archer and Commander are seen toasting the warp 7 engine in 2161 . The only previously - seen character who appears in the script is Shran , the Andorian commander played by Jeffrey Combs in several episodes of " Enterprise " . Also in the script is Skon , the father of Sarek , who serves as Vulcan ' s ambassador to Earth . Jonathan Archer and are mentioned but never seen . According to a line of dialogue from the script , Archer and his crew are on Risa during the attacks . The " Columbia " NX - 02 is seen twice in the script , and suffers damage during a Romulan attack . MACO s also play a role in the script . Denobulan s and Tellarite s are among the familiar alien races seen . According to AICN , the script ' s structure resembles those of World War II films . Its story and setting is more dark and militaristic than " traditional " " Star Trek " , more closely resembling . As these story elements come from the only draft script written for the film , it is unknown what would have changed or remained had the project been picked up .