On the edge of the abyss beyond the Orion Arm of the Milky Way patrols a small frigate. Its mission is to be the eyes and ears for the Confederate States of Space, one of the many human nations that broke away from the Imperial Earth Empire in the 2260s. Each of the Viper series is the 50 entry log book for that year. Each entry is written in short story format. The Viper becomes the point of contact for several aliens race, some the humans wish they never met. 2286 is the third year. Emphasis is placed on how the crew functions together when facing a challenge rather that what new science equipment can be dreamed up.