Star Trek: Generations is set in the year 2293, when Captain James T. Kirk, Montgomery Scot and Pavel Chekov are on board the Federation starship USS Enterprise-B, commanded by Captain John Harriman. As they travel, the crew receive orders to save two El-Aurian ships in distress. Before the vessels are totally destroyed, the members of Enterprise manage to save some survivors but not until the starship is caught in the energy ribbon as well. As Kirk tries to save their vessel, the energy ribbon damages the Enterprise’s hull where Kirk is currently located. The hull breaks and the whole Enterprise crew assumes that Kirk is dead.
After almost eighty years, the current captain of Enterprise, Jean-Luc Picard receives a message informing him of his family’s death. In the meantime, another starship, the USS Enterprise-D accepts a distress call originating from the star Amargosa. When they respond, the crews find that no one is left alive except Dr. Tolian Soran. The android called Data and an engineer called Geordi La Forge come across trilithium in a hidden compartment in the observatory. Soran surprises him and knocks him out. Soran launches a trilithium probe at Amargosa. An explosion commences, destroying most of Amargosa including the observatory. Before they are caught by the explosion, a Klingon Bird of Prey owned by the Duras sisters snatches Soran and La Forge. Data escapes before the observatory is completely destroyed.
A bartender aboard Enterprise, Guinan informs Picard about Soran. Picard learns that Guinan and Soran were among the people saved by Enterprise-B in 2293. Guinan reveals Soran’s obsession with reentering “Nexus,” an extradimensional realm that allows people to revisit the past. Picard and Data figure out that Soran may be planning to pursue his plan by destroying Veridian III’s sun.
In the Veridian, the Enterprise contacts the Duras Bird of Prey. Picard offers a deal to the sisters. He will exchange himself for the release of La Forge. He also demands assistance to Soran’s location. When La Forge returns to the Enterprise, his mistake allows the Duras sisters to attack and damage the Enterprise. Though the starship manages to destroy the enemies’ vessel, it crash lands on Veridian III.
On other hand, Picard fails to dissuade Soran from pursuing his plan. The missile is launched and the destruction of Veridian’s sun changes the pathway of the Nexus. Picard and Soran are swept away as everything around them is destroyed. In the Nexus, PIcards sees his supposed “family”. He realizes that the Nexus is just presenting him with an illusion. He also sees an image of Guinan who reminds him that he can go anywhere anytime. Guinan’s image leads him to Kirk, who is also trapped in the Nexus. Picard convinces him to stop Soran and prevent him from doing more damage.
The two men go back to Veridian III with just a few moments before Soran can launch the missile. Kirk holds Soran’s attention as Picard locks the missile on the launch pad. The missile explodes on ground and Soran is killed with the explosion. Kirk is also heavily injured and dies on Picard’s arms. The movie ends with the arrival of a shuttle commanded to save Picard and the rest of Enterprise’s crew members.