In 2293, the Kumari had been patrolling Klingon territory. When it returned to IU space across the Ashen Scar anomaly, it became the first ship to survive the anomaly. On top of that achievement, Kumari successfully evaded patrolling D8-class battlecruisers. When Commander Hikaru Sulu learned that contact with the cultural observation post on 40 Eridani A II had been lost, he arranged for Kumari to be reassigned to provide relief. Sulu's daughter Demora served as security officer on the anthropological outpost.