Yeah I cared about the characters and their fates. Also I think the combat in Star Trek has always worked best when it is about characters trying to outthink each other and it remembers that people's lives hang on every choice made and little mistakes can cost lives and this movie had that in spades. it was also very well acted unlike every other fan film I have ever seen and I will say it again I was more invested in this movie then I have been in any Star Trek movie or Sci-Fi movie in a long time so that twenty minutes were better and it looks like they are going to get their money so I can't wait to see the rest of it.