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Star Trek: Destiny

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Table of Contents

About the book, about the author.

David Mack is the multi-award-winning and the New York Times bestselling author of thirty-eight novels of science fiction, fantasy, and adventure, including the Star Trek Destiny and Cold Equations trilogies. His extensive writing credits include episodes of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine , and he worked as a consultant on season one of the animated series Star Trek: Prodigy . Honored in 2022 as a Grand Master by the International Association of Media Tie-in Writers, Mack resides in New York City.

Product Details

• Publisher: Pocket Books/Star Trek (March 13, 2012)
• Length: 848 pages
• ISBN13: 9781451657241

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Star Trek: Destiny — by David Mack

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The Star Trek: Destiny Series in Order (3 Books)

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Star Trek: The Next Generation: Destiny Trilogy book review

The epic Star Trek: Destiny trilogy is finally upon us. This three-book, litverse crossover will shape the enter Star Trek shared continuity for years to come. David Mack has promised a truly epic, game-changer event with these books. This is a clash of civilizations: The Borg v The Federation. Who will win?

Spoilers ahead!

David Mack was approached by Pocket Book editors Margaret Clarke and Marco Palmieri with a very specific request. Write a truly epic crossover trilogy. It had to be huge. It had to be an event. It had to be a statement piece.

After pitching a few ideas, Mack was told “sorry, not epic enough.” Finally, he asked them what sort of books they had in the pipeline. At the time, since books a written a year or two in advance, they had a lot of Borg stories on the agenda. “ Aha !” said David Mack, who then pitched, sold, and wrote the Destiny trilogy.

It is interesting to note that the previous books were not specifically leading up to Destiny . It was more that Destiny was written to fit around them! It goes to show there wasn’t exactly a clear vision on where the post-Nemesis timeline would go. It was still, somewhat, in flux.

Mack was told to keep Voyager and Deep Space 9 ’s role in the books limited. This was because they had their independent post-TV stories going, and they wanted to ensure the Destiny books wouldn’t conflict.

Since I read these books a little while ago, I’ve decided to review all three at the same time, as my memories of the specific parts are a little hazy.

A mysterious wreck is found by some of the Deep Space 9 crew, which turns out to be a long lost Federation ship. Fast forward 8 years and the Borg have launched their devastating attack in the Alpha quadrant. Captain Dax eventually figures out the wrecked ship is linked to the Borg incursion.

Rewind a century or two, and the early Starfleet vessel Columbia is going about its merry way, until some Romulans show up and, long story short, they kept captured by the Caeliar. These guys love their privacy, so leaving is a no go.

Eventually, Titan finds the Caeliar too, and they’re also captured. Except that a long time has passed and now former Columbia captain Erika Hernandez is now in possession of some seriously Jedi like powers. She helps the Titan crew escape. Meanwhile, Federation President Nan Bacco gets an intergalactic Borg fighting band together, and they march off to fight the Borg.

Finally, the power Erika Hernandez poses as the Borg queen, in an attempt to liberate, rather than destroy the drones. We also find out, far into the past, the very first Borg is born… a bitter, angry, sick and confused Caeliar assimilates its first victim.

A lot of people say that the Destiny trilogy is a great jumping-on point for new Star Trek readers interested in the post-Nemesis literary timeline. Personally, I disagree.

Don’t get me wrong, Destiny is some of the best Trek out there, at least in book form. But man it’s complicated. While it’s sold as a crossover series, when I first read it I thought it would be a crossover in the style of Star Trek: Generations; something akin to “ Kirk and Picard team up to fight the bad guys” . But Destiny is a litverse crossover. That means a lot of new characters. A lot of details outlined in the preceding books.

That aside, Destiny is just about everything it promised to be. The trilogy does not pull any punches. It was a gutsy move, exploring both the origin of the Borg and, in the end, defeating them for good. That’s right, we know how the Borg came about and we see the Borg threat neutralised once and for all.

Like a lot of people, I found the Enterprise era story, featuring Hernandez, Inyx, and the MACOs, the most interesting. The story constantly shifts viewpoints, and some things that seem unrelated eventually come together. There were a few points where I found myself a little lost, or a bit impatient to get back to a more critical part of the story.

But Mack holds the huge, twisty, timey-wimey story together will impressive skill. And things come to a very satisfying conclusion in book 3. Mack also does a great job translating the feel of Star Trek from the screen to the page. Little, innocuous details help create a vivid sense of Trekkyness, without trying too hard.

The Destiny trilogy received positive reviews online. All three books hold an “excellent” rating on TrekBBS. TrekLit described Gods Of Night as being, “[…] an incredibly strong start to the Destiny trilogy.” While Trek Core said it was, “[…] an excellent trilogy.” Trek Movie described the trilogy as achieving, “a startling transformation of the Star Trek universe.” While The Discriminating Fangirl described the trilogy as, “A masterpiece.” Needless to say the general reception was positive.

Mack said in an interview that the book did, and continues to, sell very well.

Star Trek: Destiny

Gods of night, mere mortals, and lost souls.

• 4.5 • 97 Ratings

Publisher Description

The omnibus edition of an epic crossover trilogy uniting characters from every corner of the Star Trek universe, and revealing the shocking origin and final fate of the Federation's most dangerous enemy--the Borg. DESTINY #1: GODS OF NIGHT THE BORG RETURN—WITH A VENGEANCE. Blitzkrieg attacks by the Borg leave entire worlds aflame. No one knows how they are slipping past Starfleet’s defenses, so Captain Picard and the crew of the Enterprise have to find out—and put a stop to it. Thousands of light-years away, Captain Riker and the crew of the Titan follow bizarre energy pulses to a mysterious, hidden world. But what they find there is a figure out of history: a Starfleet captain long thought dead. At the same time, in the Gamma Quadrant, a new captain and her crew investigate the wreck of the Earth starship Columbia NX-02, missing in action for more than two centuries. Four starships. Four captains. Four lives about to intersect—and discover their shared Destiny. DESTINY #2: MERE MORTALS IT’S A CLASH OF CIVILIZATIONS. The Borg have found a secret passage through subspace and are using it to attack the Federation. But the passage is one of many that the Enterprise crew finds inside a nebula, and Captain Picard and Captain Dax must find the right one—and lead a counterstrike to stop the impending Borg invasion. Meanwhile, Captain Riker and the Titan’s crew are held captive by the reclusive and powerful aliens known as the Caeliar. The Titan’s freedom hinges on the action of fellow prisoner Erika Hernandez, commander of the long-lost Earth starship Columbia. Hernandez has lived among the Caeliar for centuries—enduring disasters, accidental time-travel, and interstellar exile. After so long as their prisoner, will she dare to fight for her freedom? Or is an eternity in captivity her inescapable Destiny? DESTINY #3: LOST SOULS THE FINAL BATTLE HAS BEGUN. An armada of several thousand Borg cubes has wiped out a fleet of ships sent by the Federation and its allies. The Collective’s goal this time isn’t assimilation—it’s extermination. Captain Picard, Captain Riker, and Captain Ezri Dax unite in a final desperate bid to halt the Borg’s genocidal march through known space. But their three starships—the Enterprise, the Titan, and the Aventine—are no match for the Borg armada. Or are they? With them is Erika Hernandez, former captain of the Columbia. She has powers and insight gained from centuries of living with the aliens known as the Caeliar. She can end the Borg threat forever—or transform it into an unstoppable menace that will devour the galaxy. Destruction or salvation—only one can be her final Destiny.

Customer Reviews

Simply a classic.

David Mack has written a modern day Star Trek classic with this ultimate final confrontation with the Borg!

An epic saga with one minor annoyance

Mack tells an epic tale that spans millennia and the range of human emotion. I love how he jumps around from starship to starship and perspective to perspective; it all works together and adds many dimensions to a story that revolves around....well...destiny. The only criticism I have about books by this author is the constant need to describe how attractive the women are at every opportunity, even when the scene is a firefight and billions of lives hang in the balance. I get it, they're attractive. It's a bit distracting but it's a small complaint in an otherwise compelling work that is hard to put down.

Great read!

Great read! Interesting twists. I thoroughly enjoined this trilogy.

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Star Trek: Destiny

Part of the Star Trek Novel 'Verse .

With the end of Star Trek: Voyager in 2001 and the flop of Star Trek: Nemesis in 2002, the canonical Star Trek franchise changed its focus from the 24th century back to the 22nd and, ultimately, 23rd centuries. The upshot was that the bleeding edge of the Star Trek mythos was completely abandoned... with, for the first time in decades, absolutely no new developments planned on the horizon.

Needless to say that the way was paved for a more active Star Trek Expanded Universe , where writers of novels were finally free to really shake things up and the status quo no longer held the sway it once did.

All of this culminated in late 2008 with Star Trek: Destiny , an epic novel trilogy by David Mack, detailing the final war between The Federation and the Borg Collective . After suffering one defeat after another at the hands of Starfleet, the Borg have finally decided to cut their losses and wipe out Humanity once and for all. To this end, they send an armada to the Alpha Quadrant using a network of interstellar tunnels, left behind by a Sufficiently Advanced Alien race. Things look bleak for Starfleet, but the wreck of a ship, lost mysteriously centuries earlier, may hold the secret to the Federation's survival.

The story is spread out over three novels ( Gods of Night, Mere Mortals and Lost Souls ). Major spoilers are found below. The books were followed by A Singular Destiny and Losing the Peace as pseudo-epilogues.

Tropes seen in Star Trek: Destiny include:

• Absolute Xenophobe : The Caeliar are utterly afraid of anyone finding out about them, and will do absolutely anything to stop info getting out about them. Some are just better at hiding it than others. Sedín is not one of them.
• Actual Pacifist : The Caeliar. They would rather die in the millions than harm another being, or even allow harm to come to others if they can prevent it. When the human characters they're holding captive rebel, they're convinced to co-operate when a human shoots his own colleague.
• Alien Arts Are Appreciated : Former President Zife, a Bolian, greatly admired Monet's Bridge Over a Pond of Water Lillies . He left the painting in a prominent position in the Presidential wardroom, considering it a symbol of all the art and culture of the Federation, which he was intent on preserving.
• All-Powerful Bystander : The Caeliar. Not literally all-powerful, but incredibly advanced technologically, and capable of resolving the Borg threat relatively simply. However, their culture is stagnant, xenophobic and isolationist in the extreme, apathetic about the wider galaxy. It takes Erika Hernandez to pull them off the sidelines, after first rediscovering her own humanity.
• Alone in a Crowd : A very effective example in Mere Mortals , with Erika Hernandez among the Caeliar. The scene leads into Hernandez's attempted suicide .
• And I Must Scream : The fate that threatens Hernandez if the Borg get hold of her. Also, what happens to Hernandez's three remaining crew members when faced with spending their whole lives imprisoned with the Caeliar, with absolutely nothing to do and no one to talk to (not even themselves). Fletcher handles it somewhat better than the other two.
• Applied Phlebotinum : Catoms, or "claytronic atoms" in the long form. Also known as programmable matter, they're the Caeliar's source of power.
• "Ass" in Ambassador : Tholian Ambassador Tezrene. Even while known space is facing total obliteration at the hands of the Borg, the Tholians refuse to help on the grounds that the Federation will be the first to fall, and they hate the Federation.
• Apocalypse How : By means of Borg cubes annihilating planetary biospheres, apparently.
• Back for the Dead : T'lana , who had been written out of the TNG relaunch shortly before Destiny , and Charivretha zh'Thane , who hadn't been seen for some time (and several years earlier in-universe).
• Battle in the Center of the Mind : In the climax of the trilogy, the Borg Collective and the Caeliar gestalt engage in a psychic battle, with Erika Hernandez's mind serving as the battlefield.
• Be Careful What You Wish For : After what happened to Janeway in Before Dishonor , Chakotay really wants to get payback on the Borg. The Battle of the Azure Nebula disabuses him of this notion.
• Blood on the Debate Floor : When President Bacco calls the ambassadors from the major galactic powers together, Klingon ambassador K'mtok and Romulan ambassador Kalavak end up fighting. After a series of accusations and insults regarding events in prior novels (particularly in Star Trek: Articles of the Federation ), the two begin to physically scuffle, until separated by Federation security.
• Blue-and-Orange Morality : Dr. Ree, by humans standards. His species are like dinosaurs, so he finds mammalian attachment to their fetuses slightly ridiculous; when their eggs fail, his people just smash the shell and eat the yolk and baby. No sense wasting food.
• Breeding Slave : Implied to be the fate of Thayer, as she becomes one of the first Borg drones, kept alive in order to make more drones.
• Brick Joke : Through Mere Mortals , Fletcher is shown spending her time in Axiom writing fan fiction . During Lost Souls , the Titan away team find her work, and it turns out she wrote several novels.
• Call-Back : Troi's incident with Andrew way back in "The Child" turns out to be behind her problems conceiving; despite what Dr. Pulaski thought, the radiation he gave off had more long term damage than immediately presumed.
• Can't Argue with Elves : The Caeliar, who have evolved almost completely beyond the need for physical bodies, have no crime, poverty, or want, and are devoted completely to artistic and scientific pursuits. They have just enough respect for others' beliefs to not try to convince other races that the Caeliar's way is correct, but no amount of cajoling will convince them that the Caeliar's way is wrong, or even just not applicable to all circumstances. They are severely isolationist, but are Actual Pacifists , which leads various characters who stumble upon their home planet to become permanent "guests" . Not a bad place to be, all things considered, but don't argue too much. Make too much noise or disrupt their work and the Caeliar will teleport you to a nice uninhabited planet a few billion light years away, just to make sure you never get home with information about them.
• Cassandra Truth : Seven is brought on as an adviser to Starfleet's war council, but they just ignore her—albeit in part because she tells them that the Federation cannot possibly defeat a full-scale Borg invasion. She was right.
• Comically Missing the Point : At one point during a discussion, Torvig hears someone quip about the idea of a Gorn going vegetarian. A moment later, Torvig explains that actually, with the right dietary supplements, a Gorn can in fact live a vegetarian lifestyle.
• Computer Virus : During the early stages of the Earth-Romulan War, the Romulans take control of the Columbia via a computer virus and use her to destroy the convoy she's escorting - rather than just destroying the convoy themselves .
• Continuity Nod : A great many, to the entirety of the Star Trek Novel 'Verse continuity.
• Cowardly Lion : Like most Ferengi, Ambassador Derro is a mass of nerves around the more aggressive races...but when it's time to string them along with his fine grasp of commerce, he shows great cunning and confidence. Reluctant to commit to an alliance with the Federation, he comes through for President Bacco by hiring the Breen as mercenaries, adding them to Bacco's coalition while depriving the Tholians of a potential ally.
• Crisis Crossover : Although it would probably count as only a Bat Family Crossover , if not for the inclusion of Ezri Dax from Deep Space Nine and Erika Hernandez from Enterprise .
• Curb-Stomp Battle : The Borg versus anything, but particularly the Battle of the Azure Nebula. A combined fleet of 10 major powers is destroyed without doing any appreciable damage to the invading Borg Armada. It's suggestethat the Borg only even bothered to engage them because they were in the way.
• Cybernetics Eat Your Soul : The Borg, obviously. However, one scene in particular is notable. Star Trek: Titan character Torvig Bu-kar-nguv is from a race of non-humanoid cyborgs (Choblik), who owe their intelligence and civilization to their implants, being a race of Uplifted Animal . In previous novels, Torvig initially had difficulty comprehending the full horror of the Borg Collective. Now, though, the implications finally hit him, and he ends up perhaps the most horrified of all; this trope, and thus the Borg, are essentially the anti-Choblik, their most primal horror. He makes his friend Ranul Keru promise that he won't let Torvig be taken by Borg.
• Darkest Hour : The Borg invasion is a weighty contender for the darkest hour of the entire Star Trek franchise.
• Demoted to Extra : T'Ryssa Chen, the Enterprise contact specialist, after being a main character in the TNG novel just before the event kicked off. She only makes one or two comments through the first two books, and has one scene in the third. In fairness, as a contact specialist in a time of war, there's not much for her to contribute.
• Despair Event Horizon : Picard crosses this when his decision to finally start a family with Beverly Crusher coincides with the Borg launching what looks to be a final, all-out attack on the Federation - a war that by conventional means can only be won by the Borg.
• Diabolus ex Nihilo : The Enterprise and Aventine take a subspace tunnel to the Delta Quadrant, accidentally emerging smack-dab inbetween two stars, which fries their ships. As they're repairing, a larger-than-usual pack of Hirogen show up, just to make things more complicated for everyone. Which turns out to be a blessing in disguise, since it keeps them from being at the Azure Nebula when the Borg show up.
• Discontinuity Nod : While the events of Before Dishonor remain in continuity, various characters in this trilogy make a point of noting that it was only the one prototypical Borg cube which possessed the absorptive capability that allowed it to EAT PLUTO!
• Divided We Fall : Averted. Martok's nemesis Councillor Kopek agrees this is no time for politics. When Martok, leading the Klingon fleet, calls Kopek back on Qo'noS to warn him of impending Borg attack, Kopek assures Martok his throne will be waiting for him upon his return. Martok replies "with you sitting in it, I imagine?" However, Kopek for once isn't planning anything, and says so. It's the first time the character has been presented as anything other than a selfish monster; he understands the severity of the situation. He also dies defending Qo'noS, so possibly Redemption Equals Death .
• Driven to Suicide : Columbia survivors Johanna Metzger and Thom Steinhauer - on different worlds at different points in history, but for similar reasons.
• Dying Race : The Caeliar lost the ability to reproduce when they advanced to their current form. They didn't think it would be a problem, but when 98% of their people are lost in an Earth-Shattering Kaboom , it eventually forces a reexamination of their cultural ideals.
• Earn Your Happy Ending : While far from completely happy (see Pyrrhic Victory ) there is nonetheless a great sense of relief knowing that the war is over, and the Borg will never be able to hurt anyone again.
• Valerian, one of the four Columbia crewwomen stranded with the Caeliar in Axiom, just mentally shuts down for the rest of her life.
• Sedin, thanks to being cut off from energy the Caeliar need to maintain their form. All that's left is the all-consuming hunger .
• Emergency Transformation : Erika Hernandez, after she began to die of old age. It was also recommended for, and eventually forced upon, Graylock, Pembleton and Thayer.
• Foyle's very first scene shows his paranoia, and has him raising the idea of mutiny against Hernadez apropos of nothing.
• Sedín's first scene makes it clear she really doesn't like aliens, in a way far beyond her species' isolationism.
• First-Name Basis : The Caeliar do this with the Titan away team, an act of unearned familiarity Troi finds incredibly rude.
• Four Lines, All Waiting : For most of the series the narrative is juggling threads of flashbacks to the past, events on the Enterprise, on the Titan, on Earth, on New Erigol , and then throws in interludes with various other characters in places that are under attack by the Borg. For this reason it takes awhile to get anywhere.
• Genocide Dilemma : This once again surfaces with the Borg.
• Get A Hold Of Yourself Man : Dr. Crusher tries doing this on Picard early on. It doesn't take for long.
• Giftedly Bad : The decades spent in Axiom help Erica Hernandez realize something important; she has no artistic talents of any kind.
• The situation gets so bad that Starfleet seriously considers holding the Borg off with thalaron weapons and evacuating the Federation's population to another galaxy. In fact, Seven of Nine coldly deduces that the Federation cannot hope to win, and must embrace such desperate tactics to survive at all.
• Near the end of the final book, Picard, Riker, and Ezri contemplate destroying the Caeliar's Omega molecule generator in the event that the Caeliar failed to stop the Borg. They freely acknowledge that the resulting explosion of Omega molecules would destroy most of the galaxy, and put an end to all warp travel in several nearby galaxies.
• Going Native : After nearly a millennium in the Caeliar capital and an Emergency Transformation , Erika Hernandez is finally able to admit that she is, indeed, a Caeliar.
• Gondor Calls for Aid : Subverted. President Bacco does indeed call for aid from all other powers in the Alpha and Beta quadrants, but their response is tepid and the combined fleet is annihilated within minutes anyway. All that her efforts really accomplish is to antagonize the Tholians .
• Good Girls Avoid Abortion : A significant problem with Deanna is she refuses to terminate her fetus, even though it's already stillborn and her doctor is pointing out this will kill her. It's less a moral issue than an emotional one, but the results are the same. Inyx manages to solve the problem via Caeliar science.
• Good Thing You Can Heal : Lieutenant Kedair, as a Takaran, can recover from injures that would be totally crippling or just fatal to most others. Which comes in handy when a Borg probe ship tries to assimilate her. By the time Hernandez saves her, her arm's hanging on by a string and one of her eyes has already been scooped out. After a while in sickbay, she's recovered nicely.
• Hero of Another Story : The Excalibur , who are part of the fight against the Borg but barring a brief appearance from Shelby, don't make an appearance, and the Da Vinci , who somehow manage to hide an entire planet from the Borg, much to Bacco's amazement.
• Heroic BSoD : Captain Picard is in and out of one for most of the trilogy.
• Lt. Lonnoc Kedair's attempt to do this fails, but she's still freakin' awesome anyway.
• Hidden Elf Village : Erigol, the Caeliar homeworld. After the switch to New Erigol, they keep to the tradition, rejecting contact with the outside galaxy and hoping to keep their world concealed.
• Hired Guns : President Bacco outmaneuvers the Tholians by having the Ferengi hire the Breen as mercenaries in the conflict against the Borg, denying the Tholians the opportunity to ally with the Breen and harass Federation holdings while adding the Breen to the allied effort in the Azure Nebula. Orion mercenaries are also hired.
• Hive Mind : Two different versions; the nightmarish, all-consuming collective of the Borg and the vastly more benign "Gestalt" of the Caeliar. The first one is derived from the other.
• Hive Queen : Subverted. The Borg Queen is revealed to be a mere puppet of the fundamental drives at the heart of the collective - and then unsubverted, because the drives at the heart of the collective are the millennia-old remnants of the personality of Inyx's ex-wife.
• Hopeless War : Even before the Borg armada shows up, Seven flat out tells the Admiralty that the Federation has no realistic hope of winning this war. She's pretty much right, and only the intervention of the Caeliar saves the Federation from complete annihilation.
• Humans Are the Real Monsters : In a sense. After learning the truth of the Borg's origins, Picard surmises that the Borg must have inherited their savagery and cruelty from their human ancestors. Also, the Columbia mutineers' actions set in motion the chain of events that eventually led to the creation of the Borg.
• Humans Through Alien Eyes : With one tiny, significant detail the unfortunate aliens aren't aware of. A group of explorers on a remote Delta Quadrant planet find a crashed alien ship, and inside two strange looking aliens, who only have one thumb on each hand and weird skin colors, all grey and clammy looking, who keep repeating something they don't understand...
• Hypocritical Humor : At the very end of the final book, Deanna bemoans she's starting to sound like her mother, but snaps at Riker when he similarly expresses horror.
• I Am a Humanitarian : After Sedin assimilates Graylock, Thayer, and Pembleton, she forces Graylock and Thayer to "consolidate" Pembleton, carve up his body, and consume his edible components in order to replenish their malnourished bodies.
• I Die Free : How Fletcher sees finally dying of old age, after a lifetime stuck with the Caeliar.
• Impaled with Extreme Prejudice : The Hirogen Beta learns the hard way that running a Takaran through with a sword doesn't do much to slow them down. Not everyone keeps their organs in the same place...
• I Need a Freaking Drink : Martok, after his flagship is crippled during a No-Holds-Barred Beatdown from the Borg, and he can only sit and wait for repairs as the Borg fleet moves on to Qo'noS.
• Ironic Echo : The little speech pointing out that "Caeliar" is both noun and adjective. Given to Erika Hernandez by Inyx after Hernandez arrives at Erigol, it is later given to the visiting crew of Titan . Hernandez and Inyx share a quick amused glance.
• It Only Works Once : The Ranger manages to destroy itself taking out a Borg cube. The next time the technique they used is brought up, it already no longer works.
• It's All My Fault : T'Lana momentarily blames herself as the Borg ravage Vulcan , before stopping and chiding herself for showing the exact same self-absorbed arrogance that led her to go into seclusion in the first place. What's happening is too big to be properly placed on any one being's shoulders.
• I Will Fight Some More Forever : Faced with an encroaching Borg fleet on all sides with absolutely no chance of winning, Worf's preference is to at least go down fighting.
• I Will Only Slow You Down : Despite being severely damaged by the Borg, Voyager refuses assistance from the Enterprise , citing that the Enterprise can't waste time helping a single ship when a Borg armada is about to destroy the Federation.
• This also has the effect of curbing Erika's rebellious behavior, as she doesn't want Inyx to blame himself for her death.
• Kill All Humans : The new goal of the Borg Collective. As well as all Vulcans, all Andorians, all Tellarites, all Romulans, all Klingons, all...
• Kill the Ones You Love : Inyx personally dissolves Sedin's corrupted essence after extracting it from the Borg.
• Owen Paris, Charivretha zh'Thane, T'Lana, Kopek , as well as the planets Deneva, Khitomer, Risa, and Coridan, among others .
• The Borg... sort of. The drones have all been liberated, but the Collective itself - which is revealed to be the corrupted remnants of Sedin's consciousness - has been abolished.
• Kinetic Weapons Are Just Better : The crews of the Enterprise and Aventine use TR-116 rifles against the Hirogen, and later, the Borg to great effect.
• Knight Templar : Picard tends towards this.
• Know When to Fold 'Em : For all Foyle's unscrupulous actions, when caught out he still respects the chain of command to surrender.
• Last Request : President Bacco tells her assistant to have the kitchen whip up the finest meals they can and have as many officials and staffers as possible attend a final banquet before the Borg reach Earth. She decides that if this is the end of the Federation, then by God they're going to go out with heads held high.
• Malicious Misnaming : Captain Shelby refers to Seven of Nine as "Annika", when Seven only lets those closest to her (which at this stage is just her aunt) do.
• Manly Tears : Picard breaks down in tears on the Enterprise bridge after the Collective is finally defeated.
• A Million Is a Statistic : President Bacco has a hard time processing the initial casualty report from the Borg invasion, because the number is too high to even register as a statistic.
• Mind Rape : The Borg respond to Hernandez's attempts to hack the collective by corrupting her favourite childhood memories. It's basically the psychic equivalent of a "scorched earth" campaign, leaving her nowhere to retreat to while facing the nightmare of the collective mind.
• Mood Whiplash : Fletcher, who has spent decades working on a novel in Axiom, finally lets down her emotional guard and allows Erika to take a look at her life's work. It's a Captain Proton fan fiction.
• The Mutiny : A group of Columbia crewmembers refuse to spend the rest of their lives as "guests" of the Caeliar. They subsequently revolt against Captain Hernandez and try to take control of one of Caeliar's cities. This does not end well for anyone .
• Erika's word-for-word reaction to Valerian's incredibly gruesome demise due to Inyx's botched catom infusion, a procedure that Erika had convinced Valerian to undergo.
• Also Kedair's reaction when she discovers she mistakenly ordered her team to open fire on another Starfleet team while storming the Borg probe.
• My Greatest Second Chance : Hernandez sees helping the Titan escape as making up for failing her own crew.
• My Species Doth Protest Too Much : Inyx is one of the few Caeliar who realizes that his people are overly isolationist and xenophobic.
• Nanomachines : Borg nanoprobes and Caeliar catoms. The former is a corrupted version of the latter.
• Near-Villain Victory : The Borg certainly came light-years closer to total annihilation of the Federation than Captain Nero, Khan, and the Dominion combined . They are literally seconds away from destroying Earth when they are lured back to the Azure Nebula by the Caeliar's Omega molecule generator.
• Neck Snap : Worf kills the Hirogen Alpha on the Enterprise bridge this way.
• Nice Job Breaking It, Hero : It is heavily implied that the invasion occurs thanks to the actions of future Janeway back in "Endgame" ... or not. Star Trek: Department of Temporal Investigations explicitly says that in the long run, if the Borg hadn't invaded (and subsequently been defeated) at that point in history, nothing could have stopped them from conquering the entire galaxy by the year 2600 at the latest.
• Nothing Is Scarier : In their experiments with the subspace tunnels, the Enterprise winds up in another galaxy, where it looks like every star has been stuck behind a Dyson sphere. They decide to do as minimal an amount of scans and possible and then GTFO, rather than see what happens if a species that can do that aren't friendly.
• Nothing Is the Same Anymore : The trilogy ends with the Borg Collective being dismantled and absorbed into the Caeliar gestalt, who subsequently leave the galaxy. Also Starfleet and the Federation have been severely weakened.
• "Not So Different" Remark : A key plot point of the trilogy's climax. Hernandez and Dax realize that there are too many similarities between the Borg and the Caeliar to be chalked up to mere coincidence.
• Obi-Wan Moment : Both T'Lana (see Star Trek: The Next Generation Relaunch ) and Charivretha zh'Thane (of the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Relaunch ) die like this, peacefully accepting their fate when they are caught in the bombardment of Vulcan and Andor, respectively.
• Played straight with the Caeliar leader Ordemo Nordal.
• Oh, Crap! : Chakotay's reaction when 7461 Borg Cubes show up in front of him.
• Omnicidal Maniac : The Borg Collective, following the loss of the transwarp network, are done with the Federation repeatedly stopping their attacks. The Borg's new goal, until they are stopped/saved is simply "destroy everything". It's summed up by the taunting message the Borg send to the Federation, which outright scares Picard: We are the Borg. You will be annihilated. Your biological and technological distinctiveness have become irrelevant. Resistance is futile... but welcome .
• Orbital Bombardment : The Borg's standard method of planetary annihilation.
• Perfect Pacifist People : The Caeliar see themselves as this. They're certainly not actually perfect, mind you, but they're condescending enough to think they are.
• Plot Armor : Out of the three hundred-something ships rallied against the Borg in the Azure Nebula, only Voyager survives. Barely, though. Though it's implied that the Borg left the ship intact but crippled as a Cruel Mercy .
• Poisonous Person : The Chelons' natural poison defenses come into play at one point (having been established in Star Trek: Vanguard ). A Hirogen hunter is quite embarrassed to find himself defeated by a dead man, having released the toxin while killing a Chelon crewman.
• Pyrrhic Victory : The Borg war, pretty much. Yes, the Federation won and the Collective was liberated, but Deneva, Risa, Coridan and several other major worlds have been wiped out, while Vulcan, Andor, and Qo'noS and many other worlds are severely damaged, 40 percent of Starfleet has been destroyed, and 63 billion people are dead. There isn't any mood to celebrate.
• Razor Floss : The Hirogen boarders employ monomolecular garrotes.
• Race Against the Clock : The final book features the Starfleet crews desperately trying to find a solution before the Borg arrive at Earth in twelve hours.
• "The Reason You Suck" Speech : After getting caught trying to contact Earth, Erika Hernandez not only refuses to apologize to the Caeliar for "abusing" her new powers, but goes on the offense, calling them out on their xenophobia and rigidity. "You say you're looking for civilizations equal to or more advanced than your own, but you act as if you live in fear of the less-developed cultures that are thriving all around you. Can't you see that your self-imposed isolation is making you narrow-minded and provincial? How can you devote yourselves to seeking out new worlds when you shrink and hide from the ones in your own backyard?"
• The Reveal : The Caeliar are the ancestors of the Borg, via Time Travel .
• Rousing Speech : Martok gives one to the assembled High Council: "Blood shed for a friend is sacred, a debt of honor. And if you won’t stand and fight beside a friend in blood, then you are not a Klingon. You are not a warrior. Run home to your beds and hide, I have no use for you! I won’t die in the company of such petaQ’pu . The sons of our sons will sing of these battles. Time will erase our sins and fade our scars, but our names will live on in songs of honor. The Borg are coming, my brothers. Stand and fight beside me now, and let us make warriors born in ages to come curse Fek’lhr that they were not here to SHARE OUR GLORY!”
• Sadistic Choice : At the end of the second book, Hernandez tells Riker the Titan can escape the Caeliar, but due to the situation they will have to do it immediately, which means leaving the pregnant Troi behind with them. Riker agonizes over it, but reluctantly decides to escape.
• Save the Villain : How Erika convinces the normally pacifist Caeliar to help her stop the Borg.
• Screw the Rules, I'm Doing What's Right! : A few hundred years of exposure to Hernadez helps Inyx reach this mindset when the Titan crew shows up.
• Screw You, Elves! : The Federation characters are generally unimpressed by Caeliar claims of cultural superiority.
• Sequel Hook : The Children of the Storm. Indeed, they've since been followed up on in the Star Trek: Voyager Relaunch books. The trilogy also sets the stage for the rise of the Typhon Pact . See A Singular Destiny and Star Trek: Typhon Pact .
• "Shaggy Dog" Story : The fate of the Mantilis survivors. The human crewmembers set off to try and find some kind of civilization, in the grip of an severe winter with very little to make into properly nourishing food, with dwindling supplies and a vicious predator about. Then they find they crashed on an island, and they have no way of making a raft even without the hideous weather, which drives one of their number to suicide. On return to Mantilis, the last surviving Caeliar assimilates them, creating the first Borg.
• Shout-Out to Shakespeare : Morgan Bateson of the Atlas as the remnants of his battle group take on the Borg near Vulcan. Bateson: Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more! FIRE AT WILL!
• Simple Solution Won't Work : Early on, it's brought up the Caeliar can reach other galaxies if they wish, but it's not until Lost Souls someone brings up the idea of just moving themselves if they're that afraid of other people. As they explain, however, there are... things in other galaxies that scare them even more, things that the Galactic Barrier helps keep out .
• Sins of Our Fathers : The Tholians are still so pissed off about the events in the Tarsus Reach they will quite willingly let the Federation die out of sheer spite.
• Sociopathic Soldier : Major Foyle of the Columbia's MACO company who is willing to lie, wound and kill fellow crewmembers without any considerations but his own and is disturbingly calm about this.
• Start of Darkness : The origin of the Borg is finally revealed. It is extremely complicated and involves a French Canadian, alien whalers, and Inyx's ex-wife . Very basically, a group of Caeliar and humans were stranded on a remote planet in the distant past where the Caeliar were dying, and the last one of them, with almost none of her mind left other than a desperate need to survive, forcibly merged with the humans, creating cyborgs that had little mental directives other than consume and survive .
• Sufficiently Advanced Alien : The Caeliar.
• Taking the Bullet : Happens twice during the Battle of Korvat, both times with a Federation starship taking the brunt of the Borg's planet-destroying weapon and being vaporized almost instantly.
• Teeth-Clenched Teamwork : President Bacco tries to pull off a joint operation between the United Federation of Planets, Klingon Empire, Romulan Star Empire, Imperial Romulan State, Cardassian Union, Gorn Hegemony, Breen Confederacy, Talarian Republic, Ferengi Alliance and Tholian Assembly. Eventually, everyone except the Tholians agrees.
• There Is No Kill Like Overkill : The Borg send an armada of over 7,000 ships, which would be enough to wipe out every planet and space station in Federation space within a few days, and then continue onward to destroy all the local powers within a month.
• Took a Level in Badass : Ezri Dax. In the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine television series, Ezri was an extremely awkward, timid, and self-conscious character, to the point where Elim Garak once gave her a classic "The Reason You Suck" Speech , informing her that the reason why everyone had preferred Jadzia Dax, her symbiote's previous host, was because Ezri was a complete wimp , and Jadzia wasn't. By the end of these three books, however, nobody is still comparing Ezri unfavorably with Jadzia.
• Throw-Away Country : Not that anybody really cares about Acamar or Barolia mind you. Averted later on in the series by having some important planets get destroyed as well.
• Timey-Wimey Ball : So the Columbia meets with the Caeliar in the twenty-second century. When the planet Erigol is destroyed, portals are created going to different times and places. Captain Hernandez ends up in a distant part of the alpha quadrant, 800 years earlier. Another city-ship is sent to a far corner of the universe, near the beginning of time (eventually causing the catastrophe which destroyed Erigol in the first place). A third goes back in time to the Delta Quadrant seven thousand years earlier, where they give rise to the Borg... are you taking notes?
• Villain Pedigree : The Borg recover nicely from their Villain Decay .
• Villainous Breakdown : The Collective/Sedin has a bit of a meltdown when the Caeliar begin overpowering them during their psychic battle.
• Was Once a Man : The Borg collective itself, based on a synthesis of the worst aspects of a Caeliar and her Human victims
• Wham Episode : By the end of this trilogy 40% of Starfleet has been destroyed, 63 billion people are dead, and the Borg are gone.
• Though, it should be noted, La Forge's What the Hell, Hero? speech comes after Riker makes a more diplomatic attempt at one - at this point in the Borg invasion, any plan they come up with qualifies as being based in desperation and is a longshot, there's just as little - or just as much - chance of the thalaron weapon working as Hernandez's plan, but when Picard learns that the Enterprise is the only ship in a condition to enact the plan, he immediately vetoes it without consideration. Riker argues that Picard has abandoned hope, crossed his Despair Event Horizon , and is just looking to take as many Borg down as he goes, rather than actually fighting to survive, a point that even Beverly, who Picard is now married to, had also softballed an attempt at making. Ultimately, it comes across as much that the author and audience know they're in a Star Trek story as La Forge's speech being the straw that breaks the camel's back (or the phaser rifle that breaks the little model Enterprises on the wall. )
• Inyx gives Dr. Ree a telling off when he bites Deanna Troi as part of his efforts to care for her. Inyx's Actual Pacifist ways clash with the carnivorous ethos of Ree's people. Subverted later on, as Inyx later discovers that Ree's actions, in fact, saved Troi's life.
• Zombie Apocalypse : Implied to be the origin of the Borg
• Star Trek: Vulcan's Soul
• Literature/Star Trek Novel 'Verse
• Star Trek: Typhon Pact
• Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Relaunch
• Literature of the 2000s
• Star Trek: Enterprise Relaunch
• Star Trek: Department of Temporal Investigations
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Star Trek: Destiny #1: Gods of Night Kindle Edition

• Book 1 of 3 Star Trek: The Next Generation
• Print length 449 pages
• Language English
• Sticky notes On Kindle Scribe
• Publisher Pocket Books/Star Trek
• Publication date September 20, 2008
• File size 1197 KB
• Page Flip Enabled
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• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0015DTVGK
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Pocket Books/Star Trek (September 20, 2008)
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 20, 2008
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• File size ‏ : ‎ 1197 KB
• Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
• Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 449 pages
• #153 in Star Trek Series
• #2,316 in First Contact Science Fiction eBooks
• #3,758 in Science Fiction Adventure

About the author

DAVID MACK is the award-winning and The New York Times bestselling author of 37 novels and numerous short works of science-fiction, fantasy, and adventure, including the Star Trek Destiny and Cold Equations trilogies.

Mack’s writing credits span television (for episodes of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine), film, and comic books. He also has worked as a consultant on the animated television series Star Trek: Lower Decks and Star Trek: Prodigy. In June 2022, the International Association of Media Tie-in Writers honored him as a Grandmaster with its Faust Award.

His most recent publications include Star Trek: Coda, Book III: Oblivion’s Gate and Harm’s Way, a Star Trek: Vanguard / Star Trek: The Original Series crossover novel. His upcoming works include several original short stories in various new anthologies.

Mack resides in New York City.

Visit his official website, http://www.davidmack.pro/ and follow him on Twitter @DavidAlanMack.

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Customers find the storyline good with loads of action. They also appreciate the extensively developed characters and cultures. Readers describe the reading experience as good and the overall quality as very well done. They describe the book as wonderfully complex and rich epic. Opinions differ on entertainment value, with some finding it entertaining and captivating, while others say it's less entertaining than reading Star Trek memory-beta wikia.

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Customers find the storyline captivating and fun to read. They also appreciate the great back story on the Borg and the resolution of the trilogy. Readers also mention that the new Star Trek movies are very fun.

"This is really a very good book, entertaining, captivating and fun to read. It was very difficult to take a break and go to sleep or work...." Read more

"... Columbia's plot is intriguing and engaging but feels a bit forced in the plot...." Read more

"...moral dilemmas, exasperating political maneuverings, and finally, loads of ACTION !!!!!..." Read more

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Customers find the characters in the book extensively developed.

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"...with me on the good side, mostly for its boldness of showing lots of familiar characters (along with lots of new ones) on various ships throughout..." Read more

Customers find the book good, amazing, and mind-boggling. They also say the author is one of the very best writers, and that he writes clearly and smoothly.

"...Yet, I found that while being a good, quick read , it left some to be desired...." Read more

"...of the way through this book, at the moment, David Mack is one of the very best writers (along with Keith De Candido) of all the StarTrek novels I..." Read more

"This is an amazing and mind-boggling trio of novels ...." Read more

"...This is a well-written book and a great introduction to Star Trek novels." Read more

Customers find the book very well done, with a satisfying resolution. They also say the story on the Borg is well thought out and satisfying.

"...We meet many well known characters, very well designed in the TV series ...." Read more

"...The 4 crews in this book are well drawn and the action is continuous...." Read more

"...Great back story on the Borg, and the resolution of the trilogy was well thought out --and satisfying...." Read more

"I loved the story, Especially Telling The stops of multiple crews, well done . - - - - - -- -" Read more

Customers find the book wonderfully complex and rich, encompassing thousands of years. They also appreciate the delicate balance of bigger topics and smaller, personal drama. Overall, readers say the book weaves a great story.

"...A wonderfully complex and rich epic, encompassing thousands of years, 4 Star Trek shows and the birth and death of the Borg...." Read more

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Customers find the book series great.

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Customers are mixed about the entertainment value of the book. Some mention it's really entertaining, captivating, and fun to read, and does a fantastic job at setting the mood and tone for the next book. However, others say it'll bring back a lot of favorite characters.

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"...However, the writing for this (and the rest of the series) gets a bit monotonous at times ...." Read more

"...the feature of this novel, reading of the Columbia's crew was fun and engaging ...." Read more

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Memory Beta, non-canon Star Trek Wiki

A friendly reminder regarding spoilers ! At present the expanded Trek universe is in a period of major upheaval with the continuations of Discovery and Prodigy , the advent of new eras in gaming with the Star Trek Adventures RPG , Star Trek: Infinite and Star Trek Online , as well as other post-57th Anniversary publications such as the ongoing IDW Star Trek comic and spin-off Star Trek: Defiant . Therefore, please be courteous to other users who may not be aware of current developments by using the {{ spoiler }}, {{ spoilers }} OR {{ majorspoiler }} tags when adding new information from sources less than six months old (even if it is minor info). Also, please do not include details in the summary bar when editing pages and do not anticipate making additions relating to sources not yet in release. THANK YOU

Gods of Night

• 1 Description
• 3.1 Characters
• 3.2 Starships and vehicles
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• 3.4 Races and cultures
• 3.5 States and organizations
• 3.6 Science and technology
• 3.7 Foods and drinks
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• 3.9 Other references
• 4.1 Related media
• 4.2.1 Continuity
• 4.4.1.1 Translations
• 4.5 External link

Description [ ]

Summary [ ].

The wreck of the Columbia

Approximately a week after visiting the Gaia system , the USS Defiant finds the wreck of the Columbia (NX-02) , which had been missing for over 200 years, on a planet in the Gamma Quadrant . The crew in the wreck feel ill at ease, with Kira Nerys suggesting a borhyas inhabits the ship. Efforts to salvage the Columbia are interrupted by the arrival of two Jem'Hadar attack vessels, and as the Dominion War breaks out shortly after, the operation is postponed indefinitely.

The Borg have started attacking Federation worlds in an all-out assault bent on annihilation rather than assimilation , but without using their transwarp conduits . Around the start of the year, the USS Aventine is defending the Acamar system from attack, a battle which costs the lives of one third of the 750-strong crew, including the captain and first officer, leaving then second officer, Ezri Dax , in command. A week later, Dax is made captain, and recruits her senior staff from Deep Space 9 - including Sam Bowers as first officer, and Simon Tarses as chief medical officer .

The USS Aventine

Captain Dax convinces Starfleet Command to allow her to take the Aventine back to the crash site of the Columbia , to complete the investigation that was abruptly halted seven years prior. Their sensor readings confirm the earlier ones regarding molecular distortions in the space frame consistent with intense subspatial stresses. The reason for the return - the war with the Borg, who launched the first strike five weeks prior, bypassing all known defenses without signs of transwarp, wormholes, gateways, or even Q. Dax convinced Starfleet that the mystery behind the Columbia could shed light on the Borg's new found abilities. However, continued losses to the Borg force the recall of the Aventine .

While escorting a convoy of mining ships, the Columbia is caught off guard by a fleet of Romulan vessels and attacked. The Columbia intercepts and decodes a message between two of the Romulan vessels, which releases a Trojan horse virus into their computer system, shutting out all control systems - and leaving them helpless. Using the Columbia , the Romulans target and destroy the convoy. With few other options, the CEO suggests manually releasing residual charge from the warp core and detonating it using a photonic torpedo .

Continuing on their mission of galactic exploration, the USS Titan can only monitor dispatches from the Federation, detailing continued losses to the Borg. Although Christine Vale wishes they could be there, they are months of travel from core systems. Amongst the other crew, Xin Ra-Havreii reveals a holotank environment for Melora Pazlar , and Deanna Troi refuses to allow Dr. Ree to remove her second miscarriage. Troi insists on needing some time to herself, so Captain Riker leaves for his Ready Room where Vale speaks to him about duty to ship interfering with personal lives, and Troi speaks with Counselor Pral glasch Haaj .

From the Enterprise , Picard hears the call of the Collective - " Locutus " - as the ship speeds to Ramatis III to answer a planetary distress call. Using transphasic torpedoes , the Enterprise destroys the cube , but arrived too late to save billions of inhabitants from death from the Borg.

Aboard the Aventine , the senior officers meet to go over latest findings from the Columbia wreckage; although only 40 seconds of conclusive logs before crash recovered, they discovered that someone set autopilot after the ship emerged from the subspace tunnel. Inside the vessel itself, two engineers are killed by a mysterious energy surge.

The Columbia attempts to repair what is possible, although barely anything left is working. Instead of returning to their original course, Hernandez wants to set course for a Minshara class planet to restock on food and water - and hopefully make repairs, having noted subspace signal emissions and high energy particles. Without warp drive, Erika decides to set impulse to within one ten thousandth of c, ignoring the time dilation effects. However, the decision doesn't sit well with MACO Major Stephen Foyle .

The USS Titan at warp

The USS Titan passes an area of unusually high energy subspatial distortions emitting triquantum waves, a signature of Borg transwarp readings. The readings are enough to reallocate the sensor array from Commander Tuvok to Pazlar, which eventually reveals them to be similar but not identical to Borg. During a staff briefing later, Ranul Keru speculates that it could be a new form of transwarp to replace the lost hubs. Sariel Rager displays what anomalies they've found, including enough space-time curvature to indicate a star system completely hidden from view. Although everyone is ready to suspect Borg, Vale and Tuvok indicate that there were never indications the Borg ventured this far into the Beta Quadrant . Evidence continues to mount against the Borg, since they have star charts denoting a star's present but going dark roughly 700 years ago, starting to dim 150 years prior to that. Titan sets course to investigate.

As the Enterprise remains on station at Ramatis III, making scans and repairs, Captain Picard reviews the latest dispatch from Starfleet Command. Since the start of the Borg invasion, nearly every Starfleet vessel, and many civilian Federation ships, have been drafted or recalled into active military service in large battle groups. Picard estimated that a few weeks of continued attacks would cause the Federation sufficient amounts of damage that they would no longer be able to mount effective resistance. Anticipating the next attack in the sector, the Enterprise moves off at high warp, and brainstorms possible new attacks against their cybernetic foe.

In the Gamma Quadrant Simon Tarses and a medical/security team beamed down to the Columbia and the homicide site to collect evidence. Although they can discount several rational and several more wild theories, nothing has pointed to a conclusive cause. With the Aventine set to leave within fifteen hours, time is precious.

Captain Hernandez's first view of Axion

What seemed like a sixty-three day travel aboard the Columbia was actually over twelve years of passage. As the Columbia nears the planet of interest, they find what appear to be cities on the surface, but large scattering fields preventing any further detection of lifesigns or energy readings. Although no one answers repeated hails, eventually one of the dampening fields contracts, and an away team is formed. After some initial scouting, a full landing party beams down and makes their way towards the city itself. After several hours of walking, they emerge from the forest and behold a city appearing like a broad bowl full of spires - but with no air traffic or roads leading in or out of the city. Additionally, the away team notes the lack of civil infrastructures like power grids, communication lines, water transportation, or waste and sewage disposal. Arriving at the edge of the city, they find no doorways or access to the bowl, whose bottom was several dozen meters off the ground rising to hundreds of meters high at the rim. Without the ability to communicate, they wonder until a lithe figure floats down from the rim to greet them, introducing himself as Inyx of the Caeliar and welcoming them to Erigol . When asked for assistance, Inyx informs the away team that they will not aid in any repair efforts, and that the Columbia nor its crew will ever leave Erigol.

The Enterprise -E approaches Korvat minutes behind the Borg cube, hoping that the two starships on patrol will hold out until they arrive. The Borg speak to Locutus, and Picard uses the connection to listen in for tactical secrets or plans. Aghast, he realizes that Korvat is not the only target, but one of five about to be attacked in unison. The Enterprise signals the other outposts and planets, and hopes they can make it in time. The other targets include Khitomer , which was saved by a kamikaze attack by the USS Ranger , and Starbase 234 , where Owen Paris was killed as the base was destroyed. Even though the force has been repelled, Picard knows that this is only one battle in the clash of civilizations that will only end when one is eradicated.

On the Titan , Tuvok and Pazlar investigate the strange readings they picked up and attempt to correlate them to the recent Borg incursions. After discovering one of the energy pulses directly strikes the Azure Nebula (specifically a supernova remnant), Tuvok intends to report their findings to Captain Riker. However, Mister Keru approaches him first, and they look over the data together, arriving at an indication that the Columbia incident may be related to the tunnels found. Meanwhile, Doctor Ree finishes the analysis of the tests run on Deanna Troi and determines that the Eichner radiation she encountered in the form of Ian Troi has permanently damaged her reproductive system. Troi refuses all medical procedures, and knowing that Riker would back her decisions, Doctor Ree turns to Christine Vale for assistance. Vale confronts Riker directly, insisting that this is the type of conflict of interest she was hoping to avoid when she agreed to his first officer position. Their discussion is cut short when a sensor beam hits the Titan , knocking out primary power, tactical systems, and communications.

The away team from the Columbia gathers around a tree in the middle of a miniature island in the Caeliar city for a briefing. Major Foyle objects to the lax security, although Captain Hernandez insists that if the aliens wanted to observe, they would be unable to stop them. The MACOs report that the Columbia crew has unrestricted access to the city, and the flight officers observe that the Caeliar are able to change shape and exhibit unusual locution powers thanks to catoms , programmable matter that acts similarly to nanomachines. Their meeting is interrupted by Inyx, who informs the Captain that their ruling Quorum has agreed to an audience. Ordemo Nordal greets her, and Hernandez pleads and argues for the release of her ship and crew, but the Quorum is unswayed, insisting that complete and total secrecy must be maintained. When the flight officers retire for the evening, the MACOs meet to formulate a plan to escape without the consent of the Captain, plotting to keep her out of the way when the time comes.

Commanders La Forge and Worf report to Captain Picard that they have picked up traces of sirillium on recovered Borg debris. Suspecting the use of the element would be primitive in weaponry, the two believe they had picked it up in transport, and point out the Azure Nebula is the only site with a high enough concentration close enough to contaminate the cube. Further sensor readings find sirillium deposits along the way, and the Enterprise sets course for the nebula, although they expect to find heavy resistance upon arrival. Worf insists that they both get some rest, but Picard finds himself unable to sleep with the voice of the Collective pressing at his mind, and dark thoughts of an apocalyptic war of attrition ahead.

Back on Earth , President Bacco is briefed by Admiral Akaar on their recent losses, including several starbases and outposts along the triborder. Without a concrete plan to protect or evacuate the core worlds, the President has called in the aid of Seven of Nine . Meanwhile, Chancellor Martok rallies the Klingon High Council with the images from the Khitomer battle and the sacrifice of the USS Ranger . Even Kopek , his outspoken political adversary, vows to stand behind Martok. Out in the void of space, Tom Paris receives the message prerecorded from his father apologizing, and realizes he's dead.

The last of the Aventine crew beam up from the Columbia wreckage and brief Dax on what little they have uncovered. The computer core's records have been completely recovered, although they find eight months of logs missing. The sensor readings from the subspace tunnel are as detailed as the sensors of the era could allow, and they find similarities between it and Borg transwarp, but little in common with wormholes. The crew theorizes that hyperphasic radiation inside the tunnel killed all of the remaining crew, but something was left alive to set the autopilot to crash land the ship after it emerged from the other end - which was stable, and therefore still likely to be in the area. The Captain has the crew begin looking for it and how to access it, but is called away to the shuttlebay where another death has occurred in similar fashion to the two previously on the surface. Security begins an in depth sweep of the vessel to try to track down their intruder.

Inyx takes a few of the flight officers on a tour of the Great Work , a machine that can listen for signals from the farthest extremities of the universe and then make two way communications, in order to locate and speak to one more advanced than themselves. The away team uses the tour to discover more about the city and its infrastructure - although the Caeliar do not answer direct questions, they often are willing to correct mistaken suggestions. Back with the rest of the away team at their meeting place under the tree, they discuss possible options of escape using the Caeliar's own machines, but Captain Hernandez dismisses them, against the idea of traveling through time and potentially corrupting the timeline. Later, Lieutenants Karl Graylock and Kiona Thayer meet with Major Foyle, convinced that the Captain has lost the will to fight. The MACOs and the defecting officers plan a strike against the machines to bring down the scattering field and escape to the Columbia and then return to Earth. Knowing that the Captain would never agree, Foyle plans to neutralize her so that she is of no concern.

While he oversees operations in the transphasic torpedo construction facility on Deck 23 of the Enterprise , La Forge is paid a visit by Beverly Crusher , who believes that Captain Picard is becoming obsessed with eradicating the Borg. They share their feelings on the subject, and know that they won't realize the Captain is over the line until it's too late. On the Bridge, the crew notes that they have crossed into a subspace signal jamming field thirty light years from the Azure Nebula, indicating something big waiting for them inside. Picard's link to the Collective lets him know that there are at least three cubes waiting for them, and there are no reinforcements for the Enterprise to count on.

Vale negotiates a compromise between Dr Ree and Deanna Troi - an injection will be provided to stunt the child's growth while the doctor can monitor her through a transponder. Elsewhere on the Titan , the security officers train for an ever-adapting Borg assault. From the Bridge, Captain Riker receives word that main power and warp drive are back online, although their sensors and communications are still out.

In the night, Graylock, Thayer, and the MACOs abduct and tie up Hernandez, Fletcher , Valerian , and Metzger , allowing them to put their plan to escape into action. After ensuring the prisoners were secure, they headed to Caeliar city of Mantilis , where they covertly enter the apparatus in the city. Finding thirteen Caeliar working, they demand their cooperation, and knowing their weapons will not harm the Caeliar, Sergeant Gage Pembleton shoots Thayer's foot, threatening further harm to her unless they do as the MACOs wish. The scattering field is breached to allow communication with the Columbia , and they demand a subspace tunnel be directed towards Earth. The Caeliar insist that the machines are all interconnected, and their actions will not go unnoticed - which is why the MACOs set and detonated timed charges in another city, Feiran . The Caeliar, shocked at the actions, send Inyx to locate the missing four officers, but the Quorum denies them the chance to regroup, so Hernandez convinces Inyx to take her to the Quorum. The subspace tunnel is opened, but the scattering field is reinitialized, and Hernandez tries to talk Pembleton into standing down from the Quorum floor. Then a channel is opened to the ship, where Hernandez orders Foyle and Yacavino placed under arrest, but any further orders are cut off when the planet begins to quake, caused by a feedback pulse from the galaxy they tried to communicate with. The pulse caused a chain reaction in the solar and geothermal taps, which will trigger a collapse in a very short time. The Caeliar city-ships take off from the planetary surface, but hover, waiting for the modifications to the subspace tunnels to be purged so the system is again in harmony. The Columbia pauses as well until the planet Erigol fractured apart, forcing them to risk death entering the tunnel, where the radiation immediately begins to break down the crew's bodies. Only three city ships survive, including Mantilis, where only a few in a protected laboratory survive to later crash land on a planetary surface, and Axion .

The Azure Nebula

Aboard the Aventine , two full sweeps of the vessel have turned up no signs of their intruder, and have switched to more exotic scanning methods to try to locate their guest. Captain Dax asks for an update on the Columbia logs, which turned up an interesting entry in the transporter records, possibly indicating the missing crew members beaming off the vessel. They theorize that one of the beam up entries might be an alien that is now their intruder, but the thoughts are interrupted when the shuttlebay doors are blown out by the runabout USS Seine and its microtorpedoes. There are no lifesigns but strange energy readings aboard as the craft emits a soliton pulse and opens the subspace tunnel. The Aventine holds fire and follows the craft through, exiting into the Azure Nebula. The runabout stops, and the Aventine takes it in a tractor beam and beams aboard a team consisting of Dax, Bowers, and two security officers. They find a Caeliar, barely alive, slumped over the consoles. Arithon confirms he set the autopilot of Columbia and regretted killing crewmembers for sustenance, but expires before he can provide more information. The away team is recalled as the Aventine picks up a distress call from the Enterprise .

The USS Titan discovers a covering similar to a Dyson Sphere where a star should be, and then locates a second smaller sphere orbiting the first. Although no hails are answered, a small opening eventually appears on the surface of the smaller body, enough for a shuttlecraft but insufficient for transporter functions. A small away team takes a shuttlecraft into the opening, and when they pass through the shield material, they find a planet with scores of lifesigns and intense power readings. They land the shuttlecraft and walk a narrow walkway to the city, where they are greeted by three figures - two Caeliar, and a person that Tuvok identifies as Captain Erika Hernandez, who welcomes them to New Erigol .

References [ ]

Characters [ ], starships and vehicles [ ], locations [ ], races and cultures [ ], states and organizations [ ], science and technology [ ], foods and drinks [ ], materials and substances [ ], other references [ ], appendices [ ], related media [ ].

• Destiny (crossover novel trilogy) - This is the first book in a trilogy, the next two books bring the Borg Invasion to a conclusion and reveal the fates of the three surviving Caeliar city ships and the remaining crew of the Columbia .
• TNG novel : Greater Than the Sum - This novel is set a few weeks after the epilogue of Greater Than the Sum which depicted the first attacks in the Borg invasion. Greater Than the Sum also featured the only previous reference to Ezri Dax serving aboard the Aventine , prior to her becoming it's commander and established Jean-Luc Picard and Beverly Crusher had conceived a child, as referenced in this novel.
• DS9 episode : " Children of Time " - The prologue of this novel is set a week after this DS9 episode as the Defiant makes her return journey towards the Bajoran wormhole .
• ST reference : Ships of the Line - This novel takes as inspiration an image of the Columbia crash landed, originally published in the 2007 Ships of the Line calendar and later printed with a short text describing the mystery of the Columbia in the Ships of the Line book.
• Picard's history with the Borg - In this novel Jean-Luc Picard's reaction to the Borg Invasion is a result of his reflection on his previous encounters with the Borg and time as Locutus in the TNG episode " The Best of Both Worlds ", movie First Contact and novels Resistance , Before Dishonor and Greater Than the Sum .
• Sword of Damocles ( TTN novel) - This novel continues the story line of Deanna Troi and William T. Riker 's problems conceiving a child from the preceding novel in the Titan series. The novel also refers to the events on Orisha as depicted in Sword of Damocles .
• TNG episode : " The Child " - This novel reveals the source of Troi's problems attempting to conceive a child is damage caused by Eichner radiation when she gestated her alien son Ian in this episode.
• TNG episode : " Dark Page " - In this novel, Deanna Troi reconsiders her opinion of her mother's attempt to remove the memory of her deceased child, Kestra Troi , as revealed in this episode. Troi envies what her mother did, wishing she could similarly forget about her miscarriages.
• TTN novel : Orion's Hounds - Reference is made to the Titan 's previous mission in the Vela OB2 Association , as depicted in this novel.
• VOY novel : Full Circle - Full Circle includes scenes set prior to Gods of Night showing the USS Voyager 's activities during the Borg Invasion, and a scene exploring Tom Paris ' reaction to his father's death as depicted in this novel.

Background [ ]

• Prior to the final cover for the book being released, at least two different stand-in covers were used in solicitations for the book. The earliest featured (a completely inaccurate to the contents of the book) image of the Enterprise (NX-01) battling Suliban , taken from Jose Perez 's 2005 Ships of the Line image "Cellular Disruption". A later stand-in cover featured a more appropriate image, the wreck of Columbia (NX-02) . The image by Pierre Drolet was originally published in the 2007 Ships of the Line calendar , titled "Last Flight of the Columbia", and was the inspiration for part of the trilogy, and effectively illustrates the prologue of this book.

• The German language edition of the book, published by Cross Cult in June 2010 bore new cover art, by Martin Frei , featuring Ezri Dax , Erika Hernandez and the crashed Columbia . Several iterations of this artwork were released before the final cover was settled on:

The USS Titan at warp, an illustration accompanying an extract from this story in the Star Trek Magazine

• Star Trek Magazine #140 included an excerpt from this story, including an introduction by the author and accompanying illustrations featuring the USS Titan .
• Gods of Night won the Media Tie-In story of the year 2008/09 competition at Unreality SF
• Gods of Night was Locus Magazine's #1 Bestseller of Media-Related fiction in January
• In the novel's inner title page, Erigol is listed as a Pocket Book office location

Continuity [ ]

As a crossover in the post-Nemesis TNG continuity , Destiny is one of a sequence of stories that do not reconcile well with the events established in Star Trek: Picard . In particular, the evolution of the Borg might not match details of the new canon series.

Connections [ ]

Timeline [ ].

The story begins with a prologue set in 2373 , about a week after the events of " Children of Time ". The TNG -era sections then continue from February 2381 . The Columbia storyline begins in 2156 and continues into 2157 before skipping ahead to 2168 . The final scenes of the Columbia storyline then see time travel back 650 years to the early- 16th century .

Translations [ ]

External link [ ].

• Gods of Night article at Memory Alpha , the wiki for canon Star Trek .
• 1 Ferengi Rules of Acquisition
• 2 Odyssey class
• 3 DS9 relaunch

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Star Trek: Destiny: The Complete Saga

By: david mack, book details, other books.

• by David Mack
• in Literature and Fiction
• in Science Fiction and Fantasy

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Synopses and Final Cover For Destiny Trilogy

| August 14, 2008 | By: TrekMovie.com Staff 66 comments so far

Synopses and covers for Destiny trilogy  

STAR TREK DESTINY: GODS OF NIGHT (September 2008) Half a decade after the Dominion War and more than a year after the rise and fall of Praetor Shinzon, the galaxy’s greatest scourge returns to wreak havoc upon the Federation – and this time its goal is nothing less than total annihilation.

Elsewhere, deep in the Gamma Quadrant, an ancient mystery is solved. One of Earth’s first generation of starships, lost for centuries, has been found dead and empty on a desolate planet. But its discovery so far from home has raised disturbing questions, and the answers harken back to a struggle for survival that once tested a captain and her crew to the limits of their humanity.

From that terrifying flashpoint begins an apocalyptic odyssey that will reach across time and space to reveal the past, define the future, and show three captains – Jean-Luc Picard of the U.S.S. Enterprise, William Riker of the U.S.S. Titan, and Ezri Dax of the U.S.S Aventine – that some destinies are inescapable.

STAR TREK DESTINY: MERE MORTALS (October 2008) On Earth, Federation President Nanietta Bacco gathers allies and adversaries to form a desperate last line of defense against an impending Borg invasion. In deep space, Captain Jean-Luc Picard and Captain Ezri Dax join together to cut off the Collective’s route to the Alpha Quadrant.

Half a galaxy away, Captain William Riker and the crew of the Starship Titan have made contact with the reclusive Caeliar – survivors of a stellar cataclysm that, two hundred years ago, drove fissures through the structure of space and time, creating a loop of inevitability and consigning another captain and crew to a purgatory from which they could never escape.

Now the supremely advanced Caeliar will brook no further intrusion upon their isolation, or against the sanctity of their Great Work. … For the small, finite lives of mere mortals carry little weight in the calculations of gods.

But even gods may come to understand that they underestimate humans at their peril.

STAR TREK DESTINY: LOST SOULS (November 2008) The soldiers of Armageddon are on the march, laying waste to worlds in their passage. An audacious plan could stop them forever, but it carries risks that one starship captain is unwilling to take. For Captain Jean-Luc Picard, defending the future has never been so important, or so personal – and the wrong choice will cost him everything for which he has struggled and suffered.

For Captain William Riker, that choice has already been made. Haunted by the memories of those he was forced to leave behind, he must jeopardize all that he has left in a desperate bid to save the Federation.

For Captain Ezri Dax, whose impetuous youth is balanced by the wisdom of many lifetimes, the choice is a simple one: there is no going back – only forward to whatever future awaits them.

But for those who, millennia ago, had no choice … this is the hour of their final, inescapable destiny.

More Destiny to come TrekMovie has full coverage for Destiny coming up including an interview with the author, excerpts. Also look for early reviews of each of the three books.

Synopses from David Mack’s website , covers from Pocket Books  

Awsome, First?

They still make books?

To quote egon from Ghostbusters..

“print is dead”

Looks like a great series, does anyone know if these three can be read as a standalone series? And who’d have though Ezri would have her own ship. Second!

This sure as hell better get rid of the Borg. I am so SICK of the Borg. The last Q-Knows-How-Many book have been about BORG. Okay… it’s only been 2, but still! “Before Dishonor” was, well… dishonorable. It ate Pluto? Wtf?

As long as they don’t kill off Ogawa, Deanna, or Tuvok, I’m fine with the series. And as long as they bring Janeway back.

Another story with the Borg. Geez it’s gotten so bad I miss the Klingons.

I’m not sure about this whole post air Star Trek continuity. It was bad enough that Sisko was turned into a prophet in the worst finale of any Star Trek series (for the best Star Trek series no less!) but Ezri a Captain? Ugh. She may be Dax but Ezri is like 12 years old. It just doesn’t work.

Don’t kill off Ogawa? I mean, I guess she was ok for a nurse that was around sometimes…weird.

What the hell is Ezri doing as a captain?

Two comments.

First, the Borg? Again?

Second, how in the world did Ezri go from Lt. JG just a few years ago (chronologically speaking) to a captain? Plus, how did she develop the constitution of a captain whereas she never had anything approaching one before?

I agree with #6, 7, and 8. I don’t understand how Ezri could be a Captain so soon. She barely functioned at all after getting the Dax symbiont. Plus, I thought she just wanted to be a counselor. What made her suddenly want to be a Captain?

And the Borg really need to find something better to do. They can never assimilate the Federation and Voyager kicked them round the block.

Gorgeous covers. Damned if I’d ever vote for someone named “Nanietta,” though.

Ezri has advanced logically and realistically in the DS9 relaunch novels. I won’t say any more since that’d be kind of spoilerish.

That being said, between David Mack and KRAD (under the guidance of Marco Palmeiri), Trek writing has never been better or more topnotch. I’d love to see a straight-up collaboration between the two, but not sure that’ll ever happen. You never know, though! It’d be no less than epic in size and scope. :)

Wee in your pant at the kirk bit then skip the rest. 0:28 to 1:04 http://www.metacafe.com/watch/yt-eeLl-yAKWjY/ytmnd_uncut/

“Before Dishonor” was an abomination unto the Lord. Since someone already spoiled it above me, I’ll point out that Peter David is an awful writer and should have stopped writing after “Vendetta” (go look it up – it was so bad, it was sold at half price at Toys R Us for crying out loud). I had hoped he’d have grown past that awful piece but it seems he felt it was one of his best, so he basically grafted major pieces of it onto a post-TNG story, and figured that was that! I don’t care what you think of Voyager, you don’t kill Janeway, you don’t give Seven that rogue, and you don’t turn the Borg into the crappy people-eating slime things from “Pulse”.

Yo kirklover here’s the vid without the crap

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/yt-E32Pc38Mo8Q/shatner_is_the_only_kirk/

Hear hear! Fortunately, Janeway might not be “dead.” She’s just with Q drinking coffee for all eternity…

I now fear what Destiny will do. It can go one of 2 ways:

1. Resurrect the TNG Relaunch 2. Shove into a deep, dark corner, even further than Before Dishonor already did.

These books sound lame. I am not interested in the slightest. Ezri Dax a Captain? She was so wimpy and insecure, she wasn’t even supposed to receive a symbiot. It’s like a young Reg Barclay getting his own command. And the Columbia part of this plotline? Who are these god like beings? And give it up with the Borg already! Write about something else! These books sound way too far out there for me.

If you ask me, we are experiencing a serious drought of good Trek novels.

” I’ll point out that Peter David is an awful writer and should have stopped writing after “Vendetta” (go look it up – it was so bad, it was sold at half price at Toys R Us for crying out loud). “

…A lot of people would severely disagree with you. But then again, there’s people who like Michael Jan Friedman’s hack jobs. Which just goes to show that people are like tribbles, and there’s no accounting for taste.

But what the frack? At least it’s not Diane “Mary Sue” Carey, Vonda McIntyre or Della “K/S” Van Hise butchering the franchise…

I don’t know about Peter David being horrible, the New Frontier novels are excellent and he was a pretty good comic book writer. He may have just had a few bombs as all writers do from time to time.

I wish they still made Star Trek audiobooks…so much easier than actually reading.

I like Trek novels, but I don’t care how they spin it in the DS9 relaunch series, Ezri Dax was never going to be command material.

What makes these novelists think that any minor character in a past Trek series should eventually have a command of his/her own? And she goes from Lt., jg. to Captain in 5 years (and even that is assuming she just got her promotion)? That is a promotion every 15 months!

Even James Kirk didn’t accomplish that. It took him approximately 12 years to reach the rank of Captain from the time he graduated from Starfleet Academy (and that’s if he graduated at age 22), averaging a promotion every 2 years. I’m sorry, but how could anyone buy into an ascension to command that would surpass that of Starfleet’s greatest ever hero and youngest ever Captain—-by the likes of Ezri Dax?

This series won’t get a dime out of me…

How is Ezri a Captain? She could barely handle being a psychologist.

Oh, and I kinda wish they would bring back the Sulibans, and Daniels back into the 24th Century timeline.

#17—-“But what the frack? At least it’s not Diane “Mary Sue” Carey, Vonda McIntyre or Della “K/S” Van Hise butchering the franchise…”

You’re right about one thing for sure….there is no accounting for taste.

I just recently read Vonda McIntyre’s novelizations of TWOK and TSFS for the first time in twenty years (after repurchasing them on EBay), and I enjoyed them every bit as much as I did the first go around. I haven’t read Diane Carey in decades, but I don’t remember either one of them ever “butchering the franchise”. I just think that, back then, there were not nearly as many canon restrictions as there are now. I am sure that if I went back and read “Web Of The Romulans”, or something like that again, I would probably find that it would no longer fit into what more recent live action Trek has established as canon.

How exactly do you find that they “butchered the franchise”?

#11 – Re: your desire to see a collaboration between myself and Keith R.A. DeCandido, it has already happened. In fact, my first Star Trek prose fiction credit is one that I co-authored with Keith — Star Trek S.C.E. “Invincible”, now available in the paperback collection Star Trek S.C.E. Book Two: Miracle Workers.

As for everyone who wonders how Ezri became a captain, I will say simply that you need to read the post-finale Deep Space Nine books to see how her character has changed, and then you need to learn the meaning of the phrase “battlefield promotion.”

that pretty much sums it up

Whoever it was that drew that picture of Frakes for the cover obviously is not a very good artist because that does not look like him. Although they were able to capture the “alcoholic” look, maybe a little too well.

Yeah #25…they left out the triple chins.

If you want something good to read, check out the Vanguard books. I love them… Can’t wait for the next one!

#23 David Mack, the Vanguard books are my favorite Trek novels in years, they are really good and I love the diversity of characters, like DS9, non star fleet personel, etc. I highly recommend them to all… P.S. Love the covers for these too, very 70’s sci-fi novel feel I think…

It sounds like this book is not about the borg but about a new species. I think your just picking out the fact that it mentions the Borg, I don’t think the entire series is about them.

Mack, Your works have always been exquisite. I am in the process of reading over “Twist of Faith” and “These Haunted Seas,” and Ezri has definitely progressed as a person.

As for the rest of you, Every Trek novel has something to offer the franchise. While I despise “Before Dishonor,” I did enjoy some aspects of it. Though, I wouldn’t put it on my X-Mas list… ever. Maybe if I was ridiculously drunk.

I love David Mack… and yet I hate the way these synopses sound… and Greater Than The Sum was not a fun read for me… and yet… I mean, it’s David Mack!

*is torn; hopes for the best*

>.I just recently read Vonda McIntyre’s novelizations of TWOK and TSFS for the first time in twenty years (after repurchasing them on EBay), and I enjoyed them every bit as much as I did the first go around.

Closettreker–they were excellent, ARE excellent, aren’t they? I think the whole made up “K/S” controversy over one of Vonda books colors some people’s judgment about ALL their writing.

People should remember that these books take place something like a couple years after the latest DS9 relaunch (although don’t quote me on the exact time of the gap), so I’m sure we’ll see soon enough the whole story of Ezri’s rise to a captaincy, and also keep in mind that we don’t know what type of ship she’s in command of. It could just be a small ship like a saber class vessel.

Best Trek writer ever, in my opinion, is Diane Duane. Someone said once that her books weren’t canon, but they ought to be…and I agree. Which is not to say that I haven’t enjoyed other books immensely as well. It is, however, a habit I’ve gotten out of …it got to be too much to keep track of!

#33: Greater Than the Sum says the Aventine is a prototype for a new form of propulsion. Didn’t say what the class would be.

You people really should listen to yourselves (or read what you are saying).

“Peter David is a horrible writer… Dax will never make it a captain, she could barely handle being a psychologist… The artwork doesn’t look at all like Riker… they forgot his three chins… the artist captures the alcoholic look… some people seem to like Jan Michael Friedman’s hack jobs…”

Yeesh!!!! Those of you posting these comments sound like a bunch of bitter little old ladies (apologies rendered if that analogy offends anyone) stuck on their front porch wilting under the summer heat in their rocking chairs.

It is so easy to sit here on the sidelines and criticize, but I don’t see many of us who are posting these hateful jabs who have taken the plunge to write a novel, a short story, a script… but diatribes are easy, they just don’t pay well. so I say…

Get over it! As a writer I know how hard it is to please all of my readers… in fact, I think I’ll let Ricky Nelson close this one out…

“Ya see you can’t please everyone so ya gotta please yourself.”

and while we’re on the subject of writers…

I’d like to put in a plug for TREK writer extraordinaire Christopher L. Bennett. His books are wonderfully crafted, dense with characterization and plot… He is spot on 95% of the time! I thought his TOS novel Ex Machina and NG’s The Buried Age were both a top notch, fun, fast and furious read… I could not put them down!

He knows his TREK lore. His books are well worth your time and money!

It wouldn’t hurt to read the Titan series and the TNG andDS9-relaunch novels that run up to the Destiny trilogy.

Characters have developed beyond their portrayal on screen, some significantly. In particular, Ezri’s seemingly rapid ascension to a captaincy is depicted in the DS9 books. LIkewise, the Borg are not quite what they used to be, a development outlined in the TNG books.

I’ve no problem with any of this. People change and stuff happens. Actions have consequences. (As far as I’m concerned, that last is the keynote of recent Trek books.)

2 – print will never be dead, as long as human beings continue to have opposable thumbs.

Ah… these bitter Trekkies, who cling to their phasers and their canon, with antipathy towards those whose visions of the Trek universe are not like theirs….

By the way, I love the collective works of Carey, Friedman, McIntyre and PAD.

And I LOVE the smell of Phaser Coolant in the morning!

Most Trek tie in novels read like glorified fanfic. The “what ifs” and “wouldn’t it be cools” are enjoying for a fan but rarely if ever move you on an intellectual or substantively emotional level. The only Trek writer I respect is the guy who wrote “the Final Reflection”- John Ford. That book is so immersive,unique, and intellectually provocative that you put it down regretfully.

Valar1, #41, said:

“… (Trek novels) rarely if ever move you on an intellectual or substantively emotional level…”

And the moveis and TV shows do?

Not every Trek novel I’ve read hit the mark, but almost all were at least on a par with the screen version in terms of making me think and feel. Certainly, they are far above the level of fanfic.

The Trek world of fiction is a character driven world that just happens to be set 3 and 4 centuries in the future. (If we were attracted solely by the imagined technology, the frequent time travel events would fall flat.)

Most episodes and most movies appeal to us not because they are great literature, but because they depict incidents from the lives of people we care about. Some do it better than others. Ditto the novels.

in other words, we watch the shows and the movies for the same reason we read the books: We care about these people and we want to see what happens.

And, what happens takes place in a dynamic universe in which things and people change. They are not in stasis, doomed to behave exactly as they did before, as some here apparently would like.

The novels are simply continuations of those characters’ lives in print, rather than digital, form. They have as much legitimacy as anything done for TV or film.

Just think of the Trek novels as the episodes that would have aired if each series had been renewed for another 3 or 4 years.

Print is not dead, just not as fast as an Xbox or PC. Reading Star Trek or any novel is mostly about entertainment , if you want intellectual or emotional movement take a class. Trek started as a 16 page screenplay idea to a bunch of no imagination television producers and executives. Look at how far this story has travelled and evolved. I was there at the beginning, that first night in 1966 and i have enjoyed Star Trek is all it’s forms. Star Trek is just as fun today. David Mack is a good writer, his Vanguard series is outstanding, takes you back to the beginning, the original time, but with a larger take. I look forward to this new series.

You stupid Trekkies. Don’t you have anything better to do besides nit-pick Star Trek novels in your mom’s basement all day. All of you post-college virgins should get a life! I

Instead of dissecting someone’s work, why dont you go do something worthwhile and go try to lose your virginities before you turn 40. Or better yet, why don’t you try to write a Trek novel of your own. Let’s see your work get featured on this site for a change.

yo #17 diane carey is a gifted writer, i think. outside of trek, she’s outwritten rowlings and was quite first to do by many years. but as with most of you armchair critics, i look forward to your stellar novels. can’t wait. dick.

#35: Dax on a ship that’s testing a new propulsion system? Now why does that sound so familiar?

Why do people think the Trek books can’t be criticized?

What makes them so special? Nothing.

Some are great. Some are middling. Some are absolute crap.

Just like everything else.

– When i heard the first rumors about the making of d.s.-9…i thought that the series is about a starbase with a whole..fleet of ENTERPRISE – D like starships infiltrated into a unknown space where is a war with borgs leaded by Locutus..When i heared the first rumors about VOYAGER..i thought that the show is about a new starship..wich explores a distant zone into a near future from TNG. era.. S.T ENTERPRISE -rumors where about exploring the past of klingons..vulcans ..and romulans..and the FEDERATION past..not about the xindi race or..another new (old races)..

#42- I would say that most Trek tv and films don’t challenge the intellect too much, but sometimes they really hit it out of the park. Personally, I can think of some TOS and TNG episodes that really expanded my way of thinking- as a kid I would watch stuff like “A Private Little War” and later get the allegory to Vietnam, or as an adult watch “Darmok” and be moved by the concept of communication and how important something that simple is. Rarely, and boy have a read a ton of Trek tie-in books, rarely has a Trek novel ever had that affect on me.

I don’t see what everyone is complaining about in regards to “Before Dishonor”, ok yes they killed off Janeway (or did they), but they brought a new dimension to the borg, yes the borg absorbed pluto but they added in current affairs with regard to pluto being a planet/planetoid/dwarf planet or plutoid.

The TNG relaunch books have been amazing, and personally I think the Borg is the best alien in the series.

Someone made a comment that “so long as they dont kill Troy”, why not kill her? she is quite possibly the most useless character in all of Trek.

I cant be the only one that liked Before Dishonor and Im looking forward to Greater than the Sum which is another Borg book from the synopsis and this trilogy sounds good too, yes because it has the borg in it.

I know plenty of people that have read and liked Before Dishonor and the rest of the TNG relaunch books, I know plenty that have downloaded it to their sony reader (like me) or kindle or some other device and I dont know anyone who hated it.

As for Ezri, no clue how she became captain but DS9 was boring personally so I dont care, but yes characters can change and grow from how they originally were on screen.

Keep the books coming, keep the borg alive, the best Trek baddie, kill troy and make more Voyager books, this is not some 40 year old virgin asking but someone who holds down 3 jobs and is stressed to hell, going though divorce and relocating countries and the only peace of mind i get in my cr@ppy life is to read a little trek when I cant sleep from too much work. The current trek books are wonderful and if you dont like the Borg, dont read Borg based stories.

Destiny (episode)

• 1.2 Act One
• 1.3 Act Two
• 1.4 Act Three
• 1.5 Act Four
• 1.6 Act Five
• 2 Memorable quotes
• 3.1 Story and script
• 3.2 Production
• 3.3 Continuity
• 3.4 Reception
• 3.5 Video and DVD releases
• 4.1 Starring
• 4.2 Also starring
• 4.3 Guest stars
• 4.4 Uncredited co-stars
• 4.5.1 Other references
• 4.6 External links

Summary [ ]

" I want the Cardassians to feel like guests, not prisoners. "

Constable Odo , followed closely by Commander Sisko , enters one of the station's many living quarters . He explains that he has assigned the senior Cardassian scientist, Ulani Belor , to these quarters with her colleague, Gilora Rejal , being accommodated in the adjacent room. Sisko immediately notices the unusual warmth in the room, believing Odo has adjusted the environmental controls to suit the scientist's needs and he is right. Odo further explains that he has also had Chief O'Brien reprogram the replicators to produce Cardassian food and has assigned two deputies to watch them carefully during their trip, though the commander tells him to keep his distance; he wants the scientists to feel like guests, not prisoners. Odo, in typical fashion, replies with the caution of a security officer . As he explains, there are still some elements opposed to the recent Bajoran-Cardassian Treaty on both sides and so they have to be prepared for trouble. Though Sisko agrees with the statement, he also wants the Bajorans to get used to seeing Cardassians " walking down the Promenade , buying from their shops, eating from their restaurants . Getting to know them as something other than brutal overseers. "

Just then, they are interrupted by Lieutenant Dax , who reports she has just received the scientist's designs on the proposed transceiver for the communications relay, but she isn't entirely convinced it is going to work. Sisko assures her the Cardassians are certainly confident of success, to which she smiles and expresses her hopes it will be too. Before the three of them can discuss it further, Quark enters with two bottles of kanar and expresses an interest in which of the scientists will be staying there; Gilora or Ulani. Odo seems surprised that Quark is aware of their names, particularly since he only found out an hour ago. " Odo, please… ", Quark smiles. Managing to evade the question, he reveals he has brought a bottle of kanar for each of them with a "personal invitation" to Quark's . Dax also seems surprised, but for a different reason. She asks the Ferengi where he has managed to obtain real kanar, to which he explains he has had three cases of it sitting in his storeroom since the Occupation and there hasn't been much call for it the past few years. But that's about to change, he says, as there are sure to be more Cardassians visiting the station as a result of the new peace treaty . Dax smiles, quoting what she believes is the thirty-fourth Rule of Acquisition ; " Peace is good for business ", however Quark soon corrects her – the thirty-fourth is " War is good for business ", but he can see how she might have got them confused.

" There'll be no live vole fights on the Promenade, Quark. "

Back to the topic at hand, Quark believes it won't be long before there's a permanent Cardassian presence on the station. " Scientists, diplomats … spies… ", all of whom would be welcome at Quark's. In fact, he says he may even rent the shop next to his bar and open up some Cardassian gaming concessions. Sensing trouble, Odo quickly reminds him there will be no live Vole fights on the Promenade, and Sisko backs him up.

Content to make some sacrifices, Quark goes on to envision his new enterprise where his bar is known for having the best Cardassian food and drink in the sector though this is sadly interrupted by Dax, who informs him his kanar has gone bad. Odo instructs Quark to leave, half-seriously saying he may well have to arrest him for attempting to poison their guests. Quark makes a hasty departure, taking along the kanar.

A little while later, Sisko is in his office working on a PADD when Major Kira notifies him a Vedek Yarka has arrived and requests to meet with him urgently. Sisko nods to Kira, who gestures to Yarka standing outside. The Vedek rushes in with some urgency and reveals he has an important warning from the Prophets ; if he allows the Cardassians on the station, he will bring destruction upon them all.

Act One [ ]

Vedek Yarka pleads with Commander Sisko

Vedek Yarka explains that it has all been foretold in Trakor's Third Prophecy :

The river has awakened, he says to Sisko. As Kira reveals, he is referring to the Qui'al Dam which has just been put back into operation to divert water to the city, and the Cardassian scientists – the three vipers – are now on their way to the station, their nest in the sky. The Commander seems skeptical of the whole thing but nevertheless asks how their arrival will bring destruction on them all. Yarka continues to recite the prophecy;

He compares the scientist's attempts at communication through the wormhole – the Celestial Temple – as the vipers trying to peer through the temple gates. If they do, he says, the wormhole will be destroyed. Kira points out to him that only two scientists will be arriving on the station, not three, and asks if it is possible whether there could be more mistakes in his interpretation. But Yarka is adamant; " There will be three vipers, you will see ", he asserts, but Sisko still isn't convinced. He illustrates the benefits of the communication relay for Bajor , how they will be able to communicate with ships on the other side of the wormhole and facilitate exploration, how they can monitor the Dominion in case of attack, but the Vedek dismisses the benefits as irrelevant, sure that they are on the verge of a great disaster. Sisko asks him if the Vedek Assembly is aware of the prophecy. Yarka says both the Assembly and Kai Winn know of it but choose to ignore the signs. The Commander reiterates his stance; in common with the Bajoran government, he has no intention of calling off the project. Yarka expresses his dismay at the decision but informs Sisko he and his followers will remain on the station, praying he changes his mind. As the Vedek leaves, Sisko instructs Kira to have Odo find out everything he can on him and his followers. He doesn't want them causing any trouble while the Cardassians are on the station.

Ulani Belor and Gilora Rejal arrive

In the airlock , the large circular doors are wheeled back to reveal the two Cardassian women. Sisko welcomes them both to Deep Space 9 on behalf of the Federation and Starfleet Command , while Kira stands in silence. After a brief introduction, she too welcomes them on behalf of the Bajoran Provisional Government , hoping this project will mark a new era of peace between Bajor and Cardassia though she is clearly uncomfortable with the situation. With the formalities out of the way, Sisko asks them how their trip was. Ulani, seemingly more relaxed, jokes it was very exhausting though preparing for the trip was equally as tiring. She explains how guls she has never even heard of before have contacted her about the mission, reminding her of the importance, to which Sisko relates, commenting on three calls he has received from Starfleet Command just that morning. In a more serious tone, Ulani expresses her gratitude to Kira for allowing them to conduct their work on the station, much to Kira's surprise. " I'll work with anyone who's interested in peace ", she replies.

Sisko and Kira hear the deployment plans for the relay in the wardroom

After resting in their quarters, the scientists meet up with Sisko, Kira, O'Brien, and Dax for a briefing in the wardroom . On the wall, there is a diagram of the wormhole with Deep Space 9 at one end and the communication relay at the other. Sisko explains the plan is to place the relay two kilometers away from the far side of the wormhole, while Gilora begins to describe the transceiver they will be installing. Part way through, she stops herself, realizing she called the station by its old Cardassian name, Terok Nor . After quickly correcting herself, Dax asks Ulani what sort of carrier wave they will using to counter the interference inside the wormhole. She responds with a trial and error approach to testing several different soliton pulses , certain one will prove successful. O'Brien recognizes the plan as one they attempted a year ago without much success, though Gilora, confident in her ability, believes the problem was in the phase variance of the transceiver coils . Defending his skills as an engineer, the chief says the variance was less than point zero one percent but yet again, Gilora argues, saying it was too high and their new design has less than half that variance. The chief isn't convinced and wants to go over the plans himself. Ulani then interrupts, realizing an argument is developing. She reminds Sisko that a few adjustments will need to be made to the station's signaling array so that it can accommodate the transmissions, who assures her Chief O'Brien's people can handle it while they take the USS Defiant to the Gamma Quadrant and deploy the relay. With that, the meeting concludes and Gilora and Ulani head back to their quarters. Turning to Kira, Sisko jokes, " Now those are about the two friendliest vipers I've ever met " which elicits a few strange looks from Dax and O'Brien. Sisko tells them he will explain himself later.

" Three vipers… just like in the prophecy… "

Just when it seems like everything is in order, Ulani returns to the wardroom and informs Sisko that another of their colleagues, Dejar , will be arriving later in the day. Sisko politely says that quarters will be arranged by the time she arrives. Ulani thanks him and heads out, leaving Sisko to brief his senior staff on another issue. However, just as the commander takes his seat, he pauses, noticing an expressionless Kira staring at the bulkhead. He asks her what is wrong. " There are going to be three of them… " she quietly replies, " Three vipers… just like in the prophecy… "

Act Two [ ]

In the security office , Odo reveals that Vedek Yarka is no longer a Vedek at all; he was stripped of his title just two months ago because he didn't adhere to Bajoran beliefs, at least that is the official reason. Odo happens to know from his sources that Yarka led a series of protests against the Vedek Assembly when they endorsed the peace treaty with Cardassia. Sisko theorizes that Yarka is using the prophecy as a way to scuttle the treaty. Odo agrees, saying it is also coloring his view of it as well just like Sisko's agenda colors the way he sees it. The Commander defends himself, saying he wants the project to go ahead in the interests of peace and if he thought for a moment that the wormhole was in danger, he would put a stop to it. But that isn't what Odo is referring to. He has observed how Sisko prefers to distance himself from the title of "Emissary", that he has never been comfortable with it. Sisko sighs in agreement, " I can't deny that ", he says before realizing Odo may be hinting at something more. He asks him if he thinks he is dismissing the prophecy too easily because he doesn't want to be the Emissary. Odo says he isn't suggesting anything. It has simply been his understanding that all humanoids have an agenda of some sort, an agenda that can influence their decisions without them knowing it.

" Without your faith, Nerys, what do you have left? "

Meanwhile, Kira and Doctor Bashir are taking a walk down the Promenade, discussing how Morn was taken ill by a bad glass of Quark's kanar. Kira quips he should get a refund, though, as Bashir explains, the odd thing is it was on the house. Half-way down the Promenade, they are interrupted by Yarka. After Bashir excuses himself, Yarka implores Kira to talk to Sisko about the prophecy and convince him not to go ahead with the project but Kira denies him, explaining that he is her superior officer and she must deal with him on that basis first, thereby keeping her work and beliefs separate. But Yarka continues to insist she not turn her back on her faith and present his case to Sisko. " Without your faith, Nerys ", he says, " …what do you have left? "

In Quark's, Dax is discussing Cardassian poetry with Ulani and Gilora, while a bored O'Brien looks on. She reveals that one of her previous hosts, Tobin , actually got to meet Iloja of Prim during his exile on Vulcan , much to the scientists disbelief. At that moment, Quark arrives and presents their colleague, Dejar. After the necessary introductions, Ulani expresses her surprise at her early arrival. Dejar explains that she was able to arrange special transportation. There is an uncomfortable aura between the two which Dax and O'Brien seem to pick up on. Quark certainly does as he attempts to alleviate it by presenting some traditional Cardassian food; Tojal in yamok sauce and Regova eggs . Though Dejar seems to enjoy it, Gilora and Ulani admit they don't really care for Cardassian cuisine, to everyone's amusement, that is everyone but Dejar.

Later, in Ops , O'Brien is assisting Gilora with the work needed to interface the transceiver with the station. As she pulls away one of the panels in the engineering pit, Gilora gasps in amazement at the sight of the modified conduits. O'Brien explains he had to make some modifications in order to meet Starfleet codes and regulations which require a secondary backup system. Gilora points out that the chances of both the primary system and its backup failing at the same time are extremely unlikely and although O'Brien agrees, he says he wouldn't like to be caught without a secondary backup in a crunch. She reluctantly decides to find another way to go about the modifications and begins making some calculations on her PADD. When O'Brien tries to provide some assistance, she shuts him out, requiring some time to think. " Fine ", an annoyed O'Brien says, sitting himself quietly down on one of the consoles. Unaware of her obvious abruptness, she then asks him to get her a cup of red leaf tea . " Why not?! " O'Brien sarcastically responds, climbing out of the pit.

The "sword of stars"

On the Defiant , Kira reports the communication relay has been loaded into the cargo bay and the Chief should be ready in four hours. Sisko acknowledges the information and instructs Dax to set a course for the wormhole. In the Gamma Quadrant, Dax runs a complete scan of nearby space, checking for any Dominion presence. The scan initially turns up negative but just as Sisko gives the order to deploy the relay, sensors detect a rogue comet just inside detection range. Dax reports that it contains an abnormal amount of silithium giving it an unusually bright tail. As Kira observes the comet on the viewscreen, she remembers four words from the prophecy, " The sword of stars. "

Act Three [ ]

Ulani says Kira's choice of words is a very colorful way to describe a comet. She replies by saying it's simply a figure of speech. Ulina turns her attention back to her work, noting the comet will pass close to the wormhole but shouldn't interfere with their plans. Sisko orders Dax to begin a final systems check on the relay station, to deploy it within the hour, before summoning the Major to another room for a more private conversation.

" I'd even call it Starfleet. "

They arrive in one of the crew cabins where the Commander instructs her to keep the prophecy to herself, especially while on the bridge of the Defiant ; he doesn't want the Cardassians finding out about it. Kira agrees. Sitting himself down on one of the bunks, Sisko sighs, correctly ascertaining that she believes the prophecy is coming true. Kira tells him that he has a decision to make here and now, confessing she has always believed him to be the Emissary of the Prophets. " It's hard to work for someone who's a religious icon ", she smiles. But Sisko doesn't share her convictions and reminds her that he considers himself a Starfleet officer, not an Emissary, and if he is to call off this mission, it would have to be a solid reason, a Starfleet reason. Kira proposes that the Prophets – or wormhole aliens – passed their knowledge of the future onto Trakor who then wrote it down in the form of his prophecy, and now, three thousand years later, they are seeing those events unfold. " To me ", she argues, " that reason sounds concrete, solid, I'd even call it Starfleet. " Just then, Dax interrupts over the comm, advising they are ready to deploy the relay. Kira looks at him with hope in her eyes, hope that he will change his mind and stop the project. But where she sees a prophecy, Sisko sees a comet. " I'm on my way ", he responds.

Back on the station, Gilora is working on an ODN relay while O'Brien stands watching in the background. She complains of all the modifications and replacements he has made which makes her job even more difficult. O'Brien tries to convince her that if she would explain to him what she intends to do, he could help. She responds by admitting it is because he is a man that she is so reluctant to accept his help. " Men just don't seem to have a head for this sort of thing ", she says. She cites the dominance of Cardassian women over the sciences as evidence of the differing abilities between the sexes. The chief is persistent, telling her that nobody knows the systems better than him… including her and she would be wise to accept his help. Gilora concedes, handing him the laser torch she was using.

The Defiant is rocked by the destabilizing wormhole

On the other side of the wormhole, the relay is in position alongside the Defiant . Dax reports she is ready to initiate the relay's transmission array. Dejar reports the test signal from the relay is coming through clearly while Ulani instructs Dax to initiate a carrier wave in the Delta band frequency. She explains that if the station receives it, they will send an acknowledging signal on the same frequency. Sisko smiles in anticipation, while Kira remains noticeably concerned. After a few seconds of silence, it becomes apparent that the transmission was unsuccessful. Pressing a few buttons on her PADD, Ulani then instructs Dax to initiate the signal along the theta band frequency . Almost immediately, it becomes clear that something is wrong. The wormhole springs open, emitting a massive neutrino surge, rocking the Defiant back and forth, just as Kira reports the its gravity well has increased by a factor of three. Sisko quickly orders Dax to terminate the carrier wave, closing the wormhole. Sisko seeks an explanation but nobody can provide one – the signal should not have affected the wormhole at all. Before anyone can theorize what happened, Dax announces the comet has been pulled off course and it's heading straight for the wormhole. If it enters, the silithium will cause a cascade reaction, collapsing the wormhole permanently.

Act Four [ ]

The science team meets in the wardroom

Everyone is assembled in the wardroom where Dax explains the carrier wave they transmitted created a subspace inversion in the wormhole, which caused the gravity well to form. Ulani reveals the possibility of a subspace inversion was present in one of their simulations but it only presented less than a two percent risk so they chose to leave it out of the information they sent. Sisko tells them they prefer to examine all possibilities before conducting field tests, to which she agrees, however, the Cardassian Science Ministry falls under the purview of the military and they are always instructed not to make a project look unnecessarily dangerous. The Commander advises them all to keep that in mind when they resume work on the relay. Dejar, who has been quiet up until now, declares a new team will most likely be assembled prior to another attempt. Turning their attention to the comet, Dax explains that a tractor beam would most likely cause it to fragment into more pieces, creating a bigger mess. Gilora comments the same thing would happen if they tried to destroy it with a phaser beam though O'Brien's not so sure. He thinks that he can modify the Defiant 's phaser array to be wide enough to encompass the entire comet. Sisko directs him to start right away and concludes their meeting.

On the Defiant , O'Brien, and Gilora are working away in one of the Jefferies tubes . The chief explains what he is attempting to do but it seems Gilora is far more interested in O'Brien himself than the work. As he reaches into an emitter coupling , she grabs his hand and holds it up to hers. " You have very steady hands ", she says. A confused O'Brien doesn't quite know what to make of it, simply replying, " Well, they get the job done, " before removing his hand from hers. Attempting to get back to his work, O'Brien leans inside the emitter and continues his adjustments, before she suddenly surprises him yet again. " I am quite fertile… ", she says, prompting O'Brien to bang his head on the paneling in shock. " I could provide you with many healthy children, if that's your concern, but frankly I think you're getting a little ahead of yourself. " O'Brien is astonished by what she is saying, and says that he already has a child and a wife . It seems that she mistook his irritability for a desire to pursue a physical relationship. The chief suddenly understands and says that he is not remotely interested in her. Just as the words escape his mouth, he realizes he has said the wrong thing and tries to soften the blow, but Gilora understands what his feelings are towards her and, turning around, crawls back out of the Jefferies tube, leaving him to finish the adjustments on his own.

" What would you do if you'd never heard Trakor's prophecy? "

Dax arrives in Sisko's office, reporting that O'Brien says the phasers will be ready in half an hour. Sisko acknowledges her but seems to be more interested in what's on his computer display. He states that he has been looking through the Bajoran prophecys and nearly all of them can be considered accurate if they are interpreted in a certain way. Dax observes he is afraid that Trakor's Third Prophecy will come true unless he sends the Cardassians home; " The gates of heaven will burn and be cast open. " She asks him what he would do if he had never heard the prophecy. Sisko obviously replies that he would continue to work on the relay, to which Dax offers him two choices; he can make his own decisions or allow the prophecies to make them for him. The commander leans forward and turns off his monitor, before standing up in front of Dax. " As soon as the Defiant is ready ", he says, " …have the Cardassians meet us on board. "

The time soon arrives. The Defiant exits the wormhole and Sisko orders Dax to place them within ten kilometers of the comet. As soon as O'Brien reports the phasers are locked on target, the commander gives the order to fire. But something goes wrong. The entire weapons relay blows, sending sparks flying across the bridge. Dax reveals the modified phasers never came online and they actually fired at the comet with standard phasers, fracturing it instead of vaporizing it as intended. There's now three fragments and they're only twenty six minutes away from the wormhole. Without weapons, there is no way to stop them.

Act Five [ ]

Dejar is revealed to be a member of the Obsidian Order

O'Brien explains that the main emitter coupling has been depolarized, something which must have happened when he tried to modify the power flow. He is noticeably annoyed with himself as it's something a first year engineering student wouldn't miss. Throughout the whole thing, Gilora and Ulani each send an icy glare at Dejar as if they know something. Dejar stares back defying them to say anything, but Gilora does. She reveals that Dejar is a member of the Obsidian Order and was assigned to them for security. Sisko then puts two and two together. The Obsidian Order has long been opposed to the peace treaty with Bajor and would happily see the project fail if it damaged Bajoran relations. Dejar unconvincingly insists it's all speculation, but is confined to quarters nonetheless. With Dejar out of the way, they begin to develop a plan on how to stop the comet. Ulani suggests expanding a subspace field around the fragments, which might just be enough to contain the silithium during transit through the wormhole. O'Brien suggests using the warp drive to generate the field, but as the Defiant is too large to maneuver in between the fragments, Sisko decides they'll have to use a shuttlepod and he is going to be the pilot . After ordering Kira to assume command and take the ship back to the Alpha Quadrant he starts to head off, but is soon stopped by the Major, who expresses her desire to join him, to help her Emissary. Not needing much convincing, Sisko hands the bridge over to Dax instead.

In the shuttlepod, Sisko lays in a course for the tail-end of the fragments, allowing them to easier position themselves between the large chunks of rock and ice.

Meanwhile, the Defiant exits the wormhole on the side of Alpha Quadrant. Dax orders the helm to maintain position and ready transporters, just in case.

The shuttlepod activates the subspace field

Assuming the position, Kira activates the subspace field, encompassing all of the fragments in one bubble. From inside the cockpit , the wormhole can be seen as it flashes open in a bright light, dragging the pod and the fragments through. At first the field seems to be holding, but it soon begins to lose integrity as small amounts of silithium slip through. Sisko instructs her to route power from the engines into the field. Their own inertia will have to carry them the rest of the way.

On the Defiant , O'Brien detects the standard neutrino surge as the wormhole opens to reveal the shuttlepod, intact with the fragments. Sisko sighs a sigh of relief as he deactivates the subspace field holding them in place. Just as Dax checks they're alright, O'Brien announces the test signal from the relay is being broadcast through the wormhole. It turns out the fragments left just enough of a silithium trail to allow subspace signals to pass through.

Kira realizes that all this time they had misinterpreted the prophecy. The "three vipers" didn't mean the Cardassians, but the three comet fragments; "peering through the temple gates" was a reference to the attempt to establish the communications relay in the first place. "Burning the temple gates" referred to the silithium's reaction with the wormhole itself to create a subspace filament through the wormhole; which in the end did provide a communication pathway, "so the temple gates would never close again. And the "sword of stars" used by the Emissary referred to the comet's silithium tail itself.

Gilora kisses O'Brien

Back on the station, O'Brien is walking Gilora back to the airlock. He thanks her for what she did back on the Defiant and hopes she doesn't face too much trouble when she gets back to Cardassia. She believes her superiors will protect her from any serious repercussions and that Dejar will be the one in trouble when the Obsidian Order finds out she failed in her duty. As they reach the airlock, she turns to the chief, telling him he has a lucky wife. Giving him a small kiss on the cheek, she finally says, " Goodbye, Mister O'Brien ", before turning and heading out towards the airlock, leaving the chief to reflect on recent events.

Shortly thereafter, Yarka is walking with Sisko down the Promenade. He takes the opportunity to apologize to the commander for doubting him and admits his own distrust for the Cardassians " blinded him to the Prophets' words. " As they continue walking, he reveals something more; there are signs of Trakor's Fourth Prophecy coming true in the near future and it includes the Emissary. Thinking about it for a moment, the commander replies, " Tell me about it ".

Memorable quotes [ ]

" And as the 34th Rule of Acquisition states: 'Peace is good for business'. " " That's the 35th Rule. " " Oh, you're right. What's the 34th? " " 'War is good for business.' It's easy to get them confused. "

" There'll be no live vole fights on the Promenade, Quark " " I would never be party to anything so cruel and inhumane. But, of course, if some Cardassians happened to bring their voles along and they happened to get into a fight, I could hardly be held responsible for… " " Oh, yes you could. " " And you will be. "

" Thank you for seeing me, Emissary " " What can I do for you? " " I am here with a warning from the Prophets. They don't want you to let the Cardassians come aboard the station. If you do, you will bring destruction on us all. "

" So we need to discuss what we're going to do about… " [Notices Kira's expression] " What's wrong, major? " " There are going to be three of them… " " Yes… " " Three vipers… just like in the prophecy…' "

" Do you really believe I'm the Emissary? " " I guess I always have. But I've never wanted to admit it to myself. " [Smiles] " It's hard to work for someone who's a religious icon. "

" It seems perfectly reasonable that they could've communicated knowledge of the future to a Bajoran named Trakor. He wrote down that knowledge in the form of a prophecy and now, three thousand years later, we are seeing those events unfold. To me, that reasoning sounds concrete, solid, I'd even call it Starfleet. " " But that all hinges on how you interpret an ancient text that's been translated and re-translated over the centuries. Words that were couched in metaphor to begin with. I'm sorry, major, but where you see a Sword of Stars, I see a comet. Where you see vipers, I see three scientists. And where you see the Emissary, I see a Starfleet officer. "

" I assure you, I'm quite fertile… I could provide you with many healthy children, if that's your concern, but frankly I think you're getting a little ahead of yourself. " " Children? What are you talking about? I already have a child. And a wife. " " You're married?! " " Yes, happily. " " Then why have you been leading me to believe that you… wanted me? " " I haven't been. All we've done since we met is argue. " " I took your overt irritability toward me as a signal that you wished to pursue some physical relationship. " " Of course! Well, that's how Cardassians… do things. "

" Then it seems to me you have a choice. You can either make your own decisions or you can let these prophecies make them for you. "

" There are signs that Trakor's Fourth Prophecy will soon come to pass as well. " " Don't tell me this has something to do with me. " " You, commander? Well, it's a prophecy about the Emissary. " " Tell me about it. " " The Fourth Prophecy says that the Emissary will face a fiery trial and he'll be forced to choose… "

Background information [ ]

Story and script [ ].

• This episode was originally pitched by David S. Cohen and Martin A. Winer as a second season episode. It was purchased by the producers, who assigned Cohen and Winer to write the teleplay, but it never made it into production, primarily because it focused on a prophecy of happiness and joy, an idea that, according to the producers, didn't make for a very exciting episode. Rene Echevarria , who made an uncredited rewrite of the script, recalls, " The early draft had a lot of nice stuff in it. It was done very lyrically and the writers had a lovely poem concerning Trakor's prophecy […] a wonderful thing that was going to happen, a miracle, and Sisko was told that he was going to be a part of it. A miracle was happening. So why was that bad? Why would Sisko not want to be a part of it? " ( Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion , pp. 210-211)
• The original story idea revolved around Starfleet seeking to relieve Sisko of his post. As David Cohen recalls, " We had enjoyed Deep Space Nine 's pilot and the mythic overtones it suggested, as [Commander Sisko] was believed by an alien race to be the 'Emissary' from their gods, as prophesised in their scriptures. It occurred to us that Sisko's bosses couldn't be very comfortable with that. What if they pulled a Heart of Darkness on him and sent someone to extract him from this situation? The perfect chance to do so, we decided, was if there was some specific prophecy, that would, ipso facto, prove he's not the Emissary. We'd raise the stakes by having a pencil-pushing staff officer threaten to transfer him to another command if he doesn't end this 'Emissary' talk. " They decided the problem was that, " Sisko really was the Emissary, so every effort to extricate him from this situation only furthered the prophecy. By the end, even the pencil-pushing staff officer has played a role in the prophecy and is in it as deep as Sisko, so Starfleet Command decides to just live with the whole situation. " The "pencil-pushing officer" mentioned in the original story was named "Marlowe" as an homage to the character in Heart of Darkness . ( Screen Plays: How 25 Scripts Made it to a Theater Near You - For Better or Worse , p. 9)
• After the writing staff reconsidered the story, Cohen and Winer had another go at writing it. The new version turned out better but the staff still believed something was missing. Finally, Ronald D. Moore joked, " Jesus, this should be a prophecy of doom . " Suddenly the story made sense because, as Echevarria notes, " [Sisko]'s a Starfleet officer, because he doesn't believe this 'Emissary' stuff. And suddenly there was dramatic tension galore: Sisko versus the Bajoran people, Sisko versus Kira, Sisko versus himself. " The "fiery trial" prophecy that Yarka tells Sisko at the end of the episode is the prophecy that was in the original draft. ( Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion , pp. 211-212)
• Ronald D. Moore remarked; " It just took us a while to figure out how to do it. We wanted to deal with the Emissary, we wanted to do a Bajoran-orientated show. We also wanted a communication relay in the Gamma Quadrant anyway, and since it was following " Life Support ", we could make the Cardassians integral to it and include the peace treaty. It all just started to come together for us. " ( Captains' Logs Supplemental - The Unauthorized Guide to the New Trek Voyages , p. 92)
• The original draft included the Rule of Acquisition, " faith can move mountains of inventory ", which was created by David Cohen and Martin Winer. Though this did not make it into the final script, Ira Behr liked it so much that he included it in his books The Ferengi Rules of Acquisition (p. 50) and Legends of the Ferengi (pp. 86-87), where it is #104. ( Screen Plays: How 25 Scripts Made it to a Theater Near You - For Better or Worse , p. 10)
• Cohen and Winer also consulted science advisor Andre Bormanis for the specifics of the comet. Bormanis recalls, " They knew what a comet was, but they were a little shy on details. Things like, 'How big is a typical comet? What is it made of? How do they travel through space? And how fast and in what kind of orbit?' And they wanted one sort of unusual effect associated with this comet, so we came up with an invented name of a substance that was found in the comet, the 'maguffin', as they say. " ( Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion , pp. 211-212)
• Echevarria oversaw most of the final stages of the story development, and even came up with #34 and #35 of the Ferengi Rules of Acquisition, with the approval of Ira Steven Behr . ( Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion , p. 211)
• The prospect of introducing two sympathetic Cardassians was done as a way of showing there are different kinds of people in Cardassian society. As Robert Hewitt Wolfe explains, " At the height of the Cold War with the Soviet Union, there were sympathetic scientists, people we could work with and talk to. " ( Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion , p. 211)
• Indeed, the parallels between this and the Cold War were intentional. The script describes the scene where Sisko and Kira first meet Gilora and Ulani; " This is the first joint project between two powers in an uneasy peace, so the scene plays out like a meeting between Americans and Russians at the height of the Cold War – a lot of diplomatic language is bandied about to cover everyone's discomfort. " [1]
• The character of Yarka was named after one of David Cohen's favorite theater professors at SUNY Albany , Jarka Burian. ( Screen Plays: How 25 Scripts Made it to a Theater Near You - For Better or Worse , pp. 9-10)
• A copy of the script for this episode was sold off in the It's A Wrap! sale and auction on eBay. [2]

Production [ ]

• The scene in which Quark provides Gilora, Ulani and Dejar with some Cardassian cuisine originally ended with Quark returning to the table, seeing Dejar is the only one eating and offering some more food. Ulani then replies that more of the "special Cardassian delicacies" would be appreciated before Quark, oblivious to the underlying tension in the air, heads off saying " It's working! " to himself. The rest of the scene was ultimately cut from the final episode but can be read in the episode's script. [3]
• One of the sets that was created for the Defiant is the generic crew cabin where Sisko and Kira go to discuss "the sword of stars" which, thanks to three removable (or "wild") walls, has a number of possible looks. As Robert della Santina explains, " There's only one wall that isn't wild. It's the one that includes the doorway. That's a double-faced wall that also serves as part of the corridor. But the director can pull out any of the other walls to give the room any one of three different looks. " ( Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion , p. 211)
• The comet the visual effects team developed for the episode was a model built by Tony Meininger , and not a computer-generated image . The artistic challenge, according to Gary Hutzel , was determining what the inside of a comet looks like. " A lot of people describe a comet as a big chunk of dirty ice, so we took it that way. It had a rocklike surface but the inside was transparent, like ice or crystal. " ( Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion , p. 212)
• The relay station is a reuse of the Amargosa observatory model from Star Trek Generations . Gary Hutzel also had the job of adjusting it to appear in this episode. " In the feature, it has extremely long extensions on it. So basically, I took a saw to it! We cut off the extentions and redesigned a couple of elements and did a new paint job. " The script describes it as being " the size of a runabout , with high-tech antennae and communications gear. " ( Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion , p. 212; [4] )
• In a 2010 interview, Erick Avari recalled some of his personal experiences during production of this episode; " [It] was a very talky piece and I played a very serious character. We worked 12 to 16-hour days, which Star Trek was famous for. So it was a grind, and I tend to get really giggly when I'm really tired, and if I get the giggles I'm in deep trouble and I know it. Tears start running down your face, your make-up starts to smear and then you can't get through your lines. No one thinks it's funny and you know that. Nina Craft was my makeup woman for this episode, and she got me going in-between takes. At one point it was one o'clock in the morning and the two of us were just laughing like silly schoolgirls. The director then said, 'Places everyone,' and I thought to myself, 'OK, I've got to straighten up.' I had this long, wordy scene that I was supposed to be very serious in. It was about doom and gloom and prophecies to come, and all I remember is just praying that I would keep a straight face through the take. So that was a fun episode. " [5]
• While in full Cardassian makeup, actress Tracy Scoggins (Gilora Rejal) took the opportunity to walk around the Paramount lot, " scaring schoolchildren on buses " before security called the DS9 set, saying, " Could y'all do something about keeping your aliens contained over there? " [6] (X)

Continuity [ ]

• Cirroc Lofton ( Jake Sisko ) does not appear in this episode.
• Referenced Rules of Acquisition : #34 (" War is good for business ") and #35 (" Peace is good for business ")
• This episode makes reference to the Bajoran-Cardassian Treaty established in " Life Support ".
• Yamok sauce was first seen in the first season episode, " Progress ", and was created by former series Producer Peter Allan Fields . Behr said of its inclusion in this episode: " Two of the things [Fields] gave us were yamok sauce and self-sealing stem bolts . They're silly names and I like silly names, so every now and then we just like to bring them back. " ( Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion , p. 211)
• The Defiant 's Type 18 shuttlepod first appeared in the two-part episode " The Search, Part I " and " The Search, Part II ". This episode marks its last appearance on the series.
• Trakor 's Fourth Prophecy , which begins " The Emissary will face a fiery trial, and he will be forced to choose… ", may refer to the events in the series finale, " What You Leave Behind ". However, there are a number of other events, both immediately before and during the Dominion War, to which the prophecy could also apply.
• Sisko 's behavior in this episode, and his attitude to his role as Emissary, contrast sharply with how he would ultimately feel about being a religious icon. Throughout the fourth , fifth , sixth and seventh seasons , Sisko would become more and more comfortable with his position in the eyes the Bajoran people, a process which is played out over the course of the fourth season episode " Accession " (where he is forced to fight for his right to be Emissary) and the fifth season episode " Rapture " (where he receives visions of the future from the Prophets ), as well as in his interactions with the Prophets in episodes like " Sacrifice of Angels ", " Image in the Sand ", " Shadows and Symbols ", and the series finale " What You Leave Behind ".

Reception [ ]

• Robert Hewitt Wolfe loved the idea of the prophecy: " A rare case where we actually did produce a spec script from outside writers. We really fell in love with the idea that the prophecy, no matter what you do, ends up coming true. We had a lot of trouble making it work because the concept was difficult, but I think it was Rene [Echevarria] who finally cracked the show. " ( Captains' Logs Supplemental - The Unauthorized Guide to the New Trek Voyages , p. 92)
• René Echevarria himself commented, " I like ['Destiny'] a lot. It's really interesting regarding the Bajoran religion. Kira and her beliefs and Sisko trying to walk the line – is he the Emissary? It's a real Deep Space Nine . I'm very happy with it. " ( Captains' Logs Supplemental - The Unauthorized Guide to the New Trek Voyages , p. 92)
• Ira Steven Behr said of the whole writing process, " It was stubborn. It was a very difficult show. It's amazing it ever got made. " ( Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion , p. 210)
• Writer David S. Cohen was not happy with the finished episode: " Not a word of our dialogue made it in, not even that Rule of Acquisition they'd liked so much […] so as far as I'm concerned the story basically makes no sense. Buncha guys running around trying to stop Sisko from doing something, without ever saying why it matters whether he does it or not. I still get a headache when I watch it […] Later, a TV development executive at Wind Dancer told me that he had a friend who loved 'Destiny' and said it was his favorite Deep Space Nine episode. Go figure. Hell, it's not even my favorite Deep Space Nine episode. " ( Screen Plays: How 25 Scripts Made it to a Theater Near You - For Better or Worse , pp. 13-14)

Doug Drexler's comet okudagram as featured in Star Trek Science Logs

• Andre Bormanis details the historical relationship between comets and superstitions, akin to Tokar's Third Prophecy, in his book Star Trek Science Logs (pp. 98-100). He describes the 1066 appearance of Halley's Comet , which proved a bad omen for King Harold , who later died in the Battle of Hastings ; how, in medieval Europe, comets were portents of disease and pestilence, wars and the deaths of kings; and how, in ancient China, they were considered harbingers of future events. On balance, Bormanis also explains the scientific theories, writing, " Comets brought ices and complex organic molecules to the surface of the Earth in the chaotic years of our planet's youth, spreading the chemical seeds of the multitudinous forms of life that flourish here today. " Visual Effects Artist Doug Drexler also created an okudagram graphic of the comet and the Bajoran wormhole as illustration for the book.
• Authors Mark Jones and Lance Parkin wrote of this episode, " Tried and tested stuff made interesting by Sisko and Kira's conflict of interest. Sadly, it descends into some awful exposition towards the end, where the self-evident prophecy is painstakingly explained. " ( Beyond the Final Frontier , p. 212)
• Though he did praise the scenes in which Odo and Kira confront Sisko about his role as the Emissary, Star Trek author Keith R.A. DeCandido described the episode as " a little too paint-by-numbers, " and criticized the fact none of the characters thought to interpret Trakor's Prophecy in a different manner. Furthermore, DeCandido enjoyed seeing the broader range of Cardassians beyond the guls, legates, and spies, but classified the episode itself as " a whole lotta meh. " Overall, he gave the episode a "warp factor rating" of 5/10. [7]

Video and DVD releases [ ]

• UK VHS release (two-episode tapes, CIC Video ): Volume 3.8, 26 June 1995
• As part of the DS9 Season 3 DVD collection

Links and references [ ]

Starring [ ].

• Avery Brooks as Commander Sisko

Also starring [ ]

• Rene Auberjonois as Odo
• Siddig El Fadil as Doctor Bashir
• Terry Farrell as Lieutenant Dax
• Cirroc Lofton as Jake Sisko
• Colm Meaney as Chief O'Brien
• Armin Shimerman as Quark
• Nana Visitor as Major Kira

Guest stars [ ]

• Tracy Scoggins as Gilora Rejal
• Wendy Robie as Ulani Belor
• Erick Avari as Yarka
• Jessica Hendra as Dejar

Uncredited co-stars [ ]

• Ivy Borg as Rita Tannenbaum
• David B. Levinson as Broik
• Michael Prokopuk as Starfleet command officer
• Michael Wajacs as Bajoran civilian
• Michael Zurich as Bajoran security deputy
• Buck-toothed alien

References [ ]

7th century BC ; 2369 ; 2370 ; Alpha Quadrant ; Bajor ; Bajorans ; Bajoran-Cardassian Treaty ; Bajoran prophecy ; Bajoran Provisional Government ; Bajoran religion ; Bajoran sector ; Bajoran wormhole ; bearing ; bridge ; Cardassia ; Cardassian ; Cardassian Central Command ; Cardassian cuisine ; Cardassian government ; Cardassian guls ; Cardassian history ; Cardassian Science Ministry ; Cardassian vole ; cargo bay ; color ; comet ; cup ; Dax, Tobin ; Defiant -class ; Defiant , USS ; defrocking ; delta band frequency ; DNA ; Dominion ; Emissary of the Prophets ; engineering student ; exile ; faith ; Federation ; fertility ; field coil ; field test ; figure of speech ; First Republic ; Gamma Quadrant ; gravity well ; Gul ; ice ; icon ; Iloja of Prim ; Janir ; Jefferies tube ; kanar ; kilometer ; nest ; O'Brien, Keiko ; O'Brien, Molly ; Obsidian Order ; Orb of Prophecy and Change ; Occupation of Bajor ; Pelian ; phaser ; phaser array ; poison ; Promenade ; Qui'al Dam ; Quark's ; red leaf tea ; Regova egg ; rehearsal ; renting ; replicator ; Rules of Acquisition ; sabotage ; science team ; scientific methodology ; scuttle ; Sector 22757 ; sensor range ; serialist poets ; signaling array ( transmission array ); signaling platform ; silithium ; soliton pulse ; Starfleet ; Starfleet Command ; storeroom ; subspace ; subspace frequency ; subspace inversion ; subspace relay station ; Sword of Stars ; theta band frequency ; Tojal ; tractor beam ; Trakor ; Trakor's Third Prophecy ; Trakor's Fourth Prophecy ; transport ship ; Type 18 shuttlepod ( Shuttle 01 ); viper ; vole ; vole fighting ; Vedek Assembly ; Vulcan ; warp drive ; Wormhole Comm Relay Project ; wormhole relay station ; yamok sauce

Other references [ ]

Deep Space 9 schematic : cargo turbo subsystem ; crew quarters ; crossover bridge ; defense sail ; defense systems monitor ; deflector emitter ; docking clamp ; docking control cabin ; docking pylon ; docking ring ; docking ring airlock ; environmental purge/fill station ; exhaust cone ; fusion reactor assembly ; habitat ring ; ops module ; ore processing center ; phaser strip ; photon torpedo launcher ; power transfer conduit ; promenade ; radiator ; reaction control thruster ; runabout pad ; sensor array ; structural assembly ; subspace antenna farm ; tractor emitter ; tug tractor emitter assembly

External links [ ]

• " Destiny " at Memory Beta , the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
• " Destiny " at Wikipedia
• " Destiny " at MissionLogPodcast.com
• "Destiny" script  at Star Trek Minutiae
• " Destiny " at the Internet Movie Database
• 1 Bell Riots
• 3 Christopher Russell

• Reviews / News
• Pocket Books Trek Novels
• 2024 Releases
• 2025 Releases

Friday, November 17, 2023

A singular destiny.

The cataclysmic events of Star Trek: Destiny have devastated known space. Worlds have fallen. Lives have been destroyed. And in the uneasy weeks that follow, the survivors of the holocaust continue to be tested to the limits of their endurance. But strange and mysterious occurrences are destabilizing the galaxy's battle-weary Allies even further. In the Federation, efforts to replenish diminished resources and give succor to millions of evacuees are thwarted at every turn. On the borders of the battered Klingon Empire, the devious Kinshaya sense weakness -- and opportunity. In Romulan space, the already-fractured empire is dangerously close to civil war. As events undermining the quadrant's attempts to heal itself become increasingly widespread, one man begins to understand what is truly unfolding. Sonek Pran -- teacher, diplomat, and sometime adviser to the Federation President -- perceives a pattern in the seeming randomness. And as each new piece of evidence falls into place, a disturbing picture encompassing half the galaxy begins to take shape...revealing a challenge to the Federation and its allies utterly unlike anything they have faced before.

• Podcast: Literary Treks 293: And Then What Happened?
• TrekBBS Review & Discussion Thread

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