Memory Alpha
Don't have an account?
Register
Advertisement
Register
Memory Alpha
Memory Alpha
57,147
pages
in: Novels

Articles of the Federation (novel)

Revision as of 23:24, 1 April 2008 by Jaz (talk | contribs)
Sign in to edit

Template:Realworld

Newly elected Federation President Nan Bacco has to deal with Reman refugees requesting asylum, without angering the Klingons who are now protecting them, a disastrous first contact, and the previous president's secrets which just won't stay buried...

Summary

File:Paris2372.jpg

The Palais de la Concorde.

From the book jacket
Following the surprise resignation of Federation President Min Zife after the disastrous Tezwa affair, Nan Bacco of Cestus III has won a hotly contested election to become the new chief executive of over one hundred fifty planetary civilizations and their colonies. But no sooner does she take office than the Romulan Star Empire falls into chaos. With tensions already high, a Reman refugee ship is sighted approaching a Federation outpost, its intentions unknown.
As the first year of the Bacco Administration unfolds, the Federation Council is slow to work with its new president, and not always supportive of her policies or her appointments to key council positions; a successful first contact suddenly becomes a diplomatic disaster; and the sins of President Zife prove difficult to lay to rest...as one celebrated Starfleet officers career reaches a turning point.
In the wake of the USA Today best-selling A Time for War, A Time for Peace and Titan: Taking Wing comes a unique look into the halls of power in the Star Trek universe...

January 2380

Chapter One

Young Ele'er and her mother on Bre'el IV watch "Illuminating the City of Light", a show that has a visiting guest panel that comments on the current status of politics, and how the President is doing her job. President Nanietta Bacco has just been sworn in, after winning the election against Ktarian special emissary Fel Pagro. Guests include Ra-Yalix, an Efrosian foreign policy adviser for previous presidents Amitra and Jaresh-Inyo; Sovan, a Bolian reporter, the chief Earth correspondent for Bolarus and You; Councilor Nitram of Bre'el IV; and retired Starfleet Admiral Taela Shanthi.

Chapter Five

Esperenza takes note of how surrounded by Starfleet security guards the President is, as she tries to get the President's assistant, Sivak, an elderly Vulcan man, to let her in without his being snippy. She finally gets him to let her in, but the President is angry about something. The president throws a PADD at her desk, getting ready for her trip to Luna, complaining that the next day, the Council will be voting to renew trades with Aligar, a planet whose population is 90% slaves, owned by the other 10%. She complains that the Federation shouldn't be doing business with them anymore, as they only did so previously cause they needed the Kellinite trade during the Dominion War. Esperenza tries to remind the President it was war times, but President Bacco tells her she knew what war times mean; The Gorn tried to take advantage of the war and conquer Cestus III during the war, but were successfully fended off. Also on the Agenda, the Tzenkethi ambassador wants to speak with her regarding the one of the Tzelnira's (leader of Tzenketh) children being sick. The president left on her shuttle, the al-Rashid, for Luna.

The events the President talks about, concerning the Gorn, take place in the graphic novel Star Trek: The Next Generation: The Gorn Crisis.

March 2380

Chapter Seven

On Betazed, two students at Enaren University prepare to watch "Illuminating the City of Light". Sephara telepathically argues with her roommate Gira over not going food shopping, and all they have is hirep fruit, which she is allergic to.

On ICL, Velisa's guests include Admiral Kathryn Janeway of Starfleet; Edmund Atkinson, a political reporter for the Times; Antedean Federation Council member Selora Quintor; and Sorlak, a Vulcan associate counsel with the Palais legal office.

While the topic was originally going to be about the disputes between the Council and the President, information regarding the Reman refugees at Outpost 22 has just been released to the public. Their subject moves to the Presidents speech to the council on not renewing trade agreements with the Aligar, who enslave beings to make Kellinite, which the Federation doesn't even need anymore. And also onto Councillor Altrin's assignment to the Judiciary council.

Gira and Seraph get bored with their arguing, and turn the program off, and decide to do the food shopping they should have done earlier.

May 2380

This timeframe contains these events: The collapse of the State dinner when the Trinni/ek get leave rudely accusing President Bacco of poisoning them. Xeldara Trask's Resignation. Ozla Graniv discovering that the nadion pulse cannons were supossedly given by the Federation not the Orion Syndicate while on Tezwa. Klorgat IV's moon explodes not killing any Reman but increasing tension between Klingons and Romulans. It is believed to be the work of Rogue Admiral Mendak. Spock returns to Romulus. Former President Jaresh-Inyo dies and his funeral is on Mars. President Zife doesn't attend and no one knows where he is. President Bacco gives the 2380 Starfleet Academy Commencement speech at Golden Gate park. She tells the cadets that they are the first graduates in over 20 years that didn't have to deal with war directly before, after or during their Academy training.

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Thirteen began in the Pike City pioneer pub. The Baseball game is on and its Gulls vs Pioneers, in the bottom of the ninth. Gulls are up 2 zip. Faith Martinez is put in by the Pioneers and they get 3 runs of him for the Pioneers to win it 3-2 The Bartender of the pub, Gordon, gives a round of the local beer, called Homebrew, to everyone in the pub, as he always does after a Pioneer win. One of the patrons requested the feed be changed to ICL. On board tonight, Fred, the speechwriter, FNS Regia, Councillor Geleminger of Gnala and retired Captain Rixx. The discussion revolves around the President's goodwill tour and the upcoming state dinner with the Trinni/ek. Fred pumps up the dinner meeting but doesn't say anything of substance. Councillor Geleminger rips into dinner first to boos and then into the tour stating it is pointless. He also lies saying that he was in on a security council meeting where asylum was denied to the Reman chart at Outpost 23 shorty before it decides to ram said outpost and kill themselves. Both Fred and Regia defend President Bacco and talk Geleminger into silence earning each a 'Homebrew' should they ever appear in the Bar. Captain Rixx is asked about the Trinni/ek and says that they are very friendly. The Chapter ends when someone requests the program be changed

August 2380

October 2380

Chapter Twenty-Two

Cadets Casey Goodwin and Jeremy McCall watch Illuminating the City of Light in their Starfleet Academy dorm room. Goodwin responds with "for the sake of kimchee,...do you have to watch that show every week?" McCall jokes that he uses the term kimchee, which is actually Cole slaw. Goodwin says his mother used the term back on Alpha Proxima II, as they watch the show for Professor Mlikk's class.
Guests today include: Betazoid Rina Tran, head aid to Councillor Sanaht of Janus VI; the Tellarite reporter Kav glasch Vokrak; retired Admiral Gregory Quinn; and former Andorian Federation President Thelianaresth th'Vorothishria.
The panelists, for the most part, insult President Bacco's first year as president. Admiral Quinn reminds the panel that while many possibilities for war have come up, Bacco has successfully avoided it at all points, finding the peaceful solution and successfully carrying it out. President Thelian also supports the President, "The job is difficult...she was expected to keep the Klingon alliance intact. She's done that, but she wasn't expected to deal with the fall of the Romulan government...for that we have to giver her some credit."
They decide to turn the show off, and go out for some Kimchee'.

December 2380

Chapter Twenty-Five

The Observer, a alien studying the Federation for report to his superiors, watches Illuminating the City of Light. The guests are: Captain Charles Reynolds; Min Zife's secretary of the exterior, an Andorian named Ythrilasifsa sh'Zathrosia; Vulcan Federation Councillor T'Latrek; and Teneso, a Deltan, the Federation News Network's Klingon Empire correspondent. The discussions are on the upcoming summit between the most important powers of the quadrant, and if the Romulans will be attending.

All of them discuss whether the three powers can ever truly cooperate, Ythril cites that Romulans aren't truth worthy, but Captain Reynolds reminds him that the three were able to ally themselves during the Dominion war, when he captained the Centaur. Before he could record anymore, his reporting device died out. Omnipotently, he shifted the universe so that he was back home so he could file his report.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

As President Bacco looks out the window of a Venture shuttle, on its way down to the surface of Koa for the ceremony admitting the Koans into the Federation, she contemplates the her term to date. Upon landing, she discusses with Esperanza the problems and successes of the past year. Esperanza tells her that she's had a great year, the Federation didn't collapse, and now she gets to admit a new planet into the Federation.

Bacco and Caliph Sicarios, leader of Koa, discuss the turmoil's it took to get the planet to the Federation, specifically transporting the planet into Federation space. Caliph and Bacco go onto stage, in front of thousands of Koans, and sign the admittancy.

Presidential Timeline

To keep the names straight, a timeline of all the presidents mentioned can be found on the last pages of the book. Included are some Presidents mentioned, but created in other novels or works.

Memorable Quotes

"It sure is hell to be president."

- President Harry S. Truman


"For one thing I'm coming around to the idea of bringing beheadings back... it'd make the meetings go faster."

- President Nanietta Bacco


"Why is it that whenever you say that, I get nervous."
"You're a crazed, paranoid, old woman?"
"Yeah, that's probably it."

- President Bacco and her Chief of Staff, Esperanza

Background Information

  • Cadet Karin Noosar's name is an anagram for Aaron Sorkin, the creator of The West Wing. Articles of the Federation is quite similar, and uses some ideas from The West Wing.
  • A second Aaron Sorkin reference is based on the Cadets Jeremy McCall and Cadet Casey Goodwin. By switching the first and last names of the two cadets we have Casey McCall and Jeremy Goodwin, characters in Aaron Sorkin's Sports Night series.
  • The cover of the book is a reference to the famous image of John F. Kennedy, which itself was reused in the opening credits of "The West Wing." The image of President Bacco, is based off of an image of Keith R.A. DeCandidos great-grandmother.
  • Outpost 22, the destination of Reman refugees in the novel, is listed on the title page as the location of one of Pocket Books' offices.
  • The events of this story take place after the A Time to... series, but are not a direct sequel to those events.

Characters

Nanietta Bacco
President of the United Federation of Planets. Former Governor of Cestus III colony, she is a major fan of baseball (especially the Pike City Pioneers).
Esperanza Piñiero
Chief of Staff. While the president does the official business, Esperanza makes sure all goes according to plan, and when it doesn't, it is her job to have a backup plan ready.
Ashanté Phiri
One of Esperanza's four deputies. She is married to the Presidents head speech-writer Fred MacDougal. Her main duties (along with the other Deputies) include, advising the president on various subjects, and carrying out the various tasks assigned to her by the Chief of Staff.
Z4 Blue
Another of Esperanza's Deputies. Gave up a forrest quadrant governorship on his homworld of Nasat after "a great deal of wheedling" by Esperanza.
Myk Bunkrep
Another of Esperanza's Deputies. A Zakdorn female, she is often seen as hyperactive.
Xeldara Trask
Rounds out the last of the four Deputy Chiefs of Staff. A female Tiburonian, she resigns midway through President Bacco's term to spend more time with her husband.
Dogayn 418
Replaced Trask as the fourth Deputy Chief of Staff under Esperanza Piñiero. Formerly served Councillor Saltroni 815 of Hermat, as Chief of Staff. Originally served as a junior aide to Councillor Saltroni.
Fred MacDougan
Head speech-writer for the President. He is married to Deputy CoS Ashanti Phiri. He tends to get annoyed when the president deviates from what he has writen for her, especially when it is a useless word in his estimation, like the "well" she added during her speech at President Jaresh-Inyo's Funeral.
Kant Jorel
Press Liaison for the President. A Bajoran male, he has a well-earned reputation for being an ass—something he himself would not deny. He takes great delight in trying to get his assistants to quit; his current assistant holds the record for staying with him the longest.
Jas Abrik
Retired Trill Starfleet Admiral, currently Chief Security Advisor to the president.
Raisa Shostakova
Secretary of Defense. A short, stout woman from the high gravity colony on Pangea.
Safranski
Rigelian, serving as Secretary of the Interior.
William Ross
Admiral seen in ST:DS9 and Starfleet liaison to the President. The highest ranking officer in Starfleet, Admiral Ross forced previous president Min Zife to resign after a massive cover-up. President Bacco then demanded Ross' "retirement" for almost committing a coup d'état. He complied and is at the time of the novel retired to civilian life.
Captain Holly Hostetler Richman
She is the Presidents Liaison to Starfleet Intelligence.
B-4
The Doctor
Spock
Ambassador
Kathryn Janeway
Admiral
Alexander Rozhenko
Ambassador
Jaresh-Inyo
Late-President
Bruce Maddox
Captain
Lhian Mendak
Rebel Captain
Chirurgeon Ghee P'Trell
Head of Starfleet Medical
Gregory Quinn
Retired Admiral
Charlie Reynolds
Captain
Rixx
Retired Captain
Leonard James Akaar
Admiral


Ozla Graniv
Reporter for the Seeker the leading Newsmagizine on Trill. During a trip to Tezwa, she uncovers the real reason behind President Zife's resignation.
Rebecca Emmanuelli
Doctor. Born in 2310, she was taken prisoner during the Tzenkethi War, and forced to perform several surgery's on high class people, and made to ignore lower class people. The Tzenkethi informed her family that she'd died, and while she was prisoner her husband remarried and her children moved on. When she was freed, her family despised her for ruining her husbands new marriage, and making her children miserable. In 2380, she was asked to perform surgery on the son of a prominent Tzenkethi politician.
Tierra
A Deltan ambassador, she negotiated with Ambassador Yorgas for use of the Carreans water purification system.
Patek
A doctor at the Daystrom Institute, he petitioned to have B-4 handed over to his authority to be dismantled, but lost his case.
Thelian aresth th'Vorothrishria
Former president of the United Federation of Planets.
K'mtok
Klingon ambassador to the Federation. Allied with some of Chancellor Martok's enemies on the High Council.
T'Kala
Formally a Romulan ambassador to the Federation, she committed suicide.
Min Zife
Bolian Former president of the Federation. Just after being elected, he gave pulse weapons to the Tezwa, and hid it from the Public and Starfleet. Later when Starfleet and the Klingons had to go to Tezwa, he didn't warn them. Admiral Ross forced him to resign at phaser-point.

Federation Councillors

A great deal of the minor characters are members of the Federation Council.

References

File:USS Hood, Encounter at Farpoint.jpg

USS Hood.

USS Hood
After diplomatic relations with the Trinni/ek failed with Captain T'Vrea, Captain DeSoto and the Hood are sent in.
USS Intrepid
Captain Emick's ship, the prototype of the Intrepid class. It was one of several ships sent to Outpost 22 to offer assistance in case the Reman refugees decided to start trouble.
USS Titan
Sent to Romulus to try and repair the damage that Shinzon and his followers had caused. The situation there begins to fall apart and must be fixed as soon as possible and therefore, the federation council allows Spock to continue his unification.
Brannik IV
A planet under Deltan jurisdiction.
USS Cheiron
A Template:ShipType vessel, in orbit of the planet Carrea during March, 2380. It has 18 phaser strips, and 4 photon torpedo launchers.
"Illuminating the City of Light"
A political talk show hosted by Velisa, a Kriosian. "The city of light" referring to Paris, the location of the Palais de la Concorde, the building that houses the office of the Federation President.
Koa
A planet whose sun went nova, so they asked the Federation for assistance. Starfleet sent the S.C.E., who used an ancient technology to shrink the planet to the size of a small box, and put it in a small pyramidal transport box, taking the planet to a new system.
Koans
A sentient species native to Koa. They are non-humanoid arachnids, with heads similar to Octopi.
(Both the Koans and their planet first appeared in Small World by David Mack.)
Previous novel:
A Time for War, A Time for Peace 		Novels Next novel:
Death in Winter
Community content is available under CC-BY-NC unless otherwise noted.
More Fandoms
Advertisement

Fan Feed

More Memory Alpha