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Romulans board the USS Enterprise – and Kirk joins forces with his most deadly enemy.

Summary

From the book jacket
Ael t'Rllaillieu is a noble – and dangerous – Romulan commander. But when the Romulans kidnap Vulcans to genetically harness their mind power, Ael decides on treason. Captain Kirk, her old enemy, joins her in a secret pact to destroy the research laboratory and free the captive Vulcans. When the Romulans discover their plan, the Neutral Zone seethes with schemes and counter-schemes, sabotage and war!

Excerpts of copyrighted sources are included for review purposes only, without any intention of infringement.
Summary

Ael t'Rllallieu is one of the Romulan Star Empire's most decorated military generals, but she has become increasingly disillusioned with her Empire as they throw away honor (mnhei'sahe) for riches. She has spoken out in front of the Senate one time too many and sent out on an "honorable" tour of duty to the Neutral Zone. Ael soon escapes from the broken-down warbird Cuirass and its disloyal crew and returns to her own ship, Bloodwing. She and her crew, including her son Tafv and close confidant Aidoann, cross the Neutral Zone and destroy Cuirass using Klingon-augmented gunnery circuits. She purposely initiates the conflict between Bloodwing and Cuirass close to where Captain Kirk and the Enterprise are patrolling the Zone with the starships USS Constellation, USS Intrepid, and Inaieu. In Federation space, Ael meets Captain Kirk face to face for the first time. She tells him about two secret projects currently under way in her home space: Sunseed, a device to destabilize a star and create ion storms, and a project to harvest Vulcan genetic material to enhance the telepathic abilities of the Romulans. Kirk sympathizes with her, but says he cannot in good conscience order the Enterprise across the Neutral Zone. That changes, however, when the all-Vulcan crew of the Intrepid is captured and taken into Romulan space. Kirk accepts Ael's plan to have Bloodwing "capture" the Enterprise and take her into Romulan space – coincidentally passing right by Levaeri V, the station where the mind research is going on.

Bloodwing and Enterprise succeed in breaking away from the escort sent to meet them, and launch their attack on Levaeri V. However, while nearly half of Enterprise's crew is on Levaeri, Tavf stages an attack of his own – on the Enterprise. With the help of the loyal Romulans still on board Enterprise, including Khiy and Eriufv, the crew manages to repel the invaders. Tafv, though, is mortally wounded. After the Interpid crew is rescued and Levaeri V destroyed, Enterprise, Bloodwing, and Intrepid successfully battle several Romulan ships sent to destroy them, by seeding Levaeri's primary with Sunseed. Ael sees Tafv in Enterprise's sickbay, but McCoy tells her that no matter what, he will die. When Ael asks him why he betrayed her, he responds that it was mnhei'sahe, his loyalty to his cousin who had been exiled for losing the cloaking device to Kirk. Ael releases him from life support, doing what mnhei'sahe requires of her.

Before Ael beams back to Bloodwing, she tells Kirk that she is now exiled from her home. She tells him that they will burn her name, essentially saying that she no longer exists, for "A Rihannsu without her name is nothing". She tells Kirk what all three parts of her name mean, and then giving him the greatest gift of all, she tells him what her fourth name means – "The name by which only one closer than kin may know her". On Earth, Kirk hangs a pennant with Ael's first three names on it in a secluded valley, ensuring that the Commander and her memory will live on.

Memorable Quotes

"... Entirely too many ion-flux measurements, according to Mr. Chekov, who has declared to the bridge at large that his mother didn't raise him to compile weather reports. (Must remember to ask him why since meteorology has to have been invented in Russia like everything else.)

However, even Spock has admitted to me privately that he looks forward to solving this problem and moving on to something a little more challenging. His Captain agrees with him. His Captain is bored stiff. My mother didn't raise me to compile weather reports, either."

- Kirk, recording his log


"Mr. Naraht, are you quite sure of that figure for the iridium?"
"To six decimal places, sir! Zero point three zero four one four one two two."
"That is eight decimal places, ensign."
"Oh. I'm sorry, sir! I thought you might like some more."

- Spock and Naraht


"Aha! The truth will out! That's it! You only like that boy because you knew his mother the Horta – and she liked your ears!"

- McCoy, about why Spock likes Naraht


"I was thinking of capturing the Enterprise. Would you mind?"

- Ael, proposing her plan to get the Enterprise across the Neutral Zone


"I suppose I'd better get down there and see how Scotty's doing with 'blowing up' his engines..."
"I bet he's doing most of the 'blowing up' himself."
"Amen to that, Mr. Chekov."

- Kirk and Chekov


"What use is a word that means only one thing?"

- Ael


"The translator is having problems. You have little round flying insects on Earth eating a ship named Intrepid? And you ask me about the danger of names?"

- Ael


"How's Lieutenant Sjveda's music appreciation seminar coming along?"
"Classical period still, sir. Bethoven, Stravinsky, Vaughan Williams, Barber, Lennon, Devo. Head hurts."

- Kirk and Athende


"I beg your pardon," the man said merrily in a British accented voice, apparently looking right at Jim, "but is this Heathrow?"
"Brother, have you ever taken a wrong turn!" was Jim's first thought.

- 3D hologram of the 4th Doctor Who and Kirk


"HEUOPIK EEIRWOINVSKY SHTENIX GFAK HU MMHNINAWAH!"
"What the devil was that? Sounds like you've got a problem down there, Lieutenant. A malfunction that shouts."
"No, doctor. It's taken us the last half-hour to get it to do that."

-The modified holography console, McCoy, and Uhura


"Daisemi'in rhhaensuriuu"
"   meillunsiateve"
"     rh'e Mnhei'sahe yie ahr'en:"
"Mnahe afw'ein qiuu;"
"   rh'e hweithnaef"
"     mrht Heis'he ehl'ein qiuu."

- Of the chief parts of the Ruling Passion, only this can be truly said: Hate has a reason for everything. But love is unreasonable. (V. Raiuhes Ahaefvthe)

Background Information

  • Although the Romulans considered attempted suicide a crime by 2372, Ael's enemies in the Senate hoped that if she received orders to cross the Neutral Zone, her honor would force her to kill herself.

Characters

James T. Kirk (James T. Kirk at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
Enterprise captain
Spock (Spock at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
Enterprise exec and science officer
Leonard McCoy (Leonard McCoy at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
Enterprise surgeon
Montgomery Scott (Montgomery Scott at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
Enterprise chief engineer
Uhura (Nyota Uhura at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
Enterprise communications officer
Hikaru Sulu (Hikaru Sulu at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
Enterprise helmsman
Pavel A. Chekov (Pavel Chekov at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
Enterprise navigator
Abernathy (Abernathy at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
Ahrens (Ahrens at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
Amekentra (Amekentra at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
Green, scaly, Enterprise crewwoman who served in the dietary department.
Athendë (Athendë at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
Sulamid officer assigned to the maintenance department
Austin (Austin at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
Roz Bates
Bischoff (Bischoff at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
Brand (Brand at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
Brassard (Brassard at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
Lia Burke (Lia Burke at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
One of McCoy's nurses, helping him in sickbay while Christine Chapel works on her doctorate
Canfield (Canfield at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
Carver, young

Carver

Carver (Carver at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
Claremont (Claremont at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
Fisher (Edward Fisher at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
File:Freeman.jpg

Freeman

Jerry Freeman (Jerry Freeman at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
Harrison spores

Harrison

Harrison (Harrison (Lieutenant) at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
Enterprise officer who was injured in the assault on the Levaeri station
Hwavirë (Hwavirë at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
Sulamid ensign
Janíce Kerasus (Janíce Kerasus at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
Enterprise linguist
Khalifa (Khalifa at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
Korren (Korren at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
Krejci (Tom Krejci at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
Langsam (Langsam at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
Lee (Lee (USS Enterprise) at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
Lihwa (Lihwa at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
Litt (Litt at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
Robbie London (Robbie London at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
Enterprise ensign
Diane Maass (Diane Maass at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
Donald Maass (Donald Maass at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
Colin Matlock (Colin Matlock at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
Miñambrés (Miñambrés at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
Morris (Morris (USS Enterprise) at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
Mosley (Mosley at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
Muller (Muller (Crewman) at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
Naraht (Naraht at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
Horta ensign serving on the Enterprise, he earned the nickname "Ensign Rock" from Ael and participated in the mission to recover the Intrepid's crew
Norton (Norton at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
Oranjeboom (Oranjeboom at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
Paul (Paul at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
Harb Tanzer (Harb Tanzer at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
Starfleet lieutenant and Enterprise's chief of recreation, he participated in the battle to re-take the Enterprise from Tafv's forces
Ael i-Mhiessan t'Rllaillieu (Ael t'Rllaillieu at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
Romulan, commander of the Bloodwing, aunt of the Romulan commander the Enterprise previously met
Aidoann (Aidoann t'Khnialmnae at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
Romulan, Uhura's "guard" on the bridge and "took over" her station, also was Ael's third-in-command
Dhiemn (Dhiemn at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
Romulan officer
Dhisuia
Romulan officer who Ael ordered to warn the crew about possible communication leaks
Eriufv
Romulan officer
Giellun tr'Keirinah (Giellun tr'Keirianh at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
Romulan chief engineer of Bloodwing
Helev
Romulan officer
Hvaid (Hvaid t'Khaethaetreh at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
Romulan officer
K'haeth
Romulan officer who Ael ordered to warn the crew about possible communication leaks
Khiy
Romulan officer
Khoal (Khoal at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
Romulan officer
Lhian
Romulan officer
LLunih tr'Raedheol (LLunih tr'Raedheol at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
Romulan, commander of the Javelin who has earned the intese dislike of Ael
Lyie
Romulan officer whom Ael ordered to warn the crew about possible communication leaks
Lyirru tr'Illialhae
Romulan, commander of Battlequeen
N'alae (N'alae at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
Ael's martial-arts expert
Nniol tr'AAnikh (Nniol t'AAnikh at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
Romulan officer serving aboard the Bloodwing, he had a sister on the destroyed Javelin
t'Liun
Security officer on the Cuirass
t'Viaen
Engineering officer on Bloodwing
tr'Khaell
Romulan communications officer on the Cuirass, he was loyal to security officer t'Liun and Ael's enemies
tr'Iawaain
Romulan officer on the Cuirass
Tafv Ei-Leinarrh tr'Rllaillieu
Romulan Subcommander and Ael's son, he betrayed her and tried to take over the Enterprise as revenge for his cousin
Triy
Romulan officer
Raela hr'Sassish
Tellarite Constellation first officer
Aline MacDougall
Constellation chief surgeon.
Nhauris Rihaul
Denebian captain of the Inaieu, she was old friends with Kirk
Iwao Sasoaka
Constellation chief engineer
Sehlk
Vulcan Intrepid first officer
Sobek
Vulcan Intrepid CMO
Suvuk
Vulcan captain of Intrepid
T'Kiha
Vulcan Intrepid helm officer
T'Leiar
Vulcan chief engineer of Intrepid
Michael Walsh (Mike Walsh at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
Captain of the Constellation; Walsh had previously served with Kirk aboard the Excalibur

References

USS Constellation II (USS Constellation (NCC-1728) at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
Captain Michael Walsh
The Constellation has the registry number of the previous ship to bear this name, although later canon works contend this replacement Constellation might have had the number NCC-1974, and would have been the prototype for the Constellation-class ships later seen in TNG.
USS Excalibur (NCC-1664)

Excalibur, neutralized by M-5

USS Excalibur (USS Excalibur (NCC-1664) at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
Both Jim Kirk and Mike Walsh served together on this vessel earlier in their careers, they met again in the aftermath of the Excalibur crew's decimation, by M-5
Constitutions formation

Excalibur, Hood and Potemkin fly in formation

USS Hood (USS Hood (NCC-1703) at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
The Hood and Potemkin were due to arrive and take over patrol from Kirk's task force after the incident at Levaeri
USS Inaieu (NCC-2003) (USS Inaieu at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
Defender-class destroyer of Captain Nhauris Rihaul. Built in the Deneb system with a primary hull three times the size of a Constitution heavy cruiser. Inaieu had four nacelles and a mile long secondary hull that was a quarter-mile in diameter.
USS Intrepid II (NCC-1730) (USS Intrepid (NCC-1730) at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
Captain Suvuk, the second starship to bear the name. This vessel was noted to be of Vulcan-designed specifications similar to Enterprise's upcoming refit.
USS Potemkin (USS Potemkin (NCC-1657) at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
The Hood and Potemkin were due to arrive and take over patrol from Kirk's task force after the incident at Levaeri
Arakkab (Arakkab at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
Romulan ship, a modified K't'inga with a purportedly Klingon name
Arien (ChR Arien at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
Romulan ship
Battlequeen (ChR Battlequeen at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
Romulan ship, a modified K't'inga, of Commander Lyirru tr'Illialhae, destroyed in battle
Bloodwing (ChR-63) (ChR Bloodwing at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
Commander-General Ael t'Rllaillieu / Subcommander Tafv ei-Leinarrh tr'Rllaillieu
Courser (ChR Courser at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
Romulan ship
Cuirass (ChR Cuirass at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
Romulan ship, a modified K't'inga with the false Klingon name Ehhak, destroyed in battle
Eisn (ChR Eisn at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
Romulan ship, named after the sun around which Romulus and Remus (ch'Rihan and ch'Havran) orbit
Hakask (IKS Hakask at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
Romulan ship disguised as a Klingon flagship
Helve (ChR Helve at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
Romulan ship
Hsaaja
One-man scout carried in Cuirass, property of Ael, destroyed in battle
Javelin (ChR Javelin at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
Romulan ship, a modified Template:ShipClass of Commander Llunih tr'Raedheol, destroyed in battle
Kenek (Kenek at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
Romulan ship, a modified K't'inga with a false Klingon name
Lahai (ChR Lahai at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
Romulan ship
Rea's Helm (ChR Rea's Helm at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
Romulan ship, destroyed in battle
Wildfire (ChR Wildfire at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
Romulan ship, destroyed in battle
Ykir (Ykir at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
Romulan ship, a modified K't'inga with a false Klingon name
Four-dimensional chess (Four-dimensional chess at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
A new variant of chess, designed by Harb Tanzer. The players are able to "rest" their pieces by temporarily taking them out of the game, but once a certain time has expired, the pieces come back into play. The game uses sophisticated transporter technology, which came in handy when Tafv's forces took over the Enterprise.
Romulan Commander (Liviana Charvanek at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
Ael's niece, she was stripped of her rank, title, and house in front of the Senate after the incident with the Enterprise and sent into exile
Sunseed (Sunseed at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works)
A program developed by the Romulans that generates an ion storm, which was used repeatedly to abduct ships with Vulcans on them

External links


Previous novel: Series Next novel:
#17: Star Trek III: The Search for Spock Pocket TOS
Numbered novels
#19: The Tears of the Singers
Vulcan's Glory (#20) Titan Books release order  Double, Double (#22)
First novel in series Rihannsu The Romulan Way
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