Author(s):	Diane Duane
Publisher:	Pocket Books
Series:	Pocket TOS #96 Rihannsu #4
Published:	October 2000
Pages:	220
Stardate:	Unknown (2276)
Reference(s):	ISBN 0671042106

Can the Starship Enterprise prevent the Second Romulan War?

Summary Edit

From the book jacket

At last, the United Federation of Planets and the Romulan Star Empire have agreed to meet on neutral ground to attempt to resolve the tangle of inrigue and conspiracy that began with the hijacking of the USS Intrepid many years ago – but the meeting may be as dangerous as the war they hope to prevent.

As a show of good faith, the crew of the legendary Starship Enterprise has been ordered to attend the talks. In their informal charge is Romulan renegade Ael, the wanted fugitive who, with Kirk served as a catalyst to the current troubles. Kirk must represent the interests of the Federation first and foremost, but the best approach to an agreement remains muddled in the ever-shifting Romulan order.

And the visiting Romulan party is as fractious and divided as their troubled world. Among the Romulan nobles in attendance are the hero and popular Senator Arrhae, who secretly helped rescue Dr. Leonard McCoy from a Romulan execution, and the very men and women who put McCoy on trial for treason – and tried to carry out the sentence.

As Kirk and crew attempt to renegotiate a delicate peace, and Romulans attempt to restore their tarnished honor, it becomes increasingly apparent hat their only course of action is to prepare for war!

Background Information Edit

• This book starts at chapter six, where the previous Rihannsu novel left off at chapter five; likewise, both novels end with To be continued. Six years later, a concluding book, The Empty Chair, was finally released.
• This is the first chronological (though non-canon) mention of the Romulans using a quantum singularity to power their starships instead of using a warp core.

Characters Edit

James T. Kirk

Spock

Montgomery Scott

Doctor Leonard McCoy

Uhura

Hikaru Sulu

Pavel Chekov

M'Benga

Ael t'Rllailleu 

Romulan fugitive, commander of the Bloodwing

Aidoann 

Romulan antecenturion serving on the Bloodwing, Ael's second-in-command

Khiy 

Romulan antecenturion serving on the Bloodwing

t'Hrienteh 

Romulan officer serving on the Bloodwing

tr'Keirianh 

Romulan chief engineer of the Bloodwing

tr'AAnikh 

Bloodwing officer

Robert Fox

Samuel Cogley

Hloal t'Illialhle

References Edit

Lake Champlain 

Federation ship, destroyed in battle

Sempach 

Gorget 

Pillion 

Speedwell

Ortisei

Nimrod

Hemalat

External link Edit

• Honor Blade at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works