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The Federation's arming of a planet near the Klingon Empire brings the two superpowers close to war.

Summary

From the book jacket
On the cusp of their epic battle with Shinzon, many of Captain Jean-Luc Picard's long-time crew were heading for new assignments and new challenges. Among the changes were William Riker's promotion to captain and his new command, Riker's marriage to Counselor Deanna Troi, and Dr. Beverly Crusher's new career at Starfleet Medical. But the story of what set them on a path away from the Starship Enterprise has never been told.
Until now.
At the height of the Dominion War and unknown to all save those in the highest levels of command, the Federation secretly armed the neutral planet Tezwa with devastating weapons - part of a contingency plan against the Dominion if the front lines collapsed. But Tezwa also lies near the border of the Klingon Empire... making the Federation's covert strategy in direct violation of their fragile peace treaties, and creating the potential threat of scandal and all-out war.
Now Tezwa's power-hungry prime minister is all too eager to flex his newfound military muscle, menacing a nearby Klingon border world. Sent on an urgent diplomatic mission, Captain Picard and the Enterprise crew are caught in the crossfire as the crisis quickly escalates. With time running out and billions of lives at stake, only one man can avert the looming disaster - Ambassador Worf, who must choose between his oath to the Federation and his loyalty to Martok, Chancellor of the Klingon Empire...

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Awaking from a nightmare in which he sees his father killed once again (see A Time to Hate), Will Riker considers the recent offer put to him by Admiral Kathryn Janeway - command of the USS Titan - in light of the events of recent months, stemming from the Enterprise's actions at Rashanar (A Time to Be Born).

On the planet Tezwa, Prime Minister Kinchawn eavesdrops on a conversation between his deputy, Bilok, and Koll Azernal, chief of staff to Federation President Min Zife, as the two discuss the recent activation of a series of nadion pulse cannons on the planet, installed in secret during the Dominion War without the knowledge of the majority of the population. Bilok reassures Azernal that he can keep Kinchawn in line, and get him to stand down before something happens.

That something soon comes, however, as Kinchawn claims sovereignty over a nearby Klingon colony world, and begins deploying a war fleet purchased from the Danteri. Zife and Avernal consider the reasons behind this aggressive act, noting that if the truth about the cannons emerges, it would destroy the Federation-Klingon alliance. With the Klingons already amassing their own forces for a possible preemptive strike, Azernal suggests sending the Enterprise to Tezwa with the promise of aid, backed by a Klingon escort fleet as a show of cooperation to the Empire, and a show of force to Kinchawn. The request is met with anger from Chancellor Martok on Qo'noS, and only after Ambassador Worf personally assures Martok of Captain Picard's abilities and his faith in the crew of the Enterprise does the Chancellor agree.


References

Ravanar system
Star system. This system is also mentioned in Star Trek: Vanguard: "Harbinger".

External link

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