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Is the Enterprise doomed at last?

The Klingon Gambit is a Pocket TOS novel – #3 in the numbered series – written by Robert E. Vardeman. Published by Pocket Books, it was first released in October 1981.

Summary[]

From the book jacket
When Captain Kirk and his crew are ordered to challenge the deadliest Klingon starship Terror, they think they're ready for anything. The defenseless Vulcan crew of a Federation science ship has been wiped out, and the Klingon battle cruiser has the USS Enterprise in its sights, ready to destroy it…
But Captain Kirk can't seem to make decisions, Spock has started to throw temper tantrums. And Chekov has disobeyed vital orders. The crew of the Enterprise are losing their minds… one by one… all victims of… THE KLINGON GAMBIT…
From the book jacket of another edition of this book
THE KLINGONS ARE HUNGRY FOR WAR … THEIR TARGET: THE ENTERPRISE!
When Captain Kirk and his crew are ordered to Alnath II to challenge the deadliest Klingon starship Terror, they're ready for anything – or so they think. But the defenseless Vulcan crew of a Federation science ship has been wiped out. The remaining members of the Alnath II mission have discovered a fabulous ancient city – but their report doesn't make sense. The Klingon battle cruiser has the Enterprise in its sights, and is ready to destroy it.
But Captain Kirk can't seem to make decisions. Spock has started to throw temper tantrums. And Chekov has disobeyed vital orders.
The crew of the Enterprise are losing their minds … one by one … all victims of …
THE KLINGON GAMBIT

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

Memorable quotes[]

"I act from the precepts of formal logic. While logic cannot always produce a correct answer, it succeeds more often than it fails. Therefore, it is logical to employ logic all the time. The odds are decidedly in your favor.

- Spock

Background information[]

  • The stardate for this novel would place this story between the events of "By Any Other Name" and "Return to Tomorrow".
  • The peace treaty imposed by the Organians is established to cover a seven-hundred-and-fifty parsec zone.
  • Doctor M'Benga claims his internship on Vulcan, previously mentioned in "A Private Little War", lasted four years.
  • The novel was reprinted as a limited edition hardcover by Gregg Press in 1984.

Cover gallery[]

Characters[]

Enterprise crew[]

James T. Kirk
Captain.
Spock
Science officer.
Leonard McCoy
CMO.
Montgomery Scott
Chief engineer.
Uhura
Lieutenant.
Hikaru Sulu
Lieutenant.
Pavel Chekov
Ensign.
Christine Chapel
Nurse.
Candra Avitts
Lieutenant.
Heather McConel
Engineer.
M'Benga, 2268

Doctor Joseph M'Benga

Joseph M'Benga
Doctor.
Kyle
Transporter chief.
Patten
Lieutenant. Security officer.
Gordon
Lieutenant

Other[]

Kalan
Klingon. Captain of the IKS Terror.
Kislath
Klingon officer.
Threllvon-da
Andorian archaeologist.
Thoron

Mentioned[]

Tackett
Admiral and Starfleet chief of staff.
Sullien
Vulcan captain of the T'pau.
Kolloden
Klingon High Lord Admiral.

References[]

Altair VI; Andorians; Enterprise, USS; Federation; Klingon battle cruiser; Klingon; Organians; Starfleet Command; Treaty of Organia; Vega; Vulcan

Alnath II
Argelius II
Planet. There is a casino there where Kirk once lost money gambling.
Argelius II was seen in "Wolf in the Fold".
Argelius II

The USS Enterprise in orbit of Argelius II

Delta Canaris IV
Recently-discovered class-Q planet. Described as similar in appearance to Jupiter and home to civilization of lifeforms less than a millimeter thick in length.
USS Dominion
Federation starship, dreadnought.
This vessel was mentioned previously in Franz Joseph's Star Fleet Technical Manual.
USS Konkordium
Federation starship, a dreadnought.
This vessel was mentioned previously in Franz Joseph's Star Fleet Technical Manual.
Starbase 7
Starbase 16
IKS Terror
Klingon Empire dreadnought.
Although the vessel was described in the book as more advanced than a standard Klingon battle cruiser, the cover pictured a menacing looking K't'inga-class.
T'pau
Vulcan science vessel
A vessel named T'Pau was mentioned as retired in TNG: "Unification I".

External links[]


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#2: The Entropy Effect Pocket TOS
Numbered novels
#4: The Covenant of the Crown
Rules of Engagement (#32) Titan Books release order  The Pandora Principle (#34)
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