Changes: Warpath

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Vaughn and the crew of the Defiant pursue Taran'atar into Cardassian space, while Kira and Ro lie near death on Deep Space 9.

Summary

From the book jacket

They were created to be killing machines. Highly intelligent, resourceful, and deceptively complex, the Jem'Hadar are a species engineered for war and programmed at the genetic level for one purpose: to fight until death as soldiers of the sprawling stellar empire known as the Dominion. No Jem'Hadar has ever lived thirty years, and not even their masters, the shape-shifting Founders, know what such a creature is capable of becoming were it to be freed of its servitude.

One Founder, however, has dared to wonder.

Appointed by Odo himself to learn peaceful coexistence aboard Deep Space 9, Taran'atar, an Honored Elder among the Jem'Hadar, had for months been a staunch, if conflicted, ally to the crew of the station, ever struggling to understand the mission on which he was sent... until something went horrifically wrong.

Consumed by self-doubt and an ever-growing rage, Taran'atar has lashed out against those he was sworn to aid. While Captain Kira Nerys and Lieutenant Ro Laren both lie near death aboard Deep Space 9, their assailant has taken a hostage and fled into Cardassian space, pursued by Commander Elias Vaughn on the USS Defiant. But as the hunt unfolds, Taran'atar's true objective becomes increasingly less certain, as the rogue Jem'Hadar leads the Defiant to a discovery even more shocking than his crime.

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

Taran'atar's escape

After wounding and incapacitating Ro Laren and severely injuring Kira Nerys, Taran'atar escapes from the station by capturing the runabout Euphrates; because Prynn Tenmei is in there practicing, he takes her hostage. When the crew of DS9 discovers this, Elias Vaughn immediately pursues them with the Defiant. Taran'atar manages to trick him, making him believe he has killed his own daughter, and escapes with a Klingon smuggler ship; after a while, the Defiant catches the signatures of the ship and continues the pursuit. Meanwhile, Prynn tries to sabotage the ships, but she does not succeed; ultimately, she ends up in chains. Taran'atar is heavily disturbed and haunted by images - images of people he knew, and also images of her face.

On DS9, Nog and Bashir find out that Taran'atar was possibly mind-controlled by some messages he received; they ultimately find out that he is heading for Harkoum - an old Cardassian prison site, now overseen by the Romulans.

Vaughn and the Defiant's crew ultimately manage to almost catch Taran'atar, but he escapes at the last minute. At least, Vaughn learns that Prynn is still alive. They reunite and barely manage to escape from the prison, which is self-destructing. They meet the mirror universe's version of Iliana Ghemor, who tells about the danger posed by Iliana of our universe.

The alternate universe

While it seemed that Intendant Kira was behind Taran'atar's "abduction", when he finally meets her, another Kira Nerys joins them - the Intendant thinks it's the real Kira, but it is Iliana Ghemor, now looking like a Bajoran. She kills the Intendant, and it then becomes clear that it was her who was influencing Taran'atar.

Kira and Ro

Bashir manages to save both Kira and Ro; Ro has severe injuries in her back, but he can save her and her ability to move and to walk. Kira gets an artificial heart; while the women are in surgery and later on asleep in the sickbay, Quark watches over Ro - and Benjamin Sisko arrives to watch over Kira. Both awake and will be fully restored.

Kira's near-death experience

While in coma, Kira suddenly finds herself in the Celestial Temple, where the Prophets take the forms of many people she knew, including Jadzia Dax, Tora Ziyal, Bareil Antos, Shakaar Edon, Kira Taban, and Aamin Marritza. She learns that she has to "set the hand upon the path", but does not fully understand.

She then finds herself in the ancient Bajor as a general - trying to defend a fortress against an army of the Ascendants. However, it takes a long time to convince the inhabitants of the fortress - the Ea'voq, that she is on the same side as they are. When she "dies" in this vision of the old Bajor, she is back in the Celestial Temple - and finally understands; she is "the hand" of the prophets, and apparently they want her to defend the temple against the Ascendants.

Background Information

Trivia

This novel follows immediately after the events depicted in "Olympus Descending", the Dominion story in Worlds of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Volume 3.
The Star Trek: Mirror Universe Obsidian Alliances anthology story "Saturn's Children" is a prequel to the events that take place in the mirror universe in this novel.
The near-death experience of Kira's is closely related to the short story "Horn and Ivory" in the final Gateways series book What Lay Beyond.
Intendant Kira is killed by Iliana Ghemor, who has found a way to mind-control Taran'atar. The method is later revealed in The Soul Key.
Prynn and Vaughn are finally reunited.
Kira now has an artificial heart.
The prophets are afraid of the Ascendants and want the Bajorans and the Ea'voq to fight against them.
Sisko tells Kira the story of the three brothers from Jo'Kala, just as she did for him when he was injured aboard the USS Defiant in "Starship Down". Author David Mack co-wrote that episode.
The mirror universe double of Section 31 agent L'Haan from the Star Trek: A Time to... novels A Time to Kill and A Time to Heal is one of Intendant Kira's Vulcan handmaidens.
Ezri mentions the Luna-class starships from Star Trek: Titan.
This novel features an excerpt from the Star Trek: Vanguard novel Summon the Thunder.

Reception

Warpath won Psi Phi's Best Star Trek novel cover of 2006. Marco Palmieri said "I recall thinking that I wanted Taran'atar to appear dangerous and vulnerable at the same time. To that end, I had the idea of him looking really pissed off as he stared back at the reader through crosshairs. We went with an amber wash over the whole thing because that was the color we'd established for Jem'Hadar blood."
Empire Magazine recommended Warpath in a 2013 article on Star Trek literature. [1]

Characters

Canon characters listed below are linked to the main article about them. Non-canon characters are not linked, but those that recurred, appearing or being mentioned in more than one story, are defined further in Pocket DS9 characters.
Kira Nerys: Bajoran Starfleet captain in command of Deep Space 9.
Ro Laren: Bajoran Starfleet lieutenant serving as Deep Space 9 security chief.
Taran'atar: Jem'Hadar elder.
Elias Vaughn: Starfleet commander assigned as Defiant captain and Deep Space 9 first officer, father of Prynn Tenmei.
Prynn Tenmei: Chief helmsman of the USS Defiant and Commander Vaughn's daughter.
Nog: Ferengi Starfleet lieutenant assigned as chief of operations.
Ezri Dax: Trill Starfleet lieutenant assigned as Vaughn's executive officer.
Julian Bashir: genetically enhanced Starfleet lieutenant commander assigned as Deep Space 9 CMO.
Benjamin Sisko: Starfleet captain, former CO of DS9, who recently returned to this realm from the Bajoran wormhole's entrance to the Celestial Temple.
Simon Tarses: Starfleet medical officer.
Opaka Sulan: Former kai of Bajor.
Kurn (mirror): See also: Kurn
Kira Nerys (mirror): Intendant of the Klingon-Cardassian Alliance
Iliana Ghemor: Cardassian look-alike of Kira Nerys
Iliana Ghemor (mirror): murderer of Intendant Kira

References

Alpha Quadrant; Bajor; Bajoran; Deep Space 9; Cardassian; Chalna; Chalnoth; Defiant, USS; Dominion; Dominion War; Eris; Ferengi; Rules of Acquisition; Founder; Gre'thor; Klingon; Jem'Hadar; mirror universe; Nausicaan; Odo; Obsidian Order; Panora; Romulan; sickbay; Starfleet; Starfleet Medical; Tiburonian; Trill; United Federation of Planets; Vorta; Vulcan; warbird

External links

Warpath at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
Warpath annotations at David Mack's official website (contains spoilers)

Previous novel:	Series	Next novel:
Worlds of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: #3: The Dominion and Ferenginar	Pocket DS9 Relaunch series	Fearful Symmetry

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{realworld}}
 {{Sidebar novel|
-| Image             = Warpath.jpg
+| image             = Warpath.jpg
 | Author            = [[David Mack]]
 | Artist            = [[Cliff Nielsen]]
@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 | Pages             = 352
 | Year              = [[January]] [[2377]]
+| ISBN              = 1416507752 (paperback)<br />{{ASIN|B000GCFY1W}} (Kindle)
-| Stardate          = Stardate
-| ISBN              = 1416507752
 }}
 Vaughn and the crew of the ''Defiant'' pursue Taran'atar into Cardassian space, while Kira and Ro lie near death on Deep Space 9.
 ==Summary==
-;''From the book jacket'':
+;From the book jacket
-:''They were created to be killing machines. Highly intelligent, resourceful, and deceptively complex, the [[Jem'Hadar]] are a species engineered for [[military conflicts|war]] and programmed at the [[DNA|gene]]tic level for one purpose: to fight until [[death]] as soldiers of the sprawling [[star|stellar]] [[governments|empire]] known as the [[Dominion]]. No Jem'Hadar has ever lived thirty years, and not even their masters, the [[shape shifter|shape-shift]]ing [[Founders]], know what such a creature is capable of becoming were it to be freed of its [[slavery|servitude]].''
+:''They were created to be killing machines. Highly intelligent, resourceful, and deceptively complex, the [[Jem'Hadar]] are a species engineered for [[military conflicts|war]] and programmed at the [[DNA|gene]]tic level for one purpose: to fight until [[death]] as soldiers of the sprawling [[star|stellar]] [[government|empire]] known as the [[Dominion]]. No Jem'Hadar has ever lived thirty years, and not even their masters, the [[shape shifter|shape-shift]]ing [[Founder]]s, know what such a creature is capable of becoming were it to be freed of its [[slavery|servitude]].''
 :''One Founder, however, has dared to wonder.''
@@ Line 23: / Line 22: @@
 :''Appointed by [[Odo]] himself to learn peaceful coexistence aboard [[Deep Space 9]], [[Taran'atar]], an [[Honored Elder]] among the Jem'Hadar, had for [[month]]s been a staunch, if conflicted, ally to the [[Deep Space 9 personnel|crew of the station]], ever struggling to understand the mission on which he was sent... until something went horrifically wrong.''
-:''Consumed by self-doubt and an ever-growing rage, Taran'atar has lashed out against those he was sworn to aid. While [[Captain]] [[Kira Nerys]] and [[Lieutenant]] [[Ro Laren]] both lie near death aboard [[Deep Space 9]], their assailant has taken a hostage and fled into [[Cardassian]] [[space]], pursued by [[Commander]] [[Elias Vaughn]] on the [[USS Defiant (NCC-75633)|USS ''Defiant'']]. But as the hunt unfolds, Taran'atar's true objective becomes increasingly less certain, as the rogue Jem'Hadar leads the ''Defiant'' to a discovery even more shocking than his [[crime and punishment|crime]].''
+:''Consumed by self-doubt and an ever-growing rage, Taran'atar has lashed out against those he was sworn to aid. While [[Captain]] [[Kira Nerys]] and [[Lieutenant]] [[Ro Laren]] both lie near death aboard [[Deep Space 9]], their assailant has taken a hostage and fled into [[Cardassian]] [[space]], pursued by [[Commander]] [[Elias Vaughn]] on the {{USS|Defiant|2375}}. But as the hunt unfolds, Taran'atar's true objective becomes increasingly less certain, as the rogue Jem'Hadar leads the ''Defiant'' to a discovery even more shocking than his [[crime and punishment|crime]].''
 {{review}}
 === Taran'atar's escape ===
-After shooting [[Ro Laren]] and injuring [[Kira Nerys]], Taran'atar escapes from the station by capturing the [[runabout]] Euphrates; because Prynn Tenmei is in there practising, he takes her hostage. When the crew of DS9 discovers this, Elias Vaughn immediately pursuits them with the [[USS Defiant (NCC-75633)|Defiant]]. Taran'atar manages to trick him, making him believing he has killed his own daughter, and escapes with a Klingon smuggler ship; after a while, the Defiant catches the signatures of the ship and continues the pursuit. Meanwhile, Prynn tries to sabotage the ships, but she does not succeed; ultimately, she ends up in chains. Taran'atar is heavily disturbed and haunted by images - images of people he knew, and also images of '''her''' face.
+After wounding and incapacitating [[Ro Laren]] and severely injuring [[Kira Nerys]], Taran'atar escapes from the station by capturing the [[runabout]] ''Euphrates''; because Prynn Tenmei is in there practicing, he takes her hostage. When the crew of DS9 discovers this, Elias Vaughn immediately pursues them with the ''Defiant''. Taran'atar manages to trick him, making him believe he has killed his own daughter, and escapes with a Klingon smuggler ship; after a while, the ''Defiant'' catches the signatures of the ship and continues the pursuit. Meanwhile, Prynn tries to sabotage the ships, but she does not succeed; ultimately, she ends up in chains. Taran'atar is heavily disturbed and haunted by images - images of people he knew, and also images of ''her'' face.
-On DS9, [[Nog]] and [[Julian Bashir|Bashir]] find out that Taran'atar was possibly mind-controlled by some comms he received; they ultimately find out that he is heading for Harkoum - an old [[Cardassian]] prison site, now overseen by the [[Romulans]].
+On DS9, [[Nog]] and [[Julian Bashir|Bashir]] find out that Taran'atar was possibly mind-controlled by some messages he received; they ultimately find out that he is heading for Harkoum - an old Cardassian prison site, now overseen by the [[Romulan]]s.
-Vaughn and the ''Defiant'''s crew ultimately manage to almost catch Taran'atar, but he can escapes at the last minute.  At least, Vaughn learns that Prynn is still alive. They reunite and barely manage to escape from the prison, which is self-destructing.  They meet [[Iliana Ghemor]], who tells about the mirror version of herself.
+Vaughn and the ''Defiant''{{'}}s crew ultimately manage to almost catch Taran'atar, but he escapes at the last minute.  At least, Vaughn learns that Prynn is still alive. They reunite and barely manage to escape from the prison, which is self-destructing.  They meet the mirror universe's version of [[Iliana Ghemor]], who tells about the danger posed by Iliana of our universe.
 === The alternate universe ===
-While it seemed that [[Kira Nerys (mirror)|Intendant Kira]] was behind Taran'atar's "abduction", when he finally meets her, another Kira Nerys joins them - the Intendant thinks it's the real Kira, but it is the mirror version of Iliana Ghemor, now looking like a Bajoran. She kills the Intendant, and it then becomes clear that it was her who made Taran'atar coming.
+While it seemed that [[Intendant]] [[Kira Nerys (mirror)|Kira]] was behind Taran'atar's "abduction", when he finally meets her, another Kira Nerys joins them - the Intendant thinks it's the real Kira, but it is Iliana Ghemor, now looking like a Bajoran. She kills the Intendant, and it then becomes clear that it was her who was influencing Taran'atar.
 === Kira and Ro ===
@@ Line 40: / Line 40: @@
 === Kira's near-death experience ===
-While in coma, Kira suddenly finds herself in the [[Celestial Temple]], where the [[Prophets]] take the forms of many people she knew, including [[Jadzia Dax]], [[Tora Ziyal]], [[Bareil Antos]], [[Shakaar Edon]], [[Kira Taban]] and [[Aamin Marritza]]. She learns that she has to "set the hand upon the path", but does not fully understand.
+While in coma, Kira suddenly finds herself in the [[Celestial Temple]], where the [[Prophet]]s take the forms of many people she knew, including [[Jadzia Dax]], [[Tora Ziyal]], [[Bareil Antos]], [[Shakaar Edon]], [[Kira Taban]], and [[Aamin Marritza]]. She learns that she has to "set the hand upon the path", but does not fully understand.
-She then finds herself in the ancient [[Bajor]] as a General - trying to defend a fortress against an army of the Ascendants. However, it takes a long time to convince the inhabitants of the fortress - the Ea'voq, that she is on the same side as they are. When she "dies" in this vision of the old Bajor, she is back in the Celestial Temple - and finally understands; she is "the hand" of the prophets, and apparently they want her to defend the temple against the Ascendants.
+She then finds herself in the ancient [[Bajor]] as a general - trying to defend a fortress against an army of the Ascendants. However, it takes a long time to convince the inhabitants of the fortress - the Ea'voq, that she is on the same side as they are. When she "dies" in this vision of the old Bajor, she is back in the Celestial Temple - and finally understands; she is "the hand" of the prophets, and apparently they want her to defend the temple against the Ascendants.
 ==Background Information==
+===Trivia===
 * This novel follows immediately after the events depicted in "Olympus Descending", the Dominion story in ''[[Worlds of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Volume 3]]''.
+* The ''[[Star Trek: Mirror Universe]]'' ''[[Obsidian Alliances]]'' anthology story "Saturn's Children" is a prequel to the events that take place in the mirror universe in this novel.
-* The near-death experience of Kira's is closely related to the short story "Horn and Ivory" in the final ''[[Gateways]]''-series book ''[[What Lay Beyond]]''.
+* The near-death experience of Kira's is closely related to the short story "Horn and Ivory" in the final ''[[Gateways]]'' series book ''[[What Lay Beyond]]''.
-* Intendant Kira is killed by the mirror version of Iliana Ghemor, who apparently has found a way to mind-control Taran'atar.
+* Intendant Kira is killed by Iliana Ghemor, who has found a way to mind-control Taran'atar. The method is later revealed in ''[[The Soul Key]]''.
-* Prynn and Vaughn are reuniting finally.
+* Prynn and Vaughn are finally reunited.
-* Kira has now an artificial heart.
+* Kira now has an artificial heart.
-* The prophets are afraid of the Ascendants and want the Bajorans and the Ea'voq to fight against them
+* The prophets are afraid of the Ascendants and want the Bajorans and the Ea'voq to fight against them.
-* ''Warpath'' won Psi Phi's Best ''[[Star Trek]]'' novel cover of 2006. [[Marco Palmieri]] said "''I recall thinking that I wanted Taran'atar to appear dangerous and vulnerable at the same time. To that end, I had the idea of him looking really pissed off as he stared back at the reader through crosshairs. We went with an amber wash over the whole thing because that was the color we'd established for Jem'Hadar blood.''"
-* [[Benjamin Sisko|Sisko]] tells Kira the story of the three brothers from [[Jo'Kala]], just as she did for him when he was injured aboard the [[USS Defiant (NX-74205)|''Defiant'']] in {{e|Starship Down}}. Author [[David Mack]] co-wrote that episode.
+* [[Benjamin Sisko|Sisko]] tells Kira the story of the three brothers from [[Jo'Kala]], just as she did for him when he was injured aboard the {{USS|Defiant|2370}} in {{e|Starship Down}}. Author [[David Mack]] co-wrote that episode.
-* The [[mirror universe]] double of [[Section 31]] agent L'Haan from the ''[[Star Trek: A Time to...]]'' [[novel]]s ''[[A Time to Kill]]'' and ''[[A Time to Heal]]'' is one of [[Kira Nerys (mirror)|Intendent Kira]]'s [[Vulcan]] handmaidens.
+* The [[mirror universe]] double of [[Section 31]] agent L'Haan from the ''[[Star Trek: A Time to...]]'' [[novels]] ''[[A Time to Kill]]'' and ''[[A Time to Heal]]'' is one of Intendant Kira's [[Vulcan]] handmaidens.
 * [[Ezri Dax|Ezri]] mentions the ''Luna''-class [[starship]]s from ''[[Star Trek: Titan]]''.
 * This novel features an excerpt from the ''[[Star Trek: Vanguard]]'' novel ''[[Summon the Thunder]]''.
-* The ''[[Star Trek: Mirror Universe]]'' ''[[Obsidian Alliances]]'' anthology story "Saturn's Children" is a prequel to the events that take place in the mirror universe in this novel. [[David Mack]] has said he was asked by [[Marco Palmieri]] to provide ideas on how to mesh his and [[Sarah Shaw (author)|Sarah Shaw]]'s stories together. [http://boards.startrek.com/community/messages.html?s=a7a3e52445c8619fd3032f7037c384b7;act=ST;f=9;t=33277538]
+===Reception===
+* ''Warpath'' won Psi Phi's Best ''[[Star Trek]]'' novel cover of 2006. [[Marco Palmieri]] said "''I recall thinking that I wanted Taran'atar to appear dangerous and vulnerable at the same time. To that end, I had the idea of him looking really pissed off as he stared back at the reader through crosshairs. We went with an amber wash over the whole thing because that was the color we'd established for Jem'Hadar blood.''"
+*''[[Empire Magazine]]'' recommended ''Warpath'' in a 2013 article on ''Star Trek'' literature. [http://www.empireonline.com/features/star-trek-expanded-universe/p7]
 ==Characters==
@@ Line 64: / Line 68: @@
 ;Taran'atar : Jem'Hadar elder.
 ;Elias Vaughn : Starfleet commander assigned as ''Defiant'' captain and Deep Space 9 [[first officer]], father of Prynn Tenmei.
-;Prynn Tenmei : helm, Vaughn's daughter
+;Prynn Tenmei : Chief [[helmsman]] of the USS ''Defiant'' and Commander Vaughn's daughter.
 ;[[Nog]] : [[Ferengi]] Starfleet lieutenant assigned as [[chief of operations]].
 ;[[Ezri Dax]] : [[Trill]] Starfleet lieutenant assigned as Vaughn's [[executive officer]].
@@ Line 74: / Line 78: @@
 ; [[Kira Nerys (mirror)]] : Intendant of the [[Klingon-Cardassian Alliance]]
 ;[[Iliana Ghemor]] : Cardassian look-alike of Kira Nerys
-;Iliana Ghemor (mirror) : murder of Intendant Kira
+;Iliana Ghemor (mirror) : murderer of Intendant Kira
 ==References==
-[[Alpha Quadrant]]; [[Bajor]]; [[Bajoran]]; [[Deep Space 9]]; [[Cardassian]]; [[Chalna]]; [[Chalnoth]]; [[USS Defiant (NCC-75633)|USS ''Defiant'' (NCC-75633)]]; [[Dominion]]; [[Dominion War]]; [[Eris]]; [[Ferengi]]; [[Ferengi Rules of Acquisition]]; [[Founder]]; ''[[Gre'thor]]''; [[Klingon]]; [[Jem'Hadar]]; [[mirror universe]]; [[Nausicaan]]; [[Odo]]; [[Obsidian Order]]; [[Panora]]; [[Romulan]]; [[sickbay]]; [[Starfleet]]; [[Starfleet Medical]]; [[Tiburonian]]; [[Trill]]; [[United Federation of Planets]]; [[Vorta]]; [[Vulcan]]; [[warbird]]
+[[Alpha Quadrant]]; [[Bajor]]; [[Bajoran]]; [[Deep Space 9]]; [[Cardassian]]; [[Chalna]]; [[Chalnoth]]; [[USS Defiant (2375)|''Defiant'', USS]]; [[Dominion]]; [[Dominion War]]; [[Eris]]; [[Ferengi]]; [[Rules of Acquisition]]; [[Founder]]; ''[[Gre'thor]]''; [[Klingon]]; [[Jem'Hadar]]; [[mirror universe]]; [[Nausicaan]]; [[Odo]]; [[Obsidian Order]]; [[Panora]]; [[Romulan]]; [[sickbay]]; [[Starfleet]]; [[Starfleet Medical]]; [[Tiburonian]]; [[Trill]]; [[United Federation of Planets]]; [[Vorta]]; [[Vulcan]]; [[warbird]]
 ==External links==
-* {{NCwiki}}
+* {{mbeta-title}}
-* [http://www.infinitydog.com/warpathindex.html Warpath annotations] at [http://www.infinitydog.com/ David Mack's official website] (contains spoilers)
+* [http://www.infinitydog.com/warpath_annotations.html ''Warpath'' annotations] at [http://www.infinitydog.com/ David Mack's official website] (contains spoilers)
+{{Novel nav
+|series      = [[Pocket DS9]]<br />Relaunch series
+|prev        = ''[[Worlds of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]'': #3: ''[[Worlds of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Volume 3|The Dominion and Ferenginar]]''
+|next        = ''[[Fearful Symmetry]]''
+}}
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-| class="prev" | Previous novel:<br />''[[Worlds of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]'': #3: ''[[Worlds of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Volume 3|The Dominion and Ferenginar]]''
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-| class="next" | Next novel:<br />''[[Star Trek: Mirror Universe|Mirror Universe]]'': ''[[Fearful Symmetry]]''
-|}
 [[Category:Novels]]
+[[cs:Warpath]]
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