IIRC, the most we've heard about WWIII is in Hearts and Minds, and a bit in the First Contact novelization, which isn't necessarily consistent with the novelverse (and, of course, "Federation," which isn't consistent with anything since it came out just before First Contact, but was still fun). I'm sure cable news was mentioned in the Eugenics Wars books, but if you're curious about how the news might miss a series of genetically engineered warlords running roughshod over the world, it might be instructive to compare the American Augment in the second book with the way the media treated Cliven Bundy's movement with kid gloves, even after some of his hangers-on became violent.
I’m reading the first DTI novel at the moment and I’m there they imply “Future Guy” might have played a role in the war by supplying the necessary information to create Augments. That might be interesting to see.
That will probably never happen, though. The Eugenics Wars duology is already out, so the first DTI novel got around that by mentioning the (probably unprovable) time police theory that Future Guy supplied Project Chrysalis and then covered his tracks up very well.
Sorry it took me so long to respond, I was working a lot the last few days and didn't have much computer time. Star Trek: The Eugenics Wars: The Rise and Fall of Khan Noonien Singh Book 1 Star Trek: The Eugenics Wars: The Rise and Fall of Khan Noonien Singh Boo Two Just as an FYI these are what I like to call kitchen sik books, as in they include everything but... Pretty much every character who was alive in the 20th Century who was introduced before the books were written makes an appearance of some sort, even if it's just a tiny cameo. I got a big kick out of how the books' author, @Greg Cox, was able to work all of them into it, but I know that kind of thing annoys some people.
I just finished reading this earlier today and I enjoyed it. It wasn't amazing, but it was a solid, enjoyable story. The Eizand an interesting society, and the connections to Earth's history were a cool surprise. I really liked how the reveals about what exactly happened with Earth and the Eizand were revealed in bits and pieces through out the book, it was a nice way to keep things interesting. It did a pretty good job of moving the story from the other 2 MJ12 books forward. I completely forgot about Vulcan lifespan when I started the book, so I was surprised when Mestral popped up, still alive. While I still really like him, I didn't really like most of this books 21st century characters as much as the characters in Elusive Salvation and From History's Shadow. They weren't bad, I just didn't like them as much. I was a little surprised the Aegis were sending more agents after WWIII and first contact with the Vulcans, I had always kind of assumed that would have been the end point of their involvement with Earth. I'm giving it an Above Average.
Having recently finished reading this, it does raise one question: Why was a ship sent to attack the Eizand named 'Peacemaker'?
The name has been used in the past for weapons, bombers, and the like. I suppose it's to convey the idea that they're necessary to enforce peace with the threat of violence, or to restore peace by destroying those who commit violence. Or maybe it's just an ironic or euphemistic name.
^Just the other day, I was trying to remember which movie was Broken Arrow and which one was The Peacemaker. Not sure why, since I never saw either of them.
Apologies for necroing, but I'm guessing it's better than starting a new thread... I just finished the audiobook. I liked it very much but there's an important plot point I seem to have missed, maybe because I was listening, and not reading. Here goes: Could anyone tell me what the important info was that Tauric kept secret? For a long time this had seemed like an important plot element: Picard having a fit, thus excluding a potentially very useful person from the away team. I can't recall an occasion on which this information was revealed or its use suggested. And it looks to me that admiral Ackaar is an untrustworthy person who withheld intelligence he possessed, knowingly sending a famous Federation captain on a mission for which that intelligence would have been crucial. (Or does Ackaar actually not know about Peacemaker 1)? I was surprised that it was a Vulcan officer who freaked out ;-) I would have loved to read about the briefing the three poor astronauts received. What was the story they heard? How did the Bosses envision explaining to these guys that they should wipe out a planet?...
IIRC, that wasn't revealed in Hearts and Minds. I think it was foreshadowing for some major event in a future book.
I finally read this, and rated it above average. The concept of shady pre-First-Contact Earth agencies commiting horrible acts on other worlds was intriguing, but I'm a bit disappointed, that the book didn't entirely go through with the consequences. The past sections were interesting, I liked Heffron and loved where Rain ended up, and the rift between her and Gary Seven. I think I liked the 2386 sections a bit more due to the revelations at the end, about Picard's involvement in what amounts to a coup d'état, which were quite chilling. I have never read the A Time to... novels, so I'm only vaguely aware of what's going on there. Was Min Zife's death a thing in the original books, or was that added later? As for the aliens, i thought they were fine, if a bit functional, for lack of a better term. The crew interactions we got were also enjoyable, and IMO less awkward than they were in Headlong Flight.
Min Zife's death is featured in the The Time books and Section 31 is heavily involved with what happens on the planet Tezwa and the Klingons ships getting attacked. And Starfleet trying to use Picard and Enterprise crew trying to blame them for what happens in the ongoing story about who planed it all. When Min Zife and the Prime Minster on Tezwa were responsible for the attacks on Tezwa civillians and Starfleet officers..