Summer 2022 Reading Entry #10. Section 31: Rogue (Star Trek: The Next Generation: Section 31: Rogue) by Andy Mangels and Michael A. Martin (2001).
One can ignore the "Book 2" in the title as given on GoodReads. Rogue is one of four "Section 31" themed books released in 2001 (not one long continuing story but instead four separate stories all dealing with the shadowy covert Section 31 black ops agency operating unknown to most people within Starfleet itself, as revealed on the "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" television series). Rogue and Star Trek: Voyager: Section 31: Shadow by Dean Wesley Smith and Kristine Kathryn Rusch both came out first (on the same release date, May 22, 2001) . They were followed on July 1, 20001, with Star Trek [The Original Series]: Section 31: Cloak by S.D. Perry and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Section 31: Abyss by David Weddle and Jeffrey Lang.
The main story here (aside from a framing story at the beginning and end of the novel that takes place after the events of the Star Trek: First Contact film) also takes place between (but unrelated to) books four and five of the Star Trek: The Next Generation: “Slings and Arrows” ebooks series (2007-2008), which is why I'm reading it at this time (having just finished book four of "Slings and Arrows").
All of that preamble stuff finished, I have to say that I enjoyed Rogue quite a bit. After reading four shorter novellas ("Slings and Arrows" books one through four), it was nice to be back into a full length Star Trek: TNG novel (one released six years prior to "Slings and Arrows").
(Spoilers warning.) As I mentioned, it opens after First Contact, with Picard reflecting on the officers lost during their battle with the Borg. One of these officers (as seen in the film) is Lt. Sean Hawk, who is also one of the characters featured quite a bit in "Slings and Arrows". (There is also a Lt. Daniels in Rogue that is also in both First Contact as well as in "Slings and Arrows", the latter of which is where his full name is given as Pádraig Bréanainn Daniels.)
Reflecting on Hawk's death causes him to remember the ship's mission to Chiaros IV, a barely habitable planet in the Geminus Gulf (a three sector wide part of space considered by all to be otherwise completely empty and without any real strategic value except that it is near both Federation and Romulan space). The native species on Chiaros IV is about to vote whether or not to pursue membership in the Federation or to spurn it in favor of siding with the Romulans. The official government is siding with Federation membership while a group of rebels hiding out on the permanent "night side" of the planet staging attacks on the sitting government is anti-Federation and is working with the Romulans.
Early in the book, another Starfleet vessel, the U.S.S. Slayton, arrives at Chiaros IV and sends a group of officers down to meet with the ruling government. Immediately after they have left the ship, the Slayton leaves to investigate a spatial disturbances nearby in the Geminus Gulf and is destroyed. The Enterprise-E is then assigned to follow up on the Slayton's original mission (as well as try to determine what became of the Slayton).
Included on the mission are Admiral Marta Batanides. She and one of the Slayton officers (one of those that went down to the planet only to be captured by the anti-government rebels), Cortin Zweller, are old friends of Captian Picard's from their Starfleet Academy days (both having been introduced in the "Star Trek: The Next Generation" episode, "Tapestry"). Batanides and her fiancé, Federation ambassador Aubin Tabor, are aboard to lead the diplomatic mission to Chiaros IV.
Just prior to a delegation going down to the surface to meet with the ruling government officials, Aubin approachs Lt. Hawk aboard the Enterprise, revealing himself to be a member of a highly secret intelligence agency named Section 31 and inviting Hawk to join them as their agent aboard the Enterprise. Hawk is convinced by Aubin enough to at least consider it and to keep Aubin's secret.
However, things quickly take a turn when rebels attack at the time that the Enterprise's delegation is meeting with the pro Federation government, resulting in the capture of Commander Will Riker and Counselor Deanna Troi and the death of Aubin.
This is as deep as I think I'll go in regards to my plot summary as I don't want to give too much of the book away. Suffice it to say that Picard and his crew must A) find a way to rescue Riker, Troi, and the captured U.S.S. Slayton's captured group of officers, B ) determine what happened to the Slayton (and the mystery of the repeating spatial anomalies in the Geminus Gulf), and C) do what they can to sway public opinion on Chiaros IV to vote in favor of seeking membership in the Federation rather than siding with the Romulans (which would give the Romulans control of the entire Geminus Gulf region).
There is a *lot* going on in this book, perhaps a bit too much at times. And it probably would have helped if I'd seen "Tapestry" recently as I really didn't remember much about Batanides and Zweller, who are both major characters in this along with Picard (and Hawk, Riker, and Troi). Add in the Section 31 angle and what is hidden in the Geminus Gulf and I did occasionally find myself jumping around a bit too much, I felt. Still, overall, I enjoyed Rogue and gave it four out of five stars on GoodReads.
Next up: Slings and Arrows Book 5: A Weary Life by Robert Greenberger and Slings and Arrows Book 6: Enterprises of Great Pitch and Moment by Keith R.A. DeCandido (both 2008).
(Previous Summer 2022 Reading Entries: #1: Star Trek: Avenger by William Shatner (1997; novel); #2: Batman vs. Ra's Al Ghul by Neal Adams (2019-2021, six-issue comic book limited-series; 2021 collected hardcover edition); #3: Superman: Birthright by Mark Waid, Leinil Francis Wu, and Gerry Alanguilan (twelve-issue comic book limited series; 2003 to 2004; read on DC Universe Infinite, also available in hardcover and softcover editions); #4: Star Trek: The Next Generation: Slings and Arrows Book 1: A Sea of Troubles by J. Steven York and Christina F. York (2007; novella); #5: The Orville Season 1.5: New Beginnings by David A. Goodman and David Cabeza (2019, four issue comic book limited series; 2020 collected trade paperback edition); #6: Star Trek: The Next Generation: Slings and Arrows, Book 2: The Oppressor's Wrong by Phaedra Weldon); #7: Superman: Secret Origin by Geoff Johns, Gary Frank, and Jon Sibal (2009-2010, six-issue comic book limited series; 2019 "Deluxe Edition" collected hardcover edition); #8: Star Trek: The Next Generation: Slings and Arrows, Book 3: The Insolence of Office by William Leisner (2007); #9: Star Trek: The Next Generation: Slings and Arrows, Book 4: That Sleep of Death by Terri Osborne (2008).
—David Young
