Section 31: Rogue (Star Trek The Next Generation). This item is unavailable.Section 31: Rogue (Star Trek The Next Generation)

Shrouded in secrecy, Section 31 operates outside the constraints of conscience or the law. The covert operations arm of Starfleet, their mission is to protect the Federation at whatever cost. For those aboard USS Enterprise, an unexpected reunion brings startling revelations in its wake.

Rogue is a Next Generation novel set six months before the film Star Trek: First Contact and featuring Lieutenant Hawk, the Enterprise conn officer from the film. The Federation and the Romulans are both negotiating with the Chiarosans, a fierce warrior people who live a marginal existence in the twilight zone of their non-rotating planet, sandwiched between the broiling sunward Dayside and the frigid Nightside. The starship Slayton has gone missing, and the Enterprise is sent to look for her and to bring in Aubin Tabor, a new Federation negotiator, and Vice-Admiral Marta Batanides, an old friend of Picard's. Rebel soldiers have captured six of the Slayton's crew, including Commander Cortin Zweller, a Section 31 agent, and things rapidly become violent. When the Enterprise discovers a huge region of cloaked space, it becomes apparent that the Romulans have far more at stake here than a single planet. Tabor is also a Section 31 agent, who attempts to recruit Hawk shortly before being killed in a fracas on the planet surface. Now Hawk has to decide where his loyalties lie. This dark novel features plenty of action and a suitably convoluted plot. Hawk is an engaging guest lead: young, enthusiastic, intelligent and with an eidetic memory he is an asset both to Starfleet and, potentially, to Section 31. He is also gay, and it's good to see Star Trek finally including sympathetic gay characters and relationships in its world. This is a good first instalment in the Section 31 quartet. --Elizabeth Sourbut