Warpath is a post-finale Star Trek: Deep Space Nine novel published by Pocket Books. It was written by David Mack and published in March 2006.
Following his brutal attack on Kira and Ro, Taran'atar escapes Deep Space 9 aboard a runabout, taking Tenmei as a hostage; Vaughn commands the Defiant in pursuit.
Description[]
- 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 DS9, 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.
Summary[]
The planet Harkoum was once a major producer of raw minerals and refined alloys for the Cardassian Union, though extensive strip mining and industrialization depleted its resources within a century. It was also home to the Obsidian Order's secret Grennokar Prison, the final stop of many prisoners subjected to slave labor, torture, and medical experimentation. The Order also conducted secret gruesome experiments on many Jem'Hadar during Cardassia's alliance with the Dominion. When the Order finally abandoned the facility, they executed many prisoners and left the rest to starve. Now the planet is home only to a small population of traders who live off the grid. On Harkoum, a Cardassian woman evades several bounty hunters intent on killing her. Using traps, guile, and impressive martial skills, she dispatches each one—the Klingon Jonu, the Chalnoth Grauq, and the Nausicaan Savonigar—and continues on to Grennokar.
On Deep Space 9, Kira and Ro are rushed into emergency surgery following Taran'atar's assault. Ro faces permanent paralysis, with Quark ever by her side, but Dr. Tarses is able to treat her using genetronic replication and medical nanites. She faces a long road to recovery, but should heal fully. While undergoing an artificial heart transplant, Kira dreams that she's a general of the Bajora in the ancient past. She leads her army home to find their fortress of Parek Tonn, built into the side of Mount Kola, occupied by the Eav'oq. Their speaker, Opaka Sulan, claims that this has been the pacifistic Eav'oqs' home for generations and refuses to allow the armed Bajora entry. A massive Ascendant army also approaches, intent on eradicating all who sully the fortress with their heathen presence. Kira's attempt to parley with the Ascendants is violently rebuked. Instead, she vows to defend the Eav'oq against the Ascendants, asking only for their friendship in return. The Eav'oq open their doors to the Bajora, and Kira sees that it is indeed not her home. The fortresses of the Bajora and the Eav'oq only look similar because they are built on the same foundation (just like their two faiths). The Ascendants, with their superior numbers and weaponry and their merciless tactics, overwhelm the fortress' defenses, slaughtering the Bajora and the Eav'oq. Kira realizes that they needed more allies and better tactics, ultimately dying from an unexpected knife to her chest. She has a vision of the Prophets, who tell her that she is Their Hand and that she has a new path to follow. She will influence what happens when the paths of the Ascendants, the Eav'oq, and the Bajorans converge. Understanding her new purpose, her pagh returns to her healing body aboard DS9.
Taran'atar finds Prynn Tenmei preparing the runabout Euphrates for a test flight. He takes her hostage and flees. Prynn's planned flight prevents the station crew from immediately realizing Taran'atar's escape and the station is locked down while security searches for him. Major Cenn leads the investigation of Taran'atar's quarters and Nog finds evidence that the Jem'Hadar is the victim of subliminal mind-control, apparently by the Intendant. Nog and Bashir develop a neuroelectric pulse device to "reboot" his compromised brain, though they can only guess at its effectiveness. Realizing Taran'atar's escape, Vaughn takes the Defiant in pursuit of the Euphrates, but the starship is soon immobilized by a trap set by Taran'atar—the crew find Tenmei's signal on the rogue comet Nahanas, which explodes when they try to beam her up. Vaughn is overcome by grief and guilt, believing that he killed his daughter, and he spirals between duty and revenge, but refuses to give up command.
Taran'atar actually kept Prynn as a hostage, sacrificing only her combadge and the runabout's torpedoes to disable the Defiant, and continues his escape. Increasingly unhinged, he's driven to keep moving. He is haunted by Kira's hated visage and by visions that make him realize he's a slave, to the Founders and to a new unknown master. Prynn's efforts to stop Taran'atar fail—she sabotages the runabout near the IKS noh'Pach, but he kills the Klingon crew and hijacks the cloaked scoutship, destroying the Euphrates to hamper Vaughn's pursuit. The Jem'Hadar also recovers quickly from her massive electric shock trap, prompting him to lock her up.
Using his contacts, Vaughn realizes that the noh'Pach has gone missing and tracks it to Harkoum. Over acting XO Bowers' objections, he leads the strike team to the surface and prepares to face Taran'atar alone in the depths of Grennokar Prison. Prynn manages to free herself and also goes after the Jem'Hadar, arriving just in time to save her father. Vaughn appeals to Taran'atar's better nature, offering a path to redemption, but the Jem'Hadar ignores him and transports to the mirror universe. Father and daughter's tearful reunion is interrupted by the voice of the Intendant, who activates the prison's self-destruct. They run, but the injured Vaughn can't keep up; he tries to sacrifice himself to save Prynn, but she refuses to abandon him and falls as well. They are narrowly saved by the noh'Pach and its pilot—the Cardassian woman, (the mirror) Iliana Ghemor—and escape the prison's immolation.
In the mirror universe, the Intendant orders the destruction of all Terran bases in the Badlands, including Sindorin. She also hires Ke Hovath to build an improved cross-dimensional transporter, killing him immediately after delivery. All of the Intendant's moves are part of a larger scheme to take control of the Alliance and invade our realm with her new ally, the Taran'atar of our universe. However, Taran'atar is accompanied by the insane Iliana Ghemor of our universe, surgically altered to appear Bajoran. Ghemor kills the Intendant and takes her place. Armed with the paghvaram and with Taran'atar as her captive thrall, she prepares to kill every other Kira Nerys.
Notes[]
In her dreams of the past, Kira rides a large lupine mount, a zhom named Jayol (an anagram of the runabout Yolja). Her companions are stand-ins of her crewmates: Jamin (Benjamin Sisko), his zhom Denigarro (Rio Grande) Ghavun (Vaughn), Nathech (ch'Thane), Renla (Ro Laren), and Shirab (Bashir).
A vision of Sisko appears during Kira's communing with the Prophets, commenting on a plot hole of his backstory: "When the Prophets first met me, they didn't know what I was—they didn't understand linear time. But later they revealed that they'd set in motion a chain of events to ensure my existence. I was their creation in the past, but they were surprised to meet me in the present. They didn't know until they'd met me that they needed to create me."
Sisko recites the story of the "Three Brothers from Jokala" to Kira, just as she did for him "Starship Down."
Though Dax is pleased with her switch to the command track, she isn't fulfilled by station administration. Sisko suggests that she consider a transfer to starship duty.
A recent innovation in Starfleet hand phasers is the IFF (Identify Friend or Foe) circuit, which locks the weapon's trigger whenever the targeting sensor falls on a friendly ID transporter, such as a combadge. It reduced friendly fire incidents by more than 71% during the Dominion War.
The mirror Iliana steals two blades from bounty hunter Grauq, 23rd century Terran katana and wakizashi swords, each with a monomolecular edge.
Dr. Aylam Edeen replaces Dr. Girani as the resident Bajoran doctor. She's attracted to Dr. Tarses.
Starfleet's renewed exploration of the GQ continues. Three starships recently went through the wormhole
The noh'Pach is a Klingon Haqtaj-class scout with a crew of 5. The engineer has a human fetish.
References[]
Characters[]
- Aylam Edeen • Julian Bashir • Boehm • Sam Bowers • Ron Broeking • Capril • Cardok • Cenn Desca • Jeannette Chao • Franz Cortez • Ezri Dax • Etana Kol • Greg Forte • Frazelli • Darrell Gervasi • Iliana Ghemor • Grauq • Quin Heins • Hollim Azahn • Michael Ingbar • Jaid • Jarmus Lenn • Jonu • Jull Zehar • Kira Nerys • Koth • Mikaela Leishman • Lorgh • Malk • Minecci • Stefka Merimark • Calvin Moore • Morn • Lisa Neeley • Jang Si Naran • Nog • Orruk • Quark • Qurag • Tariq Rahim • Krissten Richter • Ro Laren • Salmak • Savonigar • Selzner • Sergoz • Benjamin Sisko • Statham • Stov • Michael Strang • Taran'atar • Simon Tarses • Alberto Taveras • Prynn Tenmei • Thron • Treir • Elias Vaughn • Amy Zucca
- Mirror universe characters
- Iliana Ghemor • Ke Hovath • Kira Nerys • Klag • Kurn • L'Haan • Akellen Macet
- Characters in visions
- Bareil Antos • Jadzia Dax • Denigarro • Skrain Dukat • Eris • Female Changeling • Ghavun • Tekeny Ghemor • Jamin • Jayol • Kitana'klan • Kira Meru • Kira Taban • Aamin Marritza • Mokata'klan • Nathech • Keiko O'Brien • Molly O'Brien • Odo • Opaka Sulan • Renla • Benny Russell • Shakaar Edon • Shirab • Sindorin First • Jake Sisko • Tora Ziyal • Elias Vaughn • Weyoun • Yevir Linjarin • Zeir
- Referenced only
- Dante Alighieri • Beverly Crusher • Gowron • Lisanne Hexter • Job • Kall Denna • Ke Hovath • Akellen Macet • Martok • Kirayoshi O'Brien • Miles O'Brien • Roloc • Rebecca Jae Sisko • Ruriko Tenmei • Thirishar ch'Thane • Shathrissia zh'Cheen • Winn Adami • Kasidy Yates
- Mirror universe references
- Gorkon • Martok • Miles O'Brien • Worf
Locations[]
- Almatha sector • Alpha Quadrant • Bajoran wormhole/Celestial Temple • Deep Space 9 • Geilod • Grennokar • Habitat ring • Harkoum • Iljar • Infirmary • Kalandra sector (Mirror Universe) • Nahanas • Operations center • Promenade • Quark's
- Referenced only
- Ananke Alpha • Andor • Ankaro system • Badlands • Badlands (mirror) • Bajor • Bajor-B'hava'el • Betazed • Betreka Nebula • Burning Sea • Chalna • Coridan III • Earth • Europa Nova • Fields of Berzel • Fire Caves • First City • Gamma Quadrant • Gallitep labor camp • Gamma Quadrant • Gula River • Hedrikspool Province • Idran system • Jo'kala • Jotunheim • Katulu • Lonar Province • Mempa sector • Mount Kola • Musilla University • Nausicaa • Panora • Parek Tonn • Pelagia Prime • Qo'noS • Regulon • Tamulna • Tanglor ice chute • Tower Hill • Sidau • Sindorin • Tarluk V'hel • Terok Nor (mirror) • Trill • Utopia Planitia
Starships[]
- USS Euphrates (Danube-class) • USS Defiant (Defiant-class) • Githzarai • IKS Gorkon (Regent-class) • IKS Negh'Var (Negh'Var-class) • IKS noH'pach (Haqtaj-class) • Otamawan • Trager (Galor-class) • IRW Verithrax (Romulan warbird)
- Referenced only
- Kamal • Luna-class • USS Rio Grande
Races and cultures[]
- Andorian • Ascendant • Bajoran • Balduk • Benzite • Caitian • Cardassian • Chalnoth • Eav'oq • Efrosian • Ferengi • Human • Jem'Hadar • Klingon • Lurian • Nalori • Nausicaan • Orion • Pah-wraith • Prophets • Thallonian • Tiburon • Trill • Vulcan
- Referenced only
- Betazoid • Borg • Breen • Changeling • Romulan • Ullian • Vorta
- Mirror universe races and cultures
- Bajoran • Cardassian • Klingon • Vulcan
- Referenced only
- Terran • Tzenkethi
Technology[]
- anti-personnel mine • artificial heart • cloaking device • command module • cortical stimulator • cybernetic support • delta-wave generator • duotronic • dynoscanner • fusion core • hoverbike • hypospray • inertial dampener • interphase cloaking device • isolinear rod • medical tricorder • microtorpedo • multidimensional transporter • nanite • neuro-pulse device • osteofuser • PADD • phaser • phaser rifle • proximity detonator • pulse rifle • targeting sensor • tricorder
States and organizations[]
- Bajora • Bajoran Militia • Dominion • Federation Alliance • Klingon Empire (Klingon Defense Force • Imperial Intelligence) • Klingon-Cardassian Alliance • Romulan Star Empire • Starfleet • United Federation of Planets
- Referenced only
- Bajoran Resistance • Founders • Great Link • Janir • Klingon Defense Force Command • Navot • Obsidian Order • Paqu • Sidau College of Physics • Starfleet Medical • Starfleet Medical Board • Terran Rebellion
Science and classification[]
- adozine • anesthesia • biogenic weapon • blood type • cardiac replacement • d'k tahg • genitronic replication • triox • ventilator tube
Other references[]
- Aldebaran whiskey • allied protectorate • Attainder • Bajoran history • Bajoran prophecy • Bajoran religion • baseball • blood • bloodwine • borhya • bounty hunter • Cardassian language • chroniton • comet • coyote • dabo • Dominion War • Emissary of the Prophets • explosive decompression • Fek'lhr • Ferengi language • Ferengi Rules of Acquisition • flayer • Four Winds • graviton spike • Gre'thor • Hand of the Prophets • hasperat • heart • Heart of the Sky • Hippocratic oath • intendant • katana • kava • kava tree • kelbonite • kellipate • ketracel-white • King Lear • Klingon Civil War • kulloth • liaison officer • Lissepian honeycomb • lopa • magnesite • Nausicaan language • neurocine • neutrino • Occupation of Bajor • orb • orb experience • Orb of Memory • orb shadow • pate • polaron • postganglionic nerve • preganglionic fiber • Progenitor • Reckoning • root beer • shroud • Sirah • Starfleet Medical Journal • Sto-Vo-Kor • surface operations blacks • tegol • Tholian silk • transparent aluminum • tribble • tube grub • ultritium • vision • wakizashi • windsurfing • zhom
Appendices[]
Related media[]
- The Obsidian Alliances novel Saturn's Children is a prequel to this novel.
Background[]
- On the epigraphs at the start of the novel, David Mack commented "the quote from Milton's Paradise Lost is meant to evoke Taran'atar's state of mind; the line from Dryden's Absalom and Achitophel speaks to Vaughn's wrath; and the passage from Wordsworth's "She was a Phantom of delight" is intended to foreshadow Kira's storyline in Warpath and beyond". [1]
- Warpath won the 2006 Psi Phi Award for Best Star Trek novel cover. Marco Palmieri commented: "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."
- This novel contains an excerpt of the Star Trek: Vanguard novel Summon the Thunder.
Reception[]
- David Mack commented: "On many levels, I am very happy with the work that has taken shape in the manuscript of Warpath. I feel like I'm starting to achieve a synthesis of the muscular prose I've used for my action oriented tales—such as Failsafe, or the TNG novels A Time to Kill and A Time to Heal — with the more introspective tones of my first novel, S.C.E. Wildfire. Thanks to the consistently astute input I receive from Marco, and from my wife Kara, and from other Star Trek authors such as Keith R. A. DeCandido, Dayton Ward, and Kevin Dilmore, I feel like Warpath is one of my best works so far". (Voyages of Imagination p 278)
- In 2008 and 2009, Robert Lyons of Trekmovie recommended Warpath as an essential novel of the DS9 relaunch. [2], [3]
- In 2013, Empire Magazine recommended Warpath as a "If you only read one" novel of the DS9 relaunch in an article about Star Trek literature. [4]
Connections[]
Timeline[]
published order | ||
---|---|---|
Previous novel: Worlds of Deep Space Nine The Dominion: Olympus Descending |
DS9 novels (Post-finale) |
Next novel: Fearful Symmetry |
Previous novel: Worlds of Deep Space Nine The Dominion: Olympus Descending |
DS9 novels | Next novel: Saturn's Children |
chronological order | ||
Previous Adventure: Unimatrix Zero, Part I |
Next Adventure: Unimatrix Zero, Part II | |
Previous Adventure: Worlds of Deep Space Nine The Dominion: Olympus Descending |
Deep Space Nine Adventures | Next Adventure: Fearful Symmetry |
Translations[]
- 2013
- German : Kriegspfad, translated by Christian Humberg. (Cross Cult)
External links[]
- Warpath article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.
- David Mack's annotations for Warpath.