NOVEL
Storming Heaven
Attribution
Series:	Vanguard
Author(s):	David Mack
Publication information
Publisher:	Pocket Books
Published:	Paperback - March 2012
Chronology
Date:	2268 April 2270

Contents 1 Publisher's description 2 Summary 3 References 3.1 Characters 3.2 Starships and vehicles 3.3 Locations 3.4 Races and cultures 3.5 States and organizations 3.6 Science and technology 3.7 Ranks and titles 3.8 Other references 4 Timeline 4.1 Chronology 4.2 Production history 4.3 Related stories 4.4 External link

Publisher's descriptionEdit

From the back cover

“I WAS THERE UNTIL THE END, MATE. THE BITTER, BLOODY END.”

Vanguard is under siege. Surrounded by enemies, Admiral Nogura sends the scout ship Sagittarius to find an ancient weapon that might be the Federation's only hope of stopping the alien threat known as the Shedai . . . Qo'noS is wracked by scandal. Councillor Gorkon fights to expose a Romulan plot to corrupt members of the Klingon High Council, only to learn the hard way that crusaders have few allies, and even fewer friends . . . Tholia teeters on the brink of madness. To prevent Starfleet from wielding the Shedai's power as its own, the Tholians deploy an armada with one mission: Kill the Shedai—by destroying Vanguard.

SummaryEdit

The Wanderer gathers many of the Shedai to a newly formed planet to arouse them to make war on the quadrant. The Maker, the oldest of their kind is not in attendance as she is still lost in the depths of space.

Duras meets with a Romulan agent named Valina who is posing as a prostitute in a brothel. Duras trades Klingon intelligence on the Shedai for information on how to make Romulan cloaking technology compatible with Klingon ships before the two have coitus. Duras’ link to the Romulans is later revealed by Gorkon, through Lugok, through Jetanien, through Pennington.

Carol Marcus is growing tired of working under Starfleet direction and censoring. Ming Xiong and her find themselves increasingly at odds about the secrecy surrounding Project Vanguard. Marcus mentioned that they accidently destroyed was Ceti Alpha VI why dabbling with Shedai technology and Starfleet secretly changed the star charts to Show Ceti Alpha V was Ceti Alpha VI.

With all his friends gone, Doctor Fisher decides to retire and leave to live near his daughter. He books passage in the VIP quarters aboard a freighter bound for Mars leaving in a few weeks.

The Endeavor detects a built up of Tholian warships along their border and becomes worried they are about to move into the Taurus Reach while the Sagittarius tracks down the location of the Tkon crystals to a statite holding station above the Eremar pulsar. The Tholians send a fleet to destroy Tkon technology in the Eremar system based on data given to them by the Omari Ekon which was destroyed in mysterious circumstances. The Endeavor confronts the Tholians to protect the Sagittarius as it escapes with several Tkon crystals. Afterward, the Tholians pursue the Starfleet vessels as they flee to Vanguard but are scared off when the Enterprise arrives.

Marcus and Xiong try to recreate the Tkon array with the crystals obtained by the Sagittarius but they don’t know how to make it work. T’Prynn mindmelds with Quinn to see the machine and equations shown to him by the Apostate just before its death. Quinn is overcome with grief as he has to relive Bridy Mac’s final moments. T’Prynn allows Quinn to experience her final moments with Sanjesto and then shows him how to deal with his loss and emotional pain. When Starfleet Intelligence discovers Quinn was able to recall the information in detail, they order T’Prynn to kill Quinn.

As the Vault personnel work to assemble the Tkon array, Marcus is bothered by constructing a massive weapon which runs off imprisoned sentient beings. Nogura respects her position and agrees with her sentiments but refuses to halt construction. When Marcus takes her complaints to the Federation Security Council, her and other civilian scientists are removed from Vanguard and taken to the Regula 1 station to continue their research.

Xiong manages to lock onto every Shedai entity within the Taurus Reach and pull them into the array’s crystals. The Tholians feel the imprisonment occur and wait to see what Starfleet does with the Shedai. Xiong and Nogura wish to study the Shedai but Starfleet Command orders them to experiment with weaponizing the array. All Tholians are filled with pain when the array is tuned on and used to destroy a lifeless planet. The Tholians are angered that the Federation does not destroy the Shedai and fear they may be in league with them so they send the fleet they’ve been building along the border to destroy Starbase 47.

The only ships available to defend Vanguard before the Tholian armada arrives are the Endeavor, the Sagittarius, the Miranda class Buenos Aires, and the Panama, a Starfleet cargo ship with a single phaser bank. Just before the Tholians attack, a call goes out for anyone with medical experience to assist on the station. Doctor Fisher abandons his transport to work in the station’s sickbay.

During the attack, main engineering aboard the Endeavor is subjected to a lethal dose of radiation. Mog and crew work to keep the ship running until they die at their jobs. The Panama and Buenos Aires are destroyed. The Sagittarius suffers casualties, loses shields, and is ordered to retreat by Captain Khatami; captain Terrell is badly injured and is carried to sickbay. Xiong uses the Tkon array to destroy all the Shedai conduits in existence. The Enterprise arrives to protect the Endeavor as it beams out survivors aboard the station.

Aboard Vanguard, first officer Cooper is killed when ops is struck. Doctor Fisher is sucked into space and killed while rescuing injured crewmen. T’Prynn and Nogura are beamed aboard the Endeavor. After the Enterprise and Endeavor escape, Xiong, who is still locked in the Vault with the now released Shedai, activates the self destruct, destroying himself, the station, and all the Shedai.

April 2270

Pennington tells Reyes that the diplomatic fallout of the Battle of Vanguard was the Tholians accusing the Federation of crimes in the Taurus Reach and the Federation Counsel calling the attack a benevolent Tholian intervention to help Starfleet contain the Shedai after an accident. The Endeavor and Sagittarius were sent back to the Taurus reach to explore.

Reyes rows Pennington back to shore from his private island. When they arrive, Rana Desai is waiting for them. Reyes and Desai embrace and return to Reyes’ island. Pennington is left thinking of the love he lost on the Bombay and vows never to forget the events of Operation Vanguard.

ReferencesEdit

CharactersEdit

Akhisar • Shedai Avenger • Selim Aziz • Lisa Babitz • BelHoQ • Bernstein • Khunying Boonmee • Karen Cahow • Raymond Cannella • Chang • Pavel Chekov • Comstock • Jon Cooper • Dastin • Rana Desai • Dimetris • Yael Dohan • Droga • Judy Dunbar • Duras • Hector Estrada • Ezthene • Faran • Isaiah Farber • Suzie Finneran • Celerasayna zh'Firro • Ezekiel Fisher • Varech jav Gek • Gorkon, son of Toq • Toby Greenfield • H'kaan • Kirsten Heffron • Shedai Herald • Hofstadter • Christian Humberg • Illizar • Mike Ilucci • Haniff Jackson • Andrew Jarvis • Jetanien • Kesh • Kezthene • Atish Khatami • Kiraar • Kiris • James T. Kirk • Stephen Klisiewicz • Felicia Knight • Koothrappali • Kopar • Krom • Kutal • Kulok • Anthony Leone • Frankie Libertini • Lostrene • Lugok, son of Breg • Jabilo M'Benga • Maggie • Magrog • Manón • Carol Marcus • David Marcus • Marielise McCormack • Lisa McMullan • Bersh glov Mog • Molok • Holly Moyer • Eugene Myers • Adelard Nassir • Neelakanta • Heihachiro Nogura • Paul Norton • Nuqdek • Pelor • Tim Pennington • Shedai Progenitor • Qlar • Cervantes Quinn • Razka • Diego Reyes • Gonzalo Robles • Rothgar • Roy • S'anra • Shedai Sage • Harvey Severson • Fellaren th'Shoras • Sliney • Sorak • Spock • Katherine Stano • Stegbauer • Sturka • Hikaru Sulu • T'Prynn • Nguyen Tan Bao • Kalen Tarcoh • Tarpek • Tarskene • Taryl • Telvane • Clark Terrell • Vanessa Theriault • Thorsen • Salagho Threx • Tonar • Tor • Nyota Uhura • Valina • Ivan Vumelko • Tom Walker • Shedai Wanderer • Shedai Warden • Ming Xiong

Referenced only 

Alodae • Apollo • Shedai Apostate • Azetbur, daughter of Gorkon • Brakk • Burnett • Oriana D'Amato • D'Tran • Fek'lhr • Ganz • Gene Harris • Holmgren • Inaros • Kahless the Unforgettable • Leila Kalomi • Kenji Khatami • Parveen Khatami • Peter Liverakos • Ferdinand Magellan • Bridget McLellan • Shedai Maker • Sergio Moreno • Neera • Nezrene • Christopher Pike • Prometheus • Montgomery Scott • Seklir • Sobon • Sozlok • Sten • T'Nel • T'Pring • T'Vel • Tahir • Trelane • Uzaveh

Starships and vehiclesEdit

USS Akhiel (Loknar-class) • IKS Bas'jev • USS Buenos Aires (Miranda-class) • USS Endeavour (Constitution-class) • USS Enterprise • SS Ephialtes (Antaeus-class) • SS Linshul (Drogher-class) • SS Lisbon • USS Panama (Equus-class) • USS Repulse (Anton-class) • USS Sagittarius (Archer-class) (Roxy • Ziggy) • Toj'k Tholis • ChR Valkaya (Vas Hatham-class) • IKS vaQjoH • IKS Zin'za

Referenced only 

USS Bombay • USS Constellation • USS Defiant • Kenitra • USS Lovell (Daedalus-class) • USS Malacca • Niwlolau Leuad • USS Nowlan (Antares-class) • Omari-Ekon • IKS Qu'vang • USS Tamerlane (Saladin-class) • Zaragoza

LocationsEdit

Caldos II • Eremar • Hujok system • Iremal Cluster • Nimbus III (Paradise City • Ventus) • Qo'noS (First City) • Taurus Reach • Ursanis II • Vanguard (brig • Café Romano • Docking Bay 29 • Docking Bay 61 • Docking Bay 92 • External docking wheel • Fontana Meadow • the hub • Manón's • Observation lounge • Operations center • Phaser Control Delta • quarters • Repair Bay One • Shannon's • Stars Landing • Station commander's office • Tom Walker's • Vanguard Hospital • Vault)

Referenced only 

Al Nath • Ariannus • Benecia • Bolarus IX • Ceti Alpha V • Ceti Alpha VI • Chelar • Earth (New Orleans • New York • Palais de la Concorde • Paris) • Golmira • Gre'thor • Jinoteur IV • Kennovere • Kessik • Mars (Cydonia) • Mutara sector • Pleiades Cluster • Ravanar IV • Regula I • Silgos Prime • Somraw Station • Starfleet Academy • Sto-vo-kor • Tythor • Velara II • Vulcan (Kren'than)

Races and culturesEdit

Andorian • Arcturian • Caitian • Chelon • Deltan • Denobulan • Efrosian • Human • Klingon • Orion • Rigelian • Romulan • Shedai (Serrataal) • Silgov • Tellarite • Tholian • Tiburonian • Trill • Vulcan

Referenced only 

Bolian • Breen • Cardassian • Gorn • Grazerite • Melkot • Metron • The Patriarchy • Talarian • Tzenkethi • Vekhal

States and organizationsEdit

Federation Council • Federation Diplomatic Corps • Federation News Service • Federation Security Agency • Federation Security Council • House of Duras • Imperial Intelligence • Interstellar News Network • Judge Advocate General • Klingon Defense Force • Klingon Empire • Klingon High Command • Romulan Star Empire • Seleyan Order • Shedai Colloquium • Starfleet • Starfleet Command • Starfleet Intelligence • Starfleet Medical • Starfleet Research and Development • Tal Shiar • Tholian Assembly • Tkon Empire • United Federation of Planets

Science and technologyEdit

artificial gravity • cloaking device • communicator • Conduit • data card • deflector shield • disruptor • Dyson bubble • force field • impulse engine • inertial dampener • Jinoteur Pattern • Mirdonyae Artifact • phaser • phaser bank • photon torpedo • plasma cutter • plasma drill • probe • repulsor grid • rover • self destruct • statite • subspace communication • subspace pulse • Taurus meta-genome • tractor beam • transparent aluminum • transporter • tricorder

Ranks and titlesEdit

Admiral • Ambassador • Captain • Centurion • Chancellor of the High Council of the Klingon Empire • Chief engineer • Chief medical officer • Chief of staff • Commander • Commander-in-Chief of the Federation Starfleet • Commodore • Councillor • Director of the Vault • Doctor • Ensign • First officer • Healer • Helmsman • Lieutenant • Lieutenant commander • Lieutenant junior grade • Master chief petty officer • Navigator • Nurse • Petty officer first class • Petty officer second class • Praetor of the Romulan Star Empire • President of the United Federation of Planets • Quartermaster • Romulan Ambassador to the Klingon Empire • Security chief • Senator • Senior chief petty officer • Subcommander • Sublieutenant • XO • Yeoman

Other referencesEdit

Belhaven Ale • cargo bay • coffee • Denevan dogwood • docking bay • duty shift • escape pod • Federation Embassy • fire extinguisher • forklift • gagh • glenget • Glenmorangie • Kal-if-fee • katra • Kentucky bluegrass • mind meld • N'va'a • neurocine gas • Operation Flytrap • Operation Vanguard • piano • pleeka • poet • pulsar • qelIqam • red alert • Rigelian mountain grass • Romulan ale • Selonis Accords • Starfleet Code of Military Justice • subspace comm kiosk • Sunrise on Zeta Minor • telepathy • thrakas carpaccio • tlhIngan Hol • Typerian meningitis • val'reth • vasha • warnog

TimelineEdit

ChronologyEdit

Production historyEdit

Published Order
Previous novel: What Judgments Come	Vanguard novels	Next novel: final entry in series
Previous story: "Rise Like Lions"	Stories by: David Mack	Next story: Cold Equations The Persistence of Memory

Related storiesEdit

Stories featuring Starbase Vanguard
Star Trek: Vanguard novels	Harbinger • Summon the Thunder • Reap the Whirlwind • Open Secrets • Precipice • What Judgments Come • Storming Heaven
Short stories and novellas	Distant Early Warning • The Black Flag • Declassified (Almost Tomorrow • Hard News • The Ruins of Noble Men • The Stars Look Down) • In Tempest's Wake

External linkEdit