NOVEL
The Art of the Impossible
Attribution
Series:	The Lost Era, No. 3
Author(s):	Keith R.A. DeCandido
Publication information
Published:	Paperback - October 2003
Pages:	384
ISBN:	ISBN 0743464052
Chronology
Date:	2328-2346

"Politics is the art of the possible" - Otto von Bismarck, 1869

"What God is he writes laws of peace, and clothes him in a tempest?" -William Blake, America: A Prophecy, 1793

Contents 1 Summary 1.1 Prologue: On High My Spirit Soars 1.2 Part One: Sound! Sound! My Loud War-Trumpets (2328) 1.3 Part Two: A Heavy Chain Iron Descends (2333-2334) 1.4 Part Three: Fierce Flames Burnt Round the Heavens (2343-2346) 1.5 Epilogue: Giv'n to the Strong 2 References 2.1 Characters 2.2 Starships and vehicles 2.3 Locations 2.4 Races and cultures 2.5 States and organizations 2.6 Cultural 2.7 Other references 3 Appendices 3.1 Related stories 3.2 Timeline 3.3 External link

SummaryEdit

From the book jacket

THE YEARS ARE 2328-2346

To the Cardassians, it is a point of pride. To the Klingons, a matter of honor. But the eighteen-year cold war between these two empires -- euphemistically remembered in later years as the Betreka Nebula "Incident" -- creates a vortex of politics, diplomacy, and counterintelligence that will define an age, and shape the future.

What begins as a discovery that would enable the Klingon Empire to reclaim a lost piece of its past becomes a prolonged struggle with the rapidly expanding Cardassian Union, which has claimed dominion over a region of space that the Klingons hold sacred. Enter the Federation, whose desire to preserve interstellar stability leads Ambassador Curzon Dax to broker a controversial and tenuous peace -- one that is not without opponents, including Lieutenant Elias Vaughn of Starfleet special ops.

But there are wheels within wheels to the drama unfolding in the Betreka Nebula. Within the shadowy rooms of the Cardassian Obsidian Order, Klingon Imperial Intelligence, and even the Romulan Tal Shiar, secret scales are being balanced -- and for every gain made for the sake of peace, there will come a loss.

Prologue: On High My Spirit SoarsEdit

On an unidentified Klingon world, a father tells his son the legend of Ch'gran: following the Hur'q attack on Qo'noS, the warrior Ch'gran urged the Klingons to set out into space to fulfill their destiny and to save their plundered world. Ch'gran built a fleet of seven starships, all which were lost after sending news that they had found a world to claim. One ship was later found near the Betreka Nebula, but the other six, and Ch'gran's colony, were never found. The prologue ends with the young boy dreaming of finding the Ch'gran colony and bringing glory to the Empire.

Part One: Sound! Sound! My Loud War-Trumpets (2328)Edit

The Cardassian vessel Sontok, under the command of Gul Monor, is surveying planet Raknal V, where they discover the wreckage of an ancient Klingon ship. The Sontok is at the same time being shadowed by the IKS Wo'bortas, under the command of Captain Qaolin, and at the direction of Klingon Imperial Intelligence agent Yovang. Realizing the Cardassians have found the remains of the Ch'gran colony, the Wo'bortas calls in a battle fleet, as the Cardassians call in their own.

The two sides fight to a bloody stalemate, following which the Klingons propose to negotiate for Raknal V, with the Federation as mediators. Ambassador Curzon Dax and Lieutenant Elias Vaughn of Starfleet Special Operations are part of the team hosting the conference aboard the USS Carthage. Dax makes the proposal that both Cardassians and Klingons be allowed to settle on separate continents on Raknal V, the one able to prove best able to manage the planet to then gain full control.

Neither side is entirely pleased with this arrangement, but as neither is in position to fight a prolonged war, both agree. Meanwhile, the Romulan Praetor, Dralath, decides to take a special interest in the situation.

Part Two: A Heavy Chain Iron Descends (2333-2334)Edit

After five years of largely peaceful, if uneasy, co-existence on Raknal V, hostilities are ignited by an orbital collision between the Cardassian freighter Gratok and Klingon passenger transport Chut. Among the dead is General Worf, whose son, Mogh, serves as first officer of the IKS Pu'Bekh under Captain K'mpec. While Mogh insists he has no need for vengenace against Cardassians, he apparently causes the destruction of a Cardassian ship, the Boklar, which Councillor Kravokh has ordered captured and its captain tried for attacks in Klingon space.

Relations deteriorate between Cardassia and the Empire, capped by the death of Klingon Chancellor Ditagh. His successor, Kravokh, places K'mpec on the High Council despite his role in the destruction of the Boklar, and vows a more aggressive stance toward the Cardassians and a restoration of the Empire's former glory.

Part Three: Fierce Flames Burnt Round the Heavens (2343-2346)Edit

Relations between the Cardassians and Klingons have continued to deteriorate over the past several years. Cardassia is becoming more aggressive in their imperialism, while the Klingons continue to build militarily, and seem ready to shrug off their peaceful alliance with the Federation.

The Romulans attempt to take advange of Klingon-Cardassian tensions, first by destroying a Klingon building on Raknal V, designed to look like Cardassian sabotage, then with a direct attack on Narendra III. Despite these changes on the galactic stage, Chancellor Kravokh remains obsessed with Ch'gran and the Cardassians. When Kravokh's obsession results in the diversion of the IKS Sompek away from Khitomer as it is attacked by Romulans, he is challenged and slain by Councilor K'mpec.

Meanwhile, Vaughn and Dax have been investigating Kravokh and learned the reason for his obsession with Ch'gran: Kravokh's ancestor, Klartak, had mutinied when Ch'gran ordered a return to Qo'noS to overthrow the government. Kravokh wished to preserve Ch'gran's legend; K'mpec, however, believes too many warriors have been sacrificed for a single planet, and he cedes Raknal V to Cardassia.

Epilogue: Giv'n to the StrongEdit

On an unidentified Cardassian world, a grandfather tells his granddaughter about the greatness of the Cardassian people, and how they stood up to the Klingons and the Federation to take a planet named Raknal V. The young girl vows to grow up to bring even further glory to Cardassia.

ReferencesEdit

CharactersEdit

Nyota Uhura • Deanna Troi • Worf • Alnak • Altrom • Alyn Hallitz • Amon • Aris • Arn Teldin • B'alikk • Belear • Corbin Entek • Curzon Dax • Darnay • De Martis • Dirak • Ditagh • Doval • Dralath • Ekron • Elias Vaughn • Enabran Tain • G'Zar • Gi'ral • Gran Marits • Grivak • Hallitz • Hamnod • Helena Rozhenko • Ian Troi • J'tal • Ja'rod • Jekri Kaleh • Juanita Tavares • K'mpec • K'Tal • Kahlest • Kang • Kater Onell • Kell • Kestra Troi • Kor • Korit • Koval • Kravokh • Kurn • Kurrgo • Larkan • L'Kor • Lig • Lorgh • Lwaxana Troi • Michael Zipser • Mogh • Monor • Moraq • Narrk • Olett • Qaolin • Rachel Garrett • Raisa Tartovsky • Ruuv • Sarek • Sergey Rozhenko • Shawn Sulma • Susan Phillips • T'Prynn • Talen Kallar • Talik • Timol • Tobias • Tokath • Tolkor • Traya Hallitz • Vance Haden • Wai-Lin Li • Worf (Colonel) • Yovang • Zarin

Referenced only 

James T. Kirk • Kahless • Lukara • Ch'gran • Mariq • Zephram Cochrane • Chang • Leonard McCoy • Gorkon • Azetbur • Riva • Koloth • Velazquez • Perrin • Amanda Grayson • Torias Dax • Nilani Kahn • Carl Sagan • Kaasin • Prella • Duras • T'Latrek • Kaarg • Alidor Ralak • Kall • Parrik • Onell • Gant • Ernest Pratt • Zane Grey • Larry McMurtry • Xelo • Krin • Narviat • Spock • Lela Dax • Tobin Dax • Skon • Danqo • Huraga • Mara • Lilya • Isaac • Nikolai Rozhenko • Drew Deighan • J'Doq • Klartak • Albino • T'nag • T'Mret • DaqS, son of Kang

Starships and vehiclesEdit

Cardassian ships

Alkar • Baknab • Boklar • Eldrak • Grannal • Golnor • Gratok • Pa'Dan • Sontok

Earth and Federation ships

USS Carthage • USS Enterprise-B • USS Enterprise-C • USS Enterprise-D • Shuttlecraft Hoplite • USS Intrepid • Phoenix • USS Stargazer • Shuttlecraft Woodlawn

Klingon ships

IKS Aktuh • Chut • IKS Dogal • IKS Gowlak • IKS Kazin • IKS Konmat • IKS Korvale • IKS Pu'Bekh • IKS Qo'noS One • IKS Sompek • IKS Wo'bortas • IKS Klothos

LocationsEdit

Qam-Chee • Quinor • Bamarren • Romii • B'Alda'ar Base

Colonies and planetary locations

Arinak • England • Raknal City • ShiKahr • First City

Outposts and space stations

Cardassian Orbital Center • Deep Space Station K-7 • Korma Pass • Starbase 24 • Starbase 47 • Starbase 343 • Ty'Gokor

Planets and planetoids

Andor • Arvada III • Babel • Bajor • Betazed • Capella IV • Cardassia Prime • Cardassia II • Chin'toka III • Chin'toka VI • Devniad • Earth • Gault • Khitomer • Legara IV • Mempa IV • Narendra III • Organia • Praxis • Qo'noS • Raknal V • Risa • Romulus • Remus • Sherman's Planet • Tellar • Trill • Vulcan • Wrigley's Pleasure Planet

Stars and star systems

Archanis • Arvada • Barradas • Bryma • Cuellar system • Cursa system • Donatu • Morska • Raknal • Septimus system • Trelka • Umoth system

Stellar regions

Betreka Nebula • Delta Triangle • Klach D'Kel Bracht

Races and culturesEdit

Klingon • Romulan • Hur'q • Cardassian • Vulcan • Human • Betazoid • Tellarite • Bajoran • Lissepian • Ferengi • Orion • Nausicaan • Chalnoth • Kreel • Kinshaya • Hebitian • Legaran • Trill • Organian • Calabrese • Tholian • Reman • Yridian • Tzenkethi • Tribble • Gallamite • Lethean • Breen • Caitian • Andorian

States and organizationsEdit

Klingon Empire • Romulan Star Empire • Cardassian Union • United Federation of Planets • Cardassian Central Command • Obsidian Order • Klingon Defense Force • Imperial Intelligence • Cardassian Third Order • Klingon High Council • Starfleet Academy • House of Duras • Romulan Senate • Ferengi Commerce Authority • Cardassian Central Command Library • Starfleet • House of Mogh • Tal Shiar • House of Kultan • Breen Confederacy • House of Boral

CulturalEdit

LIngta' • ghIntaq • qelIqam • Sword of Kahless • Bat'leth • petaQ • raktajino • toDSah • bekk • Hand of Kull • hevrit • Bloodwine • gagh • Gre'thor • yIntagh • grishnar • Sto-Vo-Kor • Black Fleet • Detapa Council • Chiral • gristhera • Qapla' • Mauk-to'Vor • First Speaker of the Council • Barge of the Dead • Fek'lhr • meqba' • River of Blood • Warnog • allira punch • Hall of Warriors • Razorbeast • gritta • Kanar • tralk • grakizh • tharul • targ • urall • gree worm • d'k tahg • pipius • racht • rokeg blood pie • bok-rat • taknar • lek • bregit • SoSnI • tlhInghan'a • HaroS • tik'leth • mek'leth • Arbiter of Succession • mok'bara • Sonchi Ceremony • Vulcan lute • wam serpent • imzadi • Sem'hal stew • SIp • tova'dok • chech'tluth • Mempa Knife Duel • ghojmok • keres

Other referencesEdit

Zenite • sword • Akril-class • Uridium • Vole • Birok-class • Locan Powder • Broken Bow • skahtchansohde • vulture • Tomed Incident • Khitomer Accords • House Ozhpri • Calabrese Treaty • Room 2552 • stembolt • Sutor Mountains • Likra Mountain Range • Qora Forest • Fistrium • Dakhur Hills • Cowboy Ralph • Greek • My Bear • triceron • molecular-decay detonator • disruptor • Altair water • Organian Peace Treaty • Tequila • T'Shevat's Syndrome • Horga'hn • jamaharon • sehlat • Zen • Kor Thon • Tarka • Vakk-class • Galor-class • HoSqhaj River • rodinium • Scotch

AppendicesEdit

The section titles come from the William Blake poem America: A Prophecy, a favorite poem of the author.

Related storiesEdit

The Lost Era Mini-Series
The Sundered	Serpents Among the Ruins	The Art of the Impossible
Well of Souls	Deny Thy Father	Catalyst of Sorrows

TimelineEdit

published order
chronological order
Previous Adventure: The Human Factor Ian Troi section	Pocket	Next Adventure: Vulcan's Heart Chapter 1
The above chronology placements are based on the primary placement in 2328. The Pocket Books Timeline places events from this story in five other timeframes:
Previous Adventure: Three	2333 Chapter 15	Next Adventure: Oblivion
Previous Adventure: Maker	2334 Chapters 16-18	Next Adventure: Well of Souls
Previous Adventure: The Shoulders of Giants Two	2343 Chapters 19-26	Next Adventure: An Easy Fast Sections 12 and 14
Previous Adventure: The Fourth Toast Flashback	2344 Chapters 27-29	Next Adventure: Seduced Sections 1-11
Previous Adventure: Alice, on the Edge of Night Section 6	2346 Chapters 30-40	Next Adventure: Pathways Chapter 2, Sections 4-7

External linkEdit

• The Art of the Impossible article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.