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Description[]

The United Federation of Planets has weathered its first major crisis, but its growing pains are just beginning. Admiral Jonathan Archer hopes to bring the diverse inhabitants of the powerful and prosperous Rigel system into the Federation, jump-starting the young nation's growth and stabilizing a key sector of space. Archer and the Federation's top diplomats journey to the planetoid Babel to debate Rigel's admission…but a looming presidential race heats up the idealogical divide within the young nation, jeopardizing the talks and threatening to undo the fragile unity Archer has worked so hard to preserve.
Meanwhile, the sinister Orion Syndicate recruits new allies of its own, seeking to beat the Federation at its own game. Determined to keep Rigel out of the union, they help a hostile Rigelian faction capture sensitive state secrets along with Starfleet hostages, including a young officer with a vital destiny. Captain Malcolm Reed, Captain T'Pol, and their courageous crews must now brave the wonders and dangers of Rigel's many worlds to track down the captives before the system is plunged into all-out war.

Summary[]

The Rigelians are being considered for Federation membership, even though there is still dispute among Federation members over the validity of the organisation. Archer and the Endeavour accompany a delegation from both powers to Babel, where the Federation will debate whether or not to accept Rigel as a member. Meanwhile, the Pioneer is sent to the Rigel system to learn more about their culture.

However, the move is opposed by Garos and the Orions, especially since Rigel joining the Federation will affect the Orions' trade routes. To this end, they invite the First Families, a set of criminal organisations operating throughout the Rigel system, to join them and their allies. While Sam Kirk and Grev are examining the Rigelian archives, they are abducted by Garos' assistant Toric, who had murdered and assumed the identity of Rigelian director Rehlen Vons, and the First Families, who also steal records kept by the Rigelian Trade Commission, which will allow them to blackmail the Rigelian authorities.

Archer spends the night with Rigelian delegate Sedra Hemnask but at the same time an assassin fires on Federation presidential candidate Anlenthoris ch'Vhendreni and Archer is framed. It is eventually revealed that Hemnask has blood ties to the First Families and was coerced into assisting them by threats to her father and half-siblings. However, she had no involvement in the assassination: Her assignment was simply to embarrass Archer by claiming he had seduced her to gain her support while convincing the delegation that Federation membership would provoke war in the Rigelian system. The assassination attempt was arranged by the Mazarites without their allies' permission and, furious that Garos' plan was ruined, the Orions have the Mazarites punished.

The Endeavour and Pioneer crews begin a systematic search for Kirk and Grev. At one possible information site, Mayweather and Sangupta manage to convince an isolated group of Rigelians that the Malurians will betray them and enlist their help. Williams infiltrates a First Families stronghold but is captured after saving a servant girl from being raped. She is taken to Garos where she helps him realise the First Families intend to betray the Malurians and extend their influence. Toric is killed by his supposed allies but Garos escapes and not only gives Williams the necessary information to rescue Kirk and Grev but provides the Trade Commission with information that incites rebellions against the First Families and allows their members to be arrested and prosecuted. The Rigelians are accepted into the Federation.

However, on Sauria things are proceeding less well. Outbreaks of plague in regions with alien miners allow Maltuvis to annex the areas without resistance in exchange for medical help: In reality, the Orions have provided him with both the plague and the cure. Tucker and Federation miner Toni Ruiz manage to steal the cure for the Global League, halting the plague and Maltuvis' expansion, but Maltuvis remains in control of most of the planet's mineral wealth. Tucker is discomforted when Section 31 are not only willing to leave Maltuvis in power so long as he continues to trade with the Federation but threaten Tucker with repercussions if he tries to bring Maltuvis down himself.

References[]

Characters[]

USS Endeavour personnel
AbnettMarie ChiangElizabeth CutlerTakashi KimuraIan LegattSascha MoneyPedro OrtegaPhloxAranthanien ch'RevashHoshi SatoT'PolZircher
Referenced only
Michel Romaine
USS Pioneer personnel
Yasmin AchratiTobin DaxClifton DetzelBodor chim GrevSamuel Abraham KirkKonicekTherese LiaoTravis MayweatherKenji MishimaMalcolm ReedReynaldo SanguptaRegina TallaricoValeria Williams
Referenced only
Chen
Starfleet and Section 31 personnel
Jonathan ArcherBrantikAstellet ch'TerrenCharles Tucker III (Albert Sims) • Marcus Williams
Referenced only
BurrowsMatthew HarrisErika Hernandez
Sud Qav personnel
KalunLokogVhelis
Andorians
Avaranthi sh'RothressAnlenthoris ch'Vhendreni
Referenced only
Lecheb sh'Makesh
Coridanites
TastraTeixh Veurk
Humans
Haroun al-RashidLaila AlindoganTamara Ann ArouetGannet BrooksDanica EricksonYsanne FellCharlemagne HuaMikhail KamenevPercival KimbridgeKuldipJeremy LucasZhi Nu PalmerQaletaquSelina RosenAntonio RuizNasrin SloaneFreya StarkThomas Vanderbilt
Referenced only
CarolineEmory EricksonQuinn EricksonGalileo GalileiTheodor Seuss GeiselIyerPercival LowellMuhammadMargaret MullinFrancisco de OrellanaRebeccaRubyElizabeth Tucker
Malurians
Dular GarosRinorToric
Orions
D'NeshHonar-DesDevnaMarasNavaarHarrad-SarParrec-Sut
Rigelians
Dectof CorthocFetrin CorthocVemrim CorthocDamregDenuriGanaiarSedra HemnaskBoda JahletAdren KosparMindlenKishkik SajithenRetifel ThamnosJemer Zehron
Referenced only
Lovar DlebaGorvel HemnaskVoctel ThamnosRehlen Vons
Saurians
BavotDensriK'shinariKurvanisMaltuvisMoxatNaraloRolanis
Referenced only
Karep
Vulcans
SobonSolkarSovalT'NolT'Rama
Referenced only
SarekSkonSurakT'MaranT'Pau
Other characters
Rogra jav BaurBievelDashecJofirekNop TenottEldi Zankor
Referenced only
James BondGora bim GralHoly MotherKeylaOrav PenapPorthosRiannSarinIbed Tarzah (Rihat Diraf)

Starships and vehicles[]

boatUSS Endeavour (Columbia-class) • Grennex G-7Grennex RK6 (light freighter) • ECS HarryhausenhoverskiffLorillian freighterMalurian shuttleNamkunNiyilar 17 (fighter) • ore transportUSS Pioneer (Intrepid-class) • shuttlepod oneshuttlepod twoskimmerSud Qav (Klingon privateer) • Ware battleship
Referenced only
Atlantis (NX-class) • cartColumbia (NX-class) • Discovery (NX-class) • DlebaEnterprise (NX-class) • escape podECS HorizonMariner 4repair podRivgorsea shuttletrucktugECS VoortrekkerXindi superweapon

Locations[]

Babel (Babel Station) • BorderlandEarth (California • (San Francisco (Marina BoulevardStarfleet Headquarters)) North AmericaParis (Federation Executive Building)) • Gliese 283 BHD I9632 systemIota Pegasi (asteroid belt) • KaferiaKandari sectorOrion/Pi-3 Orionis 3Psi Serpentis (Psi Serpentis APsi Serpentis B) • Raij’hl/Tau-3 EridaniRigel I (Trojan asteroid field) • Rigel II (Trykar Palace Hotel, Kefvenek) • Rigel III (Hainali River, Hainali BasinJanxor) • Rigel IV (Poustof Hills) • Rigel V (Mount Dleba ObservatoryMount HalanarTregonTregon Sea) • Rigel VI (Ryneh Shipyard) • Rigel VII (Vinaula Mountains) • Rigel VIIIRigel Colony OneSauria (LyakstiM'Tezir (Basilic Palace) • Narpra (Patorco HarborRedik's) • Veranith (Veranith Parliament Building)) • Verex IIIVoortrekker colony
Referenced only
AgaronAjilon PrimeAkaali HomeworldAlpha Centauri IIIAlrondAndorBerengaria VIIBerengaria VIICheronCold Station 12Coridan IIIDeneb Kaitos system (Deneb V) • Earth (ColombiaCuba (HavanaSanta Clara) • EurasiaFloridaGreenlandIowaJamaica • San Francisco (602 ClubFisherman's WharfThird Street Promenade) • Sanctuary DistrictSouth America (Amazon Basin) • Venezuela) • Maluria (Malur) • MarsMazarMentharNeptuneOrelious system (Orelious IX) • PromelliaQe'tran colonyRamatisRheaRigel IXRigel X (Quintash Plaza) • Rigel Colony TwoRigel Colony ThreeRomulan Neutral ZoneRoss 271SaturnTau Ceti IVTethysTellarVegaVega IX (Vega colony) • Vulcan (Shikahr) • Ware trading postZavijava VZeta Fornacis VI

Races and cultures[]

AgaronAndorianBoslicCoridaniteDenobulanHuman (AmericanBritishCentaurianCubanEuropeanFilipinaJapaneseMartianScotTerran) • Klingon (HemQuchQuchHa') • LorillianMalurianMazariteOrionRigelian (ChelonJelnaKalarraIjulnganZami) • RisianSaurian (Narpran) • SulibanTellariteTrillVulcanWareXarantine
Referenced only
AkaaliArkonianAxanar • Human (AmazonianAugmentChineseSpanish) • KaferianMentharNausicaanPromellianRamatis nativesRomulanTandaranValakianVertianXindi

States and organizations[]

Andorian Imperial GuardAnti-revisionistBabel SecurityColonial Port AuthorityCorthocsEarth Cargo ServiceEuropean AllianceExecutive Council of the Saurian Global LeagueFederalistsFederation CouncilFirst Families of RigelGlobal LeagueHainalianInterspecies Medical ExchangeKlingon EmpireM'Tezir EmpireM'Tezir Expeditionary Medical CorpsM'Tezir Royal CommandMaltuvian EmpireMazarite cartelOrion SyndicatePlanetaristpoliceRaldulRigelian Governing BoardRigelian Trade CommissionSection 31StarfleetStarfleet CommandStarfleet SecurityTellar Space AdministrationThamnos clanThree SistersUESPAUnited Federation of PlanetsUnited Rigel Worlds and ColoniesVeranith Defense ForceVeranith ParliamentZankor syndicate
Referenced only
Alpha Centauri merchant marineAndorian EmpireBritish East India CompanyBritish EmpireCentauri FirstCoalition of PlanetsHill PeopleKaferi familyKanyor clanKlingon Defense ForceKlingon High CouncilLechebistMilitary Assault Command OrganizationRigelian Defense ForceSuliban CabalMilitary Assault Command OrganizationStarfleet AcademyTerra PrimeUnited EarthUnited Planets of TellarUniversity of Alpha CentauriVulcan High CommandVulcan Science Academy

Occupations and titles[]

administratoradmiralagentaideambassadorarmory officerassassinassistant directorbartenderBasileusbouncerbridge officercaptainchief engineerchief medical officerchief slavechieftaincolonelcommandercommanding officercommunications officercouncillorcrewmancrime bossDeputy Directordiplomatdirectordiverdoctorengineerensignenvironmental inspectorexecutive officerfarmerFederation Commissioner of Foreign Affairsfirst officergangstergovernorgunnerhelmsmanhistorianinvestigatorjeghpu'wI'journalistkinglieutenantlieutenant commanderlinguistlong shoremanmaidmarinermaskmakermerchantmerchant princemerchant princessminermining engineernurseofficerphilosopherphysicianpilotpimppiratepolice chiefpoliticianPresident of the United Federation of Planetspresiderprofessorreporterscience officerscientistsecurity guardserfservantshareholdershipyard operatorslaveslaversmugglersnipersoldierspytranslatorVelomwarlord

Science and classification[]

A class subgiantablative ceramic hulladrenalineagricultureair tubeairlockalgorithmAlrond Newsfeedantenna arrayantitoxinartificial gravityartillery shellasteroidatmosphereatombinary systembiological engineeringbiologybioluminescencebiometric interfacebiosignbloodbonecannoncarbon composite hullcarbon-fiber composite hullcarbon-reinforced thermopolymer hullcastrationcentimetercentrifugal forcechromosomeclockcommunicatorcomputercomputer servercooling fancratercuredata bankdata crystaldatabasedeflectordepressiondetonatordikedilithiumdiseasedisruptorDNAdoomsday weapondrugduraniumearpieceecosystemeggembryoevolutionfarming thresherfirefood synthesizerforce fieldforensic scanfossilgenetic engineeringgeologygeometrygravitygravity platinggunhairheat radiatorhearthermaphroditehibernationhologramhormonehormonal supplementhumanoidicebergigneousimpulse engineimpulse reactorindicatorintercominternal-combustion engineion trailjamming fieldJovian type planetkilometerkinetic energyL5 pointlavalife supportlight-yearlinguisticsliverlungMalurian maskmammalianmanipulator armmass drivermathematicsmechanical engineeringmedical sciencemedicinemetallurgymelatoninmetermethylacetylenemineralminingMinshara-classmonitormoonmoonletnavigational beaconnight-vision visornocturnalityoceanographyorbitoreoxygenparticle beamparticle cannonphase cannonphase pistolpheromonepistolplaceboplagueplanetplanetoidplantplasma pistolplastic explosivepolarized hull platingportable transporter relaypower packpregnancyprobeproteinpubertyQuvat virusradarradiationradioisotopered dwarfreplicatorreptilianretinal scanRigelian Feverrobotrobotic maintenance droneryetalynsatellitescannersciencesecurity sensorseed-particle launcherself destructsensorsensor probeshieldshield generatorsilica-based aerogel foamsociologysolar collectorsolar panelsolar radiationspatial torpedosterilizing beamstreet lampsubspacesubspace phase discrimination filtersubspace phase transitionsubspace radiosubspace relaysubspace transceiversubspace transmittertechnologytechnophobiatelepathytelescopeterraformingtext translator unitthrustertractor beamtractor emittertranslunar Lagrange pointtransportertransporter bufferturboliftultraviolet radiationuniversal translatorumbravaccineVenus drugviewscreenviruswarp drivewarp factorwarp nacellewaste recyclerwheelwhite dwarf

Other references[]

21292153215621611960s2130s2140s14th century16th century18th century21st centuryalcoholalibiAmerican footballAndorian gendersangelarchiveartArticles of FederationautumnBabel ConferencesbatbathrobeBattle of CheronBattle of Tau Ceti IVbeaglebioluminescent algaeblackmailbookBraillebrandybrassbriberybridgebronzecabaretCalrissian chameleoncandycannon foddercanopycantinacasinochandeliercharcoalchesschimneycinnamoncivil warcloakcockpitcoffeecoincolonycontinentcotcottoncorporationcountrycoup d'etatcrossbowcultural taboodartdaydecadedemocracydetention centerdiplomacydistress signaleagleEarth-Romulan Wareconomyelephantelfelite lineageEnglish languageesplanadeexosexesFebruaryFederation embassyfernFirst Battle of Berengariafirst contactfishfishingflagshipflight schoolgamblinggisjachehglassglengetgoldgoosegovernmentgreenbean casserolehairbrushhangarharborhelmethistoryholy warhorsehot springhourhuthypnoidiceiced teainsectinterrogationJulyJunekeffiyehkioskKir'SharaknifeKolinahrkreeyitchlanguagelaunch bayleopardliquorliteraturelizardlogicloinclothlong bowLoq, HoDmagicMarchmarriageMayMenthar-Promellian Warmess hallmetalmilitaryminutemirrormonthmountainmoviemythologynarcotic stickNarpran rumnecklacenetNeutral Zone Treaty of 2160NovemberOctoberoperating licenseoutpostowlpearpenal asteroidpencilpennypevrig cakephilosophypigpincer maneuverpiracyplaying cardplesiosaurpon farrpotatopotterypropagandaprotestpuppetPyrithian moon hawkPyrrhic victoryrainforestRamatis Choral DebatesraperebellionrefresherregulationRigelian yakriver dolphinroberockrockslideroperubberrumweedsaunaSaurian brandyschoolseaweedsecondsegregationsexualityshechjukshowersickbaysilverslave marketslaverysmugglingspace boomerspaceportspearspringStarfleet CharterStarfleet dress uniform (2160s)Starfleet uniform (mid 2160s)Surak's AnalectsSuus MahnatattootavernThe Teachings of SurakTerra pretathermoconcretetoquetortoisetorturetotem poleTower of Babeltraytukhanthikvegetable oilVertian crisisvestviewportvillagevyun-pa-shanwalruswarwarshipwaterwigwindshieldwinterwolfxenophobiaxiangqiXindi incidentYajchu'

Information[]

  • The actual name and back story of the "white robots" mentioned in this novel would be covered more in depth in Uncertain Logic.

Timeline[]

Chronology[]

This novel covers the period from 19 October 2163 to 18 November 2164.

Production history[]

Published Order
Previous novel:
A Choice of Futures
Enterprise novels Next novel:
Uncertain Logic
Previous story:
A Choice of Futures
Stories by:
Christopher L. Bennett
Next story:
Uncertain Logic

Appendices[]

Background[]

Related stories[]

Star Trek: Enterprise prose publications
Novelizations Broken BowShockwaveThe Expanse
Original novels set during the series By the BookWhat Price Honor?Surak's SoulDaedalusDaedalus's ChildrenLast Full MeasureRosetta
set after the series The Good That Men DoKobayashi MaruThe Romulan War (Beneath the Raptor's WingTo Brave the Storm) • Rise of the Federation (A Choice of FuturesTower of BabelUncertain LogicLive by the CodePatterns of Interference )

Images[]


Translations[]
2017
German : Turm zu Babel, translated by Bernd Perplies. (Cross Cult)

External links[]

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