Search Worlds Without End

More than 200,000 years ago, the ancient Iconians created a network of interdimensional Gateways providing instantaneous transportation across unimaginable distances. Once known as the "Demons of Air and Darkness," the Iconians mysteriously vanished many millennia ago, never to return -- or so it was believed.

Summoned to an emergency briefing at Starfleet Headquarters, Captain Jean-Luc Picard is stunned to discover that the legendary Iconians have returned at last, and are offering to sell the secrets of their advanced technology to the Federation. To prove their sincerity, they have reactivated their long-abandoned Gateways, but the results have been strife and chaos throughout the entire Alpha Quadrant. Now Picard and his crew must contend with feuding Klingons and Romulans as the captain seeks to discover the sinister truth behind the Iconians' unexpected rebirth!

Contents:

• 1 - One Giant Leap - [Star Trek: Gateways] - novelette by Susan Wright
• 43 - Exodus - [Star Trek: Gateways] - novelette by Diane Carey
• 83 - Horn and Ivory - [Star Trek: Gateways] - novella by Keith R. A. DeCandido
• 141 - In the Queue - [Star Trek: Gateways] - novelette by Christie Golden
• 181 - Death After Life - [Star Trek: Gateways] - novelette by Peter David
• 219 - The Other Side - [Star Trek: Gateways] - novella by Robert Greenberger
• 319 - The Pocket Books Star Trek Timeline - essay by The Timeline Gang

When a fatal disease spreads over Bajor, threatening the entire planet with extinction, Captain Sisko must accept aid from an unexpected source: Ro Laren, Starfleet officer turned Maquis renegade.

Major Kira and Ro reluctantly join forces to track the alien plague to its source -- even as the disease claims new victims on Deep Space Nine itself. Dr. Bashir struggles to find a cure, but the secret of the virulent invader may hide deep in the shadows of Dax's past.

The technical specialists tackle a failed prison facility, battle a super-computer, save an entire race and attempt to cure a virulent plague in this stunning collection. The intrepid ingenious Starfleet Corps of Engineers return with four new challenging adventures.

In NO SURRENDER the S.C.E. try to salvage a failed prison facility in a political firestorm, as the failure was due to sabotage by a group of political agitators.

CAVEAT EMPTOR finds the corps contesting an ancient super-computer in a simple rescue mission gone horribly wrong.

In PAST LIFE they must save the Evorons from certain demise when a radical faction sets out to destroy any evidence the Environs have that aliens visited the world before civilisation began.

And in OATHS a questionable malaise plagues the chief medical officer of S.C.E., Dr. Elizabeth Lense. Can she find her way out of depression to determine a cure to save her shipmates and an entire planets population from a deathly virus?

Contents:

• 1 - No Surrender - [Star Trek: Starfleet Corps of Engineers - 13] - novella by Jeff Mariotte
• 75 - Caveat Emptor - [Star Trek: Starfleet Corps of Engineers - 14] - novella by Ian Edginton and Mike Collins
• 153 - Past Life - [Star Trek: Starfleet Corps of Engineers - 15] - novella by Robert Greenberger
• 235 - Oaths - [Star Trek: Starfleet Corps of Engineers - 16] - novella by Glenn Hauman

Having recovered from the catastrophic events of Wildfire, the Starfleet Corps of Engineers team on the U.S.S. da Vinci meets its new second officer: Mor glasch Tev, an arrogant Tellarite who's the best there is -- and he knows it.

Even as Captain Gold and Commander Gomez get used to their acerbic new officer, the S.C.E. team faces crises in its own solar system. A strange vessel appears in the middle of San Francisco that the S.C.E. must deal with -- aided by engineers extraordinaire Montgomery Scott and Miles O'Brien. Then they have to help the Venus terraforming team -- a mission that brings Bynar computer expert Soloman to a difficult crossroads.

That's only the beginning of the challenges for the Corps as it faces a Ferengi with a time machine, a prison colony in a black hole -- and a mission from the Dominion War that comes back to haunt the da Vinci crew in more ways than one....

Contents:

• vii - Introduction (Aftermath) - essay by Keith R. A. DeCandido
• 1 - Aftermath - [Star Trek: Starfleet Corps of Engineers - 29] - (2003) - novella by Christopher L. Bennett
• 105 - Ishtar Rising - [Star Trek: Starfleet Corps of Engineers - 30] - (2003) - novella by Michael A. Martin and Andy Mangels
• 237 - Buying Time - [Star Trek: Starfleet Corps of Engineers - 32] - (2003) - novella by Robert Greenberger
• 319 - Collective Hindsight - [Star Trek: Starfleet Corps of Engineers - 33] - (2003) - novella by Aaron Rosenberg
• 433 - The Demon - [Star Trek: Starfleet Corps of Engineers - 35] - (2004) - novel by Loren L. Coleman and Randall N. Bills
• 619 - About the Authors (Aftermath) - essay by uncredited

The planet Kirlos -- an artificial world built by a mysterious long-dead race called the Ariantu. Kirlos is now home to many races from both the Federation and the K'vin Hegemony, who have enjoyed years of peaceful co-existence and profitable trade. The planet also holds a wealth of undiscovered archaeological treasures, which the Enterprise and its crew are dispatched to help uncover.

Sent to the surface to assist an archaeological team, Geordi, Data, and Worf soon find themselves cut off from the Enterprise -- and the prime suspects in a series of terrorist attacks. The three Enterprise crewmen are imprisoned, relations between the K'vin and the Federation begin to crumble, and Kirlos' ancient underground machinery awakens from a centuries long dormancy, primed to release the most powerful destructive force ever known.

On a mission to an unexplored planet near the Klingon/Romulan border, the U.S.S. Enterprise travels to the planet Eloh to negotiate Federation memebership. But upon arrival, Captain Jean-Luc Picard and his diplomatic team find themselves face to face with Commander Sela, an old Romulan enemy -- who's there to convince the Elohsians to join the Romulan Empire.

When a series of fatal incidents casts suspicion on both delegations, Data must form an uneasy alliance with Sela to prove the innocence of the Enterprise crew -- or lose a sprategic stronghold to the Federation's greatest enemy.

On the cusp of their epic battle with Shinzon, many of Captain Jean-Luc Picard's long-time crew were heading for new assignments and new challenges. Among the changes were William Riker's promotion to captain and his new command, Riker's marriage to Counselor Deanna Troi, and Dr. Beverly Crusher's new career at Starfleet Medical. But the story of what set them on a path away from the Starship Enterprise has never been told.

UNTIL NOW.

One hundred years ago, the recurring conflicts between the Bader and the Dorset ended mysteriously when both races colonized the distant planet Delta Sigma IV -- a world located far from the destructive wars of their people -- and quickly became the Federation's perfect example of interspecies cooperation. But there are now rumblings of trouble in paradise, as an investigation led by Kyle Riker -- Commander William Riker's estranged father -- into this harmonious society has discovered a shocking, immutable truth: over the next few generations, the reaction to a native gas will spell the extinction of Delta Sigma IV's inhabitants.

Captain Picard and his crew, still recovering from the tragic events that have tarnished the career of one of the Federation's most decorated captains, must come to the aid of a world that once knew only peace, but now faces emerging violence and chaos... and Commander Riker must confront the reality that his own father may be held responsible for Delta Sigma IV's almost certain downfall!

On the cusp of their epic battle with Shinzon, many of Captain Jean-Luc Picard's long-time crew were heading for new assignments and new challenges. Among the changes were William Riker's promotion to captain and his new command, Riker's marriage to Counselor Deanna Troi, and Dr. Beverly Crusher's new career at Starfleet Medical. But the story of what set them on a path away from the Starship Enterprise has never been told.

UNTIL NOW.

The recurring blood feuds between the Bader and the Dorset ended mysteriously a century ago when both races colonized the planet Delta Sigma IV. But, unknown until now, it was a reaction to a naturally occurring gas that led to their harmonious existence... a reaction that would eventually mean certain death for the planet's inhabitants. What the Enterprise crew believed was a cure for the population -- a treatment introduced into Delta Sigma IV's environment by Kyle Riker, a man at odds with his son, Commander William Riker -- has instead triggered worldwide carnage, as long-suppressed aggression and hostility are suddenly and violently unleashed.

Caught in a world on the brink of self-destruction, Captain Picard -- a man still waging his own personal battle for redemption in the eyes of his commanding officers -- must somehow find a way to resolve this catastrophic event and save his crew, even as the implications of his actions may ultimately doom an entire race....

Gamma Xaridian -- a peaceful Federation research colony that becomes the third Federation world to suffer a brutal attack at the hands of a mysterious alien fleet. With Lt. Uhura gone on an important mission of her own, Captain Kirk and the U.S.S. Enterprise are dispatched to investigate the attacks, only to find the planets completely devastated.
When another nearby colony is attacked, the Enterprise is ready and encounters a fleet of quick, small and deadly ships. Though Kirk and his crew manage to turn the raiders away, the Enterprise is severly damaged and the aliens escape.

As Kirk and his crew prepare for their next encounter with the raiders, Mr. Spock makes a startling discovery about the purpose behind the alien attacks -- a purpose that, if realized, could have deadly consequences for the Federation and the U.S.S Enterprise...