Star Trek: Coda — The Ashes of Tomorrow
{5/5} “Now let me be clear, Captain. The Federation has suffered great damage to its confidence over the pat few years… If this threat is as serious as you suggest, then we must move carefully to address it. At this moment, our Federation is fragile. I must balance the needs of the member worlds and focus first on what is happening right now, not what might happen in a possible future.”
Star Trek: Coda — The Ashes of Tomorrow by James Swallow, published in 2021
Captain Benjamin Sisko on the Robinson is responding to a Cardassian distress signal when he encounters a chronovore. With a little help from the Prophets, he manages to defeat it. Meanwhile, Captain Picard has returned to Earth to explain the Devidian threat to his superiors. Admiral William T. Riker has disturbing dreams where he’s the captain of the Enterprise-D and Captain Picard is dead.
This is the sequel to Coda: Moments Asunder.
The crew from Deep Space Nine joins the action, as well as those members of Voyager who are in the galaxy. Other characters featured are Alexander Rozhenko, Chancellor Martok, Doctor Katherine Pulaski, Castellan Elim Garak, Captain Ro Laren, Lieutenant Commander Nog, and Ambassador Spock. That might sound like it’s absurdly packed, but it’s not — it feels natural.
It’s about doing what you have to do when it comes time to fight an enemy like no other. It’s mostly serious, but there’s a fun callback to Star Trek III.
In addition to the overall story being brilliant, there are also some nice small moments. Like seeing a Xindi (from season 3 of Enterprise) in Starfleet, and Spock and Saavik’s conversation between old friends.
I’ve read 7 books by Swallow. I previously reviewed Star Trek: TNG — The Stuff of Dreams.