House of Cards

A new ship, a new crew, a new mission! -- The Thallonian Empire has collapsed and Starfleet sends the USS Excalibur with Captain Mackenzie Calhoun to Sector 221-G.

Summary
"House of Cards" starts off the New Frontier novel series by starting to introduce the main characters and giving background on USS Excalibur (NCC-26517)'s Captain Mackenzie Calhoun. It also provides information on the life of Lieutenant Soleta.

Background Information

 * Jean-Luc Picard is the one who recruited Mackenzie Calhoun into Starfleet.
 * Collected in the Star Trek: New Frontier Omnibus.

Main cast and recurring characters

 * Mackenzie Calhoun : Starfleet captain of USS Excalibur
 * Elizabeth Shelby : Starfleet commander, Excalibur executive officer.
 * Si Cwan : Thallonian royal family member, a refugee of the Thallonian Empire collapse.
 * Selar : Starfleet medical officer, CMO of ''Excalibur.
 * Soleta : Starfleet science officer. Soleta previously appeared in the Star Trek: The Next Generation - Starfleet Academy'' series.
 * Spock : Half-Vulcan ambassador.
 * Jean-Luc Picard : Starfleet captain of the Enterprise-E.
 * Edward Jellico : Starfleet admiral.
 * D'ndai : Xenexian.
 * Falkar : Danterian.
 * Kally : Nickname of Kallinda, Si Cwan's sister.
 * Morgan Korsmo : Former captain of Excalibur.
 * Ryjaan
 * Yoz

Other characters

 * Kristian Ayre : Enterprise-E conn lieutenant.
 * Barsamis : Trader.
 * Bragonier : Danteri.
 * Jack Crusher : Stargazer officer.
 * Delina : Danteri.
 * Giniv : Vulcan.
 * Seth Goddard : Starfleet commander.
 * Voltak : Selar's late husband.
 * Krassus : Orion.
 * Paige : Enterprise-E tactical officer, a lieutenant
 * Zina

Timeline

 * 2353
 * 2363
 * 2373