Serpents Among the Ruins

The Lost Era series continues, with the events surrounding the Tomed Incident.

Summary

 * From the book jacket:
 * The year is 2311. It is a year of infamy, a year that later generations will remember as one that altered the course of history at the cost of thousands of lives. It is the year of the Tomed Incident, and its tale can at last be told. In the midst of escalating political tensions among the Klingons, the Romulans, and the Federation, Starfleet goes forward with the inaugural flight of Universe, a prototype starship that promises to revolutionize space exploration. But the Universe experiment results in disaster, ravaging a region of space dangerously close to the Romulan Star Empire, apparently confirming suspicions that the Federation has begun testing a weapon of mass destruction. As the military buildup accelerates on both sides of the Romulan Neutral Zone, Captain John Harriman of the Federation flagship USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-B) is fated for a final confrontation with his oldest enemy at a flashpoint in history – with the Beta Quadrant one wrong move from the outbreak of total war.

Memorable Quotes
"This is neutral territory, Admiral. We are visitors here, and we make no claims on this world or its people." "In the beginning, you are always visitors. And in the end, you always stay. But it is of no matter with respect to this planet. You are not visitors, and you are not invited to stay. You are trespassers in Romulan territory, and you will leave at once." "This is neutral territory. The people here don't even know that sentient life exists beyond their world." "They know it now."
 * - Captain Harriman and Admiral Vokar, on the Koltaari homeworld, 2311

"There is an old Romulan saying that tells that if all around you lies in ruins, either fault yourself, or seek the serpent. Are you the serpent?"
 * - Admiral Vokar's first meeting with then-Lieutenant Harriman, some thirty years earlier

Background Information

 * The second novel in The Lost Era series.
 * Algeron, where the Treaty of Algeron is signed in the novel, is listed on the title page as the location of one of Pocket Books' offices.

Characters

 * John Harriman : Captain of the USS Enterprise-B
 * Demora Sulu : First officer of the Enterprise-B
 * Elias Vaughn : Starfleet lieutenant
 * Azetbur : Chancellor of the Klingon Empire from 2293 to 2311.
 * Aventeer Vokar : Commanding Admiral of the Romulan Imperial Navy