Honor Blade

Can the Starship Enterprise prevent the Second Romulan War?

Summary

 * From the book jacket:
 * At last, the United Federation of Planets and the Romulan Star Empire have agreed to meet on neutral ground to attempt to resolve the tangle of inrigue and conspiracy that began with the hijacking of the USS Intrepid (NCC-1631) many years ago – but the meeting may be as dangerous as the war they hope to prevent.


 * As a show of good faith, the crew of the legendary Starship 'Enterprise' has been ordered to attend the talks. In their informal charge is Romulan renegade Ael, the wanted fugitive who, with Kirk served as a catalyst to the current troubles.  Kirk must represent the interests of the Federation first and foremost, but the best approach to an agreement remains muddled in the ever-shifting Romulan order.


 * And the visiting Romulan party is as fractious and divided as their troubled world. Among the Romulan nobles in attendance are the hero and popular Senator Arrhae, who secretly helped rescue Dr. Leonard McCoy from a Romulan execution, and the very men and women who put McCoy on trial for treason – and tried to carry out the sentence.


 * As Kirk and crew attempt to renegotiate a delicate peace, and Romulans attempt to restore their tarnished honor, it becomes increasingly apparent hat their only course of action is to prepare for war!

Background Information

 * This book starts at chapter six, where the previous Rihannsu novel left off at chapter five; likewise, both novels end with To be continued. Six years later, a concluding book, The Empty Chair,  was finally released.
 * This is the first chronological (though non-canon) mention of the Romulans using a quantum singularity to power their starships instead of using a warp core.

Characters

 * James T. Kirk
 * Spock
 * Montgomery Scott
 * Doctor Leonard McCoy
 * Uhura
 * Hikaru Sulu
 * Pavel Chekov
 * M'Benga
 * Ael t'Rllailleu : Romulan fugitive, commander of the Bloodwing
 * Aidoann : Romulan antecenturion serving on the Bloodwing, Ael's second-in-command
 * Khiy : Romulan antecenturion serving on the Bloodwing
 * t'Hrienteh : Romulan officer serving on the Bloodwing
 * tr'Keirianh : Romulan chief engineer of the Bloodwing
 * tr'AAnikh : Bloodwing officer
 * Robert Fox
 * Samuel Cogley
 * Hloal t'Illialhle