Changes: Abyss

Revision as of 16:37, 21 December 2019

Real world article
(written from a Production point of view)

No law. No conscience. No stopping them.

Abyss is a Pocket DS9 novel – the third novel in the Deep Space Nine relaunch series and the fourth in the Section 31 series – written by David Weddle and Jeffrey Lang. Published by Pocket Books, it was first released in July 2001.

Summary

From the book jacket: Section 31. They are the self-appointed protectors of the Federation. Amoral, shrouded in secrecy, answerable to no one, Section 31 is the mysterious covert operations division of Starfleet, a rogue shadow group committed to safeguarding the Federation at any cost.

Mere days after the startling events of Avatar, Doctor Julian Bashir faces his darkest nightmare when Section 31 compels him to undertake a mission to stop one of their own. But this renegade is no ordinary agent. Like Bashir, Dr. Ethan Locken is genetically enhanced, a Human superior in body and mind. But Locken dreams of remaking the galaxy in his own image – and creating a new Human empire based on the example of the infamous Khan Noonien Singh.

And as he begins to understand the terrifying truth about his opposite number, Bashir will learn more about himself than he ever wanted.

Excerpts of copyrighted sources are included for review purposes only, without any intention of infringement.

Deep Space 9 is running in reduced power mode, having been crippled by recent events. The engineering crews are taking part in a detailed plan by Nog to use materials from Empok Nor to repair the stations power generators.

Bashir is approached by one Cole, who reveals himself as a member of Section 31. He tells Bashir about a Dr. Ethan Locken, a former Section 31 agent who is genetically engineered, just like Bashir, and who has now started to build his own, private Jem'Hadar army on a distant planet. Bashir reluctantly agrees to go after Dr. Locken, and he takes Taran'atar, Ro and Ezri with him. Julian talks with Elias Vaughn before their departure, and is surprised that he does not seem to be surprised by the existence of Section 31.

After some hours of flying through space, the away-team encounters an unknown Romulan vessel – inside, they find Romulans that have been murdered brutally and a recorded message of Locken; he seems to think of himself as the new Khan Noonien Singh. When they finally approach the planet, their runabout is shot down by defensive weapons; while Ro and Taran'atar can beam out, Julian and Ezri are caught by Locken's Jem'Hadar.

While Taran'atar and Ro, with the help of the Ingavi, a ape-like species that settled on the planet some decades ago, try to reach both their runabout and Dr. Locken's headquarters, Dax and Bashir finally meet Locken, who invites them to dinner, shows them his headquarters and does everything to pull Julian on his side. This almost seems to work when Julian, forced to choose between Ezri and Locken, chooses Locken. But he was only pretending, helping Dax to break out of their prison and poison the White of Locken's Jem'Hadar. When Locken realizes Bashir's treachery, it is too late – Taran'atar, having been caught by the other Jem'Hadar, manages to convince their First that Locken is not a real god, and Locken is finally killed by his own creatures.

The crew wants to save some of Locken's work for evidence; however, the headquarters all of a sudden is attacked by Section 31 forces, and they flee from the planet – thinking that the Ingavi are now all killed by Section 31. Back on DS9, Vaughn reveals several things to Bashir: first, he is a member of a secret group who has been fighting against Section 31 for a long time; second, he used the holoship to secretly relocate the Ingavi; having acquired it following the Section 31 operation in the Briar Patch, which the organization made look like the fault of one admiral. Bashir joins the secret group, happy to do something against the sinister organization.

Kira, in the meantime, gets a message from Shakaar Edon, prime minister of Bajor; he warns her that with her recent actions (see Avatar, Book One and Avatar, Book Two), she has made some powerful enemies. Kira realizes that she has not many Bajoran friends left on the station because of her Attainment; only one security guard, Shul Torem, does not seem to bother with this fact. Also, we learn that ensign Prynn Tenmei is commander Vaughn's daughter. Finally, Kasidy Yates and Joseph Sisko find out that Jake Sisko is missing – as he never arrived on Earth, as he was claiming.

Background information

This is the first Star Trek novel by author Jeffrey Lang, although he had already been contracted to write Immortal Coil when he was asked to contribute to Abyss. (Voyages of Imagination, p. 445)
The story for this novel was developed by Weddle and Pocket editor Marco Palmieri. Weddle was originally intended to write the novel himself, but when he picked up a new television role, Palmieri turned to Lang in order to get the novel out on time. (Voyages of Imagination, p. 445)
The idea for the Ingavi to be rescued by the holoship from Star Trek: Insurrection and to tie in those events to Section 31 was Palmieri's. (Voyages of Imagination, pp. 445-446)
The novel's cover uses a promotional image, manipulated to feature Bashir's new rank insignia of lieutenant commander.
An editorial collaboration occurred between this story and Greg Cox's The Rise and Fall of Khan Noonien Singh, Volume Two – the description of Khan's flag was used in both works.
This novel is collected in the Twist of Faith omnibus.

Characters

Canon characters listed below are linked to the main article about them. Non-canon characters are not linked, but those that recurred, appearing or being mentioned in more than one story, are defined further in Pocket DS9 characters.

Regular and recurring characters

Julian Bashir: Lieutenant commander, CMO of Deep Space 9.
Kira Nerys: Colonel, station commanding officer.

Ro maquis — Ro Laren in the 2370s. (TNG: "Preemptive Strike")

Ro Laren: DS9's new security chief, Bajoran Militia lieutenant.
Elias Vaughn: Starfleet commander and DS9's first officer.

Nog: Lieutenant, chief of operations.
Taran'atar: Jem'Hadar "ambassador" on DS9.
Ezri Dax: Starfleet command division lieutenant.
Ethan Locken: Augment.
Shul Temor: Bajoran security guard aboard DS9.
Shakaar Edon: Bajoran prime minister.
Prynn Tenmei: Starfleet ensign, daughter of Elias Vaughn.

Referenced

Bennett (Rear Admiral): Starfleet JAG officer who ruled on Bashir's status as a recipient of gene enhancement.
Tiris Jast: Starfleet commander who was the late first officer to Colonel Kira. Jast died in Avatar, Book One.
Miles O'Brien: Starfleet CPO, Nog's predecessor as operations chief. O'Brien was remembered as saying that the Cardassians built stations to last. O'Brien left the novel series in the "What You Leave Behind" novelization.

Other characters

Cole: Section 31 agent.
Kel: Ingavi native.

References

USS Defiant and Yeager at DS9 — Deep Space 9

Deep Space 9
USS Euphrates: DS9 runabout.
USS Gryphon: Federation starship, Akira-class
Li Nalas: Bajoran flagship, named for Li Nalas.
USS Rio Grande: DS9 runabout.
Section 31
USS Sungari: DS9 runabout.
Wayfarer: Starship, a civilian transport.

Breen; Hirogen; Species 8472; Son'a; Srivani; Tzenkethi

External link

Abyss at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works

Previous novel:	Series	Next novel:
Avatar, Book Two	Pocket DS9 Deep Space Nine relaunch series	Gateways: Demons of Air and Darkness
Cloak (TOS)	Star Trek: Section 31	Disavowed
Rising Son	Chronological order	As release order

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{realworld}}
+{{real world}}
-{| class="wiki-sidebar"
+{{sidebar novel
+|image        = Abyss.jpg
-|-
+|author       = [[David Weddle]] and [[Jeffrey Lang]]
-| colspan="2" align="center" | [[Image:Abyss.jpg|200px|Cover image.]]
+|publisher    = [[Pocket Books]]
-|-
+|series       = [[Pocket DS9]]<br />[[Star Trek: Section 31|Section 31]] #4
-| class="odd" | Authors:
+|published    = {{d|1|July|2001}}
-| class="even" | [[David Weddle]] and [[Jeffrey Lang]]
+|pages        = 292
-|-
+|year         = [[2376]]
-| class="odd" | Publisher:
+|ISBN         = 0671774832 (paperback)<br />{{ASIN|B000FBJFF0}} (Kindle)
-| class="even" | [[Pocket Books]]
+}}
-|-
-| class="odd" | Series:
-| class="even" | [[Pocket DS9]]<br />''[[Star Trek: Section 31|Section 31]]'' #4
-|-
-| class="odd" | Published:
-| class="even" | {{d|1|July|2001}}
-|-
-| class="odd" | Pages:
-| class="even" | 292
-|-
-| class="odd" | Year:
-| class="even" | [[2376]]
-|-
-| class="odd" | Stardate:
-| class="even" | ''Unknown''
-|-
-| class="odd" | Reference #:
-| class="even" | ISBN 0671774832 ([[US]] paperback)
-|}
 ''No law. No conscience. No stopping them.''
+'''''Abyss''''' is a [[Pocket DS9]] novel &ndash; the third novel in the {{DS9 relaunch}} and the fourth in the ''[[Star Trek: Section 31|Section 31]]'' series &ndash; written by [[David Weddle]] and [[Jeffrey Lang]]. Published by [[Pocket Books]], it was first released in {{m|July|2001}}.
-==Summary==
+== Summary ==
 ;From the book jacket:
-:''[[Section 31]]. They are the self-appointed protectors of the [[Federation]]. Amoral, shrouded in secrecy, answerable to no one, Section 31 is the mysterious covert operations division of [[Starfleet]], a rogue shadow group commited to safeguarding the Federation at any cost.''
+:''[[Section 31]]. They are the self-appointed protectors of the [[Federation]]. Amoral, shrouded in secrecy, answerable to no one, Section 31 is the mysterious covert operations division of [[Starfleet]], a rogue shadow group committed to safeguarding the Federation at any cost.''
-:''Mere days after the startling events of ''[[Avatar, Part II|Avatar]]'', [[Doctor]] [[Julian Bashir]] faces his darkest nightmare when Section 31 compels him to undertake amission to stop one of their own. But this renegade is no ordinary agent. Like Bashir, Dr. Ethan Locken is [[augment|genetically enhanced]], a [[human]] superior in body and mind. But Locken dreams of remaking [[Milky Way Galaxy|the galaxy]] in his own image -- and creating a new human empire based on the example of the infamous [[Khan Noonien Singh]].''
+:''Mere days after the startling events of ''[[Avatar, Book Two|Avatar]]'', [[Doctor]] [[Julian Bashir]] faces his darkest nightmare when Section 31 compels him to undertake a mission to stop one of their own. But this renegade is no ordinary agent. Like Bashir, Dr. Ethan Locken is [[augment|genetically enhanced]], a [[Human]] superior in body and mind. But Locken dreams of remaking [[Milky Way Galaxy|the galaxy]] in his own image &ndash; and creating a new Human empire based on the example of the infamous [[Khan Noonien Singh]].''
 :''And as he begins to understand the terrifying truth about his opposite number, Bashir will learn more about himself than he ever wanted.''
@@ Line 40: / Line 24: @@
 {{review}}
-[[Deep Space 9]] is running in reduced power mode after having been crippled by recent events. The [[engineering]] crews are taking part in a detailed plan by [[Nog]] to use  materials from [[Empok Nor]] to repair the stations power generators.
+[[Deep Space 9]] is running in reduced power mode, having been crippled by recent events. The [[engineering]] crews are taking part in a detailed plan by [[Nog]] to use materials from [[Empok Nor]] to repair the stations power generators.
-Bashir is approached by one Cole, who reveals himself as member of [[Section 31]]. He tells Bashir about a Dr Ethan Locken, a former section 31 agent, who is genetically engineered, just like Julian, and who now starts to build his own, private [[Jem'Hadar]] army on a distant planet. Julian resistantly agrees to go after Dr Locken, and he takes Taran'atar, Ro and Ezri with him. Julian talks with Elias Vaughn before their departure, and is surprised that he does not seem to be surprised by the existence of Section 31.
+Bashir is approached by one Cole, who reveals himself as a member of [[Section 31]]. He tells Bashir about a Dr. Ethan Locken, a former Section 31 agent who is genetically engineered, just like Bashir, and who has now started to build his own, private [[Jem'Hadar]] army on a distant planet. Bashir reluctantly agrees to go after Dr. Locken, and he takes Taran'atar, Ro and Ezri with him. Julian talks with Elias Vaughn before their departure, and is surprised that he does not seem to be surprised by the existence of Section 31.
-After some hours of flying through space, the away-team encounters an unknown [[Romulan]] vessel - inside, they find Romulans that have been murdered brutally and a recorded message of Locken; he seems to think of himself as the new [[Khan Noonien Singh]]. When they finally approach the planet, their runabout gets shot by some defensive weapons; while Ro and Taran'atar can beam out, Julian and Ezri are caught by Locken's Jem'Hadars.
+After some hours of flying through space, the away-team encounters an unknown [[Romulan]] vessel &ndash; inside, they find Romulans that have been murdered brutally and a recorded message of Locken; he seems to think of himself as the new [[Khan Noonien Singh]]. When they finally approach the planet, their runabout is shot down by defensive weapons; while Ro and Taran'atar can beam out, Julian and Ezri are caught by Locken's Jem'Hadar.
-While Taran'atar and Ro, with the help of the Ingavi, a ape-like species that settled on the planet some decades ago, try to reach both their runabout and Dr Locken's headquarters, Ezri and Julian finally meet Locken, who invites them to diner, shows them his headquarter and does everything to pull Julian on his side. This almost seems to work when Julian, forced to choose between Ezri and Locken, chooses Locken. But he was only pretending, helping Ezri to break out of their prison, and in the cause of that, she manages to poison the White of Locken's Jem'Hadar. When Locken realises Bashir's treachery, it is too late - Taran'atar, being caught by the other Jem'Hadar, manages to convince their First that Locken is not a real god, and Locken is finally killed by his own creatures.
+While Taran'atar and Ro, with the help of the Ingavi, a ape-like species that settled on the planet some decades ago, try to reach both their runabout and Dr. Locken's headquarters, Dax and Bashir finally meet Locken, who invites them to dinner, shows them his headquarters and does everything to pull Julian on his side. This almost seems to work when Julian, forced to choose between Ezri and Locken, chooses Locken. But he was only pretending, helping Dax to break out of their prison and poison the White of Locken's Jem'Hadar. When Locken realizes Bashir's treachery, it is too late &ndash; Taran'atar, having been caught by the other Jem'Hadar, manages to convince their First that Locken is not a real god, and Locken is finally killed by his own creatures.
-The crew wants to save some of Locken's work for evidence reason; however, the headquarter all of a sudden is attacked by Section 31 forces, and they flee from the planet - thinking that the Ingavi are now all killed by Section 31.
+The crew wants to save some of Locken's work for evidence; however, the headquarters all of a sudden is attacked by Section 31 forces, and they flee from the planet &ndash; thinking that the Ingavi are now all killed by Section 31. Back on DS9, Vaughn reveals several things to Bashir: first, he is a member of a secret group who has been fighting against Section 31 for a long time; second, he used the [[holoship]] to secretly relocate the Ingavi; having acquired it following the Section 31 operation in the [[Briar Patch]], which the organization made look like the fault of one admiral. Bashir joins the secret group, happy to do something against the sinister organization.
-Back on DS9, Vaughn reveals several things to Julian: First, he is a member of a secret group who has been fighting against Section 31 for a long time; second, he used the vessel shown in ''[[Star Trek: Insurrection]]'' (where it was used to relocate the Son'a), to secretly relocate the Ingavi; in fact, Section 31 is responsible for the events told in ''Insurrection'', although they made it look like the fault of one admiral. Julian joins the secret group, happy to do something against the sinister organisation.
-Kira, in the meantime, gets a message from [[Shakaar Edon]], prime minister of [[Bajor]]; he warns her that with her recent actions (see [[Avatar, Part I]] and [[Avatar, Part II]]), she has made some powerful enemies. Kira realises that she has not many bajoran friends left on the station because of her Attainment; only one security guard, Shul Torem, does not seem to bother with this fact. Also, we learn that ensign Prynn Tenmei is commander Vaughn's daughter. Finally, [[Kasidy Yates]] and [[Joseph Sisko]] find out that [[Jake Sisko]] is missing - as he never arrived on Earth, as he was claiming.
+Kira, in the meantime, gets a message from [[Shakaar Edon]], prime minister of [[Bajor]]; he warns her that with her recent actions (see ''[[Avatar, Book One]]'' and ''[[Avatar, Book Two]]''), she has made some powerful enemies. Kira realizes that she has not many Bajoran friends left on the station because of her Attainment; only one security guard, Shul Torem, does not seem to bother with this fact. Also, we learn that ensign Prynn Tenmei is commander Vaughn's daughter. Finally, [[Kasidy Yates]] and [[Joseph Sisko]] find out that [[Jake Sisko]] is missing &ndash; as he never arrived on Earth, as he was claiming.
-==Background Information==
+== Background information ==
+* This is the first ''Star Trek'' novel by author [[Jeffrey Lang]], although he had already been contracted to write ''[[Immortal Coil]]'' when he was asked to contribute to ''Abyss''. ({{VoI|445}})
-* Co-author [[David Weddle]] co-wrote the episode which introduced [[Section 31]] - the [[DS9 Season 6|sixth season]] episode {{e|Inquisition}}.
+* The story for this novel was developed by Weddle and Pocket editor [[Marco Palmieri]]. Weddle was originally intended to write the novel himself, but when he picked up a new television role, Palmieri turned to Lang in order to get the novel out on time. ({{VoI|445}})
-* In this novel, it is revealed that Section 31 was in truth responsible for the events told in {{film|9}}.
+* The idea for the Ingavi to be rescued by the holoship from {{film|9}} and to tie in those events to Section 31 was Palmieri's. ({{VoI||445-446}})
-* This [[novel]] was a part of the ''[[Star Trek: Section 31]]'' series, and a continuation of [[Pocket DS9]]'s "relaunch" series. A photo cover was used, but the artist photoshopped Bashir's new relaunch series [[rank insignia]], that of a [[lieutenant commander]].
+* The novel's cover uses a promotional image, manipulated to feature Bashir's new [[rank insignia]] of [[lieutenant commander]].
-* An editorial collaboration occurred between this story and [[Greg Cox]]'s ''[[Star Trek: The Eugenics Wars]]'': "[[The Rise and Fall of Khan Noonien Singh, Volume 1]]". The description of Khan's [[flags and banners|flag]] was used in both works.
+* An editorial collaboration occurred between this story and [[Greg Cox]]'s ''[[The Rise and Fall of Khan Noonien Singh, Volume Two]]'' &ndash; the description of Khan's [[flags and banners|flag]] was used in both works.
-* This novel is included in the ''[[Twist of Faith]]'' omnibus.
+* This novel is collected in the ''[[Twist of Faith]]'' omnibus.
-==Characters==
+== Characters ==
 {{non canon characters|Pocket DS9}}
-===Regular and recurring characters===
+=== Regular and recurring characters ===
 ;[[Julian Bashir]] : [[Lieutenant commander]], [[CMO]] of Deep Space 9.
 ;[[Kira Nerys]] : [[Colonel]], station [[commanding officer]].
-;[[Image:Ro maquis.jpg|thumb|Ro Laren in the 2270s. ''({{TNG|Preemptive Strike}})'']] [[Ro Laren]] : DS9's new [[security chief]], [[Bajoran Militia]] [[lieutenant]].
+[[File:Ro maquis.jpg|thumb|Ro Laren in the 2370s. ({{TNG|Preemptive Strike}})]]
+; [[Ro Laren]] : DS9's new [[security chief]], [[Bajoran Militia]] [[lieutenant]].
 ;Elias Vaughn : [[Starfleet]] commander and DS9's first officer.
-;[[Image:Nog2375.jpg|thumb|Lt. Nog.]] [[Nog]] : Lieutenant, [[chief of operations]].
+[[File:Nog, 2375.jpg|thumb|Lt. Nog]]
+; [[Nog]] : Lieutenant, [[chief of operations]].
 ;Taran'atar : Jem'Hadar "ambassador" on DS9.
 ;[[Ezri Dax]] : Starfleet [[command division]] [[lieutenant]].
@@ Line 75: / Line 61: @@
 ;Prynn Tenmei : Starfleet [[ensign]], daughter of Elias Vaughn.
-====Referenced====
+==== Referenced ====
 ;[[Bennett (Rear Admiral)]] : Starfleet [[JAG]] officer who ruled on Bashir's status as a [[Augment|recipient of gene enhancement]].
-;Tiris Jast : Starfleet commander who was the late first officer to Colonel Kira. ''Jast died in "[[Avatar, Part I]]".
+;Tiris Jast : Starfleet commander who was the late first officer to Colonel Kira. ''Jast died in ''[[Avatar, Book One]]''.
 ;[[Miles O'Brien]] : Starfleet [[CPO]], Nog's predecessor as [[operations chief]]. O'Brien was remembered as saying that the Cardassians built stations to last. ''O'Brien left the novel series in the "What You Leave Behind" novelization.
-===Other characters===
+=== Other characters ===
 ;Cole : Section 31 agent.
 ;Kel : Ingavi native.
-==References==
+== References ==
-[[Image:Deep space 9.jpg|thumb|Deep Space Nine.]]
+[[File:USS Defiant and Yeager at DS9.jpg |thumb|Deep Space 9]]
 ;[[Deep Space 9]]
 ;USS ''Euphrates'' : DS9 runabout.
-;USS ''Gryphon'' : Federation starship, [[Akira class|''Akira''-class]]
+;USS ''Gryphon'' : Federation starship, {{Class|Akira}}
 ;''Li Nalas'' : Bajoran flagship, named for [[Li Nalas]].
+;{{USS|Rio Grande}} : DS9 [[runabout]].
-[[Image:Fed danube.jpg|thumb|USS ''Rio Grande''.]]
-;[[USS Rio Grande|USS ''Rio Grande'']] : DS9 [[runabout]].
 ;[[Section 31]]
 ;USS ''Sungari'' : DS9 runabout.
 ;''Wayfarer'' : Starship, a civilian [[transport]].
+[[Breen]]; [[Hirogen]]; [[Species 8472]]; [[Son'a]]; [[Srivani]]; [[Tzenkethi]]
+== External link ==
+* {{mbeta-title}}
+{{Novel nav
+|series      = [[Pocket DS9]]<br />{{DS9 relaunch}}
-{| table class="browser"
+|prev        = ''[[Avatar, Book Two]]''
-|-
+|next        = ''[[Star Trek: Gateways|Gateways]]'': ''[[Demons of Air and Darkness]]''
-| class="prev" | Previous DS9 novel:<br />"[[Avatar, Part II]]"
-| rowspan="2" class="topic" | [[Novels]]<br />[[Pocket DS9]]<br />''[[Star Trek: Section 31|Section 31]]''
+|series2     = [[Star Trek: Section 31]]
+|prev2       = ''{{dis|Cloak|novel}}'' ([[Pocket TOS|TOS]])
-| class="next" | Next DS9 novel:<br />''[[Star Trek: Gateways|Gateways]]'' #4: "[[Demons of Air and Darkness]]"
+|next2       = ''[[Disavowed]]''
-|-
+|chrono      = Yes
-| class="prev" | Previous novel:<br />#3: "[[Shadow]]" ([[Pocket VOY|VOY]])
+|prevchrono  = ''[[Rising Son]]''
-| class="next" | Next novel:<br />'''Final novel in series'''
+|nextchrono  =
-|}
+}}
+[[cs:Abyss]]
+[[de:Der Abgrund]]
+[[nl:Abyss]]
 [[Category:Novels]]
-[[de:Der Abgrund]]