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An enigma from the distant past threatens the future of the galaxy!

Doors Into Chaos is a Pocket TNG novel – the third novel in the Gateways series – written by Robert Greenberger. Published by Pocket Books, it was first released in September 2001.

Summary[]

From the book jacket
More than 200,000 years ago, the ancient Iconians created a network of interdimensional Gateways providing instantaneous transportation across unimaginable distances. Once known as the "Demons of Air and Darkness," the Iconians mysteriously vanished many millennia ago, never to return – or so it was believed.
Summoned to an emergency briefing at Starfleet Headquarters, Captain Jean-Luc Picard is stunned to discover that the legendary Iconians have returned at last, and are offering to sell the secrets of their advanced technology to the Federation. To prove their sincerity, they have reactivated their long-abandoned Gateways, but the results have been strife and chaos throughout the entire Alpha Quadrant. Now Picard and his crew must contend with feuding Klingons and Romulans as the captain seeks to discover the sinister truth behind the Iconians' unexpected rebirth!

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

Background information[]

  • Author Greenberger devised the concept for the crossover series, and was asked to do the TNG entry as it would be "the lynch-pin to the event". He noted that the story "was inspired by The Magnificent Seven as Picard had sought out allies from around space". He also enjoyed writing the sequences with Deanna Troi commanding the Marco Polo. (Voyages of Imagination, p. 448)
  • This novel has a cliffhanger conclusion, which is resolved in the What Lay Beyond short story "The Other Side".

Characters[]

Jean-Luc Picard
Deanna Troi, 2379

Troi

Deanna Troi
acting captain of the starship Marco Polo.
Carter Brisbayne
Starfleet captain, of the USS Mercury.
Solok, 2375

Solok

Solok
Vulcan, captain of USS T'Kumbra.
Grekor
Klingon, captain of IKS Chargh.
Tarnan
Klingon, captain of IKS Qob.
Desan
Romulan, commander of Glory.
Taleen

Taleen. (VOY: "Displaced")

Taleen
Nyrian
Bractor

Bractor. (TNG: "Peak Performance")

Bractor
Ferengi, DaiMon of the Kreechta.
Federation President
Female
Other novels establish that the president at this time is the Bolian male, Min Zife (β).

References[]

Bloodsword
Romulan ship.
IKS Chargh
Klingon K't'inga-class warship, commanded by Captain Grekor.
USS da Vinci
Federation starship (Star Trek: Starfleet Corps of Engineers)
ES135659
Ship which was used to represent an Iconian craft in the ruse perpetrated by the Petraw.
USS Exeter
Federation starship.
Glory
Romulan ship, commanded by Commander Desan.
Kreechta
Ferengi marauder commanded by Bractor.
USS Mercury
Saber-class Federation starship commanded by Captain Brisbayne.
USS Marco Polo
Sabre-class Federation starship, temporarily commanded by Commander Troi.
Petraw
species that impersonated the Iconians
IKS Qob
Klingon K't'inga-class warship, commanded by Captain Tarnan.
Nebula class docked at DS9 lower pylon 1

USS T'Kumbra docked at DS9 (DS9: "Take Me Out to the Holosuite")

USS T'Kumbra
Federation starship commanded by Solok.

External link[]


Previous novel: Series Next novel:
#2: Chainmail (Challenger) Star Trek: Gateways #4: Demons of Air and Darkness (DS9)
Section 31 #2: Rogue Pocket TNG
Unnumbered novels
 Immortal Coil
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