Rogue (novel)

Real world article

(written from a production point of view)

Rogue is a Pocket TNG novel – and the first novel in the Section 31 series – written by Andy Mangels and Michael A. Martin. Published by Pocket Books, it was first released in May 2001.

Summary[]

From the book jacket: 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.

Six months before their battle against the Borg for the fate of Earth, Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the crew of the USS Enterprise-E face a very different kind of crisis. A world in turmoil becomes the focal point of conspiracies and betrayal as an unexpected reunion brings with it startling revelations. Old friends become bitter enemies and one young officer reaches a crossroad when he's forced to choose between the greater good of the Federation and the ideals for which it stands.

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

Background information[]

This was the first Star Trek novel written by authors Martin and Mangels; they had previously worked on Marvel Comics' Star Trek run. After Marvel's series was cancelled, Mangels got in contact with Pocket editor Marco Palmieri (having realized that it was "the very same Marco Palmieri I already knew from my previous life in the comics industry"), and, after a meeting between Palmieri and Martin, the pair were invited to pitch the Next Generation installment of the Section 31 series. (Voyages of Imagination, pp. 442-443)
This novel is one of the examples of Star Trek featuring an openly homosexual character, with the first being the The Best and the Brightest. Mangels noted that he "found it frustrating and disappointing – not just as an openly gay writer but also as a lifelong fan – that gays and lesbians had almost no representation in the future world of Star Trek. [… It] seemed only fitting that Trek fans of varying sexual orientations got to share that optimism of a better and more inclusive world.". Their goal was not merely to focus on sexual orientation, but to "infuse our projects with characters of different sexual orientations, biologies, religions, politics, and personal lives, in the true spirit of Star Trek." (Voyages of Imagination, pp. 442-443)
Voyages of Imagination records that this novel was the best-selling Star Trek novel (in mass-market paperback format) of 2001. (Voyages of Imagination, p. 443)
The framing sequence is set during the direct aftermath of Star Trek: First Contact and resolves some of that film's loose ends. The main portion of the story takes place six months earlier.

Characters[]

Jean-Luc Picard: Captain of the USS Enterprise-E.

Sean Liam Hawk: Conn lieutenant, significant other of Lieutenant Commander Ranul Keru.
Marta Batanides: Starfleet admiral, assigned as head of Starfleet Intelligence in the wake of the Pegasus affair.
Cortin Zweller: Sciences division commander.
Karen Blaylock: Captain of USS Slayton.
Evelyn Hoffman: Captain of USS Thunderchild.
Kentrav: Captain of USS Yorktown.
T'Veren: Romulan, commander of warbird Gal Gath'thong
Ranul Keru (β): Unjoined Trill assigned to stellar cartography aboard Enterprise-E. He was the life partner of fellow crew member and conn officer Sean Hawk.

Hawk and Keru were possibly the first ongoing gay relationship to have appeared in the Star Trek franchise, after the lesbian relationship depicted in The Best and the Brightest.

Keru later appeared in the Worlds of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine book series, performing a role as Trill Guardian on leave from Starfleet. More recently, he has become a character in the Star Trek: Titan series, as USS Titan's security chief and tactical officer, although the latter role is later taken by Tuvok.

Lynch
Carter
Batson
Nelson
Eiger
M'ryvn
Tret
Kewlan
Rixa
Paul Porter
Alyssa Ogawa
Jyme Soule
Kehvan Zydhek
Walters
Sallee Huber
Dr Anthony
Krs'lasel
Mot
Daniels

References[]

Archimedes

USS Slayton shuttlecraft.

Bradbury City

Martian settlement; hometown of Sean Hawk's family.

Brahe

USS Enterprise-E shuttle.

Chula

Captured Romulan scout ship.

Gal Gath'thong

Romulan Warbird commanded by Commander T'Veren.

Herschel

Enterprise-E shuttle.

Kepler

Enterprise-E shuttle.

Section 31

USS Slayton

Federation starship, commanded by Karen Blaylock. Excelsior-class, in Starfleet service in the 24th century.

Named for astronaut Donald K. 'Deke' Slayton.

Thrai Kaleh

Romulan Warbird.

Possibly named for the thrai animal in Diane Duane's Rihannsu novels.

USS Thunderchild: Akira-class Federation starship, commanded by Captain Evelyn Hoffman.
USS Tian An Men: Federation starship.
USS Yorktown: Federation starship commanded by Captain Kentrav.

External link[]

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

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The Genesis Wave, Book Three	Pocket TNG Unnumbered novels	Gateways #3: Doors Into Chaos
First novel in series	Star Trek: Section 31	Shadow (VOY)