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Book : TOS Vulcan's Soul, Book 1 - Exodus Takes place in: 2364 (Past sequence), 2377 (Main story) Takes place in: c.2,000 years ago (Ancient Vulcan sequence) In 2364, shortly after several Federation and Romulan outposts on either side of the Romulan Neutral Zone were destroyed by an unknown enemy, an unofficial meeting was held between the Vulcan, Romulan, Cardassian, Klingon, and Federation diplomats. The meeting was held at an asteroid in the neutral zone, which was previously part of a planet which has also been destroyed. The diplomats discussed on the possibility of working together to protect their worlds from an attack by this unknown enemy. Ambassador Spock, who was present at the meeting, was abruptly recalled back to Vulcan, where he inspects an ancient artifact which has just been translated. Spock activates the artifacts, which apparently transfers to Spock the memories and experiences of an Vulcan from around the time of the Romulan-Vulcan split over 2,000 years ago.

The story now continues in 2377. Federation, Klingon, and Romulan diplomats (including Spock), had gathered at Starfleet Headquarters on Earth to commemorate the first anniversary of the end of the Dominion War. The celebrations were interrupted by a distress call from the Romulan colony of Nemor, which was under attack by an unknown enemy. The message is then replaced by an announcement from the attacking force, who identified themselves as the Watraii. The Watraii claimed that the planets of Romulus and Remus were their homeworlds and the Romulans had forced them into exile and occupied their worlds. Now the Watraii would launch their attack on the Romulans and reclaim the worlds. The Romulans had seriously depleted their resources during the Dominion War and were unable to launch an attack against the Watraii, and Praetor Neral orders the Romulan fleet to form a guard around the Romulan homeworlds. Neral's consort, the Chief of Intelligence, Charvanek, volunteers to led a small fleet containing ships that the Romulan fleet was able to spare, to combat the Watraii. Admiral Uhura, who is the Head of Intelligence for Starfleet Command, is contacted by Federation President Min Zife, who tells her that the Federation could not offer assistance to the Romulans as this could jeopardise relations with the Klingons, and the Federation itself is still recovering from the Dominion War and is unable to launch such a massive operation. Uhura learns that Admiral Chekov had once posted a report on the Watraii, but the report was exceeding vague. Spock, after seeing the helpless destruction of the Romulan colony, decides to organise an unauthorised operation to assist the Romulans defend against the Watraii. At Starfleet Headquarters on Earth, Spock meets with Admiral Uhura, Admiral Chekov, Captain Saavik of the USS Alliance (also Spock's wife), and Ruanek (a Romulan defector who once saved Spock). Spock's team board the Alliance, and the Alliance proceeds to rendezvous with a fleet comprising of ships which had volunteered to help the Romulans. The fleet includes Vulcan ship, Klingon privateers, several independent vessels, and the USS Verne. Starfleet contacts the Alliance, demanding an explanation for this unauthorised fleet. Admiral Chekov assumes responsibility for the expedition, he hints that the fleet is providing humanitarian assistance to the Romulans, and dares Starfleet to court-martial him when he returns. Spock contacts Charvanek, notifying her that he had organised a fleet to assist her in combating the Watraii. Charvanek's fleet of six warbirds arrive and join the fleet. The fleet soon encounters the Watraii fleet. The Watraii accuse the Romulans of being a murderer race, and they declare that they would totally annihilate the Romulans. Spock and his team discuss their options. They could not verify the Watraii's claims that Romulus and Remus once belonged to them since all records from that time had been lost. More Watraii ships arrive, and shooting break out between the two fleets. Saavik orders her fleet to hold their fire, but the Romulans begin to launch their attack. The Alliance fires a warning shot to both the Romulans and the Watraii, which temporarily halts the fighting. Alliance's scans reveal that the lead Watraii ship carries a device which boosts the shields and firepower throughout the entire Watraii fleet, and Chekov suggests that they steal the device, which would leave each individual Watraii ship vulnerable to attack. Spock and Ruanek transport onto the lead Watraii ship and were successful in stealing the amplification device. They return to the Alliance, and Spock contacts both the Romulans and the Watraii. He offers to use his possession of the amplification device to save the Romulans, as well as offering to return the device to the Watraii, provided that both sides lower their shields. Instead, a Watraii intruder manage to board the Alliance and attempt to retake the device. Spock, Ruanek and Chekov arrive at the transporter room, and Chekov tries to snatch the device from the Watraii, when both the Watraii intruder and Chekov were caught in a transporter beam. Spock tries to recover Chekov, but the transporter signal breaks up, and Chekov fails to rematerialize. Spock then reports that Admiral Pavel Chekov is dead... The book is also interspersed with chapters detailing the experiences of Karatek, an acquintance of Surak, as he lived during the period of the Romulan-Vulcan split on Vulcan about 2,000 years ago. Vulcan is in civil war, Surak visits the Vulcan Space Initiative and inspects the ships which would carry the Vulcans into exile. Surak survives several assassination attempts, and towards the end, Surak tells Karatek to keep records of his life and experiences, as Karatek departs Vulcan with the rest of the exiles.

Analysis . For the 2364 sequence, the unknown enemy, who had destroyed the Federation and Romulan outposts, which everyone was having discussions about, were later revealed to be the Borg in TNG "Q Who?". . When Chekov was Captain of the USS Undaunted, he had once encountered a Watraii ship, which declared that the Watraii had no interest in contact with the Federation and warned the Federation to keep away. . USS Alliance is an Excelsior-class starship. She was assigned to Captain Saavik's command at the start of the Dominion War in 2373. . USS Verne was commanded by Captain Jack Butterworth. Captain Butterworth was killed by the end of the book.

. Following Vulcan's Heart, Charvanek became the consort of Praetor Narviat. However, several Romulan senators were upset by Narviat's reforms and had Narviat assassinated. Charvanek then became the consort of Neral, and Neral later became the Praetor. Neral was seen in TNG "Unification" (2368) with the rank of Proconsul, and was mentioned to have ascended to the position of Praetor in 2374 in DS9 "Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges" (2375).

Praetor Neral in 2375

Notes . Uhura and Chekov were Admirals and both were still serving in Starfleet in 2377. In The Return (set in 2371), McCoy had mentioned that they had both already retired. Perhaps Uhura and Chekov had since returned to active duty. . Shortly after Vulcan's Heart, Saavik accepted a promotion to Captain and commanded a science vessel for her first command. . Chekov's name is wrongly spelled "Chekhov" in at least three places in the book.

Quick links : The Ashes of Eden The Return Avenger Spectre Dark Victory Preserver Captain's Peril Captain's Blood Captain's Glory

Ex Machina The Fearful Summons The Last Roundup War Dragons The Captain's Daughter The Sundered Dark Mirror Crossover Ship of the Line

Dark Passions, Book 1 Dark Passions, Book 2 Vulcan's Soul, Book 1 - Exodus