The USS Gagarin is thought to have disappeared with all hands lost back in 2279, but eight years later, at a diplomatic function Kirk, Spock, and their colleagues get a chance to find out just where the ship went. For the talks are for peace between the Federation and the Klingon Empire, and a new breed of Klingon has arisen to take the helm, embracing the warrior's code of Kahless, which might make it all possible. These Klingons believe in honor and are keen to convert or conquer any of their race who do not espouse this cause. One black stain on this newfound honor is a remote prison planet where the few survivors of the missing ship are languishing in the dilithium mines and it is Kirk's mission to release them and show that Klingons are now above all that sort of thing. But it isn't going to be easy, as Kirk and his crew will find themselves caught between two rival groups of fierce Klingon warriors!

I confess to being impressed that Dayton Ward managed to fill quite a tubby book with what is basically a fairly linear story - no mean feat for anybody. We get to once again wonder why some Klingons look like Worf and others appear like the sparkly-suited villains of the original series and throughout there is plenty of action both on-board ships, at peace talks, and on the remote jungle planet featuring Star Trek's most memorable characters. I've read Star Trek stories with more plot strands - this had but one - and more complex character relationships, but this is a stirring brew of conflicting notions of honor, thrilling set scenes, and somehow those Klingons always steal the show. I will be looking for more by Dayton Ward.