Rough Beasts of Empire

Description

 * Still on Romulus in pursuit of his goal of reunifying the Vulcans and Romulans, Spock finds himself in the middle of a massive power struggle. In the wake of the assassination of the Praetor and the Senate, the Romulans have cleaved in two. While Empress Donatra has led her nascent Imperial Romulan State to establish relations with the Federation, Praetor Tal'Aura has guided the original Romulan Star Empire toward joining the newly formed Typhon Pact. But numerous factions within the two Romulan nations vie for power and undivided leadership, and Machiavellian plots unfold as forces within and without the empires conduct high-stakes political maneuvers.


 * Meanwhile, four years after Benjamin Sisko returned from the Celestial Temple, circumstances have changed, his hopes for a peaceful life on Bajor with his wife and daughter beginning to slip away. After temporarily rejoining Starfleet for an all-hands-on-deck battle against the Borg, he must consider an offer to have him return for a longer stint. Beset by troubling events, he seeks spiritual guidance, facing demons new and old, including difficult memories from his time in the last Federation-Tzenkethi war.

Summary
After returning from the celestial temple, Benjamin Sisko has spent four years living quietly on Bajor with his wife Kasidy and daughter Rebecca. His marriage became strained when he began helping with the excavation of B'hala, which Kasidy disapproved of. The affair left feelings of bitterness between them. Kasidy believes the unearthing of texts at B'hala that refer to their daughter are a threat to Rebecca's future.

Sisko is recruited back into Starfleet temporarily by Admiral Walter, a former shipmate, to face the Borg invasion. Newly in command of the USS New York (Nebula class), Captain Sisko leads a task force of three ships including  USS James T. Kirk (Akira class) (commanded by Elias Vaughn) and USS Cutlass against six Borg cubes to defend.

Vaughn is critically injured and rendered unconscious when he is thrown across his bridge during battle. The USS Kirk is massively damaged, the Cutlass is destroyed, and the New York is disabled. Two Borg ships attack Alonis for five minutes before they break off for the Azure Nebula. Eleven thousand are killed in the bombardment.

While on Alonis, Sisko receives a message from Earth that his father is sick and in the hospital. When Sisko arrives at his father's restaurant on Earth, he is met by his daughter-in-law, Azeni Korena, who tells him his father died only hours before. Between a fire that killed his neighbors months before, the attack on Alonis, and the death of his father, Sisko feels death follows him wherever he goes.

On Romulus, Spock is attacked and nearly killed by a Reman and, when he turns the man over to the Romulan authorities, the assassin is poisoned by a Romulan security guard.

After his father's funeral, Sisko goes to Starfleet Headquarters and requests to be recommissioned permanently, knowing it will upset his wife. Admiral Akaar makes him captain of the USS Robinson (NCC-71842) with an assignment to patrol the Sierra sector. When Sisko returns to Bajor to tell Kasidy of his decision, she is hurt that he made the decision without consulting her and angered that he took an assignment so far away. After being home for just a few hours, Kasidy throws Sisko out of their house; they both understand that the marriage is over.

Sisko spends the duration of his stay at the Shikina monastery where he obtains an orb experience with the Orb of Prophecy and Change but receives no vision; since his return from the Celestial Temple he has received no communication from the Prophets. He visits with Kira Nerys, who is now a Vedek due to her relationship with the emissary. Sisko reminds Kira that the Prophets warned him that he must "walk the path alone" and that if he married Kasidy he would know only sorrow; he blames all the tragedies that have happened since his return on his failure to follow prophetic direction. Sisko explains that he must leave his family to prevent their untimely deaths but since Kasidy isn't a worshipper of the prophets, he doesn't believe she would understand this. Sisko and first officer Commander Rogeiro are assigned to the USS Robinson (NCC-71842) at the same time. Sisko isolates himself from his crew and is irritated when Rogeiro brings this up.

Spock gains an audience with Praetor Tal'Aura and asks her to decriminalize the Reunification movement. He asserts that his goals and those of Tal'Aura require the unification of the Romulan people. Tal'Aura is open to the idea and later legalizes the movement. Spock knows his new freedom could be revoked at any time and and still behaves cautiously.

Spock obtains evidence that indicates Donatra is behind the assassination attempt, unaware that Tal'Aura planned the assassination with the intent of it looking like Donatra sent the assassin. Spock leaks the information to President Bacco who sends Sisko to make contact with Donatra. Donatra sws the evidence to be false. She has also become convinced that the fall of her Imperial Romulan State is assured. Donatra soon calls for a peace summit with Tal'Aura. Upon arriving on Romulus, Donatra is arrested for the attempted murder of Spock.

Tal'Aura contracts Sela to kill Rehaek, chairman of the Tal Shiar. After the assassination, Sela is given the chairman position.

In her cell, an angry Donatra continually tries to break a data tablet but the device is indestructible. Later, Spock comes to the prison to speak with Donatra where he finds her dead from slit wrists and neck with a broken data tablet nearby. Tomalak goes to visit Tal'Aura and finds her newly dead in her chair with no signs of injuries. An autopsy shows she died of a rare disease that produced a brain aneurysm. In actuality, the Tzenkethi assassinated Tal'Aura and maneuvers events so that Gell Kamemor becomes the new Praetor without being aware of the alien covert activity. The Tzenkethi did this to stabilize the Romulan government and ensure the longevity of the Typhon Pact.

Anlikar Ventel becomes the new Proconsul after Tomalak returns to the Imperial Fleet. Spock obtains an audience with Kamemor to hear her feelings in regard to the unification movement; Kamemor sees no value in it but finds it disagreeable to repress the movement just because she doesn't favor it. She adds that Spock will continue to be allowed a visitor's visa as long as he obeys the law.

Sisko transmits divorce papers to Bajor then records a message for Kasidy, explaining his actions. Sisko begins socializing with his first officer.

Characters

 * Jas Abrik • Leonard James Akaar • Alizome • Angarraken • Azeni Korena • Nanietta Bacco • Bezorj • Cavanagh • Corthin • Corskene • D'Tan • Donatra • Xarian Dor • Dorlok • Dunlap • Durjik • Ertoz • Glev • Jaix • J'Velk • Gell Kamemor • Kira Nerys • Korzenten • Kozel • Lafleur • James Leyton • Magrone • Neritel • Ni-Jalikreii • Esperanza Piñiero • Plante • R'Jul • Radrigi • Raiq • Reel • Rehaek • Relkdahz • Oloara Rintel • Rogeiro • Rokas • Safranski • Scalin Resk • Sela • Shalvan • Raisa Shostakova • Benjamin Sisko • Jake Sisko • Rebecca Jae Sisko • Sivak • Skorn • Slask • Snowden • Sorent • Sorretta • Spock • T'Coll • T'Larik • T'Lavent • T'Solon • Tal'Aura • Thiemann • Tomalak • Uteln • Vart • Elias Vaughn • Velenez • Venaster • Ventrice • George Walter • Wilkes • Kasidy Yates • Zelent

Alžbeta • Bareil Antos • Julian Bashir • Braeg • Butterfield • Colius • Eivos Calan • Eivos Audj • Garune • Raban Gedroe • Iliana Ghemor • Philip Herthum • Hiren • James T. Kirk • Lintosian'a • Neral • Nog • Ohalu • Opaka Sulan • Oram Yentin • Pardek • Pontilus • Pralon • Sonek Pran • Ravent • Roby • Aaron Sisko • Jennifer Sisko • Joseph Sisko • Judith Sisko • Samuel Sisko • Sivadeki • Sorilk • Prynn Tenmei • Ruriko Tenmei • Quark • Shinzon • Stannis • Vorkan Trov • Winn Adami • Worf

Locations

 * Ab-Tzenketh • Achernar Prime • Adarak • Alavhet Public Library • • Alpha Quadrant • Ashalla • Audubon Park • Avenue Renak • Bajor • Beta Quadrant • Cor'Lavet Park • D’deridex Arc • Dinalla • Earth • Eiffel Tower • Entelior • Entelior IV • French Quarter • Galixori Stadium • Golden Gate Bridge • Kendra Province • Kevratas • Ki Baratan • Ki Baratan Medical Center • Lem-Tzenketh • Leri'retan • Lingasha • Mississippi River • New Orleans • Orventis Arena • Out There • Pacific Ocean • Palais de la Concorde • Paris • Presidio • Ra’tleihfi • Rateg • Relevek Plaza • River Seine • Romulan Senate Chamber • Romulus • St. Charles Avenue • San Francisco • Shikina Monastery • Sierra • Sisko's Creole Kitchen • Sisko's house • Soniat Street • Starbase 39-Sierra • Starbase 197 • Starfleet Headquarters • Stronghold Ortikant • Terix II • Typhon I • Tzenketh • Verinex Sea • Vetruvis • Via Chula • Via Colius • Via Karzan •  • Villera’trel • Virinat • Vot-Tzenketh

Abraxas • Artaleirh • Aurelia • Azure Nebula • • Bajoran wormhole • B'hala • Calavet • Celestial Temple • Cestus III • The Chalice • Champs-Élysées • Cort • Deep Space 9 • Devoras • Ehrie'fvil • Endalla • Entelior III • The Flames • The Forest • Galixori Canyon • Gamma Quadrant • Katrina Memorial Cemetery • Klorgat IV • M'kemas • M'kemas III • Mutara Nebula • Nashville Avenue • New Berlin • New York •  • Orleans Parish Hospital • Pacifica • Pangea • Rakantha Province • Raville II • Rigel IV • Rodon • Shi'Kahr • Sidau • Starbase 137 •  • The Temple • Tezwa • Vela'Setora • Vanadwan Monastery • Xanitla

Starships and vehicles

 * USS Assurance • Chatan (Federation shuttlecraft) • USS Cutlass (24th century) • USS James T. Kirk (Akira class)  • Khenn Ornahj (Romulan starship) • Nago (Federation shuttlecraft) • Naha (Federation shuttlecraft) • USS New York (Nebula class)  • USS Okinawa (NCC-13958)  • Ragul'tora • USS Robinson (NCC-71842)

USS Altair (prototype) • USS Aventine • USS Defiant (prototype) • USS Defiant (NX-74205) (II) • USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-E) • USS Fortitude • USS Lewis and Clark • USS Livingston (NCC-34099) • USS Mjolnir • USS Saratoga (NCC-31911) • USS T'Plana-Hath • USS Titan (NCC-80102) •  •  • USS Vel'Sor

Races and cultures

 * Ascendant • Bajoran • Borg • Breen • Caitian • Cardassian • Catullan • Deltan • Efrosian • Ferengi • Gorn • Human • Innix • Kinshaya • Otevrel • Reman • Rigelian • Romulan • Saurian • Son'a • Tellarite • Teluvian • Tholian • Trill • Tzenkethi • Vulcan

Alonis • Ivvitrian • Koltaari • Prophets • Terixan • Tyrellian • Watraii

States and organizations

 * Agricultural Affairs • Borg Collective • Continuing Committee • Hundred • Imperial Romulan State • Office of Internal Security • Ortikant • Reman Protectorate • Reunification Movement • Romulan Star Empire • Romulan Security • Romulan Senate • Starfleet • Tal Shiar • Typhon Pact • Tzelnira • Tzenkethi Coalition • United Federation of Planets

Other references

 * Autarch of the Tzenkethi Coalition • Avatar of Peace • Barajian fleece • batos • Battle of Wolf 359 • bilitrium • carallun • City of B'hala • cloaking device • Creole • Dominion War • Emissary of the Prophets • gumbo • icon painting • inertial damper • jambalaya • kai • katra • kellorica • kreyla • maglev train • moba • monofilament • nerak • Orb of Prophecy and Change • pagh • photon torpedo • plomeek soup • Post-Atomic Horror • Praetor of the Romulan Star Empire • prylar • pylchyk • ranjen • remoulade • Ribbon for Meritorious Service • Rihannsu • shield nutation • Starfleet Medal of Honor • talshaya • thalaron radiation • transphasic torpedo • transphasic shield • Tuvan Syndrome • Tzenkethi War • vedek • Velderix Riehn'va • veruul • Vulcan brandy • warp signature

Chronology

 * 2362 : The Okinawa and the Assurance encounter Tzenkethi warships.
 * 2375 : The Prophets warn Sisko he will face "great sorrow" if he marries Kasidy Yates.
 * 2378 : Kira Nerys leaves Starfleet and becomes a member of the Bajoran clergy.
 * 2379 : Elias Vaughn assumes command on the USS James T. Kirk.
 * 2380 : An incident occurs on Penraddo. Rebecca Sisko is kidnapped.

Background

 * Rough Beasts of Empire takes place before Zero Sum Game and Seize the Fire. It spans several months of 2381 (beginning around the same time as the destruction of the Borg in Lost Souls) and ends in early 2382.
 * This storyline sees the end of the Imperial Romulan State (Articles of the Federation) as it is reabsorbed into the Romulan Star Empire.
 * Tzenketh is given as the location of a Pocket Books office.