Demons of Air and Darkness is a Star Trek: Deep Space Nine novel by Keith R.A. DeCandido published by Pocket Books in 2001. The novel is the fourth book in the DS9 relaunch, and fourth book in the Star Trek: Gateways crossover miniseries. The story centers on the planet Europa Nova, which is suffering deadly radiation bombardment from a Malon freighter dumping waste into an Iconian gateway. Like all the novels in the Gateways series the story ends with a cliff-hanger, which is continued in a novella, "Horn and Ivory", in the seventh book in the series What Lay Beyond. and was reprinted in the omnibus Twist of Faith in 2007.
Description[]
- From the back cover
- Once they moved from world to world in a single step, through innumerable doors that spanned the galaxy. They were masters of space, and to those who feared them, they were demons of air and darkness. But long ago they left their empire and their miraculous technology behind. Now someone has found the key to it, and all those doors have been flung open.
- GATEWAYS
- DEMONS OF AIR AND DARKNESS
- A world near Deep Space 9™, threatened with destruction from the distant Delta Quadrant, becomes the focus of a massive rescue effort as Colonel Kira Nerys, her crew, and some unexpected allies fight to avert disaster on a planetary scale. Meanwhile, as Lieutenant Nog and Ensign Thirishar ch'Thane search for a way to shut down the spatial portals forever, Quark becomes involved in a dangerous game that could determine, once and for all, who will control the Gateways.
Summary[]
Two weeks after station Deep Space 9 is brought back to operational status, the USS Defiant begins laying the foundation for a renewed exploration of the Gamma Quadrant - a communications array at the far terminus of the Bajoran wormhole. After testing the functionality, the Defiant is recalled to base for a meeting with Admiral William Ross.
A distress call from Europa Nova was received, and a full scale evacuation of the planet is required to save the population from a sudden onslaught of radioactive antimatter waste. Starfleet also confirms numerous reports of strange displacements throughout known space. Several days prior, the Federation was approached by a group of beings claiming to be the ancient Iconians, seeking to sell their gateway technology to the highest bidder. As a demonstration, they brought the entire network of gateways online. Various vessels are dispatched to map and study the network, but the USS Defiant is tasked in determining why there are no gateways within ten light years of Bajor.
Aboard the runabout Sungari, Nog and Shar take up the investigation of the gateways. With information that a doorway appeared within ten light years of the Gamma Quadrant end of the wormhole, they rule it out as the cause. However, they determine a link between the Denorios Belt and declassified reports from Commander Elias Vaughn's experience with a gateway to suspect that tachyon particles interacting with certain noble gases could cause a disruption of gateway formation. With this information, they are able to construct a method to shut down the gateway network, but the runabout is attacked.
As the Iconians seek the highest bidder, Quark is hired by the Orion Syndicate to negotiate on their behalf; the Iconians end up being represented by his cousin, Gaila. Negotiations proceed well, with Quark producing the best possible offer on behalf of the Syndicate. However, having intercepted the Sungari's communications, Gaili insists Quark is a Starfleet collaborator, working in concert with his nephew Nog. Quark's companion dabo girl turns out to be Ro Laren in disguise, who effects their escape.
Joining the evacuation efforts at Europa Nova, the Defiant is tasked to collect the VIPs, including a visiting Councilor Charivretha zh'Thane. A small gateway is located on the surface, but the other end is on Torona IV, the homeworld of the Jarada, a xenophobic species. Commander Vaughn is able to negotiate with the Jarada to allow a set number of colonists through, in exchange for classified intelligence information. The evacuation proceeds smoothly until the radiation becomes too strong to safely utilize the transporters; vessels able to make a planetary landing shuttle colonists up to the larger craft in orbit. With time running out, Kira decides to take the runabout Euphrates through the gateway to the Delta Quadrant and stop the source of the antimatter waste.
On the other side of the gateway, Kira's runabout detects the waste being offloaded from a Malon vessel, and before she can act, it attacks and disables her ship. Kira and Taran'atar are beamed off by a Hirogen hunter who has captured the Malon ship. Kira is bound and used to bait out the Jem'Hadar, which the Hirogen believes is worthy prey. Taran'atar has shrouded to conceal himself, but the trap lures him out into the open. Rescuing Kira, Taran'atar ensures she escapes back to the runabout safely then remains behind to give her the time she needs to carry out a plan to block the gateway. She installs a shield enhancer from the Malon vessel then plants the Euphrates in the doorway itself, jamming it, then beams off to a barely inhabitable planet.
With the evacuation of Europa Nova complete, Vaughn gives the order to seal the gateways. The tachyon beam is successful in closing the doorways until the Iconians are able to reset the system and reopen the gateways. However, their efforts were watched by the Orion craft, who reveal them as the Petraw. At Europa Nova, the runabout Rio Grande is left behind to await news of the fate of Kira or Taran'atar. Following his extensive battle with the Hirogen, Taran'atar is severely wounded but able to escape in an escape pod and pass through the gateway. However, no sign of Kira can be found - on the planet's surface, she has stepped through another gateway and disappeared.
References[]
Characters[]
- Julian Bashir • Sam Bowers • Mackenzie Calhoun • Jeannette Chao • Ezri Dax • Martino DeLaCruz • Deru • Walter Emick • Eran Dal • Tony Fusco • Gaila • Gan Morr • Elim Garak • Gordimer • Gril • Hig • Kam • Kira Nerys • Kron • Lenaris Holem • Cathy Ling • Loga • Ju'les L'ullho • Akellen Macet • Malic • Marssi • Elaine Mello • Monaghan • Nog • Pal • Jean-Luc Picard • Quark • Renhol • Riilampe • Ro Laren • Gerda Roness • William Ross • Montgomery Scott • Elizabeth Shelby • Grazia Silverio • Snikwah • Solok • Ann Spillane • Taran'atar • Simon Tarses • Prynn Tenmei • Charivretha zh'Thane • Thirishar ch'Thane • Treir • Elias Vaughn • Vincam • Werd • Kasidy Yates • Ychell Mafon
- Referenced only
- Bareil Antos • Cassandra • Corat Damar • Curzon Dax • Jadzia Dax • Lela Dax • Tobin Dax • Torias Dax • Skrain Dukat • Ella • Furel • Tekeny Ghemor • Girani Semna • Hagath • Ho'nig • Ishka • Istani Reyla • Jalik • Edward Jellico • Keevan • Kira Reon • Lorit Akrem • Lupaza • Benjamin Maxwell • Alynna Nechayev • Nassuc • Keiko O'Brien • Miles O'Brien • Pirak • Prinadora • Regent of Palamar • Rom • Shakaar Edon • Benjamin Sisko • Jake Sisko • Stvoran • T'Nare • Tora Ziyal • Tu • Donald Varley • Thomas A. Watson • Winn Adami • Worf • Yevir Linjarin • Zek • Zil
Locations[]
- the galaxy's Alpha Quadrant
-
- Starbase Deep Space 9/Bajoran wormhole (Denorios Belt, B'hava'el star system, Bajor sector, Beta Ursae sector block)
- Europa Nova (Chieti • Costa Rocosa)
- Cardassia (Cardassia system, Cardassia sector, Beta Ursae sector block)
- Clarus system (Ferengi Alliance space)
- Farius Prime (Farius star system, Kalandra sector, Beta Ursae sector block)
- Referenced only
- Alexandra's Planet • Andor • Armus IX • AR-558 • Bajor • Café Roma • Chieti • Chin'toka IX • Clarus IX • Dozaria • Ferenginar • Finneas XII • Gaila's moon • Gallitep labor camp • Iconia • Kar-telos system • L'Aquila • Malon Prime • Mars • Memory Alpha • Mirror Universe • Osborne's World • Padilla • Palamar • Pullock V • Risa • Romulan Neutral Zone • Rondac III • ShiKahr • Sindorin • Singha • Sisko's house • Spilimbergo • Starbase 96 • Starfleet Headquarters • Torona IV • Torona Alpha • Tozhat resettlement center • Vandros IV • Void
Starships and vehicles[]
- Apsac (Malon supertanker) • Chaffee (Type-10 shuttlecraft) • USS Defiant (Defiant-class escort) • USS Euphrates (Danube-class) • Flitter • USS Gryphon (Akira-class) • Hirogen warship • USS Intrepid (Intrepid-class) • Orion starship • USS Rio Grande (Danube-class) • Sagan (Type-10 shuttlecraft) • USS Sungari (Danube-class) • Trager (Galor-class)
- Referenced only
- Baraka • USS Defiant • East Winds • USS Enterprise • USS Enterprise-D • USS Enterprise-E • USS Excalibur • Goldblatt's Folly • Halloran • USS Hood • USS Jenolen • IRW Makluan • Ng • Quark's Treasure • USS T'Kumbra • IKS Tcha'voth • USS Trident • USS Voyager • SS Xhosa • USS Yamato • Zelbinion
Races and cultures[]
- Andorian • Bajoran • Cardassian • Ferengi • Hirogen • Human (Europani) • Jem'Hadar • Klingon • Kobheerian • Malon • Orion • Petraw • Trill • Vulcan • Xenexian
- Referenced only
- Breen • Carreon • Deltan • Iconian • Jarada • Klingon • Ovirian • Plexican • Prophets • Romulan • Sheliak • Tellarite • Thepnossen • Vorta
States and organizations[]
- Bajoran Militia • Cardassian Guard • Cardassian Union • Dominion • Orion Syndicate • Starfleet • Starfleet Corps of Engineers • United Federation of Planets
- Referenced only
- Cardassian Liberation Front • Federation Council • Ferengi Commerce Authority • Imperial Intelligence • Klingon Defense Force • Klingon Empire • Lamnak • Maquis • Obsidian Order • Ornathia • Pathfinder Project • Romulan Star Empire • Section 31 • Starfleet Academy • Tal Shiar
Science and classification[]
- astronomy • biology • cartography • communications • hologram • matter • measurement • tachyon • tachyon burst • tachyon eddy • technology • theta radiation • verteron
Astronomy[]
Biology[]
Anatomy and medicine[]
- anthrazine • arithrazine • hyronalin • psychology
Lifeforms[]
Communications[]
Materials and substances[]
- anthrazine • arithrazine • atmosphere • blood • drink • duranium • food • hyronalin • metal • monotanium • roginium • silithium • Tholian silk • Zateri emerald
Food and drink[]
- espresso • jumja stick • kanar • raktajino • Slug-o-Cola • taspar egg
Cartography and measurement[]
Technology and weapons[]
- antimatter mine • Bussard collector • cloaking device • communicator • dicyclic warp engine • flux capacitor • holographic communicator • holosuite • Iconian Gateway • isolinear rod • Kar'takin • self-replicating mine • shield modulator • starship • structural integrity field
Occupations and titles[]
- captain • command division • crew • doctor • engineer • Federation Starfleet ranks • Federation Starfleet ranks (2370s-2380s) • Honored Elder • lieutenant commander • medic • physician • officer • rank • sciences division • scientist
Other references[]
- Akorem Laan Museum • Attainder • Bajoran religion • baseball • Churnik • clothing • dabo • dabo girl • Dominion War • emotion • Ferengi Rules of Acquisition • first contact • government • hair • Jovian run • ladrion • Occupation of Bajor • races and cultures • replicator • science • shroud • Starfleet uniform • Starfleet uniform (2373-2380s) • state • Thori • title • uniform
Chronology[]
Appendices[]
Related media[]
- The story continues in the What Lay Beyond short story Horn and Ivory.
- The events of several TNG and VOY episodes are mentioned, such as "The Big Goodbye", "The Wounded" and "Night". Picard also mentions the events of "Contagion" and "To the Death".
Background[]
- The German translation of this novel was published by Cross Cult in 2010. It was translated by Christian Humberg and featured new cover art by Arndt Drechsler.
- The reference books DeCandido used while writing the novel include The Star Trek Encyclopedia, the Star Trek Chronology, the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion, the Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion, the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Technical Manual and the Star Trek: The Next Generation Technical Manual.
Images[]
Connections[]
| Star Trek: Gateways |
|---|
| One Small Step • Chainmail • Doors Into Chaos • Demons of Air and Darkness • No Man's Land • Cold Wars • What Lay Beyond ("One Giant Leap" • "Exodus" • "Horn and Ivory" • "In the Queue" • "Death After Life" • "The Other Side") • Here There Be Monsters |
Timeline[]
This novel is set in April and May of 2376, three months after the final Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode,"What You Leave Behind".
| published order | ||
|---|---|---|
| Previous story: Abyss |
DS9 Stories (Post-Finale) |
Next story: Horn and Ivory |
| Previous story: Invincible, Part Two |
Stories by: Keith R.A. DeCandido |
Next story: Horn and Ivory |
| chronological order | ||
| Previous Adventure: Doors Into Chaos |
Memory Beta Chronology | Next Adventure: No Man's Land |
Translations[]
- 2010
- German : Dämonen der Luft und Finsternis, translated by Christian Humberg. (Cross Cult)
External links[]
- Demons of Air and Darkness article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.