- For other uses, see Firestorm.
Summary
From the back cover: When a covert Elasian mining operation interferes with a Federation geological expedition, Captain James T. Kirk and the crew of the Starship Enterprise are dispatched to the planet Rakatan to mediate between the rival parties. The Elasian Dohlman claims that the planet and its dilithium deposits are hers. But the geologists warn that if Rakatan Mons - the galaxy's largest stratovolcano - should erupt while the Elasians are mining its flanks, no amount of dilithium will save them.
While Lt. Commander Uhura and a landing party struggle to determine if the Dohlman's claim is true, Captain Kirk puts his ship on the line to keep the two sides from each other's throats. Soon, however, concerns over the planet's ownership are overshadowed by the arrival of a hostile Elasian armada and a cataclysmic volcanic explosion on the surface that threatens all parties with a deadly shower of destruction...
References
Characters
- Ashcraft • Florence Bascomb • Bhutto • Christine Chapel • Pavel Chekov • Howard • Israi • James T. Kirk • John Kyle • Lemieux • Leonard McCoy • Wendy Metcalfe • Scott Mutchler • Murphy • Oben • Montgomery Scott • Spock • Hikaru Sulu • Takcas • Nyota Uhura • Zhirnen
- Referenced only
- Alais • Bejas • Lance Cartwright • Elaan • Kiyaan • Kutath • Petri • Skuah • Teslah • Wywras
Starships and vehicles
- USS Enterprise (Constitution-class) • Esar • Gamow (shuttle)
Locations
- the galaxy • Johnston Observatory • Mazama Mons • Rakatan • Rakatan Mons • Seismic Station Three • Skaftar
- Referenced only
- Australia • Earth • Elas • Japan • Mount Everest • San Francisco • Starfleet Headquarters • Troyius
Races and cultures
States and organizations
Science and technology
- airlock • air • atmosphere • blood • cloud • communicator • dilithium • environmental suit • galaxy • helmet lamp • hour • keypad • kilometer • lamp • light • lightning • magma • mining • minute • phaser • pistol • power conduit • space • starship • stratovolcano • suit comm • time • tooth • tricorder • visual display • volcano • warp nacelle • water vapor
Ranks and titles
Other references
- access code • belt • bucket • century • corridor • day • emergency blanket • equipment belt • faceplate • glove • helmet • holster • landing party • month • planet • sentient • shuttle bay • transparent aluminum • uniform • water • weapon • year
Information
There are several references to Volcanoes and Vulcanologists in this novel
- Rakatan, the name of both the planet and the large volcano on the planet, is a reference to Rakata, the largest surviving piece of Krakatoa after the eruption of 1883.[1]
- Skaftar, the name of Rakatan's moon, is a reference to the Skaftar Fires, the eruption of the Icelantic volcano Laki in 1783[2]
- Mazama Mons, another volcano on Rakatan, is named after Mt Mazama, a volcano in Oregon, USA.[3]
- Johnston Observatory is a reference to David A. Johnston[4], a USGS vulcanologist killed in the 1980 eruption of Mount St Helens in the USA. Scott Mutchler's final words "Enterprise! Enterprise! This is it-" is a reference to Johnston's final words "Vancouver! Vancouver! This is it-"[5]
Timeline
| Published Order | ||
|---|---|---|
| Previous novel: The Great Starship Race |
TOS numbered novels | Next novel: The Patrian Transgression |
| Previous story: Death Count |
Stories by: L.A. Graf |
Next story: Traitor Winds |
| Chronological Order | ||
| Previous adventure: Pawns and Symbols Chapters 5-7 |
Pocket Books Timeline | Next adventure: Ice Trap |
| Previous adventure: Pawns and Symbols Chapters 5-7 |
Memory Beta Chronology | Next adventure: To Reign in Hell: The Exile of Khan Noonien Singh Chapters 19-21 |