- For other uses, see Firestorm.
Description[]
- 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...
Summary[]
Log entries from 2268[]
- Captain's log, stardate 4372.5.
- On a top-secret diplomatic mission, the Enterprise has entered the Tellun star system. Maintaining communications blackout, we have taken aboard Petri, the ambassador from Troyius, the outer planet, and are now approaching the inner planet, Elas.
- Captain's log, supplemental.
- Ambassador Petri has just granted me the dubious honor of receiving Her Glory Elaan, the Dohlman of Elas, on board the Enterprise for transportation to Troyius. According to the ambassador, Elas and Troyius have only recently ended their bitter interplanetary war by negotiating a symbolic marriage between the female warlord of Elas and the king of Troyius. Petri tells me that the Enterprise's role in this mission should be simple: escorting the reluctant bride to her new home on Troyius. Petri himself has been assigned the more difficult task: making sure Elaan doesn't kill the bridegroom once she gets there.
- Captain's log, stardate 4373.9.
- Her Glory the Dohlman has just hospitalized the Troyian ambassador sent to reconcile her to her upcoming marriage. McCoy assures me that Ambassador Petri will recover, but the Federation High Commissioner has made it clear that completing the ambassador's mission is now my personal responsibility. The prospects of a successful outcome are not promising. Mr. Spock reports that our long-range sensors have detected a sensor ghost — most likely a ship of unknown affiliation — shadowing the Enterprise at—
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 heavy cruiser) • Esar • Gamow (shuttle) • gravsled
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
Appendices[]
Background[]
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 Icelandic 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]
Images[]
Cover image.
Cover art by Keith Birdsong.
German language edition cover image.
German language re-issue edition cover image.
Kirk.
Uhura.
Rakatan Mons in 2273.
Enterprise.
Connections[]
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 |
Translations[]
- 1997
- German : Feuersturm, translated by Achim Lehmkuhl. (Heyne)