Hollow Men is a Star Trek: Deep Space Nine novel by Una McCormack, published by Pocket Books in 2005. While attending an Allied conference on Earth with Garak, Benjamin Sisko reveals to Starfleet the extent to which he was involved in the Romulans' entry into the Dominion War.
Description[]
- At the turning point of the Dominion War, Captain Benjamin Sisko of Starbase Deep Space 9, facing certain defeat by the relentless forces of the Jem'Hadar and the Cardassians, went through with a secret plan to secure the aid of the Federation's longtime adversaries, the Romulans. What began as a desperate attempt to save lives became a descent into an abyss of deception, moral compromises, and outright criminal acts, as Sisko sacrificed every ideal he held dear in order to preserve the civilization that espoused those selfsame principles.
- Now the aftermath of that choice is revealed for the first time as Sisko is summoned to Earth to take part in the first Allied talks to come out of the Federation's new partnership with the Romulans. But Sisko's conscience weighs heavily on him, compelling him to seek some kind of penance for what he has done… while elements within Starfleet itself set in motion a scheme to use Elim Garak as a pawn against a Human political dissident who may hold the key to the outcome of the war.
Summary[]
Part One: Dead Man’s Hand[]
Dr. Bashir and Jadzia Dax are using Bashir’s secret agent holosuite program, but just before an exciting shootout, Bashir ends the program, wondering if he has outgrown it. Jadzia extends an invitation for Bashir to join her and Worf in Quark’s for a drink, but he declines.
On a ship called the Ariadne, the crew are transporting a Lissepian called Mechter and his valuable cargo from Lissepia to Yridia when Captain Steyn notices a warning light. The ship will require repairs and Steyn decides to detour to DS9.
Captain Sisko is to travel to Earth for a conference on the Dominion War. Speaking to Admiral Ross about the conflict, the two note that while the Romulans, who are attending the conference, have made a difference since they joined the war, there have still been setbacks, like the current offensive at Sybaron, where Cardassian intelligence was able to mislead the allies into thinking the defences at Sybaron were weaker than they actually were. Due to his knowledge on his people, Garak is attending the conference as well. Sisko is startled to hear that Starfleet Intelligence on Earth are keen to talk to Garak, as Vreenak’s death and Sisko and Garak’s involvement in bringing the Romulans into the war are fresh in Sisko’s mind.
The Ariadne is soon to arrive at DS9 and they reveal that their valuable cargo is one hundred vials of liquid latinum. Odo is concerned that the latinum is a tempting target for theft and wonders if the Ariadne was sabotaged near DS9 to force it to dock at the station. Dax, still concerned about Bashir, asks Odo if he could involve Bashir in a criminal investigation. Quark learns about the Ariadne when his brother Rom lets slip the ship’s name. A Hamexi shuttle arrives at the station and is given permission to dock.
On the Rubicon en route to Earth, Garak and Sisko discuss the fallout of their collaboration. Garak recognises that Sisko is feeling guilt, but warns him that revealing the whole truth to Starfleet, the murders of Vreenak and the forger Tolar will obviously have repercussions for both of them. Sisko is consoled by the thought of seeing his father and his sister.
Part Two: The Bridge[]
On DS9, Odo is finalising the arrangements for the storage of the latinum. With the Ariadne needing repairs, too many people will be on the ship for Odo’s liking, so the latinum will be stored in the station’s assay office. Odo is concerned when he recognises the Hamexi who came aboard the station, Mexh Brixhta.
Sisko and Garak arrive on Earth and transport down to Starfleet Headquarters in San Francisco. They are greeted by Lieutenants Chaplin and Marlow, who will look after Garak while he is on Earth.
Part Three: Last Meeting Place[]
References[]
Characters[]
- Auger • Julian Bashir • Marta Batanides • Mexh Brixhta • Broik • Huang Chaoying • Wendy Chaplin • Kimara Cretak • Jadzia Dax • Enderby • Vic Fontaine • Elim Garak • Jabara • Jedburgh • Kaga • Kira Nerys • Michel Le Brun • James Leyton • Guy Marlow • Mechter • Morn • M'Pella • Alynna Nechayev • Miles O'Brien • Odo • Quark • Rhemet • Rom • Tomas Roeder • William Ross • Taela Shanthi • Benjamin Sisko • Joseph Sisko • Judith Sisko • Luther Sloan • Steyn • Tehrak • Trasser • Veral • Worf
- Referenced only
- Ludwig van Beethoven • Curzon Dax • Emony Dax • Dukat • Michael Eddington • Felix • Tekeny Ghemor • Gowron • Cal Hudson • Lambert • Nedani Iriya • Rhit • William Shakespeare • Jake Sisko • Jennifer Sisko • Enabran Tain • Ilani Tarn • Grathon Tolar • Tora Ziyal • Trepar • Vreenak • Walker • Whitaker • Winn Adami
Locations[]
- Alpha Quadrant • Deep Space 9 • Earth • Golden Gate Bridge • London • Luna • Operations center • New Orleans • New Zealand • New Zealand Penal Settlement • Promenade • Quark's • Replimat • River Thames • San Francisco • San Francisco Bay • Santa Helena • Sisko's Creole Kitchen • South America • Starfleet Academy campus • Starfleet Headquarters • Wardroom
- Referenced only
- Alpha Centauri • Bajor • Beijing • Benzar system • Betazed • Blind Moon • Calandra sector • Cardassia • Cardassia City • Casperia Prime • Founders' homeworld • Gamma Quadrant • Lake Masad • Las Vegas • Lissepia • New York City • Portland • Romulus • Sol • Soukara • Starbase 375 • Sybaron system • Vulcan • Yridia
Starships and vehicles[]
- Referenced only
- USS Defiant • USS Livingston • HMS Victory
Races and cultures[]
- Bajoran • Cardassian • Changeling • Ferengi • Hamexi • Human • Klingon • Lissepian • Romulan • Talavian • Trill
States and organizations[]
- Bajoran Militia • Cardassian Union • Dominion • Federation Alliance • Klingon Empire • Romulan Star Empire • Section 31 • Starfleet • Starfleet Academy • Starfleet Command • Starfleet Intelligence • Tal Shiar • United Federation of Planets
- Referenced only
- Cardassian Fourth Order • Cardassian Institute of Art • Cardassian Science Ministry • Detapa Council • Federation Council • Great Link • Maquis • Obsidian Order • Promenade Merchants' Association • Starfleet 7th Fleet • Starfleet Internal Affairs
Science and classification[]
- adrenaline • android • biometric scan • bio-mimetic gel • combadge • communication • counter-insurgency program • holosuite • hour • ketracel-white • millimeter • minute • morphogenic virus • optolythic data rod • PADD • plasma grenade • quantum stasis field • replicator • security system • time • transporter • turbolift • virtual scanner headset
Occupations and titles[]
- acolyte • antiques dealer • astronaut • Autarch • captain • chief • conservator • constable • criminal • doctor • Emissary of the Prophets • kai • lieutenant • prylar • subcommander • thief • vedek
Other references[]
- ale • antique • auction • ballet • bar • Bolian tonic water • book • bridge • cello • champagne • Cheek to Cheek • chess • coffee • conference room • Coppélia • crime • dabo • darts • day • Divine Treasury • Dominion War • dress uniform • Earl Grey • esani • Federation Constitution • Ferengi Rules of Acquisition • fish juice • glass • god • government in exile • Great Material Continuum • hat • holding cell • ih'tanu • Julian Bashir, Secret Agent • jumja • kanar • latinum • Lissepian prayer bead • moon • Numerian blacksilver • Occupation of Bajor • piano • Presati pantheon • prison • raktajino • red leaf tea • root beer • Samarian sunset • Saurian brandy • silk deer • sonata • Special Order • swan • synthale • technology • tongo • trikolat • tube grub • ungaberry • uniform • war • year
Appendices[]
Related media[]
- This novel is a direct sequel to "In the Pale Moonlight".
- Section 31 was introduced in “Inquisition”.
- James Leyton launched his coup d'état against Federation President Jaresh-Inyo in "Homefront" & "Paradise Lost".
- Bashir's secret agent program from "Our Man Bashir" is used at the beginning of the novel.
- Sisko recalls the crash of the Jem'Hadar fighter in "Rocks and Shoals".
- Admiral Ross mentions the intelligence Garak gave to Starfleet Intelligence in "Favor the Bold".
- Jadzia Dax would later mention the attack on the Sybaron system in "The Reckoning".
- The novel closes with Bashir realizing Vic Fontaine could help Odo and Kira Nerys become a couple, a reference to the events that will take place in "His Way".
Images[]
Connections[]
Timeline[]
| published order | ||
|---|---|---|
| Previous novel: Inferno |
DS9 unnumbered novels | Next novel: Prophecy and Change |
| chronological order | ||
| Previous Adventure: The Omega Directive |
Next Adventure: His Way | |
| Previous Adventure: In the Pale Moonlight |
Deep Space Nine Adventures | Next Adventure: His Way |
External link[]
- Hollow Men article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.