Introduction
From the back cover: Now begins the final battle of the Prophets and the Pah-wraiths within the nightmarish realm of nonlinear time -- as the greatest epic adventure in the saga of Deep Space 9 -- reaches its staggering conclusion....
As predicted in ancient Bajoran texts, the Celestial Temple has been restored, ending normal space-time existence for all except Captain Benjamin Sisko and those trapped on the Starship Defiant and the Klingon warship Boreth. But as apocalyptic war rages between the Prophets and the Pah-wraiths, one last chance for survival beckons -- a return to Deep Space 9.
Yet, in the realm of nonlinear time, it appears that there are two possible times at which Sisko and his allies can return to the station: on the day of the Cardassian Withdrawal, or on the day six years later when DS9 was destroyed. But which choice will lead to the triumph of the Prophets? And which to eternal victory for the Pah-wraiths? With time literally running out and the fate of the universe in his hands, Sisko now must confront his own personal inferno -- in order to change the past and restore the present, he must be ready to make the ultimate sacrifice... his future....
Characters
Regulars
- Julian Bashir • Jadzia Dax • Dukat • Vic Fontaine • Leeta • Morn • Nog • Miles O'Brien • Odo • Jean-Luc Picard • Quark • Rom • Benjamin Sisko • Jake Sisko • Weyoun • Worf • Winn
Other
- Arla Rees • Kilana • Dal Nortron • Obanak Keelen • Rulan • Benny Russell • Ryle Simons • S'relt • Vash
Prophet guises
- Dulmer • Koral • Leen • Locutus • Gariff Lucsly • Martok • Jean-Luc Picard • Jackie Robinson • William Ross • Rulan • Satr • Lwaxana Troi • Vash • Winn
Referenced
- Kosst Amojan • Harry Belafonte • Harry Blackstone • Data • Albert Einstein • Eris • Felix • Halberstadt • Keevan • James T. Kirk • Leen • Mardah • Marklar • Leonard McCoy • Q • Alexander Rozhenko • Satr • Rod Serling • Inger Stevens • Vash • Lewis Zimmerman
References
Locations
- Bajor • Cirran Mountains • Deep Space 9 • Rondac III
- Referenced only
- Alpha Centauri • Deneva • Gilgo Beach • Hoboken • Kri'stak volcano • Las Vegas • Moravian Lane • New New Orleans • Norpin colony • Star of Bajor • Venus
Starships and craft
- Alpha • USS Boreth • USS Defiant • USS Phoenix
- Referenced only
- USS Augustus • USS Destiny • USS Enterprise
Species
- Andorian • Bajoran • Cardassian • Changeling • Ferengi • Human • Klingon • Lurian • Pah-wraith • Prophets • Regulan phoenix • Trill • Vorta
- Referenced only
- Borg • Bynar • Breen
States and Organizations
- Bajoran Ascendancy • Bajoran Militia • Starfleet • United Federation of Planets
- Referenced only
- Bamarren • Federation Department of Temporal Investigations • Obsidian Order • Romulan Assembly • Rutgers University • Special Investigations Unit
Ranks and titles
Other
- 1953 • 2375 • 2400 • Anslem • Antigod of the Spacewarp Passage • Atomic bomb • Baffle plate • Baseball • Bat'leth • Borhya • Chroniton • Cryodagger • de Sitter space • Divine Nagus • Divine Treasury • Dominion War • Dyson sphere • Electromagnetic pulse • "Efficiency level 729" • Emergency Medical Hologram • Emissary of the Pah-wraith • Exalted Tellers • Gentleman Usher to the Romulan Assembly • Gorr • Great Material River • Gre'thor • Inertial dampener • Kosst • Ko'th • Life • Ming the Merciless • Moibius Effect • Norellian eel hide • On Time Travel: Three Case Studies in Effects and Cause • Raktajino • Saurian brandy • Slingshot effect • Sto-vo-kor • Sword of Kahless • Television • Tiyerta nok • Tral • Triox • Tuxedo • Venusian firebeast • Verteron • Verteron node • Vulcan primate • Warrior's Anthem • The World, the Flesh and the Devil
Information
- A similar plot is present in the game The Fallen.
Connections
- Inferno article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.
| published order | ||
|---|---|---|
| Previous novel: The War of the Prophets |
DS9 unnumbered novels | Next novel: Hollow Men |
| chronological order | ||
| Previous Adventure: The War of the Prophets |
Next Adventure: Fusion | |
| Previous Adventure: The War of the Prophets |
Deep Space Nine Adventures | Next Adventure: Tears of the Prophets |
| The above chronology placements are based on the primary placement in 2374. The Pocket Books Timeline places events from this story in two other timeframes: | ||
| Previous Adventure: A Stitch in Time Part 3; Chapters 3, 5 |
2369 | Next Adventure: The Fall of Terok Nor Chapter 1 |
| Previous Adventure: Genesis Force Part Three |
2377 Epilogue |
Next Adventure: Exodus |