Long Shot is a 2015 Star Trek: Seekers novel by notable author David Mack.
Description
SCIENCE GONE MAD... Bizarre sensor readings lead the Starfleet scout ship USS Sagittarius to an alien world where efforts to harness a dangerous and unstable technology have thrown the laws of probability out of balance. Now, events that might have occurred only one time in a trillion are happening constantly—to deadly and dazzling effect.
A PLANET IN PERIL... As disasters and miracles multiply globally at an ever-increasing rate, it's up to Captain Clark Terrell and his crew to shut down the experiment-gone-wrong before its storm of chaos causes the planet's destruction. But the odds against their success—and their survival—might be too great to overcome.
Summary
On the planet Anura, an attempt by scientist Doctor Pren Kavalas to tap into dark matter energy creates a distortion wave which changes the laws of probability in the region, meaning highly unlikely events start happening regularly. A series of natural disasters rock the planet, which seems on the verge of global collapse.
The Sagittarius picks up a distress call from the planet and Terrell takes a landing party comprising himself, Chief engineer Master Chief Petty Officer Mike Ilucci, Science officer Lieutenant Sengar Hesh and Ensign field scout Taryl to meet with the planet's leader, Tribune Tiras Saranda. They begin working with Kavalas to try and find a solution and have to work their way through an anti-alien mob to reach the generator.
Meanwhile, the Sagittarius rescues the crew of a space station destroyed by a freak meteorite shower, then deflects a comet that would have destroyed the planet. The crew realise that when the next distortion wave peaks, a solar flare will wipe out all life in the system.
The landing party discover that the dark matter generator was created using material scavenged from an alien ship, which was booby-trapped, meaning the controls are now out of phase. Several plans fail but when the Sagittarius lands by the generator Hesh is finally able to rig up a replacement control console and cause the generator to self-destruct.
References
Characters
Sagittarius crew
- Lisa Babitz • Karen Cahow • Faro Dastin • Sengar Hesh • Mike Ilucci • Nizsk • Razka • Sorak • Nguyen Tan Bao • Taryl • Clark Terrell • Vanessa Theriault • Salagho Threx • Torvin
- Referenced only
- Celerasayna zh'Firro • Adelard Nassir
Austarans
- Ankath • Beiana • Borim • Syrem Eguen • Nobixu Guentheri • Heelar • Kaolula • Pren Kavalas • Sefsan Kleftis • Desmar Lahdik • Floris Lanon • Loludi • Mufungo • Kassinas Nasutas • Nelonnuk • Caycil Nophris • Zehgos Poal • Prila • Pylus • Cauda Salir • Tiras Saranda • Septen • Slaad • Soparen Tosc • Keelix Tran • Kilmarlic Tritur • Jeniven Vatrachos
- Referenced only
- Arbos • Bokir • Pelanon
Starships and vehicles
- Blitzen (Rover) • escape pod • USS Sagittarius (Archer-class) • Vixen (Rover)
- Referenced only
- USS Endeavour (Constitution-class) • turbojet • unnamed Alpha and Beta Quadrant starships
Locations
- Anura (Andrias • Chrimata Casino and Hotel • Executive Complex • Mitsaro • Sirkun Territory • Valto General Hospital • Vassago's) • Cavino • Space Station Xenopus
- Referenced only
- Earth (Capri • North America • Pacific Coast Highway) • Murçao • Orion • Risa • Sauria • Starbase 12 • Vulcan
Races and cultures
- Arkenite • Austaran • Denobulan • Human • Kaferian • Orion • Saurian • Tiburon • Trill • Vulcan
- Referenced only
- Deltan • Efrosian • Klingon • unnamed races and cultures
States and organizations
- Austaran Science Ministry • Gemakis Foundation • Jefgis Amalgamated • Starfleet • United Federation of Planets
- Referenced only
- Judge Advocate General • Starfleet Academy
Ranks and titles
- captain • chief engineer • chief medical officer • commander • commanding officer • constable • crewman • doctor • engineer • ensign • executive officer • field scout • lieutenant • lieutenant commander • lieutenant junior grade • major • master chief petty officer • nurse • petty officer first class • petty officer second class • petty officer third class • professor • second officer • senior chief petty officer • specialist • tactical officer • tribune
Science and technology
- airlock • anlac'ven • antimatter • chronometer • class M • communicator • dark energy • deflector shield • fuel cell • impulse coil • inertial dampener • landing struts • nacelle pylon • Oort cloud • orbit • phaser • photon torpedo • plasma relay • primary hull • quantum fluctuation generator • quantum mechanics • radio • sensor buoy • structural integrity field • torpedo launcher • tractor beam • transporter • tricorder • type-1 phaser • universal translator • warp coil • warp nacelle • zero gravity
Other references
- asteroid • Battle of Vanguard • bridge • cargo bay • cigarette • comet • deuterium • engineering • flower • fungus • gazelle • golf • government • Great Bird of the Galaxy • gun • Kolinahr • lemoa • lemonade • mess hall • Murphy's Law • Prime Directive • Sea Mother • sheep • sia lenthar • tea • vodka
Timeline
Chronology
- The historian's note indicates that the events of this novel take place in late 2269, a few months after those depicted in Point of Divergence, and five months after the events in the TOS episode: "Turnabout Intruder".
Production history
| Published Order | ||
|---|---|---|
| Previous novel: Point of Divergence |
Star Trek: Seekers | Next novel: All That's Left |
| Previous story: Disavowed |
Stories by: David Mack |
Next story: Best Defense |
Appendices
Related stories
External links
- Long Shot article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.