Publisher's description[]
From the back cover: While a crucial peace conference fills Deep Space Nine with rumors of intrigue and conspiracy, Major Kira and Lt. Commander Worf embark on a dangerous undercover mission deep in the heart of the Gamma Quadrant. Their mission: to find the secret of the addictive substance that the Changelings use to control their Jem'Hadar warriors. But how long can Worf and Kira remain undetected in the midst of the Dominion? Odo may be their only hope; but to save them, he'll have to stand against his own people.
Summary[]
A Dominion scientist has discovered information on Jem'Hadar DNA, including how the Founders modify that DNA to make them dependent on ketracel-white. Seeing the opportunity to stop the Jem'Hadar threat, Sisko sends Worf, Kira and Odo into the Gamma Quadrant to retrieve the information.
On the station, Sisko is hosting peace talks between the Federation and the Cardassians and the Maquis. The talks are overseen by the Valtusians. Wary of Changeling infiltration, Sisko orders Bashir to test the DNA of the delegates, to make sure they are who they appear to be. Complicating matters is that the Cardassian representative is identified by a Bajoran vedek as a war criminal from the Occupation.
References[]
Characters[]
- Auron • Julian Bashir • Colfax • Dan Cziraky • Jadzia Dax • Dulev • Harold DuQuesne • Elim Garak • Gerazh • Jezrak • Kira Nerys • Kloran • Koratta Jael • Myriam Kravitz • McCormick • Rel Mekkar • Ren Mekkar • Miles O'Brien • Odo • Orvor • Quark • Rom • Selann • Senosh • Benjamin Sisko • Snoct Sneyd • Harold Strockman • T'Pao • Thok • Philip Twofeathers • Vertan • Werron • Winn Adami • Worf • Zheronn • Zhosh • unnamed Caxtonian • unnamed Denuvians • unnamed Igrids • unnamed Taltic
- Referenced only
- Data • Dax • Curzon Dax • Goff • James T. Kirk • Kurn • Geordi La Forge • Loran Devys • Opaka • Jean-Luc Picard • Polatta • Q • Alexander Rozhenko • Jake Sisko • Joseph Sisko • Deanna Troi
Locations[]
- Alpha Quadrant • Bajor • Carnalia VIII • Daborat V • Daborat system • Deep Space 9 (Ops • Promenade • Quark's) • Gamma Quadrant • Hall of Justice • Skovar IV • Skovar VI
- Referenced only
- Arvanus VI • Belmast • Cardassia • Dorvanto • Earth • Founders' homeworld • Galagos VI (Galagos) • Ileph-B • Octyne III • Orjax Cluster • The Prodigal • Qo'noS • Retollan Monastery • Starbase 201 • Valtusia
Starships and vehicles[]
- USS Excalibur (Ambassador-class) • Galactic Queen (Delphi-class) • hovercar • Jakar-class • Progress (Delphi-class) • Sespar's Revenge (Dominion warship)
- Referenced only
- USS Defiant • USS Enterprise-D • Uganda
Races and cultures[]
- Andorian • Bajoran • Cardassian • Caxtonian • Changeling • Denuvian • Ferengi • Groxxin • Human (Cherokee • Native American) • Iffalian • Igrid • Jem'Hadar • Klingon • Taltic • Trill • Valtusian • Vulcan
- Referenced only
- Doldarian • Romulan • Prophets • Thelorian
States and organizations[]
- Bajoran Militia • Cardassian Union • Detapa Council • Cardassian Guard • Dominion • Founder • Maquis • Starfleet • United Federation of Planets
- Referenced only
- Brooklyn Dodgers • Obsidian Order • Starfleet Academy
Science and technology[]
- blood screening • carbon • cloaker • DNA • DNA scanner • holosuite • hyperspace • ketracel-white • Panzer's Syndrome • retrovirus • tricorder • warp coil • xolon
Ranks and titles[]
- ambassador • dabo girl • Emissary of the Prophets • kai • Sub-Garn
Other references[]
- Antwerp Conference • Bajoran prophecy • Bajoran religion • baseball • brush devil • coffee • dabo • darts • dress uniform • duracrete • duranium • durasteel • Federation-Cardassian War • Ferengi Rules of Acquisition • hzork • Jefferies tube • latinum • May'boq • Occupation of Bajor • orange juice • Oslan silk • pit spider • planet • prune juice • Qualian sea brandy • Romulan ale • spiced ale • Tirellian stout
Appendices[]
Background information[]
- "The Heart of the Warrior" marks the first appearance of Worf in a Star Trek: Deep Space Nine novel, not counting the novelization of "The Way of the Warrior". The historian's note gives the name of the novel as The Trojan Spaceship.
- John Gregory Betancourt commented: "Worf has always been one of my favorite characters, and I wanted to write a book about him but set in the Dominion, where he would find a challenge to his handto-hand combat skills. Unfortunately, later seasons of DS9 developed the Founders and Dominion enough that my book is, ah, retroactively contradictory to the official universe in a number of places". (Voyages of Imagination)
Related stories[]
- The Changeling characters recall the events of "The Adversary", where Odo became the first Changeling to kill another.
- Sisko recalls the events of "Homefront" and Paradise Lost", especially the bombing of the conference and believing his own father was a Changeling.
- Bashir and Sisko recall the events of "Our Man Bashir".
- Kira recalls the events of "Q-Less" and she and Worf tell stories of their encounters with Q.
External links[]
- The Heart of the Warrior article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.
- The Heart of the Warrior article at Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Connections[]
| published order | ||
|---|---|---|
| Previous novel: Time's Enemy |
DS9 numbered novels | Next novel: Saratoga |
| chronological order | ||
| Previous Adventure: Meld |
Next Adventure: Sons of Mogh | |
| Previous Adventure: Return to Grace |
Deep Space Nine Adventures | Next Adventure: Sons of Mogh |