The Soul Key is a Star Trek: Deep Space Nine novel by Olivia Woods, published by Pocket Books in 2009. It is a continuation of the narrative in the DS9 relaunch series, particularly the Iliana Ghemor/mirror universe story arc begun in the Worlds of Deep Space Nine novels "Bajor: Fragments and Omens" and "The Dominion: Olympus Descending", and continued in Warpath and Woods' previous novel Fearful Symmetry.
Description[]
- There is a void in the alternate universe that demands to be filled. Iliana Ghemor, the Cardassian operative who years ago was altered in both body and mind to replace Kira Nerys, dreams of fulfilling a prophecy that will mark her as the one true Emissary of that other reality -- a messianic figure who could lead her followers into an era of renewed hope...or an age of deepening darkness.
- Ghemor's claim to the mantle of the Emissary is by no means certain, however, as the inexorable pull of providence tugs also at other souls who are swept into the vortex of the Prophets, the remote and timeless beings who have set these strange events in motion.
- But the stakes are higher than anyone imagines: for the outcome of this struggle for the fate of one universe will ripple across many others, and become the key to unlocking a future that will prove to be the greatest trial yet for the heroes of station Deep Space 9.
Summary[]
In 2377, Ghemor appeared in the alternate universe, having gained Taran'atar as her new ally by controlling his thoughts. She ordered the Jem'Hadar to kill Intendant Kira and took her place. (DS9 novel: Warpath). According to the alternate version of Iliana Ghemor, the Intendant's impersonator intends to fulfill Trakor's First Prophecy, becoming the Emissary of the Prophets instead of Benjamin Sisko, who was seemingly killed some years prior. Ghemor arrived at the alternate Terok Nor in command of a fleet of Alliance ships, still under the guise of the Intendant. (DS9 novel: Fearful Symmetry) She then destroyed Bajor's capital of Ashalla and threatened continued destruction of the planet if the rebels did not surrender the station, which they immediately did. Once in control of the station, she moved it toward the wormhole and placed herself in the airlock that would first touch the wormhole's event horizon in the hopes that she would complete the prophecy and become the Emissary. However Kira Nerys along with the mirror universe's Iliana Ghemor, in an attempt to stop her, were sucked out along with Iliana into the Celestial Temple where the mirror universe's Iliana was chosen as "the voice" or Emissary and Ghemor herself was chosen as "the fire" and was later summoned in an Ascendant's ritual where she was once more Cardassian.
References[]
Characters[]
- Primary universe characters
- Julian Bashir • Sam Bowers • Dava Nikende • Ezri Dax • Etana Kol • Iliana Ghemor • Gordimer • Ke Hovath • Ke Iniri • Kira Nerys • Mazagalanthi • Mikaela Leishman • Aaron McCallum • Fellen Ni-Yaleii • Nog • Raiq • Ro Laren • Shing-kur • Quark • Tariq Rahim • Krissten Richter • Ro Laren • Benjamin Sisko • Taran'atar • Simon Tarses • Telal • Prynn Tenmei • Elias Vaughn • Votiq
- Mirror universe characters
- Dakahna Vaas • Skrain Dukat • Michael Eddington • Endar • Corbin Entek • Iliana Ghemor • Keiko Ishikawa • Jaro Essa • Kurn • Natima Lang • Leeta • L'Haan • Martok • Miles O'Brien • Opaka Sulan • Pennak • Ataan Rhukal • Luther Sloan • Prynn Tenmei • Thirishar ch'Thane • Ezri Tigan • Elias Vaughn • Winn Adami
- Referenced only
- Akorem Laan • Dakahna Vaas • Dava Nikende • Cenn Desca • Skrain Dukat • Corbin Entek • Kaleen Ghemor • Tekeny Ghemor • Jaro Essa • Kira Meru • Kira Pohl • Kira Reon • Kira Taban • Lupaza • Odo • Drune Omek • Morad Pirak • Ro Gale • Ataan Rhukal • Shakaar Edon • Trakor • Strell Vekeer • Kasidy Yates
- Mirror universe references
- Julian Bashir • Dava Nikende • Tekeny Ghemor • Ke Hovath • Kira Nerys • Li Nalas • Lupaza • Akellen Macet • Nog • Quark • Ro Laren • Benjamin Sisko • Spock
Locations[]
- Primary universe locations
- Bajoran wormhole/Celestial Temple • B'hava'el system • Deep Space 9 • Gamma Quadrant • Grennokar • habitat ring • Harkoum • Quark's
- Mirror universe locations
- Bajor • Bajoran wormhole • Betreka Nebula • Raknal V • Raknal Station • Regulon • Terok Nor • Vekobet
- Referenced
- Akorem's Rock • Andor • Ashalla • Ashalla • Berengaria VII • Elemspur • Empok Nor (mirror) • Ferenginar • Fire Caves • Hedrikspool Province • Iljar • Ireland • Korvat • Letau • Sidau • Sindorin • Tarluk V'hel • Vale of Mists
Starships[]
- Besinian freighter • Chutok-class • Defiant • USS Defiant (Defiant-class) • Even Odds • IKS Negh'Var (Negh'Var-class) • USS Rio Grande (Danube-class)
- Referenced only
- Aldara • Denorios (Perikian-class interceptor) • River of Blood • Trager
Races and cultures[]
- Primary universe cultures
- Arkenite • Ascendant • Bajoran • Cardassian • Efrosian • Ferengi • Human • Jem'Hadar • Klingon • Kressari • Lissepian • Nausicaan • Prophets • Romulan • Trill • Vulcan
- Mirror universe cultures
- Bajoran • Bolian • Cardassian • Human • Klingon • Talarian • Tellarite • Vulcan
- Referenced only
- Besinian • Changeling • Mizarian • Pah-wraith • Tzenkethi • Eav'oq
States and organizations[]
- Bajoran dissident movement • Federation Starfleet • Klingon-Cardassian Alliance • Obsidian Order • Terran Rebellion • United Federation of Planets
- Referenced only
- Bajoran Parliament • Dominion • Dominion • Federation Alliance • Obsidian Order • Terran Empire • Tzenkethi Coalition
Science and technology[]
- ablative armor • antimatter injector • cloaking device • fusion core • holoframe • holosuite • pulse phaser • pulse phaser cannon • quantum resonance signature • quantum torpedo • shatterframe
Ranks and titles[]
- archquester • Autarch of the Tzenkethi Coalition • Emissary of the Prophets • intendant • kai • overseer • Regent of the Alliance • supreme legate
Other references[]
- alternate universe • Bajoran prophecy • baseball • baseball bat • Book of Ohalu • chess • Code Black • Dal'Rok • deka tea • democracy • d'k tahg • Dominion War • Ferengi Rules of Acquisition • fusionstone • kellipate • ketracel-white • klin zha • kotra • latinum • messiah • moba • neuro-pulse device • nya tree • nyawood • Occupation of Bajor • operations situation table • orb • orb fragment • Orb of Prophecy and Change • pagh • paghvaram • phaser • plasma injector • porli • shri-tal • shroud • Speculations on the Architecture of the Celestial Temple • subspace transporter • Tarkalean tea • Terran • transparent aluminum • The Troubles • turbolift • Unnameable • warp drive • warp field • verteron • Vithi bulb • vole • Yarim Fel Syndrome
Appendices[]
Background[]
Solicitation cover
- Early solicitations for this book used a basic stand-in cover, featuring the USS Defiant in battle. Later promotion of the book utilised an unfinished version of the final cover; refinements made to the final included a more refined image of the wormhole in the background; a wider crop of the hand, with more forearm on the cover; and making the "The" in the title the same size as the rest of the title font.
- Cross Cult released a German language edition of The Soul Key in 2013. The cover featured Iliana Ghemor holding the paghvaram, the titular "soul key".
Images[]
Connections[]
Timeline[]
- The novel is set in 2377, starting concurrently with the final chapter of Side One of Fearful Symmetry. The novel also includes flashbacks detailing Iliana Ghemor's activities; these begin "nine months ago", shortly after Avatar and run through to "two days ago" with events parallel and adjacent to Unity, "Bajor: Fragments and Omens", "The Dominion: Olympus Descending", Warpath and Fearful Symmetry.
- The novels Sacraments of Fire and Ascendance follow-up on the events of The Soul Key. The mirror universe storyline continued in Rise Like Lions.
| published order | ||
|---|---|---|
| Previous novel: Fearful Symmetry |
DS9 novels (post-finale) | Next novel: The Never-Ending Sacrifice |
| Previous story: Fearful Symmetry |
Stories by: Olivia Woods |
Next story: most current work |
| chronological order | ||
| Previous adventure: Fearful Symmetry Side One: chapters 1-4, 6-9 |
Memory Beta Chronology | Next adventure: Honor |
| The above chronology placements are based on the primary placement in 2377. The Memory Beta Chronology places events from this story in 5 other timeframe(s): | ||
| Previous adventure: Invincible, Part Two |
9 months ago chapter 1 (sections 1-3) |
Next adventure: Tsunkatse |
| Previous adventure: Always a Price |
3 months ago chapter 1 (section 4) & chapter 2 (section 1+2) |
Next adventure: Collective Hindsight, Book One |
| Previous adventure: Bajor: Fragments and Omens chapters 3-4, 6, , 8-9, 13-14, 16-17, 19-20 & epilogue |
chapter 2 (section 3) |
Next adventure: Failsafe |
| Previous adventure: A Burning House |
8 weeks ago chapter 3 |
Next adventure: Where Time Stands Still |
| Previous adventure: Fearful Symmetry Side One: prologue |
days ago chapter 7-10 |
Next adventure: Unimatrix Zero Part II |
Translations[]
- 2013
- German : Der Seelenschlüssel, translated by Christian Humberg. (Cross Cult)
External link[]
- The Soul Key article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.