Star Trek Novel Verse/Characters: Difference between revisions

As of the conclusion to ''[[Star Trek: aA Time Toto...]]'', Bacco serves as President of the United Federation of Planets. She holds that office through the events of ''[[Star Trek: Articles of the Federation]]'', ''[[Star Trek: Destiny]]'' and ''[[Star Trek: Typhon Pact]]''. An elderly human woman, she is charged with guiding [[The Federation|the Federation]] through a period of great instability. She's a bit of an [[Ensemble Darkhorse]]: from her introduction as part of a novel's C-plot, she was quickly promoted to a character carrying [[Star Trek: Articles of the Federation|her own book]]. Since then, her role has only expanded further.

* [[Arch Enemy]]: Politically, Bacco and Tholian Ambassador Tezrene are almost certainly Arch Enemies. Their first real political tussle occurs in ''[[A Singular Destiny]]'', in which Tezrene came out on top. Bacco won the next round in ''[[Star Trek: Typhon Pact]]: Zero Sum Game'', before Tezrene once again triumphed in ''Paths of Disharmony'', when her people succeeded in causing further political chaos in the Federation. As of late, Bacco refers to "that bitch Tezrene."

* [[Gondor Calls for Aid]]: In the [[Star Trek: Destiny]] trilogy, Bacco calls for aid from all other major powers in the Alpha and Beta quadrants, but their response is tepid and the combined fleet is annihilated within minutes anyway. All that her efforts really accomplish is to [[Sequel Hook|antagonize the Tholians]].

* [[I Say What I Say]]: When Bacco is temporarily duplicated in [[Star Trek: Department of Temporal Investigations]] (long story), the two presidents respond to a compliment with a simultaneous (somewhat sarcastic) "oh, please!" Amusingly, they also snark at each other for making the exact sort of grumpy, sarcastic comments that Bacco always makes.

* [[Not So Different]]: There have been a few scenes that compare (and contrast) her with the previous president, Min Zife. A few of them can [[Your Mileage May Vary|potentially be read]] as warnings of how easy it might be for someone of Bacco's integrity to slip nonetheless into less-than-moral conduct. A scene in [[Star Trek: Typhon Pact|''Zero Sum Game'']], in which Bacco is confronted by Federation Council members wary of her potentially questionable decisions, announcing their intention to veto a bill only to be outmaneuvered, recalls a scene in [[Star Trek: aA Time Toto...|''A Time to Heal'']], where President Zife faced a similar confrontation. Where Zife deflected criticism by appealing to humanitarian arguments, while actually up to his neck in illegal activities, Bacco attacks with information on the support she has from other councillors, seemingly convinced that she's on the right side of the moral line. As both novels were written by the same author, the similarities (and contrasts) between the two scenes are likely entirely deliberate.

A half-human/half-Vulcan Starfleet officer who tries to distance herself from her Vulcan heritage by acting as distinctly un-Vulcan as possible. Not exactly a ''model'' officer, but with lots of potential. Recently joined the crew of the [[Star Trek: theThe Next Generation Relaunch|''Enterprise'']]. Captain Picard is now guiding her, as a sort of [[Mentor]].

* [[Calling the Old Man Out]]: After her father finally makes contact after a ''long'' absence, looking for information on her mother (specifically, if she survived the [[Star Trek: Destiny|Borg invasion]]):

{{quote| "Did you try to contact her after the ''Odyssey'' went boom? Did you try to find her any time during the entire Dominion War? No, this is about you. You had a near-death experience when the Borg hit Vulcan, and by some miracle, you lived. You managed to get rescued, fixed up, and flown to a hospital on the other side of the planet, where you got a lot of time to just lie there and think about how close you came to being just more sand piled on the Forge. Now you've got this big second chance, so now you want to reach out to all those you've hurt and make amends for all your wrongs."}}

* [[Half -Human Hybrid]]

* [[Naked Onon Arrival]]: In an opening scene to the first novel she appears in. Turning it into a joke, as she does with nearly everything, she then asks if her old boyfriend lives nearby; Middle-Eastern appearance, name of Adam...

* [[Screw You, Elves]]

A trader and independent soldier-of-fortune who becomes tangled up in Project Vanguard, the morally ambiguous Starfleet operation detailed in the [[Star Trek: Vanguard]] series. He tries several times to turn his life around, escaping from alcoholism and ties to criminal syndicates only to dip back in again when he suffers another emotional blow.

* [[Expy]]: Of the soldier-of-fortune characters from ''[[Star Trek: the Original Series (TV)|Star Trek theThe Original Series]]'', like Harry Mudd or Cyrano Jones. Also a bit of a deconstruction.

A Starfleet officer with a long history and a deceptively low rank, Vaughn was introduced in the ''[[Star Trek Deep Space Nine Relaunch]]''. By this point, he was over a century old, with eighty years experience in Starfleet Intelligence, Special Operations and Tactical. Vaughn was a critical player in several crucial events in Federation history, among them the [[Star Trek: theThe Lost Era|Tomed Incident]], the [[Star Trek: theThe Lost Era|Betreka Nebula Incident]], and the [[Star Trek: theThe Battle of Betazed|liberation of Betazed from the Dominion]].

{{quote| "He's not the first hundred-year-old I've met who could go up against holographic opponents, or even real ones. Most people don't give it much thought, but there are actually a lot more active centenarian humans in Starfleet than is generally known. One of the benefits of an ever-lengthening life span. Just the same, I'm glad Vaughn's on our side."}}

* [[Deadpan Snarker]]: An example from [[Star Trek Deep Space Nine Relaunch|''Demons of Air and Darkness'']], after he handles a hostage situation by simply shooting the hostage taker, because he realizes his own phaser will fire with this level of radiation but the hostage-taker's won't:

{{quote| '''Julian Bashir''': Why didn't you say that's what you were planning in the first place? <br />

* [[Instant Awesome, Just Add Dragons]]: His childhood history on Berengaria VII; he was apparently mauled by a dragon at one point. It was established as early as the [[Star Trek: theThe Original Series (TV)|Original Series]] of ''[[Star Trek (Franchise)|Star Trek]]'' that Berengaria VII is home to dragons, and Vaughn had previously been said to originate there. Eventually, the two bits of trivia made an inevitable linkage. Since Vaughn is the sort of character with a highly adventurous background, it's no surprise he apparently had dragon bites where other children had bruised knees.

* [[It Never Gets Any Easier]]: Particularly notable at the conclusion to ''[[Star Trek: theThe Battle of Betazed]]''.

* [[Blessed Withwith Suck]]: As a "Quiet," she has the ability to communicate with the other sapient race on her homeworld, a talent very few possess. Unfortunately, Quiets have great difficulty with regular language skills (hence the name –- as children, they don't speak). Her childhood was therefore difficult, and she was an outcast for much of it.

* [[In -Series Nickname]]: Pattie.

A Vulcan counselor assigned to [[Star Trek: theThe Next Generation Relaunch|Picard's ''Enterprise'']] for a time. She clashed with Picard over his particular command style and eventually left the ship.

* [[Depending Onon the Writer]]: Difficult but with valid opinions, or a total bigot who thinks she's always right?

* [[Killed Off for Real]]: In [[Star Trek: Destiny]].

A Vulcan agent of Starfleet Intelligence, whose morally ambiguous career covered [[Star Trek: Vanguard|Project Vanguard]] and a partnership with [[Star Trek Deep Space Nine Relaunch|Elias Vaughn]].

{{quote| "No of course not. Such generosity from Starfleet would be certain to draw suspicions. Steerage it is then".}}

* [[Insanity Defense]]: During the darkest period of her career, partway through the [[Star Trek: Vanguard]] series, she points out it's the only plausible defense she could give for her latest actions, though she doesn't pursue it.

* [[Saved Byby Canon]]: In an interesting example of a character being Saved by Canon for the moment, but [[Doomed Byby Canon]] in the long run, T'Prynn can't die at any point in the [[Star Trek: Vanguard]] series, even when she's in a coma due to [[Mind Rape]], because she's going to die in a transporter accident eighty years later, as shown in [[Flash Back]] in the [[Star Trek Deep Space Nine Relaunch]] novels.

* [[The Atoner]]: By the end of [[Star Trek: Vanguard]]:

{{quote| ''It is likely I will never balance the scales of my own guilt and virtue. But that does not absolve me of my responsibility to try''.}}

* [[Acquired Situational Narcissism]]: Whenever he ends up in command. It's a case of [[Serial Escalation]], seeing how puffed-up and full of himself he is in the first place.

* [[My Species Doth Protest Too Much]]: Both averted, and in a strange way played straight. Tev is ''the'' stereotypical Tellarite, as teammate Fabian Stevens notes. Yet his difficult manner is often due to his being an [[Insufferable Genius]], not just the [[Blue and Orange Morality]] of his people. Most Tellarites are shown to be in [[Jerk Withwith a Heart of Gold]] territory due to their social customs; Tev, while otherwise fitting the Tellarite mould perfectly, often comes across as...just a jerk.

A young crewman aboard the starship [[Star Trek: Titan|''Titan'']]. An eager and somewhat exasperating fellow (though also very endearing). He's a Choblik, a race of cyborg [[Uplifted Animal|Uplifted Animals]] whose religion is based on respect for technology and the scientific method. He's the [[Ensemble Darkhorse]] of the ''[[Star Trek: Titan]]'' series.

* [[Cybernetics Eat Your Soul]]: Averted. Being from a race of non-humanoid cyborgs, he owes his intelligence to his implants, his people actually being a form of [[Uplifted Animal]]. Upgrades throughout childhood and adolescence are celebrated rites of passage in his culture. Ironically, this means Torvig initially has difficulty comprehending the full horror of the Borg Collective (which plays the trope straight). In ''[[Star Trek: Destiny]]'', though, the implications finally hit him, and he ends up perhaps the most horrified of all; this trope, and thus the Borg, are essentially the anti-Choblik, their most primal horror.

* [[Literal -Minded]]: His experiments to determine the truth about "gut feelings" consisted of introducing nanites into his crewmate's food, so as to monitor their intestines.

* [[Thank the Maker]]: Choblik swear on the Great Builders, whom they revere. The Choblik religion also interprets creation in general as the work of a "builder," as Torvig explains:

{{quote| "It is empirical that we were Upgraded to our current state millennia ago by some technological agency. It is also empirical that the galaxy contains many other life-forms, worlds and phenomena that could not have come into being without technological intervention. And many of the fundamental mysteries of the universe can be resolved by postulating it as a construct of some entity or civilization existing on a transcendent plane. Given the power and pervasiveness that such a creative agency would require, it's logical to interpret all lesser creative agencies in the universe as aspects of the ultimate Builders."}}

* [[Ascended Extra]]: The Bajoran man who was given the name "Yevir" in the novels first appeared in an episode of ''[[Star Trek Deep Space Nine (TV)|Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]'', as a (very minor) background character. He was actually unnamed in the episode, but [[Word of God]] has confirmed that Yevir is intended to be that man.

Prior to Bacco, Min Zife held the office of Federation President. His aggressive foreign policy saved the Federation during the [[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (TV)|Dominion War]], but he eventually crossed the line into flat-out illegal (and immoral) conduct. Much of his political scheming was the result of his Chief of Staff's influence -- Koll Azernal, the [[Man Behind the Man]].

* [[Flanderization]]: Some accuse later portrayals (such as in the ''[[Star Trek: VulcansVulcan's Soul]]'' books) of flanderizing the relationship between Zife and Koll Azernal, with Zife being an ineffective president relying on scheming Azernal to run the government for him. It is certainly more obvious in ''Vulcan's Soul'' than in ''[[Star Trek: aA Time Toto...]]''.

* [[Fantastic Caste System]]: As a result of the Quch'Ha plague (as seen in a two-part episode of ''[[Star Trek Enterprise (TV)|Star Trek: Enterprise]]'' season four) many Klingon families lost their forehead ridges. A division between those who retained them and those who lost them resulted in an unofficial caste system within the Klingon Empire. The ridgeless Klingons - the Quch'Ha, or "unhappy ones" - were somewhat undesirable in the social hierarchy. Some Quch'Ha disguised their status with artificial foreheads.

* [[Finders, Rulers]]: Unofficially, the Sword of Kahless. Whatever the law says, anyone holding the sword will more or less find themselves ruler of the Klingon Empire. Fortunately, rightful leader Martok has it.

* [[Obfuscating Stupidity]]: The Klingons often demonstrate this trope in the novels; their enthusiastic bluster, casual violence and fondness for drink disguise the fact that they're every bit as capable of cunning manipulation as any other race; indeed, they're actually extremely political, for all their talk of "warrior's honour". Grodak in [[Star Trek: Seven Deadly Sins]] is a perfect example. Toqel, a Romulan politician, severely underestimates him and the Klingons in general, with troubling results for the Romulans and fatal ones for Toqel. Another Klingon character who illustrates the trope perfectly is General Khegh from [[Star Trek: Titan]].

* [[Prophecy Twist]]: According to the novels, the Second Coming of Kahless, long predicted in Klingon religious tradition, was intended as metaphorical, not literal. Thus, the clone of Kahless (created in an episode of ''[[Star Trek: the Next Generation (TV)|Star Trek theThe Next Generation]]'') is not in fact the "true" second coming, despite Lady Lukara assuring Martok he is a genuine reincarnation. The actual second Kahless is {{spoiler|Martok himself}}.

A Klingon doctor, and the love interest of [[Star Trek: Klingon Empire|Captain Klag]]. B'Oraq trained in the Federation, and thus has unusual ideas about medicine.

* [[Awesomeness By Analysis]]: In [[Star Trek: Klingon Empire|''A Burning House'']], B'Oraq wins a death-duel within seconds by simply stabbing her opponent through one of the weakest parts of his armor, penetrating his third aorta. Killed him right in the middle of his monologue, too.

* [[Combat Medic]]: Of all Klingon doctors, she's more or less the only one who remembers the "medic" part is supposed to take priority.

* [[Only Sane Woman]]: B'Oraq is very reasonable for a Klingon and frustrated by the rest of her people. Her particular agenda in life is to get the rest of the empire to accept the use of modern medicine. She faces fierce resistance, as the [[Honor Before Reason]] Klingon culture tends to view medical care as a low priority, and pandering to weakness.

* [[Compelling Voice]]: Gothmara bioaugments both herself and her son Morjod in order to give them this.

Klingon Ambassador to the Federation as of [[Star Trek: aA Time Toto...]] onward. Holds the position through [[Star Trek: Articles of the Federation]], [[Star Trek: Destiny]] and [[Star Trek: Typhon Pact]].

* [[Ambadassador]]: He is, like all Klingon nobles, a warrior.

* [[Ass in Ambassador]]: A particularly hawkish Klingon ambassador, he was appointed as a replacement to the more reasonable Ambassador Lantar. When Federation President Zife went over Lantar's head to talk directly with Chancellor Martok, Martok's political rivals on the Klingon High Council used the opportunity to force their man into the ambassadorship, claiming Lantar had been proven ineffective.

* [[Blood Onon the Debate Floor]]: Like most Klingon diplomats, not immune to this. When President Bacco calls the ambassadors from the major galactic powers together in [[Star Trek: Destiny]], K'mtok and Romulan ambassador Kalavak end up fighting. After a series of accusations and insults regarding events in prior novels, the two begin to physically scuffle, until separated by Federation security.

* [[With Friends Like These...]]: Despite his usual attitude, he represents the nation that’s probably the Federation’s closest ally.

The Klingon Ambassador to the Federation in ''[[Star Trek IV: theThe Voyage Home (Film)|Star Trek IV the Voyage Home]]'' and ''The Undiscovered Country''. In keeping with his attitude in the films, he's very much an [[Ass in Ambassador]], and thinks very little of humans - Kirk in particular.

* [[Pet the Dog]]: He has one of these moments in the novel [[Star Trek: Forged in Fire|''Forged in Fire'']]. He defends Sulu's [[Military Maverick]] actions at a Starfleet hearing, probably helping save Sulu's career.

* [[A Father to His Men]]: Insofar as Klingon values and regulations permit, Klag is extremely proud of his crew and does his best to encourage and uplift their efforts to succeed. Conversely, he also had no problem with [[You Have Failed Me...|killing anyone who proves incompetent]] per Klingon regulations, and he reacts to attempts to usurp his authority VERY harshly.

* [[Alien Arts Are Appreciated]]: Kopek decorated his office with items of art from across explored space. Among the paintings, artefacts and sculptures were those created by humans, Vulcans, and Betazoids. This despite the fact that Kopek despised those races. To be honest, he probably justified them as "trophies".

* [[Divided We Fall]]: Usually; but averted when the final test comes in [[Star Trek: Destiny]].

* [[Good Is Old -Fashioned]]: Kopek had no time for the teachings of Kahless and the honour codes Martok is trying to re-establish in Klingon society. Kahless condemned him for it:

{{quote| "You will fall, Kopek, because you live only to hold on to your power and to accumulate more. Martok works daily to restore the empire to the path of honour, and there is no place for you on that path. You will learn the true way, or you will reap the seeds of self-destruction you have so carefully sown”. }}

* [[Implausible Deniability]]: Worf knows it was Kopek who was ultimately behind the terrorist siege at the Federation embassy in [[Star Trek: aA Time Toto...]], but Kopek knows he can't prove anything.

* [[Defrosting Ice Queen]]: Thankfully, Leskit serves as her [[Morality Pet]] and by the fourth book in the [[Star Trek: Klingon Empire]] series, has mellowed her out quite a bit.

* [[Insufferable Genius]]: Up until towards the end of [[Star Trek: Klingon Empire]] book three, when she starts to mellow out a little.

* [[Surrounded Byby Idiots]]: Her favourite complaint.

A diplomat, involved in the tangled political nightmare that is [[Star Trek: Vanguard|Project Vanguard]]. He eventually joins his Federation counterpart in establishing "back-door" diplomatic channels aimed at creating an eventual peace between the Klingons, Federation and Romulans.

* [[Kicked Upstairs]]: In a sense. He didn't fit in on the ''Gorkon'' (or among Klingon warriors in general), and rather than have to deal with the...awkwardness...any longer, he volunteered for the role of {{spoiler|Emperor of taD}}. Klag and company swiftly agreed.

* [[Lower Deck Episode]]: Scenes and subplots centred on Wol and her Fifteenth Squad serve as this in the [[Star Trek: Klingon Empire]] series.

* [[Proud Warrior Race]]: Along with their scholar tendencies (above), it's a bit of an [[Alternate Character Interpretation]]; while the TV series ([[Star Trek: the Next Generation (TV)|Star Trek theThe Next Generation]] onward, at least) focused on their sneaky, politically manipulative [[Chessmaster]] tendencies, the novels portray the hot-blooded warrior aspect of their culture far more prominantly. They certainly don't lose their [[Chessmaster]] traits, though.

* [[Vestigial Empire]]: Back and forth in the novels, post [[Star Trek Nemesis (Film)|Star Trek: Nemesis]]. In the immediate aftermath, the Romulan Star Empire [[Balkanise Me|fragmented into factions]]. Praetor Tal'aura and Proconsul Tomalak were able to reunite most of them, as the Federation sought to maintain peace along the borders. Commander Donatra, however, declared the worlds and fleets loyal to her independent. Between losing territory to Donatra, uprisings on the outworlds, and the damage from the [[Star Trek: Destiny|Borg Invasion]], the Empire was less than half its former size. It was explicitly stated in [[Star Trek: Articles of the Federation]] that the Romulans were no longer a superpower. However, they bounced back thanks to membership in the [[Star Trek: Typhon Pact|Typhon Pact]]. That said, the empire will presumably collapse again when Romulus is destroyed (though we're still a few years short of that in the current timeframe...)

* [[Villain Team -Up]]: A leading member of the Typhon Pact, an alliance of six previously xenophobic and aggressive antagonist cultures, united for mutual protection as a sort of rival-Federation.

AKA the female Romulan Commander from [[Star Trek: theThe Original Series (TV)|"The Enterprise Incident"]]. A proud officer and patriot who follows her own sense of Romulan honour at all times, often leading her into alliance with the Federation. She can be counted upon to safeguard the honour of the Romulan Star Empire no matter the personal cost.

* [[Left Hanging]]: So far, her decision to {{spoiler|join the Remans and work with Spock on the reunification of the Vulcanoid races}}.

* [[What You Are in Thethe Dark]]

Following ''[[Star Trek Nemesis (Film)|Star Trek: Nemesis]]'', Donatra became an important figure in Romulan politics, opposing newly seated Praetor Tal'aura, and eventually forming her own government.

* [[Blood Onon the Debate Floor]]: To the shock of the other senators, he murders a member of the government on the Senate Chamber floor. There's a reason why a character in later books says that Dralath caused more damage to Romulan honour than any other leader she remembers.

* [[The Caligula]]: But also...

* [[Evil Chancellor]]: Dralath, as praetor, is essentially this to Shiarkiek, the emperor (although the praetor has the real political authority, the emperor's figurehead status is still taken very seriously and his spiritual influence is extreme). Dralath even tries to manipulate public opinion by manipulating a drugged-up Shiarkiek.

A diplomat introduced in [[Star Trek: theThe Lost Era]], who is known both for her patriotism and her desire for stable relations with foreign powers. She eventually {{spoiler|becomes Praetor}}.

* [[Face Death Withwith Dignity]]: He makes a conscious decision to do so, so his enemies, if they're watching his arranged death, won't have the satisfaction of seeing him run and flail.

* [[HeelDeadly Face Door SlamChange-of-Heart]]: His death, and the ''coup'' that put Hiren and his supporters in charge, resulted in this for the Romulan Star Empire as a whole. Neral had come to support the idea of permanent alliance with the Federation, but he wasn't able to implement his plans.

A lower-caste warrior who becomes an ally to Spock, eventually living on Vulcan, where he embraces a new role as a scholar. A man with a highly personal stake in the Federation/Romulan peace process. An [[Ensemble Darkhorse]], he first appeared in [[Star Trek: VulcansVulcan's Forge]] in a relatively minor role. He proved so popular with readers that he made a reappearance in [[Star Trek: VulcansVulcan's Heart]], his role greatly expanded. He would go to appear in several short stories and the [[Star Trek: VulcansVulcan's Soul]] trilogy as well.

* [[You Can't Go Home Again]]: After helping Spock back across the Neutral Zone to safety, Ruanek is unable to return lest he be tried for treason. He's reluctantly forced to make a new life on Vulcan. In later books (the [[Star Trek: VulcansVulcan's Soul]] trilogy), he becomes an academic, and marries a Vulcan healer.

* [[Becoming the Mask]]: An interesting example. He was always more comfortable as a scholar than an emperor, and over the years "played" at scholar more and more until he forgot his true responsibility as emperor (at least that's how he sees it. He might be being a bit harsh on himself). He also feels that his true identity - defined, as with many Romulans, by his personal honour - is now lost to him.

{{quote| “I was a fool, a fool, so seduced by my scholarly research I forgot what I was. Never do that, never forget. For once you do, once you begin trusting others with what should be yours, you never, ever win it back”. }}

* [[Reasonable Authority Figure]]

Following ''[[Star Trek Nemesis (Film)|Star Trek: Nemesis]]'', Tal'aura swiftly claimed the vacant leadership and for several turbulant years ruled as Praetor.

* [[General Ripper]]: With the Klingons as his "enemy X":

{{quote| "Think, Romulans, of our colony worlds. Think of the honest, hardworking, loyal men and women who ask nothing but to serve the Empire. Now picture foreigners imperiling those Romulan men, women, yes, Romulan children. And such invaders do threaten, brutish creatures who know nothing of honour, nothing of glory: Klingons! Klingons who know nothing but blood lust! You ask, how can this be? Have we not dealt peacefully with the Klingons, even purchased warships from them? Yes! We made that mistake! We let them sell us faulty ships - but no more! That was all part of their plan to weaken us, then overwhelm us".}}

* [[My Country, Right or Wrong]]

* [[Patriotic Fervor]]: He encourages this in his troops at every opportunity.

{{quote| “People with beliefs like that usually have a disorder that prevents them from understanding loyalty to anything but their own desires. A defect in their lateral cortex makes them abnormally egocentric, and the same disorder keeps them from having any impulse control. I learned about it in socio-deviance”.}}

* [[Fantastic Rank System]]: The current novels make use of Cardassian ranks listed in unpublished RPG sourcebooks. From highest to lowest, the ranks are Legate (canonically established), Jagul, Gul (canonically established), Dal, Dalin, Glinn (canonically established), Gil, Garresh, and Gorr.

{{quote| The morality of a Cardassian can only be understood by a Cardassian. The morality of a soldier of the Union is that which serves the Union best.}}

* [[Blessed Withwith Suck]]: Miras Vara's spiritual awakening in [[Terok Nor]] may be for the good of Cardassia, but her new life is hardly a happy one, seeing as she has to give up her old identity and live on the run as an outlaw. Then there's her prophetic knowledge of her planet's future destruction, which she knows she is powerless to prevent. She sees it regularly in her dreams, and is haunted by the vision.

* [[Ironic Echo]]: Her humble greeting, "you're always welcome", is repeated by Elim Garak at the end of [[Star Trek Deep Space Nine: aA Stitch In Time|A Stitch in Time]]. It's ironic that Garak, a "night person" should quote the channeler of the light.

* [[Legacy Character]]: "My mother's name was Astraea. My daughter's name will be Astraea".

* [[Talking in Your Dreams]]: Oralius appears in Miras Vara's dreams to convince her to become Astraea. Vara tries not sleeping to avoid Her, but of course it doesn't work.

An assassin (official title was "Business Manager") for the Orion crime lord Ganz. Appears in [[Star Trek: Vanguard]].

* [[Damn, It Feels Good to Be Aa Gangster!]]: He always dresses in a perfectly tailored suit, cleans his weapons carefully to maintain appearances, and generally has a certain ''flair''.

The blue-skinned Andorians have been explored in depth in the novels, with their four-way marriage system interpreted as a four-sex biology. While this interpretation initially clashed a bit with portrayals in ''[[Star Trek Enterprise (TV)|Star Trek: Enterprise]]'', more recent novels have reconciled the two approaches into one consistant view of the race ([[Your Mileage May Vary]] though).

* [[Armor -Piercing Question]]: "Are you Whole?" Supposedly asked of the mythical hero Thirishar by all-powerful Uzaveh (AKA Andorian God), the question drives the modern Andorian culture in its entirety. To be truly Whole requires both reassembling in unity the four genders derived from the hero Thirishar (essentially, bonding with three others in an marriage quad) and gaining knowledge of the "missing piece", an elusive aspect of racial knowledge hidden to the Andorian people.

* [[Arranged Marriage]]: The foundation of Andorian culture, a result of their low birth rate and general infertility. Having four sexes and a thin window of opportunity for successful births, they need to get their young adults making babies as soon as possible. Quads are brought together after genetic mapping to determine likely success in breeding. Andorians are taught to revere the four-way marriage bond above all else: One alone cannot be Whole, nor two, nor three.

* [[Creation Myth]]: An Andorian creation myth referencing the sundering of their race into four genders is essential to the in-depth exploration of their culture.

* [[Dying Race]]: The books establish the Andorians as this, at least by the 24th century. Their complex four-sex biology is failing them and their window of fertility has dropped to only four or five years. Unless their genome can be repaired, they face extinction within fifteen generations. Note that events in later books - [[Star Trek: Destiny]] most notably - make the problem even worse.

* [[Fictional Political Party]]: The Parliament Andoria is split between the Visionists (who are conservative and somewhat isolationist), and the strongly pro-Federation Modern Progessive party (liberal).

* [[Instrument of Murder]]: The Andorian ''flabjellah'' is a combination sidearm and musical instrument.

* [[Occupiers Out of Our Country!]]: As of the late 24th century, a vocal minority of Andorians have come to view the Federation as essentially an oppressive force manipulating Andor for its own ends at the expense of the planet's own national and cultural identity. The idea is encouraged by the {{spoiler|Tholians}}, who arrange to drop a proverbial bombshell at just the right (wrong) time.

* [[Call a Rabbit Aa Smeerp]]: An Arkenite character in [[Star Trek: Titan]] describes his dead pet, which is clearly a cat. Not literally - it's an fictional animal given a made up name - but it's obvious that what we're talking about is an Arkenite cat.

* [[Honor Before Reason]]: The Arkenites take their debts very seriously. So much so, that when Klingons save an Arkenite outpost from a disaster in [[Star Trek: Vanguard]], in exchange for the outpost swearing allegiance to the Klingon Empire, the residents then refuse to back out. Even though they don't want to leave the Federation or help the Klingons, they all willingly keep to the promise even when Starfleet shows up trying to "liberate" them. To choose gratification over duty and refuse to repay their debt would, their leader explains, be unthinkable.

A highly competitive race who wander space in nomadic communities. Most Betelgeusians encountered in the novels (all minor supporting characters so far) are younger males who've joined Starfleet to gain experience and training, which they'll take back to their people in order to win a place in a pack.

The [[Star Trek: Typhon Pact]] series finally established some concrete facts about Breen culture. They're a multi-species organization who hide their true identity by wearing body-concealing suits (some are refridgerated, because one of the major Breen races lives in sub-zero environments).

* [[A Day in Thethe Limelight]]: The [[Star Trek: Typhon Pact]] novel ''Zero Sum Game''.

Small, androgynous beings who appeared in one episode of ''[[Star Trek: the Next Generation (TV)|Star Trek theThe Next Generation]]''. Their computer-dependent society is explored in greater detail in the novels, particuarly the [[Starfleet Corps of Engineers]]. Bynars are named both for their close relationship with computers and resulting tendency to think/communicate in binary, and their social structure: linked pairs forming a single Bynar unit.

Advanced and secretive aliens whose biology has been converted into nanotechnology. They appeared in [[Star Trek: Destiny]], their history being tied to that of the Borg Collective.

* [[All Powerful Bystander]]: They can resolve the Borg crisis in [[Star Trek: Destiny]] relatively easily. Convincing them to actually care about the outside galaxy, and confront their own stagnation as a people, is far harder.

* [[Space Elves]]: Isolationist, peaceful, convinced of their own superiority and not afraid to express it, and dedicated to scientific and philosophical pursuits while ignoring the wider galaxy.

A feline race introduced in ''[[Star Trek: the Animated Series (Animation)|Star Trek theThe Animated Series]]'', who in the novels have a tendency to leave and rejoin the Federation apparently on a whim.

One of several races to call the Rigel system home, the Chelons are based on the green "sabre-toothed turtle" Rigellians of ''[[Star Trek: the Motion Picture (Film)|Star Trek theThe Motion Picture]]''. The most notable Chelon character is Jetanien of [[Star Trek: Vanguard]], a Federation diplomat.

* [[Poisonous Person]]: When under stress, Chelons secrete a poison through their skin. Ambassador Jetanien explains this to his Klingon diplomatic counterpart in order to warn him off; another Chelon posthumously kills a Hirogen hunter with his poison in [[Star Trek: Destiny]].

Introduced as a [[Sequel Hook]] in the [[Star Trek: Destiny]] trilogy, the Children starred in a follow-up novel from the [[Star Trek: Voyager Relaunch]]. They're a powerful non-corporeal race who defended their region of space against the Borg - one of the only races ever to do so.

Introduced in ''[[Star Trek: the Motion Picture (Film)|Star Trek theThe Motion Picture]]'', much is made in the novels of both their attitude to sexual intercourse (put simply: a normal and non-troubling part of interpersonal relations) and their emotional maturity.

* [[Foil]]: The [[Star Trek: Titan]] book ''Sword of Damocles'' introduces the [[The Eeyore|gloomily pessimistic]] Thymerae as a foil for the Deltans, represented in that novel by Peya Fell. The Carreon also serve this role to some extent.

* [[Vestigial Empire]]: A willingly vestigial one. They turned inwards centuries ago and now control only a few star systems, considering space travel and colonization a “noble savage” sort of concept. They still get annoyed when the Carreon try to settle their old holdings, though.

* [[Rule of Three]]: The number three appears to have considerable significance for the cultures involved with the Wormhole Aliens; the Eav'oq, the Bajorans, and the Ascendants (who themselves make three, obviously). Connected to this, we have the trio of the Voice, the Hand and the Fire. Further, there are nine orbs (three times three), and nine Emissaries. The Wormhole Aliens certainly like the number three, though for what reason (other than this trope, of course) is as yet unclear.

* [[You Can't Fight Fate]]: They seem destined to face the Ascendants. It will no doubt be revealed as part of a greater plan, because it's notable that after having hidden in subspace to prevent their total extinction at Ascendant hands, they come out of hiding just as the Ascendants are preparing to come back.

The species to which the Federation President in ''[[Star Trek VI: theThe Undiscovered Country (Film)|The Undiscovered Country]]'' belonged. Members of the United Federation of Planets, from [[Single Biome Planet|an ice-covered world]].

* [[Asshole Victim]]: The Klingons are in their region of space on a mission of general conquest; Klingon Captain Klag and his crew are nonetheless the protagonists of the [[Star Trek: Klingon Empire]] novels. The Elabrej government is oppressive and they're close to societal collapse anyway, with their general [[Crapsack World]] status making it easier to get behind the Klingon attempts to stomp all over them.

Grumpy lizard people, who have been a part of the Federation for many decades and show up periodically all over the place. Only one is a major character, though; Phigus Simenon of [[Star Trek: Stargazer]]

* [[A Day in Thethe Limelight]]: The second novel of the [[Star Trek: Stargazer]] series visits their planet.

* [[Cross -Cultural Handshake]]: They greet others with a ritualistic movement of the hands; extending them outward, palms down.

In the novels, the reptilian Gorn become a member of the Typhon Pact. Territorial and wary, they're probably one of the Pact's moderate members, but their various castes often have different outlooks and agendas.

* [[A Day in Thethe Limelight]]: The [[Star Trek: Typhon Pact]] novel ''Seize the Fire''. Before that, the graphic novel ''The Gorn Crisis''.

* [[Thrown Out the Airlock]]: The Gorn Hegemony is shown to practice this as a form of execution. The prisoner is entitled to an official trial, but that doesn't stop some commanders spacing traitors there and then.

* [[God Is Dead]]: In the aftermath of ''[[Star Trek: Destiny]]'', the Indign are dealing with this; the Borg Collective is no more.

Their name and several other details taken in homage from earlier ''[[Star Trek (Franchise)|Star Trek]]'' works, the Kinshaya of the modern continuity are a race in near-continuous war with the Klingons. Their nation, the Holy Order, is a member of the newly formed [[Villain Team -Up|Typhon Pact]].

* [[A Day in Thethe Limelight]]: The [[Star Trek: Typhon Pact]] novella ''The Struggle Within''.

* [[Vertebrate Withwith Extra Limbs]]: Four legs and two wings.

The "Blugill" parasites from ''[[Star Trek: the Next Generation (TV)|Star Trek theThe Next Generation]]'' season one make a reapperance in the modern novel continuity, and are revealed to be Kurlans (an ancient race previously known only by name and a few snippets of culture). They're involved in a feud against {{spoiler|the Trill}}.

* [[Gone Horribly Wrong]]: Their creation resulted from medical experiments designed to make their original forms immune to a terrible plague.

* [[Ascend to Aa Higher Plane of Existence]]: Everyone in the galaxy did this simultaneously a quarter of a billion years ago, the result of that Manraloth experiment gone wrong. Trying to unite the multiverse as they had the galaxy, the Manraloth and their allies attempted to tap into the higher dimensional planes with their minds. The resulting surge of energy proved too powerful, overloading the telepathic centres of every Manraloth and transmitting it to any other brain capable of receiving it. The entire galactic population was forced into a state of pure energy, long before most races were ready.

* [[EverybodysEverybody's Dead, Dave]]: Something modern-day revived Manraloth have to deal with.

* [[EverythingsEverything's Better Withwith Sparkles]]: One of many artificial changes to their appearance bred into Manraloth biology.

* [[Planet of Copyhats]]: They're based on a character from ''[[Star Trek: the Animated Series (Animation)|Star Trek theThe Animated Series]]'', one who was an overly-cautious coward. In the novels, their hat is indeed "being overly cautious". However, the lead Nasat character, P8 Blue, is a straight-forward case of [[My Species Doth Protest Too Much]], as she loves shaking things up and taking risks.

* [[Tree -Top Town]]: The Nasat civilization originated on the forest floor, but now resides in the canopy.

A recent member of the Federation, the Pahkwa-thanh are a cross between a komodo dragon and a Dromaeosaur. They're known for being very, very polite...and very carnivorous. Dr. Ree in [[Star Trek: Titan]] is a Pahkwa-thanh.

* [[EverythingsEverything's Better Withwith Dinosaurs]]

* [[A Form You Are Comfortable With]]: In their natural state, they are only semi-Humanoid at best, and rather ferocious-looking. The Selenean Pod Mothers, who have great control over their offspring's genetics, have bred certain broods designed specifically for off-world contact. These individuals, Y'Lira Modan of ''[[Star Trek: Titan]]'' among them, take a form more pleasing to humanoid eyes, but retain the ability to shift into their natural state if need be.

An advanced race who once controlled a vast empire in the Taurus Reach region. They were roused from hibernation in ''[[Star Trek: Vanguard]]'', when the Federation stumbled across their technological relics. Finding younger races meddling on their worlds, the re-awakened Shedai lashed out in vengeance.

The pig-like aliens from the TV shows are defined in the novels by their pride and their unusual sense of manners. It was established onscreen that they argue and bluster for the sake of it, and the novels expand on their morality to show them finding delight in clever and witty opponents. It's less [[Jerk Withwith a Heart of Gold]], and more like a system whereby having a heart of gold is demonstrated ''through'' being jerkish.

* [[Blue and Orange Morality]]: "Civil Conversation" is their equivalent of polite formality, and involves blustering insults and cutting remarks as a means of encouraging argument.

Introduced in [[Star Trek: New Frontier]], which mostly takes place in their former territory, the Thallonians later show up for cameos in other novels. Many are refugees, following the collapse of the once-powerful and isolationist Thallonian Empire.

* [[Balkanize Me]]: The struggle to hold the worlds of Thallonian space together in the aftermath of the Thallonian Empire's collapse drives much of [[Star Trek: New Frontier]]. Without the iron fist of the Thallonians imposing peace, the many worlds of the region revert into old hostilities, and countless little wars flare up. Eventually, protagonist Thallonian Si Cwan and his allies succeed in establishing a New Thallonian Protectorate, uniting most of these worlds into one nation. Then the Protectorate ends up having a civil war...

From their relatively few appearances on-screen, the Tholians have become a major part of the novel continuity. Their racial [[Backstory]] is essential to the plot of ''[[Star Trek: Vanguard]]'', and they are now part of the [[Star Trek: Typhon Pact|Typhon Pact]].

* [[Absurdly Sharp Blade]]: A particular weapon established in ''[[Star Trek: theThe Lost Era]]'', later appearing in ''[[Star Trek: Vanguard]]''.

* [[Sins of Our Fathers]]: Several generations after the disaster that was [[Star Trek: Vanguard|Project Vanguard]], many Tholians still hold a grudge against the Federation.

The Trill were explored in [[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]], which established that their society was partially built on a lie - that far more Trill humanoids are capable of joining with the long-lived Trill symbionts than is commonly believed. The novels explore the political conspiracies and cover-ups of Trill society in further detail. Eventually, they're gripped by civil unrest, and a diplomatic crisis unfolds concerning Trill's relationship with the rest of the Federation in general and Bajor in particular.

* [[Empire Withwith a Dark Secret]]: Trill is a Federal Republic with a Dark Secret. The generational conspiracy among the Trill government is revealed to be more extensive than merely lying about the number of Trills suitable for Joining. It also involves a cover-up of a shameful time in the Trill's history, records of which were destroyed.

* [[Government Conspiracy]]: Trill has so many that eventually they can't suppress all the secrets anymore, there's a general uprising, much political embarrassment and almost a conflict with Bajor as a result.

* [[Occupiers Out of Our Country!]]: Unjoined political groups come to see the symbionts as a manipulative race of overlords controlling Trill society; after all, the Joined hold all the positions of overt political authority, and as far as some unjoined are now concerned, the humanoid Joined are puppets of the symbionts.

A reclusive race whose government joined the [[Villain Team -Up|Typhon Pact]]. They're morally opposed to the Federation's democratic ideals.

* [[A Day in Thethe Limelight]]: The [[Star Trek: Typhon Pact]] novel ''Rough Beasts of Empire'', though they later play important roles in other books of that series.

* [[Artificial Gravity]]: They manipulate gravity on a local scale so they can use every surface of a room for work or recreation. They consider using only the floor to be a foolish waste of available space. Also, they're psychologically uncomfortable with open spaces and prefer the sense of enclosement that comes from having workstations on every wall, floor and ceiling. The effects are shown in the [[Terok Nor]] and [[Star Trek: Typhon Pact]] series.

A tough, often warlike race from the backwater desert world, Xenex. The most famous Xenexian is M’k’n’zy of Calhoun, AKA Mackenzie Calhoun of the ''Excalibur''. He’s [[The Captain]] of the [[Star Trek: New Frontier]] series.

* [[Human Aliens]]: Xenexians are almost indistinguishable from humans, aside from having additional eye colours such as Calhoun's purple.

* [[Warrior Heaven]]: The Xenexian afterlife of ''Kaz'hera'' is a single battle, repeated ''ad infinitum'', basically analogous to ''Sto'vo'kor'', Klingon heaven. In ''Kaz'hera'', there are no regrets, no grudges, no responsibilities; only endless mayhem and the ability to fight and die over and over. Calhoun apparently believes in it; his human wife does not.

Although not explored in any detail, these fussy and dour aliens are portrayed as commonly involved in the Federation beaurocracy, building on their characterization from [[Star Trek: theThe Next Generation]], which showed them to be both meticulous record keepers and master tacticians. The most notable Zakdorn character was Koll Azernal, the immoral Chief of Staff to the [[Star Trek: aA Time Toto...|Zife Administration]], but they show up in minor positions (usually beaurocratic ones) in many novels.

* [[With Friends Like These...]]: Allies of humans, although the human characters who have to spend time with them (like Quinn and Pennington in [[Star Trek: Vanguard]]) grimace at the thought. Zakdorn have a reputation for being difficult, complaining often.

* [[A Day in Thethe Limelight]]: The novel ''[[A Singular Destiny]]'' is their most notable apperance, and the first to explore their culture and history to any degree.

* [[With Friends Like These...]]: Zalda's relationship to the rest of the Federation. No one really likes the Zaldans due to their prickly and extremist social norms. They play an important role within the Federation, though, facilitating trade with the Klingon Empire.