Страница 2 из 101
LIEUTENANT MING XIONG: The young, idealistic scientist assigned to Starbase 47 and given the enviable task of learning the truth behind the Taurus Meta-Genome and the Shedai civilization that created it. His passion for learning and exploration are at first challenged and eventually dampened as he comes to understand the true power of the Shedai and the potential it represents not only to the Federation but also its enemies. Still, he retains hope that unearthing and even sharing the mysteries of the Taurus Reach might help to forge new ties between the interstellar powers.
TIM PENNINGTON: An investigative journalist working for the Federation News Service and assigned to cover the Federation’s activities in the Taurus Reach. Pe
AMBASSADOR JETANIEN: A Rigelian Chel and the Federation’s diplomatic attaché assigned to Starbase 47. A wise and learned statesman with a firm belief in the Federation’s bedrock principles and ideals, Jetanien also is driven by an intense need to forge some form of enduring legacy to mark his life and career. Necessity requires the ambassador to foster several bold diplomatic overtures with the Klingons and the Tholians, but it’s ambition and ego that compel him to do everything possible to salvage such proceedings even as the political climate between the Federation and the Klingon Empire continues to deteriorate.
THE SHEDAI: The enigmatic architects of an ancient hegemony that once spa
Contents
The Taurus Reach 2267
PROLOGUE
One Year Earlier
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17 INTERLUDE
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28 INTERLUDE
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49 INTERLUDE
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60 INTERLUDE
The Taurus Reach 2267
EPILOGUE
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
The Taurus Reach 2267
PROLOGUE
“Red alert. The station is now on red alert. All hands to battle stations. This is not a drill. Repeat. This is not a drill.”
The lifeless feminine voice of the computer droned over the sound of alarm Klaxons blaring through Starbase 47’s command center. Jon Cooper emerged from his office, a quick glance all he needed to size up the scene around him. Each of the duty stations was ma
As Cooper crossed the deck, the alarm sirens faded, though the harsh crimson alert indicators continued to flash. After ascending the steps two at a time to the supervisor’s deck, he noted that the station’s commanding officer had yet to arrive. “Status report.”