Publisher: Pocket Books

Author: Michael A Martin and Andy Mangels

Format: 4”x7” Paperback Book, 336 pages.

ISBN: 978-1-4165-0358-3

Rating: 3/5

This is a Star Trek: Enterprise novel taking place during the first half of the Xindi mission. The book deals with the MACOs (Military Assault Command Operations) and how they interact with the Enterprise crew. There is much friction from being confined to a small vessel and from the two different military cultures.

The A plot has Captain Jonathan Archer, Lieutenants Malcolm Reed and Donna O’Neill go on a mission along with Major Hayes and a handful of MACOs. They’re trying to find a certain alien trader who has dealt with the Xindi. But all along it’s a trap by the Xindi to deal the human mission a serious blow.

Meanwhile in the B plot Ensign Travis Mayweather shuttles a group of MACOs led by his roommate, Corporal Hideaki Chang. The two really don’t like each other which leads to much friction especially once Chang decides to go beyond the mission parameters which puts the whole group in danger.

The pacing is fairly good. Neither plot is all that interesting but the whole point of the book are the interactions and to get to know the MACOs better. We get some insight into Major Hayes’s thoughts and also into the thoughts of Selma Guitierrez, a MACO who has found out she is pregnant.

Overall I enjoyed the book. I kind of rushed it at the ending since the denouement was a whole chapter of reflection. There is a Prologue and Epilogue which have nothing to do with the main story and I really didn’t see any point to them. But those are minor points. It was a good read and I recommend this book.