Kobayashi Maru [Paperback]

To protect the cargo ships essential to the continuing existence of the fledgling Coalition of Planets, the captains of the United Earth's Starfleet are ordered to interstellar picket duty, with little more to do than ask Who goes there? into the darkness of space.

Captain Jonathan Archer of theEnterprise™seethes with frustration, wondering if anyone else can see what he sees. A secret, closed, militaristic society, convinced that their survival hangs by a thread, who view their neighbors as a threat to their very existence -- the Spartans of ancient Greece, the Russians of the old Soviet Union, the Koreans under Kim Il-sung -- with only one goal: attain ultimate power, no matter the cost. The little-known, never-seen Romulans seem to live by these same principles.

The captain realizes that the bond between the signers of the Coalition charter is fragile and likely to snap if pushed. But heknowsthat the Romulans are hostile, and he believes they are the force behind the cargo ship attacks. If asked, Archer can offer no proof without endangering his friend's life.

To whom does he owe his loyalty: his friend, his world, the Coalition? And by choosing one, does he not risk losing all of them? What is the solution to a no-win scenario?Michael A. Martin's solo short fiction has appeared inThe Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction. He has also coauthored (with Andy Mangels) severalStar Trekcomics for Marvel and Wildstorm and numerous Star Trek novels and eBooks, including theUSA TodaybestsellerTitan: Book One: Taking Wing; Titan: Book Two: The Red King; the Sy Fy Genre Award-winningStar Trek: Worlds of Deep Space 9 Book Two: Trill -- Unjoined; Star Trek: The Lost Era 2298 -- The Sundered; Star Trek: Deep Space 9 Mission: Gamma: Vol. Three: Cathedral; Star Trek: The Next Generation: Section 31 -- Rogue; Star Trek: Starfleet Corps of Engineers#30 and #31 ("Ishtar Rising" Books 1 al£6