Patterns of Interference is
the fifth novel in the Rise of the Federation series,
Christopher L. Bennett's sequence of adventures for the characters of
Star Trek: Enterprise. The
series charts the earliest events of the United Federation of Planets
through the 2160s, both following on from threads from episodes of
Enterprise and working
backwards from various historical bits and pieces mentioned in other
series.
Previous
novels in the series have followed up on the deadly technological
threat from “Dead Stop,” named by Bennett as the Ware, which has
been neutralised with unforeseen consequences for the local galactic
neighbourhood. First contact has been made with the planet Sauria but
Federation trade with the despotic Maltuvis has led the planet into
political chaos. The Rigel system has joined the Federation, but this
itself has led to political fallout among such powers as the Orion
Syndicate and a breakout movement from the Malurian system. It's fair
to say that in a few years the UFP has made a big impact in local
space, but frequently with unpredictable consequences.
This
lies at the heart of the novel, as Admiral Jonathan Archer campaigns
for the creation of a non-interference directive to prevent reckless
meddling in the affairs of other peoples. Don't expect to see the
founding of the Prime Directive here, though; Bennett understands
that policy decisions like this take years to come into effect.
Archer has to deal with both logical and impassioned pleas against
non-interference, including from his enemy-turned-friend Shran.
Meanwhile, other organisations have a vested interest in Starfleet
becoming so shamed by its interference that the Federation retreats
into isolationism. Multiple factions play against each other, in a
plot that increases in complexity as different characters come
together at the hotbed that is Sauria.
Bennett's
prose is always a pleasure to read. He knows how to spin a good
adventure. There's also a good deal of social commentary in his work,
and this novel is no exception, as the author uses futuristic
situations as a commentary on contemporary issues in true Trek
style. There are memorable
instances on gender politics that see characters comment on how
movements for equality can easily be reversed when society becomes
more insular. While they're talking about colony worlds with a vested
interest in keeping their populations growing, it's a comment on the
shifts both backwards and forwards in gender politics today, and also
an attempt to make sense of the sexism displayed in some episodes of
The Original Series. In another plotline we spend time with Maltuvis,
an idiotic, narcissistic tyrant who has come to power due to his
wealth and by turning his people against minorities, a
none-too-subtle pop at a certain president currently dominating the
news.
All
manner of characters from Enterprise and
beyond turn up in this series and many of them are present in this
book, all working to their own ends. While Archer pushes his
political agenda, he is contacted by Trip Tucker, alive and working
for Section 31 as per the novel The Good That Men Do.
The two of them along with Captain Malcolm Reed, now of the USS
Pioneer, put plans
into place to bring down the clandestine organisation from the
inside. Meanwhile, the Orions, led by the alluring three sisters
introduced in Enterprise:
“Bound,” conspire to interfere with Sauria themselves, with
agents that include the Malurian Garos (from Enterprise:
“Civilization”) and the Orion woman Devna (from TAS “The Time
Trap”). Furthermore, there are roles for the crew of the USS Essex,
the ancestors of one James T. Kirk and a member of the Paris dynasty.
There's a real risk with works like this of small universe syndrome,
but Bennett pulls it off with panache.
Although
there's an overall optimism in the Rise of the Federation
series, there's something rather doom laden about Patterns
of Interference. In spite of
everyone's best efforts here, Section 31 will live on to threaten
Federation ideals in the future (both in the primary and Kelvin
timelines). Garos's actions are for the good of the Malurian people,
who will be rendered extinct off-screen in the TOS episode “The
Changeling.” According to the TNG episode “Power Play,” the USS
Essex will be lost
with all hands at Mab-bu VI. Knowing the future of so many characters
and groups makes casts a shadow over much of what happens here.
While
all of this is going on, T'Pol and Hoshi, now of the flagship USS
Endeavour NCC-06, are
sent in to assist a group of boomers who have landed on a planet
where plant life dominates. There a species of tree-like organisms
dubbed dryads show potential as a source of medical compounds but
also signs of sentience, and Hoshi is tasked with trying to identify
their linguistic abilities. It's an interesting, pure science fiction
storyline that feels somewhat divorced from the main events, but
remains relevant to the ongoing questions of involvement with other
worlds.
Rise of the Federation has
been a strong line since its beginnings, and Patterns of
Interference is one of its
strongest instalments.
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