t h e . s t a r . t r e k . l i b r a r y

Star Trek: The Next Generation: A Time (9) for War, a Time for Peace
by Keith R.A. deCandido

p.-1 And after the strife of war begins the strife of peace.
     --Carl Sandburg

p.44 "This game is La Forge Takes the Pot. All my cards are wild, and nobody else is allowed to get a face card or an ace."

p.45-46 "Sir, I have a message from Betazed for you and Counselor Troi. It's on a diplomatic channel, but it's marked personal."
     Troi rolled her eyes. "I wonder who that could be."
     "Stand by, Lieutenant," Riker said.
     Picard stood up. "I believe that is our cue to leave."
     "Damn," Vale said, also standing, "I was just getting warmed up."
     "That's what we were afraid of," La Forge muttered.
     Riker looked around in mild irritation. "You don't all have to go. This'll only take a minute. We'll sit out Geordi's hand and take it in the next room."
     Picard turned to his second officer. "Data, in the fifteen years and however many months and days since we first met Lwaxana, what is the average duration of personal communications from her to this ship?"
     Data opened his mouth to answer, but Troi interrupted. "Point taken, Captain. Come on, Will, let's get this over with."
     Riker sighed as the four officers left the cabin. "Computer, full lights." As the room brightened, he said, "I don't see why this has to kill the game."
     "Because the captain's right. No matter what she has to say, Mother will take three times as long as it is necessary to say it. And if she finds out we're trying to cut her short just go get back to a poker game, she'll take even longer and we'll never hear the end of it." She smiled. "Besides, better we stop the game now before Christine completely humiliates you."
     Drawing himself up, Riker said, "I was lulling her into a false sense of security."
     "She didn't look very lulled to me."
     "It was all part of my cunning plan. That's my story and I'm sticking to it."
     She patted him on the shoulder. "The important thing is, you believe that."
     "Damn right." He tapped his combadge as they both sat at the desk on the other side of the cabin's common room. "Patch it through, Mr. Wriede."
     "Yes, sir."

p.49 Angrily, Troi asked, "Mother didn't you read our message?"
     "Of course I did, Little One, how else would I have known about you two getting married and William getting to command the Giant?"
     "It's the Titan," Troi said in a tight voice, "and if you know that, you should also know that we just want to have a simple ceremony on Earth."
     "Well, you're certainly welcome to do that, too, if you want, Little One, but I don't much see the point when you're going to have an extravaganza on Betazed. After all, you are the Granddaughter of the Fifth House and Heir to the Sacred Chalice of Rixx."
     Riker tried and probably failed to keep the sarcasm out of his voice. "And Heir to the Holy Rings of Betazed, don't forget that."
     "No, dear," Lwaxana said in a patronizing tone, "I'm the Heir to the Holy Rings of Betazed. If Deanna was the Heir, I'd be the Holder, like I am of the Sacred Chalice. Really, if you're going to marry into the family you're going to need to know these things."

p.58-59 "Oh, by the way," Zhres said, "there's a new reporter in the room--a woman from the Free Vulcan Gazette named Annalisa Armitage."
     Kant let out a long breath and prayed to the Prophets for guidance. "I was really hoping those lunatics had gone away."
     "I take it that the Free Vulcan Gazette is not a reputable journal?"
     "Not remotely. For starters, not a single Vulcan is on its staff, and I would be stunned if there were any in its subscriber list."
     "That's odd. I took a brief look at their latest issue, and they seem to advocate a very pro-Vulcan stance."
     Kant scowled. "That's one way of looking at it. It started publication about three hundred years ago, right after the first contact between Vulcans and humans on Earth. A group of humans felt that Vulcans should rule the galaxy. They started the FVG, and it's kept going strong despite being officially repudiated by the Vulcan government, and being the laughingstock of pretty much everyone who doesn't subscribe to it, which is about ninety-nine-point-nine-nine percent of sentient life."

p.59 "What's the basis of their argument?"
     "What, why Vulcans should rule the galaxy?" Kant shrugged. "I guess because they're the only ones smart enough."
     "It's a case that can be made."
     Glowering at his assistant, Kant said, "I'm going to assume that was a joke."
     "I thought assuming was bad."
     "See, that's your second mistake. Your first was assuming. Your second was to believe that I'm someone who expects, desires, or needs you to think. Thinking just gets in the way of the work and irritates me. Kindly stop it."

p.67 Kant closed his eyes. "Hang on, let me use my telepathic powers to see what the admiral was thinking." He opened them. "Nope. Sorry, Vairo, left my telepathy in my other pants today. That's it, folks, next briefing's at 2100 tonight."

p.80 "You said we should seek endorsements, fine, I can give you one right now: Benjamin Sisko."
     Helga blinked. "The Sisko?"
     "Well, actually, there are several," Fred said. "His son's written for the FNS, and his father has this great restaurant in New Orleans."

p.85-86 "Batting practice is over. Now it's a ballgame."
     "What's that thing where you hit the ball over the wall in the back?"
     "A home run?"
     "Right. I think you just hit one of those."
     Nan laughed. "Hell, Esperanza, that was a grand slam."
     "That's where all the plates are full, right?"
     "Bases are full, yeah."
     "You said before it was plates."
     "No, the batter's at the plate, the runners are at bases."
     "How can they be at something if they're runners? Shouldn't they be running?"

p.103 Obviously, Rov's relationship with reality is pretty strained.

p.133 "Last year, after that incident at Rashanar, Nakamura told me to send an S.C.E. team to 'evaluate' Commander Data. In the end, he ordered the lad to remove his emotion chip. I--well, protested. A bit." He smirked. "A great deal, in fact. I believe I called his parentage into question, and informed him that if he wanted my people to perform an act that was in violation of everything the Federation stood for, he could perform an act of his own--one somewhat anatomically impossible for a human."
     Ross had picked up his raktajino to drink, but set it down again as he burst out laughing. After a moment, he caught his breath. "Captain Scott, for the record, I would like to say that I'm appalled that you would speak in such a way to a superior officer."
     Forcing himself to be contrite, Scotty said, "Aye, sir, as well you should be."
     Grinning, he added, "Off the record, I wish I'd been there to see it."

p.142 Blinking, Worf said, "I was referring to my time in Starfleet. I served as an officer on the Aldrin, the Enterprise, and at Deep Space 9 for fifteen years before I was appointed ambassador."

p.161-162 As the door closed on Riker, Picard picked up the padd he'd set aside and reactivated the display. Now, he thought, do I read about B'Hala, Myrmidon, or the Tkon empire? So many choices...
     Before he could make that decision, the intercom beeped, followed by the wiry voice of Captain Wai-Lin Go. "Go to Picard."
     Picard leaned his head back and gazed at the ceiling in supplication. Sadly, the ceiling was not forthcoming with any aid or comfort.

p.186 "You're not serious."
     Worf simply looked at her.
     "Sorry, forgot who I was talking to."

p.258 Lwaxana let out what sounded like a sigh of contentment. "Of course, Little Ones. I'll see you in a few weeks on Betazed, then."
     "Of that, you can rest assured, Mother."
     With that, Lwaxana signed off.
     Riker stared at Troi. "So is she gonna start calling me 'Little One' now?"
     "Apparently."
     Shaking his head, Riker stood up, pulling Troi into a hug. "So I get to go from Number One to Little One--both from people shorter than me."

p.335-336 To everything there is a season, and a time to
     every purpose under heaven;
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to so,
     and a time to harvest;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break
     down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a tie to laugh; a time to
     mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather
     stones, a time to embrace, and a time to refrain
     from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep,
     and a time to throw away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to be
     quiet, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war,
     and a time for peace.
--The book of Ecclesiastes                Chapter 3, verses 1-8

NAMES: Vaq, Alnat, Damir, Karra, Kl'rt, Rov, Vark, Gitak, B'Eko, Kralk, Lorgh, Xarantine, Kant, Jorel, Zhres, Annalisa, Nanietta, Bacco, Ozla, Regia, Regradnischrak, Sebrotnizskeapoierf, Antares, Grilasdixraksirvek, Sovan, Kav, T'Nira, Vairo, Jaresh-Inyo, Esperanza, Piniero, Palombo, MacDougan, Ashante, Phiri, Helga, Fontaine, Triexian, Bral, M'Tesint, Jas, Abrik, Kino, Bustofa, Efrosian, San-Tarah, Brenlekki, B'Urgan, Pekdal, Klahb, Morjod, Krant, Mukk, Larq, Pek, Miriam, Masekela, Demirtijian, Janna, Kaasin, Qolka, Kopek, Grevak, Leyton, Pheban, Tavana, Crain, Nybakken, Johanssen, Bdgralsik, Kawalski, Anh, Hoang, Malak, Hsu, Damiano, Iaron, Gari, Kravokh, Gothmara, Davlos, Cygnet, Elebrej, Wovogh, Kharz'ulla

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