Q-Squared

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Real World article
(written from a Production point of view)

A struggle between Trelane and Q endangers multiple realities of the Enterprise-D

[edit] Summary

From the book jacket

In all of his travels Captain Jean-Luc Picard has never faced an opponent more powerful than Q, a being from another continuum that Picard encountered on his very first mission as Captain of the Starship Enterprise. In the years since, Q has returned again and again to harass Picard and his crew. Sometimes dangerous, sometimes merely obnoxious, Q has always been mysterious and seemingly all-powerful.

But this time, when Q appears, he comes to Picard for help. Apparently another member of the Q continuum has tapped into an awesome power source that makes this being more powerful than the combined might of the entire Q continuum. This renegade Q is named Trelane - also known as the Squire of Gothos, who Captain Kirk and his crew first encountered over one hundred years ago. Q explains that, armed with this incredible power, Trelane has become unspeakably dangerous.

Now Picard must get involved in an awesome struggle between super beings. And this time the stakes are not just Picard's ship, or the galaxy, or even the universe - this time the stakes are all of creation...

Excerpts of copyrighted sources are included for review purposes only, without any intention of infringement.

While on a mission to the Planet Terminus, three parallel Enterprises find themselves in great danger when the entity known as Trelane discovers a power unlike any other. Soon, Captain Jean-Luc Picard and his crew are caught up in a battle not only for their lives, but for the very fabric of existence itself.

[edit] Memorable Quotes

"And you accuse me of arrogance? Picard, I could blast this ship out of existence if I felt like it. I could grow hair on your head. Turn your crew into embryos, force Worf to recite doggerel. I could turn your ship inside out, your reality outside in. I am not being condescending, Picard... not that I'm incapable of it, you understand, but this simply isn't one of the times. Now, what I most definitely am, Picard, is arrogant. Why? Because I have a reason to be. I have a right to be. So... mortal... what's your excuse?"

- Q

[edit] Background Information

The audiobook version was abridged by George Truett.
The plot of this novel repeatedly shifts among three different parallel universes or "Tracks". The various Tracks as presented in the novel are and why they are:
- Track A: A variant of the normal Trek universe.
  - Jack Crusher is captain of the USS Enterprise-D.
  - Jean-Luc Picard - broken in rank after the Stargazer court martial - is the ship's first officer.
  - Jack and Beverly are divorced, and Wesley died at the age of four after he fell out of a tree trying to see Jack. Picard and Beverly are engaged in a romantic relationship unbeknownst to Jack.
  - Geordi La Forge is one of Beverly's nurses in sickbay because of all the medical devices he used when he was young.
  - Natasha Yar and Data (this Data being a "human-oid" - a positronic brain in a flesh and blood body) have an ongoing relationship.
  - William T. Riker and Kira Nerys are prisoners of the Romulans.
  - Will and Deanna Troi are married, and have a son.
  - Worf dwells in the Klingon Empire; is high-ranking and has aspirations for a seat on the High Council. His parents died on Narendra III instead of Khitomer.
  - The bartender in Ten Forward is named Caryn Johnson. (This is also the real name of Whoopi Goldberg, who plays Guinan.)
  - James Kirk's middle initial is R.
- Track B: The normal Trek universe as we usually see it.
- Track C: A version of the "Klingon war" storyline as seen in TNG: "Yesterday's Enterprise", but one where the Enterprise-C failed in its mission and the war with the Klingons continues.
This novel offers an explanation as to why Captain Kirk's middle initial in TOS: "Where No Man Has Gone Before" is seen to be R: the events of that episode are said to take place in the Track A universe. Gary Mitchell's power in the episode is also explained as being absorbed from Q, who is hiding from Trelane in the galactic barrier.
Trelane's name is said to be a shortening of "three lanes", indicating the three timelines that Trelane tried to control. His birth as a Q is also discussed as being a direct result of his death, mainly that when Trelane was destroyed at the end of the novel, a spark of his being remained, was named "Tre-Lane", and then became the Trelane that Kirk and company later encountered in "The Squire of Gothos". Trelane's entire existence is therefore said to be one continuous loop.

[edit] Characters

[edit] Track A

Jack Crusher

Captain of the USS Enterprise-D (alternate timeline).

Caryn Johnson

Yeoman who runs Ten Forward in this alternate timeline.

Also the real name of actress Whoopi Goldberg, whose character of Guinan fulfills the same function in Track B.

[edit] Track B

Claire: Mrs. Claire was a teacher in one timeline.

[edit] Track C

Jean-Luc Picard
Geordi La Forge
Beverly Crusher
William T. Riker
Trelane
Q
Natasha Yar
Data
Deanna Troi
Worf
Hikaru Sulu
Sela
Ensign Chafin
Barclay
Guinan: runs Ten Forward in the alternate timelines B and C
Alexander Rozhenko
Argyle female alternate timeline A
Ensign Joseph
Cavalieri
Mot
Amanda Rogers
Wesley Crusher
Sonya Gomez
Distefano
Ensign Sanders
Lucy
Natalie
Selan
Turo
Chafin
Commodore Hikaru Sulu hologram
Paul Manheim

[edit] References

"Cause and Effect"; "Parallels"; "The Squire of Gothos"; Starfleet; "Where No Man Has Gone Before"; "Yesterday's Enterprise"

Starfleet Excelsior-class ship.

USS Stargazer

Starfleet Constellation-class ship.

Sarona VIII

Planet.

In this novel, the planet was Sarona 7

Previous novel:
Dark Mirror

Novels
Pocket TNG

Next novel:
Crossover

Cover image
Author(s):	Peter David
Artist(s):	Keith Birdsong
Publisher:	Pocket Books
Series:	Pocket TNG
Published:	15 July 1994
Pages:	434
Stardate:	Unknown (2370)
Reference:	ISBN 0671891529 (hardcover) ISBN 0671891510 (paperback)
Audiobook
Narrator:	John de Lancie
Running Time:	3 hours
Publisher:	Simon and Schuster Audioworks
Published:	1 July 1994
Reference:	ISBN 0671891804