A Time to be Born (Spoiler)

S P O I L E R

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The idea to create a series that brings TNG to the same level as Nemesis
left me with mixed feelings. I passionately hate Nemesis and to me, it
is most definitely the worst Star Trek movie made so far. I wish it
wouldn`t exist and I especially mean some of the decision made in the
movie about the characters. But of course, it doesn`t matter if I
approve of Nemesis or not, it is "canon" and part of the Trek universe,
the same as so ridiculous things like Janeway and her lizard offspring.
Also book writers can`t ignore what happened when they, for example,
want to move TNG`s characters past that time period. On the one hand I
dread what explanations and maybe also justifications book authors will
find to fill the gaps the movie leaves, on the other I am also very
curious. Nemesis is a mess and to try turning it into something that
makes sense must be an interesting challenge for the authors. I also
heard from John Ordover that the "A Time to..." series is supposed to
present at least most of these changes in the characters` lives as
something positive. Hm, we will see - In some cases, that is indeed a
challenge.

I find it very interesting that the series starts with this task by
revisiting Wesley Crusher. Wesley is hardly a popular character. I
didn`t like the early Wesley much either but grew to like him in the
later TNG stories. I also very much approved of the decision to turn him
into a Traveler, or as I learned by reading this book, more accurately
an apprentice Traveler. I could understand and feel with him very much.
How to use the Prime Directive has always been a topic that is very much
open to debate. What Wesley is facing here is very similar: When you
interfere, it must be for a very good reason and if you do so, the less
it looks like interference, the better. This is at least my personal
conclusion of how Wesley dealt with the problem at the beginning of the
book when he persuaded the old woman to leave with her rescuers. But the
question if he should save the Enterprise and what possibilities there
might be to strike this very delicate balance, puts an enormous burden
on him. Travelers usually say that we only watch but never interfere.
But I could also see in this book and in the TNG series, that this is
not entirely true. As I keep saying when I discuss the topic Prime
Directive: Also doing nothing is a decision, a decision that can be
right, wrong or debatable.

I will probably find out in the next book how Wesley will master this
challenge or not, but it seems to me that he already decided not to just
let it happen. In this book he is doing his best to find out what will
actually lead to the disaster. He is watching but also participating and
very subtly he is also trying to influence. So far I am impressed with
what Wesley is doing and am curious what will happen in the next book.

I admit it, when I read the back cover and learned that the Androssi are
involves, I groaned. I didn`t like it how they were presented in SCE, I
found them even more annoying than the first appearance of the Ferengi
in TNG and I had to wonder how such a society could even survive. But I
was pleasantly surprised. I even found some emotional connection with
these scavengers and was impressed by their cunning and inventiveness.
They really were worthy adversaries and succeeded to surprise me on a
few occasions.

John Vornholt described the Rashanar battle site very well. It reflected
the spookiness, danger and mystery and it is also full of one of Trek`s
trademarks: unknown phantastic space phenomena. Sometimes we get a bit
of treknobabble that doesn`t make sense to me anyway, but most of the
times we were simply told, we don`t know what it is, only what it does
and that it is dangerous. That is fine with me, I am used to that and
it fits perfectly into the story. The pseudo-science is not why I read
or watch Trek anyway. It was much more appropriate to reflect on the
tragic loss of life in this so-called boneyard.

This brings me to two aspects in this story that made me wonder. I
understand very well the importance to find out what actually happened
during that battle, because that something extraordinary happened that
didn`t leave any survivors behind, something that might even be a danger
today, is very obvious. I also understand the importance of recovering
the dead BUT I don`t understand the importance of risking living people
to recover bodies. If it can be done safely, it should be done, no
question about it. But it was mentioned in the book that Starfleet
officers actually risked their lives in order to remove dead people from
shipwrecks. Also here, in real life, there are limits. If it is
impossible or too dangerous to recover bodies, like from the bottom of
the sea, the ship or plane is considered to be a grave and being treated
as such. I don`t understand why this isn`t being done in the Rashanar
battle site. Fortunately I have never been in such a position and
hopefully never will be but I can imagine, I wouldn`t want anybody to
get hurt or even die in order to bring back the body of a loved one. It
would make a tragedy even worse.

The other aspect is about salvage rights. I understand that the
Federation doesn`t want sensitive technology to fall into the hands of
enemies. I also understand that people like the Androssi are grave
robbers and definitely not archaeologists. I don`t like grave robbers
either but I also have to wonder, if a ship like the Juno or Enterprise
would find some kind of advanced technology here, would they really
leave it behind? I doubt it, in that case they would justify it because
it then becomes a matter of internal security. My impression so far is,
not counting the mystery of the mimic ship, all wrecks contain
technology that isn`t sensitive and all data had been wiped anyway by
the phenomena in this region of space. These ships are just drifting
there until they are eventually destroyed by the vortex or other ways
that endanger everyone who enters. All the Juno seemed to do is looking
for clues, risking their lives for bodies and shoo away everyone who
wants to do something useful with the valuable parts on board of the
ships nobody in the Federation seems to be interested in reusing or even
recycling. Therefore I am not so sure at all that the Androssi and other
people looking for things of value in these wrecks are really looters.

To me it also would make much more sense to pull out the Federation
ships that can be pulled out safely, reuse what can be reused, recycle
the rest and bring bodies home. This way, the task will come to an end
eventually but patrolling this nightmare and shoo all intruders away
until all wrecks have fallen into this vortex is to me first of all a
waste of time and resources, something not worth risking lives for. As
sorry as I am for the fate of the Juno, I didn`t see their presence
there as something necessary and definitely not heroic.

For obvious reasons, as much as I enjoyed also past TNG books, the
characters have been pretty static. Now after Nemesis, which could very
well be indeed the last TNG movie (I wouldn`t mind that at all!), I
welcome it that TNG is now allowed to move forward like all other Trek
series, except Enterprise, of course. Although the book starts with
looking at Wesley`s situation, most of the time Wesley is an observer
and the story is soon mainly focusing on Picard. In hindsight, Picard
really wasn`t very clever at all when dealing with this female Androssi.
On the other hand, to see that also a man like Picard can have a really
bad day and make mistakes makes him human and I very much felt for him.
I understood why it happened, nobody is perfect. Unfortunately the theft
of the Calypso was only the start of a chain of events that turned this
mistake into something much worse. I understood Picard`s frustration
very well: I agree, in perfect hindsight things should have been done
differently but when the situation unfolded, I also think there was
nothing else he could have done. He had trusted Data numerous times and
this was about the survival of his vessel, his crew.

Especially because of the appearance of Wesley and the topic Starfleet
justice I had to remember what Picard told Wesley when he was struggling
with his decision if he should tell the truth at this hearing or not. At
that time Picard gave him a lecture that impressed Wesley so much that
he made the right decision. I don`t remember the exact quote but it
emphasized that Starfleet is about the truth and if Wesley is unable to
tell the truth he is not worthy to wear this uniform. "A Time to be
Born" certainly doesn`t show a Starfleet with these ideals. That quite a
few also high ranking officers serving with Picard were seriously
considering to leave Starfleet was very understandable to me and,
frankly, I was disgusted and still am. The whole trial and what
accompanied it was not about finding out the truth and justice, it was
about politics and looking for scapegoats so that certain people can
save "face".

What was so important here that the truth had to become a victim
according to these Admirals and also according to this counsellor Cabot
(as well as others)? When it was mentioned that the Ontailians
threatened to leave the Federation I thought, so what? Let them leave if
they want, the Federation will survive that. On top of that, they
probably thought two wrongs make a right: Picard destroyed their vessel,
they destroyed one of Starfleet`s in return. But they are not willing to
take any blame. These are not the actions of reliable, trustworthy
allies. I don`t understand why they are so valuable to the Federation
anyway. If Starfleet is worried about it that more member worlds could
leave, I think they have much more reason to worry should the truth
become public one day. What happened in this book was unjust, it was
dishonourable, it was disgusting.

I also very much detested the psycho-games Picard was subjected to. Each
and every word, each and every action has been twisted and turned. It
was a battle he couldn`t win. Being stuck indefinitely in this
holographic cage, being forced to be on guard all the time knowing that
you have been sacrificed in spite of everything you have done, I agree
with Picard, it is enough to drive anyone insane in time. My opinion of
counsellors in Star Trek dropped to another low. Cabot, who was so often
described as "pretty" and "delicate" that it started to get on my
nerves, very much rubbed me the wrong way with her false sweetness,
smiling at her patient but looking for any opportunity to stab him in
the back. No, she wasn`t looking for the truth either. She was providing
some of the dirty work for her superiors.

Looking at the Admirals, at the end of the book I thought this lot
deserves each other. At first, I actually thought Nechayev is really
trying to help. But by now I think also she just wanted to pave the way
for this political deal. I am very disappointed by that. Nakamura
decided that Data`s emotion chip is not standard equipment and should be
removed. I thought it had been decided in court, in early TNG, that Data
is not a toaster but a sentient android. People are allowed to grow and
change. Data did it by adding this chip, a chip that allows him to be
more than he was. This should never have been allowed. Nakamura`s
decision should have been challenged, but it seems, nobody wants to do
that either. And Ross was the bureaucrat who makes deals with anyone if
it serves its purpose as I know him from DS9.

Reading this book reminds me of the saying: Who watches the watchers? I
am curious what will happen next but I doubt it very much that my
opinion of Starfleet and its Admirals and at least most of its
counsellors will change.

Baerbel Haddrell