Articles of the Federation: Star Trek: The Original Series

Star Trek

by Keith R.A. DeCandido

In the wake of the events of STAR TREK: TITAN Book One: TAKING WING, relations between the Federation, The Klingon Empire and the Romulans remain fragile. Refugees are requesting asylum within the Federation, requiring delicate negotiations whose outcome could prove as deadly as any starship combat. As public opinion about the continued tenability of the Federation/Klingon alliance goes south, Federation councillors unhappy with the solution brokered by Captain Will Riker in Titan begin power plays of their own against the fledgling Bacco administration.

Genres: Star Trek, Science Fiction, Fiction, Politics, Science Fiction Fantasy, Space, Space Opera

327 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 2005

Reviews

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, so I assume every other review says this but I'll say it anyway. This is The West Wing in space. And it's awesome.

I love being able to see the civillian side of Star Trek, to see how the government of hundreds of worlds actually functions. It's a side of the universe we don't really get to see in the movies and tv shows, outside of their direct dealings with Starfleet, and they're usually corrupt, possessed by aliens or both.

There are many characters in this, but it mostly revolves around Federation President Nan Bacco, a former planetary governor who is old enough and experienced enough that she doesn't have time for the usual bullshit, so often cuts right to the point. There are times, many times, where she reminds me of President Bartlet from The West Wing, but it's more to do with their shared moral code than anything else.

I love that while there's always corruption, moral questions and darkness in the universe, this book takes a refreshingly positive approach. These characters are good, imperfect but trying to do the right thing. It fills me with a hope that I haven't felt in a very long time when it comes to Star Trek.

There's a classic Star Trek moment where President Bacco tries to convince a character to do the right thing. The character has a position and doesn't want to budge, and it's up to Bacco to convince them of the good they'll be doing if they can move past their legitimate trauma to do the right thing.

That's Star Trek to me. So, I'm glad in this age of grimdark, revenge killing, f-bomb filled Trek on TV, I still get to enjoy a more positive spin on the universe.

[John Kirk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this just has the basic "Star Trek" prefix, it's set in the same time period as TNG/DS9, rather than TOS. More specifically, it's set shortly after Nemesis, and spans a year in the Star Trek universe.

There were recently a set of 12 TNG novels published, and they all had titles that began with "A time to...", e.g. "A time to die". This book is set after them, and also after the first couple of Star Trek Titan novels (which follow the adventures of Captain Riker). I haven't read any of those books, and I don't think this caused any problems - as far as I can tell, this novel recapped everything that I need to know. However, by necessity that meant that it had to give away certain key events from those books, so if I now choose to read them then they've been spoilt a bit. I don't say that as a criticism of this book, it's just something to be aware of, i.e. if you are likely to read the other novels then it makes sense to read them first.

Apparently the brief for this book was "Star Trek meets West Wing"; I've never actually watched "West Wing", but I liked KRAD's previous political Trek novel (Diplomatic Implausibility), so I was happy to give this one a shot. Speaking of the previous book, I enjoyed reading about Ambassador Worf, so I was annoyed to see him rejoin Starfleet in Nemesis. This book follows up on that by saying that his son Alexander has taken over the job, so there is still (sort of) an Ambassador Worf liaising between the Federation and the Empire.

Anyway, this novel is set in and around the office of the President of the Federation, so the President and her support staff are the leading characters. As with Harbinger, reporters play a prominent part in the story, with frequent press conferences. However, that seemed perfectly natural in this story, and didn't bother me at all. One thing that did surprise me was how open they were about the position of the President's speechwriter, i.e. that she wasn't actually reading her own words. When I think about it I can sort of see a justification for it, and I'm sure that the same thing happens with modern day politicians, but I wouldn't expect any of them to advertise this fact - perhaps I'm just being naive there.

There are also a few nice cameos from familiar faces. For instance, at one point in the novel there's a debate where various planets are requesting aid, i.e. resources to rebuild in the wake of the Dominion War. More specifically, Garak is representing Cardassia while Lwaxana Troi represents Betazed, and they are in opposition about who is more deserving: Cardassia sustained worse damage, but arguably that's their own fault for allying with the Dominion in the first place. I liked this debate, because I'm sympathetic to both characters, and therefore both sides - it's not really about good vs bad, just that each person has their own agenda, to best serve their people. (Digressing slightly, this is something that Priest handled very well in his run on Black Panther.)

While this book refers closely to the novels I mentioned above, and to the Reman crisis from Nemesis, it also picks up on some plot points from other novels, which I thought was a nice touch. Specifically, it mentions the Selelvians (from New Frontier), and the problems on Trill (from the DS9 relaunch).

Unlike Harbinger, this book tells a complete story, and it does that well. I'm not sure whether it's actually intended to be the start of a new series, but I would be very happy to buy any follow-up novels.

[Jonathan Koan · Rating 5 out of 5]

My full review will be up on Roqoo Depot soon. This is one of the best Star Trek books I've ever read, and it is so sad that there are not more like it. 5 out of 5! Excellent job DeCandido!

[RE de Leon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is by far my favorite Star Trek book ever, which funny, because it's not set on a ship, not set in space, and not (in the physical sense) about exploring strange new worlds.

I suppose the reason I like it is because I'm fond of the Star Trek universe, and I enjoy exploring its full complexity. I don't know any novel where that complexity is better explored than in Articles of the Federation. (If you want to contextualize my opinion as a fan, I am fondest of Deep Space Nine by far among the five TV Treks.)

It also helps that Keith R.A. DeCandido is a genius at writing contemporary characters in action. (And if you know your Trek, then you know that that's the magic formula for making the franchise's best stories) Fedration President Nan Bacco has become one of my favorite characters in the Star Trek universe, depicted by DeCandido so powerfully that you can relate to her almost as if she was a character you'd seen onscreen.

To appreciate this book fully, though, read through the "A Time To..." series, which introduces you to the characters and political milieu of this piece.

I must say "A Time To..." followed by "Articles of the Federation" is the most pleasurable and satisfying Trek reading experience I've ever had.

RE de Leon
Agoo, La Union, Philippines
9:05 PM January 2, 2011

[J.L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reasons why you should read this book:

1. You are a fan of political dramas that involve multiple main characters dealing with crises and scandals.
2. The television show The West Wing is your favorite of all of those.
3. You are curious about the inner workings of the Federation, a major government in the Star Trek universe, and you remember that Starfleet is really only a branch of the military in the grand scheme of things.
4. You enjoy reading about other inhabitants of the Star Trek universe, not just characters familiar from television and film.

Really, there’s not much more I can say other than if you like the above things, you’ll love Articles of the Federation as much as I did.

This was a dense read, but maintained a fast pace (walking and talking, anyone?) with enough drama that it never dragged. The easiest way to describe it really is “The West Wing set in the Star Trek universe,” and the book presents the best of both worlds. Even though the characters are unfamiliar, they are well-developed and easy to keep track of. The physical setting is also richly detailed and for me was actually a nice change of pace from the starships and alien planets more common to Star Trek stories.

Star Trek is action-driven science fiction at it’s roots, but I’d totally watch President Bacco and her staff take on the Alpha Quadrant, too.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Articles of the Federation is a Star Trek story unlike most others. Inspired by TV’s “The West Wing,” the book follows a year in the life of new United Federation of Planets president Nan Bacco, with several different storylines and a central theme but little overall plot.

There is something in it for every Trek fan, with frequent familiar name-dropping, and a strong loyalty to the Star Trek universe timeline as well as the author’s own other works. An appendix presents a list of all UFP presidents, for additional historical context.

Bacco’s year seems mostly to be occupied by challenge and tragedy, but her friend and chief of staff provides a summary of her victories near the end of the book. The president is mostly revealed as a hard, determined character, dressing down a Klingon ambassador at one point, but her more likable side comes out in her love for baseball and banter with her friend.

The plethora of characters can be difficult to keep track of, as well as their species and genders. The lead-in for each segment of the book featuring a news talk show and random observers of the program gets distracting by the end. But overall, it’s a fun diversion into the politics and diplomacy of Star Trek.

Taking place primarily in Earth’s popular city of Paris but in the distant future, Articles of the Federation goes to a time where no one who’s not a “Trekkie/Trekker” has gone before.

[Brent Knorr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Articles of the Federation
BOOK REVIEW: This novel is a little unusual as it isn’t based on a Starship and it covers a year of time in the first year of Federation President Bacco’s term in office. It takes place shortly after the movie Nemesis and is firmly entrenched in the literary universe’s timeline, which has largely been negated by recent T.V. shows, particularly Picard.
NOTE ON REVIEW: The rest of this review is looking at the novel in the light of how it can be adapted for the Star Trek Adventures Roleplaying Game from Modiphius and I’ve structured it in their Mission Brief format. The style of the novel doesn’t really lend itself to being adapted as an adventure, but there are a couple events that could be used. They occur in the background in the novel, but could be the focus for a ship and crew. I've picked one of these events to do as a Mission Brief.
SUGGESTED ERA OF PLAY: Next Gen (2380)
SUGGESTED SPOTLIGHT ROLE: Diplomat or Captain
SYNOPSIS
Following the surprise resignation of Federation President Min Zife after the disastrous Tezwa affair, Nan Bacco of Cestus III has won a hotly contested election to become the new chief executive of over one hundred fifty planetary civilizations and their colonies. But no sooner does she take office than the Romulan Star Empire falls into chaos. With tensions already high, a Reman refugee ship is sighted approaching a Federation outpost, its intentions unknown.
As the first year of the Bacco Administration unfolds, the Federation Council is slow to work with its new president, and not always supportive of her policies or her appointments to key council positions; a successful first contact suddenly becomes a diplomatic disaster; and the sins of President Zife prove difficult to lay to rest...as one celebrated Starfleet officer's career reaches a turning point...
OPENING LOG
“Outpost 22 along the Romulan Neutral Zone has picked up a ship heading straight for it from the Miridian system in Romulan space. You are being sent to the Outpost to assist in determining what it’s intentions are and provide any support that the Outpost may require”.
MAJOR BEATS
BEAT ALPHA
Sensors read the ship as a Shirekral-class vessel. This vessel type hasn’t been in operation since the late twenty-third century and earlier. This vessel is still using an ion drive. This type of vessel was common during the Earth Romulan wars of the twenty-second century, but all the ones that were still in active service in the late twenty-third century had their ion drives replace wih the singularity drives that they still use. A successful difficulty 5 long range sensor roll for general lifesign readings will indicate that the ship is full of Remans. Additional information spends will reveal there are no other lifesigns, including Romulans. They are heading straight for Outpost 22 at warp three-point-one-two. This is faster than those ships are supposed to be able to go. A failed roll will mean waiting a week to try again, with the difficulty being reduced by 1.
Outpost 22 is the closest Federation station to the Miridian system and is otherwise basically in the middle of nowhere, making it unlikely that Outpost 22 is not their intended destination.
The Remans have never operated in the Miridian system, it is a system that was taken by the Romulans approximately fifteen years ago, and has an indigenous life-form that has provided the slave labor that, in other parts of the empire, has traditionally been performed by the Remans. Since Shinzon’s coup, the Miridians have also risen up, and with their infrastructure in tatters, the Romulans have been unable to quell the uprising. There have been reports that the Miridians creating a kind of underground rail-road, supplying ships and methods of getting out of Romulan space.
At it’s current speed, it will take the ship eight weeks to reach Federation Space and six weeks to be within Communications range.
BEAT BETA
All Remans residing in Romulan space currently live under the protection of the Klingon Empire. This means that if the Remans are refugees and they request that the Federation grant them asylum, granting it would be a breach of the treaty the Federation has with the Klingons. They could approach the Federation Ambassador to Qo’noS, Alexander Rozhenko and ask him to check with the Klingon High Council to see if they will be willing to let the Federation take some of the Remans off their hands. This would seem to be quite unlikely though. They will need to convince the Ambassador to even make the effort.
Attempts to communicate with the Reman ship go unanswered. Additional sensor readings can show that the communication systems are only operating at a low power level, possibly being used for internal communications only.
As background information, The Remans are not slaves now, so if their only reason for claiming asylum is persecution by Romulans, it would not be enough to grant them asylum. The Romulan Star Empire is not considered an enemy nation at this time, and barely exists as a political entity right now.
One possible solution, particularly in light of reports of violence against Remans seeming to escalate (see minor beats), would be to propose that the Remans get their own world, rather than just a section on Romulus. The Klingons recently expanded into Sector 798-C, the Kavrot Sector, a few years ago and shared some of their sensor data with the Federation, particularly the areas they scanned but didn’t explore or didn’t thing were worth their while. A suitable planet could be found in that sector. Between them, the Klingons and Remans have enough ships to transport all the Remans currently living in Ehri’fvil to a new world
BEAT GAMMA
The Shirekral-class vessel reaches Outpost 22 and identifies itself as the Reman Free Vessel Vkruk and its captain requests asylum in the Federation for himself and his crew, which includes twenty-nine Remans of both sexes. Some research will reveal that Vkruk was the name of Shinzon’s viceroy.
The Reman’s leader, who is called Jianuk, is requesting asylum from other Remans. Jianuk was one of Shinzon’s soldiers, They fought together during the war. The twenty-nine Remans on the Vkruk were all loyal to Shinzon – emphasis on were. They claim to have been persecuted by their fellow Remans because they condemned Shinzon’s actions. They wish to live out their lives in the Federation.
The stance of the Klingon’s is that they are not Reman refugees. They are Klingon proteges. Under the terms of the Khitomer Accords, the Federation is obliged to turn them over to the empire at the Klingons request. The Klingons are sending the Defense Force vessel, the I.K.S Ditagh to Outpost 22. It will arrive in four days, at that time they expect that all twenty-nine Remans will be turned over to Captain Vikagh, who will remand them to Klingon custody.
Some research can reveal a loop hole in this argument. The Kihtomer Accords state that if the empire requests that Klingon nations requesting asylum must be turned over to the empire, they will be.
However, Klingon nationals means Klingons who are citizens of the empire, as well as the various subject species. It can be argued that this does not apply to the Remans as they are not citizens and they are not jeghpu’wI’, they are just under the Klingons protection. T will be difficult to convince the Klingons that this is anything more than a semantic difficulty. They consider such a literal-minded interpretation to be cowardly.
The Klingons will agree to the notion of providing the Remans with their own homeworld. They have chosen Klorgat IV to be the new homeworld. However, this is contingent upon the Federation delivering all twenty-nine Remans to the Ditagh when it arrives.
Basically, the unspoken reason the Klingons won’t negotiate is because being protectors of the Remans is something that they take seriously for one reason: It gets the Romulans really mad.
Additional investigation on Jianuk can reveal that there is no basis to his claims. It seems that Shinzon’s inner circle are revered among Remans, not reviled.
If the players are not questioning Jianuk’s motivation at this point, Commander Bowles of Outpost 22 can provide an opposing voice. They were allied with Shinzon, who’s first act was to attack the Federation. She feels that every time they ask them why they’re doing this, their answers are rehearsed, and they’re the blandest reasons – freedom, liberty, and to avoid persecution from their fellow Remans. She feels they have something planned..
Commander Bowles, or suspicious PC’s are correct. The Vkruk makes a suicide run at Outpost 22 before the Ditagh arrives. If the players suspicions have been aroused, steps could have been taken to minimize the damage done. The outposts shields can be kept up at full strength, they can stay at yellow alert and at battle stations, and the outer portions of the outpost could be evacuated for the duration of the Vkruk’s stay. The players ship can take similar precautions. If they are monitoring the state of the Vkruk, they can detect a warp buildup in it and will be able to fire on it at least once before it hits the outpost.

MINOR BEATS
Violence between Klingon vessels protecting Remus and Romulan military vessels has been escalating over the last two months. The settling of the Remans in the Erie’fvil colony has not gone smoothly, with dozens of Remans being attacking in their homes by supposedly unidentified attackers. Ehrie’fvil is the name of the continent on Romulus where the Remans had relocated. Remus itself was barely habitable, used only for mining dilithium and manufacturing heavy weapons. The Remans could service the Romulans there but not command their own destiny, as Remus could never be self-sufficient.
There was a cave-in in one of the dilithium mines on Remus, killing at least a hundred Remans. This report comes from Ambassador Rozhenko. He was meeting with Chancellor Martok when the news came to the Great all (assuming he was convinced to meet with Martok).
There was an explosion on one of the farms in Ehrie’fvil. No one was killed but there was extensive damage.
There was also a report of a Reman couple being found brutally murdered.
KEY NPCS
https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/...

CONCLUSION
The mission can end with the attack on the Outpost, and with a plan to relocate other Reman’s, although that portion could take place “off screen’ without the players direct involvement.
ADDING THIS MISSION TO YOUR CAMPAIGN
This novel takes place at a very specific time in the timeline of the literary timeline, but the basic idea of a group claiming to be refugees but really planning to attack the Federation could be adapted for different time periods, perhaps using a group of Klingons or some other race.

[Jimyanni · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad if you like that sort of thing. Actually, if you like that sort of thing (which is to say, political intrigue and manuevering) it's quite good, really. If this wasn't a Star Trek novel, and if I'd somehow stumbled upon it, I'd probably have rated it much higher -- possibly even five stars. But this isn't what I read Star Trek for; the closest we come to seeing a character that was familiar before Decandido's previous couple of novels is a brief cameo from Martok and Alexander Rozhenko, and a VERY minor cameo from Spock. There is no action in this book, no "To Boldly Go Where No One Has Gone Before", no space travel beyond a bit of shuttling about on political junkets (which mostly happens behind the scenes.) The main characters are politicians, not Starfleet officers, and the challenges they face are entirely divorced from any action or derring-do. (The closest we got to anything of that sort was a reporter who was threatened by a mob boss -- who just happened to be an Orion, but could as easily have been named Guido.

I understand what the author was trying to do; he wanted to show that the Federation isn't that different, except in scale, from the modern world and that the art of politics in a democracy hasn't changed by being a couple of centuries removed from the here and now. And that there are heroes in the realm of politics, just as there are in the realm of space opera, and not all challenges faced in heroic fashion are physical ones. I get it. As a story, set in the Star Trek universe, it's interesting and moving.

But as a Star Trek novel, it falls flat. As I say, this isn't what I'm looking for when I pick up a Star Trek novel, and it was very disappointing. I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop, and it never did.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

My absolute favourite Star Trek book so far! Star Trek and The West Wing had a baby snd it is the cutest little ball of snark in the universe. I would watch seven seasons of this!

Also, gratuitous Sports Night references for the win.

[Graff Fuller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Star Trek: Articles of the Federation by Keith R.A. DeCandido

Challenging, emotional, funny, hopeful,
informative, inspiring, mysterious, reflective, 
sad, and tense.

Medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5 Stars

Not everyone is going to like this book/story as much as I did. I love the political wrangling that happens behind closed doors...and in this book...we follow THOSE characters that are pulling the strings and making the moves...that allow the Federation to be a beacon of peace within the Universe.

Knowing who the Federation President...hasn't been something that I've followed or even cared all too much about, but within this story, you are following Nan Bacco.

She's got her energy and passion for doing the best that she can, in this very high pressure job, but she's also (sometimes) a tough person to be around. She can be acerbic and terse, but she's also got her playful side (which the inner circle know about).

There is a cast of characters that are the Behind the Scenes people that help Nan run the Federation. They are all skilled in different areas...and are able to "come to the rescue", at certain times...when it is most needed.

This book is often called The West Wing of Star Trek. Having only seen a few episodes (unfortunately), I'd have to agree. What that show did so well, is represented in this book...in such a way, that just pulls you in.

In what I thought was going to be a "boring" book, became a stand out hit (for me).

Like I said above, this book MAY not be your cup of tea, but it just may be.

[Daniel Kukwa · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's exactly what it admits to being in the author acknowledgements: this is "Star Trek" meets "The West Wing" in its examination of a year in the life of the new President of the Federation, in the aftermath of both the Dominion War and the events of "Star Trek Nemesis". This is another key moment in the recently-closed-off splinter time line of the books, but in general it's also a magnificent look at Federation politics and government, with a great deal of black humour. Superb work.

[Yvette · Rating 5 out of 5]

We have seen or read about other worlds governments but never the Federation. I loved the wit and grit of President Bacco. Everything isn’t always so perfect in the Federation.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

While this novel came out in 2005, for some reason I never got around to reading it until just this year, despite the fact that the subject matter is right up my alley. This has proven to be a glaring oversight, as Articles of the Federation has now firmly established itself as one of my all-time favorite Star Trek novels. Full of memorable characters and finally showing how the government of the Federation operates on a day-to-day basis, this novel was a heck of a lot of fun to read. I wish there was a lot more focus on the governance of the Federation in Star Trek, as it is fertile ground for new and different stories set in my favorite science fiction universe!

Full review: https://www.treklit.com/2019/06/AotF....

[Derkanus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary: The show Illuminating the City of Light hosts a political debate discussing Nanietta Bacco's first 8 weeks as Federation president. Bacco won in a swift election after President Zife resigned, a first for a Federation president. Bacco is relatively unknown, having previously served as governor of Cestus III. The pundits discuss the Remans' protectorate status under the Klingons after the failed coup by Shinzon, the fallout of the Dominion War, etc. The pundits can't agree whether Bacco should be aggressive or cautious in moving the Federation forward.

In the Palais de la Concorde in Paris, Bacco meets with her deputies and William Ross, Starfleet liaison to the Federation. He mentions they're investigating Borg remains along the Romulan neutral zone, but says it's probably nothing.

The previous president, Min Zife, ostensibly resigned because of the fallout of the Dominion War; in reality, he secretly armed the Tezwa, a world on the Klingon border, and they used the weapons on the Klingons--and a Starfleet vessel--which could've resulted in a war with their allies. Nan's chief of staff, Esperanza Piñiero, convinced her to run for president shortly after Zife resigned. They're stuck with Jas Abrik as Security Advisor because he knows the truth about Tezwa.

Captain Holly Hostetler Richmond, liaison to Starfleet Intelligence, briefs Bacco on a Reman vessel heading towards Federation space; she anticipates they will be asking asylum from the Romulans, which they will need to deny, lest they violate their treaty with the Klingons--the Remans are under their protection. Her advisors also mention a sick Tzenkethi child.

Ozla Graniv, a newsmagazine correspondent, decides to go to Tezwa; a reporter named Vara Tal was killed there by the crazed PM Kinchawn, and no one is reporting on it anymore.

Jas insists that he needs time to meet with the president ASAP, as fighting between the Klingons and Romulans seems to have broken out in the T'Met system. Esperanza says he can talk to get security from her shuttle on the way back from Luna.

Esperanza briefs the president about Jas's news, and also mentions that the Tzenkethi ambassador--who Bacco didn't even realize existed--is insisting on talking with her in person about the Tzelnira, whose child is sick. Bacco tells Esperanza to take the meeting in her stead.

Bacco gets debriefed on the Romulan-Klingon incident, of which there are few new details. She tells Admirals Ross and Akaar to send some ships to the Romulan border so they known the Federation has their eyes on them; but she says not to send any to the Klingon border, per Ambassador Rozhenko's suggestion, lest their Klingon allies get offended. Akaar says that with the fall of Shinzon, the Romulan government is broken into several factions and their authority is too limited to control the situation. Jas Abrik thinks the president is going to lead the Federation to ruin.

News of the Reman ship has made it to the public and a roundtable is had on Illuminating the City of Light. When asked if we welcome the Remans, Admiral Janeway says it's a core tenet of the Federation to help those in need; the other panelists say it's a more nuanced issue due to the Klingon's involvement, as it could violate the Khitomer Accords. Talk moves to whether the Federation Council is stonewalling President Bacco for chiding them for trading with Aligar, a species where 90% of the population is slaves.

Bacco doesn't understand why the Council is dragging their feet on everything; Esperanza says it's because she chided them for Aligar, that they work with her, not for her. Out of character, Bacco says she's going to apologize to them to get the government moving again.

Bey Toh, one of Bacco's speech writers, is dining at Sisko's Creole Kitchen when a Triexian named Kralis na Then gives him a padd detailing a judgement made during an emergency session by Councilor Artrin while serving on the Triex Supreme Magisterial Authority. Bey's face blanches white and he runs off to pass on the news.

Esperanza rips the person in charge of the president's goodwill tour for moving the Cestus III stop; she says it's imperative that the president be there to throw out the first pitch for Opening Day. Toh arrives shortly afterwards with the padd.

Bacco calls an informal meeting with the Security Council and tells them about Artrin's decision to imprison a Federation citizen named Wusekl without a trial. He says that it was during the Changeling infiltration 8 years ago, and that others saw him change shape; Bacco says it's because he was a chameleon, something that Artrin didn't bother to test for. Bacco says he will resign tomorrow morning, and the Council agrees; Artrin says he did nothing wrong, but agrees to resign. Vulcan councilmember T'Latrek thanks Bacco for including them, and also asks to be part of the upcoming meeting with Ambassador Spock, to which Bacco agrees.

A conference is held and Artrin announces his resignation, though he refuses up apologize to anyone accept Wusekl.

Bacco meets with Spock. Shortly thereafter, she learns the the Reman ship has reached outpost 22, and the Remans aboard are requesting asylum. Furthermore, there was a cave-in at a dilithium mine on Remus, and an attack on Ehrie'fvil, the new Reman continent on Romulus. Spock proposes that the Remans need their own planet; the peace treaty between them and the Romulans isn't working. Most of the others agree, and it's suggested that one of the unclaimed planets in the newly charted Klingon sector might suffice.

A call comes in and they learn that the Reman leader is called Jianuk. They are seeking asylum from other Remans; they were part of Shinzon's crew, and the others have condemned them. The president's advisors can't agree if it's wise to grant their request, but the Klingons need to be notified regardless, so Nan says Spock will go to Qo'nos himself. He tries to decline, but Bacco says he still works for her, so he's either going or losing his role as Ambassador. He agrees, but Bacco thinks he's pissed.

With negotiations stalled between the Carreon and the Deltans, Bacco intercedes. She tells the Carreon representative that she's tired of his stonewalling; she says if they don't give the Deltans the water reclamation system they need, the Federation will declare war on Carrea. He tries to call her bluff, but she says they'll torpedo his planet from discs. Bacco gets the Deltan rep to accede access to the planet the Carreon want in exchange, then leaves them to hash out the rest. Afterwards, she tells the Deltan Tierra she wants her to replace Artrin.

Ambassador K'mtok barges into Bacco's office and demands to meet with her. He says a Klingon ship is headed towards outpost 22, and the Remans will be remanded to them. Bacco points out that the Khitomer Accords state this applies to Klingon nationals only, so it doesn't apply. She tells him to go back to the High Council and see if they can allow a little wiggle room.

Bacco apologizes to the Council for throwing them under the bus during the Aligar trade agreements, then moves on to appointing a new judicial council to replace Artrin. She recommends Eleana of Delta for the job, and also nominates Krim Aldos of Bajor for security council. The Tellarite councilor Gleer is quite vocal about Krim not being qualified, but Krim plays up how important Bajor's role is due to the wormhole, and wins most of the councilors over. Gleer is abashed.

Ambassadors Rozhenko and Spock relay that while the Klingons agree to a new Reman homeworld, they won't budge on Outpost 22. Alexander says this is mostly just because they want to keep the Romulans disjointed. Spock says an alternative would be to neither grant them asylum nor hand them over to the Klingons; instead, the Remans could perhaps steal some shuttle from the nearby USS Intrepid, which would let escape to neutral territory. Bacco says she's ashamed that he'd recommend such a thing, waits a bit, then asks if her response was recorded before moving on.

Piniero goes to FNS news and says the Remans attacked Outpost 22, killing 3 station personnel; the Intrepid retaliated, and all the Remans were killed.

As Esperanza heads to the state dinner honoring Trinni/ek, she gets word that the Trinni/ek delegate are acting cranky and withdrawn. As soon as they arrive, speaker Ytri/ol accuses the president of trying to exploit them, and says they were poisoned on the way there; one of the delegates collapses. Bacco tries to reason with them, and Ytri/ol says to let them go or they'll beat her to death. They exit and Bacco says after they finish dinner, they'll convene to discuss what the hell happened.

On Tezwa, Ozla Graniv of the Seeker visits Tawna Zelemka for an interview. The planet was decimated by the Klingons after Kinchawn attacked them with stolen Federation weapons, originally intended for use against the Borg, which were supposedly sold to them by the Orions. However, Tawna admits to having an affair with Major Meboras, who told her the weapons weren't stolen, but gifted by the Federation so Tezwa could protect itself.

After the dinner, Bacco asks what the hell happened, but no one knows. The Trinni/ek had pushed to join the Federation, and suggested meeting on Earth, but as soon as they left their solar system, their whole demeanor changed. Nan says to send the Io after them in a few days to try and salvage the situation. Then the Tiburonian Ambassador Xeldara resigns so she can spend more time with her husband. Nan makes a few jokes about Esperanza and Ambassador Colton Morrow flirting, before a guard comes in to alert her that former president Jaresh-Inyo has died.

Bacco attends Jaresh-Inyo's funeral on Mars, as do the other living presidents; however, Zife's whereabouts are entirely unknown. In the middle of the service, Esperanza gets a call saying Klorgat IV's moons exploded, and the Klingons don't think it was a natural disaster; they think it was Mendak, a rogue Romulan.

On ICL, they discuss the upcoming second meeting with the Trinni/ek, who were apologetic about what transpired, and were afraid the Federation was going to attack them. They also discuss Klorgat IV, and fear that the Klingons may be gearing up for war against the Romulans.

Admiral Ross tells Esperanza that the SCE findings all point to Mendak blowing up the moon; he also thinks there's a chance he was acting on orders from Praetor Tal'Aura. Next, Xeldara's replacement, Dogayne, informs her that the Cardassian aid vote is very likely going to fail; Gleer is trying to tank the vote as revenge for his prior embarrassment. Piniero tells hir to fix it before the president event hears of it.

Esperanza tells Bacco about Admiral Mendak; the president says to set up a meeting with both the Romulans and Klingons together to discuss.

Ozla Graniv is abducted from her shower by Ihazs, an Orion Syndicate boss on Deneva. He says he can't kill her because she's too high-profile, so he'll tell her what she wants so she'll go away: the weapons came from Nelino Quafina, Zife's secretary of military intelligence. When Starfleet found out, Admiral Ross forced Zife to resign at phaserpoint. Ihazs tells her to go write her story, and says that if she rats him out, she'll be dead in 24 hours.

Ashante and Esperanza convince the Betazoid councilor that if he doesn't support the Cardassian relief bill, it could result in a Nazi Germany situation. He eventually concedes, but they're still sort 6 votes.

The Trinni/ek attempt to meet with President Bacco again, but this time they all collapse; their peripheral nervous systems seem to have shut down. They're taken to a nearby starbase for evaluation.

Bacco meets with the Klingon Ambassador K'mtok and Romulan Ambassador Kalavak. She reveals that Mendak destroyed Klorgat IV, but the Romulans already knew: he says Mendak admitted to it, then he and his entire fleet killed themselves, so as not to give Tal'Aura the pleasure of executing them. Bacco and K'mtok both believe the Romulans are using Mendak as a scapegoat, but with no real evidence, Bacco says the Federation can't back the Klingons if they want to go to war.

Eventually, the doctors figure out the the Trinni/ek's nervous system depends on the magnetic field of their own sun to function properly; fixing them should be as easy as taking them home. However, the other Trini/ek believe their delegation has been kidnapped. The USS Hood is dispatched to get them home ASAP.

Ozla returns to the Palais and tells Kant Jorel about Zife arming Tezwa, and Ross making him resign. He doesn't believe her at first, but she says she has to report it to the Seeker, unless he can come up with a good reason not to. He thinks about it a bit, and when he realizes it's actually possible, sets up a meeting with Esperanza.

Bacco sits in on a subcouncil meeting about B-4 between Bruce Maddox and Dr. Patel. Patel wants to disassemble the android to study it, but Maddox argues that B-4 is sentient and that would be tantamount to murder. The Voyager EMH Doctor gives testimony that he was also a prototype who moved beyond his original programming and became a Federation citizen. Bacco ends the session and says they should heavily consider what the Doctor has said when making their final decision.

Jorel tells Piniero what Ozla dug up, and to his surprise, she corroborates all of it. She says to ask Ozla if there's any other information she wants in trade to not run the story, and he says he'll ask her. Esperanza also says the delegation voted in B-4's favor, and that the Strata have agreed to act as intermediaries for the Trinni/ek.

Bacco calls Admiral Ross into her office and informs him that a reporter has discovered what Zife did, and that Ross made him resign--not to mention that Ross practically hand-picked Bacco to replace Zife. She also asks why Zife and his accomplices have since disappeared, which he doesn't answer. She says the best course of action would be for Ross to retire, which he agrees to immediately. He hopes to himself that Section 31 won't kill him or Bacco to protect the Federation.

The president's office announces a summit between Chancellor Martok, President Bacco, and Praetor Tal’Aura. Ozla Graniv has returned to the Palais press room; seemingly in exchange for not reporting her findings on Zife.

Brek chim Glamok is freed from a Tzenkethi prison, only because a Tzenkethi named Zaarok has a son who is dying of a disease that only 1 Federation doctor has ever successfully performed surgery on. However, Dr. Emmanuelli, who was a prisoner during the Tzenkethi War, refuses to perform the surgery now. The boy is already en route to Federation space, however, the Tzenkethi are already spinning it as the Federation attempting to kidnap Tzelnira Zaarok’s son in an attempt to start another war.

At the summit, Martok agrees to cease the empire's expansionism in return for renewed trade agreements with the Federation. He also says they'll withdraw from their role as protector of the Remans. Tal'Aura says Commander Donatra will soon declare herself Empress Donatra, and name Achernar Prime to be the Imperial Romulan State under her rule. Tal'Aura says she has the support of the rest of the military herself, but Donatra's ships are guarding the 3 main farming worlds in the Achernar system. She asks that the Federation and Klingons not recognize the Imperial Romulan State; Bacco says they'll provide food, but not military backing to either side, as it's Tal'Aura's fault for supporting Shinzon that got her in this mess to begin with. Martok says the Klingons will support whatever fractures the Romulans further.

Dr. Emmanuelli meets with Bacco in person. Nan tells her that Zaarok has been secretly put in prison for sending his son Zormonk to the Federation for the chance to live. Bacco says she understands why Emmanuelli doesn't want to do it, but this is a chance to bridge the gap between the Federation and the Tzenkethi. Emmanuelli realizes that if she lets a patient die due to her own negligence, she would no longer be worthy of her medical degree; so she relents.

Zormonk dies anyway; Dr. Emmanuelli says his disease was too far along. She accepts a commendation for her effort, then resigns her commission.

Bacco attends the signing ceremony for the Koa's entry into the UFP. She is feeling down about all the hits they've taken lately, but Esperanza reminds her that they've kept things running, and now she's welcoming a new species to the Federation, so things aren't all bad.

Review: 3.5 stars. I enjoyed it, though I didn't like how a lot of the issues were resolved indirectly--you learn in passing what happened after the fact, usually just as an aside. This was clearly a conscious choice to show that the president's job is never done, but while realistic, it lacks a satisfying payoff. There were also a ton of ancillary characters, and I never knew who was going to end up being important to the overall story, and who was just there to fill a scene. Still, an entertaining read.

[Frank Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reread 2021 on my Post Nemesis read through in preparation for the upcoming Coda series... and looking back at my earlier review (below), I've decided that I was a jerk 3 years ago. It pretty much says that I love the book and that I could only fault it for not having created a character that I enjoyed in another book and yet I still docked a star off my rating...! Obviously I'm going to bump this up right now.

This is a superior novel. KRAD has achieved so much with this single book. The story intricately links a vast amount of threads from many sources and every character is well constructed, interesting and genuine (even those who are only shortly glimpsed).

This time through I've realised that I especially love the short peeks into just how politics touches the lives of ordinary folks. A young lady studying at home. A couple of roommates flicking channels. A bar tender and a patron discussing the game on telly. It's all so wonderfully ordinary and very relatable.

Articles of the Federation is a thoughtfully written and dramatic story with impactful characters. The style is atypical for star trek literature, but as I mentioned earlier (below) I think more like this would be fantastic. If you haven't yet, get this book and read it.

**********
2018 review:
I could definitely read more of this style of Star Trek book for sure. I loved the pace which moved quickly throughout the story and the massive scope was fantastic. The ending definitely felt more like a "To Be Continued" than a "The End" to me.

I thought Bacco was a consistently fine character and my personal favorite new character was Bacco's personal assistant, a Vulcan named Sivak, who was a class act!

The only thing that let me down, so to speak, was that Agent Wexler, who we met briefly in 'Mere Mortals,' was not introduced in this story.

[Maurice Jr. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first year of Federation President Nan Bacco's administration, and it's certainly not boring. The chair in the presidential office is still warm from Min Zife's administration and President Bacco is up to her neck in drama. Between annoying assistants, bickering councilors, a botched first contact, fallout from the Tezwa situation caused by Zife's chief of staff Koll Azernal, disrespectful Klingon ambassadors and the splintering of the Romulan Empire, President Bacco barely has time to breathe, much less keep up with baseball season on her native Cestus III.

After being introduced to Bacco and her chief of staff Esperanza Pineiro in A Time For War, A Time For Peace, I was glad to see them get a whole book to themselves fo further develop these fine characters. I always love to see characters from other books appear in different contexts, which made the appearance of Ambassador Colton Morrow (from A Time To Love and A Time To Hate) quite enjoyable.

Watching Bacco and particularly Pineiro butt heads with security advisor Jas Abrik was interesting. He was campaign manager for her opponent and got his position because he knows what really happened on Tezwa. He's qualified for the job, but openly disrespectful to both his president and her chief of staff, to whom he is subordinate, even though he seems not to realize it.

I found this to be an interesting behind the scenes look at the Federation in the halls of power as opposed to the decks of a starship or of a space station.

[Eric Cone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This sat on my shelf for 8 yrs; it took Nan Bacco's assassination in The Fall to bring me to read it. Keith has done a masterful job of bringing us the behind-the-scenes machinations of Federation politics, while giving us a rich variety of characters; especially President Bacco. There's a poignant presidential memorial service that brought me to tears (a rarity, for me, so-far-as books go). 'Articles of the Federation' has become one of my 'Top 5' Star Trek novels.

[Christopher Backa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not your typical Star Trek novel. This is basically Star Trek the west wing. Gives you a look into how the federation government operates. I read this book to understand the character of President Bacco who plays a role in the story arc in the destiny era novels. I enjoyed the book, it was a little slow in the middle but I found it an interesting read. Add a star if you love reading political focused stories, subtract a star if you are looking for a typical Star Trek starship story.

[Eggith · Rating 5 out of 5]

love this book. west wing in space for sure. i wish there was a a whole series of novels with nan bacco! the few tiomes she shows up in the destiny timeline its wonderfull. this is prob going to a an annual read! must be my 4th or 5th time reading it

made myself not read it in one sitting. wouldnt mind nan bacco set in the new continuity! perhaps in legacy and beyond? make a damn show. have keith here and david mack run the show. good shit

[Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m working my way through the post nemesis list & when I came to this I read it more to have read everything rather than looking forward to it as aim not a big fan of a West Wing type stories but this book is great. Hats off to Keith R A de Candido well written quick moving & an engaging story this was one of my favorites to date. We need more Trek novels from Mr DeCandido!

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The West Wing" in the United Federation of Planets, late 24th century. A good read, especially if you are familiar with the literary universe that spans the dozen or so years after Data's death in "Star Trek: Nemesis."

[GraceAnne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite book among my son's work. It's Star Trek meets The West Wing, and I love it. The character of Nan Bacco is based on Keith's great-grandmother, my grandmother.

[Crystal Bensley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was gonna be 3 stars but Nan Bacco is so awesome and the West Wing/ Star Trek feel of this is so unique it earned its extra star!

[C.T. Phipps · Rating 5 out of 5]

The West Wing meets Star Trek.

One thing I've always wondered about is how the United Federation of Planets works. The name implies its meant to work roughly analogous to the United Nations but it has its own military and power. Indeed, a Federation means that it probably functions more like the original United States did before we gradually became more federalized versus state-based (after a little something called the Civil War).

Articles of the Federation more or less shows how the Federation works by following its President in the post-Dominion War era, Nanietta Bacco, as she attempts to navigate the events following Shinzon's overthrow. This is very much set in the events of the Star Trek-Lit universe, frequently referencing events in other novels (particularly Star Trek: Titan).

Reading this after the first J.J. Abrams movie is kind of hilarious as everyone reacts to Praetor Shinzon's actions as the most devastating thing which has ever happened to Romulus. While it's wrong to laugh at genocide, even of fictional races, I can't help but feel a little schadenfreude as the Romulan's future woes.

Take that, evil space elves.

Honestly, I can't wait for the novels to catch up to the movie timeline since it will nicely rid the Star Trek Lit-universe of several truly appalling Romulan politicians. I admit, I also want to see the reaction of many characters in this book who are desperate to appease them.

Articles of the Federation consists of not so much a narrative as a 'Week in the Life of the Federation's President' and watching her deal with various scandals, meetings, diplomatic conferences, and so on. The writing is very anarchic, feeding into the idea that the President is constantly under scrutiny and forced to deal with a hundred different things simultaneously.

I very much enjoyed some of the subplots: the investigation of the previous President's arms trafficking to an independent planet, persuading a surgeon to perform an operation on an enemy race's VIP (despite her being a former POW of them), and why a seemingly friendly race constantly becomes belligerent every time they leave their planet.

I'm a bit "meh" about Nanietta Bacco, herself. She seems designed to be a badass President who steamrolls her way through any opposition to the most moral outcome possible. My favorite parts of the book are when the author has this backfire horribly. She's an okay character but I enjoy my Trek characters a little more flawed. It doesn't help I'm not a big fan of baseball and find her obsession as baffling as I found Sisko's.

The supporting cast, however, is awesome. I loved each and every one of them from the President's aides down to the Betazoid college roommates watching political TV for a class. There's a large, interesting, and diverse cast spread throughout the story. While fans might something with a bit more 'meat' to it, I think this is one of the most enjoyable Star Trek novels I've ever read.

9/10

[Star Trek Novels and Comics · Rating 5 out of 5]

I surprisingly LOVED this book.

Its the President and her chief of Staff that make this novel. They are well written characters. Alive, full of stress and life.

Its events tie in nicely once Typhon Pact arrives as backstory to the political noise that was moved to this novel and has a thematic world rooted in an office comedy.

I laughed at the humor. Learned a great deal about how the president, the CNC, the Federation Council all had to work together.

The political horse trading and stressful job of managing the federation with strength from a strong female leader is realistic and does not feel patronizing. She is the President Nana Bacco from Cestus III the world of dispute in the 2260s with the Gorn. She knows the Gorn and how they think. We learn more about the Tholians and Gorn from a perspective we don't often get away from the Bridge and into the Federation Council in Paris on Earth.

I rank this in my top 10 somehow of Star Trek Novels and thats not easy feat.

Keith is an excellent plotter and character writer. I believe he is a fine peer with Peter David although David is a better plotter and that may be his only edge.

High praise for the Novel that brings you coffee at the office and leaves you entertained because it is so well written.

[Zachary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Articles of the Federation is an attempt at Star Trek does the West Wing. I like Star Trek. I like West Wing. But I've avoided reading this book for years because I tend to think the less a backstory is explored the better. In Star Trek we know what the Federation is in general terms, but we don't know the details of how it works. The Federation is interesting because it allows the viewer to fill in those details however they choose. Backstory is intended to engage our imaginations. Once you start filling things in you get shit like, "Now this is podracing!" Knowing that this book was heavily inspired by the West Wing suggested to me that an American-style Presidential system was going to grafted on to the Federation and I just couldn't find much enthusiasm for that until recently with the premier of Star Trek Picard. Picard is a show that uses the politics of the Federation as its starting point. I was curious about how the Trek books writers handled it 15 years ago.

Does DeCandido make the Federation an analogue of the American system as I feared? Not really. He does something else that I never really considered but is obvious in retrospect. He writes the Federation President like a Starfleet captain. President Bacco is weirdly rude, but otherwise a typical Star Trek captain. Yeah, there is some political maneuvering with the Federation Council and the book is generally much more talky than another Star Trek story might be but the vibe isn't wildly different than a diplomacy heavy TNG episode.

The book itself is good. It's got some interesting dilemmas for the characters to deal with and I'm glad to hear their stories carry on into other Star Trek books. For the continuity worriers, Articles isn't wildly out of step with the Picard continuity either making this a good choice for people interested in further reading from that show.

[Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Keith R.A. DeCandido has so much Star Trek trivia in his head that reading one of his novels is like peering into the minds of Gene Rodenberry and Peter David. From his in-depth knowledge of obscure Trek history, and even some subtle jabs at the show's trend of casting the same actor for multiple roles, DeCandido creates an awesome tapestry of work that shows the background of a tumultuous year in the Federation, pulling in all the various stories that have occurred from Trek's relaunch following the events of Nemesis.

I didn't think I'd like a heavily political book, but this was awesome, and it unfolds as if you're watching an actual episode. His portrayal of the characters is on point, and while this isn't heavily steeped in action like other novels, it also gives an depth and reality to the series that I've really enjoyed in the current run of novels!

[Snogged · Rating 3 out of 5]

For context, I read this book without reading the 12 book series that came prior to it. I also never watched The West Wing. I picked this up because it was recommended thru the Women at Warp podcast and I wanted to learn more about Nan Bacco.

The leading characters in the book are not familiar faces; but instead are Nan and her staff. There are a few familiar faces and mentions - one is that Spock shows up briefly and another describes a past situation where Garak and Lwaxana Troi got into it during a council meeting. It also gets into the Reman crisis from my least favorite Trek movie - Nemesis..

If you're not interested in learning more about diplomatic relations and the inner workings of Federation government, this book is not for you. I liked it, but not enough to give it a 4- or 5-star rating.

[Luke Sims-Jenkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was sad when this book ended. Not because the ending was sad, but because I could have happily read another few hundred pages of it.

This is the first novel by Keith R.A DeCandido that I've read and he will be a Trek author that I will seek out in the future. His novel the Articles of the Federation is about the first year in president Nan Bacco's first year in office. So I guess you could call this, West Wing, done in the Trek style. It works, i loved reading about the ins and outs of the running's of the Federation and yeah there may have been moments when I wanted some more Trekky things like space exploration etc... but the novel just made me happy then sad that it was the only one like it.

High recommend.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a nagging feeling all throughout this book that I had read it before. However, when nothing turned out like I remembered, I came to the conclusion that I have not. Given the wide range of Trek books out there, and how they focus on the front lines as it were, with the main characters usually being a bridge crew of a massive starship, it was refreshing to see the cogs of the Federation government at play -- even if parts of it did feel a little close to the underpinnings of the United States administration for my liking. There wasn't much of a climax, more of a tremor really, but I still enjoyed this book rather a lot.