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Star Trek SCE (ebooks) Novellas #3
Hard Crash
There's more to Starfleet than exploring strange new worlds. When serious technical know-how is required, Starfleet sends in an S.C.E. team, such as the one stationed aboard the U.S.S. da Vinci. This topflight assemblage of engineers and technical specialists is a mixture of extraordinarily talented humans and exotic aliens, including P8 Blue, an insectlike alien who specializes in analyzing structural systems, and a single, unpaired Bynar, unique among his species. Under the command of Captain David Gold, the crew of the da Vinci takes on the down-and-dirty, hands-on jobs that only they can handle. HARD CRASH
An alien starship of unknown origin has crashed into a planet inhabited by a large and populous civilization. Accompanied by Geordi La Forge, temporarily on loan from the Starship Enterprise™, the S.C.E. investigates the mysterious vessel, only to discover that the ship was not nearly as damaged as it first seemed. Now the berserk ship, which seems to possess its own life and intelligence, is on a rampage across the surface of the planet, and Captain Gold and his crew face the awesome challenge of trying to stop a starship gone insane!
An alien starship of unknown origin has crashed into a planet inhabited by a large and populous civilization. Accompanied by Geordi La Forge, temporarily on loan from the Starship Enterprise™, the S.C.E. investigates the mysterious vessel, only to discover that the ship was not nearly as damaged as it first seemed. Now the berserk ship, which seems to possess its own life and intelligence, is on a rampage across the surface of the planet, and Captain Gold and his crew face the awesome challenge of trying to stop a starship gone insane!
89 pages, ebook
First published October 1, 2000
4 people are currently reading
117 people want to read
About the author
Christie Golden
173 books1,881 followersAward-winning author Christie Golden has written over thirty novels and several short stories in the fields of science fiction, fantasy and horror. She has over a million books in print.
2009 will see no fewer than three novels published. First out in late April will be a World of Warcraft novel, Athas: Rise of the Lich King. This is the first Warcraft novel to appear in hardcover. Fans of the young paladin who fell so far from grace will get to read his definitive story.
In June, Golden’s first Star Wars novel, also a hardcover, sees print. Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi—Omen is the second in a nine-book series she is co-authoring with Aaron Allston and Troy Denning. Also in June comes the conclusion of Golden’s StarCraft: The Dark Templar Saga with the release of Twlight, the third book in the series. The first two are Firstborn and Shadow Hunters.
2004 saw the launch of an original fantasy series called The Final Dance, from LUNA Books. The first novel in the series, On Fire's Wings, was published in July of that year. The second, In Stone’s Clasp , came out in September of 2005. With In Stone’s Clasp, Golden won the Colorado Author’s League Top Hand Award for Best Genre Novel for the second time. The third book, Under Sea’s Shadow, is available only as an e-book
Golden is also the author of two original fantasy novels from Ace Books, King's Man and Thief and Instrument of Fate, which made the 1996 Nebula Preliminary Ballot. Under the pen name of Jadrien Bell, she wrote a historical fantasy thriller entitled A.D. 999, which won the Colorado Author's League Top Hand Award for Best Genre Novel of 1999.
Golden launched the TSR Ravenloft line in 1991 with her first novel, the highly successful Vampire of the Mists , which introduced elven vampire Jander Sunstar. Golden followed up Vampire with Dance of the Dead and The Enemy Within . In September of 2006, fifteen years to the month, The Ravenloft Covenant: Vampire of the Mists enabled Jander Sunstar to reach a whole new audience.
Other projects include a slew of Star Trek novels, among them The Murdered Sun , Marooned , and Seven of Nine , and "The Dark Matters Trilogy," Cloak and Dagger , Ghost Dance and Shadow of Heaven .
The Voyager novel relaunch, which includes Homecoming and The Farther Shore , were bestsellers and were the fastest-selling Trek novels of 2003. Golden continued writing VOYAGER novels even though the show went off the air, and enjoyed exploring the creative freedom that gave her in the two-parter called Spirit Walk, which includes Old Wounds and Enemy of my Enemy .
Golden has also written the novelization of Steven Spielberg's Invasion America and an original "prequel," On The Run , both of which received high praise from producer Harve Bennett. On The Run, a combination medical thriller and science fiction adventure, even prompted Bennett to invite Golden to assist in crafting the second season of the show, if it was renewed.
Golden lives in Loveland, Colorado, with her artist husband and their two cats.
2009 will see no fewer than three novels published. First out in late April will be a World of Warcraft novel, Athas: Rise of the Lich King. This is the first Warcraft novel to appear in hardcover. Fans of the young paladin who fell so far from grace will get to read his definitive story.
In June, Golden’s first Star Wars novel, also a hardcover, sees print. Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi—Omen is the second in a nine-book series she is co-authoring with Aaron Allston and Troy Denning. Also in June comes the conclusion of Golden’s StarCraft: The Dark Templar Saga with the release of Twlight, the third book in the series. The first two are Firstborn and Shadow Hunters.
2004 saw the launch of an original fantasy series called The Final Dance, from LUNA Books. The first novel in the series, On Fire's Wings, was published in July of that year. The second, In Stone’s Clasp , came out in September of 2005. With In Stone’s Clasp, Golden won the Colorado Author’s League Top Hand Award for Best Genre Novel for the second time. The third book, Under Sea’s Shadow, is available only as an e-book
Golden is also the author of two original fantasy novels from Ace Books, King's Man and Thief and Instrument of Fate, which made the 1996 Nebula Preliminary Ballot. Under the pen name of Jadrien Bell, she wrote a historical fantasy thriller entitled A.D. 999, which won the Colorado Author's League Top Hand Award for Best Genre Novel of 1999.
Golden launched the TSR Ravenloft line in 1991 with her first novel, the highly successful Vampire of the Mists , which introduced elven vampire Jander Sunstar. Golden followed up Vampire with Dance of the Dead and The Enemy Within . In September of 2006, fifteen years to the month, The Ravenloft Covenant: Vampire of the Mists enabled Jander Sunstar to reach a whole new audience.
Other projects include a slew of Star Trek novels, among them The Murdered Sun , Marooned , and Seven of Nine , and "The Dark Matters Trilogy," Cloak and Dagger , Ghost Dance and Shadow of Heaven .
The Voyager novel relaunch, which includes Homecoming and The Farther Shore , were bestsellers and were the fastest-selling Trek novels of 2003. Golden continued writing VOYAGER novels even though the show went off the air, and enjoyed exploring the creative freedom that gave her in the two-parter called Spirit Walk, which includes Old Wounds and Enemy of my Enemy .
Golden has also written the novelization of Steven Spielberg's Invasion America and an original "prequel," On The Run , both of which received high praise from producer Harve Bennett. On The Run, a combination medical thriller and science fiction adventure, even prompted Bennett to invite Golden to assist in crafting the second season of the show, if it was renewed.
Golden lives in Loveland, Colorado, with her artist husband and their two cats.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
April 26, 2015
It's not as bad as the first book in the SCE series, but it has put me off from wanting to read anything else by the author. Hard crash is the least action oriented of the SCE stories so far, but the characters haven't gotten enough development to carry a mostly dramatic story. While the premise is sound I think the awkward dialogue really turns this down to at best second tier daytime tv levels of melodrama near the end. The short length and steady pace are the only real saving graces of Hard Crash, so I'd recommend not bothering with this one.
May 15, 2013
Hard Crash surprised me with the emotional punch that it packed. I truly wasn't expecting the ending that it had, and the emotional resonance that it held. Very well-written and with some fascinating character moments, Hard Crash made me very happy that I've finally decided to give the Corps of Engineers series a try. I'm certainly not regretting that decision thus far.
Full review: http://treklit.blogspot.com/2013/05/h...
Full review: http://treklit.blogspot.com/2013/05/h...
November 26, 2014
Another excellent chapter of the Starfleet Corps of Engineers, and hopefully the last to be buttressed by the presence of Georgi LaForge. While I like Geordi, I'd rather see this crew of new (and old) characters flourish on their own without the guest-star treatment. Unless it's warranted or good for the story, of course.
This one has the crew of the Da Vinci encountering an alien ship that might be Borg in nature, and 110 making a decision on how he's going to live his life after the death of his partner 111. Good writing, good characterization, and an interesting premise highlight this book. Another great two-hour read!
This one has the crew of the Da Vinci encountering an alien ship that might be Borg in nature, and 110 making a decision on how he's going to live his life after the death of his partner 111. Good writing, good characterization, and an interesting premise highlight this book. Another great two-hour read!
October 11, 2014
This was very moving, so I may try out some of the writer's Voyager relaunch novels.
September 12, 2014
A good ending to the story arc, but all a bit too cosy.
August 15, 2021
The weakness of these short ebooks is that to further the plot, there are often sections that I will generously call infodumps. Golden's are rather awkward too. However, she doesn't skimp on the characterization, especially at the beginning and end of the story. It's a good compromise, better than wall to wall plot featuring cardboard cut-outs. If Gomez was the main character of book 1, and 110 of book 2, book 3 fleshes out the ship's linguist/cryptographer Bart Faulwell. Lo and behold, he's Star Trek's first gay cast member. The shows had always shied away from that particular aspect of diversity, and it took a while before someone decided to do so even in a non-canon spin-off, but there he is, writing to his partner. Bart is an interesting, if shy, character, and since Hoshi was one of my favorites on Enterprise, I'm stoked about seeing another linguist in Starfleet. Golden also advances the relationship between Gomez and Duffy, former flames brought back together by circumstances but taking it very slow (I'm liking Gomez in that moment). 110's initial arc turns him into Soloman, Corsi shows the first signs of an intriguing vulnerability, and there's a very effective medical procedural using Dr. Lense and a new EMH character called Emmett. Captain Gold also seems more real to me now. As for the plot, it's a good frame to hang the characterization on, nicely devoid the dungeon delving antics of the first two books.
October 10, 2023
I'm not sure if this is worthy of 1 star or if I am just tired of the S.C.E. premise. These first three novellas have all had a similar tale to tell; introduce a culture with a technical problem, send the S.C.E. to diagnose, problem fixed. It's a bit boring. Oh, and tell the sad tale of 110...which gets old fast.
I don't blame Golden for this one, she wrote the "Dark Matters" Voyager trilogy which is excellent, so I'm prone to think Hard Crash was a just a quick piece written to fulfill a predetermined outline.
I don't blame Golden for this one, she wrote the "Dark Matters" Voyager trilogy which is excellent, so I'm prone to think Hard Crash was a just a quick piece written to fulfill a predetermined outline.
April 8, 2021
Hatte Faulwell in Band 2 nicht noch eine PartnerIN? Mit weiblichen Pronomen, also nicht nur ein Übersetzungsfehler beim englischen 'partner'?
Naja, einen männlichen Partner so unaufgeregt mit in die Geschichte zu bringen, und für Diversität zu sorgen, finde ich ganz gut.
Ansonsten schöne Geschichte, die mehr auf Emotion und Charakterentwicklung als auf Action setzt, gefällt mir.
Naja, einen männlichen Partner so unaufgeregt mit in die Geschichte zu bringen, und für Diversität zu sorgen, finde ich ganz gut.
Ansonsten schöne Geschichte, die mehr auf Emotion und Charakterentwicklung als auf Action setzt, gefällt mir.
May 19, 2019
An excellent chapter for the SCE.
May 26, 2025
Best of the Star Trek SCE so far. The first two books built a solid foundation that led to a very satisfying pay off in the third entry of this series.
July 27, 2025
A nice little mission, conveniently well timed to let 110 (aka Soloman) deal with his personal trauma.
August 18, 2025
This book is a fine entry in the series, but unfortunately, it suffers from placement more than content. Coming immediately after Fatal Error, the story feels a bit too familiar—another planetary emergency involving malfunctioning technology and a race against time to save the day. While that's classic Star Trek, the similarity in structure and stakes made this novella feel repetitive rather than fresh.
It’s not a bad story by any means, and there are some solid moments that highlight the da Vinci crew’s skills and camaraderie. But compared to the two prior entries—especially with the emotional weight of 110’s arc still fresh — it doesn’t quite hit the same mark. This came at 3 out of 5 stars for me.
It’s not a bad story by any means, and there are some solid moments that highlight the da Vinci crew’s skills and camaraderie. But compared to the two prior entries—especially with the emotional weight of 110’s arc still fresh — it doesn’t quite hit the same mark. This came at 3 out of 5 stars for me.
March 9, 2018
Geordi finally leaves in this book. The story is actually good this time because finally the Star Trek stories remember that Star Trek is about people and not just monsters and technology and *stuff* happening. Emotions are good. I believe books should have emotions, because I enjoy feeling something for my effort of reading the words within them.
March 23, 2015
Star Trek: S. C. E.: #3 Hard Crash by Christie Golden Hard Crash is essentially the conclusion to the 110-arc - and hopefully, to Geordi's visit on the da Vinci.
The da Vinci is called to investigate and, if possible, shut down a giant ship that's apparently crashed on purpose on a peaceful planet. What looks at first like a new variation of Borg ship becomes the story of the relationship between a pilot and a sentient ship that cannot cope with the loss of said pilot. 110 links with the ship and gets it to realize that it can function alone as well, much as he himself realizes.
The second part of this story is much stronger than the first. What is a run of the mill investigation becomes a bittersweet story about loss, grief and continuing on despite those feelings. 110 in the end refuses to return to Bynaeus, losing his designation. He's now called Soloman. And the ship takes its pilot home, and perhaps will continue exploring space on its own after that because it won't accept another partner/pilot.
As I said, the story itself works quite well, as does 110's characterization. But much feels a bit like repetition of the second part of this series. We already had 110's identity crisis, and it was already quite clear back then that he wouldn't return home. So it's a bit of a redundancy here, that's, I suppose, unavoidable when back-to-back stories are written by different authors. The same applies to Gomez's cacao-incident and her doubts about being able to work with Geordi. They have worked together well for 2 books already, so why shouldn't they be able to now in the third? And why does everyone call Geordi "Lieutenant"? The correct rank is Lt. Cmdr. or abbreviated Commander.
Gomez and her second in command within the SCE-command structure, Kieran Duffy, might resume their relationship, so that's another interesting facet for future stories, as is the long-distance relationship of the ship's linguist Bart Faulwell. It's good to see the crew fleshed out slowly but surely, and also fleshed out in a way that's reminiscent of the old IDIC-motto.
Overall, Hard Crash is a quite emotional story, that's good to read and advances the personal story arcs. But it contains certain idiosyncracies that threw me out of the reading flow. Therefore, the whole story gets an average rating.
The da Vinci is called to investigate and, if possible, shut down a giant ship that's apparently crashed on purpose on a peaceful planet. What looks at first like a new variation of Borg ship becomes the story of the relationship between a pilot and a sentient ship that cannot cope with the loss of said pilot. 110 links with the ship and gets it to realize that it can function alone as well, much as he himself realizes.
The second part of this story is much stronger than the first. What is a run of the mill investigation becomes a bittersweet story about loss, grief and continuing on despite those feelings. 110 in the end refuses to return to Bynaeus, losing his designation. He's now called Soloman. And the ship takes its pilot home, and perhaps will continue exploring space on its own after that because it won't accept another partner/pilot.
As I said, the story itself works quite well, as does 110's characterization. But much feels a bit like repetition of the second part of this series. We already had 110's identity crisis, and it was already quite clear back then that he wouldn't return home. So it's a bit of a redundancy here, that's, I suppose, unavoidable when back-to-back stories are written by different authors. The same applies to Gomez's cacao-incident and her doubts about being able to work with Geordi. They have worked together well for 2 books already, so why shouldn't they be able to now in the third? And why does everyone call Geordi "Lieutenant"? The correct rank is Lt. Cmdr. or abbreviated Commander.
Gomez and her second in command within the SCE-command structure, Kieran Duffy, might resume their relationship, so that's another interesting facet for future stories, as is the long-distance relationship of the ship's linguist Bart Faulwell. It's good to see the crew fleshed out slowly but surely, and also fleshed out in a way that's reminiscent of the old IDIC-motto.
Overall, Hard Crash is a quite emotional story, that's good to read and advances the personal story arcs. But it contains certain idiosyncracies that threw me out of the reading flow. Therefore, the whole story gets an average rating.
April 19, 2012
let's start with this, under no circumstance is a star trek book supposed to make you sad. uplifting usually but sad first never. but this one did and damn it i loved it for that. this was a very well written story that i suspect i will reread from time to time when the more conventional star trek starts to feel to unpersonal for lack of a better word.
November 19, 2012
Hmmm...ran through the first three books in this "series" pretty quick...they are all relatively short books - more "long" short stories than anything.
And, typical Star Trek books. I don't know why I keep going back to read these types of books, but I always tend to every so often...if you like Star Trek you'll probably enjoy these books.
And, typical Star Trek books. I don't know why I keep going back to read these types of books, but I always tend to every so often...if you like Star Trek you'll probably enjoy these books.
January 22, 2014
The Da Vinci is sent to investigate a crashed alien spaceship. This is a sweet story about loss, grief and relationships. Not what you would expect with the name 'Hard Crash'. There are some action moments when the ship powers up and threatens to destroy the planet. This is mainly a character based plot. A good read.
January 9, 2016
That's one of the problems when more than one author, separately, writes a series. The characters end up getting developed by one author, furthered by a second, and then a third one comes along and . . . everything is just slightly off enough to be annoying. Then you add an overly sappy storyline. Almost completely off-putting.
August 8, 2015
Loved it ! Brilliant novelization ! Integrating all human emotions in aliens as well in machines was brilliantly done. I just love the fact that this adventure is satisfactorily long ! Cheers for Soloman !
February 22, 2013
Again, "professional fan fiction" fits this so well. Even written by an author who write the same style of book, but for World of Warcraft.
September 12, 2013
ok, almost predictable.
February 9, 2014
Short and sweet...
May 17, 2017
A sweet story about diverse relationships in space.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews