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Black Fire
Rating: 
Series: The Original Series #8
Published: March, 1986
Author: Sonni Cooper
Review by: Robert Alexander Griffith |
A massive explosion sheers the bridge off of the Enterprise, killing several crewmen and severely injuring Kirk, Spock, Chekov, Sulu, and Uhura. Scotty is forced to take command and separate the primary hull to save the rest of the ship. Now cramped in incredibly tight quarters, McCoy and his medical staff furiously hurry to try and save the injured officers.
Upon arrival at Starbase 12 McCoy has stabilized all of the injured, but Mr. Spock who has a tiny sliver of metal protruding into his spine. Using his mystical Vulcan powers Spock can mask his pain and keep it from being seen by his shipmates, but the doctor knows.
As is usually the case with our favorite Vulcan, Spock's stubbornness refuses to give up on the belief that the explosion was sabotage. He and Mr. Scott take a shuttlecraft back to the abandoned primary hull of the Enterprise to investigate. Finding only a depilatory, a comb, and a piece of paper with strange marks on it, they head back to the confines of Starbase 12.
The investigation gives credence to a theory that the explosion was nothing but severe mechanical failure, and although Spock has proof otherwise, the grand jury will not hear it.
Despite the grand jury's ruling, Spock will not rest. He and Scotty hijack a small scout vessel and flee from the Starbase towards a star system beyond the reach of the Federation; the same one indicated by the strange markings on the piece of paper Spock found.
But soon Mr. Scott and Spock are captured, by the Romulans, and then the Romulans are captured by the Klingons. What will happen?
A story of meticulous brilliance written like a true episode, this book has strange echoes of past stories. Sonni Cooper is an artist of wizardry, and this old favorite is just as good now as it was back in 1983. 4 Pips.
Title: Black Fire
Author: Sonni Cooper
Review by: Robert Alexander Griffith
