"we can assume that this plague is related to the one we dealt with on Archaria III, It almost seems like a second trial of an experiment. the stakes were escalated. There were three species involved. There was a new method of delivery." Beverly Crusher.

So, here we are again, people dying all over the place. This time it's Bajorans and Cardassians, perhaps this plague being one of the few things they've ever had in common.

The book is set mostly on Deep space nine, though before it was abandoned by the Cardassians, so naturally it's still called Terok Nor. Our central heroes don't take centre stage in this one - the protagonists are mostly extras, with the exception of Nurse Ogawa and Katherine Pulaski. of course old favourites are there (the Enterprise crew, Kira, odo etc), but it really is Pulaski's show.

What a well done show it is, as well - backstory for her thrown in so smoothly that next time I see her onscreen I'll think of her ex-husband, without remembering he isn't canon. There was clearly attention to detail from the screen, as well - vis data and Pulaski, which I always appreciate in a novel.

My one quibble is that it's very much a same old story. Plague, possible cure, not a proper cure, scratch heads (and ears), proper cure. Hurrah! seen this before on Archaria, didn't wee, folks? yes, and no, is the answer to that one. As crusher said, the stakes were escalated. One can only assume that the mysterious General of whom we hear vague hints about but don't actually meet is up to his old tricks again.

From this latest instalment we can surmise that the General's genetics are increasing in complexity and that next time, it won't be so easy to solve the problem. This book could have gone a little faster, had a little more punch, but as a 'general' rule it portrays the insidious progression of a set of experiments quite well, giving us a glimpse into the Cardassian occupation of bajor en-route. Where we go next - well: i'll find out soon enough.