The Entropy Effect Read online

  The Entropy Effect

  Vonda N. Mcintyre Неизвестный Автор

  Contents

  Prologue Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Epilogue

  Look for STAR TREK fiction from Pocket Books Star Trek®: The Original Series Star Trek: The Next Generation®

  Star Trek: Deep Space Nine®

  Star Trek: Voyager®

  Star Trek®: New Frontier Star Trek®: Invasion!

  Star Trek®: Day of Honor

  Star Trek®: The Captain's Table

  Star Trek®: The Dominion War

  Star Trek®: The Badlands

  Star Trek® Books available in Trade Paperback

  Look for STAR TREK fiction from Pocket Books

  Star Trek®: The Original Series

  Enterprise: The First Adventure • Vonda N. McIntyre

  Final Frontier• Diane Carey

  Strangers From the Sky • Margaret Wander Bonanno

  Spock's World• Diane Duane

  The Lost Years • J.M. Dillard

  Probe • Margaret Wander Bonanno

  Prime Directive • Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens

  Best Destiny• Diane Carey

  Shadows on the Sun • Michael Jan Friedman

  Sarek • A.C. Crispin

  Federation • Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens

  Vulcan's Forge• Josepha Sherman & Susan Shwartz

  Mission to Horatius • Mack Reynolds

  Vulcan s Heart• Josepha Sherman & Susan Shwartz

  Novelizations

  Star Trek: The Motion Picture • Gene Roddenberry Star Trek II: The Wrath ofKhan • Vonda N. McIntyre Star Trek III: The Search for Spock • Vonda N. McIntyre Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home • Vonda N. McIntyre Star Trek V: The Final Frontier• J.M. Dillard Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country• J.M. Dillard Star Trek Generations • J.M. Dillard Starfleet Academy • Diane Carey

  Star Trek books by William Shatner with Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens The Ashes of Eden The Return Avenger

  Star Trek: Odyssey(contains The Ashes of Eden , The Return , and Avenger )

  Spectre

  Dark Victory

  #1 • Star Trek: The Motion Picture • Gene Roddenberry #2 • The Entropy Effect • Vonda N. McIntyre

  #3 • The Klingon Gambit • Robert E. Vardeman

  #4 • The Covenant of the Crown • Howard Weinstein

  #5 • The Prometheus Design • Sondra Marshak & Myrna Culbreath

  #6 • The Abode of Life • Lee Correy

  #7 • Star Trek II: The Wrath ofKhan • Vonda N. McIntyre

  #8 • 5/ack Fire • Sonni Cooper

  #9 • Triangle • Sondra Marshak & Myrna Culbreath

  #10 • Web of the Romulans • M.S. Murdock

  #11 • Yesterday's Son • A.C. Crispin

  #12 • Mutiny on the Enterprise • Robert E. Vardeman

  #13 •The Wounded Sky • Diane Duane

  #14 • The Trellisane Confrontation • David Dvorkin

  #15 • Corona • Greg Bear

  #16 • The Final Reflection • John M. Ford

  #17 • Star Trek III: The Search For Spock • Vonda N. McIntyre

  #18 • Enemy, My Ally • Diane Duane

  #19 •The Tears of the Singers • Melinda Snodgrass

  #20 • The Vulcan Academy Murders • Jean Lorrah

  #21 • Uhura's Song • Janet Kagan

  #22 • Shadow Land • Laurence Yep

  #23 • Ishmael • Barbara Hambly

  #24 • Killing Time • Della Van Hise

  #25 • Dwellers in the Crucible • Margaret Wander Bonanno

  #26 • Pawns and Symbols • Majliss Larson

  #27 • Mindshadow • J.M. Dillard

  #28 • Crisis on Centaurus • Brad Ferguson #29 • Dreadnought! • Diane Carey

  #30 • Demons • J.M. Dillard

  #31 • Battlestations! • Diane Carey

  #32 • Chain of Attack • Gene DeWeese

  #33 • Deep Domain • Howard Weinstein

  #34 • Dreams ofthe Raven • Carmen Carter

  #35 • The Romulan Way • Diane Duane & Peter Morwood

  #36 • How Much For Just the Planet? • John M. Ford

  #37 • Bloodthirst • J.M. Dillard

  #38 • The IDIC Epidemic • Jean Lorrah

  #39 • Time For Yesterday • A.C. Crispin

  #40 • Timetrap • David Dvorkin

  #41 • The Three-Minute Universe • Barbara Paul

  #42 •Memory Prime • Gar and Judith Reeves-Stevens

  #43 • The Final Nexus • Gene DeWeese

  #44 • Vulcan's Glory • D.C. Fontana

  #45 • Double, Double • Michael Jan Friedman

  #46 • The Cry ofthe Onlies • Judy Klass

  #47 • The Kobayashi Maru • Julia Ecklar

  #48 • Rules of Engagement • Peter Morwood

  #49 • The Pandora Principle • Carolyn Clowes

  #50 • Doctor's Orders • Diane Duane

  #51 • Unseen Enemy • V.E. Mitchell

  #52 • Home is the Hunter • Dana Kramer Rolls

  #53 • Ghost-Walker • Barbara Hambly

  #54 • A Flag Full ofStars • Brad Ferguson

  #55 • Renegade • Gene DeWeese

  #56 • Legacy • Michael Jan Friedman

  #57 • The Rift • Peter David

  #58 • Faces of Fire • Michael Jan Friedman

  #59 • The Disinherited • Peter David

  #60 • Ice Trap • L.A. Graf

  #61 •Sanctuary • John Vornholt

  #62 • Death Count • L.A. Graf

  #63 • Shell Game • Melissa Crandall

  #64 • The Starship Trap • Mel Gilden

  #65 • Windows on a Lost World • V.E. Mitchell

  #66 • From the Depths • Victor Milan

  #67 • The Great Starship Race • Diane Carey

  #68 • Firestorm • L.A. Graf

  #69 • The Patrian Transgression • Simon Hawke

  #70 • Traitor Winds • L.A. Graf

  #71 • Crossroad • Barbara Hambly

  #72 • The Better Man • Howard Weinstein

  #73 • Recovery • J.M. Dillard

  #74 • The Fearful Summons • Denny Martin Flynn

  #75 •First Frontier • Diane Carey & Dr. James I. Kirkland

  #76 • The Captain's Daughter • Peter David

  #77 • Twilight's End • Jerry Oltion

  #78 • The Rings ofTautee • Dean Wesley Smith & Kristine Kathryn Rusch #79 • Invasion! #1: First Strike • Diane Carey

  #80 •The Joy Machine • James Gunn #81 • Mudd in Your Eye • Jerry Oltion #82 •Mind Meld • John Vornholt

  #83 • Heart ofthe Sun • Pamela Sargent & George Zebrowski

  #84 • Assignment: Eternity • Greg Cox

  #85-87 • Brother's Keeper • Michael Jan Friedman

  #85 •Republic

  #86 •Constitution

  #87 •Enterprise

  #88 •Across the Universe • Pamela Sargent & George Zebrowski #89-94 • Aew Earth

  #89 • Wagon Train to the Stars • Diane Carey

  #90 • Belle Terre • Dean Wesley Smith with Diane Carey

  Star Trek: The Next Generation®

  Metamorphosis • Jean Lorrah Vendetta • Peter David Reunion • Michael Jan Friedman Imzadi • Peter David The Devil's Heart• Carmen Carter Dark Mirror • Diane Duane Q-Squ.ared • Peter David Crossover • Michael Jan Friedman Kahless • Michael Jan Friedman Ship ofthe Line • Diane Carey

  The Best and the Brightest• Susan Wright Planet X Michael Jan Friedman Imzadi II: Triangle • Peter Da
vid I, Q• John de Lancie & Peter David The Valiant• Michael Jan Friedman Novelizations

  Encounter at Farpoint• David Gerrold

  Unification • Jeri Taylor

  Relics • Michael Jan Friedman

  Descent • Diane Carey

  All Good Things... • Michael Jan Friedman

  Star Trek: Klingon • Dean Wesley Smith & Kristine Kathryn Rusch

  Star Trek Generations • J.M. Dillard

  Star Trek: First Contact• J.M. Dillard

  Star Trek: Insurrection • J.M. Dillard

  #1 • Ghost Ship • Diane Carey

  #2 • The Peacekeepers • Gene DeWeese

  #3 • The Children ofHamlin • Carmen Carter

  #4 • Survivors • Jean Lorrah

  #5 • Strike Zone • Peter David

  #6 •Power Hungry • Howard Weinstein

  #7 • Masks • John Vornholt

  #8 • The Captain's Honor • David and Daniel Dvorkin #9 • A Call to Darkness • Michael Jan Friedman #10 • A Rock and a Hard Place • Peter David

  #11 • Gulliver's Fugitives • Keith Sharee

  #12 • Doomsday World • David, Carter, Friedman & Greenberger

  #13 • The Eyes ofthe Beholders • A.C. Crispin

  #14 • Exiles • Howard Weinstein

  #15 • Fortune's Light • Michael Jan Friedman

  #16 • Contamination • John Vornholt

  #17 • Boogeymen • Mel Gilden

  #18 • Q-In-Law • Peter David

  #19 • Perchance to Dream • Howard Weinstein

  #20 • Spartacus • T.L. Mancour

  #21 • Chains ofCommand • W.A. McCay & E.L. Flood

  #22 • Imbalance • V.E. Mitchell

  #23 • War Drums • John Vornholt

  #24 • Nightshade • Laurell K. Hamilton

  #25 • Grounded • David Bischoff

  #26 • The Romulan Prize • Simon Hawke

  #27 • Guises of the Mind • Rebecca Neason

  #28 • Here There Be Dragons • John Peel

  #29 •Sins of Commission • Susan Wright

  #30 • Debtor's Planet • W.R. Thompson

  #31 • Foreign Foes • Dave Galanter & Greg Brodeur

  #32 • Requiem • Michael Jan Friedman & Kevin Ryan

  #33 • Balance of Power • Dafydd ab Hugh

  #34 • Blaze ofGlory • Simon Hawke

  #35 • The Romulan Stratagem • Robert Greenberger

  #36 • Into the Nebula • Gene DeWeese

  #37 • The Last Stand • Brad Ferguson

  #38 • Dragon's Honor • Kij Johnson & Greg Cox

  #39 • Rogue Saucer • John Vornholt

  #40 • Possession • J.M. Dillard & Kathleen O'Malley

  #41 • Invasion! #2: The Soldiers of Fear • Dean Wesley Smith & Kristine Kathryn Rusch #42 • Infiltrator • W.R. Thompson

  #43 • A Fury Scorned • Pamela Sargent & George Zebrowski

  #44 • The Death of Princes • John Peel

  #45 • Intellivore • Diane Duane

  #46 • To Storm Heaven • Esther Friesner

  #47-49 •The Q Continuum • Greg Cox

  #47 • Q-Space

  #48 • Q-Zone

  #49 • Q-Strike

  #50 • Dyson Sphere • Charles Pellegrino & George Zebrowski

  #51-56 • Double Helix

  #51 •Infection • John Gregory Betancourt

  #52 •Vectors • Dean Wesley Smith & Kristine Kathryn Rusch

  #53 •Red Sector • Diane Carey

  #54 •Quarantine • John Vornholt

  #55 • Double or Nothing • Peter David

  #56 •The First Virtue • Michael Jan Friedman & Christie Golden #57 •The Forgotten War • William R. Forstchen #58-59 • Gemworld • John Vornholt #58 • Gemworld #1

  #59 • Gemworld #2

  Star Trek: Deep Space Nine®

  Warped • K.W. Jeter

  Legends ofthe Ferengi • Ira Steven Behr & Robert Hewitt Wolfe The Lives of Dax• Marco Palmieri, ed.

  Millennium • Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens

  #1 • The Fall of Terok Nor

  #2 • The War ofthe Prophets

  #3 • Inferno

  Novelizations

  Emissary • J.M. Dillard

  The Search • Diane Carey

  The Way ofthe Warrior • Diane Carey

  Star Trek: Klingon • Dean Wesley Smith & Kristine Kathryn Rusch Trials and Tribble-ations • Diane Carey Far Beyond the Stars• Steve Barnes WhatYou Leave Behind• Diane Carey

  #1 • Emissary • J.M. Dillard #2 • The Siege • Peter David #3 • Bloodletter • K.W. Jeter #4 •The Big Game • Sandy Schofield #5 • Fallen Heroes • Dafydd ab Hugh #6 • Betrayal • Lois Tilton

  #7 • Warchild • Esther Friesner #8 • Antimatter • John Vornholt #9 •Proud Helios • Melissa Scott #10 • Valhalla • Nathan Archer

  #11 •Devil in the Sky • Greg Cox & John Gregory Betancourt #12 •The Laertian Gamble • Robert Sheckley #13 • Station Rage • Diane Carey

  #14 •The Long Night • Dean Wesley Smith & Kristine Kathryn Rusch

  #15 • Objective: Bajor • John Peel

  #16 • Invasion! #3: Time's Enemy • L.A. Graf

  #17 • The Heart of the Warrior • John Gregory Betancourt

  #18 • Saratoga • Michael Jan Friedman

  #19 • The Tempest • Susan Wright

  #20 • Wrath of the Prophets • David, Friedman & Greenberger #21 • Trial by Error • Mark Garland #22 • Vengeance • Dafydd ab Hugh

  #23 • The 34th Rule • Armin Shimerman & David R. George III

  #24-26 • Rebels • Dafydd ab Hugh

  #24 • The Conquered

  #25 • The Courageous

  #26 • The Liberated

  #27 • A Stitch in Time • Andrew J. Robinson Star Trek: Voyager®

  Mosaic • Jeri Taylor

  Pathways • Jeri Taylor

  Captain Proton: Defender of the Earth • D.W. "Prof" Smith

  Novelizations

  Caretaker • L.A. Graf

  Flashback • Diane Carey

  Day ofHonor • Michael Jan Friedman

  Equinox • Diane Carey

  #1 • Caretaker • L.A. Graf

  #2 • The Escape • Dean Wesley Smith & Kristine Kathryn Rusch

  #3 • Ragnarok • Nathan Archer

  #4 • Violations • Susan Wright

  #5 • Incident at Arbuk • John Gregory Betancourt

  #6 • The Murdered Sun • Christie Golden

  #7 • Ghost of a Chance • Mark A. Garland & Charles G. McGraw

  #8 • Cybersong • S.N. Lewitt

  #9 • Invasion! #4: The Final Fury • Dafydd ab Hugh

  #10 • Bless the Beasts • Karen Haber

  #11 • The Garden • Melissa Scott

  #12 • Chrysalis • David Niall Wilson

  #13 • The Black Shore • Greg Cox

  #14 • Marooned • Christie Golden

  #15 • Echoes • Dean Wesley Smith, Kristine Kathryn Rusch & Nina Kiriki Hoffman

  #16 • Seven of Nine • Christie Golden

  #17 • Death of a Neutron Star • Eric Kotani

  #18 • Battle Lines • Dave Galanter & Greg Brodeur

  Star Trek®: New Frontier

  New Frontier#1-4 Collector's Edition • Peter David

  #1 • House of Cards • Peter David

  #2 • Into the Void • Peter David

  #3 • The Two-Front War • Peter David

  #4 • End Game • Peter David

  #5 • Martyr • Peter David

  #6 • Fire on High • Peter David

  The Captain's Table#5 • Once Burned • Peter David

  Double Helix#5 • Double or Nothing • Peter David

  #7 • The Quiet Place • Peter David

  #8 • Dark Allies • Peter David

  Star Trek®: Invasion!

  #1 • First Strike • Diane Carey

  #2 •The Soldiers of Fe
ar • Dean Wesley Smith & Kristine Kathryn Rusch #3 • Time's Enemy • L.A. Graf #4 •The Final Fury • Dafydd ab Hugh Invasion! Omnibus• various

  Star Trek®: Day of Honor

  #1 • Ancient Blood • Diane Carey #2 • Armageddon Sky • L.A. Graf

  #3 • Her Klingon Soul • Michael Jan Friedman

  #4 • Treaty's Law • Dean Wesley Smith & Kristine Kathryn Rusch

  The Television Episode • Michael Jan Friedman

  Day of Honor Omnibus • various

  Star Trek®: The Captain's Table

  #1 • War Dragons • L.A. Graf

  #2 • Dujonian's Hoard • Michael Jan Friedman

  #3 • The Mist • Dean Wesley Smith & Kristine Kathryn Rusch

  #4 • Fire Ship • Diane Carey

  #5 • Once Burned • Peter David

  #6 • Where Sea Meets Sky • Jerry Oltion

  The Captain's Table Omnibus• various

  Star Trek®: The Dominion War

  #1 • Behind Enemy Lines • John Vornholt #2 • Call to Arms... • Diane Carey #3 • Tunnel Through the Stars • John Vornholt #4 • ...Sacrifice of Angels • Diane Carey

  Star Trek®: The Badlands

  #1 • Susan Wright #2 • Susan Wright

  Star Trek® Books available in Trade Paperback

  Omnibus Editions Invasion! Omnibus• various Day of Honor Omnibus • various The Captain's Table Omnibus• various

  Star Trek: Odyssey• William Shatner with Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens Other Books

  Legends ofthe Ferengi • Ira Steven Behr & Robert Hewitt Wolfe Strange New Worlds, vol. I, II, and III • Dean Wesley Smith, ed.

  Adventures in Time and Space• Mary P. Taylor Captain Proton: Defender ofthe Earth • D.W. "Prof" Smith The Lives of Dax• Marco Palmieri, ed.

  The Klingon Hamlet• Wil'yam Shex'pir NewWorlds, New Civilizations • Michael Jan Friedman Enterprise Logs • Carol Greenburg, ed.

  1

  Aleph Prime’s sun had grown large enough to appear in the viewscreen as a disc rather than a point. The crew stood at general quarters, waiting to face some danger as undefined as the singularity that now lay far behind them. The Enterprise approached the mining station with all shields up, phasers at ready, sensors extended to their limits. Kirk still had no more information than the simple implacable command, and he was still restricted by radio silence.

  He glanced up at his science officer.

  “The star doesn’t look like it’s in imminent danger of going nova,” he said. Incipient nova was one of the very few reasons an ultimate code could be sent out. “That’s some comfort.”

  “Considering its position on the main sequence, Captain, this star is unlikely to go nova now or in the foreseeable future.”