Author and editor extraordinaire Keith R. A. DeCandido once again proved himself a valuable resource and a good friend, from the earliest days of developing the Star Trek Vanguard series bible to helping me reason out some of my plot conundrums.

To the Malibuvians…you know who you are. Just keep on being your crazy selves.

To my agent, Lucienne: Thank you for making sure I got paid for this.

To my wonderful parents, David and Yvonne, thank you for a lifetime of encouragement. I could not have become what I am without your love and unswerving confidence.

I also owe a debt of gratitude to the many fine teachers who inspired me to chase my dreams: Kenneth Beals; Carolyn Bruneau; William Rathbun; Charles F. Rockey, Sr.; Bruce Geisler; and D. B. Gilles. You all fanned the creative spark until it grew into a flame. Thank you.

Of course, there would be no Star Trek Vanguard without the original, classic Star Trek, and for that I thank Gene Roddenberry and all the talented writers, actors, and production personnel who helped bring that show to life.

Lastly, just a trivial note: For those of you reading this who live on what society thinks of as a “normal” schedule, I would just like you to know that you were probably asleep when the bulk of this book was written. Owing to circumstances beyond my control, most of my work on Harbinger took place between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time. Right now, for instance, it’s 4:23 a.m. Unfortunately for me, I also have a full-time job to go to during regular business hours, so you can see why this writing schedule proved to be ever-so-slightly problematic….

About the Author

DAVID MACK is a writer whose work spans multiple media. With writing partner John J. Ordover, he co-wrote the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode “Starship Down” and the story treatment for the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode “It’s Only a Paper Moon.” Mack and Ordover also penned the four-issue Star Trek: Deep Space Nine/Star Trek: The Next Generation crossover comic-book mini-series “Divided We Fall” for WildStorm Comics. With Keith R. A. DeCandido, Mack co-wrote the Star Trek: S.C.E. eBook novella Invincible, currently available in paperback as part of the collection Star Trek: S.C.E. Book Two—Miracle Workers.

Mack’s solo writing for Star Trek includes the trade paperback The Starfleet Survival Guide and the bestselling, critically acclaimed two-part eBook novel Star Trek: S.C.E.—Wildfire (reprinted in the paperback compilation Star Trek: S.C.E. Book Six—Wildfire). His other credits include “Waiting for G’Doh, or, How I Learned to Stop Moving and Hate People,” a short story for the Star Trek: New Frontier anthology No Limits; S.C.E. eBook #40, Failsafe; the short story “Twilight’s Wrath,” for the Star Trek anthology Tales of the Dominion War; the Star Trek: The Next Generation duology A Time to Kill and A Time to Heal; S.C.E. eBook #49, Small World; and Star Trek Vanguard: Harbinger.

He currently is working on an original novel and developing new Star Trek book ideas.

A graduate of NYU’s renowned film school, Mack has been to every Rush concert tour since 1982. He currently resides in New York City with his wife, Kara.

STARBASE 47/VANGUARD

WATCHTOWER-CLASS SPACE STATION

LATERAL EXTERIOR VIEW

TOP VIEW

Height: 921 meters

Width: 849 meters

Standard crew complement: 2,400

Standard duty shift complement: 800

Standard guest capacity: 1,200

Emergency guest capacity: 61,500

Power source: Mark IX matter/antimatter reactor

Defenses: deflector shields; 12 phaser/photon torpedo emplacements

BOTTOM VIEW

As the first Federation starbase to be established in the Taurus Reach, Vanguard is charged with spearheading and supporting all Federation exploration and colonization efforts in the region, maintaining their security, advancing the cause of interstellar peace, and expanding the scope of Federation knowledge.

LATERAL INTERIOR VIEW

Designed by Masao Okazaki Constructed by the Starfleet Corps of Engineers Starfleet Command, United Federation of Planets Declared fully operational on Stardate 1271.4

TM, ® & © 2005 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved.