Chains of Command

Star Trek: The Next Generation #21

by Bill McCay, E.L. Flood

While exploring a group of devastated class-M planets in a remote sector of space, the crew of the "U.S.S. Enterprise" is shocked to discover a group of human slaves on a forbidding, glacial world. When the slaves revolt against their human overseers, Captain Picard and his crew sympathize with the slaves plight but cannot interfere in the conflict. After the revolt is a success, Captain Picard learns that both the slaves and the overseers were controlled by a mysterious bird-like race called the Tseetsk, who are coming to reclaim their property. With the time running out, the rebels kidnap Captain Picard and Counsellor Troi -- drawing the "U.S.S. Enterprise" into the middle of their deadly plan of vengeance.

Genres: Star Trek, Science Fiction, Star Trek The Next Generation, Fiction, Media Tie In, Fantasy, Speculative Fiction

ebook

First published April 1, 1992

About the author

Under a variety of pseudonyms as well as his own name, Bill McCay is the author of more than seventy books, including such series as the Race Against Time, The Three Investigators, Young Indiana Jones, and Tom Clancy's Net Force. He has also worked with Stan Lee on Riftworld, a science fiction comedy-adventure set in the comics business. McCay has also written five novels based on the film Stargate. His fantasy short fiction has appeared in several anthologies and his Star Trek novel Chains of Command (cowritten with E. L. Flood) spent several weeks on the New York Times bestseller list.

See also William McCay

Reviews

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good...but not great.

[Nadienne Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, one of the things that sticks out most in my brain that bothers me is that the "native" bird people encountered on the planet use bows/arrows and thrown spears as weapons...and Picard remarks, after seeing them up close, that their eyes are so far apart that he doubts that they even have stereoscopic vision. Then how the hell are the able to use aimed, ranged weaponry?!? See...this is why my brain is broken sometimes...okay, but on to the review...

So, here we have yet another group of lost Human refugees from the Eugenic Wars who fled Earth, somehow got sucked through a wormhole and ended up in this unexplored (by the Federation) region of space. But, they aren't atomic supermen, they're just people. Or, maybe they were at some point, but generations of breeding have rendered them back to normies...they've also been enslaved by a race of humanoid avians (which are apparently very rare in the Milky Way, per the dialogue - as there is only one such similar race in Federation - in this novel).

Whilst the story was not necessarily amazing, I love the idea behind it. It's somewhat reminiscent of the Imperium in Warhammer 40K. They have forgotten how to reproduce most of their technology after a cataclysm that rendered many of their previously inhabited worlds uninhabitable, and they are doing the best they can trying to reclaim these devastated worlds with their limited technological capabilities. It would be interesting to see a follow-up, as these people possess technology unknown to the Federation (in the form of fractional-c missiles, etc.).

Um...I mean...you aren't missing anything if you don't read it. I'd also consider this more a Picard/Troi story than a Riker/Crusher story (per the cover art), but whatevs. :)

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun ride, I went into this not too enthusiastic but I was pleasantly surprised. The whole premise wasn't to intriguing but it was the next in line. Lorens was such a sweet character and I loved him. I do wish we'd have seen more of the aliens and their culture. That's a pretty standard complaint for me with both the books and the tv shows. We never do get to see too in depth.

[Angela · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another slavery themed book, odd that its straight after 'Spartacus'. The writing style takes a bit of getting used to, the aliens are well done. The humans, well, those do seem a bit standard slave characters. An ok read.

[Camille · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one was a snooze-fest. Chickens!?

[Octavia Cade · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picard and company come across a lost colony of humans, who are being enslaved by a race of bird-like aliens. It sounds fairly straightforward, but it's more nuanced than it seems. The slaves are about to revolt, and their leader - who Riker warms to very quickly - turns out to be a far more ambiguous character. There's a desperation to the life of the slaves that justifies a lot of their actions, but how much can you exploit a child soldier before that justification runs out? The author's sympathy is clearly with the slaves, as is mine, but even so it's still a thoughtful exploration of the topic, and one that avoids a too simplistic analysis.

Most of the TNG characters get a decent role here too, which is nice. Doctor Crusher, particularly, stands out in her developing relationship with a child soldier who reminds her of her own son, happily off at the Academy and (even more happily) out of this story. Another stand-out character is one of the human overseers, a humanist very much of Picard's type, who is distrusted both by the slaves he is responsible for and by the aliens who essentially consider him to be a foreign degenerate.

All in all it's an enjoyable read that zips along at pace, although the conclusion is surprisingly abrupt... it reads very much as if the author suddenly ran out of room and had to wrap everything up in 15 pages.

[Phillip · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this TNG story - I'm not saying it's the best in the world, but it succeeds for most TNG stories: the characterizations are done well, I can see it as an episode, and all the characters are used well. There's a tendency to let the "guest characters" take over a Trek book, but this keeps the focus on the A/B plots. My only criticism is that the action doesn't really REALLY kick off until 3/4ths of the book thru the book. And, in some ways, the ending is rushed - so that disappointed me. But I enjoyed Picard and Troi's story, Riker and the team both in the beginning and then on the ship. This is definitely a A-/B+ TNG book.

[Solitudes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was not impressed by this book. especially when the previous ones were "Perchance to Dream" by Howard Weinstein and Spartacus by Terry Mancour who were really good. The plot was not that bad with a long-lost human colony now enslaved by some alien aviary species and fighting back for their freedom but something was missing and there was too much unnecessary Beverly Crusher, at least from my point of view. A passable book but also one who I will forget soon enough, unfortunately. Good to kill a couple of hours, tho, if you have nothing better to do.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Huh. One of the few times Picard actually deserves a cover position, imo, and he doesn't get it. but ok, Crusher deserves front & center for being both a mom and a doctor. And the rebel slave does, too... the story is really mostly about them, their overseers, and their 'owners.' I liked it, a fair bit more than other reviewers, apparently.

Anyway, I guess these are 'comfort reads' in the sense that they're familiar characters whom we care about, and we know nothing is going to happen to them. So, yes, onward!

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it starting on Riker's away mission but the direction the book went and where I thought it would go ended up in separate places. It's weird how the novels make Picard such a clutz and Dr. Crusher always worrying and not doing much. That I didn't care for but the conflict and the mystery surrounding the Tseetsk was interesting enough.

[Jay Wright · Rating 3 out of 5]

In another new episode, a planet with human slaves with avian masters is the focus. How will the prime directive be followed when they find the slaves in revolt? In this action packed adventure Riker, Picard, Crusher, and Troi stand out. This is an enjoyable venture for Next Generation fans. It is a pity that I finished the last book I bought at the thrift store.

[Daniel Kukwa · Rating 1 out of 5]

After abandoning a "Star Wars" novel I couldn't finish, now it's the turn for a "Star Trek" novel. There's a neat idea here, but after 90 pages of bland wallpaper, I simply gave up. There's such a generic-ness to many of these TNG novels from the early 90s...it's just not my thing.

[Christina Farr-Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, but predictable

[Doreen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The chickens!!! Why must it be chickens and not just the birds!!!

[Sheena · Rating 5 out of 5]

While it was hard to visualize the aliens it was an excellent story line.

[Andrew Beet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting novel to read i like when the slaves go against the tseetsk and in doing so kidnap counselor troi and captain picard to show them they mean business authors got characters spot

[Steven Shinder · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quite honestly bored by the writing of this one.

[Meagan · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was just ok.

[Vismay · Rating 1 out of 5]

I admit that I completed it in bits and pieces. Not only my laxity, but the utter “clichéd-ness” of ‘Star Trek (Next Generation) - Chains of Command’, was at play. Having read countless of such Star Trek books with similar premises, I must say it was quite boring. Even the fight sequences were few and far between.
I have been busy for the last couple of days, so I haven’t been able to boast for myself a major feat in the annals of reading- what I have accomplished is the completion of ‘Chains of Command’ by Bill McCay and Eloise Flood, and that too grudgingly.
Bird like aliens haven’t held my fancy, be it in one of the Gulliver’s travels or for that matter Star Trek. And the one that unleashes a deadly bout of repugnant pheromone when cornered fails to stir an enthusiastic response from my dormant brain. One more time, Captain Picard is kidnapped. One more time, life of Counselor Troi is held at ransom. And it’s upto Commander Riker to save them. The plot lacks innovativeness. The only original thing that the writers have managed to come up with is a couple of lusty and sex-depraved hoodlums sprinkled copiously in the background who ogle quite openly at the beautiful ladies from the sky.
Though, I must say, I am being too critical of the book. If it is your first ride down the bandwagon called Starship U.S.S. Enterprise, you would indeed love it.
Though of course, I lack the necessary inspiration to further critique this book simply because my interest in this yawn-worthy book has dissipated.

[Mikael Kuoppala · Rating 3 out of 5]

Once again we have one of those As-Mediocore-As-You-Can-Get kinds of books, with lots of potential and a less than satisfactory execution.

Like so many other Trek books, this one- taking place in the post-Wesley phase of the fourth season- is about an ethical dilemma. There is a very low risk in that kind of story, since people rarely grow tired of ethical problems, like we do of so many other things.

It doesn't work that way in this novel, though, since the ethical questions concerning slavery are just sugar coating for us nerds. The authors soon start pointing the story in the direction of the all-too-familiar action-adventure formula.

As for the plot-twists in this book: they are rare and predictable, but the story doesn't grow tedious because of the professional writing style of the authors.

The other big problem turns out to be the characterization. Once again we get a bunch of characters who have the same names and positions as our familiar TNG characters, but- with the possible exeption of Doctor Crusher and maybe Riker, who have prominent roles in the book- don't have anything else in common with their television counterparts.

In short: This was a readable TNG book that wasn't good or bad, packed with unfamiliar characters, but an all too familiar plot. If you don't know what mediocore means, read it. This is it at it's purest."

[Gwynfor · Rating 3 out of 5]

✔️

[Clait · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good TNG book involving a very interesting and highly intelligent species of avian aliens known as the Tseetsk which have been holding an unknown colony of humans as slaves for generations. A slave revolt quickly involves the Enterprise crew in a brewing war. The best part of this book is the exploration of the Tseetsk's biology, culture, and mysterious past.

[Judith Paterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm never quite sure why some Star trek novels are just ok and others grab me and I feel there's a bit more to them. The characters are all the same core of people and many of the situations are similar.
This is one of the later; lots happens and it paints the protagonists with a few more shades of light and dark.

[The Fizza · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5 ★ Stars

A decent story, though not written very well. Riker and a few others are replaced by what I like to call : Plot Pawns. But I digress...

If you can forgive the bad there is some good here... might have even made a good plot for an episode. Recommended only to the forgiving fanatics.

[Benjamin Plume · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good generic Trek plotline. The title is somewhat misleading, though it turns out to be appropriate.

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fascinating challenge to the Prime Directive and the philosophy of non-interference.

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. Not as good as I remembered. But it was a slow day at work one day last week, so I was glad for it.

[Alexander Bradley · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent read for an average star trek novel, though it has some interesting ideas its pace is slow and janky sometimes.

[Justin · Rating 2 out of 5]

meh, it was ok. Felt like a tv episode that wasn't quite good enough to make it to screen.