A Time to Kill A Time to Kill is a Pocket TNG novel – the seventh novel in the " " series and the first novel in a duology – written by David Mack . Published by Pocket Books , it was first released in . Summary . Awaking from a nightmare in which he sees his father killed once again , ( " A Time to Hate " ) Will Riker considers the recent offer put to him by Admiral Kathryn Janeway – command of the – in light of the events of recent months , stemming from the " Enterprise " s actions at Rashanar . ( " A Time to Be Born " ) On the planet Tezwa , Prime Minister Kinchawn eavesdrops on a conversation between his deputy , Bilok , and Koll Azernal , chief of staff to Federation President Min Zife , as the two discuss the recent activation of a series of nadion pulse cannons on the planet , installed in secret during the Dominion War without the knowledge of the majority of the population . Bilok reassures Azernal that he can keep Kinchawn in line , and get him to stand down before something happens . That something soon comes , however , as Kinchawn claims sovereignty over a nearby Klingon colony world , and begins deploying a war fleet purchased from the Danteri . With the Klingons already amassing their own forces for a possible preemptive strike , Azernal suggests sending the " Enterprise " to Tezwa with the promise of aid , backed by a Klingon escort fleet as a show of cooperation to the Empire , and a show of force to Kinchawn . The request is met with anger from Chancellor Martok on Qo ' noS , and only after Ambassador Worf personally assures Martok of Captain Picard ' s abilities and his faith in the crew of the " Enterprise " does the Chancellor agree . The " Enterprise " and its escort fleet arrive in orbit of Tezwa , and Kinchawn invites Picard to the capital under a formal parley . Picard and Troi beam down with Captain Logarr , commander of the Klingon fleet . A bitter and contentious session ensues , with Kinchawn and Logarr trading insults , before a motion to issue a state apology to the Klingons is rejected . As Picard ' s attempts to mediate are rebuffed , Kinchawn orders the Starfleet and Klingon officers seized . Logarr attempts to overcome his captors , and is killed . Picard and Troi , along with their security escort , are led away , as Kinchawn orders the firing of the pulse cannons . In orbit , the barrage devastates the Klingon fleet , and brings " Enterprise " s shields down . The surviving Klingon cruisers begin a bombardment of the capital , as Riker orders the " Enterprise " into the atmosphere , beneath the shield , to rescue Picard and Troi . Successfully beaming up the captives , Riker orders Kell Perim to punch through the shield with a warp field and escape to orbit . Catching the only Klingon cruiser still intact in a tractor beam , the " Enterprise " goes to warp . Bilok and Kinchawn clash on the floor of the Tezwan Assembly , before Bilok meets with senior members of his party to consider the possibility of seizing power from Kinchawn – knowing that the only way to do so is to seek help from Azernal . Riker leads a rescue team through the remains of the IKS " Taj " , the cruiser towed from Tezwa . He discovers the ship ' s captain , Vekma , barely alive on the bridge . Vekma curses Riker for towing the ship away and denying her crew a place in " Sto - vo - kor " before dying . On the " Enterprise " , Troi assists with emergency triage for the dozens of wounded sustained during the brief exchange with the Tezwans , while considering the effect recent events have had . A furious Martok demands that Zife and the Federation stand alongside the Empire as it launches its counterattack against Tezwa . Zife attempts to have Martok hold off on the attack for a few days , but the fleet will launch in four hours . Azernal considers the impact the attack would have : the effective crippling of the Klingon Empire , which would in turn leave the Federation vulnerable against the other major powers . In addition , an invasion would lead the Klingons to discover the truth behind the pulse cannons , and war would soon follow , with galactic annihilation a certainty . Azernal suggests the only remaining course of action open to them – conquer Tezwa first . La Forge and Data brief the senior staff on the technology behind the pulse cannons , and Picard considers the fact that such technology is both out of place in this area of space , and out of place for the Tezwans level of development . La Forge raises another issue – the design for the cannons originated from the Federation , developed following first contact with the Borg . He suggests that the Tezwans stole the plans and constructed the cannons , most likely with outside help . Before further discussion can take place , Picard receives a communication from President Zife with Admirals Janeway , Nechayev , and Ross .