Avatar, Book One

Avatar, Book One is a Pocket DS9 novel – the first novel in the and the Avatar duology – written by S.D. Perry. Published by Pocket Books, it was first released in .
== Summary ==
;From the book jacket
:In the aftermath of a war that brought the Alpha Quadrant to the brink of destruction, Starbase Deep Space 9 – the galaxy's nexus of scientific and military intrigue – is once more the flashpoint of impending Armageddon as a surprise attack cripples the station, killing hundreds and threatening the fragile new peace.
:Colonel Kira Nerys and the survivors – together with several controversial new officers – are all who stand against the outbreak of a new war and a terrible doom tied to the unborn child of Captain Benjamin Sisko.
:Elsewhere, Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the crew of the starship Enterprise make a startling discovery… one that will affect the destiny of an entire civilization and forever change the lives of those aboard Deep Space 9.
Three months after …
The Enterprise discovers an abandoned Cardassian freighter in the Badlands. On the Enterprise, Starfleet veteran commander Elias Vaughn is traveling along; he forms part of a team that rescues the Bajoran "Orb of Memories" from the freighter. All members of the away-team have orb-experiences – Commander Vaughn amongst them. He later discovers that Ben Sisko was part of his experience, but does not know what this means. Picard decides to visit Deep Space 9 and to bring the orb there.
Meanwhile, the discovery of an old text on B'hala changes a lot – the old text not only contains a prophecy of an "Avatar", obviously referring to the still unborn child of Benjamin Sisko and Kasidy Yates, but also a prophecy about the son of the Emissary searching for his father and returning with him. As he reads the text, Jake decides to head for the wormhole and return his father, but tells no one about his plans – not even Quark, whose shuttle he buys for this mission.
The text also causes trouble aboard DS9, when a prylar is murdered. Newly assigned security chief Ro Laren, who has some troubles adapting to DS9 and especially getting along with the new CO, Kira Nerys, is assigned to the investigation and finally finds the old book hidden somewhere on DS9. She discovers that the book's prophecies all have come true, and she also reads that before the Avatar is born, 10,000 people will die.
The arrival of Vedek Yevir Linjarin apparently has something to do with the book – he is on some secret mission, obviously to find and to destroy the "book of obscenities".
DS9's troubles are not limited to Yevir's arrival; the station is suddenly attacked by a squadron of Jem'Hadar ships – the station is ill-equipped to respond, since the station has not enough personnel and is heavily under repair, as is the . The attackers are ultimately overwhelmed, but newly assigned second-in-command, commander Tiris Jast, is killed, and the USS Aldebaran, is destroyed. Only the sudden arrival of another Jem'Hadar ship which attacks its fellows prevents the destruction of the station. Ezri Dax takes command of the Defiant during the battle, jettisoning the ship's warhead to take out a Jem'Hadar fighter, and the experience gives her a new impetus. Later, a Jem'Hadar soldier, Kitana'klan, is discovered aboard Deep Space 9 – he claims that he was sent by Odo to assist Kira, and explains that it was his crew who helped wiping out the attacking Jem'Hadar, and that the attackers were some renegades, not acting according to the will of the Founders.
Admiral Ross decides to launch a peacekeeping fleet to the Gamma Quadrant – not sure of whether this could provoke the Dominion again…
Relationships between some of the new (and old) command crew evolve and develop, including Julian Bashir and Ezri Dax, whose relationship is in some sort of troubles; newly-assigned Andorian science officer, Ensign Thirishar "Shar" ch'Thane and Nog; and finally, Quark and Ro, who seem to get along quite well.
== Background information ==
* This book marks the first instalment of the , following events aboard the station after the final episode of , .
* The beginning of the book features an extensive chronology detailing events up to the end of the Deep Space Nine series.
* This novel is collected in the Twist of Faith omnibus.
* B'hala is listed on the title page as the location of one of Pocket Books' offices.
== Characters ==
=== Regular and recurring characters ===
;Kira Nerys : Bajoran colonel, commander of Deep Space 9
; : Andorian science officer
; : flight control officer on USS Defiant
; : DS9's Bolian first officer and commander of USS Defiant. Killed during the Jem'Hadar attack.
;Julian Bashir : Chief medical officer
;Ro Laren : Bajoran lieutenant, chief of security
;Ezri Dax : Counselor
;Quark
;Nog : Chief of operations
; : Tactical officer
;Jake Sisko : Son of the Emissary
;Kasidy Yates : Wife of the Emissary, carrying his baby
; : Jem'Hadar third apparently sent by Odo
;Jean-Luc Picard : Starfleet captain
; : Starfleet veteran
;William Ross : Starfleet admiral
==== Referenced ====
;Sarah Sisko
=== Other characters ===
;Devro
;Faro : Lieutenant of Ross' aboard Cerberus.
;Turo Ane
== Starships ==
;USS Cerberus : Federation starship, under the command of Admiral Ross.
;USS Tamberlaine : Federation starship, former wartime assignment of Ensign ch'Thane.
== References ==
Andorian; Bajoran; Ba'ku; Beta Kupsic; Kendra Valley Massacre
== External links ==
* 
cs:Avatar, Book One
de:Offenbarung, Buch 1
Category:Novels