The Klingon Gambit

Is the Enterprise doomed at last?
The Klingon Gambit is a Pocket TOS novel – #3 in the numbered series – written by Robert E. Vardeman. Published by Pocket Books, it was first released in .
== Summary ==
;From the book jacket
:When Captain Kirk and his crew are ordered to challenge the deadliest Klingon starship Terror, they think they're ready for anything. The defenseless Vulcan crew of a Federation science ship has been wiped out, and the Klingon battle cruiser has the in its sights, ready to destroy it…
:But Captain Kirk can't seem to make decisions, Spock has started to throw temper tantrums. And Chekov has disobeyed vital orders. The crew of the Enterprise are losing their minds… one by one… all victims of… THE KLINGON GAMBIT…
;From the book jacket of another edition of this book
:THE KLINGONS ARE HUNGRY FOR WAR … THEIR TARGET: THE ENTERPRISE!''
:When Captain Kirk and his crew are ordered to Alnath II to challenge the deadliest Klingon starship Terror, they're ready for anything – or so they think. But the defenseless Vulcan crew of a Federation science ship has been wiped out. The remaining members of the Alnath II mission have discovered a fabulous ancient city – but their report doesn't make sense. The Klingon battle cruiser has the Enterprise in its sights, and is ready to destroy it.
:But Captain Kirk can't seem to make decisions. Spock has started to throw temper tantrums. And Chekov has disobeyed vital orders.
:The crew of the Enterprise are losing their minds … one by one … all victims of …
:THE KLINGON GAMBIT
 
== Memorable quotes ==
"I act from the precepts of formal logic. While logic cannot always produce a correct answer, it succeeds more often than it fails. Therefore, it is logical to employ logic all the time. The odds are decidedly in your favor.
:- Spock
== Background information ==
* The stardate for this novel would place this story between the events of and .
* The peace treaty imposed by the Organians is established to cover a seven-hundred-and-fifty parsec zone.
* Doctor M'Benga claims his internship on Vulcan, previously mentioned in , lasted four years.
* The novel was reprinted as a limited edition hardcover by Gregg Press in 1984.
=== Cover gallery ===
File:The Klingon Gambit cover, reprint.jpg|Reprint cover
== Characters ==
=== Enterprise crew ===
;James T. Kirk : Captain.
; Spock : Science officer.
; Leonard McCoy : CMO.
; Montgomery Scott : Chief engineer.
; Uhura : Lieutenant.
; Hikaru Sulu : Lieutenant.
; Pavel Chekov : Ensign.
; Christine Chapel : Nurse.
; Candra Avitts: Lieutenant.
; Heather McConel : Engineer.
; Joseph M'Benga : Doctor.
; Kyle : Transporter chief.
; Patten : Lieutenant. Security officer.
; Gordon : Lieutenant
=== Other ===
; Kalan : Klingon. Captain of the IKS Terror.
; Kislath : Klingon officer.
; Threllvon-da : Andorian archaeologist.
; Thoron
=== Mentioned ===
; Tackett: Admiral and Starfleet chief of staff.
; Sullien : Vulcan captain of the T'pau.
; Kolloden : Klingon High Lord Admiral.
== References ==
Altair VI; Andorians; ; Federation; Klingon battle cruiser; Klingon; Organians; Starfleet Command; Treaty of Organia; Vega; Vulcan
;Alnath II
;Argelius II : Planet. There is a casino there where Kirk once lost money gambling.
::Argelius II was seen in .
;Delta Canaris IV : Recently-discovered class-Q planet. Described as similar in appearance to Jupiter and home to civilization of lifeforms less than a millimeter thick in length.
;USS Dominion : Federation starship, dreadnought.
::This vessel was mentioned previously in Franz Joseph's Star Fleet Technical Manual.
;USS Konkordium : Federation starship, a dreadnought.
::This vessel was mentioned previously in Franz Joseph's Star Fleet Technical Manual.
;Starbase 7
;Starbase 16
;IKS Terror : Klingon Empire dreadnought.
::Although the vessel was described in the book as more advanced than a standard Klingon battle cruiser, the cover pictured a menacing looking .
;T'pau : Vulcan science vessel
::A vessel named was mentioned as retired in .
== External links ==
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de:Das Klingonen-Gambit
Klingon Gambit, The