Star Trek 1225: Renegades

For the next six days, we'll be following the Telepathy War crossover, which spread over four Star Trek titles at this point.

1225. Renegades

PUBLICATION: Starfleet Academy #12, Marvel Comics, November 1997

CREATORS: Chris Cooper (writer), Chris Renaud and Andy Lanning (artists)

STARDATE: Unknown (follows issue #11)

PLOT: Omega Squad has been sentenced to death for having transgressed Talosian soil, so no one will listen to their story about an impending Dominion attack on the Alpha Quadrant's telepathic races. They escape with the help of their teacher who believed the Academy's commandant is a shapeshifter. When their runabout is cornered by two Federation ships, a Romulan ship decloaks and attacks in order to protect a Tal Shiar "asset" (sleeper agent T'Priell). They then head for Deep Space Nine to get help from a reassigned Nog.

CONTINUITY: Appearances by Boothby, Riker and Troi. Nog returns to DS9 (so before The Ascent).

DIVERGENCES: None.

PANEL OF THE DAY - Cadets don't always understand why they must take the courses they do.
REVIEW: In reality, this Telepathy War business was going on in this title for the last few issues, ironically making this "original cast" the most involved in the Trek universe of all the Trek series (the ones based on licensed shows have had more trouble creating their own continuous story). And I'm happy to get back to it. Dominion and Tal Shiar conspiracies, high octane action (Pava kicks butt with her crutches!) and sensible strategies from both the heroes and villains. Though Starfleet Academy sometimes veers into superhero territory, it doesn't do so here, and I admit I'm a little excited to see the kids of Omega Squad share the page with series regulars.