Star Trek The Next Generation "Cold Equation (Book 2) Silent Weapons by David Mack I enjoyed reading this book. For 3/4 of the book I was impressed with the pacing and plot twists. I enjoyed how the author tried to led the reader from plot point to plot point with the promise that the climax would be well worth the wait. I also liked that this was much more of a TNG than several previous books. This book is the second book in Mr. Mack's three-book deal. I am reluctant to call this a part two because other than vague references, there really isn't a hard connection to the first book. In my opinion, the references made to the first book had no greater influence than references made to other plots from previous books.Without giving away any spoilers: The Breen have a bold plan that is incredible in its scope and audacity. If the plan is successful, it could make the Breen a major power in the Star Trek universe. They have the time, the determination, the resources, the manpower, and the materials. There was enough intrigue and plot twists that kept me reading. The Breen have access to a shipload of Data-type androids. I liked how the author doesn't reveal how the androids are going to be used. The book starts with a crime being committed by an android that fits Data's "profile", so he (Data) is taken into custody. He calls the Enterprise for help. The Enterprise has to prove Data's innocence AND discover the Breen's">Breen's true motives. Great! I'm invested in the characters and the plot. The author seems to be leading the reader from plot point to plot point, and I'm enjoying every minute of it. The Breen's">Breen's plan? Think of a foreign power having access to top-secret US/USSR summit with the ability to kill or control any and all participants at that top-secret meeting at any time. Impressive. Reasons, characterizations, and plot twist kept me rooted to one spot enjoying the book. I thought the author did a nice job of weaving suspense and intrigue for 3/4 of the book. As I was reading the book and the plot was slowly being revealed, I kept thinking that the goal was to make the Breen the NEW adversarial superpower in the Star Trek universe. Their plan was that good! The story was going so well...until about 3/4 of the way into the book. Then, the plot and story fell apart. The book was better off ending at the 3/4 mark. Unfortunately, it didn't. That Breen plan that kept me riveted to my seat...had another component. That "other component" left me saying, "What, you've gotta be kidding?" If that wasn't bad enough, the author then revisits previous plot twists to "add details". Now, every lead was achieved from an "anonymous source". Now, every character seems to believe that they are being misdirected, but continue to follow the misdirection "hoping to discover something new". Think of the former USSR gaining access to cutting-edge technology, spending billions of dollars, and years of planning, to get within inches/seconds of causing the US to collapse. But having the ability AND multiple opportunities to deal a crippling blow that would make the history books...decide to throw ALL that away by HANDING OVER the means, resources, AND plans because there is a 50-year old submarine that MIGHT have something useful. It is like a group of North Korean assassins managing to sneak into the White House planting bombs, and then with handguns, automatic weapons AND explosives, walk up BEHIND the president of the United States, tap him on the shoulder saying, "Hi, here are my weapons, the keys (and locations) to several cars loaded with explosives parked throughout the Washington DC area. By the way, I killed nearly everyone involved in the plan. My associates somehow discovered a 50 year old nuclear submarine off the coast of the US Virgin Islands. We'll have to tow it back to North Korea AND spend some time and more money to figure out how it works.
