This is the story of a group of cadets at Star Trek Academy, or rather it is many snippets of the story of these cadets, for what we have here is more a series of linked short stories. We have an Earth woman, the niece of a Starfleet Admiral; a newly joined Trill; a Rex, a humanoid feline-like species although, raised on Earth by humans; a former Bajorian Vedek; and a Vulcan. These and others forming a quad full of brilliant cadets although a group who seem to go from one scrape to another.

In the many tales told in this story many of the Star Trek characters and events from the series are woven into the story. This is done a little too much. We meet Guinan, Picard, Jadzia Dax, Reg Barclay and Riker amongst others. We hear of the shuttlecraft accident involving Wesley Crusher, the death of Kirk and the destruction of the Enterprise-D.

The authors attempts to involve this book in the Star Trek continuity are perhaps a little too overly ambitious. Some of the references here would have tied it in well, but there are simply too many. I can understand why the author has included them. In telling the story of cadets at Starfleet Academy it is necessary to set in firmly in the Trek universe and the references do that.

Apart from these excessive references, what we have here is essentially well written. The characters are quite warming, the little stories interesting. It is a very pleasant little read, anyone who has read Trek books and enjoyed them should find this another one to give satisfaction.