"The story takes its cue from a conversation Bashir and Garak had about the 'Betreka Nebula Incident' in the DS9 episode 'The Way of the Warrior', about which we know only that it was 'ages ago,' it occurred between the Klingons and the Cardassians, and it, peculiarly for an 'incident,' lasted eighteen years," DeCandido told TrekWeb about the inspiration for the story. "This novel fleshes that out somewhat, and also will incorporate numerous events from STAR TREK history, including the Klingon Empire's rebuilding after the events of STAR TREK VI, the Romulan attacks on Narendra III ('Yesterday's Enterprise') and Khitomer (where Worf's parents were killed), the expansion of the Cardassian Union of which the annexation of Bajor was a part, the rivalry between the Houses of Mogh and Duras ('Sins of the Father,' 'Reunion,' 'Redemption,' 'The Way of the Warrior,' etc.), and a great deal more."

The book's narrative will incorporate several characters from the STAR TREK mythos, as DeCandido explains.

"This eighteen-year epic will feature dozens of characters, including Elias Vaughn (from the post-finale DS9 novels), Ian Troi (Deanna's father), Curzon Dax (Jadzia's predecessor as host to the Dax symbiont), Enabran Tain (head of the Cardassian Obsidian Order), General Worf (the Klingon lawyer from STAR TREK VI), K'mpec (the Klingon chancellor in TNG's 'Sins of the Father' and 'Reunion'), Entek (the Obsidian Order agent seen in DS9's 'Second Skin'), Uhura, Sarek, Kor, Kang, Mogh (the father of TNG/DS9's Worf; we'll also meet his mother), and many, many, many more."

The official description of the novel is as follows:

The years are 2328-2346

To the Cardassians, it is a point of pride. To the Klingons, a matter of honor. But the eighteen-year cold war between these two empires-remembered in later years as the Betreka Nebula "Incident"-creates a vortex of politics, diplomacy, and counter-intelligence that will define an age, and shape the future.

What begins as a discovery that would enable the Klingon Empire to reclaim a lost piece of its past becomes a prolonged struggle with the rapidly expanding Cardassian Union, which has claimed dominion over a region of space that the Klingons hold sacred. Enter the Federation, whose desire to preserve interstellar stability leads Ambassador Curzon Dax to broker a controversial and tenuous peace-one that is not without opponents, including Lieutenant Elias Vaughn of Starfleet special ops.

But little known to many of the players, there are wheels within wheels to the drama unfolding in the Betreka Nebula. Within the shadowy rooms of the Cardassian Obsidian Order, Klingon Imperial Intelligence, and even the Romulan Tal Shiar, secret scales are being balanced-and for every gain made for the sake of peace, there will come a loss.

Look for THE LOST ERA: THE ART OF THE IMPOSSIBLE in October. You can read about the first two LOST ERA novels here.