Spartacus
For a race of slaves, the USS Enterprise-D is all that stands between freedom and destruction.

Spartacus is a Pocket TNG novel – #20 in the numbered series – written by T.L. Mancour. Published by Pocket Books, it was first released in .

Summary 
From the book jacket
Answering a distress call, the  finds a damaged Vemlan vessel called the Freedom. Jared, their captain, asks for assistance in repairing his ship, assistance Captain Picard and the Enterprise are only too happy to provide. Their relief efforts are interrupted by the arrival of an entire fleet from Vemla who claim that Jared and his crew are escaped slaves.

As Jared and his people plea for protection and the right to be free, Captain Picard is caught between the demands of his conscience and the dictates of the Prime Directive. And when the Vemlan fleet threatens to fight if the Enterprise doesn't stand aside, Picard must choose between the safety of his shiphellip; and the annihilation of an entire race.

Memorable quotes 
"Is it not better to ask for forgiveness than permission? I have heard that saying several times in my career."
"No!"
 - Data, and Picard and Riker (together)

"I have learned that politeness and manners, when practiced universally, alter the behavior of both the practitioner and the recipient in a favorable manner."
 - Data

"If you going to kill a man anyway, it costs nothing to be polite."
 - Data, quoting Winston Churchill

"The truth is, commander, that I really don't like violence. I just happen to be very good at it."
 - Force Commander Sawliru, to Data

Background information 
 This is the only Star Trek novel written by T.L. Mancour.

Characters 
Jean-Luc Picard
William T. Riker
Data
Jared  Captain of the Velman vessel Freedom.
Marks  Ensign.

References 
Prime Directive

External links 
 
 

cs:Spartacus
de:Spartacus
Novels