A Time to Sow
A Time to Sow is a Pocket TNG novel – the third novel in the A Time to… series and the first in a duology – written by Dayton Ward & Kevin Dilmore. Published by Pocket Books, it was first released in .

Summary 
From the book jacket
 On the cusp of their epic battle with Shinzon, many of Captain Jean-Luc Picard's long-time crew were heading for new assignments and new challenges. Among the changes were William Riker's promotion to captain and his new command, Riker's marriage to Counselor Deanna Troi, and Dr. Beverly Crusher's new career at Starfleet Medical. But the story of what set them on a path away from the Starship Enterprise has never been told.

Until now.

More than two centuries ago, the Dokaalan sent an unmanned probe into the void, bearing a distress call for anyone who could save their doomed world. But the message reached Federation space too late to save the planet or its people.

Or so it was believed…

Generations later, Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the crew of the Enterprise-E are stunned to discover the last of the Dokaalan – now only a colony fighting to stay alive in a decrepit asteroid mining complex. Although their home planet was destroyed long ago, the survivors hope to someday transform a nearby planet into a new home for their people. But bitter divisions exist among the Dokaalan, sowing the seeds of sabotage and terrorism – and placing Picard and the Enterprise in the middle of an escalating crisis that can only lead to total destruction!

Memorable quotes 
"Please state the nature of the medical emergency."
 - Emergency Medical Hologram (EMH)

Background information 
 This duology was originally intended to be written by Dave Galanter; after he was unable to participate, Pocket editor John Ordover turned to Ward and Dilmore. The setting for the duology was devised after Ordover suggested that the pair write something which was different from the ones preceding and following – as they were a space adventure and a planetary adventure, Ward and Dilmore went for something in-between – the Dokaalan asteroid belt. ()

Characters

Canon characters 
Beverly Crusher  Chief medical officer of the Enterprise-E
Data  Chief operations officer of the Enterprise-E
Geordi La Forge  Chief engineer of the Enterprise-E
Jean-Luc Picard  Captain of the Enterprise-E
William T. Riker  First officer of the Enterprise-E
Deanna Troi  Counselor on the Enterprise-E
Worf  Federation ambassador to the Klingon Empire
Perim  Conn officer of the Enterprise-E
Alyssa Ogawa  Chief nurse on the Enterprise-E
Taurik  Vulcan engineer on the Enterprise-E
EMH  Emergency Medical Hologram Mark I on the Enterprise-E
Alynna Nechayev  Admiral at Starfleet Command, orders the Enterprise to the Dokaalan system

Non-canon characters 
Christine Vale  Tactical officer on the Enterprise-E
Tropp  Denobulan doctor on the Enterprise-E
Giancarlo Wu  Chief aide to Ambassador Worf
Melorr  Bolian security officer on the Enterprise-E
Zelev th'Chun  Andorian security officer on the Enterprise-E, ensign
McPherson  Security officer on the Enterprise-E, ensign
Graham  Security officer on the Enterprise-E, friend of Ensign McPherson
Diix  Andorian engineer on the Enterprise-E, lieutenant
Veldon  Benzite engineer on the Enterprise-E, ensign
Leisner  Engineer on the Enterprise-E, ensign
Hjatyn  Dokaalan first minister
Nentafa  Dokaalan doctor
Creij  Dokaalan science minister
Nidan  Dokaalan security minister
Ryndai  Dokaalan council member
Faeyahr Dokaalan engineer
Alerott  Dokaalan supervisor on terraforming station
Kalsha  Spy

References 
; ; Dominion War; emotion chip; ; First City; ; Genesis Project; Klingon Empire; Kolvoord Starburst; P'Jem; Promellian battle cruiser; Qo'noS; ; ; Sheliak; Soval; Starfleet Academy; ; Tau Cygna V; Terraform Command; terraforming; Ti'Mur; Trill; Vanik; Velara III; Venus; Vulcan High Command; Vulcan Science Academy; 

Ballard  Shuttlecraft on the Enterprise-E
Dokaa  God in Dokaalan mythology
Dokaal  Dokaalan homeworld destroyed by seismic forces
Dokaalan  Humanoid species native to the Dokaalan system
Ijuuka  Planet in the Dokaalan system, site of terraforming project
Jeluryn Sector  Region of space where the USS Crazy Horse discovered the second Dokaalan probe
Outpost Takir  Dokaalan mining facility
Skiff  Small maneuverable Dokaalan spacecraft
Zahanzei Council  Ruling body of the Dokaalan people

External link 
 

cs:A Time to Sow
Time to Sow, A