Once Burned
Captain Calhoun confronts his greatest failure.

Once Burned is a Star Trek: New Frontier novel and the fifth novel in The Captain's Table series written by Peter David. Published by Pocket Books, it was first released in .

Summary 
From the book jacket
 There's a bar called "The Captain's Table," where those who have commanded mighty vessels of every shape and era can meet, relax, and share a friendly drink or two with others of their calling. Sometimes a brawl may break out but it's all in the family, more or less. Just remember, the first round of drinks is always paid for with a story… even in Thallonian space.

Six years ago, long before he took command of the starship , a young Starfleet officer named Mackenzie Calhoun served as first officer aboard the . Then disaster struck, and Calhoun took the blame. A court martial led to his own angry resignation from Starfleet… or so it appeared. At long last Captain Calhoun reveals the true story behind the greatest tragedy of his life.

Background information 
 This novel's plot was adapted from a previous Peter David story in the second run of DC Comics' series of comics.
 Although the novel indicates the events of the flashback are six years previous, it is probably closer to five years, since Jellico, who was portrayed as an admiral in the novel, was still a captain until at least 2369, when he appeared in .

Characters

Main 
 Mackenzie Calhoun  Captain of the , formerly the first officer of the Grissom.
 Elizabeth Shelby  Calhoun's executive officer aboard Excalibur; Shelby had been romantically involved with him before his assignment to Grissom
 Norman Kenyon  Captain of the Grissom
 Katerina Mueller  Executive officer of the Grissom

 Cray
 Edward Jellico  Starfleet admiral

Others 
 Alexander the Great
 Boyajian
 Cap
 Edward Smith  Captain of the .
 Danteri guard  A Danteri assigned to guard Stener. This man was knocked unconscious by fourteen-year-old Mackenzie Calhoun, but awoke and attacked with his sword. Calhoun engaged him in a swordfight, and dropped him with a blow to the head, caving his skull. The man thanked the boy for holding his hand as he died.
 D'ndai  In their youth, Mackenzie Calhoun's brother held him back from attacking Danteri guards.
 Miles Gloriosus
 Mick Gold
 Virgil "Gus" Grissom
 Byron Kenyon
 Marsha Kenyon
 Stephanie Kenyon
 Meyer
 Jean-Luc Picard
 Paullina Simons
 Stener
 Romeo Takahashi
 Villers

References 
Danteri  Oppressors of the Xenexians

pok  Danteri riding animal, bred to be an all-purpose steed.

r'ksha  Xenexian language term, equivalent to the Earth title captain. Mackenzie Calhoun was made r'ksha of a flier vessel with a crew of fighters as his first command in the Xenexian resistance, which he would eventually take supreme command of.

Xenex  Homeworld of the Xenexian species. Xenex was freed from Danteri oppression by a resistance army led by young Mackenzie Calhoun. Xenexians closely resemble humans, except for their purple eyes.

External link 
 

de:Gebranntes Kind
Novels