Dwellers in the Crucible
The Romulans turn kidnappers – to shatter the Federation from within!

Dwellers in the Crucible is a Pocket TOS novel – #25 in the numbered series – written by Margaret Wander Bonanno. Published by Pocket Books, it was first released in .

Summary 
From the book jacket
Warrantors of Peace: The Federation's daring experiment to prevent war among its members. Each warrantor, man or woman is hostage for the government of his native world – and is instantly killed if that world breaks the peace.

Now Romulans have kidnapped six Warrantors, to foment political chaos – and then civil war – within the Federation. Captain Kirk must send Sulu to infiltrate Romulan territory, find the hostages, and bring them back alive – before the Federation self-destructs!

Background information 
 The story is set after Saavik enters Starfleet Academy, and prior to . It is the first original novel to feature the character.
 A female Romulan character whose ship supplies the base where the hostages are held is strongly implied to be the unnamed Romulan Commander from .
 When this novel was released by Titan Books in the UK, it was released as a "Giant" novel and not as part of the normal numbered series. It was one of four such releases – the others being Uhura's Song, Shadow Lord and Pawns and Symbols.

Characters 
James Kirk
Spock
Cleante al-Faisal
T'Shael
Leonard McCoy
Saavik  Starfleet lieutenant.
Hikaru Sulu
Uhura
Chen  Ensign who beat Admiral Kirk in a game of five-card stud.
Tolz Kenran  Klingon.
Krazz  Klingon.
Delar Romulan Centurion.
Heihachiro Nogura  In the early 23rd century, he is remembered as captain of USS Horizon.

References 
Flyer's Pride  Klingon ship.

Gauntlet  Romulan ship.

  Horizon was a J-class vessel, in Starfleet service in the early 23rd century, commanded by Captain Heihachiro Nogura. 
This vessel existed after the service of the 22nd century  Federation Starfleet ship Horizon depicted in TOS and DS9, but is the same class as the  seen in ENT. There is a likelihood that the older J-class ship could be pressed in Starfleet service somehow – indicating this might be the 22nd century Horizon that visited Sigma Iotia II, but it is interesting that the Horizon on ENT was the same class as the one depicted in a non-canon source sixteen years earlier.

External links 
 
 

de:Geiseln für den Frieden
Novels