Day of the Vipers
Day of the Vipers is a Pocket DS9 novel – the first  in the Star Trek: Terok Nor trilogy – written by James Swallow. Published by Pocket Books, it was first released in .

The novel details the beginning of the Cardassian Occupation of Bajor, covering the years 2318-2328.

Summary 
From the book jacket
A seemingly benign visitation to the bountiful world of Bajor from the resource-poor Cardassian Union is viewed with cautious optimism by some, trepidation by others, and a calculating gleam by unscrupulous opportunists. What begins as a gesture of compassion soon becomes something very different. Seen through the eyes of participants on both sides – including those of a young officer named Skrain Dukat – the personal, political, and religious tensions between the Bajorans and the Cardassians quickly spiral out of control, irrevocably shaping the futures of both worlds in an emotionally charged and unforgettable tale of treachery, tragedy, and hope.

Background information 
 This is the first Star Trek novel by author James Swallow; he had previously pitched story ideas to the Star Trek television series and contributed short stories to the Distant Shores and The Sky's the Limit anthologies. Swallow commented: "I’ve always liked the Bajorans, and the Cardassians too have a very interesting dynamic to them. The idea of two cultures in conflict and the drama that creates is very compelling to me. It’s something we see in the real world every day, and in science fiction you can run with those themes, and explore them in interesting ways". Swallow added: "The Oralian stuff grew from Andrew Robinson’s writing, most notably his excellent novel A Stitch in Time, which I consider to be one of the best bits of Trek fiction ever. I tried to build on that to create something that both felt real, and could also be seen as a faith that shared parallels with the Bajoran worship of the Prophets. That connection is a key factor in the storyline of Day of the Vipers, and writing about it also gave me the opportunity to talk about a facet of Cardassian life that’s pretty much non-existent in the TV series". 
 A preview of this novel was included in , which celebrated the fifteenth anniversary of .
 Korto, a region on Bajor where much of this novel is set, is listed on the title page as the location of one of Pocket Books' offices.
 This is one of the few novels not to feature any starring characters from any Star Trek series.
 Cover art by John Picacio, design by Alan Dingman.

Characters 
The following character lists are based on the novel's appendices.

Bajoran 
Arin – priest and aide to Kai Meressa
Coldri Senn – militia officer
Cotor – Vedek at Kenda Monastery
Darrah Bajin – son of Darrah Mace and Darra Karys
Darrah Karys – wife of Darrah Mace
Darrah Mace – officer of Korto City Watch
Darrah Nell – youngest child of Darrah Mace and Darrah Karys
Els Renora – public defender
Gar Osen – priest
Jarel – artist, cousin of Darrah Karys
Jaro Essa, militia officer
Jas Holza, member of Chamber of Ministers
Jekko Tybe – adjutant to Minister Keeve Falor
Kalem Apren – member of Chamber of Ministers
Keeve Falor, member of Chamber of Ministers
Kored – militia officer
Kubus Oak, member of Chamber of Ministers
Lale Usbor – First Minister of Bajor until 2328, succeeds Verin Kolek
Li Tarka – militia officer; father of Li Nalas
Lirro – duty technician aboard Cemba Station
Lonnic Tomo – senior adjutant to Minister Jas Holza
Meressa – Kai of Bajor
Myda – officer of Korto City Watch
Proka Migdal, militia officer
Rifin – captain of scoutship Eleda
Syjin – freelance pilot and courier; friend of Darrah Mace
Tima – young female priest
Verin Kolek – First Minister of Bajor in 2318
Wule – dock chief at Korto's starport

Cardassian 
Athra Dukat – wife of Skrain Dukat
Procal Dukat – father of Skrain Dukat; Archon in Cardassian military justice system
Skrain Dukat, military officer serving under Danig Kell during formal first contact with Bajor
Hadlo – senior priest of the Oralian Way
Hekit – military officer
Ico Rhan – agent of the Obsidian Order
Danig Kell, military officer; commander of Cardassian starship that first makes contact with Bajor; later promoted to jagul and placed in charge of Bajoran affairs by Central Command
Pasir Letin – agent of the Obsidian Order
Matrik – military officer
Orloc – military officer
Kotan Pa'Dar, Cardassian scientist
Seren – follower of the Oralian way
Tunol – Dukat's second-in-command
Urad – follower of the Oralian way

Federation 
 – senior officer aboard the 
Mark Jameson – Captain of the Gettysburg
Gwen Jones – Starfleet specialist in Bajoran culture and language
Muhle – Tiburonian communications officer aboard the Gettysburg
Alynna Nechayev – Starfleet Intelligence agent
Dilat sh'Sena – Andorian chief of security aboard the Gettysburg
T'Vel – Vulcan first officer of the Gettysburg
Tepper – nurse aboard the Gettysburg

Other 
Foroe – Xepolite freighter captain
Grek – Ferengi trader; associate of Syjin

References 
Bajor; Cardassia; D'jarra; Kornaire; pagh

External link 
 

Novels
Scribe Award winners