Star Trek: S.C.E. #10: Here There Be Monsters by Keith R.A. DeCandido is billed as the epilogue to the Gateways saga, and while it works fine in that context, it shines even more as a standalone S.C.E. story. The crew of the da Vinci is dispatched to a planet overrun by bizarre, monstrous creatures that have crossed over from another universe through one of the Gateways. As the team scrambles to contain the chaos, the story balances action, teamwork, and a bit of the series’ trademark weirdness.
What really elevates this novella is how it lets the crew collaborate in classic Trek fashion, and especially how it gives the ship’s linguist a chance to take the lead by making meaningful contact with the creatures. It’s a little silly — sure — but in the best way. This is exactly the kind of smart, team-focused problem-solving that makes the S.C.E. series so fun to read.
