History Literature / StarTrekPicardSecondSelf

* EveryoneHasStandards: During the 2375 segment, Raffi and fellow Romulan Affairs officers watch live coverage of the [[Recap/StarTrekDeepSpaceNineS07E25E26WhatYouLeaveBehind Battle of Cardassia]] (as they're deployed along the Romulan-Cardassian front and thus aren't participating in the final offensive). Raffi and nearly everyone else reacts in genuine horror at the footage of the Dominion's final, vindictive pogrom across the Cardassian homeworld. The handful that approve get subjected to a collective DeathGlare and WhatTheHellHero.

* EveryoneHasStandards: During the 2375 segment, Raffi and her fellow Romulan Affairs colleagues watch live coverage of the [[Recap/StarTrekDeepSpaceNineS07E25E26WhatYouLeaveBehind Battle of Cardassia]] (as they're on the Romulan-Cardassian front and thus aren't participating in the final offensive). Nearly everyone reacts in genuine horror at the footage of the Dominion's final, vindictive pogrom across the Cardassian homeworld.

* PutOnABus: Of the ''Picard'' main characters, Jurati, Soji, and Seven are absent from the events of the novel. Justified, as [[Recap/StarTrekPicardS2E01TheStarGazer ''The Star Gazer'']] will establish Jthat urati and Soju are on a diplomatic goodwill tour for the Synthetics. Seven's whereabouts during the inter-Season interim (and her and Raffi's burgeoning romantic relationship), likewise, were also previously covered in the ''Picard'' audio drama ''No Man's Land''.

* SetRightWhatOnceWentWrong: Subverted: [[spoiler: 2399 Garak's trip back to 2340 ''is'' a chance at restitution, but it's also ultimately closing out a StableTimeLoop. It's the aftermath that plays straight with the subversion. Even with his knowledge of the future, Garak makes ''no'' attempt to try and change history to prevent his exile or the Dominion's final pogrom on Cardassia. It's implied Garak's priority was protecting Caanta Valley, but with his customary pragmatism, Garak would know trying to alter the timeline could instead backfire spectacularly for Cardassia. Given Garak's patriotism, Picard and Raffi both remark on how much of a sacrifice it must've been for Garak to forcibly sit back and let events to come play out.]]

** [[spoiler: Feji ''tries'' this with Soukara in the climax, pointing out the Bajorans know full well what the Romulan diaspora refugees are going through. However, Soukara angirly and bitterly points out a crucial differences: The Bajorans had hope and the dream that they could return home and reclaim their homeworld from Cardassia. The Romulans ''don''t'' have that luxury or dream with Romulus having burned with its own sun.]]

** [[spoiler: In his final communique from the past, Garak deduces Raffi's substance addiction problems from his [[Recap/StarTrekDeepSpaceNineS02E22TheWire own experience]] and offers her words of encouragement for overcoming it.

* TrappedInThePast: A variation. [[spoiler: Garak uses the Orb of the Restitution to travel back to 2340 to close out the StableTimeLoop. He remains behind to ensure the Ordeve children survive the Massacre and Occupation. Garak ultimately dies

* RewatchBonus: The twist behind the StableTimeLoop offers plenty of reread bonuses. For example, [[spoiler: 2340 Garak's interactions with Vedek Feji Apra (and ''why'' he's able to get under Garak's skin so easily) take on a much different context knowing 'Apra' is actually 2399 Garak.]]

* PutOnABus: Of the ''Picard'' main characters, Jurati, Soji, and Seven are absent from the events of the novel. Justified, as [[Recap/StarTrekPicardS2E01TheStarGazer ''The Star Gazer'']] will establish Jthat urati and Soju are on a diplomatic goodwill tour for the Synthetics. Seven's whereabouts during the inter-Season interim (and her and Raffi's burgeoning romantic relationship), likewise, were also previously covered in the ''Picard'' audio drama ''No Man's Land''.

* WellDoneSonGuy: [[spoiler: 2340 Garak unsurprisingly, as it's still early in his Obsidian Order career and he's thus still intent on doing his duty nad pleasing Tain.]]
* WriteBackToTheFuture: [[spoiler: In the novel's epilogue, Raffi receives a letter 2399 Garak wrote after having traveled back to the Bajoran Occupation. He offers up final revelations and encouragement.]]

* StealthSequel: Officially, ''Second Self'' is a ''Picard'' novel mneant to bridge the gap between Seasons One and Two. Unofficially, it's really more of a ''Deep Space Nine'' sequel in disguise, picking up on the post-Domninion War fate of the Cardassians in the new canon and revealing the ultimate fate of [[spoiler: Elim Garak]].

** [[spoiler: While Garak became one of the Federation's biggest advocates on post-Dominion War Cardassia, it doesn't change that he ''was'' an Obsidian Order operative once upon a time and was active during the Occupation. Once the Bajoran Government gains irrefutable proof of atrocities Garak directly committed, ally to the Federation/Bajor or not, they want his head. The post-war Cardassian government, eager to keep the peace, reluctantly but ultimately decides to extradite him (it also doesn't work as Garak, as always, is two steps ahead of everyone).]]

* PutOnABus: Of the ''Picard'' main characters, Jurati, Soji, and Seven are absent from the events of the novel. Justified, as [[Recap/StarTrekPicardS2E01TheStarGazer ''The Star Gazer'']] will establish Jurati and Soju are on a diplomatic goodwill tour for the Synthetics. Seven's whereabouts during the inter-Season interim (and her and Raffi's burgeoning romantic relationship), likewise, were also previously covered in the ''Picard'' audio drama ''No Man's Land''.

* StealthSequel: Officially, ''Second Self'' is a ''Picard'' novel. Unofficially, it's really a ''Deep Space Nine'' sequel in disguise, picking up on the post-Domninion War fate of the Cardassians in the new canon and revealing the ultimate fate of [[spoiler: Elim Garak]].

* PutOnABus: Of the ''Picard'' main characters, Jurati, Soji, and Seven are absent from the events of the novel. Justified, as [[Recap/StarTrekPicardS2E01TheStarGazer ''The Star Gazer'']] will establish Jurati and Soju are on a diplomatic goodwill tour for the Synthetics. Seven's whereabouts during the inter-Season interim , likewise, were also previously covered in the ''Picard'' audio drama ''No Man's Land''.

* EveryoneHasStandards: During the 2375 segment, Raffi and her fellow Romulan Affairs colleagues watch live coverage of the [[Recap/StarTrekDeepSpaceNineS07E25E26WhatYouLeaveBehind Battle of Cardassia]] (as they're on the Romulan-Cardassian front and thus aren't participatign in the final offensive). Nearly everyone reacts in genuine horror at the footage of the Dominion's final, vindictive pogrom across the Cardassian homeworld.

* EveryoneHasStandards: During the 2375 segment, Raffi and her fellow Romulan Affairs colleagues watch live coverage of the Battle of Cardassia (as they're on the Romulan-Cardassian front and thus aren't participatign in the final offensive). Nearly everyone reacts in genuine horror at the footage of the Dominion's final, vindictive pogrom across the Cardassian homeworld.

''Star Trek: Picard: Second Self'' is the fourth ''Picard'' novel and marks Una [=McCormack=]'s return to this branch of the tie-in literature following 2020's ''The Last Best Hope''. It is set during in-between Seasons One and Two and, like ''The Last Best Hope'', serves as a prelude to the then-new Season.

''Star Trek: Picard: Second Self'' is the fourth ''Picard'' novel and marks Una [=McCormack=]'s return to the tie-in literature following 2020's ''The Last Best Hope''. It is set during the in-between Seasons One and Two and, like ''The Last Best Hope'', serves as a prelude to the then-new Season.

** Despite having been vindicated about what really happened at Mars, Raffi's old colleagues at Romulan Affairs are ''not'' happy or pleased about it. They endured ridicule and career damage from her conspiracy theories and that resentment's festered for over 15 years. [[spoiler: It's implied this is one factor that ultimately convinces Raffi ''not'' to return to Intelligence and to instead accept the posting aboard ''Excelsior''.]]
** [[spoiler: While Garak became one of the Federation's biggest advocates on post-Dominion War Cardassia, it doesn't change that he ''was'' an Obsidian Order operative once upon a time and was active during the Occupation. Once the Bajoran Government gains irrefutable proof of atrocities Garak directly committed, ally to the Federation/Bajor or not, they want his head. The post-war Cardassian government, eager to keep the peace, reluctantly but ultimately decides to extradite him (it also doesn't work as Garak, as always, is two steps ahead of everyone)]].

* CanonImmigrant: [=McCormack=] re-canonizes elements of the ''Deep Space Nine'' Relaunch, from the Cardassian governmental leadership role (the Castellan) to the broad strokes of the post-Dominion War rebuilding and logistical challenges Cardassia faced (as was detailed during ''A Stitch in Time'').
* EveryoneHasStandards: During the 2375 segment, Raffi and her fellow Romulan Affairs colleagues watch live coverage of the Battle of Cardassia. Nearly everyone reacts in absolute horror at the live coverage of the Dominion's final, vindictive pogrom across the Cardassian homeworld.

* StableTimeLoop: [[spoiler: The secret behind the mysteries of Ordeve and what really happened during the Ghenic incident.]]
* SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome: Despite having been vindicated about what really happened at Mars, Raffi's old colleagues at Romulan Affairs are ''not'' happy or pleased about it. They endured ridicule and career damage from her conspiracy theories and that resentment's festered for over 15 years. [[spoiler: It's implied this is one factor that ultimately convinces Raffi ''not'' to return to Intelligence and to instead accept the posting aboard ''Excelsior''.]]

''Star Trek: Picard: Second Self'' is the fourth ''Picard'' novel and marks Una [=McCormack=]'s return to the tie-in literature following 2020's ''The Last Best Hope''. It is set during the in-between Seasons One and Two.

* CanonImmigrant: McCormack re-canonizes elements of the ''Deep Space Nine'' Relaunch, from the Cardassian governemtnal leadership role (the Castellan) and the broad strokes of the post-Dominion War rebuilding and logistical challenges Cardassia faced (ex. ''A Stitch in Time'').
* EveryoneHasStandards: During the 2375 segments, Raffi and her fellow Romulan Affairs colleagues react in horror at the live coverage of the Dominion's final, vindictive pogrom across Cardassia Prime.

''Star Trek: Picard: Second Self'' is the fourth ''Picard'' novel and marks Una McCormack's return to the tie-in literature following 2020's ''The Last Best Hope''. It is set during the in-between Seasons One and Two.

* CannonImmigrant: McCormack re-canonizes elements of the ''Deep Space Nine'' Relaunch, from the Cardassian governemtnal leadership role (the Castellan) and the broad strokes of the post-Dominion War rebuilding and logistical challenges Cardassia faced (ex. ''A Stitch in Time'').

* Interquel: The book is set during the 18 month gap between Seasons One and Two and sets up elements of the latter (ex. Elnor enrolling in Starfleet Academy, Rios commanding the ''Stargazer'', etc.).

''Star Trek: Picard: Second Self'' is the fourth ''Picard'' tie-in novel and marks Una McCormack's return to . It is set during the 18 month gap between Seasons One and Two.