Date: 28 Sep 2009 17:46 Title: Harsh Elements
Gah! Okay, Pirak's demise was a whole lot less funny this chapter. The fact that the team was sent planet-side without phasers or communicators or a temporary shelter is utterly ridiculous. Tain and Ocek fought mightily to thwart their animal attackers, and I find myself agreeing with Tain and hoping Ocek lasts the night. Who know what kinds of alien bacteria those creatures' bites and scratches might contain?
Author's Response: Yes, the infighting among the various governmental branches leads sometimes to ruthless and unnecessary gambling with each others' lives. I would imagine the Order has also been responsible for military losses of life, each jockeying to blame the other. In this case, Tain's and Ocek's anger are definitely justified.
Date: 27 Sep 2009 11:24 Title: Harsh Elements
I should have nmentioned in the last review how the continuing interaction and building relationship between Tain and Ocek is just sublimely portrayed and great to watch/read. Their shared history through Tain and Ocek's father makes it all the more interesting to read and see how it develops.
Also of equal fascination, is Tain's thoughts and admission of love, or as close as, about Mila. Quite sentimental - which I'm sure is somehting is probably finds galling. That said, there remains to be a certain chemistry between himself and Ocek.
Now as to the intrigue of the civilians not getting any wrist communicators, I'm with Tain on being slightly suspicious but then he has that effect on people. I should have mentioned in the last chapter too how I loved the reluctance to go first, at having to put yor back to another and how this position in Cardassian culture was not honoured as it might have been in other cultures.
Tain has to have a lot of faith or trust of a kind to willingly step into these situations with so many unknowns and possible btrayals, never mind the chance of discovery. And yet trust is one thing he can hardly afford. Makes his moves and actions all the more compelling and a trait we see is passed on to Garak.
Now the sequence of the dead body and the attack were tight and tense, with a sense of danger and threat very palpable. This was very effective and added further excitement to an absorbing read.
Author's Response: Tain feels a genuine affection for Ocek, as much as he can allow in the circumstances. She possesses character qualities he admires. He also admires her father, and that contributes. The sentiment he feels for Mila bothers him. It probably always will, yet at the same time, it's something he is learning to accept as his reality. He is neither machine nor sociopath, so of course he will have these moments. Otherwise, I'm sure he would've killed her and the baby. The fact that we know he didn't says a lot about his underlying emotional state.
It's a sense of duty more than trust when it comes to taking these assignments. There's really a beautiful passage in Andrew Robinson's A Stitch in Time, where Tain talks about how Obsidian Order people are the night people who must do and face terrible things to insure the security, well being, and clean consciences of the day people. More than anything else I had read or seen, that impacted me in how to view Tain and what he does. He truly loves Cardassia and her people, and he has sacrificed a great deal in pursuit of their safety.
I'm happy to hear the body and the attack came off as I intended. The attack was tricky with no visual input. The other senses seemed to suffice, though.