As you have done before, you really are a master of world-building. The whole experience is deliciously alien. The Laurentii are hard to relate to, everything from their faces to their names. About the only thing that seems at all familiar is that their religion seems almost analogous to faiths where there one charismatic leader. Hence they can be a bit like the Mormons under Joseph Smith, or hasidim under various rebbes.

Sarine's (I always see and hear him as Edward James Olmos) reluctance to hang around, and his desire to be back home with Elera and Torvol, adds a depth and a dimension to the character. He is not just some warrior type. The idea of him being almost a chosen and anointed one is rather similar to Benjamin Sisko himself, the eponym for the ship - not a coincidence, I am sure. So here, at the more or less start of things (technically, his first service with the Laurentii is really more of a start), Sarine has a mission thrown at him. But things are already amiss, and he is not thrilled with having to cool his heels. Given the clear cultural differences, the Laurentii's playing for time is not immediately seen as such. Convenient for them, eh?

Well-written, as always.

Well now - a hell of an opener to the third VOL. You like the mysterious and you paint alien settings so vividly and creatively. That much is clear from the Onyx Station itself - a living breathing body almost with its opening corridors, etc. Amazing and just a slightly bit yuck if I bad to bed and breakfast there!

So the mystery around Sarine is part explained here - he is destined for something more. Normally, the mythos and prophecy stories in trek don't really win me over. I have to say, I never much liked the execution of the Emissary arc for Sisko, especially the ending. However, so far the destiny elements linked to Sarine thus far have been really well executed and enveloped into a large story and twistign plots. In ways, it reminds me of the Babylon 5 and Sheridan and Sinclair arcs. So kudos for achieving that right level of trek feel and adding your own spin and mythos element to the proceedings.

Likewise, Sarine's interactions with others always are fascinating. With Captain Robau but most especially with Prin. There's a strong bond there that appears to ahve been tested and strained over the years even before the current time frame. So it should be interesting to see how it continues in this next volume.

Oh, and whilst I can rave about your descriptions of the weird and fantastic, I am actually in awe of the way you paint the movements of the characters in the more everyday settings. The scene with Prin and Sarine talking bullets where Prin lays her hands and where she sets her feet. Really clear imagery and scene setting. Terrific.