Date: 19 Jul 2013 01:51 Title: Chapter 8
Adele takes a big, big chance here, but I think her reasoning is solid. Plus I suspect it may be a key to getting the Sol back, and possibly getting the Luna back up to snuff.
[Report This]Date: 01 Dec 2010 14:20 Title: Chapter 8
A terrifying dilemma for Adele here, one that may come back to haunt her. This may turn out to be a Pandora's box going forward, with the Federation struggling to play catch up with the Borg Resistance and the other powers in the DQ.
JQ's problems are just as intriguing, dramatic and captivating to read. It was interesting to see him struggle with both his instincts as a tactical officer and his new responsibilities. Of course having a Vulcan giving him orders based entirely on logic, with someone as emotional as JQ, was bound to create sparks. I wonder, though, whether he has made the right decision.
Look forward to the next chapter!
[Report This]Date: 11 Nov 2010 13:21 Title: Chapter 8
Seems like J.Q. had to pass the "commander exam" without a holodeck simulation--just pure life brutality. Something tells me it's going to hunt him for long, maybe forever. If his career develops and he makes it a captain some day, I think he'd still remember Herk--the first person he had to sacrifice to the good of many--most vividly.
I in fact cried reading about Herk and the engineering situation. You described it so graphically that I could not only "see" it, but also feel it!
So the Resistance Borg and the Tesseract alliance was forged. I wonder where it takes them.
And th Omega Particle? Adele faces a big decision. I can't wait to see what it's going to be and what kind of consequences they will have to deal with in the result.
Author's Response:
Wow, I don't know whether to apologize or thank you, so I'll do both -- sorry for making you cry, and thank you for being invested enough in the story to have such a strong emotional reaction to it!
You're right, Herk's death was something JQ will remember for the rest of his life as a Starfleet officer, and beyond. It was definitely a defining moment for him, for better or worse. He may have a few more of those in the coming chapters, too.
As for Omega, the Resistance and the Tesseract ... we'll see where it all goes. ;-) Now I just have to write it.
Thanks for the great review.
[Report This]Date: 30 Oct 2010 06:52 Title: Chapter 8
Would you defy the Omega Directive???
It's a pretty big decision all right. I would say that the devastating of Omega would make the decision obvious. But we'll just have to wait and see how this plays. And I can understand JQ's line of thinking in not wanting to scrap the Sol. Makes one wonder how the Voyager replaced lost shuttles, especially since they practically gave shuttle-craft away in "Counterpoint".
Author's Response:
Would *I* defy it? Let's just say that no one in the Trek universe would ever let me near the command chair, so I would not be making that decision. That said, I think Adele's choice has merit. We'll see if the advisory board agrees. As for the shuttles ... have you ever seen that animated .gif of the Voyager "Shuttle-O-Matic?" Hee hee.
Date: 28 Oct 2010 22:22 Title: Chapter 8
Decisions, decisions, decisions. All of them hard to make for all concerned. JQ has already stepped up to the plate and made quite a number of hard calls. Yet again he is making a call here, that of trying to shore up the Sol in order to keep it together and indeed hold together for the evac. However, how compromised is he by the radiation? Should he in fact sought medical help? Maybe, but JQ shows his flaw yet again - is a damned fine flaw but a flaw nevertheless, of caring too much, wanting to spare the others the sight of engineering and its loss of life. At some point, this is going to bite him in the ass. Indeed from other vignettes we know that it has in fact hurt his career before. However, I do worry about him making a call on this basis that will have long term effects. That said, this mission already is going to hurt him - asides from the radiation! From Herk to the Kellers it has taken a certain toll on the guy who has been very impressive with his command calls in the face of danger. It makes you root for the guy all the more. Top stuff.
Then we have Adele taking control of the chaos on the RBorg ship. She somehow has inspired Lakwa to trust her and the Tesseract crew. Lakwa has mutined against Malik but for his and all of their sakes. I wonder now what this will mean for our allied RBorg friends? I Lakwa to become their leader?
But now Adele is faced with a terrible decision. To do as she should and destroy Omega or allow for its harnessed power to come onboard the Tesseract, a very viable danger, so that she and the Federation by default can wield Omega's might as a weapon against the Borg. The decision to take it onboard is a bold move and in light of the Borg threat a sensible move. But what ramifications will this have, for Adele in front of the Advisory Board, for the future of the Federation, will it spur a race for Omega weapons/power systems in the Alpha Quadrant ala the cold war and nuclear power/weapons? And what will the Admiral make of it all?
Oh my, so much to come of all of this! So much to look forwards to.
Author's Response:
John could definitely use a dose or two of whatever magic hypospray potion Sheila has been using to treat the others. But from his perspective, if she's treating him, she's not treating someone else. Besides, they were down to the last few minutes on the cell ... he figures he'll just get his shot when he gets back, when everyone's evacuating anyway. We'll see if that works out for him. As for the rBorg mutiny ... we'll see how it pans out. Lakwa has already had a leadership role of a weird sort, in that the crew trusts her to rein in Malik's excesses -- which is essentially what she's done here. But she's never been "in command." We'll see how she takes to it. Much more to come from them.
Your question about what Omega will mean for the AQ, and Adele, is a good one. It can't not have repercussions, and those repercussions are hard to predict. Guess you'll just have to wait and see how it plays out. ;-)
Thanks for the awesome review.
Date: 28 Oct 2010 20:12 Title: Chapter 8
So, the omega particle rule...violated. Sounds good to me. I hope everyone on the Sol can get off in time.
Good stuff, look forward to more.
Author's Response:
Thanks for reading and commenting!
[Report This]Date: 28 Oct 2010 11:21 Title: Chapter 8
I feel for John’s dilemma. No one wants to have to scuttle a valuable ship, most especially in circumstances where such resources are now thousands of light-years behind them. Nevertheless, J.Q.’s decision to remain behind with a skeleton crew until Sol can either be stabilized or must be abandoned is a solid one.
Like a good commander, John is stepping up to do what needs to be done, despite the obvious fact that he is slowly succumbing to radiation exposure. I hope he and the others can get the treatment they so desperately need in order to survive before it becomes too late for them.
I don’t envy Adele the decision she must now make. It would be difficult enough without the immediacy of the advisory board hanging over whatever choice she makes like the Sword of Damocles. Violate the most potent Starfleet directive aside from the Prime Directive, or risk throwing away the only viable defense against the Borg anyone has yet to discover.
Difficult, heart wrenching decisions seem to be the order of the day. Let’s just hope our heroes can live with those they’re forced to make on this day.
Author's Response:
Thanks for the review and stars, Gibraltar. I appreciate it.
Glad you think John's making solid choices here. For the good of the crew, I think he is too, at least on the surface. But he's also ignoring his own limitations right now, and that could come back to bite not only him, but everyone else if he doesn't seek the help he needs in time. We'll see what happens.
As for Adele ... yeah, she's got a choice between crap and more crap. Which actually sounds about right for the Delta Quadrant. It's not the nicest neighborhood, as one of your own characters is well aware. ;-) Bad things happen there.
I hope they can live with their choices, too.