Date: 18 Nov 2009 22:54 Title: Chapter Three - Part Three
Beth's trust in Dryden is a great step forward in their command team relationship and a bold move by Beth. I guess another trait from her father and informed by her mother but a move that is all Beth.
With such a big con-flab gathering I predict trouble. Now as to what, Im not entirely sure. I'm still shaky on the politics of theis era so Romulus' relationship to the Federation though more favourable is not steadfast or written in concrete yet I think. So perhaps this will be the forging of an alliance or membership to the Federation. That's my guess here. But I may have already things wrong. But I don't think things are going to remain smooth going for too long.
Also with so many big names in your story they don't swamp it. Obviously Riker and Troi are central in a tale of their family but they don;t dominate and so far the character of Beth is very much informed by their charcteristics and certainly the child of her mold would be the one that took to Starfleet like a duck to water.
Oh and a certain Captain McGregor gets a mention. I dare say very different to my own but it seems Shaughessy has umbrege only a friend can have about him getting command. Hee hee. Eagerly await meeting your McGregor. And knowing what I do already about certain things, he must end up being an impressive person to win Beth over.
Oh and poker another little trait passed down the genetic line.
Author's Response: You know what? I kind of always wanted to tweak that scene to reflect how terrified Beth was to tell Dryden about her condition. I'm not sure it comes off as well as I had hoped. This is the one thing that can give her detractors some real teeth to bring her down if they wanted. Handing this info to Dryden was a huge risk for her, but I really wanted the reader to understand that Beth's first duty - to the Enterprise - was more important to her than the possibility that Dryden might diss her. She ended up only cementing Dryden's loyalty for it. :) While Riker and Deanna play a role in this book - it's really all about Beth and yes, McGregor makes an appearance shortly...at the poker game. Shaughnessy is a love - there's no other way of saying it.