[Report This]Date: 23 Sep 2020 13:31 Title: Day Six: Military Justice: VII
Very odd that they missed this detail in their initial interviews with the civilian engineers. Very fishy.
Nice plot development and continuing development of the relationship between Nora and Clancey.
Thanks!! rbs
Author's Response: Yeah, I see what you did there. Happened to me as well where I accidentally jumped ahead and read the wrong chapter. All should make more sense once you get a chance to go back and read the preceding ones.
[Report This]Date: 22 Sep 2020 13:27 Title: Day Four: The Woman in White: VI
Always fun to have a crew member who gets around. And interesting that seems to be a cultural expectation for krellonians. STNG rarely played with that concept, but it is common in some human cultures as well (including American culture from the 70's).
Another intersting character and another twist in the plot. So was it perhaps papa Geder?
Thanks!! rbs
Author's Response: Yeah, an entire race of swingers is probably going to cause problems on a Starfleet ship.
[Report This]Date: 22 Sep 2020 13:17 Title: Day Four: The Woman in White: IV
Another interesting character. Bajorans are particularly interesting because of their recent trauma with the Cardassian Occupation, followed sharply by the Dominion War and the Sisco Ascension (or whatever it was they think he did.)
Yunta seems more than a little distracted - perhaps due to local conditions?
Thanks!! rbs
Author's Response: I do like Bajorans. They are a tough race. Have to be with everything they've gone through. As for Yunta. Clearly something is up with that woman.
[Report This]Date: 22 Sep 2020 13:14 Title: Day Four: The Woman in White: V
Wild vulcans... This is bound to be interesting. Although given vulcan strength, Deen is lucky her jaw isn't broken.
Vulcans in their wild state can be quite dangerous and quite possibly xenophobic - I will be interested to see whether that registers with this rather civilized lot.
Thanks!! rbs
Author's Response: Nobody likes to be sucker punched, but for Deen that's a fairly new experience.
[Report This]Date: 21 Sep 2020 14:30 Title: Day Four: The Woman in White: III
Star must be really fit from all that jumping to conclusions... Not that she's wrong, but she could definitely benefit from a bit of scientific method. Perhaps she should have assigned Clancy to help her as well...
And there will almost certainly be a price for her to pay for keeping her theory from the Captain at this point...
Nice unfolding mystery.
Thanks!! rbs
Author's Response: There are definitely some shortcomings to these investigations. In Nora's case one could argue that she simply doesn't have the experience with criminal matters. Not quite sure what Star's excuse is.
[Report This]Date: 21 Sep 2020 14:18 Title: Day Four: The Woman in White: II
The rapid fire change of who is in the chair has a cinematic feel - like plenty of scenes from cop dramas. Good for quick plot development and I am a fan of cutting out unnecessary fat.
Thanks!! rbs
Author's Response: I'm sure its a technique I borrowed from film and TV, probably even Trek, where it probably works a bit better than in the written form. But I'm with you, I don't always do it, but I do enjoy a quick pace from time to time.
[Report This]Date: 21 Sep 2020 14:07 Title: Day Four: The Woman in White: I
A pointy eared woman in white to add mystery to the oddly lit rogue planet. I would think a science officer would be intensely curious about where all that light is coming from. But a rogue alien who falls at your feet without appearing on sensors might trump that momentarialy.
Thanks!! rbs
Author's Response: Particularly when said alien looks just like you. But yes, a lot of mysteries to uncover here.
[Report This]Date: 21 Sep 2020 13:59 Title: Day Three: The Big Sleep: VII
A bad call on Owens' part and a good one on Star's. I'm interested to see how that plays out.
Of course the blowout is a harbinger of not good things to come.
Again, Katanga pops off the page.
Thanks!! rbs
Author's Response: And that's the problem when you have an XO onboard you don't truly trust. It seems to have worked out okay for everybody though, right. Or has it? Well, the ship didn't blow up, so there is that.
[Report This]Date: 18 Sep 2020 11:59 Title: Day Three: The Big Sleep: VI
Nice characterization of Clancy and a good start on the scientific method for crime solving. Very interesting that there is a pattern of bruising over a period of time and not just something that happened at the time of the murder.
The plot thickens...
Thanks!! rbs
Author's Response: Yeah, clearly some history there. I didn't want to go all CSI with this story, although you could make the argument that criminal investigations in the future are likely closer to the fictional CSI than CSI ever was to our current reality.
[Report This]Date: 17 Sep 2020 13:38 Title: Day Three: The Big Sleep: V
Very intersting moment of vulnerability for the captain and first officer and an unexpected growth moment for their relationship. Also interesting that he considers a broken officer as he describes Nora to be his responsibility.
This does seem to be a very contentious lot compared to the crew I'm fielding, but there is a difference in age. This is a young crew with a lot of personal growth issues to deal with and not a lot of seasoned officers to help them through it or provide the boundaries elders usually provide. Which is common in military service - very much tracks with the way my father described his service in the US Navy (which he said stands for Never Again Volunteer Yourself.)
I also picked up on your reference to JAG in the previous chapter having an investigative role - which also tracks as we both present Star Fleet as not having a military police arm, meaning that JAG would have to fill that role as well.
Thanks!! rbs
Author's Response: Yeah, this is a very different dynamic to Hunter, that's for sure. Michael Owens is not exactly an inexperienced starship captain but he has flaws and blindspots as I think is pretty obvious in this story. Much of this is can be blamed on wartime trauma that all these characters have been through.
[Report This]Date: 17 Sep 2020 13:26 Title: Day Three: The Big Sleep: IV
And nothing like a little military discipline in an organization that is historically uncomfortable with the military side of its role. Your characters are very distinct and individual - particularly your leads.
Nice character development on Star as well as Nora. Assigning an officer as a watcher is bound to go over well with someone who doesn't like being interfered with. I have an instinct that Clancy is going to turn out to be very helpful in spite of his inauspicous introduction.
Thanks! rbs
Author's Response: Also, always fun to have a character whip others into shape. Eagle is a fairly lax ship thanks to Owens' mostly non-authoritarian leadership style, but sometimes that's simply not good enough. Especially for a hard-nosed warrior type like Nora Laas. I'm glad you're enjoying the character development in this story. Unsurprisingly, Nora and Star were a big focus point for me here.
[Report This]Date: 17 Sep 2020 13:12 Title: Day Three: The Big Sleep: III
I'm enjoying the character development accompanying the adventure - in this case of Srena. Interesting how many similar themes we are both using. An andorian pilot will be added to the Hunter's crew in Ep 13 and a rogue planet in Ep 16... And then there's the ring structure..
A crash landing cliff hanger..
Thnaks!! rbs
Author's Response: Talking about Trek tropes, right? A shuttle crash landing? How many of those have we seen over the years. Oh well, still a perfectly valid story-telling device in my humble opinion.
[Report This]Date: 15 Sep 2020 13:16 Title: Day Three: The Big Sleep: II
Nice exploration of Nora's inner insecurities. Also very nice crime-solving procedure - scanning the scene for later reproduction in the holodeck. It's not just for recreation anymore.
I think the series overused the holodeck for recreation and underused them for science. Very nice to see them used this way.
Also a good call on the poor procedure used when turning off the internal sensors. The chief of security should be the first notified. That's an oversight on the part of the 1st officer. And I knew that was going to bite them in the blubber...
Thanks! rbs
Author's Response: Holodecks just have so many possible applications, right? Way more than we have likely seen on screen. It certainly makes perfect sense for a criminal investigation. It's actually a bit surprising that Nora actually thought of this considering her shortcomings in this field. I suppose it's in the rule book on how to deal with violent crimes as a Starfleet security officer.
[Report This]Date: 15 Sep 2020 12:39 Title: Day Three: The Big Sleep: I
Several implications in the subtitle "the Big Sleep" (which reminds me of a song by Simple Minds by that name).
It looks like sleep issues and possibly sleep walking may become part of this story and might be a way in for outside forces.
And an onboard murder to kick it off with.. Definitely a page turner.
Thanks!! rbs
Author's Response: The chapter names in this story are all borrowed from crime novels, although the Big Sleep may be even better known as a classic film noir starring Humphrey Bogart and of course it refers to the the kind of sleep you never wake up from again. But yeah, sleep is a theme here. Thanks for the kind words.
[Report This]Date: 14 Sep 2020 13:07 Title: Day Two: The Getaway: VI
Having nothing but a half-foot of metal and a new-fangled em field between you and deadly radiation is excitement enough...
Very fun obersvations on proper vulcan wheedling. Again, very interesting to have a group of non-humans interacting - although the tactical officer is half-human.
Of course that disturbance is likely to turn out to be... disturbing.
Thanks!! rbs
Author's Response: Disturbances are never a good sign in Trek, we know this.
[Report This]Date: 10 Sep 2020 18:30 Title: Day Two: The Getaway: V
Very interesting interaction between Deen and Owens. A little surprising that Deen strongly supports Star, but it's solid advice and a surprising blind spot for the captain. Which is a common failure of leadership - the halo effect.
Thanks!! rbs
Author's Response: Deen pretty much sees the best in every person she meets. She is quite quintessentially the eternal optimist. But you are right about Owens. Star is a huge blind spot for him, and one he has not dealt with very well up to this point.
[Report This]Date: 10 Sep 2020 18:17 Title: Day Two: The Getaway: IV
Both Star and Katanga are very rich characters with a lot of backstory. This chapter is one of my favorites so far largely for that reason. Both have unique speaking styles that convey a sense of reality to them. It is all too easy to have characters who speak and think too much alike - all the more so because as we associate with a small circle of friends that tends to happen naturally.
Thanks!! rbs
Author's Response: And Katanga and Star are some of my favorite characters, so really happy you liked this reunion of sorts and that you picked up on their hopefully unique voices.
[Report This]Date: 09 Sep 2020 16:01 Title: Day Two: The Getaway: III
Managing finicky scientists is always a test.. and she had better read that entire report. Something in it is bound to become critical within the next 7 days...
Intersting background details on Tazla that I haven't come across in my future reading. I'm sure they will become important to this story.
Thanks!! rbs
Author's Response: Tazla has a significant backstory. You can find more about her in "Star-Crossed" followed by Eagle 3 (a massive novel which is no on Ad Astra presently). But there is plenty of detail in this novel as well.
[Report This]Date: 09 Sep 2020 15:55 Title: Day Two: The Getaway: II
Katanga is one of my favorite of your characters. He alway pops off the page. Veterans are fun that way - accretions of personaity.
Thanks!! rbs
Author's Response: Really glad you like Katanga. He's definitely one of my favorite characters to write.
[Report This]Date: 09 Sep 2020 15:51 Title: Day Two: The Getaway: I
Fortunately for the humorless vulcans frustration is also not in their repitore..
Interesting interaction between two very different crew members. Good technobabble as well. So I sense a shuttle trip in the offing?
Thanks!! rbs
Author's Response: Yeah, there is a reason this part is titled the Getaway. It's not quite as impressive as the technobabble in Hunter, but you know, I give it a good try.
[Report This]Date: 08 Sep 2020 16:57 Title: Day One: Farewell, My Lovely: IV
"250,000 kilometers," said Milestone. - the pun may have been unintentional but amusing nonetheless.
Yeah - taking down internal sensors is definitely going to lead to some issues. And something it totally up when you lose time sleeping.
Nice introduction of a few creepy elements that will bear fruit later. I also enjoyed the visual descriptions of the nebula and particularly the crisp description of Rosenthal. I can picutre him very clearly - which is part of the enjoyment of meeting these sorts of characters.
Thanks!! rbs
Author's Response: Another lucky accident here. I bet I never even noticed the pun until now.
[Report This]Date: 08 Sep 2020 02:31 Title: Day One: Farewell, My Lovely: III
There are actually two chapters here - a ceremony and a relationship story.
Ceremony is difficult to write. They come off as awkward, overplanned, speechy - but this is actually true to life. Ceremonies are all of those things and they are almost never comfortable, natural affairs. This one has that lifelike awkwardness and spontinaity.
The relation moment is interrupted by misgivings about time travel and alternate timelines - which is prologue considering I've read the other end of this story. And I'm a huge fan of foreshadowing. All of that makes the development of the love story awkward and uncomfortable - but that is also true to life. Most people don't do it smoothly. We're awkward and uncertain in those moments.
Thanks!! rbs
Author's Response: True, sometimes I merge things together when I think it might make sense. Funny story, the foreshadowing in this chapter is entirely organic. I'd love to admit that I had Quantum Divergence already fully planned out when I wrote this, but that is not at all the case. Funny how things work out sometimes.
[Report This]Date: 03 Sep 2020 15:06 Title: Day One: Farewell, My Lovely: II
Nice intro for Dr. Katanga and an interesting read on one of the many different morality positions regarding single parenthood, unplanned sex, unplanned pregnancy and ethical issues around parenthood.
A lot to unpack in a short chapter.
Thanks!! rbs
Author's Response: Thanks, glad you enjoyed it.
[Report This]Date: 03 Sep 2020 13:59 Title: Day One: Farewell, My Lovely: I
It was a dark and stormy night - classic open - all the more for being excised from the Bard.
Interesting open. I recall an Original Series episode that opened with Shakespear and ended up a little more than a murder mystery.
Gratifying to see an older crewman as the lead actor with younger officers in supporting roles.
Thanks!! rbs
Author's Response: Steer away from talking about the weather when opening a story. It's not the only writing rule I'm sure I've broken. Although in this case, I can always blame Shakespeare. Star Trek has a long love story with the Bard, and I've kept that going in Star Eagle Adventures. And yes, Eagle does have older crewmembers. But I've fallen into the ageist trap too. There are probably not many, and besides Katanga and technically Xylion, they're probably all enlisted personnel.
Date: 15 Jul 2014 16:48 Title: Day Five: Presumed Innocent: VII
“Do you think I am esthetically pleasing, Xylion?” LOL
And the lines from Leva about dry spells. Loving the humour of this whilst maintaining the mystery and a lingering sense of malovence around the planet's inhabitants. Seems the crew are going to have no option about staying (or in Xylion's case, getting married).
Author's Response: She's laying it on thick, ain't she? Glad you enjoyed the humor here even if Deen and co are probably not as amused about the Vulcans' plans.