Date: 21 Oct 2009 23:02 Title: Epilogue: Fair Wind
I really don't have many words to do this love story justice. Oh, yes, a love story between two men and a ship, and each other to an extent as well. Really beautifully written and touching, well realized in setting, vivid in detail but never bogged down, such a gem of a story! I'm glad I had a block of time to sit and read it all in one sitting, or I'd have been wondering about it while away until I finished.
Author's Response: Thank you so much! It took me seven years to write it (and it ended up having a whole arc built around it), but I'm glad anytime anyone takes the time to read it and comes away not feeling it was a waste of time. Thank you!
Date: 03 Jun 2009 21:42 Title: Epilogue: Fair Wind
That tugged at my heart-strings... hard. All that these two have been through together, and now here (at least for awhile) is the end of the road. Corry off to Vulcan, and Scott on to whatever busy-work postings he gets until he manages to get his butt out of the sling. The exchange of gifts was very touching, each one imbued with added weight and meaning and serving as a lasting reminder of all they've survived together.
Really fantastic work, Steff.
Author's Response: Thanks much! It took me seven years to finish this story, and I'm glad I could end it on the right note, nailing pretty much everything I wanted to. And thank you for reading it.
Date: 03 Jun 2009 21:28 Title: Part V: Across the Line - Chapter 4
Harsh, but ultimately fair. The most guilty got spanked hard, and Corry and Scotty came away with their careers intact, along with the same double-secret probation handed out by the board in Animal House.
Ultimately, both have learned vital life lessons that they might not have, or that may have come too late otherwise. Starfleet service is dangerous for almost countless reasons, and the times where you can see the danger coming are greatly outweighed by the ones where it lands squarely in your lap with no notice whatsoever. These two have had their crucible, and all pretense has been burned away.
Their official records may be bruised, but they're both stronger for the experience. And hey, Scotty got to be first at something after all...
Author's Response: I figured this was a good answer as to why such a diverse and talented officer as Scotty is would have only made it to Lieutenant Commander by the time he was forty-four. Namely speaking, a big strike on his record early on, and some occasional independent-thinker moves since then. Thanks much!
Date: 03 Jun 2009 21:25 Title: Part V: Across the Line - Chapter 3
Serves 'em right. To the plank with 'em, yaaaarrrrrrrhhhh!
That was fun. Given what's happened, and what's likely to happen in the aftermath, I think they needed a bit of cheer. Tough lessons have been learned, and I just know Starfleet is going to make this painful for everyone.
Author's Response: They most certainly did need that, yes. Thanks for the comment!
Date: 03 Jun 2009 20:23 Title: Part V: Across the Line - Chapter 2
That was terrific. A real old-fashioned ship boarding with war-whoops and dueling fists on deck. Once again Corry's there to save Scotty's bacon, and right in the nick of time, too.
Part of me wanted Corry to dash that idiot's brains in, but Scotty's right. It'd cost too much for the little it would gain. That was a brilliant moment between the two of them, a profound understanding achieved amidst the chaos of the surrounding fight.
These two have truly become brothers.
Author's Response: They have indeed. A far cry from the boy who was swinging on Jay McMillan in Junkyard Dogs. Thank you!
Date: 03 Jun 2009 20:07 Title: Part V: Across the Line - Chapter 1
Oh, hell yeah! A nighttime boarding operation to get those scoundrels. It occurs to me that something like this is what future Starfleet officers need. Facing real life and death decisions onboard these ships is much more telling than hours in a simulator trying to rescue the Kobayashi Maru.
Now, when they encounter danger in the final frontier, they'll have already tasted it and bested it at home first.
After all, the Klingons are not so forgiving as the North Atlantic.
The moments between Scotty and Corry were note perfect. That sudden realization that this is no longer a game was handled deftly and elegantly.
Author's Response: Thanks much! That kind of thing comes up again in the future. And yeah, I think this is probably much more telling than a simulator would be; crossing the line into a much tougher world, and knowing it.
Date: 03 Jun 2009 19:58 Title: Part IV: Zero Moment - Chapter 6
Wow. Just wow. That. Was. Intense.
Scotty's not the only one who was holding his breath.
Author's Response: It took me about six years to finish that chapter. I'm glad it was worth it!
Date: 03 Jun 2009 19:54 Title: Part IV: Zero Moment - Chapter 5
Gah! Holy shit! Scotty's in the thick of repairs and about to drown, and now we find out those bastards aboard the Queen Mary have been jeopardizing everyone's lives by jamming the comms! Bastards!
This is a white-knuckled page turner if ever there was one.
Author's Response: Thanks! :D
Date: 03 Jun 2009 19:33 Title: Part IV: Zero Moment - Chapter 4
"...hold her together, Scotty. However you can."
Damn, how perfect is that! Gave me friggin' chills.
As always, excellent descriptions of the storm, the people, and most of all, their emotional states. Their friends are in the shit, and Lady Grey is the only one who can help. What's a little flooding and balast issues between friends, right? ; )
Author's Response: ::bows:: Thank you much! And yeah, it's pretty intense stuff; I remember it being tense when I wrote it, too.
Date: 03 Jun 2009 19:19 Title: Part IV: Zero Moment - Chapter 3
Oh, yeah... this can't be good. Perfect Storm, anyone? Or maybe it's just my fatalistic streak. ;)
Author's Response: You'll see. ;-)
Date: 03 Jun 2009 18:54 Title: Part IV: Zero Moment - Chapter 2
This was a nice, laid back chapter. Just the cadets, the ship, the wind and the water. Oh, and the damnable bells, as Scotty points out.
That's what I love about this story. You'd never know this ship was sailing the seas of the 23rd century. Your descriptions are vivid and achingly precise, so much so that I feel I'm along for the ride.
Author's Response: Thanks much, Sam! I wanted to touch on something timeless, and I'm glad it felt that way.
Date: 03 Jun 2009 00:45 Title: Part IV: Zero Moment - Chapter 1
Beautiful visuals in that last part. I was looking out onto the horizon with them.
The Lady Grey's crew singing and upsetting dear Maggie was a hoot! Boy, if she thought that was bad, she's got another thing coming.
Scotty's got no sea legs! Who knew? It makes sense, though, being as he's a land-lubber. It'll be interesting to see if this translates into his needeing to get his space-legs later on, too.
Wonderful segment.
Author's Response: LOL! I figured Scott wouldn't be really good at sea, despite being able to build a ship. Sometime, when you get to the story Breathless, you can tell me if it carried over. Thanks for the comment!
Date: 02 Jun 2009 11:55 Title: Part III: Righting Arm - Chapter 6
Ooof! A 72? Really? After they busted their asses to get the girl back in form after being sabotaged? Barrett's a tough old codger, but his rationale holds water... and thankfully, so does the Lady Grey.
Scott's separation anxiety from the ship is palpable, but for better or worse, it's Corry's ship to command now. Learning to let go is one of those things an engineer just has to learn to do. Emotion and sentimentality have their place, but eventually, ships and people move on.
I can't wait for the thrashing to come as the Queen Mary gets her comeuppance.
Author's Response: Scotty built this one for someone else; much as it might ache a bit to give her up, he at least knows he's giving her up to someone who loves her. And yeah, I figured that realistically, Barrett wouldn't be able to go and give them a shining grade, much as I wish he could have. Thanks for the comments!
Date: 02 Jun 2009 11:49 Title: Part III: Righting Arm - Chapter 5
The gang puts the finishing touches on the Lady Gray as the light at the end of the tunnel grows nearer.
The firing practice with the cannon was just hysterical! Most especially their last minute dash to ditch the evidence and Corry's insistance that the situation was purely gastro-intestinal in nature.
Great stuff!
Author's Response: I had actually cut the whole cannon-firing scene for flow and length, but one of my betas told me to put it back in. I'm glad you got a laugh!
Date: 02 Jun 2009 11:47 Title: Part III: Righting Arm - Chapter 4
Holy crap! They're really going to do this? The plan is brilliant, and much deserved by those on the receiving end... but how can they come away with their careers intact?
And Scott comes to terms with surrendering 'his' ship to another. I suppose this is where he learned not to throttle Kirk for banging up his beloved ship so often.
Author's Response: LOL! Yeah, it's kinda crazy, isn't it? Career-destroying as it is.
Date: 02 Jun 2009 04:04 Title: Part III: Righting Arm - Chapter 3
Geez.
First Scott and Corry become the Starfleet Engineering Mafia with their rooftop shenanigans, then it's covert recon on the bad boys club. As if that weren't bad enough, the girl that Corry's been pining for for ages is deep in the conspiracy.
It's good to see the dynamic duo back in action together, though. I'd rather have then united against a common enemy that at each other's throats again.
I've got the feeling their revenge will be served cold. Very cold, indeed.
Author's Response: ::grins:: It was a lot of fun writing a pair of young guys like this. I was their age at the time, and now that I look back, I remember being young and daring and a bit hot-headed. It's a good feeling. Thank you!
Date: 01 Jun 2009 22:12 Title: Part III: Righting Arm - Chapter 2
** I'm picking up from where I'm reading my eBook edition of your story.
Well, it's good to have these two speaking to one another again. For someone as aloof as Scotty can be, he certainly wears his heart on his sleeve when it comes to some people. Granted, Corry brought it on himself, with his selfishness and inattention.
Now Scott has come to see the ship as more than the obligation that Corry's absence thrust upon him... it's become a living thing to him.
Here's hoping these kindred souls can keep from treading on one another and can restore the vessel in time to put her to sea.
Author's Response: I think they do a good job from here on out in being more careful with each other. Thanks much for the comment!
[Report This]Date: 22 Mar 2009 02:50 Title: Prologue: True North
You know by now what I think of ONOW.LOL
I tend to make emotional reviews, mainly about what I feel when I read a story, because I donīt believe I have the knowledge and experience to take a more technical approach. So, all I will say is this: when I finished the story, my day was a better one. Thanks for that.
V.
Author's Response: I very much appreciate you telling me, too. Thank you.
[Report This]Date: 09 Mar 2009 14:53 Title: Part I: Balancing Equations - Chapter 1
Whats very engaging about this kind of story, series if you will, is the introduction of characters we never saw in TOS. It makes you wonder about the fate of such a character.
And here you are doing a great job of creating a character in Corry that seems just as 'real' as Scotty ever did. And who, unlike scotty, we will not see in the future; I suppose.
And having lived three months in Maine, I can most assuredly agree that it is very COLD there!!!
Rob
Author's Response: Oh, I'd venture that Corry, at least, plays a pretty serious part. ;-) I've only been to Maine once (in fact, I went in part because of this story) and it was in September of last year. I loved it there.
Thanks for the comment!
Date: 24 Feb 2009 18:30 Title: Part I: Balancing Equations - Chapter 3
Still enjoying this on second go-around, not only for the insights into characters that I didn't catch the first time--but also for the more "realistic" world you create.
For instance...the fact that not all Starfleet Academy students are somehow expected to funnel through San Francisco, which seems like even on just EARTH alone would be a logistical nightmare, let alone the entire Federation.
I also like seeing that the cultures of various locations, to include Scotland and Maine, still have their indigenous cultures, so to speak--right down to the Corrigans saying grace at the family dinner table. And THAT in particular was a very brave choice, considering the frequent contempt towards Christianity shown by Roddenberry and a large number of Trek fans.
The final thing I notice is that you still have the credit acting as a true financial exchange medium. And that strikes me in a much more realistic way than the self-righteous stuff I saw in TNG later on.
Again, great work!
Author's Response: Sometimes I wonder if this is one of those books that's almost more fun to read the second time! And yeah, I've had a few discussions with friends about how my Academies are set up -- I couldn't fathom it all being in San Fran, either, even if that's seaside and would have served the main plot; Belfast has a strong historical connection to engineering and seemed more sane.
Really, no one's ever given me any grief as to the family saying grace. I remember wondering if they would, but it never happened. As I think it was you I said it to: I can't imagine a society that is truly all-inclusive barring Christianity.
And yeah, I don't like TNG's ideas either. Even if all the essentials of life are provided, I can't fathom any world where some currency isn't in place. It just doesn't make sense.
Thanks much for the comment!
[Report This]Date: 24 Feb 2009 00:55 Title: Prologue: True North
I spent a number of lunchtimes reading this. I look on that time fondly.I fell behind at TrekBBS on my fanfic reading because of this tale. Higher praise I cannot give.
Author's Response: Thank you very much!
Date: 22 Feb 2009 10:23 Title: Prologue: True North
You know, the love that I wish I could pour over ONOW is limitless. It's a heck of a thing to review though. See, telling you how brilliantly I believe you have captured Scotty would be about as presumptuos (or plain silly) as telling the Sun, 'I so like the way you send your rays down to Earth, I think you're doing it in exactly the right way and you've captured the procedure perfectly.' I don't believe you need to be told this, but it's still hard to check the impulse, because it's so, SO true.
More than *wicked* good characterization, you've created a whole new world in there. I know of many other attempts to make Starfleet Academy setting, both in canon, and in fiction. I have never come across a more defined, more fitting, more sensible way to do it. It echoes with the time it must have been there in the second quarter of the 23d century. In a way, it's reminiscent of the old Navy days, and it so rings true as well. But most importantly, this world of yours is so well-defined, the reader slips into it, like in their own skin, and feels immediately at home. Really, I was no stranger in those classes, quarters, even in Belfast. Not to mention South Bristol. ;-)
But the most amazing thing about this story is its unbelievable suitability for anyone who appreciates a very good read.
Doesn't matter if you're a Trek fan or not. Doesn't matter if you prefer TNG or VOY to TOS. Doesn't matter if you're not into sci-fi at all.
If you enjoy adventure, which might reveal certain things about yourself; character-driven storyline, with characters that are impossible not to immediately sympathyze with; a challenge to what's more important in life: Duty or bonds of friendship; if any of this stirs something within you -- cast out your doubts and read. It's as simple as that. And more rewarding than one can imagine.
Author's Response: Wicked, woman. But thank you very much. I don't know how you coulda possibly given me more to glow over than your original commentary on it, but then you went and did.
Date: 22 Feb 2009 08:44 Title: Prologue: True North
And who said an Academy centric show wouldn't work..I like this story because of the wealh of NEW characters (well, at least I don't recognize them..SO I may be wrong)...
And another thing I liked? You could have made everything uber modern, meaning computers instead of paper...but you kept "paper" in it, which gives the reader a better ability to be grasp the story. Makes it, oh, realistic and more grounded in our reality.
Great job!! now on to the next part..
Rob
Author's Response: LOL! Yeah, I'm not a huge fan of the notion that the 23rd century is some unrecognizable wonderland of perfection. And yes, almost everyone is new; there's the occasional cameo, but Scotty is the only serious canon character involved. Thanks for the comment!
Date: 22 Feb 2009 05:07 Title: Prologue: True North
I'm enjoying this even more on the second go-around than I did the first time! I won't spoil it for anybody else, but it's really interesting to read these characters again now that I really know them, and scour for bits that I missed the first time. That's the mark of a really good story for me--that the re-read is as good as or even better than the first time around.
(BTW...I had the experience of being the curve-killer that moved in from a different school for the senior year, and fortunately I was a LOT luckier! At least the former valedictorian was really nice!)
Author's Response: Thank you very much! It seems like an eternity ago when I wrote most of this story; I'm thrilled it's held up well. I was a curve-killer, but never made valedictorian. ::laughs:: Ended up skipping class too much my senior year. Still graduated pretty high up.