Date: 07 Dec 2013 08:34 Title: Program Duke-Seven
I really liked seeing how Randy managed to find his feet. And he stuck with his own crew, too! Which I think speaks well of him, and frankly, I think that it will do a lot for his ability to lead them through the rest of this. Or, at least, I hope it does. A terrific little story.
Date: 07 Dec 2013 08:25 Title: Considering All Your Options
Dominic is a darling here. Charismatic and genuinely helpful, all at once. I pretty sort of love how he goes and talks to Randy and tries to bolster his confidence some, especially by appealing to what it is that he's good at and pointing how just how relevant it is to what he thinks he isn't.
Date: 07 Dec 2013 08:18 Title: The Reluctant Captain
Oh, man. Leanne got spanked. Mind, I kind of knew that was going to happen, because no matter how you feel, taking over command like that without so much as requesting permission (which is its own can of worms) is just not kosher. But even so, it was kind of delightful to read her getting a smack down. Regardless of how she feels about his command abilities, she was in the wrong -- further, though, who knew how good or bad he did the first time around? This is the fifth, of course she can program the computer to do what she wants it to. But in real life, there aren't any do-overs.
Well played so far. Let's see where this goes.
Date: 23 Mar 2009 10:55 Title: Program Duke-Seven
Well, I'm glad I was tempted into reading after finishing the Agamemnon. ::grins:: Kobayashi Maru is probably one of the damnest tests ever created, I'm not surprised it has such a long life in Starfleet. And you've written a perfect thriller with it, which wasn't an easy task considering the number of addresses to this subject in fiction and fanfiction. Had me on the edge of my chair, that's for sure. ;-)
I'm intrigued by the characters, however. I understand that I'm only at the beginning of exploring this universe and there is a great number of things I do not know as yet. My point is, I might be making a silly sort of remarks due to the lack of information. Which is why I am only speaking from the point where I stand now, having read two stories.
I was somewhat... annoyed with Cadet Duke. ::grins:: While I understand that his instructors were privy to the data on him I don't have, it still seemed to me that he was some sort of a favored boy. The way del Toro treated him, obviously, had a lot to do with that. See, in my view, she was most certainly right to reprimand Leanne for forgetting the primary function of an XO and her duty, however, there can be no denying that it was Duke's action or rather inaction that allowed her to form her little league in the first place. She obviously wasn't a power-crazed maniac who planned it from the start. He had taken his crew through four simulations, and had them frustrated enough to be eager (!) to jump at the chance of relieving him. In my view, he ought to have accepted some responsibility for leading them to that brink. I'm far from condoning the gang, but I think Cadet Duke had not been a mere victim of mutiny, but a part of it as well, however inadvertently. That's the way it read to me, anyway.
I was, I admit, kinda sympathetic towards Leanne at the beginning, even though I *knew* she would get a huge slap on the wrist. There is hardly anything more frustrating than being forced to watch incorrect actions or inaction and not being in a position to change that. So while she clearly deserved her lesson, her behavior was understandable, as well as her superior's choice to place her in the XO position. Obviously, they wanted her to get that message. Her behavior later felt somewhat... unnatural to me, when she was acting a pure bitch back in the simulator. I might not be a very nice person, I know, but I confess that when he snapped at her, what was going through my mind was this: 'Okay, and where was that little speech of yours earlier? Why did it take people threatened to be expelled to make you come to your senses?' So while it's still very nice that he's putting himself in the shoes of those captains of the past when writing papers in class, it's the actions that are actually telling. You say he's got great potential and as you're the author I believe you. I'm eager to see how his potential is going to unfold and his confidence to develop. Because at this point, nothing short for divine premonition would have convinced me that he belongs in Command.
I was thrilled and a little amused of course to see such an exotic Bridge crew in action, as Duke created for his simulation. :-D
This story is so exceptionally well written that it makes the readers think, developong their own sympathies and attitudes. While they might not always match the intended, I insist that it is a tribute to your writing that many different interpretations might arise from it and would all fit the picture. It is rare that the story makes me so emotionally involved that I want to sort things straight like that after I'm done reading. Thank you for this thoroughly enjoyable piece, and I hope you will not hold a grudge against me after all this rambling. The perception speaks more of a reader than it does of an author, so if I got you all wrong, it's because I am who I am. ;-)
Thank you for the story.
Author's Response:
I think it's always fascinating to read the different interpretations on my stories. :) In this series, the premise is to examine the different philosophies of command. As I stated within the Author's Notes of the story, I wanted to step toward a less experienced person after writing about Hank and his veteran outlook on command. In Randy's case, I attempted to write a character out of his depth and lacking the usual self-confidence we see in Starfleet officers. That timidity and less-than-inspiring ability would lead to others losing respect for him and therefore it would be an easy step to assume that they would subsequently hold him in contempt.
Leanne's reaction near the end of the story is that ultimate level of contempt when it turns into open hostility. For now, we have a cadet who is not only hostile to the idea of having this guy be her commanding officer within the simulator, but because she stepped up when it was necessary, she's being punished for trying to save her ship? You can bet she'll be an open bitch to him, now more than before. Suffering through a mock court-martial means a lot of time spent not studying and a lot of time at Starfleet Law while cadets kibitz her mistakes over and over again. That's enough to send most people over the edge, wouldn't it? :)
I had intended to write a sequel for this story, involving Lieutenant Leone and Lieutenant Duke (for the E-story), but I could never get my head around the premise/plot for that kind of story and in my mind, I think it's best left open to the reader to determine whether or not he actually succeeds in leadership.
Thanks for reading, and I'm glad you enjoyed the story!
-- MDg