Date: 29 Jul 2013 04:04 Title: In a Class of Her Own
That was just great, Mike. It seems you and I liked the same scene. ;-)
I just find it amusing, or a bit of art imitating life, that the original name for the prototype space shuttle orbiter was to have been 'Constitution,' but was changed to 'Enterprise' thanks to a letter-writing campaign from Trek fans. How great is it that in this story, it's Robert April, one of the future captains of the Enterprise, who convinces Winslow that the NCC-1700 should be named Constitution, as she is the prototype for a new class of starships. This just really tickled my fancy, and made the story that much more enjoyable, and believable. Wonderful piece, weaving canon with your own ideas, with history, and with naval tradition. This worked on so many levels. :D
Date: 29 Jul 2013 03:48 Title: His Friendship in April
I loved this chapter! The exchange between April and Winslow was spot-on and so in character. I truly believe that since man first ventured onto the seas in wooden sailing ships there were individuals tailor-made for that lifestyle. Hearing Winslow voice the opinion that he felt more at home on a ship rather than on Earth reinforced that idea.
In addition to that, I like the nods to TOS canon about how and why names were chosen for each of the starships. I'm a former navy reservist and other than the first ship being named for that specific class, I'm not sure how the other names are chosen. Some, of course, were protocol - WWII battleships were named for states, present-day CVNs are named for presidents, but I like to think that captains would have some say in choosing the name for their vessel (if not already named, of course). It would give them a vested interest in making the ship and crew excel - not that they wouldn't have one already, but this could ceertainly add another layer to that.
Did I mention already how much I'm liking this? ;-)
Date: 29 Jul 2013 03:29 Title: Reaching Down With All Your Strength
Wow! Talk about pulling rank - so to speak. ;-)
I must admit after hearing Winslow's short, impassioned speech, I was kinda pulling for him. Nice nods to Decker and April.
I've not seen ENT, so not sure how much of this is canon or simply you filling in the gaps, but it works nonetheless. A nice look at how it all started.
Date: 29 Jul 2013 03:02 Title: In Focus
This is a great start, Mike for exploring how and why the Constitution-class starship came into being. The interview style of this piece works very well - a chance to impart information propmted by answers to questions posed by the interviewer.
Your attention to detail with regard to naval tradition is stunning - kudos on that! There are readers for whom these traditions and rules might not be commom knowledge, and this is a clever way to provide them with that information without this reading like a textbook. ;-)
It's always a good thing when a story is fun to read and teaches us something to boot. You've succeeded very well on both fronts! :D
Date: 20 Jul 2013 02:47 Title: In a Class of Her Own
Nice big speech. Of course there's the trip of doing something a little too earth/human centric in these things and even more so American based with historical parallels etc, as it is also the setting most relatable to a larger percentage of the readership. That said, the tone of the speech was about exploration and peace and Winslow also sets the bar on the names of the ships and the message they carry going forward as well. That was effective and very good.
Date: 20 Jul 2013 02:43 Title: His Friendship in April
Off to the stars it is. I like the reaching out to canon and making nods to it (although maybe a tad heavy in the usage) but it goes a long way to explain some things and nods are usually always appreciated by the fans. And of course, in a way there is a little fanfic author nodding ehre too what with the primacy being placed on the naming of the ships! LOL! We all would like a ship name with some appeal or other - dangerous, venerable, historical, prestige, kewl! Neat to see the new captains playing at the game too.
Date: 20 Jul 2013 02:38 Title: Reaching Down With All Your Strength
That's a little ... a little underhanded of Winslow (does he have a latter descendent who works in security) but he is up for the command and the tenacity he shows and the lengths to push for it maybe demonstrate some of the qualities about the man that might make him a great Captain. Or indeed traits that might not make him an ideal choice. Time will see.
Date: 20 Jul 2013 02:28 Title: In Focus
A very interesting history lesson here (and some naval tradition for good measure too Mike - you always have that coolouring and flavouring to proceedings and it really does enrich a story by its inclusion). Interesting way to explore the concept of Starship and indeed COnstitution class and explain away some of the inconsistencies that occurred in canon to do with naiming and space agencies in charge. One imagines such a large force as Starfleet would indeed be the subject of much discussion and debate and it is interesting to read a segment on it.
Date: 20 Jul 2013 01:56 Title: In Focus
Interesting bit of PR for the Constitution class, be interesting to see where it goes. in later chapters.
Date: 15 Jul 2013 22:05 Title: In a Class of Her Own
Good to see the ship get its proper sendoff, particularly as the NX-01 went out in such a rush. It works to see peacetime pomp and circumstance, and speeches about exploration and history, in the dedication of a new ship. Cliff also does not have anyone to say good-bye to, or who will truly worry about him back home, and that's a little sad. And so the Constitution goes out with a great deal of promise, but it might be a tad personally bittersweet for the Commodore.
But out they go, just the same.
Well done.
Date: 15 Jul 2013 21:58 Title: His Friendship in April
Great shoutout to Sarah, too.
And Bob's probably right, that he is not alone, so he will likely have an easier time of it on Earth. It's only supposed to be a year, so he should be able to do it, particularly if he feels as if there's a light at the end of the tunnel and he won't just be stuck at HQ for the remainder of his career. For Cliff, though, it was different, as he had his own anti-social loneliness going on, on top of probably not really knowing if or when he would be able to return to the kind of job that he so obviously loved.
Date: 15 Jul 2013 21:52 Title: Reaching Down With All Your Strength
Wheeling and dealing haven't been made obsolete, I see. Fascinating to look at the post-ENT/pre-TOS and TAS era so closely.
The shoutouts to the old, familiar names are very satisfying - Decker, April and Pike, of course.
Date: 15 Jul 2013 21:44 Title: In Focus
Her questions about armaments are a bit naive. After all, even the most ardent pacifist should realize that sometimes killer asteroids come barreling down on colonies. Shouldn't ships have the means of blowing them out of the sky, or at least altering their trajectories?
Author's Response:
Having worked in journalism professionally, I can say with certainty that Polly's naivete was not unintentional. I think of Polly as a descendant to the vapid morning shows we see on television now. Her questions were likely pre-written, but I'm sure there were times when her own curiosity or lack of experience exposed itself with her questions. It's fairly common, so I extrapolated for a few hundred years. :) In truth, her character is more fluff trying to be hard-hitting and failing. Such is the woe that is her mediocre career.
Date: 23 Mar 2009 12:22 Title: In a Class of Her Own
Enchanting! That's the word for this one, definitely. ::huge grin:: I love this era, and your scrupulous attention to detail is marvelous. You know, it really is uncanny that with so little words, mostly in dialogue, you paint such a full picture of an *epoch*. And what an epoch, too.
Winslow is a darling, and I also liked your characterization of James Komack very much. It was great to see Robert April, too, he came up as very lively and engaging. I also loved the way you handled Winslow's fight to get 'back on horse'. It's never easy to ask, particularly when you know that those to whom you appeal are not exactly willing to grant your request. Takes a lot of integrity to do that.
All the referrences to the old Navy were balm to my heart, as I'm such a sucker for those stories and times. I had to laugh at the reporter's confusion over rank and title, and I must say, Winslow found a nice and short way of explaining things.
I might have a minor suggestion, maybe. Somehow, addressing a senior admiral as 'Misha' doesn't feel quite right when used in official capacity. I'm likely the only person who cares, but to me it sounds overly familiar. You say 'James Komack' after all, when introducing him, only later going to Jim. Perhaps Mikhail would have been more in place that first time than Misha. Just a minor note.
It was a fascinating look over one very curious period of Starfleet history and I'm very grateful you wrote it! Thank you for sharing.
Author's Response:
I /almost/ started a series centered around Winslow. But, I decided that I wanted to write the next Quarterdeck story. :) I also love old Naval tales, myself, so I try to incorporate them into my storytelling, as I see Starfleet as a successor to those times.
Thanks so much for reading. :)
-- MDg
Date: 24 Feb 2009 18:23 Title: In a Class of Her Own
The USS Constitution's predecessor lies manned and ready by historians in Charleston Harbor in North America.
It's still Charlestown. I only know this because I made the same mistake and someone else pointed it out to me. ;-)
[Report This]Date: 24 Feb 2009 01:17 Title: In a Class of Her Own
I loved this story. One, because I'm an admitted TOS-devotee, but also because so far, you're one of the only other people I've seen who writes around the same 'era' as I do -- though, admittedly, the puppy engineer who will someday be dubbed a miracle worker doesn't get to do much more than paint on the Enterprise's hull-markings.
Winslow was a wonderfully sympathetic character, and I was really thrilled with the historical aspects of him as well as the eye for the future. A ship-handler indeed! I loved seeing Captain April, and really just enjoyed that conversation as well as all the ones throughout.
One correction: It's Charlestown where the original Constitution is docked, with the 'w'. There are also a couple minor typos here and there; 'favor' in your author notes at the end, for one.
But really, what an endearing, wonderful tale. Thank you for writing it!
Author's Response:
I fixed the favor, but I couldn't remember where I talked about Charlestown. :)
Thanks for reading and the rating :)
-- MDg