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Reviewer: Robert Bruce Scott Signed Liked [Report This]
Date: 02 Jul 2023 11:56 Title: Mirror, Mirror

I was wondering what this was - apparently a draft or a sketch drawn from the Sphere Builders episode. 

I'm a big fan of ultrashorts. It looks like this is something you had either in your mind or on a sketch-pad for the previous l'm glad you spun it off into its own thread. It would have interrupted the flow of the story, but it's a nice piece for a read.

Thanks!! rbs

Reviewer: Robert Bruce Scott Signed Liked [Report This]
Date: 02 Jul 2023 11:52 Title: The Event of the Season

And a nice epilogue for what could be a great standalone story or part of a series of interrelated stories - either with Trujillo or involving captains from several different eras of the Federation. You could follow a time agent hopping through eras chasing the Sphere Builders...

Thanks!! rbs

Reviewer: Robert Bruce Scott Signed Liked [Report This]
Date: 02 Jul 2023 11:48 Title: The Event of the Season

Trujillo snorted. “Can I have a patch? I presume there’s a patch.”

Of course there's a patch. Once you attach it to your epaulet, it folds spacetime around itself and becomes effectively cloaked...

I love the spacetime paradox angle - future antagonists wil be reviewing current fleet movements... I also like the character of the Shpere Busters - fairly open for temporal agents.

Thanks!! rbs

Reviewer: Robert Bruce Scott Signed Liked [Report This]
Date: 02 Jul 2023 11:38 Title: The Event of the Season

As always, Glal is a breath of fresh air. I particularly liked Saavik in this scene when she drops the mask a little and explains squadron level command. 

Really great character arc and development for Trujillo with Saavik in an unanticipated mentoring role.

Thanks!! rbs

Reviewer: Robert Bruce Scott Signed Liked [Report This]
Date: 17 Jun 2023 21:45 Title: The Event of the Season

I'm appreciating the sentiment SF officers are offering to a biologically very different antagno. Really good action sequence and a great excuse to use the word "discombobulate" - which should be celebrated whenever it arises.

Thanks!! rbs

Reviewer: Robert Bruce Scott Signed Liked [Report This]
Date: 17 Jun 2023 21:26 Title: The Event of the Season

I suppose I should get on with commenting on these archived stories before this part of AA becomes frozen. This is one of those transitional scenes, laying down the theory for the attack to come. 

Nice character moment for Garrett in her hesitancy to speak out of turn.

Thanks!! rbs

Reviewer: Robert Bruce Scott Signed Liked [Report This]
Date: 11 Jun 2023 01:20 Title: The Event of the Season

I really appeciate the call-back to a controversial story line for the STE series, which was actually my favorite and partcularly because of the expanse stories that allowed Scott Bakula to go where no franchise lead had gone before - seriously dark. 

Of course the focus on Glal in this installment makes it one of my favorites in either this or the Gibraltar series. Really well done humor and character highlights. I just caught the reference to "thumbs-up" being Glal's 2nd favorite of human gestures. I could just imagine him at the apex of a desperate battle giving the other with both hands and a throaty invective.

Superb action installment - Thanks!! rbs

Reviewer: Robert Bruce Scott Signed Liked [Report This]
Date: 04 Jun 2023 20:17 Title: The Event of the Season

I really enjoy the in-depth exploration of the Marshall/Trujillo relationship and getting inside Marshall's head via D'Vorr.

Command level officers, of a necessity, have big egos and ambitions. They're going to spark on occasion. It's also an interesting reflection on Saavik that no one seems to completely trust her. It almost certainly has to be a dynamic Saavik is aware of and may actually cultivate in order to keep her officers on their toes.

Thanks!! rbs



Author's Response:

Thank you for the review! Yes, Saavik is an interesting sort, one who plays Starfleet Command's political game deftly, as Markopoulos discovered to his detriment.

Reviewer: Robert Bruce Scott Signed Liked [Report This]
Date: 26 May 2023 22:09 Title: The Event of the Season

Really superb technobabble in this scene - particularly from the (very interesting to begin with) chief engineer. The discussion about subspace is very well conceived.

I also like the political maneuvering between Trujillo and Marshall. Big egos carefully negotiating around each other. Interesitng that Marshall is put off by Trujillo's determination to hear the other captains out - particularly as he is requiring her to hear him out...

Great closing line.. Thanks!! rbs

Reviewer: Robert Bruce Scott Signed Liked [Report This]
Date: 23 May 2023 00:03 Title: The Event of the Season

Every line from Glal is dripping with his enormous personality - easily my favorite of your characters (and probably a fan favorite among your other readers as well.) Not sure if you intended the Hierynmus Bosch reference, but I read it as deliberate.

Glal alone is more than enough reason for a second reading. But I really appreciate the continuation of a very highly criticized STE storyline - one that I liked because it really gave rise to "dark Archer," which allowed Bakula to really stretch and strut a little.

Thanks!! rbs

Reviewer: Robert Bruce Scott Signed Liked [Report This]
Date: 21 May 2023 10:27 Title: The Event of the Season

On second read, I'm enjoying the writing of Helvia more, particularly the metaphoric descriptions. Also appreciating that Trujillo, instead of giving orders to Marshall, asks what his plan is.

Thanks!! rbs

Reviewer: Robert Bruce Scott Signed Liked [Report This]
Date: 16 May 2023 01:34 Title: The Event of the Season

I think I picked up on Helvia coming from the planet of the Romans from the original series on my first read through - even before the reference to the children of the sun. Interesitng character design. 

I recall really liking the careful dance between Trujillo and Marshall. As I recall, Marshall was a character you borrowed from anther UT writer?

Thanks!! rbs

Reviewer: Robert Bruce Scott Signed Liked [Report This]
Date: 13 May 2023 15:04 Title: The Event of the Season

“Well, it wouldn’t be your wedding if it didn’t spark a shooting war, would it?”

Great line. I think I mentioned before that line reminds me of GOT: It's not a Dothraki wedding until at least one dead body hits the floor... Really liking the world-building with the description of the CCC. Also enjoying Saavik's rather imperial entrance.

Of course Glal's recall to duty is accompanied by the tremendous depth of personality you've given that character. 

The list of ships is both useful and amusing - particualrly the Niels Bohr and having an Okinawa-class ship named after a city in Okinawa.

Thanks!! rbs

Reviewer: Robert Bruce Scott Signed Liked [Report This]
Date: 06 May 2023 02:15 Title: The Event of the Season

Really a nice contrast between Trujillo's newfound ability to show feelings and Garrett's inability to deal with hers. It's surprising what jumps out on a second read - particularly Glal's tchotchkes and the ruminations it leads to.

Thanks!! rbs

Reviewer: Robert Bruce Scott Signed Liked [Report This]
Date: 04 May 2023 04:08 Title: The Event of the Season

I appreciate the racial details about Davula's striping (or lack thereof) as well as the details about her ridge. There is a story about the original series makeup artists and producers panicking because there was an inconsistency in the makeup applied to a few klingons, resulting in color variations and other details. They couldn't afford to change it, so they ran with it and hoped no one would notice. Of course the fans did notice and inundated the producers with letters praising them for creating racial variations within the klingon population.

Second rise out of "Yes sir, Nandi, sir..." fun gag. And a few fun details that kind of slid by me the last time - the Montgomery Scott Award for miracles and Davula's harrowing journey connected a bit more this time.

Thanks!! rbs



Author's Response:

I'm glad you're discovering new aspects of the story upon your second reading! Thanks for giving it another look.

Reviewer: Robert Bruce Scott Signed Liked [Report This]
Date: 03 May 2023 01:52 Title: The Event of the Season

Just caught the reference to adjusting the warp scale - which I've found is a common reason given for Captain Picard's casual order to take the U.S.S. Pasteur to Warp 13 in the final episode of STNG. 

Having Trujillo getting married humanizes her. Also interesting that she identifies herself as a soldier - restless in times of peace. 

Thanks!! rbs

Reviewer: Robert Bruce Scott Signed Liked [Report This]
Date: 29 Apr 2023 05:14 Title: An Idiot's Guide to Gunboat Diplomacy

And a great little epilogue. Of course marraige among SF officers is bound to be problematic. Interesting little regulation. I also enjoyed the cencept of the rapid response force. Dolphin ends up caught up in something similar in STH.

Thanks!! rbs

Reviewer: Robert Bruce Scott Signed Liked [Report This]
Date: 29 Apr 2023 05:02 Title: An Idiot's Guide to Gunboat Diplomacy

Kang is delightful in his testing of Trujillo - and final aquiescence. I was quite disappointed that it was not the real K'mpec, but hopefully a good enough read of the man's personality.

Verad was quite enjoyable as well: Verad drew his disruptor from its holster and held it aloft. “These are the actions of a soldier under orders. What do I care for an outworlder’s opinion of Klingon honor?” 

As enjoyable on the second read as on the first. Thanks!! rbs



Author's Response:

Thank you very much for the re-read and the commentary! It's greatly appreciated.

Reviewer: Robert Bruce Scott Signed Liked [Report This]
Date: 26 Apr 2023 02:43 Title: An Idiot's Guide to Gunboat Diplomacy

More K'mpec, please... I know, I know - but I'm still really enjoying this guy. Every interaction drips with charm. This is a really good tactical entry and a study in writing action sequences that are more suspense than action. Very satisfying.

Thanks!! rbs

Reviewer: SLWalker Signed [Report This]
Date: 23 Apr 2023 22:28 Title: Mirror, Mirror

Ooof. That one's a kick in the teeth, whew. A whole lot of bodies and ghosts on her conscience there; no wonder looking in the mirror is so hard. Well done!

Author's Response:

Thank you for your review!

Reviewer: Robert Bruce Scott Signed Liked [Report This]
Date: 23 Apr 2023 21:38 Title: An Idiot's Guide to Gunboat Diplomacy

Oh yeah, I totally LOVE this version of K'mpec - very much a chancellor in the making and worthy of the title. Puts his version known by Picard into sharp highlight - a man who has accomplished his murders and vanquished his enemies.

And loving Trujillo's responses to KOC - as it evolves from "We will comply" to "Fuck them" to "Don't screw with us..."

A particularly delightful installment and one of my UT favorites.

Thanks!! rbs

Reviewer: Robert Bruce Scott Signed Liked [Report This]
Date: 21 Apr 2023 18:58 Title: An Idiot's Guide to Gunboat Diplomacy

A much more sombre installment. I recall liking both Trujillo's reaction to Glal and especially her need to remind her bridge crew of the priorities in the mission. Revenge and reaction might be appreciated by klingons, but they're not strategically usefully and provide tactical advantage only by accident.

This provides really good character development for Glal - which is appreciated. A detail I didn't catch the first time around was the Catian equivalent of a nod - little details that help sell the sense of an alien species well known enough for such reactions to be recognized. 

Thanks!! rbs

Reviewer: Robert Bruce Scott Signed Liked [Report This]
Date: 19 Apr 2023 04:35 Title: An Idiot's Guide to Gunboat Diplomacy

There's so much to enjy in this installment, from the growing bromance between Trujillo and Kang to Markopolous' machintions. But the standout is Glal with the customs official. The tellarite takes care of business admirably and seems to instincively know how and when to push K'deel's buttons. And with the precisely correct amount of force.

I know he gets reprimanded for it, but in the moment, all of his actions scan as correct to the task at hand.

Thanks!! rbs

Reviewer: Robert Bruce Scott Signed Liked [Report This]
Date: 17 Apr 2023 00:13 Title: An Idiot's Guide to Gunboat Diplomacy

Really enjoying Glal waxing philosophical about the depth of the Klingon honor culture. Also just caught the irony of the gunboat diplomacy with the klingons (who started out as swarthy Russians, but were later transformed into bumpy-headed vikings) being conducted by a gunboat with a viking name.

Also quite enjoying the natural understanding between Trujillo and Kang - almost a bromance. Amusing to see Glal catching on. Especially since it doesn't appear to be any sort of affectation on Trujillo's part. That's just who she is.

 

Thanks!! rbs

Reviewer: Robert Bruce Scott Signed Liked [Report This]
Date: 15 Apr 2023 20:36 Title: An Idiot's Guide to Gunboat Diplomacy

I just absolutely love Trujillo's hero-worship of Kang, which adds to her ability to go toe-to-toe with him in this meeting. They're both smooth-pated klingons...

btw, in STH Episode 27 I offer an explanation of why Kang, Kor and Koloth, originally smooth pated, showed up with ridges in DS9 later in their lives. 

“Right now, he’s undoubtedly saying, ‘oh shit, it’s Nandi Trujillo!’” - Totally love this!

I don't do a re-read of many fanfics - this one definitely calls for a re-read. 

Thanks!! rbs



Author's Response:

Thank you for the kind words and for giving this tale a second read. I'm pleased you're enjoying reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it!

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