Date: 03 Mar 2015 06:13 Title: Part IV: The Improbable Alliance: 2
Going into combat on the orders of someone you loathe is bad enough, but for Star to have Katanga sitting on the bridge doing his best judgemental Yoda impression... damn.
And the pirates certainly packed a punch for a supposedly disorganized band of outlaws. Anyone who can bloody the nose of a Nebula-class starship is not to be trifled with, and where the hell are pirates getting their hands on Federation quantum torpedoes?
The fact that the Valerians are the pirates (or at least counted among their number), suggests that the drama unfolding on Valeria is bigger in scope than I'd have guessed.
Date: 03 Mar 2015 06:05 Title: Part IV: The Improbable Alliance: 1
Mahoney continues to leave a bad taste in my mouth, and his attempt to sway Leva to his side makes him all the more slimey.
And now West's been thrown into the mix, directly in the path of someone who knows where most of Star's skeletons are buried.
I'm having a hard time seeing a way for Star to come out of this hot mess with her career intact.
Author's Response: Yeah, looks like everyone is gunning for our favorite Trill here, don't it? The odds are certainly not in her favor.
Date: 03 Mar 2015 06:02 Title: Part IV: The Improbable Alliance: 5
Good Lord, where to begin?!
Owens and party are actually forced to decide between remaining imprisoned by Lam, or joining an insurgency, a choice that’s going against all the captain’s training and intuition. Still, Lam hasn’t given them much choice in the matter, as it seems the good general has gone quite off the proverbial reservation.
The fact that Owens is considering acts of sabotage against the Marines is testament to how awful, sordid, and complex this whole mess has become in such a short span of time.
Oh, and fleeing through the sewers? I loved how Owens was reflecting that such an avenue of escape always seemed so much more palatable in fiction! There’s no doubt the Starfleet diplomatic team is in the shit… now literally!
Author's Response: Owens is out of his comfort zone here, which makes this very interesting, I think. Its unlike any situation he's ever faced before. We'll have to see how far he's truly willing to go to stop Lam.
Date: 03 Mar 2015 06:01 Title: Part IV: The Improbable Alliance: 4
Star vs. Mahoney… dear god I want that man to die, but slowly. He’s about as warped as any character we’ve seen in Starfleet in the UT universe. He lives solely to inflict pain and suffering on others, giving his actual Starfleet duties short shrift. Now that we’ve discovered what a monster he truly is, and how far he’s willing to go to exact vengeance on Star, I pity Leva all the more. It’s likely he’s the one who’s going to have to intercede to stop Mahoney and Star from murdering one another.
Author's Response: Leva is in an unenviable position alright. Stuck between two command officers literally at their throats. But hey, the man wanted a challenge, right? I think he got what he asked for.
Date: 17 Feb 2015 11:11 Title: Part IV: The Improbable Alliance: 3
Wasco is really facing a terrible dilemma but Sharval has solved it quickly for him. No consciousness, no dilemmas. I really like her approach. Owens has underestimated Lam’s madness and the degree of blind faith and fanatic loyalty he can inspire in his men.
Unfortunately, Yoral is right – while the Federation was at war people like Lam weren’t considered a problem and were even encouraged to develop this type of thinking but now when the salvos are replaced with slimy diplomatic moves they are suddenly viewed as a problem. So Lam has not become what he is for overnight and all by himself.
Author's Response: Yeah, Lam had a pretty free reign over the last two years on Valeria, and you could argue that it was probably a necessity to achieve, if not success, at least manage to keep the Cardassians at bay. He has sacrificed a lot, as have his men, that he cannot see that things have changed.
Date: 14 Feb 2015 15:10 Title: Part IV: The Improbable Alliance: 2
Well, the pirates proved their mettle even against a powerful ship like “Eagle.” I guess Star underestimated their tactics and armament. She was eager to have the job done and to quit her imposed mission with Mahoney. Unfortunately, she was not sure how exactly to accomplish it. Katanga tries to bridle her and make her think and analyze. I really enjoyed how she sacred the shit out of the Valerian pirate, one should never take people for granted and appearances can be deceiving. But still, they are pretty vulnerable with this destroyed nacelle. Great chapter, I really liked the battle of wills between Katanga and Taz.
Author's Response: I shudder to think what Star would be like here without having Katanga at her side to remind her of the right path. Taz's problem has always been that she has the right intentions, it's her methods that tend to get her into trouble.
Date: 09 Feb 2015 13:13 Title: Part IV: The Improbable Alliance: 2
I've a sinking feeling that it's more than just coincidence that Valerians are all the way out here causing trouble. This has to be connected to what's happening on their homeworld.
Star's willingness to bend the rules and take unnecessary risks in order to complete Mahoney's mission as quickly as possible has turned out to be problematic. The enemy is tougher and more wily than she gave them credit for, and Eagle has suffered damage as a result.
Fortunately, she's got Dr. Katanga nipping at her heals, keeping her on the right side of the tightrope she's walking. The trick will be if he can keep her there.
Author's Response: You're right, Star is on a mission, not unlike Mahoney. Except hers is all about getting the job done as quickly as possible. It doesn't help that she doesn't believe in the job in the first place, she just wants to get it over with. This attitude could backfire on her.
Date: 02 Feb 2015 02:09 Title: Part IV: The Improbable Alliance: 1
Leva has to express his Romulan dark side more often. People like West and Mahoney can use a dose of Romulan ruthlessness. He is deadly sure that there is some dirty personal vendetta behind Mahoney’s noble plans to do away with the pirates in this sector. Mahoney calls on his loyalty, but the more he tries to pour honey in Leva’s ears, the more suspicious the whole exercise looks like.
Author's Response: I think Leva maybe a bit concerned about letting the monster loose ... once out you never know if you can put it back in place.
[Report This]Date: 27 Jan 2015 11:20 Title: Part I - The Elusive Peace: 2
Poor Star :( I can't imagine what battling a huge drawback while you're fighting a war is like, but given that she's muscling through then she's got a lot of character. This is a great exchange between her and Elijah, who obviously has a shared history with her symbiont (which btw, interesting name for a symbiont... I'm guessing Star means something else in the Trill language). I loved the line, "At that pace I’ll be cured of this cursed thing by the time they dig my grave," which shows her frustration with her ordeal and coming up quick on a complete run of her patience before she bursts. Thankfully, Elijah puts her under to give her a little rest. Sounds like she's going to need it.
Author's Response: Star is having a hard life ... some of that is not entirely undeserved, considering the choices she has made in her past. As for her name, I always figured that with so many races and languages in the galaxy, there are bound to be many similar words with different meanings, as is the case with Star. That and its a nice play on the name of the series.
[Report This]Date: 27 Jan 2015 11:16 Title: Part I - The Elusive Peace: 1
Great scene, here, with the end of the war being acted out aboard Eagle. My favorite part is through the mix of emotions between the various personnel that are in the lounge listening to the news from Owens, there's Atticus West standing in the middle of it all trying to look for the angle on his story. I would think that even the hardest-boiled reporters would've reacted to the news with some kind of outward emotion, but not this guy. The people he calls "heroes" are celebrating and/or crying, but he's all pro. Damn.
I'm really curious to see where you take this character in later chapters, because I'll bet that his embedded status won't end just because the war is over.
Author's Response: West is a tough nut, no doubt. But I also think that many civilians, especially those far removed from the front lines, certainly before the fall of Betazed and the attack on Earth, had a very different perspective on the war and the cost it was having on Starfleet. There is relief of course, that it is over, but they weren't the ones dying by the shiploads during its darkest days.
[Report This]Date: 27 Jan 2015 11:10 Title: Prologue
A good tense action scene to begin the story with a visceral description of war with the Dominion just a couple of days prior to the end. I enjoyed Arik as an interesting choice for a marine Gunnery Sergeant.
My only gripe is that he keeps having to remind the marines that they never leave anyone behind. That's drilled into you at boot camp! :) And really surprised not a single one of them uttered the ubiquitous phrase, "Semper Fi," which usually gets the "oorah!"
All in all, it was a good fast paced action scene and I'm turning the page to read more in chapter one.
PS: I hope you don't mind, but I replaced all the � for ellipses for you. Also, the dashes were inserted where they needed to go.
Author's Response: Thanks for the review. And you are right Arik is an odd choice for a Marine. He has actually made a previous appearance in Star Eagle and for those who might recall him from that appearance, he's likely almost unrecognizable here. I decided not to go with the Semper Fi motto as I didn't want these Marines to seem too much like the USMC. Of course some parallels are undeniable. Oh and thanks for replacing the artifacts. I thought I had caught them all.
Date: 26 Jan 2015 17:29 Title: Part III - The Olive Branch: 10
Wow, the General is absolutely and incurably nutty. I don’t know whether it is a PTSD acquired during his rough stay on Valeria or he has always been like that but he certainly has lost any sense of proportion. Unfortunately, his Marines support him and believe every word he says.
If a contingent of 50, 000 tired, shell-shocked Cardassian soldiers was enough to take over and control a warp-capable civilization with well-developed interstellar relations, I would carry out an Annexation every year. Cardassia paid a heavy price for the Bajoran “free†resources.
Author's Response: I agree that Lam has lost perspective here. But I wouldn't necessarily disregard what kind of damage 50,000 battle hardened soldiers could do to a planet which doesn't have much of a military to speak of. Regardless, you are right, this is not Bajor and Lam either doesn't realize this or refuses to accept that fact.
Date: 18 Jan 2015 17:26 Title: Part III - The Olive Branch: 8
I don’t think that Mahoney has the right to draft a large vessel like Eagle, interfering into her captain’s plans so bluntly, by claiming emergency just like that without going through the channels. So Nora probably expects that Taz is going to refuse to follow Mahoney on that mission and stick to Captain Owens’ orders. Of course, she does not suspect how difficult this is for Taz.
Leva is trying hard to be loyal to Mahoney but I guess the worm of doubt has been gnawing through his loyalty and his Romulan side might be quite right on this particular occasion. Romulan cunningness and distrust can indeed help him see Mahoney for what he really is – an ambitions, revengeful career-seeker.
Author's Response: These two guys are stuck in the middle of war and they don't even realize it. As for Mahoney's rights, I guess at this point he doesn't much care, I suppose. He's got the upper hand over Star for now, and that's all that matters to him.
Date: 18 Jan 2015 16:52 Title: Part III - The Olive Branch: 9
I really like the intensity of this chapter. Taz forced to face her past and to discuss it with someone, to word her uneasiness and regrets. The chapter sounds deep enough without being sentimental, just two people trying to remain reasonable in a situation where old grudges and misdeeds are waiting to take over. Katanga once again showed his character and unshaken honesty. Forgiveness might be impossible but in fact, it is nothing more but an abstract noun. Still, Taz has to admit all her decisions and face the consequences for her own sake. If she does not do it, she will be doomed to repeat them.
Mahoney does not deserve even a shred of sympathy, he was just at the wrong place at the wrong time, intimidating the wrong woman.
Author's Response: Nothing harder than to face your own past, especially if you lived your life like Star has. I think you're right, her old friend Katanga is indispensable here and just the moral compass she needs to weather this storm.
Date: 13 Jan 2015 03:46 Title: Part III - The Olive Branch: 8
Argh! There's so much happening just below the surface that these two just can't know... yet. Leva and Nora think they're just dealing with a personality conflict and bad blood, when the reality goes so much deeper.
Author's Response: Leva and Nora are on the outside looking in. Not a good situation to be in and possibly even dangerous ...
Date: 11 Jan 2015 16:19 Title: Part III - The Olive Branch: 7
Mahoney has switched from euphoria to delusion of grandeur. I bet he sees himself sitting in the acceleration chair of an Enterprise or Galaxy class ship, waving goodbye to his insignificant stint on “Sacajaweaâ€. Chasing those pirates might bring him back to the fast track to the top-notch positions.
Although he is armed, I don’t think he would dare to use his phaser on the bridge. I wonder if the other crewmembers will listen to him slandering Taz and if Deva will support him. This is pretty tough for Taz but sometimes bygones refuse to be bygones.
Author's Response: Nothing more dangerous than a man with a purpose, I suppose. We'll have to see how far Mahoney is willing to go in order to be relevant again.
Date: 04 Jan 2015 06:53 Title: Part III - The Olive Branch: 7
Mahoney has a date with a well deserved comeuppance. I just hope it doesn't cost any lives other than his...
Author's Response: Some people change. Obviously Star doesn't believe Mahoney has or perhaps ever will. But hey, there's always a chance.
Date: 28 Dec 2014 22:03 Title: Part III - The Olive Branch: 6
An intriguing chapter adding a new factor – the local authorities whose active support is required for the successful settlement of this mess. Obviously, Lam has not done his homework on Valerian internal matters and has contacted the wrong lobby. Sharval‘s observations on Federation are really funny – Starfleet officials rarely take into consideration the non-Federation perspective. And with people like Lam it is really difficult to claim that Starfleet was started by explorers not space conquistadors. The usual suspects, the Cardassians, are almost innocent for a change. In fact, Belore had a fair share in bringing this awkward negotiation to fruition.
Author's Response: Thanks, Sharval's observation was one of my favorite parts of this segment as well. I thought it be a bit refreshing to get a different perspective one which helps ground Starfleet and Owens' high moral ideals a little bit. Of course Owens will need much more than morals if he wants a real chance of fixing this big mess.
Date: 28 Dec 2014 16:38 Title: Part III - The Olive Branch: 5
Not the typical reunion of a Starfleet officer and her former crew but unavoidable. I have the gut feeling that Mahoney will use his visit on “Eagle†to embarrass Taz and undermine her standing in the presence of the bridge officers. If Owens was there, he could bridle his cheap tit-for-tat but as it is, he outranks everyone on the ship. I can only hope that Eagle’s crew won’t buy his insinuations and will remain loyal to Star’s orders until Owens returns. I wonder whether Leva will accompany Mahoney. He might act as a deterrent to some extent. Probably Katanga’s authority and refreshing directness will also help Taz stand her ground.
Author's Response: It's going to be Star's biggest challenge yet, serving as first officer on Eagle, that's for sure. We'll have to see if Star with her going-at-it-alone mentality can get the support she most likely going to need.
Date: 23 Dec 2014 03:45 Title: Part III - The Olive Branch: 5
Tell Katanga to get Sickbay prepped... there will be blood.
Author's Response: It won't be pretty, that's for sure
Date: 16 Dec 2014 02:12 Title: Part III - The Olive Branch: 4
As if this situation weren't fragile enough, now we have Valerian insurgents adding fuel to the fire.
I'm beginning to like Gul Belore more and more. An open-minded, level-headed Cardassian military officer is almost a contradiction in terms, but with his diplomatic background, Belore may just break the mold. I hope that with Owens' help, the two of them can wrest some semblance of peace from this powder-keg before the whole planet goes up.
Terrific stuff!
Author's Response: Thank you very much. The Valerians are certainly adding another wrinkle to this whole mess, and one that Owens may also not have foreseen. Of course in hindsight it seems hardly surprising that the locals might have a thing or two to say about a war being fought on their world. I enjoy casting against type, so Belore isn't quite what we have come to expect. He might turn out be a bigger help to Owens than he would have thought.
Date: 15 Dec 2014 19:28 Title: Part III - The Olive Branch: 4
It is getting better and better. We already had Lam’s nutty agenda, now the locals restoring to terrorism. I wonder what the Cardassian point of view will be. Obviously, the Marines don’t question Lam’s plans and motives. They are supposed to be loyal but still some of them might entertain some doubts about the possible outcome of this conflict. The Valerian peace officer seems very distrusting and highly suspicious of the Marines. She definitely does not want them there. Still, she was not hostile to Belore.
Author's Response: Yeah, as Deen pointed out earlier, loyalty is big for the Marines. It's an ethos, a life style. It remains to be seen of anyone on this planet can escape that group think mentality. As for the Valerians, they are obviously not happy. Will this make things easier or harder for Owens?
Date: 10 Dec 2014 23:08 Title: Part III - The Olive Branch: 3
Lam’s point of view might be true but for several facts – the Annexation of Bajor was ratified by the Bajoran Occupational Government that made a succession of dubious moves. The Valerians has had their neutral status for quite a long time and Cardassia is interested in keeping them as a neural trade ally rather than invading them. What is more, after the war Cardassia is controlled by Federation peacekeepers that guard the pro-Federation government. Cardassia does not have either the motive or the means to turn the Valerian conflict into a colonial or annexation campaign.
Author's Response: Excellent points, all of them. Lam would probably argue that Gul Metral won't care about any of those things. He is here now and he's got an army at his back while Starfleet's only interest seems to be getting its army home. That perhaps there is still glory to be had for Cardassia. Of course we haven't really met Metral yet, so we don't really know what the man's thinking.
Date: 09 Dec 2014 07:34 Title: Part III - The Olive Branch: 3
Lam appears to no longer be able to see the forest for the trees. His inability to let go of his fear and mistrust of the Cardassians is going to get a lot more people killed unnecessarily. There's a confrontation coming between he and Owens, and I'm not sure the captain can win such a contest without Eagle overhead to back his play.
Author's Response: A confrontation? I can't believe you've already ruled out a peaceful resolution to all this. I mean you never know when common decency and rational minds will prevail over ... okay, never mind.
Date: 04 Dec 2014 23:07 Title: Part III - The Olive Branch: 2
Oh, this is a beautiful chapter, with so many allegories. I nearly rolled with laughter imagining two Obsidians warning each other, “Be careful or we might end up like that Terran guy, Robespierre.â€
It is prudent of Owens to send away “Eagle†because Lam outranks him and might order him to surrender the vessel. Without the prospect of resources and personnel, Lam might be more willing to reconsider his views. Taz has the chance to act as a savior for her formers crew that did not think high of her. Probably she will feel better too, a way to make up things for them. Still, I don’t want to be in Wasco’s shoes – to choose between a nutty icon and a respected captain.
Author's Response: Thank you very much, glad you enjoyed this. I always like infusing a bit of history, adding a bit of perspective to the ongoing dilemma. We'll have to see if sending Eagle away was the right call or not. As for Wasco, you are absolutely right, he's gonna be in a pickle.