Date: 31 Oct 2011 11:17 Title: The Exile
That's is quite tragic that the Federation had to experience Bajoran viciousness before realising that Bajoran-Cardassian conflict wasn't a minor child's play. They had to see for themselves and they still hesitate, because the decisions weren't made yet, even though there are officers who seem to understand now.
It was nice to see how Mendral and Lavelle met. At once they discovered that they had something on common, something they could share, someone to understand. In spite of differences of their faiths, the presence of faith is a common ground.
That was a story with dark, but also a bit brighter, elements. But it didn't leave me in the dark part; it left me with hope...
Author's Response:
I think that with the dynamic we saw when we got our brief look at the SigCat universe in "Parallels," the Enterprise was going to have a very different command staff. With Picard gone, and the ship being commanded by the combination of Riker and Worf, I felt like that particular ship was going to have a more aggressive mentality by that time than it did on Season 7 of the canon version of TNG. So I suspect Riker and Worf are quicker to advocate war than Picard would ever be.
I had one reader say that because of certain descriptions, this felt like a slash story. It isn't...though when it comes to Lavelle and his faith, I would say that being in the closet is not a bad comparison. :-(
Date: 24 Mar 2009 20:27 Title: The Exile
As always, an ethereal take on the Cardassians. I would have enjoyed hearing more about high school in Phx. Maybe you could return to that someday?
Author's Response:
That may come someday...glad you're also interested in that! It's definitely an area I'd like to look into someday.
Of course, this is a very different set of Cardassians than the ones you see in The Thirteenth Order (though Riyak Mendral is the helmsman of the Trager, his life experiences have been very different).
Date: 24 Mar 2009 18:43 Title: The Exile
What I liked about this story was the use of 'faith' in it. It is strange, and is eluded to, how humans hide their faith and yet many of the other races wear their beliefs, or logic, squarely on their sleeves.
I really liked this line
"And could I give my service over to a society whose dominant world maintains a veneer of tolerance towards aliens, and our beliefs, but to not its own people when they hold to the old faiths"...
I am not really a believer my self, but I have family who are. And I do feel as if they get shunned in life simply for excersing their right to believe...
Great dialog in this small story..well done..
Rob
Author's Response:
Thanks...that's exactly it. Especially in TNG, it always bugged me that some people had the right to self-expression, including the spiritual, and other people apparently did not. It also irritates me when some people try to cover their intolerance by claiming that the OTHER party is intolerant. These are the things that Ensign Mendral has observed, that bother him so deeply.
Date: 19 Mar 2009 21:27 Title: The Exile
A dedication to service is perhaps to be expected as a motivation to serve in Starfleet but to link that dedication in part to faith and thus part of the motivation is an unusual take. However, it is a take that works extremely effectively, especially when written so compellingly. The characters of Sam and Mendral have a mutual connection, a bond they probably fear to show to others. The exile in the story could be either one. There is a beautiful symmetry to your writing. Again, a wonderful piece of writing Nerys.
Thanks...I'm very glad you liked reading this. :-) You're right about Sam and Mendral. They become like brothers, and so quickly, that I think they ARE concerned about people misinterpreting it. Though I expect same-sex relationships aren't looked at badly in the 24th century, that's not what's going on and I'm sure they wouldn't want rumors about something that's not there. And you're right about the title. I hadn't even thought about it, but you're absolutely right--Mendral's an alien in human society and Sam might as well be. Thanks again! :-)
Author's Response: