[Report This]Date: 13 Feb 2022 23:33 Title: Taking Leave
Okay - big favorite. I really like that it was just shore leave and happenstance regarding the marines instead of the result of an investigation (which would probably not be carried out by a captain.)
Really nice insight on Sandhurst's personality that he would chose to work on equipment instead of recline on a beach for his leave time.
The cardassain farmer seemed a fun character - rather laid back cardassian.
Thanks!!! rbs
Author's Response:
Thanks for commenting! Yes, Sandhurst is an odd duck, and 'relaxing' by spending his leave tinkering with old Cardassian farming equipment is his idea of a great holiday.
Date: 11 Sep 2014 02:37 Title: Taking Leave
One of my favorite things to see is when writers swap the places of the good and evil forces. Obviously, all Cardassians aren't bad; in fact, most of them are likely just doing bad things because that's what one does to survive in Cardassia.
Contrariwise, there are unfortunately bad humans, even in Starfleet. And what better place to find them than Cardassia. What jerks. I hope they spend a lot time in a penal colony... and not one of the nicer ones either.
I also loved the twist that the human was the one doing the lying (although ultimately to a good end.)
Author's Response:
I'm pleased you enjoyed the story, thank you for the review! Yes, good and evil exist in all species in the Trekverse, and in this one instance, justice was finally served.
Date: 27 May 2014 01:48 Title: Taking Leave
I must admit, I'm only peripherally familiar with your OC Sandhurst, so for me 'Michael's' identity wasn't readily apparent. Initially I was thinking that he was a convict, on a work-release program or something, due to the lines about getting to work with his hands, which he didn't get to do now, and the fact that his time here, assisting Taflim with such important work, was limited.
In many ways, that made the story all the more poignant for me for here I was, imagining a felon of some type who still had the moral fiber and moral compass to be incensed by what the Starfleet marines were doing. That increased my estimation of 'Michael' immesurably.
But when I learned his true identity, and the fact that he was spending his shore leave incognito, in an effort to provide help where it was sorely needed, using the replicators aboard his ship to make parts for the harvesters they couldn't get anywhere else, I immediately loved the man - gave him a virtual hug and everything. :)
The really sad part is that there are some (not many, thankfully) soldiers like Chabs-Wret, who once they've tasted glory in battle can't go back to the 'mudane, day-to-day' duties of a peace-keeping force. Most soldiers recognize battle for what it is - a necessary evil to be carried out only when conditions dictate it is necessary - and are more than happy to assist a defeated civilian population, especially since in most cases, the civilians had nothing to do with the decisions made by their government.
I wonder at the risk Sandhurst was taking, though - surely Taflim would have reported his new assistant, and the progress they were now making in restoring the fleet of ancient harvesters to working condition. I'm surprised no higher-ups took note of this and wondered where the human technician had come from, but then again it's easy for things to fall through the cracks in a frontier-type situation.
Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this piece - more so because I was unable to figure out the identity of the technician beforehand. Well done. :D
Author's Response:
Thank you so much for the thoughtful response to this story. I'm glad the ending took you by surprise, and that you enjoyed the tale. Once an engineer, always an engineer...
Date: 09 Nov 2009 06:04 Title: Taking Leave
Still loving this one. :-) Sandhurst kicking ass and having an unequivocal victory for once--regardless of how "big" or "small" it is on the galactic scale--is a beautiful and heartwarming sight, especially when a character as deserving as Taflim is involved. I would sure love to think that the two of them got all that equipment up and running again after the story concludes, and that Chabs-Wret is going to rot in jail for a LONG time.
Author's Response:
Thank you again for your responses to this story, it's one of my favorites as well. Seeing as neither Taflim nor Donald like leaving anything half-done, you can rest assured that all the equipment was restored to functionality.
As for Chabs-Wret, he's got a long time ahead of him in the Starfleet Stockade on Jaros II to think about his misdeeds.
Date: 06 Sep 2009 21:22 Title: Taking Leave
Very good. Sandhurst is a strange one wanting to spend his leave like that. But then he has different view about what he is doing - he want to help the colonists because he knows what his own part in the fate that befell them at the hands of the Klingons. But he also finds it therapeutic to work with his hands on something real and tangible and worthwhile. Very good insight into Sandhurst and his being. I also enjoyed seeing T'Ser trying to gauge her new CO. Quite an impression he'll make.
Author's Response:
Much obliged for the review. Yeah, Donald occasionally has some strange ideas about how to spend his off time. But, with he and Pell separated and he a Pava estranged, it's not like he's really got anyone to hang out with, either.
[Report This]Date: 04 Sep 2009 19:58 Title: Taking Leave
As said-just a wonderful story. I hope those turds get a little time at Sundancer!
[Report This]Date: 04 Sep 2009 17:36 Title: Taking Leave
As always, you know how to piss me off. I was furious at the outset of this tale. Just sickened by the thought that ANYONE in Starfleet would act in such a manner. While I loved the "I needed to do something with my hands" my first thought was, this is Donald...but a few sentences more made me change my mind and I let this "Michael" into my heart. *rolleyes* I SHOULD have known! Excellent tale with a damn fine ending. Stupid jerks. grrrr. Well - awesome tale!
Author's Response:
It appears both Donald and I must apologize for the deception. ;) I'm glad you liked the story... and I too hope those bastards get what's coming to them. Well, no... what they've earned is time in the stockade. What they deserve is Pava and Solly Brin in a dark alley.
Date: 04 Sep 2009 16:02 Title: Taking Leave
Awwwwwwwwww, you just made me like Sandhurst even more than I already do, if that were even possible! :-D I imagine that after Lakesh, something like this felt really good--as did the chance to be in engineering/technician mode. But I think it's more than just that...this just seems like a decent person's act, in general. Further confirmation of why I like him: yes, he's undoubtedly had his bad run-ins with certain Cardassians, but he takes people on an individual basis.
You know, too, seeing the way he missed being an engineer and technician--it also reminded me of someone else in my own work, who won't get this chance to go back down memory lane the way Sandhurst did.
But Chabs-Wret, though--vindictive bastard. I hope he gets a serious punishment for what he's been up to (and having the nerve to do the Cool Hand Luke routine while he's at it--shows how uncreative he is if he can't come up with his own taglines and has to steal others'. ;-) Good writing decision, though, to show what a thuggish brute he is.). Terrorizing and assaulting Cardassian civilians, abusing his position and power, assaulting a Starfleet officer, and God knows what else he's been doing since he got to Prime...I can't tell you how gratifying it was to see Sandhurst get the upper hand on him.
(BTW, the fact that Chabs-Wret thought he could paint Sandhurst as an insurgent...does that mean there were humans helping the Crimson Order, that he thought that would be believable?)
And Taflim--oooooh, I like this guy!!! :-D That dry sense of humor of his just rules. And I think you nailed the polite way we've seen from Cardassian civilians like the two scientists in "Destiny." (Remember how nervous they got about the prospect of having to introduce themselves to Sisko? ;-) And how upset Gilora was with herself after realizing she had totally misinterpreted O'Brien?) I also thought it was a good choice that he was so accepting of the tribute, and then also of the possibility that Sandhurst had been a covert operative--and the way he regards the bad guys being taken away. Very true assessment of Cardassian society.
But I also appreciate that you didn't have him turn into a wreck before Chabs-Wret--that instead, thinking Sandhurst is the one who's unfamiliar with this kind of life and the hardships that go with it, he acts to try and take charge of the situation and protect this human who seems so naive he doesn't know to come in when it rains, so to speak.
As one side note for Taflim, I'm sure he enjoyed the men-and-machines male bonding time. That's not as common in Cardassian society since as we found out in "Destiny," engineering and technical fields tend to have more women than men. It had to be quite the relief when he found that Sandhurst wanted to go back and finish the job he started. :-)
And T'Ser--I enjoy seeing her with the Gibraltar crew! :-)
Author's Response:
I'm very pleased you like the story. I wanted to do right both by Taflim as well as 'Michael'. :)