Date: 22 Nov 2009 18:37 Title: Chapter 1
A very solemn and reflective opener. And I think it was perfectly pitched and very appropriate that you did so like this. First off, it allowed you to catch us up on the events that have followed from the end of Book One. And the title for this book is perfect especially with this opener - Old Foes and New Allies. We see that the Dominion War has had a lasting effect and impact on not just the Federation but all the powers of the Alpha Quadrant. As the new preparations for the mysterious enemy are made for the war that is bound to come, we see the various powers react in different ways. I like the way they reacted and politicked over it. It makes sense. Obviously, they all had to fall into line for the sake of survival but they had to give certain public reactions. It impresses me too how the Federation and Starfleet addressed the situation, apporached the other powers so openly. One thing that strikes me about your writing/stories is the positive spin you put on Starfleet and the Federation and yet with a little grounding. It is all too easy for people to go the cynical route and constantly berate the Federation and talk it down. You don't. You carry across a message of hope and pride in your works. It is quite uplifting. And such a camraderie that exists between your crew carries too and it obviously is what helped them to continue and pick themselves up after the horrible events of Book One. Nice reflection on the aftermath. Many an author might have skipped over it. Good stuff and it sets certain things in motion that we know off. Alas, there remains a great many unknowns. MIA Hank's fate. The enemy. And what way the alliance and the war will go.
Author's Response:
Yes, this book is far less brutal than the last one. Certainly is more...global in a sense. Look forward to seeing what you think of the rest of this.
Date: 22 Nov 2009 05:34 Title: Chapter 25
Hmmm...I shall be very interested to see what it was that originally happened to Gallos. Something is beginning to tell me the Romulans in fact suffered a major defeat there, that they've done their damnedest to cover up.
Also, I hope to see what happens with Barash. That whole plotline has me quite curious! And I wonder about the data his people sent to the Federation--how quickly can they analyze that?
Oh, and the naming of the Del'Vreer--I shall be quite interested to learn more about their history and that of the Kel'Mar. Hopefully it can be used to defeat them!
Date: 16 Nov 2009 19:20 Title: Chapter 20
Oh, crap...either they've time traveled or the chroniton particles are left from the Round Robin. ;-)
Anyway, the fact that their ship jumped in time is making me wonder if indeed this weapon the aliens have is something like the Krenim weapon.
Author's Response:
You're on the right track...thanks for the review!
Date: 16 Nov 2009 19:16 Title: Chapter 19
Something tells me Sela's actions might not be as un-sanctioned by the Empire at large as they've led the Federation to believe...either that or now the insurgents effectively ARE the Romulan Star Empire...
Date: 16 Nov 2009 19:12 Title: Chapter 18
Well, now, this Maggie's certainly an epitome of tolerance, isn't she?
NOT.
Sucky way to go, at the hands of an unknown enemy, but I can't say her attitude particularly endeared her to me.
As for the mole, I shall be quite interested to see what happens!
Date: 15 Nov 2009 21:28 Title: Chapter 17
I can't believe it! Hank actually stuck up for Macet there! WAY TO GO, man! I would LOVE to see Maxwell dead, that's for sure. This whole command-sharing thing is NOT going to work, and I find myself hoping it ends with Maxwell and a dk'tagh sticking out his back.
(I know Macet wants a final reckoning--but under these circumstances, he'd settle. He'd definitely settle, if that meant it was OVER.)
I just hope Hank will consider the source of these words as it regards his command capabilities. Maxwell's got more than one screw loose and he has NO business advising anyone on how to command or do ANYTHING responsible.
Date: 15 Nov 2009 19:04 Title: Chapter 15
Man, I SO hope that's the real escape! The circumstances definitely seem to resemble the point when Hank was pulled out of his universe into the Round Robin, so I sure hope that's the case.
I just hope he gets some help very soon, when he gets back--with no one to talk to him who knows his experience as happened in the RR, I'm very worried for him.
Author's Response:
Yep, that's the real escape. He's out an about now, but the questions continue to mount. Thanks for the review!
Date: 15 Nov 2009 18:59 Title: Chapter 14
I think I've determined what it is about SOME--some, not all of your characters: they seem very abrasive. I would say there's a lot of posturing that goes on...not the friendly, silly kind that was happening between the group Barash was with...and I think that's what I'm having trouble really liking: it always feels like there's a dominance contest going on. A few characters seem to be exempt from this...T'Kel, Bethany, to some extent Hank--and while Daren does it, it does help that I've had the Round Robin to get to know him.
I dunno why it took me so long to realize what it was, but that's it.
Date: 14 Nov 2009 22:21 Title: Chapter 13
Oh, MAN...they put false memories into Hank! So he didn't REALLY go through with the act, but they've given him memories to make him feel as though he had! God, that is AWFUL beyond words. I hope he'll realize--and VERY soon--that that wasn't him any more than what happened to AU Dukat was him. Otherwise these memories, however fake they are, are going to kill him.
Date: 14 Nov 2009 22:17 Title: Chapter 12
Wow. I like your take on T'Kel and Vulcans--and this certainly explains her particular tolerance for humans. Could it be that perhaps the fact that humans live with their emotions close to the surface, that instead of suppressing them, they work through them, is something that she finds steadying? That said, though, her wanting to leave the Pearl makes me wonder what she's after now. I sure hope it's not Kolinahr. :-(
BTW, how does stasis work in your universe? Does it completely freeze the body in time, as it were? I rather doubt it considering you say that someone can still die in stasis. Just curious how you envision it.
Author's Response:
Stasis in my universe isn't the "freeze and put away" thing that is so often found in Sci-fi. Generally, stasis acts as sort of a delay or slow down effect. It doesn't freeze you in time though, so if you're really hurt and go into stasis, instead of minutes the Doctors may have hours-but if they can't figure it out by then, you're dead.
Sadly, this is what happened to T'Kel's child, as Paul only had hours and the damage was too great to repair in that short amount of time.
Date: 14 Nov 2009 22:12 Title: Chapter 11
I like the way you've handled Worf. I take it he must've gotten out of that ambassadorial job as quickly as he could've?
I thought the discussion about the loss of Captain Picard was just perfect--exactly what I think needed to be said.
But Chris Walker...yeesh!
Date: 14 Nov 2009 06:35 Title: Chapter 10
What they've just done to Hank--what TOTAL bastards.
Now I see more about why Hank questions himself so, so much in the RR. I just hope that someday, in one of your stories, I'll see him being healed.
Date: 14 Nov 2009 06:28 Title: Chapter 8
Heh...I'm really hating Karrie--her attitude about Hank is just...bleh.
Not 100% sure I'm clicking with all of the characters, though, other than the ones I've seen from the RR. Not exactly sure why that is...
Author's Response:
Well the other characters are people, just like you or I-at least designed that way to be so. Everyone has the person they universally like (Hank) while everyone has a person they aren't too keen on (For SL Watson, the Walker brothers). Every crew isn't made up of really likeable characters-sure, TOS/TNG was full of them, but DS9/VOY had a person someone hated.
The crew is designed in that respect of DS9/VOY, post TNG, post "Good Feelings" Federation. The Federation is a place that doesn't quite have the idealism that it once did 20 years ago-a lot has changed.
The crew reflects this.
As for Karrie...well, she's kinda damaged goods. She really doesn't have too sunny a look on life right now, but as the book goes on she does get better.
Thanks for the review!
Date: 14 Nov 2009 06:25 Title: Chapter 7
I must say, though it got him in a lot of trouble, I loved Hank's response to the question about where the Pearl was going!
Date: 14 Nov 2009 06:05 Title: Chapter 2
Wow. You don't like Dr. Crusher a lot, do you? ;-)
BTW, is that Bethany sequence perhaps inspired by the response you did to my "Childhood" challenge here on Ad Astra? ;-)
Author's Response:
Well, the Crusher aspect was really inspired by Mrs. P over on Omega Sector. I figured after her being on Earth for a few years now (after Nemesis), she'd be really deep in the politics of the stuff. She still believes in doing the right things for the patients, but really doesn't want to send them back out so soon. Her intentions are good, but it just really comes off as too much attention.
As for the Childhood challenge-actually, this sequence was writter prior to that, and when the your challenge came about it was the perfect way to expand upon it and give it some details. Much thanks for the reviews.
Date: 14 Nov 2009 06:01 Title: Chapter 1
Hm...holding the Cardassian fleet in reserve seems like a smart move. I am just glad that in your timeline you did not totally strip them of all defenses the way that Star Trek: Online game did. (And I REFUSE to play that game for that reason, and because of the character-assassination job they did on Macet.)
In the small-details arena...I'm impressed that you know enough about Alabama weather to know what that damn WIND is like in the winter. You WISH it would snow, but all it does is spit and blow on you and make you THINK it's freezing.
Author's Response:
Yes, the Cardassian fleet is not totally wiped out. I could have pulled a Japan Surrenders here, and have the Allies wipe out the Cardassian military for good, but I decided that there were mitigating circumstances. The Cardassians fought back and realized the Dominion's true intentions, and they suffered greatly from it-and they were a supposed ally to the Dominion.
Since they did that, I had the Allies downgrade their fleet to a smaller, less dangerous number, while still letting them have enough to defend their territory-but no more than that. The Cardassians are still free to develop tech like everyone else, but they are bound like everyone else from developing certain tech; Like Genesis devices, subscape weapons, bio weapons, ect.
Are they abiding by these rules? We hope so, but even the Federation breaks their own rules for R@D's sake. I think the Cardassians are doing exactly what they should do...for now. We'll see where future encounters take them.
*As for Alabama* I live there-living there, so to say. I know Alabama weather after a few years.
Thanks for the review!