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Reviewer: CeJay Signed Liked [Report This]
Date: 30 Jan 2021 12:21 Title: Episode 19.17: The Ivonovic Commission - Hugh Mann

Can't end a story/part without going out on a bit of surprise. In this case, a surprise guest.

Great choice of characters, if I may say so myself.

Now let's find out what he wants, and how he can help or hinder Minervas likely final mission.

Author's Response:

Glad you got a kick out of the sudden appearance of Hugh.. He does have a role to play. Like all franchise characters, his is more of a cameo role. Some of the franchise characters play really pivotal roles in what develops, but none of them get a lot of screen time in STH.

Thanks!! rbs

Reviewer: CeJay Signed Liked [Report This]
Date: 30 Jan 2021 12:18 Title: Episode 19.16: The Ivonovic Commission - Retirement Planning

Two old warriors who've seen it all at the end of their careers. Always a bit melancholy. But they are right, time to pass the baton to a younger generation. And in both their cases, people in their fifties and sixties qualify.

Author's Response:

Until you get to that age, there will always be someone who thinks of you as a child...

I'm gratified the timbre of this chapter came through. 

Thanks!! rbs

Reviewer: CeJay Signed Liked [Report This]
Date: 30 Jan 2021 12:16 Title: Episode 19.15: The Ivonovic Commission - Subspace Radio Ivonovic Relaunched

I'm assuming you wrote all this a while back but you cannot help reading without drawing parallels to recent political and social events. Scary.

What Ivanovich doesn't offer in his little speech here are any kind of answers as to why all this happened. A question I'm certainly still asking myself.

Also interesting that he's no distancing himself from his "naturalborn" philosophy here. I'm not sure if that's because he still believes in it or because he's pandering to his audience.

Author's Response:

Ivonovic is an adapter and quite cagey. He called out the naturalborn at the beginning of his presentation, but at the end he called his station the voice of the people.

He also avoided speculating on the ultarior motive for the conspiracy because he doesn't know and he's still digging. 

I wrote the bulk of STH from March 2019 - March 2020. Since then I have written only a few chapters, mostly filling out Episode 27 and filling in a few places where I realized that I needed to show certain things I knew were developing - Julian and Senvol conspiring just before the Fall of Vulcan (while observing Scrivax torturing Remma - she'll be back), Minerva having her stroke (I had previously just mentioned that she had one). And I just wrote one final chapter for the ending in Episode 28.

Thanks!! rbs

Reviewer: CeJay Signed Liked [Report This]
Date: 27 Jan 2021 22:14 Title: Episode 19.14: The Ivonovic Commission - Return to Pern

Looks as if Chekov is the ally Dolphin and Hunter need here. Although I seem to remember that this is the same man who got a lot of fellow Starfleet officers killed. Tread with caution.

Good to see the giant waterbirds again.

Author's Response:

And that was the action that got him prooted to rear admiral. Dolphin has made a few valuable allies, not the least of which is Ivonovic...

The giant waterbirds had their genesis in a line I mentioned early on about the Sanctuary of the Waterbirds on Cophus II, which meant we had to go there, and i had to produce some waterbirds...

Thanks!! rbs

Reviewer: CeJay Signed Liked [Report This]
Date: 26 Jan 2021 20:55 Title: Episode 19.13: The Ivonovic Commission - Medical Discharge

Look at this guy, from hunted, rebel broadcaster to basically firing the head of Starfleet. Ivonovich has come a long way in a short amount of time.

Author's Response:

I figured you might get a kick out of that chapter. I set out to write character arcs for most of the characters.

Stewart is the Director of Fleet Operations, 3rd ranking officer after Star Fleet Comandant Barrett th'Zoarhi and Chief of Staff Jamaal El Fadil. Or rather, she was...

I had a bit of fun with their names.

Thanks!! rbs

Reviewer: CeJay Signed Liked [Report This]
Date: 25 Jan 2021 21:16 Title: Episode 19.12: The Ivonovic Commission - Fleet Admiral Miriam Stewart

I was all set to talk about the suprisingly high number of Romulans now on Vulcan but there's clearly a much bigger story here.

This loss of Vulcan has been made possible by a massive conspiracy within Starfleet and the Federation the likes of which would excite QAnon (well, maybe not that) But still, big and scary and actually real.

Author's Response:

Sela was in a big hurry to resettle the refugees from Romulus - they were more mouths than she could feed and a threat to her power base.

Definitely a well-resourced operation to pull off such a big caper. And bound to rile up the right-wing reactionaries since they clearly have a real conspiracy to point to...

Thanks!! rbs

Reviewer: CeJay Signed Liked [Report This]
Date: 24 Jan 2021 20:23 Title: Episode 19.11: The Ivonovic Commission - High and Dry

Hmm, who would have a vested interest in keeping Hunter on the sidelines? Sinister matters appear afoot.

Author's Response:

Someone is definitely stirring the pot... Or allowing it to be stirred... Thanks!! rbs

Reviewer: CeJay Signed Liked [Report This]
Date: 23 Jan 2021 22:37 Title: Episode 19.10: The Ivonovic Commission - Cocoon

Gotta give it to the blind emperor, he knows how to give a speech. Although one can't help wonder if these kinda news would not have better been delivered in a closed door session. I suppose that's not his style.

Continued to be impressed by the complexities of this Trek tale which is both an action-adventure, a political thriller, and everything in between.

Author's Response:

Thanks for the kind words!

Sin IV is nothing if not a risk taker - he loves to make a big splash - and to keep people guessing. The philosopher tyrant.

Thanks!! rbs

Reviewer: CeJay Signed Liked [Report This]
Date: 23 Jan 2021 22:28 Title: Episode 19.9: The Ivonovic Commission - Promotion

It's like Oprah is running this ship. You get a promotion, and you get a promotion, and you get a ...

Looks as if things may be getting more permanent than I anticipated. One thing is for sure, Dolphin is going places.

Author's Response:

Justice Irons is definitely playing fast and loose with her authority to approve battlefield promotions. 

Thanks!! rbs

Reviewer: CeJay Signed Liked [Report This]
Date: 21 Jan 2021 21:30 Title: Episode 19.8: The Ivonovic Commission - The Eye

It looks as if Canada plays a much bigger role in this than I expected. And that's certainly a neat trick he's got there to arrange private meetings.

As for Hunter, eye of the storm is probably the nice way of putting it.

Author's Response:

When I created Johnny, I only created him as a foil for Lyhnart Shran in Ep. 12. But he just kept being useful for explaining things and bringing people together. He was kind of inspired by the NYC police department's intelligence division, which developed a massive overseas operation after 9/11. 

Thanks!! rbs

Reviewer: CeJay Signed Liked [Report This]
Date: 20 Jan 2021 21:13 Title: Episode 19.7: The Ivonovic Commission - Retreat

Boy, this crew is beat and in the dumps big time. These guys need a win or at least something to go right soon. At least things seem to be in good hands with Dolphin.

Author's Response:

Just a taste of what's to come... Glad you're enjoying these characters - Thanks!! rbs

Reviewer: CeJay Signed Liked [Report This]
Date: 19 Jan 2021 21:06 Title: Episode 19.6: The Ivonovic Commission - Syrtis Major

That was certainly an unexpected encounter. Wesley Crusher, or a version of him, at least, seems to show up in STH all over the place.

Normally, that's a sign of concern but you infuse him with far more comedic tones than he ever had on TV, and pairing him with the Doctor is certainly a splendid idea.

Very curious where you take this.

Author's Response:

Wesley does come in for some rather sickening treatment in the hands of varios fanfic writers and is easily the Jar Jar Binks of the franchise. But the way he left STNG gave him an interesting potential somewhere between human and Q, which gives me the opportunity to use an ancient, fully realized Old Man Crusher as a kind of Gandalf character. In addition to Free Love Wes' role in inventing the Hunter's zip drive (also more Gandalf than hands-on.) That gives him great comedic potential.

I suspect it is one of the very few fanfic treatments of Wesley that Will Wheaton would actually enjoy.

Thanks!! rbs

Reviewer: CeJay Signed Liked [Report This]
Date: 17 Jan 2021 12:13 Title: Episode 19.5: The Ivonovic Commission - Stroke of Luck

Okay, that was one hell of a misleading chapter title. Didn't see that coming. But then again, considering Minerva's age, it was perhaps not entirely inevitable that her body would give out on her at some point.

Definite gut-punch to her friend.

While reading this I was reminded that I really wouldn't mind getting a look at what Hunter looks like one of these days. I'd recommend Tadeo D'Oria (https://tadeodoria.com) if you are ever interested in getting some renders of your ship done. I haven't used his serves personally but I know people who have and he does really amazing work.

Author's Response:

I never said it was a stroke of good luck... I did foreshadow the stroke with Minerva constantly rubbing her neck in every scene in 18 and 19. It serves a number of story purposes.

Thanks for the reference - I will definitely look him up. If his services are affordible, I would very much like to have a render. I should include a more detailed description - the Hunter is black and the saucer section is shaped more like a slightly squahed egg - almost as deep as it is wide. The Engineering deck and deck one are in the strut that connects the saucer to the nacelle. Instead of being canted forward like most Star Fleet designs / the strut is canted back , positioning the saucer directly over a single nacelle that is as long and almost as wide as the saucer.

From the outside, the skin is continuous, giving no indication where the windows, hatches or any other openings might be located. Like the B2 bomber, there are no flat surfaces, sharp edges or corners. If you touch it there is almost no surface tension; your hand seems to slide right off of it. It is somewhat taller, shorter and less wide than the Defiant (Escort class.) The registry is accomplished in dark gray and appears on the sides instead of the top front. Its design is optimized for speed, stealth and resistance to scanning.

Thanks!! rbs

Reviewer: CeJay Signed Liked [Report This]
Date: 16 Jan 2021 09:33 Title: Episode 19.4: The Ivonovic Commission - The Office of Ushi Irons

Ushi clearly has a plan for the former anti-establishment crusader and perhaps to wield him and his followers like a weapon. Or at least with a very specific purpose. Looks like these are desperate times.

Difficult to read this without considering parallels in current US politics.

Reviewer: CeJay Signed Liked [Report This]
Date: 16 Jan 2021 09:26 Title: Episode 19.3: The Ivonovic Commission - Emory's Greatest Hits on Subspace Radio Ivonovic

A timely reminder of Ivanovich's core beliefs, most of which appear to run counter to the Federation's current polices and attitudes.

Curious to see how these divergent philosophies can be reconciled, if it all.

Reviewer: CeJay Signed Liked [Report This]
Date: 14 Jan 2021 20:17 Title: Episode 19.2: The Ivonovic Commission - The I.K.V. 'Iw Hov

Cute but deadly. Didn't see that coming. Nice bit of misdirect.

Not so sure if the two surviving Klingons are just going to start taking orders from a Starfleet officer. On the other hand, I suppose, a fight with Pep and Mlady wouldn't be a wise choice. Very few wise Klingons though.

Author's Response:

Pep is widely admired among the klingons as a scholar for his disseratation on klingon poetry. Which is why the klingons know him as Doctor Pepper.

The gamorlan were a rather tempermental race - and the five clones the klingons beamed aboard were elderly... better stay off their lawn..

Thanks!! rbs

Reviewer: CeJay Signed Liked [Report This]
Date: 13 Jan 2021 20:39 Title: Episode 19.1: The Ivonovic Commission - Bird Hunting

Pep and Mlady stuck on a ship with hostile Klingons? I feel bad for the Klingons. And this ship itself may be within a Romulan dreadnought like some sort of intergalactic turducken. Definitely want to see that show.

Getting your officers to change uniform for a temporary change in position felt a bit extreme but perhaps Irons is a bit old fashioned that way.

Author's Response:

Irons is nothing if not hard core...

And things might not be exactly a picnic on that klingon ship. Glad you're looking forward to it..

Thanks!! rbs

Reviewer: CeJay Signed Liked [Report This]
Date: 10 Jan 2021 15:40 Title: Episode 18.10: World on Fire - Gamorlan Rising

That answers what Pep was chasing. I wonder who's running the show on that BoP with Krull seemingly out of the picture.

Awesome visual of the planet tearing itself up in Hunter's wake.

Author's Response:

Glad you enjoyed World on Fire! literally..

Hopefully the answer to your question will be equal parts surprising, amusing and "I shoulda seen that coming..."

Thanks!! rbs

Reviewer: CeJay Signed Liked [Report This]
Date: 09 Jan 2021 13:52 Title: Episode 18.9: World on Fire - Krull the Magnificent

Bit of an unexpected twist here I didn't see coming. A lot of of action in this short segment with a great, rapid pace.

My favorite moment has to be the quick and rather ignominious end to Krull. Certainly not the ending he had envision for himself.

Author's Response:

Glad you enjoyed the Indiana Jones swordfight sequence - and thanks for the kind words! 

Hopefully more twists coming soon...

Thanks!! rbs

 

Reviewer: CeJay Signed Liked [Report This]
Date: 06 Jan 2021 12:40 Title: Episode 18.8: World on Fire - Grilled Possum-Chicken

Queue the X-Files theme. Some sort of deep conspiracy is afoot here and Ivanovich is just the right kind of tenacious bastard to uncover it.

Author's Response:

Really glad you're enjoying Emory. Political drama is really challenging to keep interesting. 

It helps to have action sequences to intercut it with. 

Thanks!! rbs

Reviewer: CeJay Signed Liked [Report This]
Date: 04 Jan 2021 13:29 Title: Episode 18.7: World on Fire - The Little Folk

Small, cute and furry (okay, I don't recall if they were furry) aliens. I'm getting a bit of a Star Wars vibe here. If you ever manage to turn this into a screen adaptation, there might be some merchandising opportunities ...

Interesting development and a surprise guest as well. I wonder if cloning a race that annihilated itself is how the Romulans are planning on getting their hands on this super weapon.

Author's Response:

Glad to keep you intrigued... I kind of picture the gamorlans as a cross between a Hallmark Precious Moments statuette and a smurf (but not blue). A fringe of downy fuzz lining their faces. I would LOVE to see these little guys brought to life on a screen... I had the idea the romulans were planning to use them as test subjects... These little guys are a bundle of fun.

Thanks!! rbs

Reviewer: CeJay Signed Liked [Report This]
Date: 02 Jan 2021 12:45 Title: Episode 18.6: World on Fire - Gamorlan Ground Mission

Not sure it ever occurred to me that Romulans are as strong as Vulcans. But that makes sense. Interesting that here Vulcans are stronger than Klingons. I could be mistaken but I don't think canon ever determined that.

Although, I'm sure it's never been particularly consistent anyway. E.g. T'Pol on Enterprise didn't seem to have any physical strength advantages to much of the rest of the crew, if I remember right, whereas Spock clearly had a of physical strength in TOS.

Why am I suddenly craving some sort of multi-species fight club?

Author's Response:

I kind of based that on humans reliably standing up in hand to hand combat with klingons but being easily overpowered by vulcans. There is a split - original series klingons were reliably much stronger than humans, but the bumpy forehead lot weren't. STE addressed that by depicting the original series smooth-pated klingons as having augmented human genetics, which gave the human augments super strength. (I make a nod to this in Ep 27.)

I think STNG and forward conveniently sidestepped strength difference between species because it would inhibit combat scenes. And even STE showed Captain Archer knocking out a vulcan priest with a single punch (apparently he was from a rare family of glass-jaw vulcans.)

I think a Trek fight club series would be wildly popular... dibs??

Thanks!! rbs

Reviewer: CeJay Signed Liked [Report This]
Date: 02 Jan 2021 12:41 Title: Episode 18.5: World on Fire - Flare Up

That's certainly a creative approach vector, hiding as part of a solar flare, I like it.

I have images in my head of a planet crumbling in the wake of Hunter's suped-up warp drive. We'll see if the planet survives it. I guess wouldn't be the worst thing in the world if it didn't, seeing that the natives are long gone and the Romulans are up to no good.

Author's Response:

Glad you enjoyed the loosly used scientism... I think my solar physics would gel with Star Treknology. Whether Niel DeGrasse Tyson would buy it? I'm fairly certain I've let out a few whoppers in this series that he would call me on. I've already gone back and made a few edits where my ongoing understanding of astrophysics makes it clear I made some leaps of imagination in the wrong direction.

I'm fairly certain Treknology wouldn't be able to easily cause a planet to crumble - that was a big task for 25th Century romulans in Trek 2009. But ruining the biosphere of a planet would be disturbingly easy and is a bit of a plothole for some of the big Trek war sequences - especially in DS9.

Thanks for thinking these technobabble heavy scenes through with me! rbs

Reviewer: CeJay Signed Liked [Report This]
Date: 30 Dec 2020 23:34 Title: Episode 18.4: World on Fire - Signals

Cautionary tale? One would think an intelligence species divided amongst itself would come together to face off against a common enemy that threatens their entire existence.

Never mind, I just remembered that this is still 2020.

Author's Response:

You would think... Alas, we have ample evidence to the contrary. But it does give you a clue about the temperment of those cute little Hallmark aliens... precious moments...

Thanks!! rbs

Reviewer: CeJay Signed Liked [Report This]
Date: 30 Dec 2020 23:26 Title: Episode 18: World on Fire

That sentiment sounds so pragmatic, I'm suprised it's not coming from a Vulcan.

Author's Response:

Given the bajoran experience, it felt kind of like something a very smart bajoran might say.

Glad you appreciated it - it does set the mood for the gamorlans..

Thanks!! rbs

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