Oh, poor Captain, we've all been there, don't feel so bad. Of course in our cases we usually didn't have one of the smartest and most intelligent people in the known universe to point out our error and make us feel like a complete and utter fool.

Kirk needs a tax advisor. H&R Spock?

Well, that was an interesting way to handle Q. A long way from how Picard, Sisko and Janeway dealt with his meddling.
It helps, of course, that they are already so accustomed to each other. This is going to make for a very unique relationship.

Author's Response: *Smile* The relationship between Beth and Q is MUCH different from the relationship between Q and her elders. It's touched upon several times in this book. Hope you're enjoying so far. Thank you for reading and commenting!

Always wondered who counsels the counselors.

Enya (she doesn't sing, does she?) clearly has still much to learn about her craft. Well she couldn't have hoped for a better mentor than Deanna.

A lot of back-story in this chapter but it turns out it's all incredibly relevant.

Beth's revelation is world shaking for her parents. She's basically been hiding a serious disability from them for all her life.

It be interesting to see how she manages to perform her duties as a starship captain with such a potentially distracting handicap.

Also interesting, as far as I can remember Deanna wasn't much for telepathic communications herself when she was on the Enterprise-D. Clearly that has changed.

Author's Response: Deanna has empathic children. I think I mention that Deanna recalled being put off by Lwaxana's own preference to speak telepathically so Deanna's much more patient...she's also much older. The episode "Menage a Troi" is one where I base Deanna's increased comfort level with her own Betazoid skills...she saw Beth's rejection of those abilities as more than just being annoyed - she saw them as a rejection of her own heritage...something Deanna herself had to overcome really. Not the least of which...Cassidy was born without the ability - so for Beth to reject them was difficult for Deanna. Bill however - he has no issues with it. At all. :) You will see that there is an AWFUL LOT of backstory in this book...but it's also serving as the jumping off point for three more books - hence the need for the detail and the history. I can't thank you enough for reading!

Was doing some research on my own Pava story and came across this little tale which I must have missed the first time around.

Great stuff. I love it when the Federation, through the SMT's and the most dangerous El Aurian this side of the Milky Way, takes its gloves off to deal out some very effective punishment against its enemies.

Very well done.

Author's Response:

Yeah, this is definitely not your father's Federation anymore.  Especially with President Satie's more hands-off approach to foreign relations, there's now a heavier reliance on Special Operations missions when the Federation wants to get a point across or stop an enemy cold in their tracks.

About time this gets another chapter.

The battle is afoot and for a brief moment it looked as if Gibraltar & friends would have an easy victory for once. Then the universe remembered the absurdity of such an idea and promptly changed the odds.

And look at Sandhurst flexing his rarely used diplomatic muscles. To everyone's surprise, the sly fox has already hammered out half of a deal to ensure an independent Maquis state. Now the question is, will the Federation play ball, too.

And then there is Pava and the SMT's. They were a bit heavy on the catch phrases and pre-mission rituals here for my tastes but you can't argue with their effectiveness.

Outstanding, as always.

Author's Response:

Thanks for the review, CeJay!  Yeah, the SMT's are full of machismo swagger, but that comes with the territory in their line of work.  As for Sandhurst, he's playing things pretty close to the vest here, but given that this is him... things could conceivably unravel and go sideways any second. 

I'm tempted to say that Sandhurst might have missed his calling. The guy should have been a diplomat. I had no idea he was such a prudent negotiator. But I guess selling his Maquis-state plan to Kincaid and Diaz was just the easy part. Selling this to Command, the Federation and the Cardassians, now that's going to take some serious lobbying.

In the meantime we learn the full extent of Galmesh's surprisingly cunning plan. Or maybe not so surprisingly cunning considering that he's working hand in hand with a Romulan, of all people. Love the irony that she is his lover and enemy. That's poetic.

I didn't agree with T'Ser's call however to keep the Gallant back when Galmesh attacked. It felt a little bit like tempting fate. We're talking about Gibraltar after all, with this ship you never want to take any chances. I'm sure T'Ser will learn.

Terrific chapter but I do get frustrated that every other installment of yours includes a couple of words I've never heard before. A learning experience, I guess.

Another fantastic chapter.

You gotta love seeing Starfleet going on the offensive for once. Not something you see every day. And these guys appear to be serious. God help the Maquis.

I really liked Diaz here unable to delude herself about the changed nature of the Maquis any longer. But still, it's hard to believe that she's lost all her loyalties to her former organization. We'll see.

As for Ebnal; he's something else alright.

Another terrific chapter all around.

The battle between Amberjack and the Maquis was tightly written and exciting to read ... well at least until it was clear that they were all going to die. At that point it just became kinda heartbreaking.

But they will not have died in vain as now the 'gloves are coming off'.

Loved the Sandhurst/Pava encounter. Looks like Donald isn't quite ready to make nice with our favorite El Aurian but hopefully that's going to be a temporary rift.

Sandhurst meeting Kircheis was fascinating also. I'm growing quite fond of the young captain of the Gallant. Sandhurst shows an almost fatherly concern here as he already predicts another emotionally distressing enconter with the enemy. This guy needs a break like Ariel Elannis needs a celibacy pledge

Absolutely enjoyable from start to finish.

I've already marked this as my most anticipated new fan fiction series. No pressure.

Author's Response: Oooh! A fan! Move over, Sydney, I'm not sure I can live up to such high expectations, either. ;) Thanks for reading! :)

Turns out the hype was justfied.

Excellent follow up. Any chance this may grow into a feature length series? Now that would be fun.

Author's Response: Thanks for reading! There will be a few more short ones; I'll probably gather those into an anthology. I'm brainstorming on three longer pieces. I can't say when they'll be ready.

You can learn a ton about a person by listening to the people who are closest to them.

And Vannah clearly loves her sister without compromise which makes this and especially charming piece.

Author's Response: Aww, thank you! :)