Has it really come to this, broccoli for dessert? Enterprise is in trouble alright.

Mighty nice gesture at the end.

Author's Response:

Thanks! I wanted him to kind of give up his slender grasp on order in exchange for his unnatural lust for the artificial pineapple flavoring, but at the same time, do something kind.

Really enjoying this story, especially the focus on the junior officers and the great, naturally flowing dialogue.

Hope Jess is ok after that battle. Would be a shame if her first bridge assignment turns out to be her last. But I'm sure that's not the first time that has happened. It's a risky job, after all.

Author's Response: Well, sure, people go flipping over the command chair all the time. :) Definitely sucks to be the poor soul stuck withOUT a seat/seat belt, though. This is why our parents tell us to buckle up in the car - in case we get attacked by unknown aliens. :P

Sounds like there is trouble in paradise. Or at the very least an omen for bad things to come. Things are simply too peaceful at the moment, leading me to believe something big is going to happen soon. Funny thing is, I'm enjoying this almost domestic vibe so much, I wouldn't even mind if nothing out of the ordinary would happen to Jessica and her friends for a while.

Also have been catching up wit Jessica's background story. Very nice and touching stuff.

Funny thing here. I only mean to read a couple of segments of this story for now and then come back later to finish it up but once I started I couldn't stop until I got to the end.

Mostly I think this was due to the compelling dialogue here. It flowed really well and I like dialogue heavy stories which aren't slowed down by too much prose. It makes them fun to read.

While the plot wasn't exactly subtle, I suppose it wasn't meant to be either even though I have to admit that I found the level of intolerance and prejudice displayed by the main characters here surprising considering that they're suppose to be Federation citizens. But then again, I guess I have a generally more optimistic view of the future and the basic decency of the human character.

The plight of poor Desh who of course had absolutely nothing to do with the Dominion War and yet was made to be a scapegoat as bad as a black kid in the South during the time of racial integration, was so compellingly written that I was really hoping for an uplifting ending. And I was not to be disappointed.

Author's Response:

Oh, thank you so much! I like to write dialogue and I like to get most of my exposition out that way. I'm glad that that appealed to you!

Yeah, Nimbus II ain't no paradise even if the name of its capital city would like you to believe otherwise.

Great little story in the best, roughish space jockey fashion, complete with a damsel in distress, a vile villain getting his due and ... robots?

Author's Response: The robot's role was part intimidation part misdirection. There is no machine matrix. At least not yet. It's whole statement was written by Kader to distract the enemy.

Alright, this went into a strange place quickly, though I suppose the title gave as a clue of where we may end up.

The opening here was wonderfully jarring to both the unexpected Malcolm and the equally unexpected readers.

Now a 22nd century Starfleet officer will find himself in a world totally unfamiliar to him. Let the hijinks commence.

Author's Response:

Let the hijinks begin ....

I'm totally impressed how you managed to capture the language and maybe even more importantly, the tone, of this era. That's not easily done and and no point do we not feel like we're truly in colonial times.

And I really like how eager Malcolm is in helping his savior and hostess, fully understanding that there is very little he can do by himself in this time. Not just as far as trying to return to his own time, but also, surviving in this unfamiliar world he has landed in.

The diaries and letters are an especially nice touch, a natural stand-in on what would have formed an entry into once personal log in the distant future, it gives us a great view deeper into these characters thoughts and feelings.

Now the questions is, who is Lennox and is he the solution to Malcolm's dilemma?

Author's Response:

All will be revealed.

A second chance for Malcolm and Charlotte?

Really liked the way this story wraps up and the little epilogue which ensures a most unlikely second encounter of sorts thanks to the power of cosmic coincidence.

Great story and quite the ride you took us on. Well done.

Author's Response:

Oh, I thank you! I just adored researching and writing this. It was absolutely a labor love. :)

Woah, tense talk between Kircheis and Kelley. And it looks like the XO has a pretty good reason to mistrust the Romulans. Too bad she appears unwilling to consider exceptions to this rule. I don't think neither of them handled this situation very well which could lead to problems down the line.

Meant to ask, is the Border Patrol the same as the Border Service or a different agency within Starfleet?

The other question to ask is; was Pava ever alright to begin with? Oh well, that's a question for somebody else to solve.

A sad but poignant memorial service. As expected the death of Ariel is hitting Leone especially hard. For all her toughness and professionalism, this is not something she can handle easily.

I like the dynamic between Kircheis and her XO, by the way. She may not be particularly street smart but her loyalty is impressive.

Undoubtedly one of the most poignant and dramatic moments in Trek history, explored through the eyes of the most affected person.

The sense of dread and loss is completely palpable. But even more interesting, and maybe something we didn't really get in the scene in the move, is the sense of guilt.

And it is not entirely misplaced. Sure, risk is their business, but the risks Kirk takes, perhaps more willingly than others, also invites significant danger to others. And nowhere is that more apparent then when he has to watch his closest friend die in front of his eyes, unable to do anything to help.

Wonderful little story packed with a wallop of raw emotion.

Author's Response:

Thank you, CeJay.  I think we see more of the guilt in SFS, but it got its roots here if you ask me.

It has to be said. One of the most heinous and brutal attacks on a starship ever put to 'paper'. Difficult to read but without doubt, absolutely perfectly executed, it gave me chills.

And then there is Sandhurst's Story. The man is clearly changed from what he has once been, evidenced by his latest actions. The questions that remains: Changed for better or worse?

This story continues to be be absolutely excellent.

And now we actually get a little bit of quiet time while everyone adjusts to recent changes.

Sandhurst picking Pava as his XO is a big gamble, for sure. Let's see how that plays out.

Author's Response:

C'mon, you *know* there's gonna be tears, right?  ;-)