Announcing: Deep Space Nine Season 10!

[Gul Re'jal]

It was more like a character development episode. Showing who stands where and preparing ground for new plots.

The characters seemed consistent and as they should be, no one felt out-of-character. What I miss is their seeing thoughts, something that is shown in a story-like narration, but since we can't really see what characters think on the screen either, lack of that detail makes sense in a script. Like I said, the format takes some time to get used to, but as I read I was forgetting about the format and concentrating on the plot.

And how often do you want new installments?

It really depends on you. The story reads fast and if I had more time, I'd read it within two-three hours. Now, when I should have a bit more time, I can read some more.

So whenever you post next episodes, I am ready I don't know about the others, tough.

I'm especially curious about Taran'atar's reaction to the Founders' decision to abandon everything and leave

Oh, which reminded me. I think it would make more sense if Glessin were furious about Jem'Hadar slaughter of Cardassia Prime and Lakarian City than the Obsidian Order fleet. Not only this was more recent, but also way worse. Before he explained I was sure that was the reason of his hatred.

[lvsxy808]

re Glessin, I was going for it being a bit of everything. He mentioned Neane and Coamis, then the OO fleet, then "a billion Cardassians" which I intended refer to the final assault on Cardassia Prime.

We knew of course that Taran'atar would go aboard the Even Odds from the end of The Soul Key. But it was only when I realised that there was already a Cardassian established who was a survivr of a Jem'Hadar attack that I realised "Ah-ha! There's my story." That was also what happening right at the beginning, when Brad describes him as "curled up in a ball, talking to himself" - he was remembering the original attack on the OO fleet.

[Gul Re'jal]

I disliked the last two DS9 books with mirror universe, so I deleted most of content from my memory Especially tiny details

[Enterprise1981]

I finished "Emancipation" in one sitting. It made for quite an interesting rehash of events in DS9-R, and I look forward to seeing how the effects of the Changeling "mass-suicide" from Olympus Descending continues to play out.

Are earlier ones like this available anywhere?

[lvsxy808]

Well, as I say, the earlier ones are just adaptations of the existing novels. So if you've read those, then there's little new there. And I was afraid of pissing off the authors.

You're right that "Emancipation" is mostly a here's-where-we're-up-to episode, but I felt that "Ha'mara" (the ninth season finale) left us with so many loose ends and unanswered questions that we needed that kind of episode to set us straight. There's also the idea that any season premiere ought to make everything as clear as possible in case there are any new viewers starting there who might not have seen everything that went before. Hence the idea of the admirals all coming to talk it all out.

[Freman]

I was SO excited until I saw script format. Sorry, pass.

[lvsxy808]

Freman wrote:

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I was SO excited until I saw script format. Sorry, pass.

Well, obviously that's your privelege, but I hope you'll change your mind.

Anyway, time for episode two!

Please enjoy 10x02 "Brave New World."

I'd love to hear more opinions on what you've read so far, guys. Any thoughts? Thanks in advance.

.

[Freman]

Well, maybe, just for you, I'll give the first one a read.

[Enterprise1981]

A nice, quick read. The screenplay format seems an appropriate format as a twenty-six episode per season continuation of the series. Interesting cliffhanger ending leaves me wondering how and when someone will set the record straight on Taran'atar believing he killed Kira.

[lvsxy808]

Well, strictly speaking, he already knows he didn't, because they had a conversation at the end of The Soul Key before he left. So he doesn't really think he killed her.

His announcement here that he killed her was partly to truly confess the depth of his sin and express his guilt by casting it in the worst possible light (after all, she was technically dead on the slab for a brief period in Warpath, or rather in episode 9x18 "Renegade"), and partly so that I could leave that storyline on a bit of a cliffhanger with the question of whether Odo would be so enraged as to actually kill him.

And the season's actually only going to be 22 episodes. That's more the standard season length for most American network dramas, Trek was unusual in going for 26. And in fact Enterprise was cutting its seasons down to 22 by the end too, so there is precedent.

But thanks for still reading! Lots more to come.

[lvsxy808]

So... I guess that one didn't generate much discussion. Boo.

What I enjoyed about writing this one was the thematic similarities between the various storylines. In all three of the Vaughn-Sisko, kai-election, and Dominion-in-chaos storylines, the issue was the difficulty in choosing between two different belief systems.

With Vaughn and Sisko, they were arguing between trust in a religious higher power and trust in a humanistic higher power. I think the irony there is that those beliefs are so similar as to be nearly indistinguishable. What's really pissing Vaughn off is what he sees as Sisko's betrayal, but it brings up those bigger issues for him.

With the Dominion, again, how different can the interpretations of two Vortas be if they're based on the wishes of the same Founder? Obviously different enough. And the battle for kai is between two almost identical versions of Bajoran religion. So I guess the similarity is in how these tiny distinctions can grow out of all proportion and take on a life of their own.

The Ro story, while contuinung her recovery, was more to establish that, while some people were arguing and punching each other and going to war, there's one person out there who genuinely doesn't give a toss one way or the other.

[Enterprise1981]

I'm guessing Solis doesn't last long since Pralon is Kai by the time of Rough Beasts of Empire.

[lvsxy808]

Well, he is kind of old. But there's a few years left to get to that point, and don't forget, Winn only lasted five years as Kai. Anything can happen.

.

[Gul Re'jal]

Ok, I finally sat with this episode and read it today.

I found the Dominion plot more interesting...The birthday party somehow dragged. There were some important things said and showed during it, but the whole setting somehow didn't work for me.

And for some reason I had Jadzia in my head, completely forgetting that it should be Ezri; and I realised that I should envision Ezri in the middle of the episode

I really hope Odo is not going to do anything stupid. Not only it would be wrong, not only he would regret it tremendously later--especially after learning that the news of Kira's death is not the truth--but also because it would be out of character for him. He's not exactly emotion-driven type.

[lvsxy808]

Gul Re'jal wrote:

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The birthday party somehow dragged. There were some important things said and showed during it, but the whole setting somehow didn't work for me.

Reading back over it now, I guess I can see why you'd feel that way. The Bajor-bound story does incorporate Vaughn-Sisko, the election, Kira chatting with Kasidy, catching up with all the rest...

What I was going for there was trying to create an extended family feel - a normal thing to do, as Vaughn describes it, all centred around the literal Sisko family. That lent itself to ordinary domestic stuff - cooking, washing up, changing nappies, watching telly. And then I compared that to the messed up Dominion "family" - parents Odo and Laas arguing while children Weyoun and Taran'atar are caught between them.

But I am aware that I have a tendency to waffle. I'm working on my brevity and getting to the point. The amount of stuff I've written and had to cut out because it wasn't relevant or just went on too long is quite scary.