Star Trek: Argos

[Dingo]

Last week while traveling on a business trip I had an idea during lunch. I pulled out my pocket notebook and wrote down the following questions on a graph paper lined page:

1. What if Olivia Benson from Law and Order SVU was a Starfleet Captain?
2. What if she was put in command of a newly commissioned starship, the USS Argos (NCC-(14229)), an Intrepid Class starship, set to launch a few weeks after the end of the Dominion War?
3. And with the attendant manpower shortage post War, she takes her former husband, Commander Aaron Carlyle (an OC of mine) aboard as her First Officer. (Yes, I totally stole the whole Mackenzie Calhoun and Elizabeth Shelby thing here).

The end of the Dominion War didn’t necessarily mean a galaxy at total peace. The newly commissioned USS Argos and her crew find themselves navigating an Alpha Quadrant in a state of flux.

An Alpha Quadrant in a state of flux is the environment where:

1. Cardassia is in shambles
2. The Breen, largely intact are behind their current borders, for now
3. The Klingons are spending a decade rebuilding.
4. The Dominion remains in the Gamma Quadrant under Odo, but how much influence does he truly wield?
5. The Romulans intentions also are mysterious

In any case, Argos is preparing to 'sail' into some turbid waters on her maiden voyage.

The fanfic, Star Trek: Argos, is linked (here).

 

[Robert Bruce Scott]

Your format sounds a lot like United Trek (CeeJay, Gibralter, Galen4 and others.) I don't know whether you're part of that troupe.

Mariska Hargitay would be a great choice to headline a Trek series - especially with a few more years on her since L&E SVU. I'm a big fan of older women in leadership roles (e.g.: Minerva Irons in my Star Trek Hunter series).

I had a quick look at the FF link - looks like you've started with a good relationship between the exes - Thanks!! rbs

 

[Dingo]

Your format sounds a lot like United Trek (CeeJay, Gibralter, Galen4 and others.) I don't know whether you're part of that troupe

Not at all part of that troupe, but I know of them and they’ve commented on my earliest works here 8-12 years ago. They’re a solid group of writers.

Mariska Hargitay would be a great choice toheadline a Trek series - especially with a fewmore years on her since L&E SVU. I'm a big fanof older women in leadership roles (e.g.:Minerva Irons in my Star Trek Hunter series).

I do say I’m intrigued, I shall have to have a look to return the favor.

I had a quick look at the FF link - looks like you've started with a good relationship between the exes - Thanks!! rbs

I actually was partially inspired by the dynamic between Janeway and Chakatoy in the seasons where everyone seemed to ship them.

Balancing technobabble, big plot events, and subplots of families and such should prove interesting.

A post Dominion War Starfleet and grappling with PTSD on a force level is an interesting thought.

May I ask what you found intriguing about Liv and Aaron’s relationship @Robert Bruce Scott?

 

[Robert Bruce Scott]

I do say I’m intrigued, I shall have to have a look to return the favor.

Episode 6: Breakfast Serial, Scene 3: Gossip is as good a place to meet Minerva Irons as any. She's 1/4 vulcan and 158 years old at the beginning of the series. I'm updating Ep 6 tonight on this platform.

May I ask what you found intriguing about Liv and Aaron’s relationship @Robert Bruce Scott?

A more or less amicable divorce with a shared child makes for a lot of interesting stories - although it also presents a very large number of overused cliches you'll want to avoid. But as long as you know these people well, the baseline really gives you a lot of storytelling options. I am a big fan of writing that presents children realistically and intelligently. They can be extremely hard to write. So I'm really interested in how you integrate the child's perspective and personality.

An author that I follow on another forum, Solasnagreine on FanFiction.net, is awesome in the way that she writes children. Here's a link to a chapter her story Into the Deeps, which features a number of vulcan and human children (and baby Spock) in case you're interested:

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13617674/22/Into-the-Deeps-Part-One

Thanks!! rbs

 

[Dingo]

Episode 6: Breakfast Serial, Scene 3: Gossip is as good a place to meet Minerva Irons as any. She's 1/4 vulcan and 158 years old at the beginning of the series. I'm updating Ep 6 tonight on this platform.

I’m going from the very beginning, Episode 1, that’s just the right thing to do in my humble opinion.

A more or less amicable divorce with a shared child makes for a lot of interesting stories - although it also presents a very large number of overused cliches you'll want to avoid.

Cliches aren’t always a bad thing if they’re written well, that’s an opinion I’m running across more and more on fanfiction Discords these days.

Most of the time when I have Liv and Aaron interact I just let them surprise me. The last scene in chapter one for instance was just planned as Aaron stopping by to let Liv know Noah was still in dreamland. The hurt and comfort just flew off the page when I was writing that day.

They can be extremely hard to write. So I'm really interested in how you integrate thechild's perspective and personality.

Having Discord friends who are parents and writers has been helpful in that regard.

I didn’t even hit on the theme of PTSD and it’s effects on most of the crew until I was halfway through the first chapter and I realized Liv and most of her crew have to be very adversely affected by the Dominion War.

I’m curious if you thought Aaron’s concern for Liv’s emotional state in chapter one was cliche, @Robert Bruce Scott

(and baby Spock)

“Baby Spock…doo doo doo doo doo…”

 

[Robert Bruce Scott]

I'm only concerned with cliches when the characters' actions or reactions seem forced to fit into a mold instead of arising naturally from their personalities. I didn't see anything in your writing like that. It's just very tempting to wander into that territory especially with a well-used setup. As long as you don't predetermine the outcome for them and let them discover it for themselves, cliche won't be a problem.

Here's a link to STH on AdAstra:
http://www.adastrafanfic.com/viewseries.php?seriesid=179

Thanks!! rbs

 

[Dingo]

As long as you don't predetermine the outcome for them and let them discover it for themselves, cliche won't be a problem.

Since I actually started this fic last week they and other characters I’ve put in have been surprising me left and right.

I’m taking a combination of Tom Paris and Tuvok’s approaches to storytelling here.

 

[Dingo]

Last Time on Star Trek: Argos:

“Liv, as I told you earlier it might be a while before you get one. The war has meant a manpower shortage.” Cragen said, “That said I do have one candidate I was able to locate. His file is in your PADD.”

Olivia turned around before reaching over to her desk, picking up the PADD in question, and opening the data file. The second she saw the name and photo staring back at her she said, “Sir?”

“I’m well aware of the history you two share. However, your choices are put to space shy a second in command or take him onboard.” Cragen said.

Olivia scanned the PADD further still and with a sigh she nodded, “I’ll take him.”

“Good. I’ll issue the appropriate orders. Cragen out.”

The screen blanked out before shifting to the symbol of the United Federation of Planets against a black background once again as Olivia Benson mused to herself, “I just accepted my ex-husband as my First Officer. I must be insane.”

“Okay let’s have a talk about the proverbial elephant, oh Hell, herd of elephants in the room.” Aaron replied, stopping just shy of the exit, “One thing’s for certain the crew is going to know, if they don’t already, that you and I were married at one point.”

“Believe me, I considered that very carefully. Admiral Cragen, for the record, tried to talk me out of taking you aboard. But when it came to putting to space shy a second in command or taking my ex-husband as my first officer the choice was clear.”

USS Centaur (NCC-42043)
Dorvan V, Cardassian Space
2374

“Liv…t-tell my girls…I love them…” with those words, Captain Charlie Reynolds, survived by a wife and four young girls slipped the mortal coil.

And now Chapter Two, Imzadi and Midnight Envelopes (here).

@Robert Bruce Scott

 

[Robert Bruce Scott]

And now Chapter Two, Imzadi and Midnight Envelopes (here).

The link is broken. Thanks!! rbs

 

[Dingo]

The link is broken. Thanks!! rbs

Fixed.

@Robert Bruce Scott

 

[Dingo]

Last time on Star Trek: Argos.

Sitting behind the desk was a fellow in his early forties with neatly combed blond hair wearing the blue of the science and medical division of Starfleet under the black and grey outer garments of his uniform. The two solid and one hollow pips of a Lieutenant Commander glinted in the light of the office.

The man turned in his swivel chair before standing up to greet her, “Good morning, Captain. Please excuse the ‘moving in’ state of the place, I just got here a couple of days ago.”

“Oh that’s alright, our quarters look about the same since we’re moving in too,” Olivia replied.

“I don’t think we’ve met in person just yet. I’m Counselor Neil Hauser.” The man extended his right hand and Olivia shook it.

“Olivia Benson.” She released hands and sat down, “Thank you for seeing me on such short notice.”

“It’s what I’m here for, this crew.” Hauser replied as he sat down, “So what brings you in here?”

“Well last night, actually.” Olivia replied, “I had a flashback of a mission during the war, one where nearly half of my crew were killed or wounded.”

The server turned to Charlie and asked him if she could get him something. “I’ll have what he’s drinking.”

“Many things have changed over the centuries, but beer remains an Australian staple.” Vaughn replied.

“Part of our charm,” Charlie replied as their server departed to sort out the order.

“How is Ellen?” Vaughn asked as he drained his mug.

“She’s doing well,” Charlie replied, “But you didn’t call me over here for small talk, did you, sir?”

“Of course not.” Vaughn replied.

Their server returned with two full mugs of beer and set them down before taking Vaughn’s empty one away. Then Vaughn gestured to the stars outside the viewport with his free hand, “It’s a Hell of a situation out there now, what with the Dominion War ending. Cardassia and its territory is occupied. The Breen, the Romulans and the Dominion may have retreated into their own spaces but their intentions remain unknown. The Klingon Empire is rebuilding and let’s just hope they don’t experience any of their home grown brand of political instability.”

And now, Chapter Three, Shadows of the Past. (here)

 

[Dingo]

Last time on Star Trek: Argos.

When the hatch opened Ellen saw what appeared to be a gleaming beam of sunlight emerging from the recesses of the tanker. 'They've got to be using some sort of stasis field. If that's antimatter and it's not contained properly that tanker is about to become a flying bomb!'

Suddenly the Cardassian tanker fired its thrusters, attempting to pull away only for the glowing antimatter to pulse inside its stasis field. Several panicked workers nearby tried to flee this impending disaster only for the Jem'Hadar to start firing at the fleeing prisoners. She counted at least four prisoners burning up as the oxygen in their suits ignited thanks to the Jem'Hadar fire before the flames were immediately extinguished by the vacuum of space.

USS Argos (NCC-14229)
Captain's Ready Room
2375

"Enter," Olivia called out from behind her desk, a fresh cup of coffee in her right hand.

The door hissed open to reveal Commander Aaron Carlyle with a PADD in his right hand. "Liv, I think I might have a lead about our mysterious Theta One."

"Alright, Aaron, start from the beginning."

"Well just after midnight I couldn't sleep so I went over to the Longshoreman to do some thinking." Aaron replied as he stepped into the office, waiting for the door to seal behind him fully before continuing.

"And I assume said thinking involved a pint or two?" Olivia asked.

And now Chapter Four, Crepuscolo. (here)

 

[Robert Bruce Scott]

Last time on Star Trek: Argos.
And now Chapter Four, Crepuscolo. (here)

I quite liked the cardassians - written as thoughtful people, not just heavies or dolts as they are too often presented.

Thanks!! rbs

 

[thribs]

So it’s not about the shop?

 

[Dingo]

I quite liked the cardassians - written as thoughtful people, not just heavies or dolts as they are too often presented.

Thanks!! rbs

I remember some Star Trek encyclopedia or other where it stated Cardassians remain among the most complex, contradictory and unpredictable peoples of the Alpha Quadrant?

So it’s not about the shop?

A ship is nothing without her crew.