[dkstories] DOH 21

[Rigel]

Good stuff!

 

--Rigel

[Demetz]

Grrrr ... Its not nice to tease your readers, Dan!

 

 

~Dem

[C James]

That targeting problem on the missiles looks very significant! I wonder where it will lead???

 

Overall, I loved the chapter, but I did have one quibble: Was anyone else bothered by Garret's actions at the very end of the chapter? It seemed a bit cold and "using" to me, unless he has other motives.

 

Speaking of other motives: Garret is heading for Braxix unescorted?? Uhoh! I smell trouble. Not sure how, or by whom, but I think he's going to be captured.

 

Thanks DK and Emoe!

[Jay]

That targeting problem on the missiles looks very significant! I wonder where it will lead???

 

Agreed, I think that this will make things interesting in the future.

 

Overall, I loved the chapter, but I did have one quibble: Was anyone else bothered by Garret's actions at the very end of the chapter? It seemed a bit cold and "using" to me, unless he has other motives.

 

Yep, this seems to be exactly the wrong thing to do with Aaron if he wants to help him be stronger and more assertive.

 

Speaking of other motives: Garret is heading for Braxix unescorted?? Uhoh! I smell trouble. Not sure how, or by whom, but I think he's going to be captured.

 

Thanks DK and Emoe!

 

Actually I would be concerned with this but since you've made this prediction and with your record with predictions I don't think we need be worried.

[C James]

Yep, this seems to be exactly the wrong thing to do with Aaron if he wants to help him be stronger and more assertive.

 

Glad I wasn't the only one to think that.

 

Actually I would be concerned with this but since you've made this prediction and with your record with predictions I don't think we need be worried.

 

 

I have a gift for predicting things that do not occur!

 

Hmmmm, if I become infallibly wrong, I might just decide to predict that the world won't end tomorrow.

 

Still, the idea of just Aaron and Garret alone on that moon certainly does raise a few red flags. Especially if Aaron has some other loyalties.

[EMoe57]

Hmmmm, if I become infallibly wrong, I might just decide to predict that the world won't end tomorrow.

Now see? You are trying to use your powers for "other than good" purposes. Besides, your predictions are for things that *will* happen, not things that *won't* happen so you have no track record on that basis.

[NaperVic]

Braxix...Braxix...Why does that name sound familiar??? Don't we have a member named Brax?

 

I think the Republic will figure out why the guidance systems are off on the missiles and that it shouldn't be a problem in the future.

 

But I wonder if the Traitor fleets will try some kind of offensive action before the republic is allowed to continue to build up their forces. Granted, the Traitors will need to build up and train their forces due to the purge of clones, but I can't see Leonov standing pat. Could an encounter at Calos be up next???

 

Vic

[Demetz]

Yep, this seems to be exactly the wrong thing to do with Aaron if he wants to help him be stronger and more assertive.

 

I had noticed that as well... not neessarily to make him more assertive though, just less... submissive. Its one thing to show him love, something else to dominate him... again. Garrett's attitude about it really seemed out of character for him.... Then again, maybe garret is treating Aaron like a clone, as though Aaron's purpose in life is to be dominated. If you look back through the first couple chapters its pretty clear Garret thinks thats what one is supposed to do - fulfill one's purpose. Garrett might see himself as only helping Aaron to do that. Wish Dan would have continued that scene ... at least through the morning after, to give us a better idea of exactly what's going on there.

 

As for the traitor fleets... Leonev should already have been going on the offensive. I'm sure he's had some difficulties keeping the traitor worlds in line... billions of people do not change loyalty that easily.... Still, he should have been running small swift assaults throughout the republic. Hit, run, show up at the next target, hit and run again. Never major engagements, just the vulnerable targets. Four or five teams operating like that would have the republic running around in circles chasing its own shadow instead of preparing to strengthen their blockade.

[abc]

That targeting problem on the missiles looks very significant! I wonder where it will lead???

Well, it looks like our traitor general has good computer security specialists at hand. Although it may be that it's just another, normal element of warfare in Garret's universe. That was how Adamant was first attacked. Computer viruses also played important role in the attack on Peladon. And now taking control of guidance systems on missiles and torpedoes.

Overall, I loved the chapter, but I did have one quibble: Was anyone else bothered by Garret's actions at the very end of the chapter? It seemed a bit cold and "using" to me, unless he has other motives.

Yes, I'm really stating do dislike Garret. I'd like to blame Masako for this, her arrogance, her tendency to assess others at first glance, judging if they're good enough to be in her inner circle (Hint: I can't abide her, I'm interpreting everything she says and does against her, always looking for malicious intents. Don't know why, really.) But I don't think this is the case. He's doing this on his own.

 

Or, perhaps, I'm being a bitch and should re-read few last chapters when I'm in better mood

[Demetz]

Adding to what I was saying before about better use of the traitor fleet:

 

The targets those teams go after don't even need to be destroyed. In fact, its better if they aren't because then Garret's resources are spent accomodating repairs to old technology instead of simply replacing it, or he is forced to scuttle it himself before he replaces it (in which case its just as good for Leonev as if he his own forces had destroyed the target).

 

Something just seems wrong about Leonev's dual ability to organize a massive and damned near successful coup attempt with the exception of a singular element (Aaron) but to also fail so miserably when it comes to picking up the pieces and working with what he's got. I think its time for another coup. I am hereby ordering the arrest of Leonev and his ejection into the nearest star, sale of all the remaining clones to the federation, and implementation of my master strategy to become emperor of the universe

 

 

Perhaps this is where I should start a spin-off fanfic based on Dreams, hmmm? Could be very interesting but I'd never start one using Dan's story without his permission to first.

 

 

One more thing... something I've found strange for quite some time is that there has been a bit of a lack of explanation.... what made Leonev so special that he could organize a coup attempt and succeed? Why would other high ranking officers follow him instead of the republic, or just someone else from their group? How much do we actually know about Leonev at all? Or did I just miss something and need to go back a few chapters?

 

~Dem

[EMoe57]

.... what made Leonev so special that he could organize a coup attempt and succeed? Why would other high ranking officers follow him instead of the republic, or just someone else from their group? How much do we actually know about Leonev at all? Or did I just miss something and need to go back a few chapters?

I don't recall any one big explanation to this query but you might go back to DOH 15 for a scene between Garret and Tremere that touches on this.

[Demetz]

Alright, I'll go check that out, then.

 

Ah, here we go....

 

“He’s found a bunch of officers who were denied choice commands, or who were not promoted in favor of promoting Academy graduates, or who lost loved ones under Academy graduates, and he’s formed them into a core of senior offices. Over the last few years, since the death of his oldest nephew, he’s been using his seniority to move them into key positions, and he’s almost done now, purging the officer corps of Academy Graduates. Once he’s confirmed, he’ll announce the de-certification of the Academy for commissioning of new officers. He’ll also purge as many senior clones, clones who’ve learned to think on their own instead of just possessing blind loyalty to their superiors, from the ranks. Then he’ll replace them with True Borns, and he’ll try to get as many from the Democracy Movement as he possibly can.”

[EMoe57]

That's the downside to an online story - you get the immediacy of each chapter but the delay between chapters so that you tend to forget some of the finer points that transpired in the earlier chapters. It has been 4 months since I read the first chapter of this story. I'm bound to have forgotten some things, as the readership is fond of pointing out when things are not consistent between chapters.

[Dio]

I had the most enjoyable experience reading from chapter four (where i stopped to wait for a whole crap load of chapters to be posted) up to the current. In doing so I missed an entire night of precious sleep! Raaaa, I should've held out a little longer.

 

I wub you Dan

[EMoe57]

I hear you, Dio. When I went back and read DOT in anticipation of DK writing new chapters, there was much sleep missing from my life. Its amazing to see how well stories flow when they take several years to get written.

[C James]

I have a gift for predicting things that do not occur!

 

Hmmmm, if I become infallibly wrong, I might just decide to predict that the world won't end tomorrow.

Now see? You are trying to use your powers for "other than good" purposes. Besides, your predictions are for things that *will* happen, not things that *won't* happen so you have no track record on that basis.

 

Emoe, you have a very good point! You are quite right. I'd have to change the wording and predict that the World will still exist tomorrow!!!!!

 

Thanks, Emoe! I couldn't have destroyed the world without you!

 

Adding to what I was saying before about better use of the traitor fleet:

 

The targets those teams go after don't even need to be destroyed. In fact, its better if they aren't because then Garret's resources are spent accomodating repairs to old technology instead of simply replacing it, or he is forced to scuttle it himself before he replaces it (in which case its just as good for Leonev as if he his own forces had destroyed the target).

 

Leonev's ships are mainly newer, too, which might give them capabilities that we have not seen yet.

 

I think you have a good point on the tactics, and I also don't think

Leonev is going to be dumb enough to sit back and wait while Garret wins the battle of production.

I think the missile targeting problem is a harbinger of things to come.

[NaperVic]

Leonev's ships are mainly newer, too, which might give them capabilities that we have not seen yet.

 

While the average age of Leonev's fleet may be younger than the republics, I believe that the Lexington is the newest ship in the fleet (or at least the newest Super Carrier). As described by Garrett in DoH Ch 11 'The most powerful ship in any fleet'.

 

Any capabilities that the newer technology may provide is already in the hands of the Republic. While the Traitors may have more of the latest technology, there should be no surprises to the Republic (besides the thwarting of the guidance systems).

 

Vic