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[James Smith]

*********
Land's End, England
3rd March 2542
0800hrs EST


He knew the journey was ending, but he still didn't want to accept it. That was the problem with living this long - you get used to the idea of living forever. So you put off all manner of things, until one day you realise that you aren't going to live forever. And there are so many things left to do.

Of course, it wasn't even old age claiming him. Too many battles, too many wounds. His body had decided enough was enough. Time to go. And he knew that he would live on even when this body died. But still....he didn't want to accept it.

"There's too much to do. I'm not ready, dammit. I'm not ready!"

The sea breeze battered him, making him shield his eyes from the spray. He turned, retreating to the shuttlecraft that he'd parked a little way back from the cliff. Back to the warmth of a spaceship's cabin.

He clambered into the cockpit, every bit of his body protesting as he wriggled into the seat. When he'd built this ship he'd been in much better shape. Time had been pretty kind to her though - she'd only needed rebuilding twice, unlike her pilot. He remembered building her, with his friends. Those were fun times. Times full of friendship, and love. Despite the battles that had raged back then, and were still raging now, he'd enjoyed that period in his life. But time had claimed his friends, had claimed her, and now he had no-one. And yet....he still wasn't ready to move on.

He launched the shuttlecraft, heading back up into the blackness of space. The ship was waiting for him there, still as beautiful as the day he'd first clapped eyes on her. Time had been kind to her as well. He'd been able to use his influence to keep her flying, and both ship and master had settled into their twilight years - training up kids to become the next generation of space heroes. It was a huge honour to fly with him, apparently. He never had quite understood that. Sure, he'd saved the galaxy more times than he cared to remember. But so what? Other men had done the same, and they were all but forgotten. So why was he special? Why was the ship special?

"Shuttlecraft Spitfire, come in please."

"This is Spitfire."

"Sir, the computer has just flagged up something on our LRS. A strange energy pattern. It lists it as something called 'The Gateway'."

His breath caught in his throat. The Gateway. The Gateway to the Nexus, to the next life. A way back to his friends and his wife. But a way that meant death for his body.

"Speed up the landing procedure. Lay in a course for the source of the readings. Maximum transwarp once I'm aboard."

Admiral James Smith sat back in the seat as the computer took over the landing, his eyes squeezed shut. The Nexus. Maybe it was time, after all. Maybe this was the sign that it was time to go home. He opened his eyes in time to see the hull of his ship slide by, her name proudly illuminated for all in space to see.

Tigermoth.

*********
*********

Thinking of expanding it into a full story at some point. Will be a long time off yet though, given that I have ROTA on the go right now. Reckon I should go for a story that far into the future?

[Commander Maxillius]

2542...  ROTA is in the 2490's isn't it?

I say go for it, but don't go *too* overboard on new save-your-ass tech

[James Smith]

2542...  ROTA is in the 2490's isn't it?

Currently in the (Earth) summer of 2395.

I say go for it, but don't go *too* overboard on new save-your-ass tech

Yeah, there are a lot of pitfalls in writing a) too early in the Trek universe and b) too far into the future. In both cases you can have terrible trouble getting the tech level right.

[Commander La'ra]

Not bad, and yeah, I'd like to see where it goes.

All these dramatic resurrections...chances to live forever.  Always sort of pictured La'ra falling asleep after telling his grandkids some old war story and never waking up, a smile on his face being the only indication that he was dreaming about a sextet of Orion slave girls as he passed through the gates of Sto'vo'kor.

[James Smith]

Not bad, and yeah, I'd like to see where it goes.

As I say, It'd be after ROTA is done and dusted. I haven't decided if I should run with this one, or finally[/b][/u] finish the "Vengeance" story arc that fills in the gaps of the Smithy-Metcalf war. I reckon I ought to get on with that one post-ROTA, given how long I've been putting that job off. We'll see.

All these dramatic resurrections...chances to live forever.  Always sort of pictured La'ra falling asleep after telling his grandkids some old war story and never waking up, a smile on his face being the only indication that he was dreaming about a sextet of Orion slave girls as he passed through the gates of Sto'vo'kor.

That would be very....appropriate.

[Governor Ronjar]

I've read this 'n twice. Not sure how I feel about it, but I'll say it's well writen as always.

For Governor Ron'jar, late of the Hiv'laposh and other ships...I'd say either death in battle, sacrificing self and/or ship to save the Empire or he'd finally retire back to Goesa'vaina. I could see the death in battle being personal combat just as easily as space battle.

For Captain Dath'mar... I'd say he'd likely just bite off more of a target than he could chew and get his ship stomped. Yeah... As broadly thought-out as he is in my mind, he is decidedly short-sighted. After all, he is intended to be the 'the bad-guy' Klingon.

--thu guv!

[James Smith]

I've read this 'n twice. Not sure how I feel about it, but I'll say it's well writen as always.

Could you give me any more than that, guv? Anything in particular that makes you unsure about it?

[Governor Ronjar]

Damn, I really wish there was.

The whole living beyond your normal life thing is, of course, a staple of scifi. 60-100 years is not a hell of a long time when you really think about it. So if technology ever gets to the point where you can practically live forever, then why not? But how much is too much, story wise? Keeping a character burning along can have detractors and cheapen a the world you write in and the character you're using if you continue to advance the time period you are writing in...

Maybe I'm babbling. Firstly, is there more to this one, or more on the way? It seems like the beginning of a longer story, but the way you present it as 'a short fragment' makes me wonder.

Anyway, I'm still not sure how to properly comment on this one.

--thu guv

[James Smith]

Damn, I really wish there was.

The whole living beyond your normal life thing is, of course, a staple of scifi. 60-100 years is not a hell of a long time when you really think about it. So if technology ever gets to the point where you can practically live forever, then why not? But how much is too much, story wise? Keeping a character burning along can have detractors and cheapen a the world you write in and the character you're using if you continue to advance the time period you are writing in...

That's the thing though - the only reason Smithy has lived that long is because he's half El Aurian. It isn't down to technology, or time travel, or metaphasic radiation. And the only reason he's dying now is because he's had nine bells o' **** knocked out of him in the +2 centuries he's been alive.

My idea for this story was to have a completely worn-out Smithy right at the end of his life, struggling to stay relevant in this time. He has his ship, which is used for training the next generation of crews for battle. But all his friends are long gone. His wife is long gone. His family are long gone. He doesn't want to die, but he doesn't really want to hang around this universe either. The events of the story would hopefully give him a good send-off.

Maybe I'm babbling. Firstly, is there more to this one, or more on the way? It seems like the beginning of a longer story, but the way you present it as 'a short fragment' makes me wonder.

Anyway, I'm still not sure how to properly comment on this one.

--thu guv

There will be. Just got to decide whether to work on this one or work on Vengeance after I finish ROTA.

[Governor Ronjar]

[

That's the thing though - the only reason Smithy has lived that long is because he's half El Aurian. It isn't down to technology, or time travel, or metaphasic radiation. And the only reason he's dying now is because he's had nine bells o' **** knocked out of him in the +2 centuries he's been alive.

Oh...well then... Forgot about that.

My bad.

Then I have absolutley nothing bad to say about it!

 --thu guv!

[Czar Mohab]

Even with those 2+ centuries under his belt, it always seems the good ones die too young. Personally, I'm hoping to be a not-so-good one and live a longer happier life.

Not up to speed yet on this series, but still looking forward to more of this one.

Czar "So much reading to do, so little time" Mohab

[Scottish Andy]

I'm not sure about this either. It's nice, but... I have to agree with the Guv in saying that your main character stays the same guy he has been for 200+ years, with the same stuff happening to him. He only ever seems to be involved in battles, and his final scene her is also about him being the training officer for combat.

Give the guy something else to so, willya?

On the characters' End of Days, I have Andrew retire as an Admiral in charge of Yard Operations (a position seen on various ships' dedication plaques) since I'm such a ship nut and I'm working all that stuff out anyway. My adventures continue into the Next Generation with "my" granddaughter Karen.

I remember Jaeih telling me about the death of Andrea Yushikara. She heard Dido's song 'White Flag' and was inspired with a scene from the lines of the chorus. Which I've just looked up and will paste for you below:

But I will go down with this ship
And I won't put my hands up and surrender
There will be no white flag above my door
I'm in love and always will be

She envisions Andie, who still doesn't like Klingons, nonetheless performing a figurative "Kahlesste kaase". From John M. Ford's book 'The Final Reflection' and used again on Peter Morwood's 'Rules of Engagement', it is an oath referring to the story of the Emperor Kahless, who died with his hand tied to the controls of his ship in a battle against Romulans.

Andie and the Renown die together. It's quite moving when put to music as flashes of scenes.

[James Smith]

I'm not sure about this either. It's nice, but... I have to agree with the Guv in saying that your main character stays the same guy he has been for 200+ years, with the same stuff happening to him. He only ever seems to be involved in battles, and his final scene her is also about him being the training officer for combat.

Give the guy something else to so, willya?

I keep trying to write stuff with him not having an enemy (or at least, one not on the level that poses a threat to the entire Federation) to fight. One day, I'll be happy enough with those stories to put them on here.

And yes, he is pretty much the same guy. Probably far too similar, given how long it's been since the last story (and given the events of that story....oh, if only you knew what was coming....).