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Star Trek Frontiers. Episode IV A NEW…er… …Achem.. And Let Our Illusions Die. As moderate Star Trek fan I went into this assignment with a mild fear that I would be trudging through drivel like a man leading a burro the opposite way from where he wanted to go. I specifically feared being subjected to over continuity and drowning in characters without having sufficient time to get acquainted to the characters. I feared not being able to keep the aliens distinct in my mind. THOSE FEARS WERE UNFOUNDED. As soon as I got through the first ten pages I thought I was reading what with little tweaking could be a co-ed sports team getting accustomed to being together. These characters have an insane amount of discord on the bridge. Everything is being turned around with the former enemies turned into federation friends and vice versa. The previous little that I knew about the Jem’Hadar came from watching a couple of DS 9 episodes. After reading this screenplay I wound up enthused about the prospects of having another warrior race wandering around the Star Trek Universe. It is funny how a culture with MANY traits similar to the Borg and Klingon peoples can be unique. SPOILER…. If you want to read this story without learning more go here….. If you want to check out the latest in miniature games go here. The episode starts with a Jem’Hadar convocation on their new colony. A leader who urged the group to struggle for peace was assassinated by a Jem’Hadar warlord with desire to return to their original ways before the federation cut them loose from their former masters. We then catch up on Captain Sito who watches Ambassador Koth put the 3-D chess smack down on Commander Andrade. Then we are treated to a scene in a holo-generated bar thanks to Salea’s impromptu takeover of Peridonis’ workout program. Shits and giggles ensue when a holodude sets his sights on a peeved Jem'Hadar. The interaction between Peridonis and Salea is expected but still is enjoyable and realistic. I believe the authors wanted to give a moment where the characters seemed as though they were sisters. We then see that the dissident leader moves to intercept and destroy the enterprise as an act of revolution against the Federation. The sneaky way the Omega disruptor is introduced as being now operational is critical to the story. Kudos to the author for establishing this crucial plot device well. WHAT SKELETONS LIE IN PERIDONIS’ CLOSET? The crap hits the fan when we find out that the militant reactionary leader blindsides the enterprise and has go get rescued by a federation loyalist Jem’Hadar ship (led by Devalna Kor).The crap really hits the fan when it is revealed that the reactionary leader is none other than Peridonis’ brother Atadonis. The two siblings talk inconspicuously about his desires to have Peridonis defect from the Federation. She doesn’t really answer. She takes her stress to the Holodeck where she begins the most thrilling battle that if produced for TV. would rank up there with Sydney/Francie from Season 2 of Alias just a notch below Beatrice kiddo/Elle Driver from Kill Bill. Salea walked in at the termination of that beat down. To say she was chilled to the bone was an understatement. Atadonis then reveals himself to the entire Enterprise crew. Then he commanded his fleet to destroy Enterprise. Sorry buddy. That isn’t going to work, but you can have an A for ambition. But the ramifications of the exciting finish had Peridonis in the brig and the space hippie Captain INSANELY PISSED. I saw that Peridonis was written as a disconnected person secretly trying to feel behind a mask of stoicism. It is truly ironic that the shipmate, the tentacled but nevertheless hot mama Salea, who is perhaps is too affected by her environment, get close. This sisterhood can really be an interesting theme for the ship’s journey. Since I enjoyed this screen play I give it 8.8 fists out of
10… ( excellent premise and characterization along with shock twist. Some
small slow periods which is ok in my book. The BAM ratings account for the
average attention deficit affected 18-35 year old
in the general population.) Take care and don’t forget to kick ass.
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