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So Makhearne is now the arbiter of the Greater Good? I understand his motives, but isn't that the excuse every dictator always uses?

While it disappoints me that Makhearne would stoop to such indiscriminate violence, it's even more disappointing - as others have pointed out - that he didn't even succeed in his stated goal. Do it well, if you're going to do it.

That he then tells Ronsend that Pierce "will do", makes things even more confused: why attempt to kill him in the first place, then? It sounds suspiciously like Makhearne is rationalizing a badly botched job. His unwillingness to listen to Ronsend's criticism seems a weakness, too. Sure, Makhearne knows potential futures, sure, he's more experienced, but he's limiting his own usefulness if he's only going to listen to people who confirm what he already believes.

Interesting to compare Makhearne's with Frost's approach to their respective goals: Makhearne is struggling as hard as he can to prevent a nearly inevitable outcome, while Frost has decided to go with the flow of things, try to nudge events her way. One thing's for certain: for the next few years, she's going to have a far easier time of things than Makhearne.

Regarding our characters' needs to disappear and 'reappear' as new people, can they alter their physical appearance, using their Knights Temporal technology? In that case, they could tell their human confidantes something along the lines of "I'm growing infirm in my old age and need to retire, but be on the lookout for my chosen successor, who will continue our hallowed struggle". Reappear as the announced person and it'll save at least some time in re-establishing contacts. Just a thought, admittedly not very sophisticated. :)

Nice post, lots of food for thought. Seeing how things play out will be interesting.
 
I was very surprised that Mekhearne let Feric leave. I would have thought that he would be more inclined to deal with such dissent with a firm hand, holding a loaded pistol. He can’t like Feric becoming possibly a rogue agent can he? I definitely don’t like the looks of this, not at all.

My nose is itching, which means that Feric is going to do something so good, so decent, so impossibly nice and civilized that he’s going to get someone killed. Hell probably a lot of people killed, Maybe even a puppy dog or two.
Nasty business that do-gooder stuff.


As for my better half, she is once again throwing pots, sore elbows and all. I occasionally hear a groan coming from her while she’s down in her studio but I turn a deaf ear to it. Wouldn’t want her to get the idea that a couple of fractured elbows is any reason to sit around and rest. Nope it’s for her own good, at least that’s what I tell her and I’m sticking with that story. ;)

Joe
 
C'mon Feric...you work for the 'Hammer'! What did you expect?

Interesting plot device there...I'm not quite sure Makhearne didn't succeed with his plan after all. I wonder what things our young padawan must learn in this time of 'independence.'

More questions, fewer answers...the plot keeps rolling along!

TheExecuter
 
ComradeOm - Please remember this post of yours as we journey into the future. You have indeed cut to the core of the matter. Frost is working toward an independent Confederacy that can re-assemble the old union in its own image - her old goal, but deferred in years.

The Knights view other timelines as colonial posessions. The Soviet Victory was an intolerable threat, the same sort of menace posed by Russians in colonial India or German battleships in the North Sea. Note the lack of remorse for wiping out billions of innocents from Britain to China.

stnylan - Thank you! Those two posts were written in one short rush and posted with minimal editing.

coz1 - we will see (probably in the next episode) that Makhearne learns of Frost's 'death'. He knows what she is about and knows some time must elapse to accomplish it. He will remain wary...

A point I have not raised (but will) is the degree to which the two sides have each other 'surveiled'.

J. Passepartout - I have no doubt Makjearne was there and willing to 'take action' but circumstances must have prevented it - perhaps there were simply too many survivors for his actions to remain unobserved. Even in 1850's America a murderer must be unobtrusive. :p

Fulcrumvale - I think it would be fairer to say Makhearne wanted Pierce gone but is willing to work around him while Frost was willing to work around him but now wants him gone. Poor Pierce. A genuinely nice man who was ruined by attaining his presidential ambitions.

Stuyvesant - Makhearne is focused - obsessed - with setting things right and he isn't going to allow petty things like lives stand in his way. The Third Temptation is to do the wrong thing for the right reason. Makhearne doesn't 'get' that the means you choose inevitably affect the end you achieve.

It is possible for the Knights to alter their appearance but not in major ways. We won't see them gain or lose inches of height (save by heels or posture), or Frost become a man. More likely the 'organization' has been given information on 'another leader', perhaps from some foreign place like San Francisco. There may be a power struggle and loss of efficiency as those unwilling to accept the new order are, um, 'persuaded'.

PS - received your PM and read it with great interest. Could not reply as I am spending all my time at work or in bed - the galloping crud is making its second trip to my lungs.

Storey - I can almost hear the old grump thinking, 'give him some time out in the cold hard world and he'll come back with his tail between his legs!'

As with any rebellious child (which Feric isn't but Makhearne thinks he is) you cannot restrain them forever. Since you must put the pistol downat some point it is better to not pull it out unless you intend to immediately use it.

One object of any good story is that the characters should grow and change. As I aspire to write a good story I hope we may see what our 'tagonists become.

I confess I thought of something very different when you said 'throwing pots'. :eek: Glad to hear you aren't dodging the sauce pans and flowerpots!

TheExecuter - oh, very nicely put!


To all - I have Tuesday and Wednesday off, so you can expect a major update then. Heh heh. Oh, yes, the Crimean War is coming up, isn't it.
 
Makhearne masterminded the assassination attempt? Wow. Didn't see that coming.

Speaking of the Crimean War from an American perspective, I read a nice AH short story some time back where the American Revolution hadn't happened and Bobby Lee led the Charge of the Light Brigade to better effect. Good stuff.

Vann
 
Excellent stuff Director, I've been catching up with this AAR recently. How it has passed me almost completely for so long I have no idea, but I'm glad I've finally tagged along. Terribly impressive writing.
 
Vann the Red - I've been sticking fairly closely to actual history thus far, so it will comeas no surprise that we will visit with the American military observers to the Crimean War. And then... well, that's for later. ;)

Dr. Gonzo - thank you, Doctor - I appreciate the compliment. Welcome aboard, and I hope you will stay with us for the rest of the ride. Please feel free to comment, ask questions and call me to account whenever you like. :)
 
Director: ...“Yes. The death toll was in the billions – ...Because that would have meant war, on dozens of lines, and hundreds of billions dead.”

IIRC, we read earlier that Makhearne was concerned about the ability of "his race" to survive the conveyor blocker...

thus, it seems to me that if Makhearne were serious about protecting his people, then he should find some faster and more sure way of eliminating the conveyor blocker. like nukes. ;) :D

magnificent updates ! ! :cool:
 
All right, Director. You've had your Tuesday and Wednesday to cook up another crackling update. Hand it over. :p :D
 
coz1: All right, Director. You've had your Tuesday and Wednesday to cook up another crackling update. Hand it over. :p :D


he might need a wee bit more time. i have him on a special request ! ! ;)
 
I just wanted to let Director know that even us evil lurkers who don't comment and fail to play our part in the writer-reader AAR relationship here on the Paradox forum very much miss his updates and are patiently looking forward to the next one whenever our intrepid storyteller finds the time/inspiration. :cool:

Oh, and also... <bump>

;)
 
Well P, I've managed to catch up. Sorry for the long absence, though I note yours. Hope things are well.

While I continue to applaud the excellent story-telling, I have to spare extra kudos to the Mexican War series of posts. Having read Gone for Soldiers by Jeff Shaara, I think you succeeded in capturing the entire campaign, including such nuances as maneuver and grand strategy. And your thoughts on Santa Anna, the (self-proclaimed?) Napoleon of the West, mirror mine. What a blow-hard! :)

Regardless of the lack of feedback (though the FB you receive is always insightful), get back to this soon, will ya? I mean, if you want pathetic feedback (with apologies to the 3 who did), just look at the thread announcing my latest sale. :)
 
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MORE ! ! :cool:​
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At the risk of a minor threadjack, does your return mean your eyes are workin' better, Bruce?

And, Porter, this tale does cry for more.

Vann
 
Vann the Red said:
At the risk of a minor threadjack, does your return mean your eyes are workin' better, Bruce?

Vann
Click to expand...
Naw, they're the same, Vann, which means I still have to parcel my time. However, I'm trying to make a point of reading and commenting in more AARs (or doing my part to help kick-start existing ones like this).

I just wish I could be as active as I once was. Thanks for asking. :)
 
Obviously some explanation is in order. Apologies for typos - I can't see well.

I came down witha nasty bug (December? January?) and couldn't seem to shake it. It went back and forth from head to chest at least four times... then Hannah Montana madness hit the theater. Little girls are cute, and it really is wonderful to see them so excited... but 300 per show, six times a day can grow stale.

And - you guessed it - now I'm sick again. Came home Monday night and slept until 10:30 this morning (30+ hours) at which point my 28-pound tomcat rebelled and woke me up. Fortunately I am off work yesterday, today and tomorrow.

It may be a bit before we have an update, folks. Again, I apologize for not keeping in better touch.



Almost all of my research on the Mexican War came from Eisenhower's 'Agent of Destiny', a biography of Winfield Scott. I looked around for a copy of Shaara's book but you know how contemporary bookstores are.
 
Interesting conversation with the assassins, Director!

And a fascinating historical point you made, about Pierce's kids, to tie it all together. I did not know that.

My apologies for not keeping track of this better. I fear that my freelance projects have taken me almost out of AARLand. I do take a break from time to time, which explains my presence now, and sometimes I'll play EU 3 and in 30 minutes I have an update for my AAR. Otherwise, I am ashamed to say I rarely make it outside of my AAR. I'm glad I made an excursion today!

Rensslaer
 
Get well, D. You know we'll be around. I figured it was just Mardi Gras...

Vann
 
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