13. Ael explained her discovery of the Romulans experimenting with Vulcans held in captivity on Levaeri V. What were some implications of what she discovered and now sharing with Kirk and the senior Enterprise officers?
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I think a part of her regret that she will be seen as a traitor by some Romulans & she won't be able to return home, if she survives at all. On the other hand, she is also excited to begin her mission. This was one of those scenes which would cut to a commercial break if it was on TV.
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She felt the Romulan leadership has lost their way and crossed the line by making war instead of living in peace. Also, since she was being sacrificed by them anyway, she had nothing to lose by resisting covertly and helping to defeat them from within.
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Sure, he had misgivings which is understandable. The Romulans were the enemy, Kirk's especially given he was the first they interacted with following their isolation (Balance of Terror). So, he's going to wonder if Ael can be trusted. #TrekBookClub #StarTrekMyEnemyMyAlly

I love the suggestion that the Enterprise has had many more adventures than the show or the books capture. The Enterprise has had multiple run-ins with the Bloodwing. #TrekBookClub

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12. Kirk expressed his feelings after making contact with Commander Ael, who requested to meet with him. Did he have any misgivings? Were his concerns warranted at that time?
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Ael was already on the outs with High Command when she learned of the psionic research project. One wonders if she would have acted with such principle if she had still been the darling of the fleet? #TrekBookClub

I think I got that, but didn't pay much attention since I don't follow that franchise (I am intrigued by it though) #TrekBookClub #StarTrekMyEnemyMyAlly

She felt good about it. The ship, where she was surrounded by officers loyal to a corrupt govt but not to her, felt like a prison. She knew the Senate had just pushed her out of the way, and she was going to use that do some good. #TrekBookClub #StarTrekMyEnemyMyAlly

She had a sense of duty to keep the galactic peace. She probably was frightened to a great deal, but she had to do her best to save the galaxy
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There’s the odd detail that the Intrepid has gone through the movie refit, but the Enterprise hasn’t yet. Later canon would make Enterprise the first. #TrekBookClub

She would have made a good Federation captain! #TrekBookClub

First, she was appalled at the thought of humanioid experimentation. Also, she worried that this weapon would not only be used in wars against other powers, but the Romulan govt. would use it on their own people. #TrekBookClub #StarTrekMyEnemyMyAlly

11. There is a Dr. Who reference! Are you a fan of that franchise? If you are, who is your favorite Doctor? What are some of your favorite moments from the Dr. Who franchise?
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Ael is sort of disgusted with the transition the Romulans are making from honorable TOS to sly and deceptive TNG. And TNG won’t air for another six years! Sometimes a work of literature needs luck to last, just like a starship captain. #TrekBookClub

Foreshadowing, yes, but nothing very concrete or illuminating. Which is pretty realistic. The novels could be a little grittier than the time-constrained five act show that had to relentlessly move the plot. #TrekBookClub

No way McCoy beats Spock in 4-D chess, but I liked the scene. Diane’s McCoy is actually smarter, and less cantankerous, than the show’s version. #TrekBookClub

Duane’s Enterprise rec room is an amazing place! Even TNG never showed us something so elaborate. Duane took good advantage of having an unlimited set budget and an unlimited prop budget. That was a conscious objective in early Trek novels, to show what the “show” could not. #TrekBookClub

Couldn’t help but think of the Japanese in the run up to World War II, and how their young officer corps drove the society recklessly toward conflict and eventual catastrophe which most of the senior leaders foresaw and wanted to avoid. Early Trek is so WWII influenced. #TrekBookClub