After – let’s see – just over four months this time, the new story is almost done! I’ll finally be able to start posting in another day or two.

The story is titled “Phoenix Rising”; it’s about Mac’s very first mission for the Phoenix Foundation, and how he and Pete came to leave the DXS. It’s set at the end of the first season, of course – summer 1986 – and also includes my own take on a lot of loose ends that were left trailing during and after the first season.

This is the same story with the “Opening Gambit” that I posted back in March. I’m going to re-post from the beginning, though; there have been some changes, mostly the addition of another section. Besides, who remembers that far back?

The story is just short of novel length, and I have to go through each chapter again and comb it for typos and howlers and continuity glitches; so I’m going to do the actual posting in serial form, with one chapter every day or so. That will give you a chance to comment, and me a chance to fix any errors.

In a published book, I’d get to put acknowledgements in the front, so here they are now:

Special and heartfelt thanks to:

MacGyverGrrl, for all the chemistry. She literally put in hours of research, support, brainstorming and feedback.
Lothithil, for feedback, support, and countless checks to canon.
Laarell, Astra, and MacNymph for help with Russian.
Rockatteer, for help with 1980s computer systems. (Just the home computers – an errors involving mainframes are entirely my own.) Special thanks also go to him for his wonderful documentation of MacGyver’s assorted Swiss Army knives.
And my partner Melissa, for support, encouragement, supplemental research, and occasionally making me stop and eat.

Incidentally, the story is rated PG. And if anyone is concerned after having read “Up a Long Ladder”, let me mention that none of the characters turned out to be intractably addicted to swearing.

*glee!* At last... the moment we've been waiting for approaches!

Bring it on!

Once she gets on a roll, she really gets going. A near novel legnth in 4 months time -- nice. And I thought they said size didn't matter?

Beth, you are a TEASE! Instead of just posting it as a surprise - no, you have to tell us two days early!

Here, here! *Astra is jumping up and down* I'm very good at finding typos, seriously, I do it for all my friends, so if I can be of any further assistance?

Can't wait! I just put Loth's "The Rainmakers" on my PDA, so that's the next to read. I'm REALLY looking forward to your story!

Whaddya mean, a surprise? I've been talking about it for months!

You can certainly find typos, but I'm the one who has to make sure that all the changes I made in one draft or version got into the final draft. And make sure I didn't leave any plot threads dangling around loose, where someone's cats are bound to find them and make a mess.

But yeah, you're probably right. I am a tease.

o noes!

I knew I let an important bit of subplot roll off the table at some point . . .

Whaddya mean, a surprise? I've been talking about it for months!

But it is an entirely thing to know that it will come some day some week or to know it will come in two, no one day from today!

And with the time differences between us I won't even know when to be on the lookout for it - at the morning, the afternoon or the evening?

.. so I'm waiting... *tap, tap*

And please put this dangling thread back in, I guess it is too dangerous to have it laying around...

LOL at your little Jack O'Neill drumming-fingers smilie! Astra, that is so precious!

No kidding . . . especially when Mac is involved!

New Story!!
*Virtual hugs for MacBeth!!! YAY!!! <Does crazy dance.. shifts into were-jaguar form and pounces on plot threads...>