First pass Edit/Proof/Canon Check of 'Perfect 10'

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Mike Omelanuk

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Mar 11, 2026, 8:03:24 PMMar 11
to Liza Devereaux, swarm-authors
Liza - Here are my thoughts/edits on your story. I know from my own experience that writing a story within an existing universe is both challenging and rewarding. I can't tell, yet, where your story is going, but so far it is very engaging - even with the distraction necessary to proofread. I'm sure I missed a lot, and someone else reading after you've looked at my thoughts will catch other stuff I missed. Remember, the story is yours, not mine or someone else's.

ALL: A link to Liza's Swarm Dropbox folder is here. Any of you can see the file with my suggested edits. If you choose to edit/comment, please save a copy of the file with your initials. https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/6t2um5kac60mseznxkv6c/ALsPrmxXBQMOFrcIARQB4SI?rlkey=xucc9dl7aj2r66ev6ryyb8ycq&st=y81i362u&dl=0 If the link doesn't work for you, let me know.

Liza - It will look like I bled all over your story, but don't let that alarm or discourage you! Fred and I like it so far for sure. ,l

 Editing notes below – Mike Omelanuk

Stories that will help:

 Another CAP 10 score – A Perfect 10 and A Perfect 10 part 2 https://storiesonline.net/s/58087/a-perfect-10-part-1 and https://storiesonline.net/s/65027/a-perfect-10-part-2

Adapting Confederacy technology - Fairly Capable https://storiesonline.net/s/22400/fairly-capable/i Note that this story is farther along the time line than yours...

Hidden wrecked ship & alternate alien race (the Hwee) – The Cosca – Episode 1 https://storiesonline.net/s/57982/the-cosca-episode-1-family-values

My adaptation using the Hwee – The Beard, Chapter 8 https://storiesonline.net/n/36100/the-beard/9

Plot points:

AIs will know that Sean is hacking/infiltrating. BUT AIs have been known to be curious so they could allow him ‘read only’ access to see what he does… Likewise, he wouldn’t be allowed to encapsulate and isolate an AI, but they might allow him to think he had to see what he would do. Remember, he is being continually evaluated.

By what means is Sean communicating with AIs after he meets them? I understand postponing an implant, but some technology like an earbud/throat microphone is necessary.

Explain “ They were all bonded”. The normal process is to hand the individual a pseudo PDA that injects nanites that induce extreme nausea if the individual attempts to discuss Confederacy info with an unauthorized person. This is early on, so it is conceivable that a senior officer would brief his earth-side relatives, but later on not!

Extracted citizens (and especially concubines) are not allowed to return to earth after extractions unless 1) on an official business 2) with a Marine to pick up dependent children

Sean has 3 best friends who were not at his extraction. If he is so smart, why didn’t he figure an acceptable way to get them to the extraction. If he does, how will they fit into the story?

There is no way the AIs would not know about and permit the Corporal to use Confederacy technology to seduce candidates and fake CAP cards. This would have to be done outside a testing station by someone other than a citizen. AIs see everything that someone with an implant sees. This needs revision.

I find it unreasonable that an individual who is given a counterfeit CAP card by a uniformed Confederacy citizen would be executed if he/she is unaware it is counterfeit. There are cases where individuals knowingly purchase or otherwise obtain a fake card, but I don’t see this happening here. See my notes in-story on how the Confederacy would typically handle this type of situation – if you decide to keep the corporal as bad guy.

There is no AI Council. AIs communicate with each other as warranted. This was decided a long time ago. I suggested fixes within my edits.

Flying saucer’ type technology is already a plot point in other stories (see above suggestions) but easily adapted within your story.

I’m not sure why you specified Sean going to Annapolis. Sometime in the indicated time frame the Confederacy services will establish their own academies. His attending classes as an ensign and not a cadet would need explanation, and cadets are not allowed to marry. ~10 Conks would also need to accommodated/explained. Typically they would remain in his pod(s) while he is on detached duty – except one could accompany him. He could ‘get to know’ his harem while the being tested before he goes to Annapolis.

Bits and Pieces:

Marine(s) are customarily capitalized. Other armed services as well in the Swarm Cycle.

AI instead of A.I. except maybe a character’s writing.

No weapon that could destroy a planet or sun. Genocide is not permitted.

FTL communications are very rare and take special equipment and exceptional energy. Colonies and ships use FTL messenger drone capsules.

Your cover still has “add your txt here”.

thinkin...@gmail.com

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Mar 20, 2026, 12:44:44 PMMar 20
to Mike Omelanuk, Liza Devereaux, swarm-authors

I should probably address one of Mike’s points.  Confederacy races (not humans, but the other races, who we don’t generally get to interact with or visit) have installed massive communications stations in Oort clouds of their systems that allow instantaneous communication via wormhole.  This is then supplemented by hyper-capable message torpedoes small enough to hyper jump deep in-system to planetary gravity wells.  This gets things close enough that while generally too long for face-to-face communication, timeframes are reasonable.  Actually, delays could be on the order of a couple of minutes.  WE ARE NOT ALLOWED THIS TECH.  It is a limitation designed to keep us from catching up with the other races, who want nothing to do with us.  We are modern janissaries, as I understand the term.  I could be wrong.  In any case the Ais protect the races from even being aware of us, in general, and we are denied tech that might lead to us reaching parity with Confederacy races.  We have message drones, but have to use them for the full length of a trip from one system to another.

 

If this is nowhere in the wiki, it should probably be inserted somewhere.  I know that I’ve discussed it, more than once, but it may not be documented.

 

Regards,

 

Thinker

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Quantum Mechanic

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Mar 20, 2026, 5:55:00 PMMar 20
to swarm-authors
I am really glad to see this post. I've been wondering for years whether it was really policy, Confederacy-wide, or if maybe it was just some of the AI's being high-handed. I'm not sure that you ever made it as clear as it is now - and in my mind it justifies my paranoia about the motives of the non-human Confederacy!

Quantum Mechanic 

Mike Omelanuk

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Mar 21, 2026, 10:15:52 AMMar 21
to thinkin...@gmail.com, Liza Devereaux, swarm-authors
Boss, a version of your explanation is in the wiki under FTL Communications. I confess to being a subversive apostate with my story The Beard, in which I attempt to explain such stories as Allan Joyal's Ishtar series in which FTL communications do exist. Simply put, in addition to huge energy costs, the FTL communications require paired crystals obtained from a planet no longer in existence. How Allan found some, who knows... Caleb and company were presented a pair by QM's non Confederacy race the Hwee.

And, yes, I'm a huge fan of the Crystal Singer series...

Mike


Lou

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Apr 2, 2026, 1:38:36 PM (6 days ago) Apr 2
to swarm-authors
I am late reading this thread (as well as most of the others), but I need to second Mike's endorsement of the Crystal Singer series. He recommended it to me; at first I was skeptical, but quickly became a convert. Worth a read.

Lou
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