Reporter Issue 7
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Submissions are welcome. Please submit by the 19th of each month to Elinor. Captains, please submit plot outlines for your ships by the 19th of each month.
FROM STARBASE 118
THE YOLANDA WARS
Starfleet was the first to develop the idea of a MASS DRIVER. A weapon of great destructive capability. We choose not to continue our research, but the Romulans gained possession of the plans, which was the primary motivation for their starting this war. They percieved a tremendous advantage in this weapon. The USS Ranger has destroyed the Romulans' ability to continue with the development and manufacture of this weapon.
As a result of this heroic work, Federation and Romulan Diplomats are now in peace negogiations, and an end to all hostilities has been called while the talks progress. We are cautiously optimistic that an end to the war is imminent.
More details are available to those with Class 5 or above (commander or higher) clearance.
THE KIROJEN INFECTION
The Kirojen Strain is now under control both on Star Base 118 and on the planet Vulcan. Our thanks to all those who worked diligently in eradicating this disease.
THE TRIAL OF FLEET CAPTAIN ELINOR AND LIEUTENANT COMMANDER CALLIUM TREETUS
During the Kirojen Crisis, Lieutenant Commander Callium Treetus did cause the USS Kirojen to travel into a wave of what we now believe to be energy beings, destroying both the beings and the ship. He and his superior officer, Fleet Captain Elinor of Kanist, stood trial for this offense, and both were found innocent.
WARNING IN GARSTEIN CLUSTER
Due to the destruction of the Shifter constructed wormhole there now stands a permenant space time rift in the Garstein Cluster. Warning beacons are in place and we request that all vessels avoid the area entirely.
PROMOTIONS
Congratulations to the following officers for their promotions.
- Curtis Arvanon, Lieutenant Commander, USS Centris
- Sierra Randor, Lieutenant, USS Centris
- Jennifer Teminski, Lieutenant, USS Centris
- Shaun Marlin, Lieutenant, USS Nova
- Tericion, Lieutenant, USS Ranger
CURRENT SIM PLOTS
USS CENTRIS
The ship noted previously as Blue01 was a Shifter vessel. They had constructed three asteroids in the Garstein Cluster and were using those asteriods to stablize a constructed wormhole also in the Cluster. Blue01 was an early attempt to send vessels through this wormhole. We believe they were using this wormhole to continue the war with the Romulans. There is already evidence that at least one Shifter took on the form of a Romulan in order to continue and exacerbate the war. The asteroids and wormhole have been destroyed. We are now in route to Udalla Prime to handle a Cardassian crisis there.
USS NOVA
En route to the Ytocs System, we have been detained by a Packlid ship who claims that a new Federation vessel, the USS Enigma, destroyed 3 Warbirds and threatened it only hours previously. We are investigating.
INTERVIEW
This month I am interviewing Lieutenant Commander Va'Al, female, a humanoid of unknown origin and age. She currently serves as Science Officer and Chief of Security aboard the USS Ranger.
Why did you choose a career in Starfleet?
I chose to enter Starfleet because I wanted to contribute in a more active way to the welfare of the Federation, after a carreer which mostly centered around diplomacy and UFOP headquarters. I believe that exploration is a key to ensuring the continuation of the Federation's principles, and Starfleet is the most forward-thinking establishment the Federation has. I was particularly interested in discovering the frontiers of explored space and, if possible, to contribute towards their expansion. That is one of the reasons why I chose to train as a Science officer as well as a Security officer during my time at Starfleet Academy.
Then you must find it frustrating to be assigned to a war ship.
Not entirely. The RANGER is principally designed for battle, it is true, but its function is to protect other vessels and the boundaries of the Federation. I have long been accustomed to using force to defend those who need protection. It is also true that I have seen enough of war to last several lifetimes, and that I do not wish to go through a similar experience again. But neither can I stand by while others are in danger of domination or death. It is a lesson I have learned from many people with whom I have come into contact in the Federation, and one that I should have learnt sooner. I find that the courage and determination of the races of the Federation is the greatest hope for the future of this galaxy and, who knows, maybe of other galaxies also. On a more specific note, I am proud to be able to serve on the RANGER, whose crew is excellent and dedicated, and whose Captain has the envuable quality of being able to turn a battle round in a matter of minutes.
What kinds of scientific challenges have you faced?
My active service on board a starship has been quite limited. However, during the first few days of my assignment to the Ranger, a joint mission with the USS Centris was jeopardised by traces of an unknown emission infiltrating the warp drive of the Centris and causing huge power drains. All our efforts to locate the exact source of that emission were in vain, although we did manage to get a general bearing for it. Eventually, it led us to an asteroid where a prototype weapon was being tested by Romulans. That in itself did not explain the emissions, which remain a mystery to us. I hope that we will be able to locate the source of the emissions, as we postulated that they were, in fact, the product of an ancient communications device which had for some reason been activated. For now, though, I look forward to further scientific challenges in my tour of duty on board the RANGER.
And what are your long range plans?
I have every intention of pursuing my career in Starfleet for the time being. I know it will be a lot of hard work, but I hope eventually to command my own ship, preferably a discovery vessel. I have always wanted to explore and to expand the limits of our knowledge, and this is the best way to go about it. However, I know that I will live on for quite a long time after I (hopefully) reach my Captaincy. My dream is, eventually, to return to the part of the Galaxy where I was born, and see what changes have come about and how I can be of use in rebuilding our lives and our society, which were destroyed by war. Starfleet and the Federation have taught me a lot about freedom and peace.
What can you tell me about your people?
A few decades ago, my planet was in the throes of a technological revolution that brought us faster than light travel and access to many different power sources. We began to explore, and came into contact with another race, which inhabited a solar system close to our own. They were a fierce people, interested only in conquest and expansion. We tried to hide our provenance from them so that they would not find our home planet, but they obtained that information and soon overrode our entire world. My people were enslaved. After many years a few of us organised a rebellion. In the course of the struggle they devastated our world and wiped out its entire population, regardless of their origin. I was among the very few to survive, being on a starship at the time. We escaped to various parts of the galaxy, and made ourselves other lives with other identities. That is why my origin is kept a secret, and why I feel that one day I must go back and try to reconstruct our society, with the help of other survivors.
So, do you believe your experience with StarFleet will better prepare you for this quest?
Yes, I do. Being in Starfleet has not only prepared me to face the unexpected, it has helped me to learn new ways of dealing with problems and situations and it has given me valuable training in all areas of expertise. I know that being in Starfleet has helped me regain my strength of mind and my confidence, both of which I shall need if I am to organise those of us who are left into a new colony somewhere. But I also hope I have been able to share what *I* know with my colleagues (as far as possible) and that the learning process has been a two way one.
On a personal note, what do you do when you aren't in uniform and not planning the reunion of your people?
When I am off duty and not thinking about my future, I spend a lot of my time in the ship's gym. As I have some skill in personal combat, I like to keep it honed by training with some of my security people. A few of them are quite good, and learning fast... To relax, I sometimes go into the Holodeck and load a program I brought with me that simulates an Earth ice-skating rink. I find the smooth movements and the music very soothing. Or, if I am feeling sociable, I go to the observation deck and chat with my crewmates over a drink or two. I have found that my years spent with the diplomatic corps come in very useful when communicating with people from so many different planets!
Good luck with your quest, Lieutenant Va'Al.
OUT OF CHARACTER
MILITARY TIME
The UFOP uses military time during all its sims. This is, quite simply, a 24 hour clock. A quick overview should allow everyone to be proficient in its use. At 6am, the time in military terms is 0600 hours or o-six-hundred hours. 6:15am is 0615 hours. Noon, therefore is 1200 hours. Simple, right.
6pm is a bit more ticky, though. Instead of a 12 hour clock, which begins anew at noon, military time continues until midnight. Therefore, 6pm is 1200 hours (noon) + 6 more hours or 1800 hours, eighteen-hundred hours. 6:15pm is 1815 hours.
If you are still unclear about military time, please email me and allow me to attempt to reexplain it.
GRAPHICS NEEDED
Anyone with experience with Computer graphics is requested to contact Admiral Wolf to help with our domain page. Yes, that means you too, Callium!
END NOTES
- Please write and tell me what you like or don't like about the Reporter. I would also appreciate suggestions re: what you would like to see in this newsletter.