Awards Ceremony, 2013

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UFOP: StarBase 118 Fleet, “Thank you.” That’s really what our yearly Community Awards are about -- saying thanks to the people who put in that extra effort to tell a great story, preserve a legacy, or better our offerings. Being on my side of the awards process is a gratifying reminder of the care and thought that our community members have for each other. Each nomination is an exercise in gratitude and friendship. Carefully crafted (at least, they seem that way!), these nomination forms feel like contented sighs, reminders of each delightful sim, each friendly feedback, each organized process that meant everyone had to work a little less to make something great. A year is a long time to wait between “big” thank yous, but I hope it’s worth it. We all really mean it. Thank you, everyone, for helping to make this a great place to be. -- FltAdml. Wolf Duty Post Awards We begin with the awards presented to members of our fleet who most fully realize the Duty Posts in which their character sims. The nominations to this category are reviewed by a panel of five Captains and Commanders. The Prantares Ribbon The Prantares Ribbon Awarded to those medical officers who has moved beyond competence to display a true gift for the healing arts in the context of space medicine. The officers given this award should display the ability to keep a steady hand in the often hazardous conditions in which they must practice, as well as the willingness to risk their own life to save the lives of others. LtCmdr. Saveron, USS Garuda - presented by Capt. Aron Kells The heart of the Prantares Ribbon is absolutely captured by Saveron's (and his writer, Sarah's) dedication to the practice of medicine and the efficient running of sickbay and the ship upon which he serves. In fact, neither Saveron nor Sarah is afraid to take the big risks, and in possibly the most memorable plot twist of the year, Saveron went to jail for it: At the time, he had recently returned to the Mercury as a civilian physician and was involved with a mission in which the Mercury had been ordered to observe a cataclysmic volcanic eruption on a small world with a pre-warp civilization, but had been bound by the Prime Directive not to do anything. Saveron, however, followed the beliefs that had been honed by medicine and helped to evacuate the population, but was not afraid of the IC consequences: Saveron served time in the brig, and the rescued aliens were unable to survive beyond their world and so perished. While this example is particularly memorable, it's Saveron's and Sarah's attention to subordinates and junior members and respect for senior members that solidifies this award's necessity: Saveron can be found presiding over sickbay staff meetings (for junior and senior members, PCs and PNPCs alike) and encouraging junior members on away teams, among others, and is absolutely a solid and reliable force and an exemplary physician. The Natasha Yar Pin The Natasha Yar Pin Named after the Chief of Security of the USS Enterprise-D, killed in the line of duty, this award is given to those Security officers who have gone above and beyond the call of duty in protecting and preserving the lives of their crewmates, even at risk to their own. LtCmdr. T'Mar, USS Apollo - presented by FltCapt. Andrus Jaxx Protecting the crew of the USS Apollo is not an easy task. This year we have faced a hostage situation, a magical trip through an Iconian Gateway, and even infiltrated a biological weapons facility. Through it all, Lt. Commander T'Mar has been there to be the voice of logic, and do what needed to be done to safeguard her crew-mates. When you have a CO that insists in taking part in some away missions, it can be rather stressful to carry out your duties. T'Mar has done so with distinction. I am proud, this year, to present Lieutenant Commander T'Mar with the Natasha Yar Pin. The Voyager Medallion The Voyager Medallion Named after the USS Voyager, this award is presented to those Operations officers who have shown great skill in keeping a starship in working order despite near-impossible circumstances. The officers receiving this award have advanced the field of Operations, making sure duty rosters, provisions, gear, and even recreation time are available... no matter what. Lt. Dueld taJoot, USS Vigilant - presented by FltCapt. Diego Herrera Ops is the kind of assignment that SIMmers can sometimes struggle with as they look for ways to make it different from engineering and science and really make their mark on the department that keeps the ship running. Dueld taJoot took the Operations department on the Vigilant by the scruff of the neck this year and wrestled it into something he wanted it to be - something that would facilitate missions and grab the interest of the other SIMmers on the ship. He consistently works in believable and relevant technical details, juggling them masterfully with key plot information while always looking to remain true to the SIMming continuity not just of the current mission, but of all of them. This award is well deserved for a conscientious and talented writer. The Sisko Tactical Cross The Sisko Tactical Cross This award is given to those Tactical officers who have shown cunning and bravery in battle. Master strategists, and experts in targeting and shield power distribution, these officers have done the impossible to save their ship and the lives of its crew. Cmdr. Tal Tel-ar, USS Avandar - presented by Capt. Della Vetri Whilst anyone can push a button to fire a starship's weapons or raise its shields, it takes a Tactical Officer to get the most out of these systems. Charged with protecting the ship from external threats, these officers need to be ready to give their all at a moment's notice, adapting to rapidly shifting situations, and capable of staying calm and collected no matter what the universe throws at them. Over the course of the year, Commander Tal Tel-ar has shown himself to be just the sort of person you want keeping your ship safe. A solid presence that others can rely on to keep calm and collected, Tel-ar almost defines the word "unflappable", getting the job done no matter what. Whilst some may consider him rather detached when dealing with other characters, he provides a perspective that other, more emotional crew mates might overlook, never losing sight of what the objective at hand is and how best it can be achieved. That same perspective applies to his contributions to the ongoing sim, as well. Paring things down to, in many cases, the bare bones of the situation, Tel-ar can be counted on to home in on what really needs to get done - and is hardly shy at all about either making that information known or simply getting the job done. A veteran simmer and one that any captain would find a hugely valuable resource, Commander Tel-ar deserves recognition for his ongoing efforts to uphold the traditions of professionalism, dedication and selfless service that are the core of any successful Starfleet officer. To that end, it is with great pleasure that I hereby present him with this award. The Phoenix Award The Phoenix Award Named for the vessel that legendary engineer Zefram Cochrane piloted during his historic first warp flight, this award goes to those Engineering officers who continue this tradition of excellence in the field of engineering. By performing their tasks with enthusiasm, imagination and diligence, by managing to make their equipment perform above and beyond its rated capacities, the officers meriting this award further the mission of their ship by their superior know-how. In short, miracle workers. Lt. Rostan Frye, USS Discovery-C - presented by Capt. Tyr Waltas A Captain can easily say “go fix this” in character, and a simmer can easily respond “<character> repaired the system”. At its most base, easily-done form, this is what a simmer has to work with when you’re writing for an Engineer. Rostan Frye’s writer goes far, far beyond this, using layman’s terms to avoid “treknobabble” and applying his character’s easy-going, beautifully simplistic attitude to each and every sim he writes. This, combined with his knack for coming up with ingenious ideas, making them “real”, and making them believable are all part of what makes him a great Engineer, writer, and friend. Congratulations, Lieutenant Frye, on your well-deserved award! The Cochrane Award The Cochrane Award Given to those Science officers who have contributed greatly to the advance of science in the midst of their Starfleet career, by staying knowledgeable about their field, participating in the community of science, but most importantly, by placing their knowledge at the service of their ship and its mission. Lieutenant JG Alora DeVeau, USS Garuda - presented by Capt. Aron Kells The character of Alora is nothing short of amazing in her ability to jump directly into any situation and come to terms with the involved information right away. As an ensign, she was asked multiple times to assess very difficult problems that were often times complicated by their long histories with crew and ship. Both character and writer seem nearly prescient at times as well: Twice so far, Alora's writer, Amanda, has correctly interpreted the heart and the information behind long-running character arcs and has suggested plots or events to logically include both. I was pleasantly surprised and mightily impressed the first time this happened: Alora approached Captain Kells with a genetic analysis she'd done that proved, because of a certain sequence that had been turned on in his genome; this impressed me most because she (a) was an ensign on (b) her first shore leave and (c) she incorporated past mission details in order to make it work. Add to that her clear scientific accuracy, and it's obvious that even at the junior lieutenant level, Alora DeVeau is more than deserving of the Cochrane Award. The Pilot's Sextant The Pilot's Sextant An award named after an old Earth navigational tool, the Pilot's Sextant is given to those Helm officers who have proven themselves to be the best of the best. From finding a safe route home to flying an emergency atmospheric landing, pilots who have earned the right to this award know the importance of staying focused, and puts their ability to make spectacular maneuvers at the service of their ship and its mission. Lieutenant JG Kendall Washburn, StarBase 118 Ops - presented by Capt. William Rogers There are not many pilots that can lay claim to flying a starbase, however Lt. Washburn is one such person! During the crew's first mission on StarBase 118 with four massive ion storms bearing down on us, he manually manoeuvred the base to present the smallest surface area to the storms impact. He has shown his versatility in piloting the vintage USS Drake, pirate ships and various smaller support craft. He has also flown a number of fighter types and led fighter wings against enemy formations of Capital ships and fighter escorts. Throughout his time at the helm he has integrated the action with the rest of the crew and entertained us all with his use of piloting language. Congratulations, Lt. Washburn! The Order of the Valiant Heart The Order of the Valiant Heart This award is given to those ship's Counselor who have shown great skill in protecting the mental health of their crewmates, clearly demonstrating superior ability to care, assist, and comfort those in need. They have gone above and beyond the call of duty in assisting their crewmates with their problems, and in preventing future problems from occurring. Cmdr. Greir Reinard, USS Vigilant - presented by FltCapt. Diego Herrera Arriving aboard the USS Vigilant with a newly minted counsellor, Commander Reinard immediately set about bringing counselling to the forefront. It's easy for a counsellor to get lost in the ins and outs of a mission but he instead led a team as part of a diplomatic corps. This then set a precedent for following missions, where counselling was always in the foreground and Commander Reinard was in the thick of the action at all times. Additionally, the counselling duty post has been used over the course of the year as the glue that has bound the ship together. Commander Reinard made a point of interviewing every member of the crew he possibly could during the first few weeks and of SIMming out follow up appointments and informal meetings that always gave the rest of the crew a chance to shine a spotlight on their own characters. The Order of the Valiant Heart has found a good home with this writer. The Semper Fidelis Award The Semper Fidelis Award For those StarFleet Marines who have shown great skill in protecting their crew, accomplishing their mission, avoiding tragic loss of life in the line of duty, and upholding the values of the UFoP in times of crisis. Maj. Viktor Lanius, USS Apollo - presented by FltCapt. Andrus Jaxx This year the USS Apollo added a Marine fighter wing. Taking control of this wing was Major Viktor Lanius. From the gate, he did a great job converting from the fleet side of things, to commanding a wing as a Marine officer. There is no better way to integrate a team of top notch pilots than having someone that was already on the ship command it. Viktor Lanius has done a great job at making sure the Marine wing and the rest of the ship can co-exist in harmony by redefining the stereotype Marine. It is not easy to do under a CO that thinks Marines have no place on Starfleet vessels. It is with great pride, that I present Viktor Lanius with the Semper Fidelis Award. The Black Cross The Black Cross Award This award is given to a member of the Intelligence community that strives to accomplish the goals of Starfleet Intelligence, while simultaneously upholding the ideals and structure of Starfleet command. This person has the cunning to gather intelligence by means of deceptive dialogue or espionage, as opposed to force drawn confessions. While matters of intelligence are often game changers, this person strives to attain those goals within the boundaries of their Commanding Officer, and the regulations of Starfleet. This is the first presentation of this award. LtCmdr. Oliver Weston, StarBase 118 Ops - presented by Capt. William Rogers Cmdr. Weston skill as an Intelligence Officer is evident in the way he strikes just the right balance between supplying the additional information one would expect from an Intelligence Officer while being careful not to supply easy answers to the other departments. He uses his role as an Intelligence Officer to work with the rest of the crew to advance the story plot. The roll call of his numerous shady contacts makes and colourful past make for entertaining reading and yet his loyalty to his Captain and crew shine through on ever encounter. Congratulations Cmdr. Weston! The Lwaxana Troi Medallion The Lwaxana Troi Medallion This award is given to a member who takes a unique role outside of the normal StarFleet positions and creates a colorful and engaging character. LtCmdr. Brek, USS Excalibur-A - presented by FltCapt. Kali Nicholotti Lt. Commander Brek exemplifies what every great Diplomatic Officer should be, but he does so in a way that goes well above and beyond the norm. Not only does Brek deliver on all accounts when it comes to politically charged simming, but he does so from the perspective of a most unlikely source; a Ferengi. Having chosen a race not really associated with diplomacy, it might originally appear near impossible to reconcile the race and chosen career, but Brek does this in a way that might remind a reader of a delicate ballet that is quite reminiscent of what you would expect from real world politics and diplomacy. Brek never breaks character, no matter how hard the diplomatic demands of the situation are. His sims are truly a gem and have always been high quality, intriguing, and great additions to any plot. For these qualities, and so much more than I couldn’t fit here, I am proud to present Lt Commander Brek with the very first Lwaxana Troi Ribbon. The Strange Medallion The Strange Medallion Named after Commander Sally Strange, widely known as one of the most creative and dedicated First Officers in the fleet's early years, this award is given to those who perform above the call of duty in the position of First Officer. Cmdr. Greir Reinard, USS Vigilant - presented by FltCapt. Diego Herrera A First Officer is expected to support their captain and crew while serving as a link between them both, all the while developing the skills they need to take on their own command. Commander Reinard has done that this year in spades. He took command of the USS Vigilant on two occasions and he has been a driving force on the ship over the course of the year. His attention to detail in terms of ship's OOC work is stunning; he is a real work horse who does not settled for second best and holds himself to the absolute highest of standards. His commitment to the fleet as a whole has been enormous as well, but he has put his heart into his ship and his crew, winning them over with his friendly but firm command style both in and out of character and inspiring them to strive for excellence. The future for this writer is very bright indeed! Special Awards Next, we continue with awards which recognize members of the fleet for particularly important contributions, or roles which affect the fleet's OOC areas. Here, too, the nominations are reviewed by a panel of five Captains and Commanders. The Rising Star Award The Rising Star Award For members who show great promise in many facets of their participation in the group, and to whom we look to as a future leader. Cmdr. Greir Reinard, USS Vigilant - presented by Capt. Aron Kells It's quite fitting that Commander Reinard has remarked in character on a number of occasions that his career seems to be on the fast track. If that's true then it's his writer that has put him there. Unfailing dedication to his ship. Running and reforming the Featured Bio Competition. Service on the Training and Publicity teams. Representing the fleet by creating the Fall Fest 2013 logo and running one of the chats at the event itself. Taking on the role of cadet steward. These are just some of the things that Commander Reinard has done for the fleet this year - I would mention more but the list of things he does is right there in front of all of us as he soldiers away for UFOP: Starbase 118 every single day. He has moved from strength to strength this year, honing his command style upping his commitment to events IC, OOC (both internal and external, representing the fleet) but, most importantly, he has never forgotten that the group depends on continuity - he has served as an inspirational mentor and always makes time for those who need his help. He is a continuing example to all of us of the rewards that come with hard work and this award is very well deserved. The Locutus Award The Locutus Award For members of the Publicity Team who go above-and-beyond their monthly requirements for participation on a regular basis. These team members show enthusiasm and flair for spreading the word about or role-playing community and take an active interest in finding new ways to invite people to join our ranks.' Cmdr. Greir Reinard, USS Vigilant - presented by FltCapt. Diego Herrera, Publicity Team Facilitator The Publicity team is one that allows for members to help with the recruitment initiative by performing a number of routine monthly tasks. It also provides scope for its members to really up the ante by looking at what they have been asked to do and submitting more than their monthly quota of publicity articles and links for social media. Commander Reinard has always had an eye on that, taking extra time to make sure that he has handed in more than his requirements each month and supported us this year a great deal with Fall Fest. His enthusiasm and work ethic have helped us to stabilise the publicity team as we mould it once again into the precision tool we would like it to be and for that I would like to extend our thanks. The Sarpeidon Award The Sarpeidon Award Given to any simmer who has made outstanding contributions to the 118Wiki. Sarpeidon was the world in TOS's "All Our Yesterdays," in which the planet's population created a library containing their entire world's history. This is, in essence, what our wiki strives to become: a collection of our group's history and a simming database. LtCmdr. Nemitor Atimen, StarBase 118 Ops - presented by FltAdml. Tristan Wolf, Wiki Administrator This nomination is a bit of a stick in the eye of awards rules, and I love it. This award is intended to honor those who we affectionately call “Wiki Gnomes,” helping to curate the wiki and make it cleaner and easier to use. But instead, we’re honoring a person whose contribution has little to do with the wiki and everything to do with collecting our group’s history. This year saw an important departure for us, from Yahoo! Groups to Google Groups. And for those of you who are just joining us, let me make it clear how big of a leap this is: We’ve been using Yahoo! Groups since before it was even called Yahoo! Groups. But the service had decayed to such a point that it was making life more difficult for our members, and so we left. But we couldn’t have done that without the critical, important, amazing work of Nemitor Atimen, who created a way for us to view all of our sims in one central place on our website. Continuing the work of Kevin Breeman, who started our sims archive a few years ago, Atimen built a method for moving sims into a database, and integrated a front-end user interface into the site. And now, there’s no need to jump back and forth between Yahoo! and Google to find a sim -- just head to the sim archive and search. That’s an incredible resource for our group, and I think Atimen is highly deserving of this award. The Data Artistic Award The Data Artistic Award Rewarded to any officer in the fleet who has made a consistent effort to enter each of the bi-monthly writing challenges. Most notably, the officer must have continued participation even if their submissions were not picked as the winner, thus sticking with the challenge and always giving other something exciting to read. FltCapt. Diego Herrera, USS Vigilant - presented by Capt. Aron Kells, Writing Challenges Facilitator Diego Herrera's -- which is to say, Ed's -- history with the Writing Challenges is long and fruitful. Before I took over facilitating early last year, he had done the same with grace, kindness, and (very importantly!) timeliness. Since he returned to the fleet, he's been a regular and reliable presence in the Writing Challenges, going so far as to opt out of judging more than once so that he could enter and ensure that the current Challenge receives another great entry. He's won twice, too, in that period alone -- in November 2012, in a tie with Fleet Captain Nicholotti, and again in the May/June Challenge of this year. The judges always respond positively to his work, and the times that I've given him direct, written feedback, he's responded directly to me with his own responses and ideas regarding how to incorporate my suggestions. There's no doubt in my mind that this year's Data Artistic Award is going to the right person! Well done, Ed, and I look forward to your next story! The Boothby Award The Boothby Award For trainers who go above and beyond their Academy Training Requirements. These trainers display an outstanding example of dedication to bringing new cadets to our community. FltCapt. Andrus Jaxx, USS Apollo - presented by FltAdml. Tristan Wolf Our training program is simply the best of any Star Trek RPG on the internet, hands-down, no contest. We brought it to the level of excellence it’s at by honing our system, endowing Training Officers with a strong incentive to succeed, and promoting a culture in which the Academy is centrally revered as our most important asset, freeing captains from forgoing the arduous task of training new members on a daily basis. We’ve kept it at this level of excellence by tapping the best of the best to help lead the program, like FltCapt. Jaxx. His strong eye for details, and the intelligence to recognize how all of the pieces of training fit together made him an extraordinary trainer. And now, his willingness to lead and help mentor new officers, and his impeccable work ethic are helping to show how he is an extraordinary Academy Commandant. For both his work as a training officer, and now his leadership as the Commandant, we award him the Boothby Award. He definitely embodies the best of our Academy, and we thank him for the work he continues to do there. The Xalor Clan Xifilis Award The Xalor Clan Xifilis Award Given to any simmer who overcomes any sort of disadvantage while simming. This award was originally called the "Rachel Garett Pendant," but was renamed for the 2000 ceremony to to honor a respected simmer in UFOP: StarBase 118 who passed away in that year. This is the only Special Award that is given more than once per ceremony. LtCmdr. Sakorra Reed, StarBase 118 Ops - presented by Capt. William Rogers I have greatly admired Lt Cmdr Reed’s dedication to simming this year despite battling an ongoing medical condition in RL. Her sims are always of excellent quality and she has reliably supported the running of the USS Drake and now StarBase 118 Operations behind the scenes. Without breaking the trust she has placed in me by sharing her situation I can say that her medical condition makes typing physically painful to impossible at times. In addition at times it also makes it challenging to think clearly in order to sort through the sims and respond. I suspect that Lieutenant Commander Reed has underplayed the difficulties she has experienced this year and I am both grateful and impressed by her determination to sim. She also reattained the rank of Lieutenant Commander after we agreed on a set of goals for her to achieve. Ensign Azin - presented by FltCapt. Sidney Riley Sometimes, real life can be challenging. I have often heard simmers speak of escaping reality through the sim and trying to balance their writing with the demands of every day life. Work, family and day to day issues are often challenges for every writer. However, some of us have more difficult challenges to face and rise to that challenge overcoming them with strength, grace and dignity. I can't speak enough about these qualities and the dedication of Ensign Azin. Despite medical challenges this year with cancer he has continued to sim on the ship. He has crafted a unique and interesting character that lends so much to the story. His creativity is second to none. For his dedication to the group I am proud to present him with the Xalor Clan Xifilis award for his work this last year. Staff Awards Staff Awards are reserved solely for officers who are Commander in rank, or above. As the people in our group who carry the burden of leadership and investment in our future success, it's important that we take a few moments to recognize the dedication and work they put in throughout the year. Without a staff as dedicated as the one we have, we simply wouldn't be able to sustain our community nature and many of the activities we enjoy. Staff Member of the Year Award For staff members who have contributed tirelessly to the organization through any number of OOC channels, while maintaining excellence in simming on their vessel. FltCapt. Diego Herrera, USS Vigilant - presented by FltAdml. Tristan Wolf I can honestly say that one of the saddest moments in recent memory for me with this community was the day that FltCapt. Herrera -- then Tallis Rhul -- told me he was retiring in 2011 because of real life changes in his career. I remember thinking, at the time, that we had lost a truly remarkable contributor. But then things changed again, and he returned, roaring back to captaincy and outdoing his previous accomplishments by leaps and bounds. Just in 2013, he accomplished some amazing things, starting the year off by organizing the Writing Improvement Month which was a phenomenal success. Spending what I can only imagine were countless hours on this project, he managed to score live chat interviews for our community members with great science fiction and fantasy authors, which helped get us some really great publicity, including two posts on BoingBoing, a trailblazing and widely-read blog. Herrera even helped facilitate each interview with the authors, and as a result, our members received valuable advice on writing great scenes and characters. Similarly, he scored for us our first hosting gig for a simming community event: FallFest 2013. Again, a rousing success, Herrera's work helped show our organized, diligent, and participatory culture to other RPGs, proving that we are a force to be reckoned with. Back on the homefront, Herrera again slid back into the role of Deputy Commandant of the Academy (a position he held before his previous departure) with aplomb alongside FltCapt. Toni Turner and FltCapt. Andrus Jaxx. In addition, he took over the role of Publicity Team facilitator, and has worked diligently to reform that team while maintaining our presence on social media channels. He also participates in a number of other teams, such as the Species Development Committee, and the Featured Bio Committee. This year, he was a critical part of this awards ceremony, acting as the chief facilitator, which involves reviewing all the nominations, sorting them, handing them off to the necessary parties, coordinating the General Awards review and audit, and the Awards Selection Committee which reviews and approves the Duty Post and Special Awards. As if all that wasn't enough, he maintains the most active ship in the fleet, the USS Vigilant, and has just mentored Commander Greir Reinard into a ship launch -- a process that is considered by the staff of our group to be highly indicative of a commanding officer's success. All that aside, I count FltCapt. Diego Herrera as one of the truly great leaders in the history books of our groups, as well as a friend. His relentless optimism is infectious, his enthusiasm boundless, and his work ethic second-to-none. I can think of no one better deserving of this year's Staff Member of the Year award, and I look forward to what the future holds for this fine officer in our community. The Sarek Star Given to a command officer who shows great diplomatic ability in working with members and staff. Capt. Aron Kells, USS Garuda - presented by Capt. Quinn Reynolds Kells has displayed his diplomatic acumen both within his own ship and when working with other members of our community. He manages those under his command with a gentle, guiding hand and inspires even the strongest of personalities to cooperate and work together to produce some of the fleet's finest writing. In the wider group, he is known for seeking and offering feedback and advice with his peers, always interested in putting himself in another's shoes and seeing a situation from a different perspective. No doubt it was these traits that saw him elected to the position of Captain's Council Magistrate for 2014, and we are delighted to further recognise his diplomatic skills with the Sarek Star. Congratulations! The Christopher Pike Pendant Awarded to commanding officers who command their ship with honor and dedication, and help to provide a creative atmosphere which fosters outstanding simming. FltCapt. Kalianna Nicholotti, USS Excalibur-A - presented by FltCapt. Andrus Jaxx Fleet Captain Nicholotti is an excellent commanding officer. She has a natural ability to inspire her crew to come up with very interesting plot twists. A simple mission on the Excalibur is likely to cascade into an infinitesimal amount of situations that need to be dealt with… simultaneously. While that may be a complete dramatization of their missions, there is no dramatization in the amount of freedom she gives her officers to create. When it comes to fostering creativity and challenging a crew to boldly go where no one has gone before, and providing an excellent atmosphere for flexing an imagination, Fleet Captain Nicholotti has risen to the challenge. I am pleased to present the Christopher Pike Pendant to Fleet Captain Kalianna Nicholotti. Congratulations Kali! Member Service Awards The list below only contains members who have newly hit the threshold for the award. For example, a member who's been here for four years, and received the 3-year award last year, won't be listed below. You can see all previous winners of Length of Service awards here. 3-year Member 5-year Member 10-year Member 3-Year Members Rune Jolara, graduated from training on 11/26/2005, but took more than one year of LOA time Kaitlyn Falcon, graduated from training on 2/8/2007, but took more than one year of LOA time Kaedyn Zehn, graduated from training on 5/26/2009, but took more than one year of LOA time Anora Manar, graduated from training on 10/22/2009 Hannibal Parker, graduated from training on 3/17/2010 Alleran Tan, graduated from training on 4/18/2010 Roshanara Rahman, graduated from training on 5/26/2010 Jen Malcolm, graduated from training on 7/26/2010 William Tindall, graduated from training on 8/19/2010 Liam Frost, graduated from training on 11/6/2010 Oliver Weston, graduated from training on 11/19/2010 Leo Handley-Page, graduated from training on 11/19/2010 Marvin Brolin, graduated from training on 11/29/2010 5-Year Members Katy Orman, graduated from training on 2/28/1998, but took more than one year of LOA time Sakorra Reed, graduated from training on 10/10/2003, but took more than one year of LOA time Azriel Derrida, graduated from training on 11/26/2005, but took more than one year of LOA time Trel'lis, graduated from training on 3/3/2008 Della Vetri, graduated from training on 7/19/2008 David Whale, graduated from training on 12/20/2008 10-Year Members We now have a total of nine people -- not including myself -- who've hit the 10-year mark. --FltAdml. Wolf Eskyys, graduated from training on 11/11/2002, but took more than one year of LOA time Rode Mitchell, graduated from training on 5/15/2003, but took more than one year of LOA time Top Sims Contest Winner Sims are nominated by all members of the group, and then culled by a panel of judges from each ship. Members then vote for the best sims. This year, 45 of approximately 115 members (40%) voted in the final round. “Come Hell And High Water” by Commander Greir Reinard and FltCapt. Diego Herrera, USS Vigilant - presented by FltAdml. Tristan Wolf This is a magnificent piece of fiction, encapsulated without much need for context. I remember reading this on the train, every muscle tight and clenched with anticipation and stress, eyes-wide and breath held. I can only imagine what the other riders thought I was looking at. From the wonderful, slowly building tension to the terrifying description of injury, this work is a masterpiece of joint simming, showing how two writers can play off each other in spectacular harmony, using each other's thoughts and actions to create more anticipation and empathy for the characters. I’m excited to announce that, going forward, the winner of this title will be endowed with a real life prize! This year, the prize is a set of four Star Trek tumblers, by ThinkGeek (if they ever come back in stock!). Commendations FltCapt. Idril Mar As a long-standing member of our administrative staff, FltCapt. Mar has previously commanded a ship that spun out one of the most enduring cliques our group has ever seen -- a testament to her skills as a captain. But more importantly, she has been solid seat on the Executive Council for years, and has most recently helped revamp the Captaincy Exam, which after a decade in service needed a good overhaul. Following, she also helped facilitate a disciplinary proceeding with ease and efficiency. Thanks to her for her service with the group. FltCapt. Kali Nicholotti For her service in support of the Publicity Team, as a constant guide and mentor in helping us achieve consistent applicant flow and keeping us in the eye of people looking for Star Trek PBEM RPGs. Her support and unfailing, kind guidance has been a fantastic help. Special Thanks FltCapt. Diego Herrera, who Facilitated the Awards Selection Committee that whittled down the Duty Post and Special Award nominations to the winners you saw above. He also assisted in gathering the award presentations, and was generally a big help in this year’s process. FltCapt. Andrus Jaxx, who assembled this year’s Member Service Length awards awards -- no simple feat now that we no longer have easy access to the info that was contained in the UPDS. All of the Captains who wrote the presentations above, for taking extra time to fashion carefully-worded explanations for why each person won an award.