Introduction
- This special welcome is presented by Commander Jo Marshall and Lt Commander Tomas Falt, the Awards Facilitators for this year's ceremonies.
Welcome, welcome to StarBase 118's biggest week of the year! And let me tell you, it's been quite a while since we had a week this exciting. It's like the Super Bowl of our community, but with less tackling and more typing.
We've got two wonderfully British hosts adding a touch of glamour and excitement to the festivities. They're so British, they can have a full-blown conversation about the weather in the middle of a crisis. Crumpets, tea, and all.
There are five categories of awards: General Awards (which some ships have already given to their crews!), Duty Post, Special, and Staff Awards, which recognise players of all ranks for a variety of accomplishments. We also reward membership lengths of one, three, five, ten, fifteen, and even twenty-five years in the member Length of Service Awards! A tremendous number of simmers among us have been around for such a long time, they remember the days when dial-up internet was considered high-speed.
As the facilitators this year, we just have to give a big shout-out to all the amazing folks who took the time to submit nominations. Seriously, you guys rock! Reading through those nominations was like diving into a treasure trove of awesomeness. It's mind-blowing to see how you all lift each other up, spinning those incredible narratives and showing the world what our community is made of. And hey, let's not forget the occasional bribe that sneaked its way in. We won't tell anyone!
As we embark on our thirtieth year, our community is growing and evolving. We want to send a big thank you to our fearless leader, Fleet Admiral Tristan Wolf. This guy is the definition of a hero. He's always there, ready to lend a helping hand, no matter if it's a massive crunch or a tiny hiccup. You rock, Admiral!
And to our Executive Council, Captain's Council, and all the amazing souls leading our taskforces, we can't thank you enough. Your boundless enthusiasm and leadership make sure that we all have a blast, in a safe, creative, and innovative environment.
So, here's a virtual high-five to each and every one of you. Your presence, your efforts, and your contributions make our community the vibrant and exciting place it is. Keep being awesome, keep shining bright, and let's make this year the best one yet!
Now let's raise a virtual glass and toast to StarBase 118's 29th anniversary. Cheers, and may the warp speed be with you!
— Em (Jo Marshall) and Tom (Tomas Falt)
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 in these categories are reviewed by a panel of six staff members: three commanders and three members ranked captain or above.
Prantares Ribbon
Awarded to Medical officers who have moved beyond standard competence to display a true gift for the healing arts in the context of space medicine. Officers awarded 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. When they are not actively caring for patients, many doctors spend their time on duty undertaking medical research or familiarising themselves with the findings of previous medical studies. Like their colleagues in the Science department, they have utilised their specific abilities in cross department collaboration.
Bryce Tagren-Quinn - Presented by Quinn Reynolds
- Kara is the talented writer behind Bryce Tagren-Quinn, a layered and thoughtful character who writes a medical officer with such skill and elegance you might think it’s her day job (it’s not!). He’s a character whose battles with personal trauma and guilt translate into a person who is determined to show compassion and generosity to all those under his care. It’s beautifully done, and Bryce’s gentle kindness, empathy, and insight show through in all his interactions.
- Bryce’s bedside manner is that of the consummate physician; his patients feel heard, their feelings and opinions respected—whether it’s a routine medical, or in situations where their trauma or pain shatters a calm demeanour. She does a fantastic job of blending real-world medical facts with Star Trek’s futuristic medicine, delivering it in a grounded, engaging and wonderfully written way. Not only that, but she shows the strength of collaborative skills when she’s able to include non-medical characters in a way that’s not only believable, but fun for them to write.
- And so, it’s my very great pleasure to present Kara with this year’s Prantares Ribbon. Congratulations!
Natasha Yar Pin
Awarded to Security personnel who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to safeguard and preserve their crewmates' lives, even at the danger of their own. As an investigator, police officer, and soldier, the Security officer must be intimately familiar with all of Starfleet's armaments as well as many other styles of hand-to-hand combat. To ensure adequate duty fulfillment, the Security officer must also be well-versed in Diplomacy and Legislation. Named after the USS Enterprise-Chief D's of Security, who was killed in the line of duty.
Haukea-Willow, StarBase 118 Ops - Presented by Sal Taybrim
- Aly, the writer behind Haukea-Willow, faced some challenges in the past year which led to her creating a brand new character - Haukea-Willow in a brand new department - Security. Change can be difficult and scary at the time, but in the case of Haukea-Willow, Aly has found the place where she can absolutely shine. Her portrayal of a security officer with a sweet demeanor and a heart of gold seems like an unusual choice at first - because a security officer is a position where 'sweet' doesn't usually factor into the equation.
- Yet, it works, and it works well. It works well because when in a position like this, it can be easy to always see the bad side of people, but Haukea-Willow breathes a breath of fresh air into the role. She would much rather discuss matters than resort to violence, yet that doesn't mean she's a push over. When the going gets tough, she gets tough with it. There's a time for talk and there's a time for action, and Willow can engage in both when the situation calls for it.
- This makes her a versatile and effective security officer who has been able to quickly create fresh bonds with her fellow crew and new relationships with her fellow security officers. Coupled with the admirable amount of detail that Aly put into her sims, her character’s personality, family and background, I could not be more proud to see how well she has grown into this new role and developed Hauka-Willow as a lovable character on Ops. It is my pleasure to recognize all of her hard work with the Natasha Yar Pin!
Voyager Medallion
Awarded to 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, have acted as the liaison between the Command, Science, and Engineering departments, and are technically proficient in operations maintenance, making sure duty rosters, provisions, gear, and even recreation time are available... no matter what.
101 & 000, USS Astraeus - Presented by Mei’konda Delano
- 101 & 000, played by Mason, is the first pair of Bynars that I’ve had the pleasure of simming with in any of my postings during my last ten years with SB118. Since they joined my crew nearly a year ago, I’ve had the privilege of seeing the characters of 101 & 000 grow in their confidence and ability while Mason has matured as a writer.
- It would be easy for Mason to discount the true uniqueness of Bynars as portrayed in the TNG 1st season episode ‘11001001’, but nothing could be further from the truth. Not simply an identical pair, a traumatic event ‘desynchronized’ the two of them slightly, and they wound up with two very noticeably different personalities, which sets the two apart from many other members of the rest of their race.
- Operations can be a complex role to play, due to its nature of being every other department’s backup as well as having its own separate duties. Mason dives head first into this role and utilizes the talents of his characters and the unique way that they function as two halves of a whole. Mason writes his characters as coming at any challenges that they face from a completely different perspective than any other writer I’ve seen, and it’s an absolute delight to award him the Voyager Medallion for Operations!
Sisko Tactical Cross
Awarded to Tactical officers who have shown cunning and bravery in battle, including supporting their colleagues in Security, liaising with other departments, and showing the ability to think strategically in a tense situation. Master tacticians, and experts in targeting and shield power distribution, these officers have done the impossible to save their ship and the lives of its crew.
Alex Forsyth, Denali Station - Presented by Oddas Aria
- Lieutenant Forsyth, Robbie, plays a different type of Tactical Officer aboard Denali station. Far from the gruff, shoot first ask questions later, or brilliant tactician one might expect, Forsyth is nervous, worried about doing her job correctly, and always on the lookout for the consequences. This is not to say she is not competent, but her writer plays her in that perfect space of a young officer who is making her way in the world and hoping to live up to the expectations of those around her - keeping her family, friends, and crew safe in the process.
- As mentioned by a nomination, Alex, despite her self-proclaimed worry, was able to set aside her misgivings and realistically sim search and rescue operations and more, often by avoiding extraneous violence and undue consequences.
- Alex is a great officer, deserving of this Award and is doing a great job, it is my pleasure to recognize them in front of the entire Fleet!
Phoenix Award
Awarded to Engineering officers who continue this tradition of excellence in the field of engineering. Named for the vessel that legendary engineer Zefram Cochrane piloted during his historic first warp flight. 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.
Wyatt Ral, USS Astraeus - Presented by Mei'konda Delano
- Jason, the player of Wyatt Ral, has been a gift to the Astraeus and before her, the Chin’toka, ever since his assignment to our crew as an Ensign. Demonstrating a real knowledge of Treknobabble and the skills to use them in solving Engineering problems, we can always count on him to drive the plot of our missions forward from the perspective of his department.
- More than that, though, Jason paints a wonderfully three dimensional picture of his character when he’s writing. Wyatt has been through some difficult times since graduating Starfleet Academy, including the near loss of a ship, and displays the occasional exhaustion and emotional trauma that can come with the job. I’d also like to include this excerpt from one of the nominations for this award that Jason received:
- As an example, during the ship's recent warp testing, there were a number of things to consider, such as preliminary concerns, minor repairs to be made just prior to the test and systems to monitor during the test.
- All through this effort, he worked diligently with various members of the crew, including his fellow engineers, to help bring it all to pass. And the excitement he showed throughout it all, not to mention his humility, were quite refreshing to read. He made it clear that he felt he had so much to learn from his shipmates and was glad to have been part of a historic moment for the crew.”
- For all of these reasons, I’m honored to present the Phoenix Award for Engineering to Wyatt Ral!
Cochrane Award
Awarded to Science officers who have contributed greatly to the advancement 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. They have performed weird and wonderful feats of scientific innovation and ingenuity, enabling their commanding officer to make those informed decisions.
Freck, Denali Station - Presented by Oddas Aria
- One of the nominators for Mister Freck, Dustin, wrote that Science was “the hardest duty post I can imagine writing for” and that “he managed to find a marvelous way to write for the position that keeps me gripped and coming back for more. More than once, he has managed to find an innovative way to solve a dilemma.” As his commanding officer, I agree on both counts. Dustin manages to write in a way that is fun to read, leaves me wanting more as he embraces the spirit of coming up with innovative, scientific, ways of pushing the plot forward on the fly.
- I am honored to have Mister Freck aboard, I expect great things from him, and extremely pleased to present him with this award. Great Job!
Pilot's Sextant
Awarded to Helm officers who have proven themselves to be the best of the best, dedicating themselves to improving their specialisation. From finding a safe route home to flying an emergency atmospheric landing, pilots who have earned this award know the importance of staying focused on their task at hand, and place their ability to make spectacular maneuvers at the service of their ship and its mission.
Chochmingwu Cheveyo-Arma, USS Astraeus - Presented by Mei’konda Delano
- Gina, the writer for Lansa Cheveyo-Arma, has experiences in nearly all departments of the fleet, and it shows in her writing for her latest character, a dual-role Conn Officer and Mission Specialist. I’d like to include this excerpt from one of her nominations for this award:
- “Writing for the Helm is perhaps one of the more challenging duty posts in the fleet. While others, such as Science and Engineering can pose challenges, the Helm is very much an all or nothing position. What do you do when there's nothing to do? But Lt Commander Cheveyo-Arma has managed to find a nice balance for the position. And when it comes time for the flying, well she does that well also.
- For example, in our two most recent missions, she was faced with some serious challenges to her flying skills. First, in trying to keep the ship in place while it was performing a minor miracle and falling apart around her. And second, keeping the ship on course and running while conducting high warp speed tests, during which she had to find a place for the ship to layover while repairs were conducted. Lansa is a skilled writer for this position and is a great candidate for this award.”
- Gina is an incredible writer, with each and every sim filled with delightful narrative, both in the physical description of what her characters are doing that her peers can react to, and the internal monologues of her thoughts. She challenges us all to expand our writing abilities and to maintain a high standard when we post, and for all of these reasons, I’m delighted to award her the Pilot’s Sextant for Excellence in the Helm department!
Order of the Valiant Heart
 The Order of the Valiant Heart Awarded to Counselors who have demonstrated exceptional expertise in preserving their crewmates' mental health, clearly exhibiting excellent capacity to care for, support, and soothe those in need. They have gone above and beyond the line of duty in supporting their crewmates with their problems, and preventing future issues for the good of the officer, and the good of the ship.
Kahla Hixma, USS Astraeus - Presented by Mei’konda Delano
- Though Kahla Hixma has just rejoined the Astraeus crew as a Counselor, she was with us once before as a security officer, and Anders, her writer, has stepped back in to meet the challenges of writing in Starbase 118 as if they never left. Playing a Counselor is a very different role, and they have begun to show their proficiency and enthusiasm for the position after only a few weeks.
- New to Starfleet in-character, Kahla demonstrates exceptional empathy for her patients while Anders simultaneously sims her appropriately given the character's relative inexperience and concern that she could potentially do as much harm as good.
- This multi-faceted approach to writing an inexperienced Counselor adds significantly to her character, and places her at the beginning of a wonderful arc which I can't wait to see her progress through, and I’m very happy that she has been awarded the Order of the Valiant Heart!
Semper Fidelis
“Awarded to Starfleet Marines who have demonstrated exceptional proficiency in defending their crew, completing their mission, averting terrible loss of life in the line of duty, and maintaining the United Federation of Planets' principles in times of crisis. Their knowledge of Starfleet equipment and armaments is second to none and their dedication to the mission is only surpassed by their leadership abilities, courage, and dependability.”
Isaac Green, Starbase 118 Ops - Presented by Sal Taybrim
- Tory, the player behind Isaac Green, has been a longtime fan of playing marines on StarBase 118. Although not a marine IRL, Tory has an insight to the position that most non military don't - though perhaps his real job as an officer of the law might have something to do with that!. Whatever the reason, he presents a real person, not just a killing machine, someone who thinks critically about the situation, but knows when it's time to hold back and when it's time to let go and let the gun do the talking. Dedicated to serving and protecting, Green is written with sensitivity and finesse and shows a fine side to the marines.
- In fact, his shipmates consistently note that his writing embodies the best ideals of the Marines, and that Green is presented as a three dimensional character, doing an excellent job writing a 'living/breathing' Marine. Not only can Green write fantastic action scenes - he can easily bring his shipmates into the action and really makes his character shine while performing military ops. Reading his action scenes is a lot of fun - you can visually imagine his movements, the pounding of the boots on pavement, the aiming down the sites and firing. I was taken when one of the crew compared his marine writing to military docudramas they had seen on TV and I agree - Tory does a fantastic job focusing on realistic action with military tactics and strategy to build up believable action sequences that utilize his entire team.
- And that’s what I think makes Tory such a special writer as a marine - he doesn’t approach the role as an opportunity to rush in, guns blazing. He carefully considers a situation and narrates the dangers of the situation in a realistic way and then approaches the problem with a very tactical mindset using the members of his team to gain an advantage over dangerous adversaries and difficult situations. This makes him a joy to play with and an excellent team leader and all of this makes him a wonderful example of how to play a marine. I am thrilled to be able to present him with the Semper Fidelis Award!
Black Cross
Awarded to Intelligence officers who strive to accomplish the goals of Starfleet Intelligence while simultaneously upholding the ideals and structure of Starfleet Command. They display the ability to obtain intelligence through deceptive dialogue or espionage rather than forced admissions. While intelligence is frequently a game changer, this individual attempts to achieve those aims within the constraints of their commanding Officer and Starfleet laws. They are experts in research and diplomacy, as well as reconnaissance and communication.
Avander Promontory, USS Oumuamua - Presented by Ossa V’Airu
- It is with great honor and admiration that I recognize Brent with this year’s Black Cross for his
exceptional skill and dedication in simming Lieutenant Avandar Promontory, ‘Oumuamua’s intelligence officer. In a duty post where simming intelligence can often be portrayed poorly or rely on clichéd tropes, Brent, as Promontory, has demonstrated a refreshing and realistic approach to the role. Rather than relying on preexisting information or flashy gadgets, Brent has skillfully integrated Promontory into the crew, showcasing him as an investigator and researcher rather than a traditional "spook." His ability to convey the process of conducting research, whether through procedural techniques or delving into computer archives, brings a level of authenticity and intrigue to his character's intelligence work. Brent's commitment to portraying the mundane and realistic aspects of intelligence, while still making them engaging and captivating, sets him apart.
- Brent’s analytical thinking and problem-solving skills, and through him Promontory’s, enable him to excel in both the strategic analysis of larger-scale situations and the intricate problem-solving required on smaller missions or away teams. The expertise Brent is able to sim regardless of situation, be it in research, diplomacy, reconnaissance, and/or communication, exemplifies the qualities of an exceptional Intelligence officer. It is a privilege to recognize his remarkable contributions with the distinguished Black Cross award. Congratulations, Brent, on this well-deserved recognition of your exceptional skills and commitment!
Lwaxana Troi Medallion
 The Lwaxana Troi Medallion Awarded to members who take on a unique and non-traditional role outside of the normal Starfleet positions, while creating a colorful and engaging character such as, but not limited to: Diplomat, Civilian or Mission Specialist. They have integrated into the crew and made their chosen specialist position an invaluable resource for their ship.
Rivi Vataix, USS Excalibur-A - Presented by Wil Ukinix
- As the Ambassador and Chief of Mission of Amity Outpost, Ambassador Niarivi Vataix has taken on a role of immense responsibility. Tasked with representing the Federation's interests in the Delta Quadrant, Rivi as a character is a great example of the fine art of something that's not normally seen in the Star Trek universe - in-depth exploration of diplomatic and ambassadorial roles. Her character exudes the nobility and poise of this award's namesake Lwaxana Troi, while providing an insight into Rivi as a person.
- The activities that we see Rivi performing on Amity are wide and varied, such hosting numerous diplomatic functions, negotiating with other haughty nobles of Betazed's Houses and the dramas they bring, and of course navigating relationships with the Delta Quadrant's many different species - including the Hirogen! All through her serious duties are a heartfelt, fun and warm person that is always concerned for the wellbeing of her crew. This depth of character, and the balance between her lighter, social side and the serious, dedicated diplomat, creates a character that is not just engaging but also deeply relatable. We often see the personal side of Rivi, and her relationships with her husband Tidrid, her child Istrol and cousin Sky Blake's child Ayeden for whom she is guardian. This aspect of her character adds a layer of depth, showing her ability to balance her high-ranking responsibilities with her personal life. Her "Dear Cousin" letters to Sky Blake give us a "behind-the-Ambassador" insight into Rivi's as a person.
- Her writer’s skill in crafting nuanced and meaningful dialogues is particularly noteworthy. An excellent example is Rivi's interaction with Amity's counsellor John Carter, where she expresses concern about the crew's trauma and the need for adequate support in their isolated environment. This conversation reveals Rivi's empathy, her leadership, and her deep sense of responsibility for those under her care. It demonstrates her writer’s ability to create a fun yet complex character that is more than just an Ambassador.
- In creating Rivi Vataix, her writer has not only given us a memorable and well-loved character but also a vivid portrayal of the challenges and rewards of diplomacy in the Star Trek universe. Rivi embodies the tenacity, spirit, and empathy that make her an exemplary ambassador, consistently demonstrating dedication to both her crew and the Federation's principles. Her writer breathes life into Rivi, on par with the likes of Lwaxana Troi - maybe even better!
- It’s an honour to present the Lwaxana Troi Medallion to my captain and mentor to Rich, the writer for Rivi Vataix. Congratulations, Rich!
Prestigious Service Medallion
 Prestigious Service Medallion Awarded to members in the fleet who are steady and unwavering from their chosen Duty Post. This is a divisional award for each (Gold, Red, Blue) to celebrate a continuing player in the divisional role who has already won (and still qualifies in the eligibility criteria) a duty post award in a similar vein to how we enhance the Service Ribbons each time one is won.
Vitor Silveira, USS Artemis-A - Presented by Addison Mackenzie
- Ten years is a long time. I haven’t been with this community too terribly long compared to some, but I imagine that it might be difficult for someone to write for the same duty post for over ten years. But if you look at Vitor Silveira’s service record, most of his writing with our fleet has been as a tactical officer with very little deviation, and it was nearly a decade ago when he won this award the first time.
- One of the things I have come to appreciate most about Bruno in our time writing together is the historical perspective and the longevity that his characters have established. Because he’s been with us for so long, he has such a treasure trove of canon experiences for his characters to draw on that always seem to get inserted in a scene at just the right time. Beyond that, it is evident in his writing that Bruno has a keen eye for tactical scenes, and I have always been impressed by the way that he always manages to infuse a scene with just the right amount of flavor – just enough firepower without being over the top, which can be a very difficult line to tow!
Prudence Blackwell, Starbase 118 Ops - Presented by Sal Taybrim
- She is a fantastic friend to her fellow crewmates, a self proclaimed weirdo who likes bad holo-novellas, the cheesiest B-movies from every culture (but especially Earth), has eclectic taste in music and food, and once chased her brother halfway across the cosmos to save him from making a terrible decision. She’s Prudence Blackwell, the longtime Operations officer for StarBase 118 Ops! Blackwell is one of the characters who can sometimes fly under the radar because she’s good at her job and good at working with other people. But she’s also quirky and fun and a steadfastly loyal friend to her crewmates.
- Rue is consistently excellent at her role in operations - a communications and operations officer has to be flexible in her position. She needs to understand the workings of StarBase 118 and its support ships, which is no small feat, as well as make sure systems are functioning effectively. This means she is constantly acting as a bridge between engineering and the command crew. As a player Traci is really good at being flexible, bringing Rue’s skill with communications to the forefront in some missions, while relying on her ability to focus on systems and operations on others! She’s also a solid backup pilot when we need one! But perhaps the most impressive and appreciated skill that Traci has, is that she is able to make friends and collaborate with every single character and player on Ops. She is an asset to every team that she is on and Rue is able to make a friend on every mission.
- She's sweet, but intelligent, and she does her duty with a serene gentleness. At least, until someone she cares about gets hurt - and then she’ll brave the toughest obstacles to save a friend in need. This is why Rue is one of the most beloved longterm characters on Ops. There’s not a single mean bone in Rue or her player’s body and she is able to bring some sunshine and friendship to every team she’s on. That is a rare quality in a player, and one that we cherish about Traci and adore about Prudence Blackwell. I am so proud of her ongoing writing and pleased to present her with the Emeritus Voyager Medallion!
Toryn Raga, USS Astraeus - Presented by Mei’konda Delano
- A long time writer in the Chief of Security/Tactical position and a previous recipient of the Shax Star, Lieutenant Commander Raga, played by Rameses, has been with the Chin'toka and then the Astraeus for years in that position.
- To Rameses, the position of Chief of Security/Tactical isn't about being an action hero and shooting guns. It's about playing a character, often a flawed one, who puts themselves in the line of fire in order to keep others safe. Not just his peers, not just his subordinates, but often non-Federation civilians who are limited in their capacity to defend themselves.
- Toryn Raga is a member of a race (the Al-Leyans) who are not only not Federation members, but who would likely face great challenges in being allowed to join the Federation due to deeply ingrained prejudices that sort them into caste systems and restrict relationships. Rameses convincingly plays a character who manages to excel in his Security/Tactical position and continue to be versatile in other areas, despite his race’s discouragement from pursuing such things.
- For all of these reasons, I’m delighted to present Toryn Raga with an Emeritus Award for the Shax Star, for excellence in the Security/Tactical position!
Gogigobo Fairhug, Denali Statoin - Presented by Oddas Aria
- When I first met Gogigobo Fairhug, James, I was his XO aboard the Embassy. Since then, he has gone on to win multiple awards, including the Semper Fidelis Award for his work writing for the Marines. When he contacted me recently to ask to join Denali Station as a Marine, I jumped at the chance, knowing his dedication to craft and assisting others would be an asset to the Station.
- James has jumped in with both feet, and helped me define what Marines should be in the, proving “there was no question that he was perfect for the role, and that he understood the role in a way that felt almost effortless coming from him”. I am happy to present him with this Award, and look forward to assisting him win many others.
Hallia Yellir, USS Artemis-A - Presented by Addison Mackenzie
- Hallia Yellir, Ryan, is someone who continually impresses me with their approach to the Engineering duty post. It’s really easy for command-level officers and team leaders to manufacture a problem in our game, but that’s because we get to toss the grenade for the other members of our crew and let them figure out how to fix it.
- Ryan originally served as a science officer on the Resolution, and while the duty post was a good fit, it wasn’t until he moved to engineering where things really started to blossom. Whether he is writing in a department of one, or has an ensign or two underneath him, Ryan is always carefully constructing scientific techno-solutions to get us out of our messes. Whether it’s trying to figure out why literally the entire ship is broken, or trying to manufacture a device to help spread a vaccine to end a zombie apocalypse, Ryan always approaches the duty post with thoughtful ideas inspired by the best Trek engineers.
Yogan Yalu, USS Artemis-A - Presented by Addison Mackenzie
- When Yogan Yalu, Justin, joined the Resolution, he was posted as a helmsman. It was clear to all of us that the position seemed to be a natural fit for him, but as I have watched him grow through his tenure on the Resolution, then the Excalibur, and now the Artemis, it is clear to me that Justin is adept at taking on obscure duty posts and carving out non-traditional roles as though writing for them was second nature.
- …and I suppose that by now, it is – he’s been serving as our Strategic Operations Officer for over a year now, and I am constantly impressed by how easy he makes writing for such an obscure duty post seem. And if that wasn’t enough, Justin has, by far, crafted some of the most colorful character with which I have ever had the opportunity to interact. I consider his skills and contributions to be an incredible asset to the Artemis, and I know his fellow shipmates feel similarly.
Noa T'Nessa Levinson, USS Astraeus - Presented by Mei’konda Delano
- Adi, the player of Noa Levinson, has played a spectacular Science Officer, and later Chief Science Officer ever since I've known him. As a player, not only does he have a wonderful grasp on Star Trek science and 'technobabble', but also a good working understanding of real world science as well. Most importantly, he integrates these two things with aplomb, never failing to make himself understood in his writing or to drive the plot forward.
- Perhaps even more essentially, Adi always pushes the plot forward at exactly the right pace while doing so, always leaving tags for his fellow players and directions for them to take the plot. As a character who is one-quarter Vulcan, Adi consistently expresses this in Noa’s body language, with the occasional arched eyebrow and dry humor expressed to remind you of her heritage.
- Adi is also always ready with a terrible pun or some in-character humor - such as Noa’s obvious obsession with hot chocolate - to make his fellow players laugh. For all of these reasons, I’m honored to present
Talos Dakora, USS Artemis-A - Presented by Addison Mackenzie
- Intelligence is a duty post that can be really tricky to write for - it’s a mixture of security, strategic operations, mission ops, and more, yet it’s also none of those. While the duty post itself can be quite attractive, finding someone who can write it well is rare, and there are many who have tried to varying degrees of success. I’m quite privileged to have inherited someone who knocks it out of the park.
- Lieutenant Commander Dakora, Travis, returned to the game back when I was serving as XO on the Resolution-Excalibur. When he was brought on board, I must admit that I had a little apprehension because I’d never written with someone who’d filled the role, and as a command-level officer, I was a bit perplexed when thinking about how his role was going to fit in with the rest of the crew. Fortunately, Travis has proven time and again that I don’t have to worry about him or making his role fit. He is thoughtful in his contributions not only to the duty post, but to the crew as a whole, and I’ve really enjoyed watching him craft really creative stories that help demystify the post for others.
Special Awards
Next, we continue with awards that recognize members of the fleet for particularly important contributions or roles that affect the fleet's OOC areas. Here, too, the nominations are reviewed by a panel of three staff members: two commanders and three members ranked captain or above.
Great Bird Award
Awarded to an officer who contributes to the development and/or invention of a new method of simming, thinking, or seeing the Star Trek universe. It has only been presented twice in the group's existence, for creating the community, and for defining a new way of what a ship-based sim can be. This is a unique distinction and the greatest honour bestowed upon any officer.
Quinn Reynolds, USS Gorkon - Presented by Roshanara Rahman
- As our community’s highest honor, the Great Bird Award should be rare, remarkable, and recognizing those who have been truly impactful on the way our community–and the very game we play within it–functions. Emma, the player of Quinn Reynolds, has been all of these things and more. As the first person to reach the rank of full Admiral through promotion, Emma’s dedication and experience with our organization is unparalleled. In addition to her primary duty as commanding officer of USS Gorkon, she serves as a member of the Executive and Captains Councils and as the commandant of the StarBase 118 Academy. She routinely volunteers her time to other needs of the fleet as well, whether it be a fleet staff officer’s exam grader or a staff wiki administrator.
- All of her accomplishments and service have rightfully seen Emma recognized with other awards and promotions (and I highly encourage you to read the announcement and presentation of Emma’s promotion to Admiral last year for a full account of why she earned the recognition). The Great Bird Award, though, goes beyond recognition of the recipient’s achievements. As its description notes, “It has only been presented thrice in the group's existence: for creating the community, and for defining new ways of what a simming installation can be.” The award’s measure is thus not just about a recipient’s dedication or quality of work but assessing the total impact of the recipient to our community’s way of doing or seeing things. In other words, can we clearly see a distinction between a time before the recipient’s contributions and the time after?
- In terms of simming, Emma has certainly introduced and experimented with novel ideas, such as a “Year of Hell” serialized storyline that ran for eight months, a shared campaign region with another actively simming vessel, and a player ship that was centered on an older vessel rather than the latest and greatest (and years before onscreen Trek tackled the idea). The players under her command note the realism and deep storytelling that Emma cultivates on her ship, one which veteran 118 players comment as distinctly different and more engaging than what our fleet’s standards were many years ago.
- As Emma’s colleague though serving as one of the community’s administrators, I have a unique perspective to witness the impact of Emma’s presence. Put simply, there was a time before Emma, and there is now a time with Emma within the group’s leadership. Jordan (Fleet Admiral Tristan Wolf) has remarked to the staff about the notable stability that our community has enjoyed in terms of its leadership and active captains (four of whom have been in continuous command for more than seven years each). I do not believe it is a coincidence that this period of stability coincides with the time that Emma took on the role as an Executive Council member, first as the Captain–At-Large in 2015 before becoming a permanent member later that year.
- StarBase 118’s history has always reflected in some ways the personalities and priorities of those who led the fleet from its highest councils. StarBase 118 is first and foremost a game and hobby run by volunteers, and typically those who reached leadership positions in the community were those members who were most enthusiastic and had the free time to contribute to its administration. As my fellow Executive Council member (and captaincy class of 2016 alumnae) Jamie (Sal Taybrim) has noted, there is a distinction between being a good writer and a good player. Just because one has the skill set of the former does not automatically mean one will excel as the latter. To add to that, I will say there is most assuredly a distinction between being a good player and a good leader. Emma’s measured approach when it comes to issues that the community faces and the deep analysis she does of proposed ideas are invaluable to our group. She is cool-headed, kind, and compassionate, and the qualities she exhibits day-to-day as a working council member and CO are those we now expect and hold more strictly to for any aspiring leadership candidates.
- Thus, it is my privilege to present to Admiral Quinn Reynolds our community’s highest honor of the Great Bird Award for the impact she has made both within the simming environment and even more so within our group’s operations. As those recipients before her created the group and defined a new way of what a simming installation can be, she has defined through her example of how a person can be a leader in this organization and truly changed StarBase 118 for the better. Congratulations!
Rising Star Award
Awarded to members of Lieutenant Commander rank or higher who show great promise in many facets of their participation in the group, and to whom we look to as a future leader. Officers who qualify for this award consistently demonstrate their capabilities in leadership and facilitation of their fellow officers, including a recognisable dedication in their In Character and Out of Character activities to enhance the community.
Samira Neathler, USS ‘Gorkgon - Presented by Quinn Reynolds
- Sami has been a member of the Gorkon crew since she joined Starbase 118, and she’s been a huge contributor to the success of our ship. It’s been my absolute pleasure to see her journey from ensign to First Officer, and collaborate first with her as a simmer and then later as a peer in the ship’s command crew.
- Her leadership abilities are shown in the everyday things she does. Sami has a real knack for distilling a situation down to its component parts, which is so useful when discussing anything—from where to take the mission next, to what mentoring advice is needed to help someone reach their goals. She takes care to lift everyone up; having fun (and sharing cat pictures!) with the crew in Discord, highlighting their sims in the Appreciation forum, and encouraging them to engage with the rest of the fleet by keeping everyone up to date with news and events.
- New and returning members have talked about how welcome she makes them feel, and how her carefully crafted sims not only entertain but inspire. She’s someone who leads by example, with every sim giving us insight into her character, but also showing how to open the floor to other players and have everyone drive the story forward together.
- She’s a shepherd for her crew, the fleet, and the new people joining us, and so it’s my honour and delight to present this year’s Rising Star Award to her. Congratulations, Sami!
Locutus Award
Awarded to members of the Publicity Team who go above-and-beyond their monthly requirements for participation on a regular basis. These team members are enthusiastic about spreading the word about our role-playing community and are actively looking for new methods to draw people into the fold.
Artinus Serinus, USS Arrow - Presented by Randal Shayne
- The importance of our Publicity Team cannot be overstated. These fine members of the group work to spread the word, bring new and unique writers into our community, and help this fleet excel into the 2400s. I am delighted, but not surprised, that Lieutenant Commander Serinus’ fellows have elected to recognize Joseph for his stalwart dedication to the Publicity Team. Our recent inflow of new, excited cadets speaks to the import and efficacy of his contributions, and I am pleased to offer my congratulations to Joseph for an award well earned. Well done, Commander, and thank you!
Luminary Award
Awarded to members holding the rank of Ensign, Lieutenant Junior Grade, or Lieutenant. Officers qualifying for this award have shown outstanding promise in their future endeavors by displaying their skills in leadership, dependability, and dedication to the community.
Jack Kessler, USS Oumuamua - Presented by Ossa V’Airu
- It is my utmost pleasure to present the distinguished Luminary Award to Joel, the talented writer behind Lieutenant Jack Kessler. Joel, simply put, is the Luminary Award. His dedication to the 'Oumuamua is evident in his active involvement as a staff member, contributing to mission proposals, mentoring multiple players, and offering insightful contributions to discussions. Joel possesses innate leadership qualities that shine through in his exceptional simming abilities and effortless scene management. His commitment and unwavering support for his fellow players are palpable, as he consistently provides kindness, encouragement, and sage guidance.
- Beyond the ‘Oumuamua, Joel's genuine care for the community's well-being and his inclusive approach to fun and engagement make him a role model and a beacon of positivity. I have absolutely no doubt that Joel is a future leader within the 118 community – in fact, since the nomination period closed, I was honored to nominate him to the Academy as a trainer – and we are fortunate to have him among us. Congratulations, Joel, on this well-deserved recognition of your remarkable skills, dependability, and dedication to the community. Your bright future and contributions are greatly appreciated and admired!
Sarpeidon Award
Awarded to a simmer who has made outstanding contributions to the 118Wiki. Sarpeidon was the planet in TOS's "All Our Yesterdays" where the inhabitants built a library collecting their whole world's history. This is essentially what our wiki aspires to be: a repository of our group's history and a simming database.
Robin Hopper, Amity Outpost - Presented by Rivi Vataix
- It’s quite fitting that Keegan, the writer behind Robin Hopper, has just recently been inducted into the ranks of the 118 Wiki administrators. Even before he expressed interest in taking on maintaining the wiki in an official capacity, Keegan had already dedicated countless hours not just in editing and building out the wiki directly himself but also most crucially in assisting others in the wiki help channel on the Discord server. As a wiki editor, he has shown creativity in the pages he’s worked on, including his own library of character biographies. He is always looking for areas that can be improved upon, and he is quick to volunteer rather than expect others to do the work for him.
- Most importantly, though, Keegan demonstrates a passion for maintaining and building the wiki as our fleet’s official record of simmed history. Many members have said that the wiki is one of our community’s features that really stood out to them when they first came across our group, and it’s thanks to the editors of the wiki like Keegan who make it such a crown jewel. In his new role as a wiki administrator, Keegan will no doubt continue to find ways to make the wiki even better, and we can be reassured that our fleet’s library is in good hands.
Quark's Bar
Awarded to members who are regularly active on the chat room, and forums, and have been supportive and involved in conversations enhancing the overall community experience with activities like keeping a quote thread up to date, consistently nominating simmers in the Appreciations forum, starting engaging chat discussions, attending chat events regularly, or being a helpful presence for new players.
Alora DeVeau, Starbase 118 Ops - Presented by Sal Taybrim
- Alora DeVeau is a name that almost everyone can recognize. She will be one of the first - if not the very first - person to greet any new cadets entering the Academy channel. She is quick to answer cadet’s questions and help out other players on Discord. She is a constant presence on the forums - nominating quotes and sims from multiple ships and engaging in positive feedback for ships that she doesn’t even play on because she loves reading the Appreciations forum! Multiple nominators noted that they felt that getting appreciation from someone on a different ship was especially meaningful to them.
- Amanda, the player behind Alora DeVeau, is always willing to go the extra mile to get support for new players, get questions answered and to reach out to players on every ship to form new relationships and friendships. This creates an excellent sense of fleetwide unity and camaraderie and brings both ships and players together.
- As one nominator so keenly said: "When I first returned to the community, Alora was one of the first people to greet me outside of the training staff and my ship. Her help in getting acquainted with chat, Discord, was instrumental. She was a friendly presence, an ambassador for the Fleet, as I navigated some things there - I had never been on Discord before!”
- I am so proud of Amada for her commitment to fleetwide unity, and that she was directly recognized by players on other ships for her contributions to building a supportive community. I am thrilled to be able to present her Quark’s Bar!
Awarded to members who participate in – or help facilitate – simming community events, representing the best of StarBase 118 RPG to other organizations by hosting events, acting as contest judges, or otherwise contributing their expertise in a way that benefits the wider community.
Jocelyn Marshall, USS Gorkon - Presented by Quinn Reynolds
- So many events in Starbase 118’s calendar are facilitated by Em, it’s incredible how she does it. She’s organised or assisted in so many things: the State of the Federation Address, the Writing and Graphics Challenges, and of course, this very awards ceremony! Working from behind the scenes, she donates an incredible amount of her time and energy to help our members take part in these events, and also showcase our group to others; an incredible community, filled with brilliant writers and wonderful people.
- Not only that, but she’s a vital part of the Federation News Service and the News Team. Her efforts there help to ensure the continuing creativity and vitality of our fleet, highlighting that we’re an active and vibrant community, and a grand place to come and sim.
- I’m very proud to present Em with the Community Champion award. Congratulations, and thank you so much for everything you do!
Northern Star Award
Awarded to members holding the rank of Lieutenant or Lt. Commander who show constant commitment to the fleet as members of task forces and through our other fleet endeavours. These officers are vital to the success of our fleet, showing their support and enthusiasm for their crews and our community through their tireless efforts.
Samira Neathler, USS ‘Gorkgon - Presented by Quinn Reynolds
- Both the Rising Star and the Northern Star—clearly Sami is a shining light in SB118’s sky!
- A member of the fleet for nearly 5 years now, Sami has always eagerly sought to help out wherever she can with the fleet’s OOC endeavours. She is one of our most regular volunteers in the Training Team, helping to shepherd new cadets into the fleet. On top of that, she’s also one of the team’s statisticians, a vital group who ensures our records of cadets, classes, and training officers are accurate and up to date. She does all of this with a sharp eye for detail, and shows a keen insight for where the team can improve its processes and documentation. On top of that, she is a member of several other teams: the Federation News Service, the Social Media Team, and the History team, showing her enthusiasm and dedication to our community.
- This continuing dedication is not only appreciated, but inspiring, and she truly deserves the Northern Star for her unwavering dedication to the fleet. Congratulations once more, Sami!
Jake Sisko Prize
Awarded to members of the Federation News Service Team who regularly go above and beyond in their contributions and participation. These team members show dedication and creativity in editing and writing news reports, helping to maintain our IC news service, build the 118 universe and provide inspiration for our members.
Alora DeVeau, Starbase 118 Ops - Presented by Sal Taybrim
- Alora DeVeau is a one-woman powerhouse news writer. While her focus is most often on the OOC aspects of the News Service rather than the IC aspects, her contributions go above and beyond in every way. She consistently submits far beyond the minimum 1 new article per month - regularly completing 3-5 news articles monthly. And her speciality is interviews. Amanda, the player behind Alora is willing to reach out to players of every rank and on every ship to get the next news story. Her nominators recognized that this is incredibly inspirational and encouraged fleet members to read up on other ship’s storylines and other player’s sims. She also manages to highlight the best simmers from Ensigns in the Lower Decks to Commanding Officers in the Captain’s Corner and everyone in between.
- She takes a leadership role in this, actively seeking out recommendations for interviews rather than waiting for interviews to be assigned and she pushed forward doing all the communication and legwork for her interviews, allowing dozens of players to shine each year in our front page news. Amanda, you have done an incredible job with the news team since you joined it in 2020 and you are a champion for the fleet. She has submitted an incredible 71 interviews since January 2022, which have highlighted every rank, every ship and every award winner for well over a year. This is an outstanding contribution to our fleet and I am overjoyed to be able to recognize Alora DeVeau with this year’s Jake Sisko Prize!
Okuda Award
Awarded to members of the Image Collective who regularly go above and beyond in their contributions to this team's efforts, creating images and graphics for the fleet. These team members display their artistry and dedication with a visual feast for members new and old, bringing our creations to life and stoking imaginations.
Robin Hopper, Amity Outpost - Presented by Jo Marshall
- We've all witnessed the impressive image wizardry Robin, also known as Keegan, performs on the Image Collective. He's not just tossing together some simple graphics like a Bitmap rookie (Who remembers it? 'Fess up!). No, he takes it a step further by breathing life into requested characters, giving them a distinctive face and a snazzy uniform. When you've got a vision in your head you're trying to get onto a digital canvas, Robin comes swinging in. His knack for asking the right questions delivers an image that's exactly what the requestor imagined. For a few lucky ships, Robin is also their banner maker. He brings the same flair and speedy delivery to these projects, creating banners that are truly one-of-a-kind and catch your eye. These pieces add a special, personalised touch to our forums.
- So here's a big shout-out to Robin, one of our extraordinary image magicians. He's not just on the nomination list for the Okuda Award this year - he's nabbed it! Keep rocking it, Robin!
Xalor Clan Xifilis Award
Awarded to simmers who overcome a disadvantage throughout simming. This award was initially known as the "Rachel Garett Pendant," but was renamed for the 2000 event to commemorate a valued StarBase 118 PBEM RPG simmer who died that year. In each event, this award can be given to all qualifying simmers.
Alex Forsyth, Denali Station - Presented by Oddas Aria
- Alex, Robbie, is a great example of a player using writing as a creative outlet, and enriching everyone around them. Robbie’s anxiety started out as something they were extremely worried about, to the point of participation, but they have slowly - and spectacularly - opened up and written more it’s been a joy to see. As one nominator put it “Robbie has grown to become a valuable, dependable, creative member of the crew, who contributes interesting ideas and always adds a touch of humor and humanity in their sims” I cannot think of higher praise. Great job, Robbie, and thank you for being part of the crew!
Azura Ada, USS Constitution-B - Presented by Jalana Rajel
- I have known Azura, Lazuli, for years ever since she joined the fleet and we have been writing side by side through that time. But we also have formed a friendship beyond that which allowed me to be part of a special phase in her life. I have seen her grow and struggle and that struggle became evident when she went through a personal quest of discovering her true self. While when we are online we only see so much of someone's life, she let me be part of her journey of coming out, broken relationships, discovering new ones -including with herself- and finally transitioning into the bloody fantastic woman she is and has always been. That journey was never easy, but she also never shied away, and still walks every step with determination to live her true self. I'm really proud of her for never giving up no matter how loud the counter voices or how high the obstacles were, and that on top of first being the Chief of Science on the Conny and then First Officer. I am humbled and honored to call her my friend and be allowed to share her story with the fleet, which allows me to award her with the Xalor Clan Xifilis Award this year. You're amazing, Lazuli and deserve the world. Congratulations!
Kettick, Denali Station - Presented by Oddas Aria
- I am always in awe of the members of the crew who are able to write in other languages, let alone do it well. Mister Kettick now only does this player, but does it, so flawlessly it never registered this was the case, and he transcends the language barrier by writing interesting stories, funny stories, and plots that encourage others to participate. Kettick, Yann, is a great pick for this award and a player to watch for in the future. Congratulations!
Obsius Sill-con, StarBase 118 Ops - Presented by Sal Taybrim
- Xalor Clan Xifilis is all about overcoming adversity, and Simon who portrays Obsius Sill-con is an exemplary player who continues to grow, improve and thrive while overcoming adversity. Writing may come easy to some, but it doesn't to others. Writing in a language that isn't your native one is even more difficult. I've known several people here in SB118 who achieve that feat, and Sill-con is one of them. He manages to beautifully communicate his character's thoughts and feelings, and if you didn't know English wasn't his first language, you'd not be able to tell from his writing.
- Simon is a young writer overcoming all of the challenges of university while also living in a very volatile area which often threatens his own safety, and yet through it all he maintains positive communication with his fellow players and continues to sim with good quality sims and a focus on improving. I am so proud of all that Sill-con has accomplished this year and I am happy to recognize Simon with the Xalor Clan Xifilis award!
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.
This year, the fleet’s First Officers were again empanelled to vote on the nominations and advise the Executive Council on recipients. The nine awards presented below, all come from the recommendations of the First Officer panel.
Honor of the Admiralty
Awarded to Staff Members who have served for a minimum of five years in a multitude of disciplines. From facilitating our task forces, engaging with the Captains Council, and leading with the utmost dedication, these writers volunteer their time, effort, and skill to building our game and community and have comprehensively earned the respect and loyalty of members. This is the highest award that can be conferred upon a StarBase 118 PBEM RPG staff member under the rank of Rear Admiral.
Oddas Aria, Denali Station - Presented by Tristan Wolf
- Before we even dig into all the things that Oddas Aria (Nick) does – and has accomplished – in his tenure with the fleet, it's worth putting a spotlight on the major project spearheaded and managed by Nick that deserves applause: the Sim Tracker. This singular piece of technology has had an indelible impact on our staff's ability to track our simming statistics and see what we need to know quickly. If you can believe it, even up through a couple years ago we were forced to count stats by hand in any case where we wanted to know how often someone was simming! Oh yes, Yahoo and Google at various times had some stats displays that made this easier, but nothing like what Nick created for us, which crunches the numbers, shows us trends, and just makes it a breeze to understand what we need to focus on in managing the pace of simming our ships (one of the most important things ship staff key an eye on). For that alone, we owe Nick huge thanks and show our gratitude for the time he spent, the knowledge he gained and shared with us, and his ongoing maintenance and improvement efforts to provide what the fleet and staff need.
- After making that tool a reality, Nick re-launched our Sim Archive, giving us an easy way to view all the sims that have been submitted going back nearly to the launch of our game in the mid-1990s! This was a feat of considerable proportions that required a significant amount of work from Nick, pulling together massive databases of sims and making them easy to navigate, all while commanding his own ship and launch other projects. It's an incredible gift to the fleet that get this tool back, from it having gone offline a few years ago due to technical issues. The ability to scan our history going back decades, see how far we've come, and reference all those well-worn stories is a huge contribution.
- Beyond making life easier for ship staff, Nick's also been a creative force, trying out new ideas and taking chances on unexpected projects. Before launching his previous ship, the USS Juneau, he organized a unique "side quest" for testing the new vessel where members of the fleet could join – out of the flow of the normal story – as participants. And since then, he's launched another fun event called the Denali Invitational, where characters from across the fleet can sim as part of a space race. Nick's efforts to go beyond our day-to-day routines make the game better.
- Nick has also been a reliable and diligent member of the Executive Council, acting as the Captain At Large – even extending his term to assist when finding a replacement was challenging. And as a Deputy Commandant on the Training Team, he's helped to lighten the load, a significant and important contribution to a sometimes grueling training schedule.
- As a staff member, he's responsive, approachable, helpful, kind, and creative. He's made our game more fun and easy for staff members, leaving a mark worth celebrating on our history. He has definitely earned this recognition. Thank you for everything you've brought to us, and shared with us. And congratulations on this honor, Nick!
Staff Member of the Year Award
Awarded to Staff Members who have contributed tirelessly to the organization through any number of Out of Character channels, while maintaining excellence in simming on their vessel. This is an award granted to any staff member, regardless of rank.
Addison MacKenzie, USS Artemis-A - Presented by Roshanara Rahman
- Matt, the player behind Addison MacKenzie, has steadily taken on more responsibilities since first becoming a fleet staff member, and his dedication to these duties have ensured the timely and smooth operation of our organization. Like an orchestra conductor, Matt deftly coordinates the various moving pieces of the Captains Council in his role as its magistrate to see that votes happen, discussions are fruitful, and that ultimately action is taken on the issues that need to be addressed. In the academy, he has served as a class CO well beyond his requirements and has additionally taken on the responsibilities of an academy statistician, ensuring records are properly maintained. He also leads the Community History Team and is a ready presence on the fleet’s Discord, serving as an ambassador to new and prospective members. Earlier this year, he began his captaincy practical, taking command of the USS Artemis, and his passion for teaching and ensuring a fun creative environment for all is readily evident in the mentoring and feedback he gives to his crew just as he does to his cadets.
- It has been a privilege to see Matt’s growth in StarBase 118 since he was first assigned under my command four years ago. He has never lost his trademark sense of humor as he continues to tackle each new role he’s begun, and his own simming remains one of the fleet’s best, a fine example for any player to follow. I have no doubt that he will continue to be a pillar of the community in all that he does. Congratulations and thank you, Matt, for all that you do for the fleet!
Strange Medallion
Awarded to First Officers in the fleet who are consistently dependable, perform above the call of duty in their position, and excel not only in simming, but also in their dedicated Out of Character activities. Those awarded are regarded as leaders who excel in their facilitation of their crew, raising the bar and lifting up simmers to the podium. Named after Commander Sally Strange, widely known as one of the most creative and dedicated First Officers in the fleet's early years.
Karrod Niac - Presented by Randal Shayne
- The USS Arrow has existed as a player ship under my command for just over three years, and I doubt I will ever stop learning new and innovative strategies to ensure the success of a simming crew. Certainly I can thank many of my former mentors and captains for imparting almost three decades of combined wisdom to me, but when it comes to being an effective captain in all the ways that can’t simply be taught, it costs me nothing to admit that I have learned the most from my first officer, Commander Karrod Niac.
- Brian came aboard at a time of great stress for the ship. I was struggling to reach even bare minimum obligations, and it was hurting my crew. Brian came aboard, and with him came an almost divine wind. All at once, Brian’s impressive experience and willingness to get his hands dirty simultaneously allowed me to tackle the challenges Arrow was facing, and brought a renewed spirit to our creative exploits. He has supported me in my weak areas, and has demonstrated an unsurpassed example for junior officers to learn from. I say unreservedly that Arrow is still in commission because of his abilities and dedication.
- I do not believe Brian could be more deserving of the Strange Medallion, an award given to those first officers that bring out the best in their ships and crews. The writers who have the future privilege of calling Brian captain will be fortunate indeed. Well done, Commander, and thank you again.
Sarek Star
Awarded to Commanding Officers who show great diplomatic ability in working with members and staff, related to conduct Out of Character. Organisation, collaboration, mentorship, and ultimately making our game tick can be challenges in every respect, but those Staff Members awarded with this have a clear ability to walk those lines.
Mei'konda Delano, USS Astraeus - Presented by Ossa V’Airu
- It is with great pleasure that I bestow the prestigious Sarek Star upon Aaron, the remarkable writer behind Captain Mei'konda. Aaron's exceptional diplomatic skills and ability to foster positive relationships within the community make him a deserving recipient of this esteemed award. Just ask anyone on the Captains Council, and I’m sure they’ll be able to point you to one of Aaron’s thoughtful, polite posts. Whether he’s starting a new thread regarding a topic he thinks we ought to discuss, or adding his own reflective thoughts to an ongoing thread, Aaron’s presence is unmistakable.
- During his current tenure as a CO, previously of the USS Chin'toka and now the USS Astraeus, Aaron has consistently demonstrated a remarkable talent for connecting with his crew members and providing guidance with a gentle and steady hand. His leadership style is characterized by fairness, empathy, and an unwavering commitment to understanding others' perspectives. Aaron's exceptional ability to listen attentively and seek mutually beneficial solutions showcases his diplomatic prowess, whether engaging with new players or seasoned veterans. His approachable nature and genuine concern for the well-being of others create an environment of trust and respect.
- Aaron's leadership is an inspiration to all who serve under him, and his dedication to diplomacy and community-building truly sets him apart. Congratulations, Aaron, on this well-deserved recognition of your outstanding diplomatic abilities and your invaluable contributions to the success of the 118 community. Your exemplary leadership and mentorship are deeply appreciated and admired by all!
James T. Kirk Cross
“Awarded to new Commanding Officers who show outstanding potential in the field of commanding. Their advancement into commanding their own ship can be fraught with challenges, but the receiver of this award has met them head on with vigour.”
Addison MacKenzie, USS Artemis-A - Presented by Ossa V’Airu
- I’m absolutely delighted to present the distinguished James T. Kirk Cross to Matt, the talented writer behind Commander Addison MacKenzie, commanding officer of the USS Artemis-A. Matt's exceptional potential and unwavering energy in his role as a new COmake him a truly deserving recipient of this prestigious award. Even well before he officially assumed command, Matt demonstrated remarkable leadership qualities and an innate ability to connect with his crew both in-character and out-of-character – he’s been doing it for years, back as far as the time we both spent on the Veritas! He has earned the respect and admiration of many within the fleet, not only for his rise to command but also for his ability to lead with fairness and empathy.
- Matt's warm and welcoming presence, in every venue but especially on Discord and on the Artemis lists, creates an environment of camaraderie and enjoyment for his fellow simmers. His command style balances authority with respect, inspiring those around him to excel and pushing them to become better writers. Matt's dedication to storytelling and his commitment to creating engaging missions and plots have elevated the simming experience on the Artemis, captivating the imaginations of his crew and fostering a sense of excitement and adventure.
- Through his portrayal of Commander MacKenzie, Matt embodies the essence of a true commanding officer. Addison's unwavering dedication, sharp intellect, and bold decision-making mirror the qualities of James T. Kirk, in a way that fully and completely exemplifies this award. Matt's ability to meet challenges head on with unwavering courage and determination exemplifies the spirit of this award. His remarkable potential and tireless commitment to his role as a CO make him an exceptional leader and a shining example within the 118 community. Congratulations, Matt, on this well-deserved recognition of your outstanding command abilities and your invaluable contributions to the success of our fleet. Your dedication, leadership, and energy are deeply appreciated and admired by everyone!
Chief’s Citation
Awarded to essential Staff Members whose determined work has benefitted the group In Character, and/or Out Of Character, even while their primary service was not as the Commanding Officer of a simming installation. Inspired by the non-commissioned and enlisted personnel who are the backbone of any starship but were rarely recognized in Star Trek lore in favor of the officers.
Serala, USS Astraeus - Presented by Oddas Aria
- Serala, Jim, is a player that this award is meant for. A player with his hand in everything from the Image Collective, to running the monthly chats, to not just writing on multiple ships, but serving on their staffs in mentoring and command capacities.
- Jim is always willing to lend a hand, lift those around him, and make the game a better place for all of us. He has been a “has been a consistent, reliable, and highly proficient player and staff member ever since I've met him”, as one nomination put it, a sentiment I echo as I began my own command. There have been many situations I know I would not have weathered as successfully if not for Jim by my side.
- Not only is Jim a player who helps out with crews and ship on a regular basis, he assists with the Academy program, both volunteering to participate in classes and behind the scenes as a statistician. Both jobs important, both ensuring Cadets get the information they need, and Captains know how to support the new Ensigns boarding their ships for the first time.
- It is fitting this award is the Chief’s Citation, the Chiefs in our world often go overlooked, but are critical to the success of our endeavors. Jim’s work is critical, and we owe him this award, and many other accolades. Congratulations, Jim, it is my honor to present you the Chief’s Citation.
Christopher Pike Pendant
Awarded to Commanding Officers who command their ship with honor and dedication, and help to provide an creative atmosphere which fosters outstanding simming. Not only do they lead by significant and exceptional example, but they engineer their vessels to be inspirational and creative powerhouses for all who sim on board.
Randal Shayne, USS Arrow - Presented by Quinn Reynolds
- We award the Pike Pendant to those captains who’ve truly come into their own as stewards of their ship and crew. It’s been a huge pleasure to watch Quinn, the writer behind Randal Shayne, grow and develop throughout his captaincy, striving for the best and learning from the challenges.Three years in command — a fantastic milestone by itself — and here we are, in a well-earned celebration for the leader he’s become!
- It’s clear from the nominations that his crew look up to him as a dedicated captain who leads by example, a “guiding light” as one of his nominators described him. He’s created a welcoming environment where ideas can flourish, his writers are encouraged to explore their characters, they can develop their shared universe, and everyone has a place in their story. He’s a person whose mentorship and guidance is respected, valued, and appreciated. In the words of one nominator, “ I genuinely don't think I would have stuck around as long as I have (or as long as I plan to) without Quinn as my CO and mentor along the way.” High praise!
- So not only congratulations, but thank you so much, Quinn, for the time and effort you give to your crew and the fleet, and for the joy you’ve brought so many.
Length of Service Awards
The Length of Service Awards are given to members who have maintained continuous activity for at least one year. There are various tiers for different milestones, such as three, five, ten, 15, 20, and even 25 years of uninterrupted service.
The list below includes only those members who have recently reached the qualification threshold for the award. For instance, if a member has been here for four years and received the 3-year award last year, they will not be mentioned below. To view the complete list of previous Length of Service award recipients, you can visit here.
Some members who have been on Leave of Absence (LOA) since before these awards were introduced may appear in multiple award tiers below as they catch up on the missed awards.
We have made every effort to accurately calculate each member's start date and LOAs based on the information available to us. However, if you believe you should have received an award but do not find your name listed below, please contact your commanding officer (CO) to rectify the situation. We sincerely apologize in advance for any oversight or inconvenience caused.
1-Year Members
- Hiro Jones, graduated from training on October 26, 2018
- Anton Richards, graduated from training on January 2, 2021
- Tomas Falt, graduated from training on July 17, 2021
- Kammus Corelli, graduated from training on July 26, 2021
- Nestira Aristren, graduated from training on January 9, 2021
- Jacin Ayemet, graduated from training on April 10, 2021
- Rebecca Iko, graduated from training on December 10, 2021
- V’Len Kel, graduated from training on September 11, 2021
- Sera, graduated from training on December 28, 2021
- Jack Kessler, graduated from training on March 1, 2022
- Connor Dewitt, graduated from training on January 17, 2022
- Wyatt Ral, graduated from training on March 20, 2022
- Nathan Richards, graduated from training on March 5, 2022
- Egil Renot, graduated from training on May 17, 2022
3-Year Members
- Valin Dermont, graduated from training on April 10, 2017
- Chloe Waters, graduated from training on January 11, 2018
- Esa Kiax, graduated from training on February 11, 2018
- Artinus Serinus, graduated from training on January 7, 2019
- Noa T'Nessa Levinson, graduated from training on June 1, 2020
- Wes Greaves, graduated from training on September 2, 2020
- R'Ariel, graduated from training on January 6, 2020
- Bryce Tagren-Quinn, graduated from training on January 9, 2012
5-Year Members
- Solaris McLaren, graduated from training on November 11, 2013
- Jesse De'Vere, graduated from training on January 8, 2014
- Taelon, graduated from training on March 15, 2016
- Toryn Raga, graduated from training on April 10, 2017
- Serala, graduated from training on April 12, 2017
- Neshala, graduated from training on April 12, 2017
- Genkos Adea, graduated from training on June 2, 2018
- Talia Ohnari, graduated from training on January 5, 2015
10-Year Members
- Cadfael Peters, graduated from training on February 17, 2013
- Vylaa zh'Tisav, graduated from training on January 1, 2009
15-Year Members
- Ossa V'Airu, graduated from training on January 8, 2005
Final thanks
- Well, you've read all the winning presentations and hopefully taken home an award of your own. Now it's time to close with some acknowledgments.
- In years past, I've often detailed the incredible amount of work involved so you can get a sense of the scale. This time I'll avoid a long-winded narrative, but I would just offer the following: To make this Awards Ceremony happen, we must collect and collate all the nominations from over 100 members, sort them into groups depending on who reviews them, post them in a place where the reviewers can see and vote on them, gather the winner lists and get them all approved where necessary, then gather all the award presentations and format them, and finally make sure they're all posted and our records are fully updated on the wiki. Before and after all that there is prep and cleanup work, rallying the membership to nominate, providing clear and direct instructions, and more. It's a lot of work!
- Here's who we can thank for making it all happen:
- For the fourth year in a row, we owe enormous gratitude to Jo Marshall (Em), who has volunteered each of these last few years to lead the process of getting the Awards done as the Awards Ceremony Facilitator. As always, she is doing the impossible, managing all the pieces with grace and a smile. With so many moving parts involved, the EC and CC simply could not do this without an organized and efficient point person who can facilitate every step with ease. If you see Marshall around, please be sure to add your thanks for making this happen!
- And to Tomas Falt (Tom), who was this year's Awards Ceremony Deputy Facilitator to Marshall, assisting with sorting, compiling, tracking, posting – the whole pile of work involved in coordinating! Many thanks to him for everything he brought to the process.
- Next we would like to show our appreciation to the Awards Committee, who read every single nomination for the Special and Duty Post awards and then confer and vote on the winners of each. This is a heck of a lot of reading in a pretty short period of time, and they're asked to do a lot of careful consideration of who's earned each award. Thanks to the following people who ensured that the best candidates received recognition:
- * Kalianna Nicholotti
- * Wil Ukinix
- * Serala
- * Etan Iljor
- * Quinn Reynolds
- * Alora DeVeau
- Onto our fabulous, dedicated, and tireless Commanding Officers of the fleet, who not only do a huge amount of work to make the Awards Ceremony happen each year, but also do a lot of work between ceremonies, of course! Until you've earned your command, it's hard to imagine the myriad of skills required to be a great CO, but we're in constant awe of each of the people who lead our ships – the best game leaders we've ever had. Deep appreciation for their investment and loyalty in our community, and for everything they do to make sure that all of our members are recognized for their contributions.
- Let's not forget our First Officers, who play a big role in helping to choose the Staff Awards each year. While the Executive Council is the final word, we let the FOs have the first word in choosing each of the staff awards, and it's been so helpful to the EC to have this guidance to work from. Thanks to them for all that consideration, as well as what they do to support their COs and ships the rest of the year.
- From me, to the Executive Council: THANK YOU for everything you do to lead this community. Each member of the EC is carrying a piece of this community on their shoulders as they manage ships, taskforces, leadership discussions, and more – we owe them all a debt of gratitude for keeping this community on track.
- And to those who submitted a nomination for this ceremony: Thank you for your consideration and recognizing the work of others. You help the staff make this awards ceremony possible.
- I'd also like to take a moment to recognize all of our donors for the past year, including those whose names are not published below because they asked to remain anonymous, for contributing to the community's self-sustaining fund to maintain our website and other digital assets. Thank you so much!
- * Yogan Yalu
- * Genkos Adea
- * Wil Ukinix
- * Kalianna Nicholotti
- * Jacob Horne
- * Oddas Aria
- * Serala
- * Arturo Maxwell
- * Nella Noxwyn
- * Wyatt Ral
- * Sarah Phillips
- * Nolen Hobart
- * Josh Herrick
- * Elizabeth Snow
- * Jo Marshall
- * Loxley
Our staff also wished to add these words of thanks to the permanent record of our awards ceremonies:
FltCapt. Oddas Aria
- Gogigobo Fairhug, James, for being our Chief Morale Officer and constant OOC advocate - in both directions. Helping the staff promote OOC to the Denali Crew members, such as the Writing Challenge, Image Challenge, and more - making sure the Crew is informed and knows how to participate. At the same time, when OOC chatter comes up in any channel, ranging from Discord to the Google Groups, James is often the first to respond when someone has a question, needs a pep talk, or just a friendly face. This effort does not go unnoticed and is a significant help to the station, the rest of the staff, and the CO.
Commodore Ossa V'Airu
- I'd like to recognize my excellent staff -- Amanda, Jay, Joel, Don, and Mikey, the lattermost of whom has also recently stepped in as first officer, as well as Jacob, formerly XO and recently on leave -- for spurring the 'Oumuamua to new simming heights (an average of over 200 sims per month through all of 2023 so far!), guiding their mentors patiently and effectively, and generally for being excellent simmers and companions on our adventures.
And that's a wrap on the 2023 Awards Ceremony! I hope that this Awards Ceremony has helped you feel special, welcomed, and recognized.
- -FltAdml. Tristan Wolf
See Also: Forum posts
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