Announce List/2012, Part 3
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Sep 7, 2012Weekly Newsletter #25
Happy Friday, Fleetmates!
Round 4 (http://goo.gl/28980) are closing October 1st.
Posted: Fri, 07 Sep 2012 10:00:26 September is upon us, and so too is the 2012 Summer (Fall) Blockbuster! In this month's forums roundup, you'll find some new stuff going on, including some special threads that have been set up so that the many members of the Fleet who are involved in the Blockbuster can interact with each other on various levels. And remember, there is so much more going on that we can't mention here, so be sure to take a minute to check out the forums and get involved today!
And of course, much, much more! Head on over to the Starbase 118 forum boards today and join in the fun!
Posted: Thu, 06 Sep 2012 10:00:27 The arrival of a Klingon Ambassador on Duronis II have the crew of the Duronis II Embassy/USS Thunder, NCC-70605 on high alert. Fleet Captain Toni Turner sent Lt Commander Hannibal Parker along with several marines as a bodyguard for Ambassador Boyd Lee to a meeting between the Laudean Prime Minister, Romulan Ambassador, and the new Klingon Ambassador, Tel'Peh, a meeting which ended with Tel'Pehs demand for an Embassy on the planet. Meanwhile, Marine Captain Hella discovered Klingons meeting with Bajorans at a Laudean vacation lodge, and when she returned with intelligence officer Kamela Allison in tow, discovered a secret alliance between the Klingons and the Scarlet Brotherhood, a worrisome revelation. Klingon ground forces were later discovered on the planet, followed by a Klingon fleet decloaking over the planet. In the following conflict the Thunder was badly crippled, and a Romulan destroyer was destroyed assisting the Thunder. Starfleet, meanwhile, guessed what was going on and cobbled together a small fleet to go to the Embassies aid. Lt Commander Alucard Vess, away from the Embassy on his honeymoon, was assigned to one of the vessels. Upon arrival at Duronis II, Vess found Lt (JG) Harold Foster and Ensign S'Kahh Rossh adrift in a damaged runabout and brought them aboard, assigning them the task to find a way to detect cloaked ships. They succeeded, allowing the Starfleet ships to surprise the Klingons, beam the senior staff up from the planet, and win the fight. Follow the crew on the Duronis II Embassy Yahoo Group (http://goo.gl/51o3O)!
Posted: Wed, 05 Sep 2012 15:07:35 The new episode has been released! For those of you that want would like to listen online, check out our release on the StarBase 118 YouTube channel (http://goo.gl/2Tr9F)! Whilst we recognize that some members would love to listen to the podcast on the go, we have uploaded it to Archive.org (http://goo.gl/AaUQ7). You can download it from the menu on the left hand side! Keep your ears open for our next release due the first week of October! Feel free to subscribe to our YouTube channel for automatic updates. To join the Podcast Team, visit the team's Yahoo Group (http://goo.gl/gtN7n) and apply for membership!
Posted: Wed, 05 Sep 2012 10:00:43 Each month, the Publicity Team (http://goo.gl/N798p) posts the number of applications our community received for the current year and how those applicants found our group. This summary will give you an idea of how we are reaching new applicants and how we can improve our efforts to reach new audiences. If you're interested in helping with our publicity efforts, click the link above to check out the Publicity Team's wiki area, and then the link to the Publicity Team's Yahoo! Group where you can sign up to be a part of the team. We also want to keep you apprised of the number of graduates from the Starbase 118 Academy. Unfortunately, not all applicants graduate from the Academy because they either do not respond to roll call or do not complete the Academy requirements. The Training Team makes every effort to involve all applicants and to encourage them to complete the training.
Posted: Wed, 05 Sep 2012 10:00:01 As some of you may or may not know, the Starbase 118 Publicity team (http://goo.gl/C9cax), the team responsible for spreading the word about our Fleet to all the corners of the internet, and even sometimes in the real world, has rolled out a new Mission system. This new system allows members to participate in various activities in order to earn points. Points are accumulated and each month we will feature the name of the officer who contributed the most to our publicity pursuits for this month. In addition to a moment of spotlight, members of the team can earn a forum badge with accumulating stripes for more points that are gained. For the month of August, the highest points earner was Lieutenant JG T'Mihn Ah'mygahn (http://goo.gl/mHTt3) from the USS Tiger A! Lieutenant Ah'mygahn helped the team in a variety of different ways, including sharing posts on facebook and twitter, and voting on the RPG gateway for the 118 site. Thank you Lieutenant for your help and dedication this month! Want to join the publicity team? Contact Lt Commander Alexander Matthews (in the article the link is to send an e-mail to commander, I'm reluctant in spreading it this way so contact him through the Forums, please - or go to the article) for more information or to be added to the lists. This team is not time intensive and really helps us grow the Fleet by bringing in new members. Even ten minutes a week can be a great help, so please join us and see what you can do to help spread the word of the best Star Trek RPG out there!
Posted: Wed, 05 Sep 2012 02:44:30 Please welcome (http://goo.gl/cYnGm) our newest class of Academy graduates to the UFOP: StarBase 118 fleet: Wesley Blake!
Posted: Tue, 04 Sep 2012 10:00:03 Congratulations to Kristen, the writer behind Velana, whose short story "The Life in a Moment" (http://goo.gl/xLxsz) has won the special August Writing Challenge of 2012! This is the writer's second win, following a victory in the January/February 2012 contest. This special short August Challenge was built around the theme of "A Moment In The Life Of." as chosen by Dave, the writer behind Alleran Tan, the previous round's winner; this Challenge saw quite a number of fine entries, including short stories and poetry - but all under 1000 words - making the judging quite difficult for the panel. However, the judges would like to thank everyone who participated, and look forward to the September/October Challenge, the details of which will be announced soon!
Posted: Mon, 03 Sep 2012 10:00:55 Captain Nicholotti's bio (http://goo.gl/qKA05) is a beautifully written example of how the SB118 Wiki can go beyond lists of stats and dates to serve as a comprehensive narrative of a member's time in the Fleet. From her first away mission when she defended a then-Lt. Cmdr. Andrus Jaxx to her assignment as commanding officer of StarBase 118, one day after delivering her godchildren, Nicholotti's bio presents the story of an officer descended from a long military legacy who rose to command making pivotal decisions in times of crisis. Through it all, her fierce loyalty to her shipmates remains steadfast. Captain Nicholotti's bio will be displayed on the wiki's front page (http://goo.gl/soom0) for the next month. As always, you can find out more about the contest at its wiki page or in its forum. For more information about the contest, check out the Featured Bio Contest forum (http://goo.gl/od134)!
Posted: Sun, 02 Sep 2012 13:01:27 A popular theme in Star Trek and just about every other fictional story ever since David and Goliath, is where the hero (or heroic crew) battle bravely against impossible odds and somehow walk away. Whether facing the Borg, Reman war birds or a Dominion invasion fleet, the various Star Fleet crews repeatedly do the impossible. Perhaps it's just through a combination of better readiness, the most elite crew in the galaxy and the honor of serving on a state of the art vessels that each crew survives to tell the tale or maybe it's just dumb luck. Suffice to say not every Star Fleet crew is as fortunate. Realistically there comes a point when no matter how hard you fight, victory isn't going to be yours and the cost of failing could be lethal. When it comes to this moment, what type of vessel you serve on often determines just how long you might last. You might be at the helm of a Nova class or the Captain's chair of a mighty Sovereign but the mission is the same and risks equally unimaginable. So the question this week is this: If you had to choose what class of Federation ship to go on a suicide mission on, what would it be? There is plenty of room for debate on this one as there are no easy answers. Larger ships are slow but pack more of a punch or do you prefer the smaller, faster vessel that is hard to hit? Remember visit the forums (http://goo.gl/nbYtF) to post a comment or two because the discussion is where the fun really begins.
Posted: Sat, 01 Sep 2012 10:00:54 Oh behalf of the staff of StarBase 118, we would like to congratulate William Rogers on his recent promotion to the rank of Captain! Will started his career aboard the USS Ronin (http://goo.gl/4ZGEd) back in 2007. With just over 5 years of service to the fleet, he has served on the USS Independence-A (http://goo.gl/zGwft), USS Eagle (http://goo.gl/4hZkx), and USS Drake (http://goo.gl/mbZ2H). Moving to his role of First Officer last year, he assumed command when Captain Reynolds stepped down. Since then, he has led the crew of the USS Drake, doing a great job to increase participation and continues to encourage great simming. With his Captaincy Exam behind him, Captain Rogers (http://goo.gl/tbKf1) has elected to remain aboard the Drake for now. He and his crew can be found trying to solve the most complicated problems in the most peaceful way possible. We wish Captain Rogers and his crew continued success! For more on Captain William Rogers and the crew of the Drake, check out their wiki page, or Yahoo Group page (http://goo.gl/IiJV8)!
Lieutenant Vid-Lotilija Ph.D. Chief Science Officer USS Apollo, NCC-71669 http://goo.gl/A9TZT ~Newsletter Team Facilitator~ People say you can't live without love... ...I think oxygen is more important! Sep 14, 2012Weekly Newsletter #26
Happy Friday, Fleetmates!
Round 4 (http://goo.gl/28980) are closing October 1st.
Posted: Fri, 14 Sep 2012 10:00:18 The crew of the USS Apollo, NCC-71669 received orders to divert to the Trinity Sector as tensions on the Klingon border increase. The crew enjoyed some leave time in the holodecks as the ship set course. Many different programs were being ran simultaneous including a casino, beach, and orbital skydiving. Soon after receiving those orders, they were altered and the ship was diverted to Betazed to rendezvous with the USS Mercury. After enjoying a beach party for the senior staff, each of them did their own thing for awhile before heading to bed to get a few hours of sleep. As they reported for the morning briefing, held by Lt. Commander Frost, Captain Jaxx beamed over to the Mercury to meet with Commander Kells. They Apollo is bringing aboard a Cardassian intelligence agent to assist them in their mission of escorting the Mercury. Both crews have been informed of a potential plot to assassinate the VIP housed on the Mercury. With everything in place, the USS Apollo is preparing to leave orbit and head for the Trinity Sector once more. Follow the crew on the USS Apollo Yahoo Group (http://goo.gl/9GgXC)!
Posted: Thu, 13 Sep 2012 10:00:44 In this edition of Lower Decks, we talk with Marine Captain Michael Valentino and his writer about the current assignment for the character and where he plans to go. Serving aboard the USS Thunder in their Marine contingent, Michael has a lot to strive for in the coming years. Let's take a look. Michael Valentino (also the name for his character), a 23 year old Londoner working as a radiologist, has always had a love for the Trek. Like most of the younger generation of simmers, his captivation was brought on by TNG and Voyager. He commented that ". [I] Love the stories, the morals and the humanity. My favorite episode from TNG is probably "Inner Light". And like most of us, watching the series' unfold on television just wasn't enough. PBEM roleplay was the next course of action, leading him to UFOP:SB118. Upon enrolling, there had to be an inspiration that could breathe life into his character. As his name would suggest, he chose to model the character after himself, giving him unchained ability when it came to fleshing out the character. Training didn't prove to be much of a challenge for the lad, as he had this to say when prompted about the challenges of training: "Nothing specific. The staff were excellent in their support and tutoring and always encouraging. A credit!" Marine Captain Michael Valentino is currently posted as a Marine Officer aboard the USS Thunder. Having spent time with the V'Shar, the High Vulcan Command, and promoted to Sim're'Pelq'Ari at the age of 17, the man certainly has the skills to make a great Marine. He's hoping to be able to use more and more of his Defense Force skills in the future to aid Starfleet wherever they may be sent. When asked about his current post, he had nothing but encouraging words to say. "[I'm] Absolutely loving my current assignment. I have a good commanding officer for the marines in Parker, and a fantastic Captain in Turner who is always willing to help and support. I'm enjoying simming with the other new members of the crew and hope to build a great rapport on and off the ship, IC and OOC." Starfleet is expecting great things from you young man, Hoo-ah, and carry on Captain!
Posted: Wed, 12 Sep 2012 10:00:34 Following the conclusion of their mission to explore and stabilize the derelict station, the Mercury stayed on station for the arrival of SCE reps and equipment for the revitalization of the station, and her crew was the first to hear of Starfleet's intent to make it a deep space station. The crew enjoyed a short leave before being recalled prematurely when Cmdr. Kells received unusual orders to head to Cardassia Prime to retrieve Prianna, a member of the Detapa Council, and her staff, and then to ferry them to Romulan space to give aid to those colonies that had been attacked by Klingons. The crew went above and beyond in preparing for the councilor's arrival and, once she was aboard, kept her and her staff comfortable and entertained during the trip to Betazed to rendezvous with the USS Apollo. Follow the crew on the USS Mercury Yahoo Group (http://goo.gl/OVx0n)!
Posted: Tue, 11 Sep 2012 10:00:51 The staff of UFoP: StarBase 118 would like to take a moment and recognize the promotions for July. Please join us in congratulating the following members when you see them in the corridors!
Katy Orman to Lt. Commander Brek to Lt. Commander Johanna MacLaren to Lieutenant JG Joseph Dubeau to 1st Lieutenant
Velana to Lt. Commander Isaac Bale to Lieutenant JG
Ra-Uleyra to Lieutenant Vid-Lotilija to Lieutenant Viktor Lanius to Lieutenant Jalana Laxyn to Lieutenant JG
Michael Angelo Valentino to Marine Captain
Posted: Mon, 10 Sep 2012 23:59:15 Please welcome (http://goo.gl/xJwj1) our newest class of Academy graduates to the UFOP: StarBase 118 fleet: John Largent, Kael Thomas, and Rune Jolara!
Posted: Mon, 10 Sep 2012 10:00:14 Shore leave for the crew of the USS Drake NC-1987 comes to a dramatic conclusion with the successful completion of the SAR unit rescue training and the postponement of the weddings for Doctor's Dantin and Reid. The Drake's CMO Dantin Vex is badly injured during a cave diving expedition and LtCmdr Reid temporarily exits on a Medical LOA. The next mission is unexpectedly begun amidst the turmoil in Medical. The mounting tension between the Klingons and the Romulans has fast tracked the Drake's mission to reactivate an ancient sensor array the central control of which is located on a desolate shard on the edge of the Ishkarian home system. Beaming down to the surface the Drake's CO Cmdr Rogers is overcome by a brain infection and the ships' FO Major Whale assumes command of the mission. As the crew examines the brightly glowing orb which contains the central control unit the mission takes several unexpected turns. The control unit is out of sync with normal space time and as Major Whale , Lt Stennes and the ship's CEO L t Pandora work out a way to reach it a band of mercenaries under the employ of the Klingons attack the rest of the away team. The Drake's Security and Marine force manage to beat off the attack however not before one of the Drake's shuttles is shot down. As the senor array controls are activated a smaller group of the crew rush to rescue the downed pilot. Follow the crew on the USS Drake Yahoo Group (http://goo.gl/IiJV8)!
Posted: Sun, 09 Sep 2012 13:32:58 So a few weeks ago we touched on peoples most preferred method of transportation in the here and now. This week we are asking another related question; Would you rather use a transporter or take a shuttle? Both the Shuttle craft and transporter technology have been developed to such a state that malfunctions on either are quite rare however commonly seen in the shows. Since the reliability of the transporter technology was confirmed in the early 2100's, shuttles have been primarily used to ferry people and equipment on short ranged journeys instead of to and from a planets surface. Of course this isn't the case if there is an ion storm nearby or strange phenomenon in the planets atmosphere that make using the transporters hazardous if not lethal. In fact for a trip to and from a planets surface to a orbiting star ship a person would have to look hard to find a reason to justify the time it would take a shuttle to make the trip. And yet the question remains if it were a matter of preference would you rather have your atoms disassembled then reassembled with the use of a transporter or the reliability of a shuttle craft? But enough of my ramblings lets hear what you think, whether from an IC perspective or that of a writer's. Remember that its your comments and feedback that make this fun so visit the forums (http://goo.gl/fVkqr) and drop a comment or two after you vote and have fun.
Posted: Sun, 09 Sep 2012 10:00:02 Many thanks to Kaedyn Zehn, of StarBase 118 Ops, who donated today. Donations like this help keep our website ad free! Can you donate $10, $25, or $50 today (http://goo.gl/vSIYX) to help sustain our community?
Posted: Sat, 08 Sep 2012 10:00:19 Following the promotion banquet for Captain Kalianna Nicholotti, tensions are high throughout the Trinity sector as the crew of Starbase 118: Operations learns of the invasion of Romulan space by a well organized and well armed Klingon fleet. Nearly immediately, the center of the newly formed Thracian Alliance, the Nequencia Colony, is invaded and taken over, forcing the President of the Alliance to flee. His whereabouts as of now is unknown. Information is coming in from various sources, including Ambassador Gavin MacLaren, who brings dire news of an attack on the Duronis II Embassy. Aboard the station, enemies and friends alike are rooted out in an attempt to gather information, while old faces resurface in new roles. An assassination is planned behind the scenes as a small, dishonored Klingon group of ships lies in wait to take back the Thracian Alliance, of which they do not recognize nor approve of. Their goal, ultimately is to kill the one they see as responsible for allowing the Alliance to form in the first place, before seeking out all associated with its government and putting an end to what they see as an incursion into their Empire and their sovereignty. The senior staff comes together, with hands fairly tied, to prepare for the potential attack on the station, as well as to discuss the possibility of action to keep the Thracian Alliance alive and to locate the President as well as Commander Creena, the head of the Thracian military. Follow the crew on the Starbase 118 Ops Yahoo Group (http://goo.gl/2MFD6)!
~Newsletter Team Facilitator~ People say you can't live without love... ...I think oxygen is more important! Sep 21, 2012Weekly Newsletter #27
Happy Friday, Fleetmates!
Round 4 (http://goo.gl/28980) are closing October 1st.
(newest at the top, oldest at the bottom) Writing Challenge Tips: SF Romance Novels: http://goo.gl/x7PA2 August Plot Summary: USS Avandar: http://goo.gl/qjHIY Congratulations Aron Kells!: http://goo.gl/vjo51 August Plot Summary: USS Tiger-A: http://goo.gl/iI7Nc 2012 Simming Fall Festival: Signs of a Larger RPG Community!: http://goo.gl/h4ewP Poll of the Week: Social circles: http://goo.gl/Bblny Service Ribbons for August: http://goo.gl/t5EeK
Posted: Fri, 21 Sep 2012 10:30:25 Returning to the regular schedule of the bi-monthly Writing Challenge we have a new theme, "Isn't it Romantic?," chosen by the writer behind Lieutenant Commander Velana, the winner of the August round. How will you approach the question? Let me help you decide with a few novel suggestions. SF is rarely associated with romance, but those few and far between novels are all written well and worth your attention. I will not include recent appearances of gothic fantasy for young adults, because I can't say I found any worthy of attention. No sparkling here. It is not the best nor the worst of all, but I'm going to mention it as the first because it is Star Trek: Of course, what else but Imzadi? Peter David's novel tells the story of love, defiance, and time travel. An aged, bitter Admiral Riker visits Betazed and accused by Lwaxana Troi of betrayal of Deanna while he recalls their time together. The search for truth leads him to use Guardian of Forever and return through time to warn his younger self and save her this time around. I was reading Shards Of Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold long after reading most of the Miles Vorkosigan series and found it a great explanation as to why he is so nuts. Who would be normal as a child of two absolutely unlikely lovers? They met and fought against each other, had to cooperate to survive, and fell in love; Cordelia then returned to her home on Beta Colony and was brainwashed as "therapy," because her love for Aral was a "mental illness"; but in the end returned to him by killing his archenemy and bringing his head to Aral as a gift. I'll have to write a story of the early life of Vid-Lotilija's parents. I'm sure they were equally. unusual. The Darkover series by Marion Zimmer Bradley starts with the great SF novel Darkover Landfall and quickly turns into a fantasy series. The Planet Savers tells the story of the saving of the Terran colony via the cooperation of natives and a parasitologist from the colony. I'm trying to think of what more to say about it, but despite being a well told story it left me empty. Anne McCaffrey's The Crystal Singer. It is not listed as romance novel anywhere, but what I remember most from the books is constant search for love, love lost in the search for power, high pay, travel, prestige, and near immortality. Crystal Singers are constantly losing themselves in the sickness caused by infection with the symbiont of the Ballybran, forgetting everything and everyone. Another story that is not considered romance is Nightwings by Robert Silverberg. It's a story of the search for faith through researching the history of mankind. While it has, similar to the Darkover series, both elements of SF and fantasy, in this case I'm more inclined to call this work SF. Three members of different guilds - Watcher, who questions his faith; the fairy-like Avluela; and Gormon the Changeling - travel to the holy city of Roum to find testimony of the prophecy that aliens will conquer the Earth. I hope this will help you in your search for your best idea. The very last day to enter is Friday, October 26th, so get in your entry before then! Good luck to all entrants.
Posted: Thu, 20 Sep 2012 10:00:11 With a little creativity on the part of those aboard the USS Avandar, the Away Team was found once more and returned to the ship - though not totally unscathed by their experiences with the entity they encountered inside the comet. Unfortunately, the crew were not able to take advantage of the opportunity to study what it's custodian considered an archive of experiences from a number of species as orders came through from Starfleet Command for the Avandar to return to Federation space. With the Klingon Empire making a move on Romulan territory, the Avandar is redeploying to provide surveillance of as much of the contested region as they can without getting into the line of fire until a more comprehensive sensor network is brought online by another of the ships in the area. With a lot of Starfleet's assets tied up with other activities, however - many of which are connected to the conflict - it remains to be seen if the Avandar will be able to successfully hold it's own against the almost inevitable response when their watchful eye is noticed. Follow the crew on the USS Apollo Yahoo Group (http://goo.gl/9GgXC)!
Posted: Wed, 19 Sep 2012 10:00:55 On behalf of the staff of StarBase 118, we would like to congratulate Aron Kells (http://goo.gl/3Koj3) on his recent promotion to the rank of Captain! Aron's career started as a much different character, Airse� Lily Ventu. Tony, the writer behind both of these characters, started with Lily on the USS Victory as the ship's Counselor. Ventu held this position up until the Victory was decommissioned and then transferred to the USS Constitution as Second Officer, on stardate 238403.29. After a few months in that role, she then transferred to the USS Triumphant as the ship's Executive Officer under Captain Rhys Bejain. When the Triumphant was decommissioned, she moved to the USS Independence as the Chief Medical Officer, and Counselor. Ventu remained on the Indy in this capacity until the USS Tiger launched under Fleet Captain Sidney Riley. Moving to the Tiger, Ventu once again assumed the role of Executive Officer on stardate 238505.05. Later that year, she transferred to StarBase 118 Ops as an Ambassador. She served in this role until she was promoted to the rank of Commander on stardate 238607.20. At that time, she was given command of StarBase 118 Ops. Ventu served in this role until her writer had to take a LOA from the fleet. Once the LOA was over, the character of Ventu was left as a diplomat aboard StarBase 118, and the writer behind her took Aron Kells for a test drive across the galaxy. Kells was posted as a Science Officer aboard the USS Drake, under Captain Quinn Reynolds. A year later, Commander Kells transferred to the role of Executive Officer aboard StarBase 118 Ops, under Captain Kalianna Nicholotti. He only got to serve in this role for a short time, as he was given command of the USS Mercury. With his Captaincy Exam behind him, Captain Aron Kells has elected to remain aboard the USS Mercury. He and his crew can be found among the stars trying to solve any scientific mystery that they come across. We wish Captain Kells and his crew continued success! For more on Captain Aron Kells and the crew of the Mercury, check out their wiki page (http://goo.gl/uo8Lf) or Yahoo Group page (http://goo.gl/OVx0n)!
Posted: Tue, 18 Sep 2012 10:00:36 After finding themselves thrown back in time to the year 1942 while in pursuit of an unidentified ship, the crew of the USS Tiger proceeded down to the Earth where the mystery ship had apparently crashed decades earlier. Upon arriving they found the United States Military secretly excavating the ship that had been frozen deep within the ice near the North Pole. They quickly learned that the ship was a Borg ship nicknamed "Nightmare Hall" by the scientists who had managed to enter an area of the mystery ship months earlier. Commander Clack with cooperation of the base commander, Joe Collins, were able to enter the ship where they were quickly attacked by Borg still active after all these years. Their job was to destroy the ship despite possible opposition by the US Military. Captain Riley organized a team that would find the second part of the mystery ship that had been removed by the military and sent to the lower 48 for detailed study. Captain Riley also organized another away team led by Commander Townson who was sent to assist Commander Clack and his team in Nightmare Hall. Follow the crew on the USS Tiger-A Yahoo Group (http://goo.gl/5kko3)!
Posted: Mon, 17 Sep 2012 10:00:28 While the community aspect of Starbase 118 (http://goo.gl/HDNpV) is one of the things that we know, and love, there is an even bigger, and more diverse simming community out there. This community, often facilitated by Ongoing Worlds (http://www.ongoingworlds.com/), doesn't get together too often, but when they do, there is knowledge shared across proverbial borders, opportunities to participate in simming outside of what you may be used to, and fun to be had by all. This Friday, September 21, 2012, Ongoing Worlds will be holding their second annual Simming Fall Festival (http://goo.gl/EQnD7). Hosted by the USS Asimov, the Festival will include a number of activities, including feature sims, a few games, and various topical discussions facilitated by members of different simming clubs and groups spread throughout the internet. A few of the clubs that will be participating include Federation Sim Fleet, Independence Fleet, the USS Asimov, the Star Trek Simulation Forum, Phoenix RP, and your very own Starbase 118. The opening ceremonies start at 1:45PM Eastern Standard Time, with the host, Johnathan Swift, Captain of the USS Asimov. At 5PM EST, our very own Lieutenant Luran Sorani (http://goo.gl/Sq7wb ) will be discussing simming character who are not human. There will also be trivia games and sims from a variety of universes (including Star Trek), so make sure to stop by, take part in, and represent Starbase 118 in the 2012 Ongoing Worlds Fall Festival (http://goo.gl/EQnD7).
Posted: Sun, 16 Sep 2012 19:22:30 Like internet forums, various online social networking sites have been around for years. From simple chat servers to dating sites which have given way to modern day giants like Facebook and Twitter. Similar to forums millions of people's interest in these social networks is a phenomenon that has allowed businesses to flourish by advertising themselves and inspiring a feature length Hollywood film. So with the idea of fostering connections between people, often internationally, its no wonder that so many people are involved and spend a sizable amount of time on such sites. With that in mind this week's poll is this: do you participate in any such social networks and if you do, how often do you use them? Facebook and Twitter while being amongst the biggest are by no means the only ones out there on the web so your welcomed to share which networks you use as well. If you don't use any social networks or prefer not to then you can tell us why you don't use them. As always, only share what your comfortable with. There is plenty of room on both sides of this poll to comment on so visit the forums (http://goo.gl/y8QeF) and leave a comment or two because that is where the fun begins.
Posted: Sat, 15 Sep 2012 10:00:15 Service Ribbons (http://goo.gl/SK0lf ) are In Character awards presented to characters for acts of heroism and participation in plots and campaigns. Ribbons can be received at any time, but are generally presented alongside crew promotions. It is not uncommon for all members of a crew to receive campaign ribbons. These brave and honorable members of our group received them in August; please join us in congratulating them.
Commander Aron Kells Lieutenant Commander Arden Cain Lieutenant Commander Velana Major Jacen Fanel Lieutenant Commander Alexander Matthews Lieutenant Commander Eyas Wulfantine Chief Warrant Officer Tobias Walker Lieutenant Jade Matthews Lieutenant S'Peek Avandar Lieutenant Junior Grade Isaac Bale Ensign Chris O'Hanlon Ensign Trel'lis Ensign Nathan Reade
Lieutenant Junior Grade Talya Robins
~Newsletter Team Facilitator~ People say you can't live without love... ...I think oxygen is more important! Sep 27, 2012Weekly Newsletter #28
FLEET EVENTS
It is that time again when little kids get together into a motley assortment of costumes to go begging for sweets from complete strangers with the implied threat of retribution if said sweets are not forthcoming (didn't anyone ever hear of not negotiating with terrorists??) However, since sweets are a little, shall we say, insubstantial here on the forums, we will be having our second annual Halloween Avatar Costume Contest!
(newest at the top, oldest at the bottom) 1. Creating Stellar Supporting Characters That Get Remembered: http://goo.gl/GC1G2 2. Smell & Taste of the Middle of the Galaxy: http://goo.gl/XoX6Y 3. Quantum Teleportation: One Step Closer to Trek: http://goo.gl/qrEXe 4. New Academy Graduates: http://goo.gl/kAwg9 5. Officer's Guide: There They're. No Need to Worry: http://goo.gl/ea3hg 6. Poll of the week: Just turn it off 1: http://goo.gl/MD8Qg 7. Introducing: The Black Cross Award: http://goo.gl/xO1kw 8. August Plot Summary: USS Discovery-C: http://goo.gl/qawX4
Posted: Thu, 27 Sep 2012 10:00:58 Members of the Starbase 118 Fleet (http://goo.gl/HDNpV )are in the business of creating memorable characters that are unique. Our characters are windows into worlds that may only exist within our minds and we all strive to make them more than just information on a page. Each post and each faucet of our characters is something that we use to bring our character's to life, but sometimes it can be really difficult to avoid falling into the traps of the 'same old stuff' that may have come many times before us. Unlike many other genre's of writing, science fiction requires extensive world building. This can be problematic for some people, as the many little things that would have affected a realistic character over the years have to be created from near scratch. Sure, at Starbase 118, we have the Star Trek realm to fall back on and work with, but there are near endless possibilities when it comes to just what we can bend that world to do. So with all of the tools and possibilities at your fingertips, do you know how to create the best and most memorable characters for your story? While we might write collaboratively, each of our characters, and more importantly, the characters we use in the background in supporting roles, have the chance to be unique and free if you know how to allow them to be. While the process of creation can be difficult when you aren't talking about your main character, there are some resources out there that can help. Be sure to check out a recent post on Io9, and find out ten things that can really help (http://goo.gl/yFK6o) your background characters 'pop'! While they aren't your main focus, these characters can give a lot of depth to your story, so don't skimp. Instead, put these ten tips to work and build something new and amazing today.
Posted: Wed, 26 Sep 2012 10:00:04 "Astronauts have consistently reported the same strange odor after lengthy space walks, bringing it back in on their suits, helmets, gloves and tools, It's a bitter, smoky, metallic smell - like seared steak, hot metal and arc welding smoke all rolled into one." says Sciencesoup.tumblr.com. . It's believed that this smell is caused by high-energy vibrations in particles that mix with the air when brought inside. In the future, we might even be able to recreate the smell of the Moon, Mars, Mercury or any place in the universe, provided that we have the right chemical information. In fact, we can recreate the smell of the heart of the galaxy - astronomers searching for amino acids in Sagittarius B2, a vast dust cloud in the middle of the Milky Way have reported that because of a substance called ethyl formate, it smells and tastes of raspberries and rum.
Posted: Tue, 25 Sep 2012 10:00:58 So the wave of the future of travel is a few steps closer with some ingenious discoveries that started in the late 90's, but they may not be as Trek-like as one may have thought. Particle Entanglement reveals some new questions, and potential answers, for scientists to figure out that may hold the key to some of our greatest space travel mysteries Since the 1997, when researchers and physicists were able to successfully "teleport' a pair of entangled photons (or light particles), the push to do this on a much larger scale has been the driving force behind many of the research and testing that occurs today. The main application of focus today isn't necessarily transporting physical objects or people, but rather information. Since entangled particles, or particles in general, can be measured, their data can be transmitted to its sister particles some 140 plus kilometers away (that's the record so far). We can find many uses for this, including data collection from space in terms of getting back home at a much faster, almost instantaneous pace, as well as computer systems and nano-technology. The entanglement theory of particle teleportation can shed so much light not just on the theoretical places we can go, but on the physical world itself. This theory can show us that information in almost any form has substance; has particles that travel the same as light or sound. For more information, and a far more helpful explanation of what the theory includes and where it's headed, click this link (http://goo.gl/fQ7lb)!
Posted: Tue, 25 Sep 2012 00:11:09 Please welcome (http://goo.gl/WgANF) our newest class of Academy graduates to the UFOP: StarBase 118 fleet: Bowrapiquis Jetseen, Nugra, M'Kazazi, and Finn Romero!
Posted: Mon, 24 Sep 2012 10:00:07 So even when you've been writing for the longest time, and you've got your grammar down pat, there comes a time when that pesky "there", or "their", or even "they're" words come into play. After writing a few sims in a row, you didn't even realize it when you typed in the wrong usage; Or maybe you just don't know the difference? Well here's an article that should help you brush up a bit. This article from theretheyretheir.com is extremely useful when it comes to learning the usage of the words for the first time, or even if you need some brushing up. There are interactive tests and quizzes to further hone your ability , as well as exercises and worksheets so that never again are you thwarted by the evil usage monster. Each usage of the word "their" or "there" etc, features a clear and concise meaning of the word along with its structure, and an example sentence using the word. On their website you can find links to other grammar and English writing lessons that can be a treasure trove for those who may not have English as a first choice for communication. No more toiling with the wrong definition, as this website makes it easy for you to understand this semi-confusing word!
Posted: Sun, 23 Sep 2012 17:26:41 This week we start off a new series (although it is one of those age old questions so I cannot claim it to be original) in which we ask what was the worst episode you remember of each series starting off with the Original Series. It goes without saying that along with some truly great episodes you're going to get a few awful episodes as well. While it may not have been the intention some episodes just stick out for all the wrong reasons. Some of those reasons might be that the story line is flawed or unrealistic, that it focuses on a character that you just hate or even if the episode was poorly placed in the overriding arc of the season. The reasons are countless but the outcome, like the title suggest, leaves you wanting to just forget about watching it and skip ahead to the next episode (if you are watching it on DVD.) Finally if an episode that you felt was truly the worst didn't appear in the poll, leave a comment. As they say, one man's favorite is another man's most hated, well you get the idea. Finally let me thank Chloe for suggesting this great poll idea. Remember if you have a poll suggestion visit the suggestions thread (http://goo.gl/Wl7zg). Remember to stop by the forums (http://goo.gl/V0omR) to leave a comment or two and let the voting commence!
Posted: Sun, 23 Sep 2012 10:00:38 For the first time in UFOP:SB118 history, an Intelligence specific award has been created by the Captain's Council as the newest duty post 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. Being that it's a new addition to the vast line-up of awards and honors one may receive, this can be viewed as not only a step towards furthering Intelligence, but just one other way that members can further our community.
Posted: Sat, 22 Sep 2012 10:00:42 The crew of the Discovery is officially on shore leave on Sigma Iotia II, where new crew relationships are being forged while old ones reinforced. Most of the crew is down on the planet exploring various regions; while some preferred visiting the Living Museum districts to immerse themselves in historical culture, others opted for more outdoorsy experience. Some senior officers even took to exorcising personal demons through less-than-admirable indulgences. However, the crew may be in for a surprise because lieutenant Nickels' family situation involving illegal smuggling is about to entangle them when Captain Waltas is accosted by a ruthless smuggler in a bar. Meanwhile, Intel is under a secret assignment from Starfleet to retrieve the tricorder inadvertently left behind by Dr Leonard McCoy in the 23rd century when the Enterprise encountered the pre-warp civilization of Sigma Iotia II. The tricorder contains sensitive information that could threaten the stability of the entire Federation.
Lieutenant Vid-Lotilija Ph.D. Chief Science Officer USS Apollo, NCC-71669 http://goo.gl/A9TZT ~Newsletter Team Facilitator~ People say you can't live without love... ...I think oxygen is more important! Oct 5, 2012Weekly Newsletter #29
Happy Friday, Fleetmates! FLEET EVENTS
It is that time again when little kids get together into a motley assortment of costumes to go begging for sweets from complete strangers with the implied threat of retribution if said sweets are not forthcoming (didn't anyone ever hear of not negotiating with terrorists??) However, since sweets are a little, shall we say, insubstantial here on the forums, we will be having our second annual Halloween Avatar Costume Contest!
(newest at the top, oldest at the bottom) 1. September Plot Summary: StarBase 118 Ops: http://goo.gl/p9Klr 2. Lights Out on Trek?: http://goo.gl/diiIV 3. September Plot Summary: Duronis II Embassy: http://goo.gl/a0000 4. Podcast 2389-3 Released!: http://goo.gl/BYJYt 5. Trivia Time! Facts in Deep Space.: http://goo.gl/J8A2g 6. Officer's Guide: Top Sims Contest for Beginners: http://goo.gl/Zokyr 7. Poll of the Week: Fast food: http://goo.gl/WlHx4 8. New Academy Graduates: http://goo.gl/bVURk 9. Surrogates: A Reality?: http://goo.gl/8qnNQ 10. Lower Decks: Ensign T'Mar: http://goo.gl/ezJML
Posted: Fri, 05 Oct 2012 10:00:45 The station's preparation continues, with the Victory being readied for Thracia's defense, and the defense fleet on active patrol. At the same time, the deployment of a detection grid is hindered by an meteor that is revealed as having traveled at warp speeds to arrive, and composed of materials that would normally indicate a starship. A localized power source had clouded the assassination attempt, when it was revealed that a former friend of one of the crew was in possession of a personalized cloak, and was investigating outside of the normal chain of command. Meanwhile, inside the station, the threat to the Captain is realized, as Lt. jg Colt takes a knife in defense. What isn't known at the time by Mr. Colt is that the Captain he is defending, is an advanced bio-holographic matrix, cloned as Nicholotti. A clone that has developed an active personality, and refuses to allow herself to be shut off! Later, Doctor MacLaren worked with the FO to help him recover from the post traumatic stress he'd experienced after the previous mission's shadow attacks had resulted in some inaccessible memories. As these disparate elements are dealt with, the crew prepares for the mission briefing that will see them entered once more into the fray. Follow the crew on the Starbase 118 Ops Yahoo Group (http://goo.gl/2MFD6)!
Posted: Thu, 04 Oct 2012 10:00:28 Well, maybe not. A new Star Trek movie has been revealed, and what's even more exciting is the title. Star Trek Into Darkness is not only adopting a more sleepk-looking colon-less title scheme, but has also left many trek fans. well, in the dark. Is the movie going to go to a much darker place as the title may suggest? Or is it a monicker of sorts for a follow-up to the last movie? Hit the forums for some discussion on the matter, and leave your thoughts on just where the film might take us. More on this topic to come as its release date is formulated. Click here (http://goo.gl/ihcpJ) to read up on the original article!
Posted: Wed, 03 Oct 2012 10:00:00 The crew of the Duronis II Embassy/USS Thunder continue their struggle to defend the planet Duronis II from the Klingons and the Scarlett Brotherhood. With the help of the Romulan Ambassador and the timely arrival of the SS Black Raven, the Klingon fleet was defeated, and the crew set about preparing for their next encounter, this time with the Brotherhood itself. Teams under Lieutenand Commander Jaxon McGhee and Lieutenant JG William Tindall were sent to the badly crippled Thunder to stabilize the ship and begin rescuing the injured Beta-shift crew. Meanwhile Lieutenant JG Harold Foster, with the help of the crew of the USS Rodimus-A, tracked down the satellite jamming communications in and out of the system, allowing for information regarding the situation on the planet to reach Starfleet. With communications restored, Foster enacted a plan to mine the corridor through the Sandbar to slow down the Brotherhood fleet, while Ensign S'Kahh Rossh developed a way to beam a Marine boarding party, under Marine Captain Angelo Valentino, onto the Brotherhood ship Vengeance to capture the vessel. The crew under Lieutenant Commander Alucard Vess, along with their Romulan allies, now face down the Scarlett Brotherhood fleet in their last stand to protect the planet from capture. At the same time, a team under Fleet Captain Toni Turner are on the planet, preparing to take out the Brotherhood leadership on the planet. Follow the crew on the Duronis II Embassy Yahoo Group (http://goo.gl/51o3O)!
Posted: Wed, 03 Oct 2012 05:00:41 The new episode has been released! For those of you that want would like to listen online, check out our release on the StarBase 118 YouTube channel (http://goo.gl/hd3Ha)! Whilst we recognize that some members would love to listen to the podcast on the go, we have uploaded it to Archive.org. You can download it from the menu on the left hand side (http://goo.gl/Vpe2H)! Keep your ears open for our next release due the first week of November! Feel free to subscribe to our YouTube channel for automatic updates. To join the Podcast Team, visit the team's Yahoo Group (http://goo.gl/gtN7n) and apply for membership!
Posted: Tue, 02 Oct 2012 10:00:12 Many of the folks who were hardcore DS9 fans may claim to know everything about the series, but this list of epic facts from the series that you may not know from Amanda Yesilbas and Charlie Jane Anders may enlighten even the most dedicated fans. From the first object to have traversed the wormhole, to the original casting call for the role of Sisko, there are a few things on here that might peak your interest. Did you know that Terry Farrell, the actress for Jadzia Dax, had all of her trill spots drawn on by hand by the lead makeup artist Michael Westmore? He thought so highly of his intricate spots that he would number each set of designs for each show, placing a roman numeral on Dax's collarbone before each show. This random fact and more can be found by clicking here (http://goo.gl/04SPd)!
Posted: Mon, 01 Oct 2012 10:00:33 This weeks topic is on the Top Sims Contest, what it takes to win, and how to go about doing that. While the "Writing Challenge" is more of a personal contest, the "Top Sim Contest" shows pride in your ship and it's writers, She'll start with some Submission Guidelines to get you started. Quick Tips You can submit ANY sim from your ship, or another ship. All sims are welcome, including command staff (Captain, First Officer, etc.) sims. Please find a balance between nominating too few, or too many. Don't submit every good sim - instead, post every great sim! Also encourage your fellow crewmates to submit at least a few sims a year. If you want your crew-mates to win more often, you have to nominate the best sims, and encourage others to write higher quality sims. It's well said and understandable, but I still wasn't sure what to think about how to choose properly, and it made me ask around. My first choice was Captain Kalianna Nicholotti; I wanted to see what her thoughts were in this matter in regards to a more personal approach. "The Apollo, a lot of the time, is a great example. Top Sims shouldn't be just dialogue; they should show deep into the event or the characters in the sim allowing the readers to really 'feel' what's going on. Usually the sims I submit get an emotional response from me when I read them. Like a part in a book that is so good you want to laugh/cry/cheer/get mad/etc at the characters." The same question was asked of Fleet Captain Turner. She was far more technical and for me personally, her explanation was much easier to understand. "[Make sure] It describes the situation clearly, with some background to how the character(s) got to that point in time, so it doesn't leave the reader wondering. Grammar and spelling is as near to correct as possible. It shows emotion, whether in the words the character using punctuations correctly, or in writers descriptions. It holds the interest of the reader, and it not bogged down with descriptions that are overly wordy, and having nothing to do with the situation.The proper script form is used." Third person I asked was contest facilitator, LtCmdr. Tan. His explanation has elements of both the previous responses: "Be fairly free of typos and awkward grammar. Be free of anything a spell-checker should catch would be a good starting point, but we can be lenient for some writers when English is not the writer's first language. Be engaging. A Top Sim winning sim should be something that's interesting, a glimpse into their character, or their particular take on the Star Trek universe. Be fairly stand-alone. We're judging the sim in isolation. Although sims which form the grand climax of a larger plot are often nominated, these generally only resonate with the crew of the origin ship, since they know the backstory. If a sim can't be read on its own, or details inferred, then it's probably not a good candidate." "Should start and end strong. This is good storytelling. A sim should catch your attention from the word go, and it should end on a strong note. The average sim is between 250 to 750 words, although JPs and longer sims may be longer; that's not a lot of time to make your point. Pivotal moments, things that affect your characters or that would be lifetime memories, are excellent Top Sim candidates. Sims where your character dies, or loses an arm, or becomes a parent, or is born (there's an idea!), or has their first kiss or is nearly assimilated by the Borg - if the character would remember it forever, there's a good chance this is a strong sim for the readers. No open tags. There's a bit of debate about the strictness of this requirement in regard to the rules, but even if it's technically allowed they're messy and detract from the sim itself. As I said, it should be stand-alone and self-contained. Evoke emotion. I've found potentially winning sims bring some kind of emotion to the table; sadness, joy, laughter. Make them feel it!"
Few Submission Guidelines Don't clutter the title. Keep it short and simple: Character - Sim Title. Quote: Please do not clutter the topic title with an endless list of NPC or PNPC names or "JP" designations. Instead, simply include the primary character's rank and name. If it's a joint post, just include both rank and names - no need to include the "JP" in there. Use the "Prefix" drop-down to select the round you're submitting for - now comes the question how to be sure you chose the correct round number. If you know what to look for, you can always check it in the Contest Calendar. Another way is to check it from Newsletter, or if you're not well acquainted with the calendar, keep in mind that the starting date of one round is ending date of the previous, and the start of the voting period for that previous one. So if you check the most current voting thread, if you're submitting a sim, it belongs to the next round. Always encourage your shipmates to read and vote in the contest, but do mind that crews found "stuffing the ballots" or ratings, will be disqualified PERMANENTLY. If you are voting, be fair and vote by merit alone. To avoid any possibility of cheating, there's a run-off round which is voted by Staff Judges. This occurs only after several regular rounds of voting. If there is a tie vote, those two sims will continue to the next round of voting for a run-off. Also - For a vote to win the final round, at least 10% of its votes must come from a ship other than the one the sim was created on. Read thoroughly sims from your shipmates, choose the best of them and show the whole fleet what your crew can do. Participate, because without participation you surely can't win. Quick link to the Submission Guidelines (http://goo.gl/2TeIO)!
Posted: Sun, 30 Sep 2012 19:49:07 This week's poll is inspired by the month of October this week or more specifically, inspired by a novel event: Pizza month. For those of us that don't live in the USA and much of Canada, October marks pizza month although given the global popularity of pizza a person could almost be forgiven for thinking that every month is pizza month. The original concept of pizza dates all the way back to Ancient Greece but the modern evolution of the meal originates in Italy. Curiously it wasn't until 1889 that cheese was added as a common ingredient. Since then the number of styles and recipes has grown exponentially just as much as the number of outlets to sell the popular dish. Now with the trivia out of the way, this weeks poll asks the question of which is your favorite type (or flavor as it were) of pizza? With so many to choose from like supreme, ham and pineapple, meat lovers and plain cheese pizza's as just a sample there are no shortage of options to choose from. So which makes your taste buds water? I wouldn't recommend taste testing every flavor to decide this weeks poll, I just hope that you like this poll and the discussion that follows just as much as those heavenly slices. So visit the forums to cast your vote(http://goo.gl/4QR40) and have fun.
Posted: Sun, 30 Sep 2012 00:34:21 Please welcome (http://goo.gl/ChHoO) our newest class of Academy graduates to the UFOP: StarBase 118 fleet: Jochjo, Morgan, and Aribelle Tagren!
Posted: Sat, 29 Sep 2012 10:00:57 I know you've heard the word many times throughout your reading and writing career, but what would you say if I told you it was closer to reality than you might think? The truth of the matter, is that Russian neurologists, robotics experts and and cybernetic genious' are teaming up to bring immortality to a life near you. It has come to pass that in this day and age of always trying to prolong the inevitable, scientists have made some headway. Thirty one year old Russian scientist Dmitry Itskov has developed what he calls the "45 year initiative" which outlines plans to allow persons to artificially transpose their personality and memories into an artificially created organic brain, and ultimately into a cybernetic humanoid body. This android technology is slated to become a reality in as little as thirty three years. You've seen things like this in the movies: Surrogates, Avatar, or the Alien franchise just to name a few. The project spans over the next three decades and is scheduled to hit certain key points within the program, which consist of four phases. Phase one includes a remotely controlled human replica of the person controlling it. Phase two will feature a human brain being implanted into the android body after one's death. Phase three includes an artificial brain AND personality that is transposed when one passes. Phase four is even loftier yet, featuring the artificial personality placed into not a physical body, but a hologram. The biggest question from this reporter, is whether or not you would know that you're, well, you.Artificial intelligence would suggest exactly that. In my mind, you would be "alive", but with a plethora of information (memories) that you don't understand. What's your take on immortality? Click here to read the full article (http://goo.gl/wh8ZN), and decide for yourself.
Posted: Fri, 28 Sep 2012 10:00:08 Here again in another edition of Lower Decks, we speak with an ambitious young Vulcan/Betazoid security officer and her writer about what the character has in store for our many readers out there. A young writer by the name of Melanie, native of the United States, facilitates the journey for T'mar who is currently stationed on the USS Apollo. Amidst a love for the Trek that appeared throughout her childhood, Melanie finds solace in things like reto-gaming (still have an N64 anyone?), gaming, Netflix and keeping in shape. Her Trek experience started at an early age by watching the series with her father. Dad also happened to be a theoretical physicist, which we can clearly see might come in handy when delving into the Star Trek universe. Dreaming about travelling amongst the stars became slightly more attainble when she discovered the PBeM realm. As stated earlier, Ensign T'Mar is a security officer who's posted on the newly commissioned USS Apollo under the current command of Captain Andrus Jaxx. Her personality is taken to new levels, as being a Vulcan with an empathic side might present. " decided it would be fun to create a character that had a similar divide.. and what perfect way than to have a Vulcan who has empathic abilities. It's like the ultimate conflict. She strives to follow the Vulcan path, but is constantly battling against her Betazoid side. Her insecurities about this inner battle, drive her to prove to everyone that she is a good officer.. almost creating a perfectionist mentality." All is not lost for the young security officer however. "I see her finding a healthier balance of her emotional battle. She won't be as socially awkward, although she will still be battling those inner "demons." I also hope to see her promoted!" And speaking of promotions, is this recruit seeking captaincy someday? The question was answered with a great big ".Definitely!" Her current posting does seem to provide a great proving ground for the character however. "I think it's the perfect place for T'Mar to grow and work out her inner conflicts. I think T'Mar is uncomfortable, though, as her first day required her to socialize in beachwear Having a Betazoid Captain and being surrounded by many emotional characters will make it hard for her to subdue her empathy, causing slips of emotion." She certainly have the chance to hone those skills in the coming months, as the Apollo, along with others, is partaking in this year's summer blockbuster. "We are orbiting Betazed with the Mercury.. incidentally the Mercury is carrying a Cardassian Councilor. The Apollo is serving as an escort to protect the Mercury. " All in all, writer and character alike seem to have a fruitful journey ahead of them. "I haven't been on the ship very long, but I have felt welcomed since the day I registered for training. I think I'll be staying in the fleet for awhile!" One thing's for certain, that with the proper drive and focus, anything is possible in our community! Carry on Ensign!
~Newsletter Team Facilitator~ Good judgment comes from experience; experience comes from bad judgment. Oct 11, 2012Weekly Newsletter #30
FLEET EVENTS
Round 5 (http://goo.gl/zttxs) are closing November 1st.
It is that time again when little kids get together into a motley assortment of costumes to go begging for sweets from complete strangers with the implied threat of retribution if said sweets are not forthcoming (didn't anyone ever hear of not negotiating with terrorists??) However, since sweets are a little, shall we say, insubstantial here on the forums, we will be having our second annual Halloween Avatar Costume Contest!
(newest at the top, oldest at the bottom)
Posted: Thu, 11 Oct 2012 10:00:59 After their rendez-vous with the USS Mercury, in orbit of Betazed, the USS Apollo has begun its mission to escort the Mercury to Starbase 118 with very important cargo, a member of the Cardassian Detapa Council. The Apollo also has a guest, a Cardassian intelligence agent named Tala Rovor, who has revealed evidence of a assassination plot against the Councilor. Agent Rovor believes that the plot is meant to take place somewhere in Federation space in order to frame Federation officials, or at least to discredit them at this critical venture. To complicate matters further, Captain Andrus Jaxx has been stricken with an unknown condition that has left him in a coma in the Apollo's sickbay. This has left the responsibility for completing the mission on the shoulder of first officer Lieutenant Commander Liam Frost. As the Apollo rushes across Federation space, Commander Frost and intelligence officer Lieutenant Viktor Lanius must find a way to work with Agent Rovor in an effort to uncover the identity of the assassin, and find evidence of his plot before he can enact it. Follow the crew on the USS Apollo Yahoo Group (http://goo.gl/9GgXC)!
Posted: Wed, 10 Oct 2012 10:00:21 It's already getting into the latter part of the year, and all of the fun activities are about to begin as the holidays are upon us. Be sure that you stop by the forums to find out more about the many things that are going on throughout this month. Here are some of the most exciting! Get dressed up! It's time again for our annual Halloween costume contest. Find out more about the rules and get together with your crew to see what theme you will use this year: http://www.starbase118.net/forums/index.php?/topic/7736-halloween-avatar-contest-ii/ There are a lot of different places where you can help out on a Fleet-wide scale. Whether you have a minute, or an hour, stop by the Group Elements forum to see if there is something you can led your talents to. There really is something for everyone, so don't hesitate to join a group even if you have only a short amount of time to spare: http://www.starbase118.net/forums/index.php?/forum/105-group-elements/ Stop by the Top Sims contest to see some of the best sims in the Fleet. Vote on your favorite in the poll, or submit one that you've seen recently: http://www.starbase118.net/forums/index.php?/forum/283-top-sims-contest/ Check out the most recent poll of the week and give your opinion on the topic. Join in with members from many other ships and see who agrees with you: http://www.starbase118.net/forums/index.php?/forum/328-poll-of-the-week/ And don't forget, the summer/fall blockbuster is still ongoing! Share what you're doing on your ship via our Logbook thread, or read some of the official reports and events happening in other places in the galaxy! http://www.starbase118.net/forums/index.php?/forum/469-klingon-invasion/ Starbase 118 is unique in that we are a Fleet of separate ships, but we are a community of one. Join us on the forums and learn, have fun, and connect with others from various ships from around the Fleet today!
Posted: Tue, 09 Oct 2012 23:11:25 Please welcome (http://goo.gl/wbQqr) our newest class of Academy graduates to the UFOP: StarBase 118 fleet: Abraham Bennit, Oxford Brown, Verana and Zerxes!
Posted: Tue, 09 Oct 2012 10:00:54 While at Sigma Iotia II for shore leave as well as to assist Lt Nickels whose family has gotten itself in trouble with a band of ruthless smugglers, Captain Waltas was kidnapped, along with helms officer Lt JG Jorus Cogud and Ensign Amy Young, by the head of the smugglers, the nefarious Rambling Rose, aboard her vessel The Rover. Shore leave was immediately canceled and the crew recalled. The Discovery is currently in search of The Rover and is being aided by a Romulan warbird, the Q'kaleh, whose cloaking device was stolen by the smugglers and being used to elude her pursuers. While on The Rover, Captain Waltas and the two officers managed to escape their cells and are currently seeking a way to contact the Discovery undetected. Meanwhile, Intel is still secretly searching for the tricorder inadvertently left behind by Dr Leonard McCoy in the 23rd century when the Enterprise encountered the pre-warp civilization of Sigma Iotia II. The tricorder contains sensitive information that could threaten the stability of the entire Federation. Follow the crew on the USS Discovery-C Yahoo Group (http://goo.gl/N2vcv)!
Posted: Mon, 08 Oct 2012 10:00:17 Most of us view this sort of writing as another creative avenue for us to relieve some stress, go on an adventure from the comforts of our home, or to meet new and interesting people. Some people might have different uses, such as honing their writing abilities, or sharpening their English skills in time for something bigger. Some of us enjoy writing our own books; enjoy making stories for all to enjoy. But the tricky part is. having all enjoy it. Publishing can be a bear of a task, but a little help is on the way. In this article from The Writer's Technology Companion (http://goo.gl/qnSVs), the ins and outs of the publishing business and how to bring your goal to fruition are laid out for understanding. Also the link to the actual text of So You Want to Write a Book? (O'Reilly Media) (http://goo.gl/hAea3)can be found here as well, bringing you to a wealth of information outlining the publishing process, how much you would expect to pay, legal issues, contracts and much more. Broken down into seven chapters, each section has specific information concerning all parts of the publishing process. This isn't an end all be all solution to your publishing problem, but it's certainly a step in the right direction. Push that book to print officer, just make sure you send me a copy.
Posted: Sun, 07 Oct 2012 16:08:50 This week we return to the "Turn it off" series taking a look The Next Generation. With all of the great episodes of TNG has also brought more than a few rotten apples in a barrel the greats. Some episodes might just have a story line that is flawed or unrealistic, that focuses on a character that you just hate or even if the episode was poorly placed in the overriding arc of the season. The reasons are in-numerous but the outcome, like the title suggest, leaves you wanting to just forget about watching it and skip ahead to the next episode (if you are watching it on DVD.) Finally if an episode that you felt was truly the worst didn't appear in the poll, leave a comment. As they say, one man's favorite is another man's most hated, well you get the idea. So everyone should get set to see which the worst apple from the TNG tree is. Remember to drop by the forums (http://goo.gl/2j5dw) to vote and by all means, if the episode you couldn't stand isn't listed leave a comment about it because that a what fun about these polls is.
Posted: Sat, 06 Oct 2012 10:00:52 What we do here at Starbase 118 (http://goo.gl/HDNpV) is more than just compile a story and keep a plot moving. What we do involves an art form that requires time and effort to be good at. While finding that time can sometimes be an issue, there are plenty of tools out there that can help you get better at the art when you do find a few extra minutes. Some of these tools you'll find right here on our site, but for others, you may have to make a trip to your local bookstore or library. One of the many common New Year's Resolutions that people make is to get better at whatever it is that they do. For those of us who write, resolving to read more and write better is nothing new. This year, though half over, you can attain this resolution easily. With this list of nine books (http://goo.gl/z9Wr5) that can help you read and write on a higher level, you can actually sit down and understand the inner workings of writing and reading so that you can add a new dimension to your plot additions. Writing for 118 is more than just throwing together a few paragraphs and calling it a sim. The best sims invoke emotion and lead the audience to love, or hate, cheer, or boo the characters in the spotlight. Make those sims even better and snag your readers with a new realm of writing ability and creativity today and reach one resolution so you won't have to make it again next year.
~Newsletter Team Facilitator~ Good judgment comes from experience; experience comes from bad judgment. Oct 14, 2012Fleetwide Chat Reminder
Hi Everyone! The fleetwide OOC chat is scheduled for Sunday, October 14 (today) at 10am Pacific / 1pm Eastern / 5pm GMT / 4am Monday UTC+11. Always check your time zone for accuracy/DST if applicable! Come to the chat prepared to meet and greet old and new players as usual, plus bring your Halloween "A" game to creep us out with your best one-liners! Chat is always open on the site: http://www.starbase118.net/chat/ Hope to see all of you there!
~Toni Fleet Captain Toni Turner Ooct 14, 2012Important Information about Service Ribbons and Awards
Greetings, Fellow Fleet-mates! One of the most rewarding parts of roleplaying in a group as broad as the one we participate in is the sense of satisfaction when our achievements are recognized by the other writers in the group. A distinction, however, needs to be made between two classes of awards: those that are given in-character to the characters which we all portray in the various simulations across the group and those that are given out-of-character to we, the writers, who write those characters into existence. In-character awards are given to the characters. This includes, but is not limited to, in-character commendations and service ribbons. These awards are given at the sole discretion of the various commanding officers with little or no input from the wider community beyond the approval of the existence of the award. These awards are NOT to be shared across characters, and can only displayed on the wiki profile of the character to whom it was awarded. Out of character awards are given to the authors. These awards are given during the annual Community Award Ceremonies and include general awards, special awards and duty post awards (a complete list is available on the Starbase 118 wiki). They are given under the authority of the group as a whole on the recommendation of the various commanding and flag-rank officers (depending on the specific award). These, when awarded, belong to each of you as authors. As such, you can share these across characters and postings. If you have any questions about this, please post on our forum thread found here: http://www.starbase118.net/forums/index.php?/topic/7812-in-character-and-out-of-character-awards/ I will wrap this up with a bit of plea for help. I noted earlier that one of the most rewarding things is the recognition of our fellow fleetmates. However, this is not something that can be done effectively without participation from the rank and file members of the group. If you see someone who deserves an award, mention it to your Captain or drop a note to a member of the Executive Council. A formal nomination process will be available in the weeks leading up to the annual awards ceremonies. While it would be useful, we are far from omniscient; as COs and administrative officers, we often miss things that you as individuals may notice. We�re only human (and Trill, Deltan, Orion... ), after all! Help us recognize excellence. Be our eyes and ears. Let us know what you see!
Oct 16, 2012Reminder: Forum Avatar Contest
Hi everyone: As a quick reminder, the Halloween Avatar Costume Contest ends on Sunday, October 28th. For more information on how you and your crew-mates can participate and win cool prizes for your ship, please check out... http://www.starbase118.net/forums/index.php?/topic/7736-halloween-avatar-contest-ii/
Fleet-Captain Idril Mar JAG and Administrative Officer UFoP: Starbase 118 Executive Council Oct 19, 2012Weekly Newsletter #31
Happy Friday, Fleetmates!
New avatars must be checked in by Sunday, October 28th at 11:59pm Pacific Time. Avatars must remain changed until at least Thursday, November 1st at 11:59pm Pacific Time (All Saints' Day!).
There's a dedicated forum section for the Summer Blockbuster (http://goo.gl/AXIiB), visit it to read what is going on around the Fleet and post your Personal or official logs in a Logbook (http://goo.gl/U36LQ) to tell us what is happening on your ship.
(newest at the top, oldest at the bottom) 1. Trivia Time! You Can't Beat the Original.: http://goo.gl/YeHQ0 2. September Plot Summary: USS Tiger-A: http://goo.gl/fNg5G 3. Publicity Team MVP for September!: http://goo.gl/NUULR 4. September Plot Summary: USS Mercury: http://goo.gl/sdEjf 5. Officer's Guide: I Want to Feel It: http://goo.gl/TB41d 6. Poll of the Week: The Road not Taken Lightly: http://goo.gl/Egaom 7. Fleet-wide Chat!: http://goo.gl/iUaKt 8. September Plot Summary: USS Drake: http://goo.gl/BrqFa 9. October Featured Bio!: http://goo.gl/FAaw3
Posted: Fri, 19 Oct 2012 10:00:45 Once again, some more trivia brought to you by the minds of your very own news team. Despite all the episodes of TOS that you might have seen, this list of tens might surprise you. From real "cosmic bowling", to a red faced first impression, this Tens list from Anders and Curtis of i09 has some interesting twists that might get you thinking. To take a look, just give the mouse a good 'ole clickety-clack right here (http://goo.gl/faUwE)!
Posted: Thu, 18 Oct 2012 10:00:45 After gaining the confidence of the US Military, Commander Clack's away team were able to access the buried ship. They were able to penetrate a level to the ship that had been sealed off for decades. Once they entered, they found themselves surrounded by Borg. They found shelter in the ship's engineering section. Once there, it was determined the the buried ship had enough fuel for liftoff. Commander Clack's team was soon joined by Commander Townson and others from the Tiger who came to their aid. It was determined that the best option was to fly the ship into the sun thus destroying all evidence. Commander Clack and Lt jg Delores remained behind to guild the ship on its proper course. They were beamed back to the Tiger seconds before it burned up. Meanwhile, Captain Riley's team managed to find the location of the Borg device that had been transferred to Westover Army Airfield. They were successful in their mission and returned back to the USS Tiger. Using the borrowed Borg device, the Tiger was able to travel back to its normal time. Seconds upon returning, the ship emerged in the middle of a Klingon and Romulan space battle. A promotion ceremony followed shortly after news of the rising tensions with the Klingon Empire and the Federation had been revealed. Follow the crew on the USS Tiger-A Yahoo Group (http://goo.gl/5kko3)!
Posted: Wed, 17 Oct 2012 10:00:42 It's been a fun month here in the Starbase 118 Publicity team. We've been working hard at bringing the Fleet to people all across the world who are looking for a simmish place to call home. Not only have we been able to bring in quite a few new members by maintaining our rankings within Google searches, but we were also able to participate in the 2012 Ongoing Worlds Simming Fall Fest, which helped get our name out there as well. Overall, it's also been a productive month, with new avenues being used to promote the site and what we offer here, and older methods still alive and kicking. Members of the team have been working hard, and accumulating points that go towards one of the Forums badge awards Publicity team members can earn. For September, and the second month in a row, the highest points earner was Lieutenant JG T'Mihn Ah'mygahn from the USS Tiger A, with FltCapt Turner only a couple of points behind! Lieutenant Ah'mygahn and FltCapt. Turner helped the team in a variety of different ways, including sharing posts on facebook and twitter, and voting on the RPG gateway for the 118 site. Thank you both for your help and dedication this month and every month! Want to join the publicity team? Contact Lt Commander Alexander Matthews for more information or to be added to the lists. This team is not time intensive and really helps us grow the Fleet by bringing in new members. Even ten minutes a week can be a great help, so please join us and see what you can do to help spread the word of the best Star Trek RPG out there!
Posted: Tue, 16 Oct 2012 10:00:22 The Mercury, with Cardassian Detapa Council Member Prianna and her staff aboard, rendezvoused with the Apollo at Betazed early in the month, and Captain Jaxx shared with Cmdr. Kells the nature of the incipient assassination attempt on the councilor: The rest of the Detapa Council saw her peace mission as a chance to eliminate her, and had hired the assassin themselves. However, Capt. Jaxx was taken ill before the two ships reached Starbase 118, and while both ships took on cargo and new personnel, neither could uncover the assassin(s) and his/her plot. However, just before the ships departed, intel officer Bale met with Dr. Velana regarding the plot, and ended up a target for a clumsy attempt. Velana was critically injured but stabilized, and the crew carried on toward the shattered Romulan world. En route, Bale uncovered the assassin - Councilor Prianna's aide - and managed, in his own way, to eliminate him. Meanwhile, preparations continued for the aid-givers as the Mercury approached the colony. Follow the crew on the USS Mercury Yahoo Group (http://goo.gl/OVx0n)!
Posted: Mon, 15 Oct 2012 10:00:26 What we write here at UFOP:SB118 is by and large fiction. Works of creative fiction are what move and motor our past, present and future, and keeps us all interested in the creative writing process as a whole. There are times however, when you may realize that the spark that was once there, may not be anymore. We need to feel just where your character comes from.That's right. The key to reigniting that spark, is that, as readers, we all want to. feel Even from the time you filled out your application with the community, you've been drilled on character creation, and the importance of being able to create a plausible and detailed work of fiction, mostly because it's going to be the basis for everything you do during your tour of duty. The character you create is the avatar in which your ideas come to life, the vessel that brings your creative writing to print. This is where you begin to learn about one of the first lessons in this line of work. separation between real life (RL), and in character (IC). Although it is important to remember that IC events have no effect on out RL situations, sometimes the opposite can be used in order to work toward a creative goal. For example, your character may not be you per se, cut he/she could have some of the same qualities or life experiences that you've had. Making up every single detail of a characters back-story, or current story for that matter, can be challenging on the basis that you've never really lived that moment in time. You'll find this to be true when attempting to write that one riveting sim that will get others emotions to stir. But that's the key. emotion. Emotions are either triggered directly or indirectly by means of timing. Perhaps someone at work decides to load you up with projects just before the labor day weekend; you might be angry about that. On the other side of the coin, you may have sorrowful feelings from the loss of a loved one. Albeit a somber topic to traverse, when it comes to simming the loss of a loved one or friend on the ship in which you serve, you might be better prepared to fully describe the moment and get into the character, describing his/her feelings, emotions and actions based on your past experiences. This is only one example, but the point of discussion here is that in the case of writing excellent sims, there just might be a crossover from IC to RL. In this instance, pour it on! As a side note, we all know the benefit of writing and how it might help to clear ones mind, or help them think through a difficult topic. The advantages of having a community in which to do it are endless. Don't be afraid to tie in your experience with your character, but remember, this to is fiction at heart. The key to rock solid, emotion jerking sims may just be what experiences you're willing to share, either directly or indirectly. Get involved mentally with your character, and really flesh out those experiences that brought them to fruition and made them who they are today. Readers want to feel what you feel, they want to see what you see. So let em have it! It's only going to make you and your character a more sleek unit in the end.
Posted: Sun, 14 Oct 2012 12:00:25 I am sure that a wise man once said, "a life without purpose isn't worth living", or something to that effect. So it comes as little surprise that the crew of the USS Voyager defiantly struggled all those years to get back to Earth. Well if they didn't, we would have seen a whole different story, but that's beside the point. The real point is that the Voyager crew passed hundreds if not thousands of suitable, desirable planets that they could settle on, if only they gave up their quest of returning back to Earth. Some of those planets would even have been close to their original start point (near the Caretaker Array). This week's poll is a question that Captain Janeway pondered many times during Voyager's absence from the Alpha quadrant. That is, would you have your crew spend the next seventy years trying to get back to Earth? Of course the Voyager crew on many occasions was struck with bad luck which caused them to miss opportunities such as shortcuts home. In the same sense, they were also very lucky that most of the crew managed to survive countless conflicts with superior enemies such as the Borg. So it goes to show, that despite the perils the road home presents, it also has some sweet, if not elusive rewards along the way. If your willing to search for them. I suppose its not a question of how far you would go this week, but rather, would you in all honesty stick to the journey to return to your home world? Would the idea of seeing loved ones, family, or just the planet itself be enough to drive you through the journey? Or does the idea of starting fresh despite everyone that you and your crew are leaving behind seem more reasonable when thinking about everyone's long term survival. Remember to visit the forums to leave a comment of two because that is where the fun really starts in a poll like this. Also if you have a poll suggestion for next week's Halloween special please post it on the suggestion thread (http://goo.gl/ktdGc). Have fun everyone.
Posted: Sun, 14 Oct 2012 01:22:50 The fleetwide OOC chat is scheduled for Sunday, October 14 (tomorrow) at 10am Pacific / 1pm Eastern / 5pm GMT / 4am Monday UTC+11. Always check your time zone for accuracy/DST if applicable! Chat is always open on the site: http://www.starbase118.net/chat/ Come prepared to meet and greet old and new players as usual, plus bring your Halloween "A" game to creep us out with your best one-liners! Hope to see all of you there!
Posted: Sat, 13 Oct 2012 10:00:00 The outbreak of hostilities between the Klingons and the remnants of the Romulan Empire has added urgency to the crew's mission to reactivate an ancient Ishakarian sensor array. Once activated the sensor array will give the Federation valuable intelligence on fleet movements in the area. Little is known of their destination beyond the name "Gate Way Station" an non-aligned space station last visited by Captain Pike of the USS Enterprise over 150 years ago. The station is surrounded by a dangerous sub space "moat" that only allows for one narrow entrance. Sending two away teams to the station to locate and activate the beacon the USS Drake NCC 1987 begins communication with the inhabitants of the station when they are attacked by a Klingon battle cruiser. Just as the situation is becoming desperate the USS Avandar arrives and in an impressive display of tactical fire power drives off the Klingon battle cruiser. Back on the station the beacon is activated causing a massive energy discharge into nearby space. This creates a maelstrom of sub space disruptions and releases a host of gravimetric mine left behind by the Klingons. The mines seem to be attracted to the beacon and are on a collision course with the station. Faced with the threat of the mines the crews of the Avandar and Drake along with the Mercenary outfit running the Station find themselves joining forces to protect the civilians as a task force of Klingon ships arrives! Follow the crew on the USS Drake Yahoo Group (http://goo.gl/IiJV8)!
Posted: Fri, 12 Oct 2012 10:00:16 It's a common misconception that Vulcans lack emotion or passion. In fact, the Vulcans might say it is the intensity of their emotions and passion that have led them to adopt their strict philosophy based on pure logic. Yet, not all Vulcans believe that the best way to live is to temper the Vulcan heart, and these Vulcans are known as the v'tosh ka'tur, or "Vulcans without logic," some of whom were first encountered by Captain Archer and the Enterprise NX-01. The Mercury's chief medical officer Dr. Velana is a descendant of the group and soon after her arrival on Earth, she discovered the challenges that came with being a non-traditional Vulcan in Starfleet. Upon her graduation from the Academy, she was assigned to the USS Independence-A, and her first mission took her to the Mirror Universe, where she met her "other" self. She later saved the life of Alleran Tan and moved up the ranks, eventually becoming chief medical officer of the USS Tiger-A and USS Mercury and continuing her commitment to follow in her father's footsteps as a dutiful ship's physician. That's not to say it's been all work and no play for this fashionable Vulcan who enjoys Gothic literature and jogging on a holodeck simulation of San Francisco's Baker Beach, but for more details, you'll have to check out her bio yourself (http://goo.gl/WOZHk)! Dr. Velana's bio will be displayed on the wiki's front page (http://goo.gl/45KnB) for the next month. As always, you can find out more about the contest at its wiki page or in its forum (http://goo.gl/od134). Be sure to drop by and submit your own nominations for the next round!
~Newsletter Team Facilitator~ Good judgment comes from experience; experience comes from bad judgment. Oct 21, 2012Congratulations Andrus Jaxx!
Today, we congratulate Andrus Jaxx on his promotion to the rank of fleet captain! The Executive Council notified Fleet Captain Jaxx of his promotion on October 19th, when they made him the fourth fleet captain currently active in the group. Jaxx�s writer, Jay, has been a member for almost exactly five years, since he joined the USS Challenger in October 2007 as a counselor under Captain TPen. Since then, Jay�s led Jaxx around the fleet by way of the Resolution, Eagle, and Victory, eventually rising to command that ship as well as Starbase 118 Ops and the Apollo, which he currently commands. Jay is also incredibly active in OOC activities around the fleet; at present and among other activities, he is a deputy commandant in the Academy, heads the Podcast Team, is the Captains� Council magistrate, and has recently stepped down from directing the Newsies. Jay will no doubt keep the crew of the Apollo on a short leash as a new fleet captain (wink, wink?), and we wish him the best of the best as he continues his journey with StarBase 118. Be sure to drop by the forums and congratulate him on his promotion in this thread: http://www.starbase118.net/forums/index.php?/topic/7831-congratulations-andrus-jaxx/ (Thanks to Capt. Aron Kells for writing this post for our Community News! http://bit.ly/Sa2aYt) Oct 26, 2012Weekly Newsletter #32
Happy Friday, Fleetmates!
Some users have reported difficulty logging onto the chat via the chat page. If you can't log in, use the list of additional options at the bottom of the page, or try http://www.wyldryde.org/chat/and just type your nickname in the nickname box, and in the �Channels� box you type: #starbase118
It is 2 more days till the closing of the contest, so tell everyone on your ship to check in on your forum's thread. If they don't check in, they don't count!
Posted: Fri, 26 Oct 2012 10:00:31 The folks at UFOP: SB118 are pleased to announce the promotion of Lieutenant Commander Liam Frost to the rank of Commander. Serving aboard the USS Apollo under command of Fleet Captain Andrus Jaxx, there should be no shortage of work for him to do. Commander Frost got his start as a tactical ensign aboard the USS Victory, and explored other areas such as helm and navigation. Eventually he became the ship's Chief of Security and Tactical. After serving in this capacity on the Victory, Liam served in the same position at Starbase 118 Ops, during which he was promoted to full Lieutenant. After taking part in the creation and defense of the Thracian Alliance, Frost was transferred once more to the newly commissioned USS Apollo, to where he served as the ship's first officer and Lieutenant Commander. With his continued efforts in the OOC realm as well as his duties on the Apollo, Commander Frost will continue to serve our community, and we all look forward to seeing what's in store for him. Congratulations, Commander!
Posted: Wed, 24 Oct 2012 10:00:41 With tensions high due to the conflict between the Klingon and Romulan Empires, the USS Avandar arrived at its designated patrol area with the intent of trying to keep as good an eye on what was going on across the border as possible without landing itself in undue trouble. This did not go entirely according to plan. Just as they were getting settled in to their new assignment, the Avandar's crew received an emergency distress call from another Starfleet vessel - the USS Drake - which reported itself under attack by a Klingon ship. Making best speed to Gateway Station and the Drake's location, the Avandar was able to make a sufficiently dramatic entrance that the Klingon ship withdrew, leaving the Drake and Avandar to establish just how serious the impact of the attack had been. It turned out that the impact was quite serious, though not for the reasons first thought. When the alien beacon the Drake's crew had been working on Gateway Station gave off a significant energy surge, disrupting local subspace, it also uncovered a swarm of gravitic mines the Klingon ship had left behind ass it withdrew - mines that were now homing in on both the beacon and the civilian station it was aboard. Follow the crew on the Avandar Google Group (http://goo.gl/oNrYN)!
Posted: Tue, 23 Oct 2012 10:00:13 The staff of UFoP: StarBase 118 would like to take a moment and recognize the promotions for September. Please join us in congratulating the following members when you see them in the corridors!
Sidney Pierce to Lieutenant Alan Williams to Lieutenant JG Richard Matthews to Lieutenant JG T'Mar to Lieutenant JG
William Rogers to Captain
Joseph Clark to Lieutenant JG Alex Blair to Lieutenant JG Chloe Mannin to Lieutenant JG
Posted: Mon, 22 Oct 2012 10:00:00 "Number One," "Engage," "Resistance is Futile," "Make it so," and "Tea, Earl Grey, hot." It is hard to believe that it has been 25 years since Star Trek: The Next Generation premiered. The journey began with Encounter at Farpoint, not one of the franchise's greatest, but one that showed off the incredibly advanced Enterprise-D, perhaps this incarnation's best villain in Q, and of course the holodeck. It was a daring experiment, could you do Star Trek without Kirk, Spock, and McCoy (save for a random cameo in the pilot)? After seven years later, more than double the number of original series episodes, and an Emmy nomination for best drama TV series it was a definitive yes! What Gene Roddenberry and company may not have realized at the time was that they had created something that would ultimately stand on its own as a cultural phenomenon. Not only did this series bring a fresh new younger demographic to the franchise, but it also made many of the characters household names, introduced new catchphrases, and expanded the known Star Trek universe exponentially. Additionally this version would continue the idea of the original series that you could provide entertainment while challenging the audience on an intellectual level. There were some challenges early on. Much of the first season was relatively brutal as the series struggled to figure out what it wanted to be. The writers wanted to distance themselves from the original series, yet the second episode, "The Naked Now" was essentially a remake of an original series episode. The second season was marginally better with a handful of goodies such as "Measure of a Man" and "Q Who." But it was not until season 3 when the show finally hit its stride. The turning point was "Yesterday's Enterprise." This was an episode that combined excitement and made you think. Would you have trusted your crazy bartender to send the Enterprise-C back into the temporal rift? Also this episode involved one of television's best explanations for bringing a dead character back to life in Lieutenant Yar. Season 3 began what we have come to know of as the TNG era of Star Trek, a mix of standalone and serialized episodes. The Klingon story arc with the House of Duras began in the third season with the episode "Sins of the Father." But perhaps its most famous episode involved the cliffhanger, "The Best of Both Worlds." I distinctly recall painfully waiting out that summer trying to figure out if this was the end of Picard or if Commander Riker and company could somehow stop the Borg. Fortunately, they did save Captain Picard and the series would only get better with each subsequent season. Eventually greater tie ins to the original series would take place as Spock, Scotty, and Sarek would all make memorable guest appearances. The show would last for seven years and much like the Enterprise-D, you might argue that she expired before her time, but at the same time you could also argue that the show never "jumped the shark" which according to Wikipedia is defined as "indicating the moment in its evolution when a brand, design or creative effort moves beyond the essential qualities that initially defined its success, beyond relevance or recovery." One thing that truly separated TNG from the original series was the depth of the ensemble cast. The original show was about Kirk, Spock, and McCoy, with occasional expansions of the second tier co-stars. TNG had much deeper characters, it has been suggested that Picard, Riker, and Wesley Crusher were created to be the three embodiments of Gene Roddenberry. Picard as the present day Gene Roddenberry, Riker as Gene as a younger man, and Wesley Crusher as Gene as a young boy. Whether it played out that way on the show or not is to be debated, but certainly part of what made the show so successful was the cast of characters that we had come to love. Captain Jean-Luc Picard was the ultimate father figure, man of ethics and character, and someone that we could all learn something from as a leader. He began as sort of this older out-of-touch commanding officer who could not relate to his crew. He definitely softened over time, for the better, which culminated in the series finale with the decision to finally sit down and play poker with his senior officers. Commander William Riker was TNG's answer to Captain Kirk, or perhaps more accurately a re-creation of Captain Decker from Star Trek: The Motion Picture (as well as Star Trek: Phase II). In this time period, commanding officers of starships would not lead the landing parties, leaving that duty to the first officer. Riker, just as Picard, was also a rigid character who ultimately added humor and a more lighthearted approach to life on a starship. Just do not go over his head or he'll "snap you back so far you'll feel like a first year cadet again." Lieutenant Commander Data was sort of an inverse of Spock. Whereas Spock wanted to shun his human side, the Android and emotionless Data strove to better understand and embrace what it meant to be human. His perfection was his imperfection. Lieutenant Commander Geordi LaForge was originally the blind helmsman of the Enteprise-D, which was in some ways a clever joke of having a blind man drive the ship. Over the course of the series, LaForge would eventually become Chief Engineer and Data's best friend. Lieutenant Worf began as essentially a background character to one of the most important characters in the franchise and also gave us a greater understanding of what it means to be a Klingon. In having a Klingon on the bridge, it was also a statement of how we can put aside our differences with even our mortal enemies. Worf would set the record for most episodes of Star Trek after playing this character in an additional four seasons of the spinoff Deep Space Nine, in all four TNG movies, as well as his grandfather in Star Trek VI. Counselor Troi began as a mysterious alien woman who had a past with Commander Riker, wore a hideous intergalactic cheerleader uniform, and was nearly written off the show. But over the run of the series, she would earn her keep as Picard's sounding board and trusted advisor. Doctor Crusher was probably the least developed of the characters of TNG despite having the most involved back story. Unlike Troi, she actually was written off of the show, only to be brought back following the ill fated Doctor Pulaski experiment. Star Trek: The Next Generation would live long past 1994 in the form of four feature films. Some fans would argue that First Contact might even be the best of the entire franchise. The show would pave the way for the spinoffs Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise, an amazing legacy for a show that many critics and fans thought would never last.
Posted: Sun, 21 Oct 2012 15:42:39 In honor of Halloween, which happens to be on the 31 October, this week's poll is Halloween themed. Have no fear, the next installment of the "Just turn it off" series will return next week. While the exact origins of Halloween is a hotly debated topic, these days especially in western nations it is a day where kids and sometimes even adults dress up in all manner of costumes and seek out wild parties or go trick-or-treating. Interestingly though the activity of trick-or-treating dates back to the Middle Ages. While it was once traditional to dress in monster-like outfits for trick-or-treating, over time Halloween fashions have changed to include everything from modern day celebrities to popular fictional themes like cow boys and princesses. In fact a person is only limited by their creativity when creating costumes. Simply looking at the Halloween inspired avatars around the forums is proof of that. So this week's question is this, what will you be dressing up as when it comes time to party or go out trick-or-treating? What is your preference when choosing a character to portray? Will it be something sweet or heroic or do you typically like dressing up as a scary monster for the night? As with most polls, the options to choose from are nearly limitless so remember to leave a comment telling us what you will be dressing up as. Or even what you would dress up as if you're not the type to get involved. Remember to visit the forums (http://goo.gl/JpD9d) to post a comment or two because the magic of the polls starts after the votes have been cast.
Posted: Sun, 21 Oct 2012 10:00:55 Today, we congratulate Andrus Jaxx on his promotion to the rank of fleet captain! The Executive Council notified Fleet Captain Jaxx of his promotion on October 19th, when they made him the fourth fleet captain currently active in the group. Jaxx's writer, Jay, has been a member for almost exactly five years, since he joined the USS Challenger in October 2007 as a counselor under Captain TPen. Since then, Jay's led Jaxx around the fleet by way of the Resolution, Eagle, and Victory, eventually rising to command that ship as well as Starbase 118 Ops and the Apollo, which he currently commands. Jay is also incredibly active in OOC activities around the fleet; at present and among other activities, he is a deputy commandant in the Academy, heads the Podcast Team, is the Captains' Council magistrate, and has recently stepped down from directing the Newsies. Jay will no doubt keep the crew of the Apollo on a short leash as a new fleet captain (wink, wink?), and we wish him the best of the best as he continues his journey with Starbase 118!
Posted: Sat, 20 Oct 2012 10:00:48 Today, the staff of Starbase 118 would like to congratulate David Whale, who has been promoted to commander. In keeping with his marine background, Commander Whale will carry the in-character rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Lt. Colonel Whale joined the Starbase 118 fleet on stardate 238512.20, but his character history goes back quite a bit further than that. Whale originally graduated from the academy in 2263, and was assigned to the security department of the USS Ackerman. He served with distinction aboard the Ackerman, eventually reaching the rank of lieutenant in December 2266. In 2269, Lieutenant Whale's career took a turn in what is known as the Ackerman Incident. The Ackerman responded to a distress call from a civilian freight, which was caught in an unknown anomaly. The freighter was freed, but the Ackerman herself became trapped in the anomaly and vanished. A rescue mission and an investigation were launched, but turned up no trace of the Ackerman, or any explanation for what had happened. She was presumed lost with all hands. In 2379, 110 years after she disappeared, the Ackerman emerged from a temporal anomaly. The crew was lost, but three lifesigns were found in the Ackerman's transporters. It was determined that they had been in mid-transport when the Ackerman entered the anomaly. Three officers were successfully brought out of transport relatively unharmed, including Lieutenant Whale. Wanting to continue his career in starfleet, but knowing that his skills and knowledge were over a century out of date, Whale re-entered the Academy at the chronological age of 141. He graduated on stardate 238512.20 and was assigned to the USS Tiger. On Stardate 238612.14, Lieutenant Whale joined the UFOP Marine Corps, and served as the commanding officer of the marine detachments of both the Tiger and Starbase 118. After his stint with the marines, he returned to security, serving as the chief security officer of Starbase 118, the USS Independence-A, and the USS Constitution-B. He was eventually named the Constitution's first officer on stardate 238802.09. He would serve in that position until the vessel was decommissioned six months later. Lt.Commander Whale was transferred to the USS Drake, serving once more in the role of security chief for the nearly 100 year old ship. On stardate 238904.11, Whale rejoined the marines, being commissioned with the rank of major. He was also assigned as the Drake's first officer, as well as taking command of the Drake's specialized Search and Rescue (SAR) team. We hope that you will join us in congratulating Lt. Colonel Whale on his promotion, and we wish him luck as he continues his career.
~Newsletter Team Facilitator~ Good judgment comes from experience; experience comes from bad judgment. Nov 2, 2012Weekly Newsletter #33
Happy Friday, Fleetmates!
One of our judges was in the path of Sandy, so the judging period has been extended to the end of the weekend. Please leave your avatars up until you hear word from the judges that you can change them back.
Posted: Fri, 02 Nov 2012 10:00:16 For those of you wondering what comes next in the grand scheme of space travel, the next chapter has officially started. On October 28th, just as the entire Eastern Seaboard was marveling at images the NASA GOES satellite (among others) has sent back of Hurricane Sandy, the SpaceX Dragon capsule successfully splashed down in the Pacific ocean near southern California. The capsule had completed a three week trip to the International Space Station as a cargo container that brought supplies to the station and brought samples and experiments home. Loaded with over eight hundred eighty pounds of food, equipment, and supplies, the capsule was launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on the top of one of the Falcon 9 rockets made also by SpaceX. Even more poundage worth of blood and urine samples, as well as scientific experiments and gear was returned in it. That makes this capsule the first ever unmanned (robotic) spacecraft that is able to return cargo to Earth instead of just bringing it to the station. One NASA spokesman is calling it a historical mission, even if it has been overshadowed by the historical 'perfect storm' brewing on the other coast. And with the first successful cargo mission out of the way, the company can work closer with the space agency to maintain the space station as all work towards the goal of commercially sustainable spaceflight in the wake of the end of the Space Shuttle program. The next mission of this kind is scheduled for January, but in the meantime, you can read more here (http://goo.gl/0ntr8).
Posted: Thu, 01 Nov 2012 10:00:17 October has rushed by faster than we might have imagined! It seems like just yesterday we were welcoming in 2012, but now we are looking at the colder weather of the winter and even the rush of another new year. And just like the many things that are going on around us with the holidays approaching, so too are there many things going on around the Starbase 118 forums! Whether you visit daily, or just a couple of times a week, be sure to check out the following the next time you log in. The Halloween avatar contest was a resounding success with most ships participating. Thanks to all who joined in and congrats to the winners! http://www.starbase118.net/forums/index.php?/topic/7736-halloween-avatar-contest-ii/ It's almost time again for our annual awards ceremony. Soon you'll be seeing emails about nominations and the like. Get acquainted with the awards before this begins and learn more about why we do this by starting here: http://www.starbase118.net/forums/index.php?/topic/7812-in-character-and-out-of-character-awards/ Get together with officers throughout the fleet and have some fun playing one of the many forums games set up here: http://www.starbase118.net/forums/index.php?/forum/58-games/ There are still some ships working on their Blockbuster missions. If you are still involved with the Klingons, be sure that you stop by here and leave a log or report letting us know what's going on in your sector: http://www.starbase118.net/forums/index.php?/forum/469-klingon-invasion/ And if you're a Marine, head on over to our duty post simming area where you can take part in the ongoing training operation 'SubZero': http://www.starbase118.net/forums/index.php?/topic/7786-marine-training-operation-sub-zero/ Don't forget; you are what drives this group and all of the wonderful things we can offer. If you have a few minutes of time, there is most certainly a team that could use you. Check out the many activities that you can get involved in here: http://www.starbase118.net/forums/index.php?/forum-105/announcement-29-fleet-activites-that-need-you/ And like every month, there is always much more going on. Stop by the forums and get involved with members of the fleet from your ship and others, and learn more about the officers you sim with and those you don't. It's part of what makes our fleet unique, together, and community based, so don't pass up these opportunities today!
Posted: Wed, 31 Oct 2012 10:00:53 Welcome to the beginning of the end of the 2012 Halloween Avatar Contest (http://goo.gl/gm2pS)! This marks the second anniversary of the event on the UFOP:118 forums, and competition has been stiff as the graphics masters and ship cheerleaders across the fleet test their mettle. This time around, almost every ship has elected to participate with the following wonderful and creative themes: USS Apollo - the crew (and various and sundry associates) of Firefly (http://goo.gl/ldGt1); USS Avandar - characters from The Wizard of Oz (http://goo.gl/xDUJP); Embassy - the Duronis II zoo (http://goo.gl/kTPxi); USS Mercury - horrible mugshots (http://goo.gl/CITZu); Starbase 118 Ops - black & white movie stars (http://goo.gl/hSF0l); USS Tiger - Star Wars characters (http://goo.gl/xKhPW). Check out the entries now, as they'll only remain until the end of All Saints' Day (November 1st). Who will win? Stay tuned!
Posted: Tue, 30 Oct 2012 10:00:20 This month has gone by quickly, but it's brought a few changes to the Publicity team. While we are still working hard at bringing in new members ahead of the new movie, which is due out in May of 2013, we have also taken some steps to spotlight our members in some new ways. Perhaps the most prevalent of these is the launch of our new writing spotlight site, StarTrekStories.net (http://www.startrekstories.net/). When you visit the new site, you'll see a few things have been included there. First, you'll see something called 'Alexander's Story'. Since sometime last year, Lt Commander Alexander Matthews has been writing a monthly cliffhanger that he adds on to each month. From now on, these story additions will be kept on this site, so be sure to visit each month to get the latest update on his story. You'll also see, on the site, that all writing challenge submissions and the winners of each Top Sims round are published there. Finally, you'll see a category for original fiction, written by our members just for fun, and a new column, called the Worlds of Starbase 118. The website is welcome to anyone who wishes to write something for it; you can do an ongoing story like Commander Matthews, or you can opt for a one time story or sim to be published under original fiction. We welcome everything - so if you are interested in participating, please contact Captain Kalianna Nicholotti and let her know! The publicity team has also welcomed a couple members to the team this month: Lt Commander Tallis Rhul and First Lieutenant Joseph Dubeau. Welcome to both of you! Finally, congratulations to Lieutenant T'Mihn once again for topping the participation points chart this month. Thanks to every member of the team, however, for the hard work and effort they've put into helping put Starbase 118 on the internet map for everyone to see! And we're always looking for new members. If you're interested in joining us, whether you have a few minutes or more to give, we're always happy to have you on board. Contact Lt Commander Alexander Matthews for more information on what we do and how to get involved today!
Posted: Tue, 30 Oct 2012 00:27:06 Please welcome (http://goo.gl/IKv9K) our newest class of Academy graduates to the UFOP: StarBase 118 fleet: Jeff Bradon, William Daughtery, and Rhomqlye!
Posted: Mon, 29 Oct 2012 18:51:10 While we certainly aren't writing the scripts for the next Star Trek series, we still want our stories to be every bit as powerful and exciting as each episode of the series we loved so much were. Though it's not something we can expect from every sim we come across, it is something that each of us should work towards as we add to the stories that our ship is weaving. Whether you are creating a new addition to the mission plot, or you are adding in something of a more personal nature, making your sims more exciting is something that everyone on your ship can benefit from. But how do you do it? The last thing we want is to provide a batch of bland sims to those we share a list with, which is why we should all take a moment to read this article - Writing Tips to Make Science Fiction Stories More Exciting (http://goo.gl/LQWl6). Not only does the author provide some solid tips that we can employ fairly easily in our writing, but he also has experience with Star Trek. Avoiding pitfalls involved in writing science fiction can be difficult, at times, but if you strive to inject your story with excitement, you can really come out with something amazing.
Posted: Sun, 28 Oct 2012 16:26:05 We are back this week with another edition of the "Turn it off" series taking a look Deep Space Nine. Depending on who you ask, it seems that you will get a different answer about what people actually thought about DS9 as a series. That aside, DS9, like the other Trek shows had its fair share of disappointing episodes of the course of the series lifetime. Whether the episode in question had a flawed story line or just focused on a character or theme that you couldn't stand, this week's poll is about finding which episode was the worst of the worst. Finally if an episode that you felt was an epic fail, compared to the wonderful episodes that DS9 gave us, that didn't appear in the poll, leave a comment. As they say, one man's favorite is another man's most hated, well you get the idea. Remember to stick around after you vote on the forums (http://goo.gl/iQRsn) because its the conversation and debate that makes these polls fun.
Posted: Sat, 27 Oct 2012 10:00:50 Each month, the Publicity Team (http://goo.gl/N798p) posts the number of applications our community received for the current year and how those applicants found our group. This summary will give you an idea of how we are reaching new applicants and how we can improve our efforts to reach new audiences. If you're interested in helping with our publicity efforts, click the link above to check out the Publicity Team's wiki area, and then the link to the Publicity Team's Yahoo! Group where you can sign up to be a part of the team. We also want to keep you apprised of the number of graduates from the Starbase 118 Academy. Unfortunately, not all applicants graduate from the Academy because they either do not respond to roll call or do not complete the Academy requirements. The Training Team makes every effort to involve all applicants and to encourage them to complete the training.
~Newsletter Team Facilitator~ Good judgment comes from experience; experience comes from bad judgment. Nov 5, 2012This is how we'll win the interwebz
Hi everyone! We're launching a new team today. Want to see what we're doing? Click this link and then SHARE on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=440538999336351&set=p.440538999336351&type=1 Creating and sharing viral content is what this team is about. Our goal is to use Facebook and Twitter to create a new "funnel" for members, drawing people into our community by encouraging them to laugh, and/or reminisce about how much they love Star Trek and science fiction. Even if you're not experienced at this, we still need your help. We've got lots of tutorials about the latest in sharing techniques and content creation from expert sources, so you can get better at creating great content right from the start. Team members will be expected to submit one or two pieces of interesting content a week that we can share on our networks, and those with image editing experience will help us create graphics that will get traction. Ready to join? Head to the Social Media Team Yahoo! Group, and click the blue �Join This Group!� button. Please enter your ship and character name in the comment box. Here's the link: http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/ufop-team-socialmedia/ Nov 9, 2012Weekly Newsletter #34
Happy Friday, Fleetmates!
Third place, with a score of 36 of 80 points possible, is USS Mercury. Second place, with 47.14 points of 80 possible, is USS Apollo. First place, with 60 out of 80 points possible, is Starbase 118 Operations.
1. Calling all editors: http://goo.gl/fRnSc 2. October Plot Summary: Duronis II Embassy: http://goo.gl/EhuYF 3. Detecting The Dark Stuff: http://goo.gl/AkJrw 4. October Plot Summary: USS Drake: http://goo.gl/EEFYR 5. New Academy Graduates: http://goo.gl/YvWv2 6. Join the Social Media Team: http://goo.gl/23GHv 7. It's All in the Details: http://goo.gl/8Szca 8. Poll of the Week: The evolution of simple pleasures: http://goo.gl/7eKBl 9. Find Your Conventions Here: http://goo.gl/d9RHp
Posted: Fri, 09 Nov 2012 11:00:08 Have you visited the Intelligent Lifeform Index (http://goo.gl/tXfW7) recently? If so, you probably noticed the link to the Gallery (http://goo.gl/4eBiC), a visual index of all the various and sundry Star Trek species. The ILI Gallery is an immense document, and while it was a monumental undertaking simply in the making, we now need your help to modify it. Specifically, while the Gallery is a useful visual tool, clicking on any species image will not - as you might assume - bring you to that species page; rather, it will redirect you to the image itself. We're looking to change that. And if you've got some extra time, you can help! Just head over to the forums (http://goo.gl/J6rGo) for some more specific instructions, but it's as easy as inserting a line or two of wiki code per page. Is this project not quite what you're looking for, but you know you would like to help out in some capacity? Head on over to the Volunteer's Corner (http://goo.gl/0d3rx) on the forums to see what projects are currently percolating!
Posted: Thu, 08 Nov 2012 11:00:03 The crew of the Duronis II Embassy/USS Thunder was successful in defending Duronis II from the Klingons and the Scarlet Brotherhood. Unfortunately, the Klingon sub-commander, who was thought killed in battle, had taken refuge on the Brotherhood ship, the Vengeance, and as his dying attempt to damage the planet tried to crash the ship on Lokesh City. Lieutenant Commander Alucard Vess, acting CO of the USS Rodimus Prime, and his crew were able to foil the Klingon's plan by deflecting the ship away from the planet, but not in time to save the crippled USS Thunder. Both the Vengeance and the Thunder were destroyed, and the Rodimus Prime was badly damaged by the aftershocks. Later, on the planet, Fleet Captain Toni Turner, Captain Tallis Rhul, and Lt. Commanders Hannibal Parker, Kamela Allison, and Marine Captain Hella were joined by Vess and the crew of the Thunder to vanquish the enemy troops that were burning and looting the Embassy. Exhausted, battle-worn, and facing a night without quarters, the crew of the Thunder endured the hardships. They began a working shore leave and are now on clean-up duty mixed with leisure time.
Posted: Wed, 07 Nov 2012 11:00:41 Dark matter and dark energy are two of the biggest and most confusing puzzles for scientists around the world. The scientific community has struggled to understand the, well, dark matter, ever since we have theorized its existence. And now, perhaps, scientists have come up with a way to finally see it. It turns out, that the key to solving one of the BIGGEST mysteries of the cosmos, is to look at some of the smallest answers. Physicists like Katherine Freese at the University of Michigan are looking to DNA to help guide to a much more definitive way of finding dark matter. The reason why this attempt, unlike the various tests that claim to have detected dark matter already, will work? It's all in the genes. The idea for this detection device revolves around a single gold atom and strands of DNA. It's been theorized that a massive circle of WIMPs, or Weak Interacting Massive Particles, encircles our galaxy, which are known to be part of the makeup of dark matter. Our system revolves around the center of said galaxy, so in theory, it's said that a solar wind of WIMPs pass through us at some point in time. If the dark matter detector, a stack of thin gold sheets with strands of DNA hanging from it, were to come in contact with the WIMPs, the nuclei of the gold particles would "whiz off, cutting through the DNA at specific locations in the strands"(Freese). The goal here is to gather enough data to be able to map out the path of the flying nuclei and subsequent WIMP. After sufficient intervals of data have been processed, physicists say this would be compelling evidence to suggest that dark matter indeed exists. Still, the big question is whether or not this will even work. How many WIMP's can one expect in a given period of time? Will DNA even shatter when contacted? There are plenty of unanswered questions, but scientists are still giving this all they have. Regardless of the outcome, some much needed answers could be rendered. For the whole article, click here (http://goo.gl/NFKVQ)!
Posted: Tue, 06 Nov 2012 11:00:33 After activating an ancient Ishkarian sensory array at "Gate Way Station," the combined crews of the USS Drake and the USS Avandar found themselves in battle against a Klingon task force while simultaneously trying to save the civilian inhabitants of the station. Pilots from both the Avandar and the Drake launched a ragtag group of fighters from the station and led the Drake on an attack run against one of the Klingon battlecruisers. Surprisingly, the plan actually works and the cruiser was disabled, but not before the Flamingo piloted by CWO Peace-Lily was smeared across the side of the station in a ball of fire. Just as things became really desperate, another force of Klingon ships decloaked and attacked the first group. The new arrivals drove off the original Klingons and beamed up the boarding parties that managed to gain a foothold on both the Avandar and Drake before jumping off at warp speed. The Starfleet crews beamed the wounded civilians from the station to the Avandar for medical treatment while trying to save the station, which was badly damaged during the attack. The civilians were transferred to a federation medical ship and the Drake prepared to continue its mission of exploration. Follow the crew on the USS Drake Yahoo Group (http://goo.gl/IiJV8)!
Posted: Tue, 06 Nov 2012 00:00:00 Please welcome (http://goo.gl/8zUHi) our newest class of Academy graduates to the UFOP: StarBase 118 fleet: Will Stead, Michael Shepherd, Valis of Vulcan, and Juno Khayne!
Posted: Mon, 05 Nov 2012 16:00:33 Want to learn more about how to create shareable content on Social Media networks like Facebook and Twitter? Or are you already a Social Media maven, with a network at your beck-and-call? This team is for you! We're looking for experienced and amateur Social Media sharers to help us create content that will spread the word about our community, and draw in new members. Team members will be expected to submit one or two pieces of interesting content a week that we can share on our networks and those with image editing experience will help us create graphics that will get traction. You'll also learn about the latest in sharing techniques and content creation from expert sources, so you can get better at creating great content. Ready to join? Head to the Social Media Team Yahoo! Group, and click "Join This Group!" (http://goo.gl/g13PW). Please enter your ship and character name in the comment box.
Posted: Mon, 05 Nov 2012 11:00:22 One might argue that the world we write in, and the world our characters live in, is pure fiction, but the reality of it is that it all rests in the details that you provide. Think about it; a good book always sets the scene and provides enough pertinent detail of the characters in question to give readers the ability to paint pictures and see images in their minds. Almost like a movie, the details allow entire scenes to play out and characters to come to life, which can not only inspire, but can leave a reader wanting more. Since the story we weave here at Starbase 118 is perpetual, that's just the kind of reaction we want. What's that mean? It means that we can't afford to ignore or leave the details out of things, especially if we are trying to help others learn what it means to be a part of one of the epic stories we create. But figuring out the details, and what details are important can be difficult. For those of us who don't quite consider ourselves writers, it can seem almost impossible. Thankfully, this article on Details (http://goo.gl/45Nrf) can help you find just what you need when you want to create a real world that pops out and evokes imagination and emotion in your readers. Keep this advice in mind and you will soon see the difference that including these details can make in your sims.
Posted: Sun, 04 Nov 2012 16:31:02 Sometimes when you're simming part of a hectic mission or even running around like a headless chicken in the real world, it can be easy to forget or over look the simple pleasures that can be found in the simplest of things. Taking a bath or a nice long shower, for instance. While you may think that I have lost it this week, I assure you there is a good reason for the intro because this week's poll is this: Would you rather spend an hour or two soaking in a bath tub or taking your time in the shower (but obviously not for a couple of hours)? One would have to admit that there are very few things more relaxing after a hard day of work or even just to escape the chaos for a while then a dip in a bath/shower. It seems that these are luxuries so often over looked by our Starfleet counterparts. So putting aside the fact that either option would be fairly demanding when it comes to water requirements, what is your preference? For those that don't mind sharing feel free to tell us why as well just be sure to keep all conversation to a PG-13 friendly environment. So drop by the forums (http://goo.gl/pcsb8) to cast your vote. And don't be afraid to jump in there and leave a comment or two because that is where the fun really begins.
Posted: Sat, 03 Nov 2012 10:00:50 The folks at trektoday.com have released their latest list of Star Trek conventions that may or may not be coming to a convention center near you. Centers for this next round of conventions include events like the Boston Super Megafest, the New Orleans Comic Con, and Starbase Indy. Check the trektoday.com (http://goo.gl/nTxwo) website for more details, and come out and enjoy!
~Newsletter Team Facilitator~ Good judgment comes from experience; experience comes from bad judgment. Nov 11, 2012FLEETWIDE CHAT TODAY!
The time for Australians has changed due to Daylight Saving Time: 10am Pacific / 1pm Eastern / 5pm GMT / **5am** Monday UTC+11. Always check your time zone for accuracy/DST if applicable! Chat is always open on the site: http://www.starbase118.net/chat/ Y'all Come now, ya hear! ~Toni Fleet Captain Toni Turner Nov 16, 2012Weekly Newsletter #35
Happy Friday, Fleetmates! FLEET EVENTS
Just turn it off 4: http://goo.gl/X1vx8 Doing it for the people: http://goo.gl/NKs12
(newest at the top, oldest at the bottom) 1. Poll of the Week: Doing it for the people: http://goo.gl/k56py 2. October Plot Summary: USS Discovery-C: http://goo.gl/8adjK 3. Service Ribbons for October: http://goo.gl/utV6o 4. October Plot Summary: Starbase 118 Ops: http://goo.gl/ncWzq 5. Podcast 2389-4 Released!: http://goo.gl/yKiHE 6. Writing Tips for Modern Writers: http://goo.gl/XW9Xy 7. Poll of the Week: Just turn it off 4: http://goo.gl/cBVxI 8. New Academy Graduates: http://goo.gl/a3iDs 9. Sinda Essen: Winner of the September & October Writing Challenge: http://goo.gl/A6HYx
Posted: Fri, 16 Nov 2012 11:00:45 Around the world right now, there are countless volunteer-based charity organizations that do great things on global and grassroots scales. The work done by these people varies greatly based on what the organization, whether it be food drives, educating the masses or simply providing a sympathetic shoulder to cry on in a person's time of need. The one thing that cannot be questioned is that many of these organizations couldn't operate without generosity and support. This week's poll asks: Have you ever volunteered your time to help a charity? If you have, go a step further and visit the forums (http://goo.gl/NKs12), where you can tell everyone what your experience was like. Remember, you only have to share what you're comfortable with
Posted: Thu, 15 Nov 2012 11:00:29 After the heroic rescue of Captain Waltas, two other Starfleet officers, and Major Collim Denari of the Bajoran Intelligence from the evil clutches of the ruthless smuggler Rambling Rose and her nefarious thugs, the Discovery handed the crooks over to the Iotian authorities. During the stopover at Iotia, the Discovery also detected the emergency beacon of the downed shuttle D'ona, which was carrying Lt JG Tian and CPO Risette, and they were rescued from the frozen polar wasteland. Unfortunately, chief of security Lieutenant Nickels and his pet Clee were critically injured and rendered comatose following the smugglers' terrorist attacks on Iotia. The Discovery is currently docked at Deep Space 285 for a refit and a well-deserved respite for the frazzled crew, while waiting for their next mission assignment. Many officers are dealing with inter- and intrapersonal conflicts, a few among them even desperately battling the demons inside them. Meanwhile, Captain Waltas has surprised the crew with an unprecedented shipwide inspection. Follow the crew on the USS Discovery-C Yahoo Group (http://goo.gl/N2vcv)!
Posted: Wed, 14 Nov 2012 11:00:07 Service Ribbons are in-character awards presented to characters for acts of heroism and participation in plots and campaigns. Ribbons can be received at any time, but are generally presented alongside crew promotions. It is not uncommon for all members of a crew to receive campaign ribbons. These brave and honorable members of our group received them in October; please join us in congratulating them.
Captain William Rogers - USS Drake Commander Karynn Ehlanii Brice - USS Drake
Lieutenant Commander Jerry Reid - USS Drake
Captain William Rogers - USS Drake Lieutenant Colonel David Whale - USS Drake Commander Karynn Ehlanii Brice - USS Drake
Captain Della Vetri - USS Avandar Captain William Rogers - USS Drake Lieutenant Colonel David Whale - USS Drake Commander Karynn Ehlanii Brice - USS Drake Lieutenant Commander Alleran Tan - USS Avandar Lieutenant Commander Danzia - USS Drake Lieutenant Commander Eerie - USS Avandar Lieutenant Commander Sky Blake - USS Avandar Lieutenant Commander T'Lea - USS Avandar Lieutenant Commander Marcus Dickens - USS Avandar Lieutenant Dantin-Vex - USS Drake Lieutenant Didrik Nikolaj Stennes - USS Drake Lieutenant Oliver Weston - USS Drake Lieutenant Pandora - USS Drake Lieutenant Sakorra Jefferson Reed - USS Drake Lieutenant Talya Robins - USS Avandar Marine Captain Eitan Kadosh - USS Drake Lieutenant, Junior Grade S'Lone tr'Khellian - USS Avandar 2nd Lieutenant Peter Dixon - USS Drake Ensign John Largent - USS Drake Ensign Nearian Ben'thal - USS Avandar Ensign Rune Jolara - USS Avandar CWO Chase Valaine - USS Avandar
Lieutenant Talya Robins - USS Avandar
Lieutenant Talya Robins - USS Avandar
Lieutenant, Junior Grade S'Lone tr'Khellian - USS Avandar Lieutenant Oliver Weston - USS Drake
Posted: Tue, 13 Nov 2012 11:00:40 The crew completed their preparations, and the Victory began to make its way toward the Thracian Alliance (TA). Inside and out, there was the rising fear of what was to come. Two interesting visitors from the TA, Senator Vreeya and Sarup, a Tal'Shiar agent, provided the direction needed to meet up with the TA fleet. While all of this was happening, "Anya," the captain's holographic clone, was trying to prove her existence as an individual, with the threat of her destruction looming if she couldn't. Follow the crew on the Starbase 118 Ops Yahoo Group (http://goo.gl/2MFD6)!
Posted: Mon, 12 Nov 2012 20:44:54 The new episode has been released! For those of you that want would like to listen online, check out our release on the StarBase 118 YouTube channel! (http://goo.gl/cCLHl) Whilst we recognize that some members would love to listen to the podcast on the go, we have uploaded it to Archive.org. (http://goo.gl/47KY8) You can download it from the menu on the left hand side! Keep your ears open for our next release due the first week of December! Feel free to subscribe to our YouTube channel for automatic updates. To join the Podcast Team, visit the team's Yahoo Group (http://goo.gl/gtN7n) and apply for membership!
Posted: Mon, 12 Nov 2012 11:00:24 Everyone wants to write sims that give insight and provide entertainment to the people who are reading them. While we all enjoy writing for our characters, ultimately, we also enjoy seeing our audience enjoy what we've written. To accomplish this seemingly small feat, however, can sometimes be difficult, even for those of us who have been writing our characters for a long time. We all run into the pitfalls of writing from time to time, which is why we should each take a moment to refresh our minds with some of the tips that history's best writers have left for us. It's important to note that, as the world moves into a more digitalized state, there are fewer and fewer writers out there. Most communication lacks the passion and depth that existed in writing before the computerized age, which leaves much to be desired in most types of written communications these days. Thankfully, there are some gems, tips left behind by the world's greatest masters of literature, that can help you make your sims, and any other writing that you have, that much more powerful. Check out this article from PickTheBrain.com on the Art of Writing (http://goo.gl/Z1MGe) and see what you can't incorporate into your next sims.
Posted: Sun, 11 Nov 2012 20:59:08 We're back again with another edition of "Just turn it off". It's the second last edition if you're feeling tempted to close the browser window as it is. Well if you're still reading that means you want to nitpick over the worst Voyager episodes that were ever shown on TV. While opinion may not be divided about Voyager as with DS9, for better or worse, there were still several doozies when it came to irritating episodes. Whether the episode in question had a flawed story line or just focused on a character or theme that you couldn't stand, this week's poll is about finding which episode was the worst of the worst. In other words, which episode was mostly likely to make you turn away? I say this because it seems very few people have actually admitted to turning an episode off. Finally if an episode that you felt was an epic fail, compared to other wonderful stories that Voyager gave us, didn't appear in the poll, leave a comment. You all know the drill; we all want to hear what you think. So to that affect remember to visit the forums (http://goo.gl/X1vx8) to vote because it's the conversation and debate that makes these polls fun.
Posted: Sat, 10 Nov 2012 20:03:56 Please welcome (http://goo.gl/Su0dj) our newest class of Academy graduates to the UFOP: StarBase 118 fleet: Khoner Trolin, Massem, and Seze!
Posted: Sat, 10 Nov 2012 11:00:14 Congratulations to Chris, the writer behind Sinda Essen and Jhen Thelev, whose short story "Love is a battlefield" (http://goo.gl/AsFEa) has won the September/October 2012 Writing Challenge! This is the writer's fourth win, making him one of the most recognized champions in the history of the Challenge. The September/October was built around the theme "Isn't it romantic?" as chosen by Kristen, the writer behind Velana, the previous round's winner; this Challenge saw quite a number of fine entries, making the judging quite difficult for the panel. However, the judges would like to thank everyone who participated, and look forward to the special November Challenge (http://goo.gl/ln0kQ), which will be open through November 30th!
~Newsletter Team Facilitator~ Good judgment comes from experience; experience comes from bad judgment. Nov 19, 20122012 Award Nominations Open!
Fellow Community Members, Each year, we hold an annual celebration of our simming accomplishments over the past year. This tradition goes back to the earliest days of our group, and is one that we've kept up faithfully. This year, our awards process begins today. Each of you now has the opportunity to nominate others -- members of your crew, your CO and FO, and other members from around the fleet that you've simmed with -- to receive an award. Award ceremonies will begin in mid-December for each ship, and our fleet ceremony will occur near the end of December. You can head to the award nomination panel now to begin nominating: http://go.starbase118.net/awards-form
Over the coming weeks, we will compile the nominations. Some will be reviewed by your Captains, others will be reviewed by a committee from around the fleet, and some will be reviewed by the Executive Council. The best nominations will be approved, and the nominated members will receive an award. Remember, these rewards come from you! This is your chance to show your individual crewmates and friends that you value specific aspects of their contributions. If a ship has no (or few) award recipients, it's an indication that the crew didn't participate in the nomination process, so be sure to nominate at least one other member of your crew! You can find images and descriptions of each award on our wiki, at the following URL: http://go.starbase118.net/awards The new award designs were done by our very own Images Team, headed by Capt. Kali Nicholotti. A few notes you'll want to know as you're submitting nominations:
Finally, please keep in mind that your Commanding Officers do a lot of hard work in the background to help keep our community running. Although members of our Staff, they are not paid for their efforts and the vast amounts of time they devote to the group and your enjoyment. So, as you nominate your crewmates do also spare a thought to nominating your Captain for one of the Staff Awards! If you have questions about the awards, you're welcome to ask your CO or FO for help. Happy Nominating! Nov 23, 2012Weekly Newsletter #36
Happy Friday, Fleetmates!
It's that time of year again, where you get to show your fellow crewmates how much you appreciate what they bring to the game. Awards Nominations are now open! Head to http://go.starbase118.net/awards-form and make your opinion count. LINK OF THE WEEK: http://goo.gl/Jm3Ga - Tutorial Library
(newest at the top, oldest at the bottom) 1. Poll of the Week: Just turn it off 5: http://goo.gl/yJkaQ 2. October Plot Summary: USS Mercury: http://goo.gl/u73AY 3. Movember is Here: http://goo.gl/JF87R 4. 2012 Halloween Avatar Contest Winner Announced: http://goo.gl/RsoeQ 5. October Plot Summary: USS Apollo: http://goo.gl/hVKwV 6. Awards Nominations for 2012 are Open: http://goo.gl/IPvlx 7. The Setting of Simming: Invoking Imaginations: http://goo.gl/fDdhv 8. Star Trek Online: New Romulus: http://goo.gl/57ZNA 9. Featured Bio for November 2012 is Commander Karynn Ehlanii Brice: http://goo.gl/tM50x
Posted: Fri, 23 Nov 2012 19:41:36 This week marks the end of our "Just turn it off" series and we are going to go out with a bang by taking a closer inspection at Star Trek: Enterprise. That's right, the fore-runner to all our classic Trek cannon. Now I am not going to go all "I hate Enterprise" because Enterprise did have some great stories in it but with those came quite a few rotten episodes. Now, assuming that everyone has watched Enterprise, or at least a good portion of it, this week's poll is all about picking out which was the worst episode? Whether the Episode made you turn off the TV or not, which is the one that you simply can't stand. Finally if an episode that you felt was an epic fail, compared to other wonderful stories that Enterprise gave us, didn't appear in the poll, leave a comment. You all know the drill; we all want to hear what you think. So to that affect remember to visit the forums (http://goo.gl/Ehnfo) and vote because it's the conversation and debate that makes these polls fun. Also keep in mind that if you want to see something specific in a up-coming poll, go to the Poll Suggestions thread (http://goo.gl/pmZHQ) to let me know. Have fun, everyone!!
Posted: Thu, 22 Nov 2012 11:00:21 The sudden disappearance of Captain Kells, Councilor Prianna, and the rest was only the beginning as the mysterious abductors vanished from the system almost undetected. Initial attempts to track the abductors were met with a string of weird and hazardous malfunctions. While LtCmdr. Cain contacted Starfleet HQ, CEO Rahman worked to overcome the malfunctions. After one of Rahman's engineers suffered an injury, the source of the malfunctions was discovered to be an artificial entity that had spread itself through the ship's computer network, making use of the Mercury's holographic emitters to interact with the crew. The entity seemed to want to learn from the crew. After the malfunctions ceased, the crew traced the abductors to Vador III. An explosive device detonated inside main engineering just after the Mercury entered the Vador system. The device, which was strapped to the warp core, did substantial damage and inflicted heavy casualties. A second device was safely removed without causing further damage. The culprit is yet to be identified. Acting CO Cain sent acting XO Wulfantine on the rescue mission using shuttlecraft while the remaining Mercury crew completed emergency repairs and anticipated a Klingon attack. Meanwhile, beneath Vador III, Kells, Prianna, and the rest found themselves with no hope of escape until Captain Quinn Reynolds appeared outside their cells undercover in the facility. The group, upon discovering from Prianna's the planet's inhospitable surface and its history as a secret Cardassian installation, headed deeper underground, searching for the facility's controls and, hopefully, a way out. Follow the crew on the USS Mercury Yahoo Group (http://goo.gl/OVx0n)!
Posted: Wed, 21 Nov 2012 11:00:33 Each year in the month of November, the number of mustache-touting males in the UK (and around the world!) increases. Why, you ask? Well, Movember and Sons (http://uk.movember.com/about/), an international movement to raise awareness and funds in regards to men's health issues, is in effect, and is depending on people like you to help further the cause. There are a few different ways anyone can get involved with the MOvement. MO Bros can grow their very own moustache, while MO Sista's can support the various men in their lives to support the cause. Either Bro's or Sista's can donate of course, with all proceeds going towards vital research and outreach efforts. Even our own members are personally affected by the research, fundraising and the 30 days of moustachery. UFOP:SB118's very own writer ,Chris Hutchings, has his early stache-growing photos on display. If you can help him in with his cause, please take a visit to his page (http://goo.gl/omK0n) to learn how! Forum post http://goo.gl/ZEeZD
Posted: Tue, 20 Nov 2012 17:00:35 Hurricane/Superstorm Sandy delayed the announcement of our winners this year, but the verdict is finally out! With an amazing turnout this year, six of our eight ships, and above average participation for each of those ships, the contest proved to be a huge hit. For the second year in a row, judging proved to be difficult, but based on originality, design quality, and individual crew participation, the ships were judged.
and the final, overall winners, decided by taking the above scores and adjusting them according to the percentage of crew who participated are: Third Place: The USS Mercury (36 of 80 Points) Second Place: The USS Apollo (47.14 of 80 Points) First Place: Starbase 118 Ops (60 of 80 Points) Each crew was the recipient of their very own, newly designed Forums Badge (http://goo.gl/rdN2J) as well as a special award for their wiki awards page. Congratulations to all who participated! We can't wait to see what you all come up with next year!
Posted: Tue, 20 Nov 2012 11:00:30 After having completed the first part of her mission, escorting the USS Mercury to the Nequencia system, the USS Apollo has begun patrolling the system, keeping watch out for any who might try to interfere with the Mercury's mission. Upon their arrival, Intel officer Lieutenant Viktor Lanius, along with his counterpart aboard the Mercury, uncover who is responsible for the plot to assassinate a member of the Cardassian Detapa Council. The plot was foiled by Lieutenant Bale of the Mercury, but one of the assassins, Baren Dreth, escaped. Unbeknownst to either crew, Dreth did not escape far. While patrolling the system, the Apollo was confronted by a Romulan Valdore-class warbird. The ship was crewed by members of an unknown faction. While the crew of the warbird is unknown, the man in command of the vessel was Baren Dreth. Lieutenant Commander Liam Frost made several attempts to negotiate Dreth's surrender, but to no avail. With peaceful options exhausted, the Apollo was forced into a firefight with the warbird, in which the Apollo was damaged and the Warbird was destroyed with all hands except one: Dreth. Fortunately for the crew, there was also good news, as Captain Andrus Jaxx emerged from his coma and was given a positive prognosis by Chief Medical Officer Lieutenant (JG) Jalana Laxyn. With no way to track Dreth, the Apollo is preparing to undertake the second half of their mission, a rendezvous with the USS Victory in the Thracian system. Follow the crew on the USS Apollo Yahoo Group (http://goo.gl/9GgXC)!
Posted: Mon, 19 Nov 2012 17:00:10 Greetings fellow Starbase 118 Officers and Crewmen! Every year, without fail, we gather to celebrate the accomplishments we've made throughout the past year within our sims. This is a core tradition that has been continued from the very beginnings of the group, and one we all look forward to towards the end of each year. This year, the beginning of this process - the nomination period - began on the 19th of November. As of now, nominations are open and each player has the chance to nominate officers from across the fleet for the awards encompassed by our awards ceremony. The ceremonies themselves will begin around the middle of December, while the Fleet-wide ceremony will be held near the end of December. With the nomination period now open, all players are encouraged to go to the nomination panel and submit officers you've interacted with over the past year, including staff members, for one of the yearly awards: http://go.starbase118.net/awards-form
Over the weeks to come, the nomination that you submit will be compiled and reviewed by specific groups; your Captains, an awards committee comprised of members from across the fleet, and the Executive Council. Those that are deemed to be the best will be given an award. Keep in mind that all of these awards come from the players that make up this fleet! This is the one chance that you have to show those you sim with how much you value their contributions. When a ship has little or no award recipients, it is a direct reflection on the fact that there were few nominations from that specific crew. That's why it is important for everyone to nominate at least one other person from their crew! Images and descriptions of the awards can be found here: http://go.starbase118.net/awards These new images and designs were created just last year by the Image Team for and by members of Starbase 118! Keep these things in mind as you begin submitting fellow officers for nominations:
In closing, remember that you Commanding Officers also do lots of hard work behind the scenes to keep the fleet and the community up and running. They are not paid for their work, and though they are considered our staff, it is their endless hours of devotion that keep things going smoothing. Keep this in mind as you are submitting your nominations and consider nominating your Commanding Officer for an award as well. If you have any questions, your CO and FO are always available to answer them! Happy Nominating!
Posted: Mon, 19 Nov 2012 11:00:15 One of the most important aspects of any sim is the setting that you create for the events you are simming about. While some people might argue that the action is much more important, it is vital that the action take place in a location that makes sense. At the same time, the scene is also one thing that often gets overlooked when a writer is guiding their character through any event - whether it is something calming or something action packed. For this reason, because it is so often left too vague, or out entirely, this week's Writer's Workshop focuses on setting the scene in your sims. Using strong characterization to let your audience know where your character is and what's going on around them, as well as their own actions and reactions that are not expressed verbally, is important if you want to invoke the imagination of your readers. Regardless of what rank you hold, painting a picture for those who read your sims can make yours stand out and offer others inspiration for sims of their own. Unsure of how to go about this process? We've found one site that helps walk you through some of the intricacies of scene setting. Take a look at this article on how to Create A Vivid Setting (http://www.pgtelco.com/~slmiller/setting.htm) and put some of these tips to work in your next sim.
Posted: Sun, 18 Nov 2012 11:00:13 Today it is my honor and privilege to bring you the news of the release of Star Trek Online's seventh and newest season. For those of you that have not played in some time, there have been a few updates to the game. I have not played a lot myself as of late, but I do constantly download the updates as they come. To get to the meat of what you will find in the update, take a look at the STO season updates, available here (http://goo.gl/aRsJU), and the full list of new features here (http://goo.gl/KuJlA). This season also includes the release of a new class of starship, the Vesta. As with most STO ship classes, the Vesta includes the choice of three variants. For those of you that know of the "Destiny" trilogy of Star Trek novels, one of them is commanded by Captain Ezri Dax. The "Destiny" novels focus on the U.S.S. Aventine a vessel that was the key in defeating the Borg in those books.
Posted: Sat, 17 Nov 2012 11:00:13 Karynn Ehlanii Brice originally intended on becoming a science officer, following an interest first stirred by her grandparents at the age of three, but during her fourth year at the academy, the Haliian discovered her new passion: counseling. Since graduating in 2384, she has served on three vessels, including the famed USS Ronin and USS Independence, where she served under the command of such esteemed officers as Ben Walker and David Cody. It was through Walker's wedding that Karynn met her future husband Ethan Brice, and though the two had been fortunate to serve on the same ships during most of their relationship, they now are continuing their marriage long-distance, with Ethan on the USS Apollo and Karynn on the USS Drake. Ironically, having worked her way up to the rank of commander with much of that time spent as a counselor, it is only recently that Karynn has returned to her first love of the sciences, now serving as the Drake's chief science officer. Karynn's story is one of perseverance. Whether it was overcoming her disappointment about failing her initial Academy Entrance Exam or gaining the confidence to help lead her shipmates through challenging times, first as their counselor and later as their first officer, Karynn has demonstrated throughout her years in the fleet that officers don't have to sacrifice their compassion or become militaristic, harsh, or overbearing as they move up the ranks. In the words of her previous CO David Cody, Karynn "is familiar to us all. This officer, has always been a bright and shining star and is, at least in my opinion, one of the best officers I've had the pleasure of serving with." Commander Brice's bio (http://goo.gl/FqNB1) will be displayed on the wiki's front page for the month of November. As always, you can find out more about the contest at its wiki page (http://goo.gl/4V5yy) or in its forum (http://goo.gl/od134). Be sure to drop by and submit your own nominations for the next round
~Newsletter Team Facilitator~ Good judgment comes from experience; experience comes from bad judgment. Nov 30, 2012Weekly Newsletter #37
Happy weekend, Fleetmates!
It's that time of year again, where you get to show your fellow crewmates how much you appreciate what they bring to the game. Awards Nominations are now open! Head to http://go.starbase118.net/awards - to see the list of awards and then to http://goo.gl/XXPrI - form and make your opinion count.
(newest at the top, oldest at the bottom) 1. Poll of the Week: Two sides of the electric coin: http://goo.gl/f5WAu 2. October Plot Summary: USS Avandar: http://goo.gl/a6OzJ 3. Promotions for October: http://goo.gl/COhXy 4. New Academy Graduates: http://goo.gl/IXr5k 5. October Plot Summary: USS Tiger-A: http://goo.gl/aY7Ol 6. October Recruitment Stats: http://goo.gl/8QHKR 7. Reminder: Awards Nominations Open for Only 2 More Weeks: http://goo.gl/Oul6J 8. New Academy Graduates: http://goo.gl/GYfeF 9. Way Back When Week Writing Challenge: http://goo.gl/WKSHJ
Posted: Fri, 30 Nov 2012 15:12:57 It seems like the natural order of human competition revolves around pairs of objects or people. This could be said for anything from the big two brands in car manufacturing to the hero-versus-villain dynamic. Sure there might be others throwing their weight around the playground but one pair always stands out, making everyone ask the question of which one will win in whatever battle is occurring. This week's poll is about one of the Computer world's greatest rivalries and which side of the coin do you call home. That's right, I am talking about the Macintosh versus Windows showdown. In basic terms both of these giants are computer operating systems and almost every computer user has a preference to their favorite. While a large portion of people have been faithful Windows users throughout the years, Mac users have been making a rapid come back in the past couple of years especially. It's at the state that most Mac users I have met swear by their apple encrusted machines. Well enough of my ranting, this week's poll is this: Which one of these operating systems do you prefer? As always feel free to leave a comment, after you vote on the forums (http://goo.gl/UOu2O), telling us why. We all love hearing your responses because it's that, that makes these poll such fun. Over to you guys and girls, and have fun!!
Posted: Thu, 29 Nov 2012 11:00:06 In an attempt to prevent the loss of civilian lives, the USS Avandar focused its efforts on trying to stop the swarm of gravimetric mines heading for Gateway Station, it's tactical crews working hard to shoot the attacking drones down. In the meantime the USS Drake, along with an ad-hoc fighter wing piloted by members of their own crew, as well as volunteers from the Avandar and Gateway Station itself, ran interference to try and make sure the Klingon ships still in the area kept their distance. The arrival Klingon reinforcements, including a carrier, turned the situation for the worse as far as the Starfleet ships are concerned. In a rather desperate attempt to keep things under control, Captain Vetri tried a diplomatic approach to buy some time. Unfortunately, the attempt didn't pay off to well - both Starfleet ships found themselves boarded. In an unexpected turn of luck, relief arrived in the form of another group of KDF vessels - who promptly engaged the Klingons already closing and inflicted a number of casualties. Taking advantage of the distraction, both Starfleet crews began evacuating as many of the station's population as possible before recovering their pilots and breaking off as fast as they could. With a large hole in the hull from the boarding craft and cargo bays overflowing with refugees, the Avandar parted ways with the Drake and began making its way toward somewhere safe they could make repairs and pass the passengers on to those best able to help them. Follow the crew on the Avandar Google Group (http://goo.gl/oNrYN)!
Posted: Wed, 28 Nov 2012 11:00:54 The staff of UFoP: StarBase 118 would like to take a moment and recognize the promotions for September. Please join us in congratulating the following members when you see them in the corridors!
David Whale to Commander Oliver Weston to Lieutenant Didrik Stennes to Lieutenant
Angelo Valentino to Marine Captain
Collim Kieran to Lieutenant JG
Liam Frost to Commander
Talya Robins to Lieutenant
Posted: Wed, 28 Nov 2012 00:26:21 Please welcome (http://goo.gl/dQfFH) our newest class of Academy graduates to the UFOP: StarBase 118 fleet: Gregory Able and Mandany Rose!
Posted: Tue, 27 Nov 2012 11:00:07 After returning to their own timeline, the crew of the USS Tiger began a voyage to the world of Bilire IV. Most of the crew celebrated a short shore leave time in the Tiger's Den with a party. During this time, the Tiger welcomed Lady Alana Culemerwin-Devar and her brother Galywn, who would serve as ambassadors to the planet. It was in a briefing after their arrival that more information concerning the possible Klingon occupation of the Romulan Colony at Bilire was revealed. Once the ship arrived at the colony contact was made with a Romulan named Rit'zah while in orbit. Rit'zah verified that the colony had been stricken with a deadly plaque along with other issues that he refused to identify. Captain Riley and an away team wearing transparent bioprotective coverings beamed down to the planet to investigate leaving the ship under the command of Darius Clack. Follow the crew on the USS Tiger-A Yahoo Group (http://goo.gl/5kko3)!
Posted: Mon, 26 Nov 2012 11:00:00 Each month, the Publicity Team (http://goo.gl/N798p) posts the number of applications our community received for the current year and how those applicants found our group. This summary will give you an idea of how we are reaching new applicants and how we can improve our efforts to reach new audiences. If you're interested in helping with our publicity efforts, click the link above to check out the Publicity Team's wiki area, and then the link to the Publicity Team's Yahoo! Group where you can sign up to be a part of the team. We also want to keep you apprised of the number of graduates from the Starbase 118 Academy. Unfortunately, not all applicants graduate from the Academy because they either do not respond to roll call or do not complete the Academy requirements. The Training Team makes every effort to involve all applicants and to encourage them to complete the training.
Posted: Sun, 25 Nov 2012 11:00:55 Don't forget! The 2012 Awards Nominations are only open until 11:59 PM EST on Sunday, December 9th! This is your chance to show your fellow crewmates and fleetmates that you appreciate what they bring to the game and the creativity they add to the story. Take a moment today to nominate at least one of your fellow officers by heading to the Awards Nomination Panel (http://goo.gl/XXPrI) and filling in the form! Have questions? Be sure to send your CO or FO a message now so that they can help you before the nomination period passes! For more information, be sure to read our post (http://goo.gl/IPvlx) outlining opening day for nominations!
Posted: Sat, 24 Nov 2012 15:08:47 Please welcome (http://goo.gl/OdMbq) our newest class of Academy graduates to the UFOP: StarBase 118 fleet: Alexander Ravan, Grigoriy Davis, Neg of Ferenginar and Rekkr Baldersson!
Posted: Sat, 24 Nov 2012 11:00:24 This month's writing challenge, which ends on November 30th, takes its inspiration from Ongoing Worlds and their Way Back When Week competition (http://goo.gl/YLKwh). The idea of this contest is that you, as a writer, should look back into the history of your character. Do they have family traditions or mannerisms that have their origins far in the past? By flashing back to your character's ancestors, you can offer a glimpse into what makes your character tick at a whole new level! The rules of the contest are simple; aside from the usual limits - . Your work must be completely original. . You must be the sole author of the work. . Your story must take place in the Star Trek universe, but may not center upon canon characters. . Sign your final draft as you would a post on your ship. . Your story must be between 300 and 3000 words. . You should also keep in mind the rules set forth by Ongoing Worlds: Your entry must be written in the English language. The decision of the judges is complete, binding, and final. By submitting your story you agree to grant OngoingWorlds free of charge, the right to publish your story online and in all media as required (we will never sell your story, and your rights are reserved). The story you enter must be your work and not under any copyright. Remember, because your entry will be submitted to the Ongoing Worlds competition as well, this writing challenge ends on November 30th! Be sure to head over to the forums (http://goo.gl/LtF70) and get your submissions in before it's too late!
~Newsletter Team Facilitator~ Good judgment comes from experience; experience comes from bad judgment. Dec 4, 2012Vote for the Top Sim of 2012
There are just three sims to read for the final round of the Top Sims Contest in 2012. Head to the forums and check them out now, so you can vote: http://go.starbase118.net/final_tsc_2012 You must be logged in to the forums to participate. IF YOU HAVE TROUBLE LOGGING IN, please email me directly at t.wolf@... and I will promptly assist you. Voting is open until 11:59pm Pacific Time on December 26, 2012. The Top Sims Contest is all about elevating the best sims of the fleet, providing an sample of great writing to work from and rewarding people who put a lot of care and detail into their work. To get to this point, these three sims had to go through a primary round of voting by members (with the other sims from their submission round), and a secondary round of voting by staff members (with other semi-finalists). In short, they are undoubtedly some of the most impactful sims of the year. Vote now, and be sure to ask your fellow crew-mates to vote, as well! Dec 7, 2012Weekly Newsletter #38
Happy Friday, Fleetmates!
The full list of awards is available at http://go.starbase118.net/awards
(newest at the top, oldest at the bottom) 1. Poll of the Week: Bullies in the playground: http://goo.gl/7hcav 2. Three More Days for 2012 Awards Nominations!: http://goo.gl/Jmt1h 3. The Parents of the Starbase 118 Fleet: StarBase 118 Ops: http://goo.gl/9nXfU 4. November Plot Summary: USS Discovery-C: http://goo.gl/TMtW4 5. Vanquishing Those Silly Grammar Monsters: http://goo.gl/llX6j 6. 2012 Awards Nominations Close in One Week!: http://goo.gl/0IppY 7. New Academy Graduates: http://goo.gl/Ub1KG 8. Star Trek Online: Regent-Class Assault Crusier: http://goo.gl/UwYfh
Posted: Fri, 07 Dec 2012 15:12:40 his week, we take a look at another set of rivals and it is a rivalry that has rocked many a forum board including our own. It's been a while so I thought it time to dust off this classic dispute and it goes something like this: Who would win in a confrontation between the Enterprise-E and the Battlestar Galactica? These are two giants, ships virtually unmatched in their respective universes, but who would remain standing (if you can say a starship is standing) after this pair slugs it out? The Enterprise-E is of course a Sovereign-class starship. In the Federation Starfleet, there is no ship larger or more heavily armed. This monster is packed with over eight hundred people from various vocations. And while the Sovereign isn't a warship, primarily at least, its might isn't worth underestimating. The Battlestar Galactica from the television series Battlestar Galactica is a heavily armed and armored warship primarily used to launch fighter craft. While Galactica is more the twice the length of the Enterprise-E and has more than four times the personnel with more ship-mounted weapons then could possibly be counted, the odds aren't as uneven as it may look. You see, like all Starfleet technology, the Enterprise relies on phasers and energy shields - things that would rip the Galactic apart given the chance - for offense and defense. But what is a energy shield to do against solid projectile weapons or nukes? Well, that's enough from me, and now it's time to visit the forums so that we can hear from all of you. Remember, it's your opinions and comments (http://goo.gl/s1I3O) that really drives us forward and we love hearing those opinions. Finally, if you have an idea about improving POW or a poll suggestion please visit the Poll suggestion thread (http://goo.gl/KYDnF). Remember have fun out there.
Posted: Thu, 06 Dec 2012 11:00:41 In three days, the nominations period for this year's community awards will close and the rest will go down in history. Don't let your crew be one that doesn't get many awards this year! Go to the Awards Nomination Panel (http://goo.gl/XXPrI)) and submit at least one of your fellow officers for an award that they deserve today! Need help? Don't hesitate to ask your CO or FO before it's too late! Want to know more? Take a look at the opening announcement (http://goo.gl/IPvlx) for the 2012 Awards Ceremony.
Posted: Wed, 05 Dec 2012 11:00:23 Family and children, like love, are a part of life. It's natural that almost every ship in our fleet has at least one family that is lovingly thinking of the ones left safely at home One of the first things I read about in terms of relationships in simming was an article in the Tutorial Library (http://goo.gl/Jm3Ga) titled Love is in the Particle-Scrubbed Air (http://goo.gl/XuemH). The way it was written, I saw it more as a set of warnings against than an encouragement to have a relationship; but who would listen to it, right? Well, a broken heart can be good for character development! I recently set out to learn about the parents of the StarBase 118 fleet, and the first to answer my questions were 1st Lieutenant Thomas Benton and Lieutenant Commander David Cody of StarBase 118 Operations, and their Captain Kalianna Nicholotti. Captain Nicholotti explained that there are good number of kids living aboard the station, but those closest to her are children of these two members of the senior staff. When asked about the children in regards to simming, she responded for 1st Lieutenant Benton who has a young daughter: "He sims a good mix of fear and duty, which probably comes from a realistic view of his own military experience in the real world. I wouldn't say there is a lot, but when things get bad, the character does appear to think about his daughter, along with more direct needs associated with his job." Sounds like a good and caring father. While Benton considers it a "natural pattern" for his characters to be married with children, Commander Cody, "as a confirmed bachelor who wasn't so lucky in the love/relationships department," by his own words "proved to be a pretty good father/dad-like figure." The character of his daughter came into his life gradually, created by his shipmate Mr. Allen Cruise; she is an orphaned Betazoid child who, through some rough and tough times, forged a daughter/father bond with Cody, and since he loved how it rounded out the character, he kept writing the girl. When asked how it happen IC, Commander Cody explains: "It was a loose thing, no obligations or such. Things just unfolded through IC, in the background, and through back story for a couple of years, up to the point where B'Sara became David's ward, and long before then he had already began secretly feeling like her dad, so it just worked out without ever having to plan it." At the same time, the writer behind Benton usually creates romantic interests for his character, but this time decided to see if there will be a writer who may want to write relationship with: "So, I created my character, Tom Benton, as a widower with a cute little daughter, readymade for 'love and marriage,' if any other player should ever come along who'd want to do that. Ginny, Tom Benton's late wife, is based on a character in a novel that I once read." Girls, what are you waiting for, a formal invitation? Well, consider this it! Tom Benton's daughter, Ann-Marie Hardee Benton, is six years old. When Tom and Ann-Marie first reported to SB118, Ginny had been dead for two years. While B'Sara is not that much older, she is far more mature. B'Sara's actual age is 11, but due to some genetic tampering in her origins, her physical and mental development is ten years older. When asked about the relationship between characters, Commander Cody explains it's "Testy! Unfortunately, Mr. Cody suffered an MIA for a couple years that didn't go down well with B'Sara (who's still irritated with Starfleet about that). She's more active now into the story since finishing the Academy, although the last she knew, her 'dad' was MIA or killed in action, so she's quite a bit angry." The character was less present since was attending Starfleet Academy, but now as a fresh ensign, will be seen more and more. The commander is anticipating the appearance of grays in his hair. maybe he's just getting old? At the same time in the Benton household, things seem much warmer. "Tom and his daughter are very close. They have become very close through surviving, emotionally, the loss of Ginny, and also, service families, as many of us know, have to be close to each other because such families usually never stay in one place long enough to make close friends outside the family. Thus, a successful service family is a very close one. I have tried to write Ann-Marie into the story on a regular basis. I have sent in two postings, at least, about Ann-Marie being back at SB118 while her daddy is away on the current mission. I have not been in the sim during a period of extended shore leave, but when that comes, Tom and Ann-Marie will be inseparable. Because of the two reasons mentioned above, they are a team. " Parents always care for their kids, especially in a time of crises. Kids, at the same time, understand much more than we expect them to. This notion was asked of the two gentlemen in regards to their own children: 1st Lieutenant Benton says "Tom is concerned, always, for Ann-Marie, but feels she is as safe as is possible on SB118. Ann-Marie has the normal fears of a six year old girl, but she is aware, as much as a six year old can be, of the conditions of military life and of living in a place that might, at any time, be under attack. She has been in this type of atmosphere since birth." Commander Cody adds, "Oh yeah. Especially in B'Sara's case, because she is a full blown Betazoid and even when she was (and looked like) a little girl. Children pick up on everything going on around them, whether parents realize it or not. They are extremely adept at figuring things out even before their parents' do (which doesn't get any easier once they're into their teen years). As teens, there's such a strong streak of independence, but at the same time, they don't want us parents to know they still make sure we're there. The greatest fear now, of course, is that she's going to get killed on some mission that I may or may not be leading, and believe me, the temptation to order her to a desk assignment is extremely overpowering." It was pleasure learning about the Ops families. Be on the lookout for the next article featuring parents of Embassy Duronis II.
Posted: Tue, 04 Dec 2012 11:00:08 When Earth is threatened with destruction by subspace torpedoes of the rebel Romulan faction Kaleh, the USS Discovery-C is sent to destroy the doomsday device on Gurab II. Upon arrival at the destination, they are attacked by two Kaleh warbirds which were also responsible for the destruction of the USS Fearless. The attack on the Discovery compromised communications and sensors. While comms were down, Captain Waltas receives a message fragment from Starfleet. Unable to verify the order due to loss of communication, Waltas orders an orbital bombardment to take out the weapon. This divides the crew who are torn between preserving innocent lives on Gurab II and saving Earth. First Officer Blueheart, in disagreement with Waltas, relieves him and takes command of the ship. While preoccupied with another battle with the Kaleh, Blueheart is deposed by a freed Waltas and his supporters who triumphantly seize back control of the Discovery. When comms are restored, it's learnt that the Starfleet message was in fact to announce that the Kaleh had already been defeated by Romulan and Federation forces. Calling off the orbital bombardment lest it's perceived as an act of war, and putting their differences aside. Waltas and Blueheart work together to successfully destroy the doomsday device, effectively saving Earth from annihilation. Now what lay ahead was the long and arduous road towards reconciliation between the two commanding officers as well as amongst their crew
Posted: Mon, 03 Dec 2012 11:00:22 There are a lot of different things that go into writing these days, especially since we have limited space and time in which to create a compelling and inspiring scene using only our words. We must find ways to weave words together to create pieces of art, and the understanding of what our characters do and react to lies in our ability to convey those scenes in our sims. As we begin to paint our pictures though, it is important that we consider the way we use words; it's a fact that difficult to read sims or sims full of grammatical errors can be less powerful simply because readers are sidetracked. Yet, at the same time, some errors are both common and easily fixed. Getting the best out of our writing isn't something that you should have to spend hours working on, but when it comes to these 15 Grammar Goofs (http://goo.gl/6RYVK), learning the difference can make a difference in your writing. From the dreaded you're/your type homonyms, to words whose meanings often are confused with each other, this handy infographic can help you learn the difference while keeping it stuck in your mind for the future. Ultimately, avoiding these errors can actually make your writing that much better, while helping you to create something even more powerful and inspirational than you know.
Posted: Sun, 02 Dec 2012 11:00:05 The deadline is closing quickly! At 11:59PM EST on December 9th, you'll no longer be able to nominate your fellow officers and crew for this year's community awards. Take a minute today and head over to the Nomination Panel (http://goo.gl/XXPrI) to submit the people you've simmed with this year for an award that they deserve. And don't forget your CO and FO as well! If you have questions, don't be afraid to ask. For more information, check out our first post on this years' awards (http://goo.gl/IPvlx)!
Posted: Sat, 01 Dec 2012 19:06:34 Please welcome (http://goo.gl/LUCPl) our newest class of Academy graduates to the UFOP: StarBase 118 fleet: Charles Hawkeye!
Posted: Sat, 01 Dec 2012 11:00:06 The Regent class is one of the newest class of starships that has been added to Star Trek Online. Here is a history with the advancements of this new ship of the line. The Sovereign class's first major engagement was the Battle of Sector 001 in 2373, when the U.S.S. Enterprise-E led the fight against a Borg invasion near earth. The Sovereign soon became the standard for which all assault cruisers were measured. Now this hallmark ship class gets a upgrade and sets a new standard - the Assault Cruiser Refit: Regent Class. The Regent Class comes equipped with a Metreon Gas Canisters Console Mod. Metreon Gas is highly unstable, but when properly stored it can be safely replicated and transported. This Console Mod allows you to vent the gas from your Bussard Collectors and ignite it at will. The resulting explosions can be extremely devastating. This Console Mod can be equipped in any console slot. It may only be equipped on Sovereign variants, including the Assault Cruiser and Assault Cruiser Refit. The Assault Cruiser Refit: Regent Class also comes with a Wide Angle Quantum Torpedo Launcher. This torpedo launcher has been upgraded with a Wide Angle targeting system that allows the torpedo to lock onto targets that would normally be outside of standard firing arcs, providing a 180-degree targeting arc. This launcher can be equipped on any starship, but you may only equip one. The Assault Cruiser Refit configuration includes the Regent, Sovereign, Noble and Majestic classes. Cadet Segolene LeMarnix Science USS Apollo, NCC-71669 http://goo.gl/af2FM ~Newsletter Team Facilitator~ Good judgment comes from experience; experience comes from bad judgment Dec 8, 2012Award nominations period ends tomorrow
Nominations for the 2012 Awards Ceremony close tomorrow (Sunday) at 11:59pm EST. This important community event is a long-standing tradition that helps recognize those people who put great thought and care into making our community a special place to be. Anyone can nominate anyone else for an award -- including other crew-mates, and your First Officer and Captain. The list of awards can be found here: http://wiki.starbase118.net/wiki/index.php?title=List_of_Awards The form to nominate people is found here: http://go.starbase118.net/awards-form Please head to the form and nominate someone today! Dec 10, 2012Join our new ship: the USS Vigilant
The edges of the Federation are fraying. Disarray festers in the Romulan Empire as they fend off a Klingon invasion that threatens to throw the whole quadrant into war. Meanwhile, a movement is growing among the Zakdorn -- so renowned for their strategic minds that they have not in recent memory been challenged in battle -- to defect from the Federation, join the Klingons in battle, and destroy the Romulan Empire forever. If the dissidents succeed, it could force the Federation to rewrite their whole playbook. Could a key Federation member really be this close to defecting? Enter Captain Diego Herrera and his dauntless crew, who arrive on Zakdorn in the midst of this political upheaval to claim their newly-completed ship -- the USS Vigilant -- and her upgraded armament. But before they can leave, they must assist the loyal Zakdorn government in diffusing the momentum of the potential coup, which could soon grow too massive to oppose. This is a mission that will require sharp minds, diplomatic skills, technological expertise, and the tactical knowledge to thwart a Klingon plot even more treacherous than it appears. But will the untested Vigilant be able to protect Herrera and his hand-picked crew as they head into the Zeta Gelis region to solve this puzzle and save the Beta Quadrant from war? CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT BECOMING PART OF THE VIGILANT CREW: http://go.starbase118.net/join-vigilant All members of the fleet are invited to find out more about our new ship and initiate a transfer. Your Captain has already been briefed on this exciting launch, which will help lower crew sizes back to normal levels across the fleet. Click the link below to read more about the new ship and find out how you can start your transfer _without_ losing your promotion status: http://go.starbase118.net/join-vigilant Dec 14, 2012Weekly Newsletter #39
[Editor note, from FltAdml. Wolf: Our thoughts go out to the victims of gun violence in Connecticut today. -- Jordan.]
LINK OF THE WEEK: http://goo.gl/Uq9NB - General Discussion Forum - place for fun and games
(newest at the top, oldest at the bottom) 1. Poll of the Week: Countdown: http://goo.gl/jYCes 2. November Plot Summary: USS Drake: http://goo.gl/kuto0 3. Final Voting for Top Sim of 2012: http://goo.gl/iiQQu 4. November Plot Summary: Duronis II Embassy: http://goo.gl/f7zJ3 5. Join our new ship: the USS Vigilant: http://goo.gl/CXh1Q 6. New Academy Graduates: http://goo.gl/ioB5i 7. Forums Roundup: December 2012: http://goo.gl/Sg8OD 8. Community chat today: http://goo.gl/ecnhZ 9. Socca Pizza: http://goo.gl/yorHI
Posted: Fri, 14 Dec 2012 18:13:29 The year has seemed to have flown by and now there is only a couple short weeks left until the year 2012 is no more ushering in 2013. And as those days and minutes draw ever closer so do the plans for New Years Eve celebrations around the world. No matter what each nation calls them, social gatherings of any sort are the order of the day and are to be remembered for days to come, or maybe better forgotten (in some wilder cases). Be it barbeques with neighbors and family or attending public festivals marked by fireworks, parties seem to be an essential part to this global tradition. This week's poll asks this question: are you planning on attending some sort of party in the evening of December 31 or would you rather have a quiet night in with the folks? While both options are perfectly respectable and we can't all party hard every year, what do you see yourself doing for this year? Feel free to also share stories of past years celebrations after you vote on the forums (http://goo.gl/F2O9t). Remember only share what you feel comfortable with. Have fun with the poll this week.
Posted: Thu, 13 Dec 2012 11:00:05 As the crew of the USS Drake do their best to pick up and carry on after their harrowing encounter with the Klingon raiding party, Starfleet sends new orders. Captain William Rogers is ordered to take the Miranda-class vessel deep into uncharted space on mission to locate and activate the next link in an ancient Ishkarian sensor network. A number of the Drake's crew - particularly chief science officer Commander Karynn Brice - are excited at the prospect of travelling into the unknown. Adding to the excitement is the only fact the crew knows about this area of space: that it is rumoured to be a breeding ground for massive, space-dwelling creatures that the crew has tentatively dubbed "cosmozoans." However, the mission quickly takes a somewhat ominous turn as the Drake comes upon an enormous vessel, battered and abandoned, with what appear to be crude pictograms covering its entire hull. As the Drake's executive officer, Lieutenant Colonel David Whale, and chief diplomatic officer, Commander Valis, lead an away team to explore the derelict vessel, some of the Drake's more psionically-aware personnel begin to feel a presence. A one-hundred-and-seventeen-metre male cosmozoan, sensing an intrusion in the territory of the spawning grounds, has altered its course to intercept the Drake.
Posted: Wed, 12 Dec 2012 11:00:28 The final three groundbreaking sims submitted by fleet members are online awaiting YOUR VOTE! This year, our cutting edge finalists sims are: Danny Wilde & Luna Walker: "The Caper of the Century" - http://goo.gl/cnX6e Kalianna Nicholotti: "The Bane of History, Repeating" - http://goo.gl/4Q6pk Colt Daniels, "Lost in the Woods" - http://goo.gl/CV7e4 Give them a huge congrats for making it to the final vote! All members of the Fleet are invited to go vote for the best sim written in the year 2012: http://goo.gl/EfALk May the best sim win!
Posted: Tue, 11 Dec 2012 11:00:21 The crew of the Duronis II Embassy/USS Thunder, having completed most of the cleanup of the Embassy grounds, have now set their sights on their next task, returning the centuries old Hermes-class scout, the USS Canis Major, to Earth. Once there, the vessel will be turned over to the Starfleet Museum, and the crew will pick up their new vessel. En route to their destination, the crew picked up a distress call from the freighter Galactic Hauler, which had suffered a massive fire in their cargo hold. An away team, led by Lieutenant Commander Alucard Vess, beamed over to the freighter's bridge where they were met by the vessel's very evasive captain, who refused to show his cargo manifest. Meanwhile, a second away team led by Marine Captain Angelo Valentino beams in closer to the damaged areas to fight back the fires. It remains to be seen what caused the fire and what the freighter captain is hiding.
Posted: Mon, 10 Dec 2012 11:30:16 The edges of the Federation are fraying. Disarray festers in the Romulan Empire as they fend off a Klingon invasion that threatens to throw the whole quadrant into war. Meanwhile, a movement is growing among the Zakdorn - so renowned for their strategic minds that they have not in recent memory been challenged in battle - to defect from the Federation, join the Klingons in battle, and destroy the Romulan Empire forever. If the dissidents succeed, it could force the Federation to rewrite their whole playbook. Could a key Federation member really be this close to defecting? Enter Captain Diego Herrera and his dauntless crew, who arrive on Zakdorn in the midst of this political upheaval to claim their newly-completed ship - the USS Vigilant - and her upgraded armament. But before they can leave, they must assist the loyal Zakdorn government in diffusing the momentum of the potential coup, which could soon grow too massive to oppose. This is a mission that will require sharp minds, diplomatic skills, technological expertise, and the tactical knowledge to thwart a Klingon even more treacherous than it appears. But will the untested Vigilant be able to protect Herrera and his hand-picked crew as they head into the Zeta Gelis region to solve this puzzle and save the Beta Quadrant from war? Click here for more information and to sign up. All members of the fleet are invited to find out more about our new ship and initiate a transfer. Your Captain has already been briefed on this exciting launch, which will help lower crew sizes back to normal levels across the fleet. Click the link below to read more about the new ship and find out how you can start your transfer without losing your promotion status: http://go.starbase118.net/join-vigilant
Posted: Sun, 09 Dec 2012 20:15:31 Please welcome (http://goo.gl/tWeXq) our newest class of Academy graduates to the UFOP: StarBase 118 fleet: Ryoma Hoshino, David Rouse and Tobias!
Posted: Sun, 09 Dec 2012 18:00:07 It's that time of the year again! Yep, the holidays are upon us and the end of the year is fast approaching. That means award nominations, reflection on this past year, and looking at what we will be getting into come the new year. There's a lot to pack into this month, but try to take a few minutes to stop by the forums and see what's going on these days: The In Character threads are still going strong. Join in the cross-ship activities for your duty post, guild, or even just have a drink in the 118 lounge! http://www.starbase118.net/forums/index.php?/forum/464-in-character/ Another month-long writing challenge has been set up for December. Head on over to the writing challenge threads and consider your thoughts on the belief systems in the future: http://www.starbase118.net/forums/index.php?/topic/7980-december-2012-writing-challenge/ Any final thoughts or reports for the summer blockbuster this year? Be sure to submit them in the Klingon Invasion thread so that they can be archived forever! http://www.starbase118.net/forums/index.php?/forum/469-klingon-invasion/ Don't forget to stop by and say hello our newer members! The welcome thread is a great way to introduce yourself and show what a great community the Starbase 118 Fleet really is: http://www.starbase118.net/forums/index.php?/topic/6645-welcome-thread/ And as always, there are lots of teams and taskforces that could use your help! Even if you only have a few minutes to give, there is certainly something on the list that you can do! http://www.starbase118.net/forums/index.php?/forum-105/announcement-29-fleet-activites-that-need-you/ No matter what time of year it is, there is always something to do on the forums. Come join us and take part in the fun today!
Posted: Sun, 09 Dec 2012 08:31:25 Don't forget to join us for our monthly community chat today, Sunday the 9th. This is our last chat of the year, and the last one before the fleet-wide 2012 Awards Ceremony! Join us to get to know your fellow fleet-mates, talk about the upcoming ceremony, and discuss plans for next year. The chat starts at 10am Pacific / 1pm Eastern / 5pm GMT / 4am Monday UTC+11. Always check your time zone for accuracy/DST if applicable! (Calibrate against the Eastern time zone - we know that one's correct.) Chat is always open on the site: http://www.starbase118.net/chat/ If you have problems connecting, use the instructions listed below the chat box.
Posted: Sat, 08 Dec 2012 11:00:01
It serves four, and can be easily doubled or tripled. You won't have leftovers. 2.5 cups of chickpea (garbanzo bean) flour ( This can be bought or you can make your own. To grind your own, get some split garbanzo beans from a local ethnic store or ethnic section in the grocery store. Use the dry blade with your blender, VitaMix, or food processor. Use small amounts of the split beans, pulsing until fine like flour. ) 2.5 cups water 1/8 teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper (cayenne works well, but can omit if you wish) 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder 1/8 teaspoon of your herbs of choice. any mixture of rosemary, thyme, parsley, basil, oregano, or paprika. freshly ground black pepper, to taste fresh vegetables, or whatever toppings you prefer shredded or sliced cheeses (your favorites, but I am partial to smoked provolone or gouda) olive or grapeseed oil ( for the pan) In a large bowl, add all the dry items together and whisk til mixed. Slowly add the 2.5 cups water to the ddry items while whisking gently until well mixed and no lumps remain. Set aside and let the mixture 'rest' for thirty minutes. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 450�F. Cut up the vegetables, and have the goodies ready to put on the pizza. When the oven is close to temperature, put a tablespoon or two of olive oil onto two pizza pans and place them into the oven to heat. Keep an eye out to make sure the oil doesn't smoke. Pull pans out after a few minutes and pour equal measures of batter into each pan. Gently stir in the rest of the oil and put into the oven for 15-20 minutes until the edges are a little brown and the center is cracked and firm. Pull out and apply your favorite sauce, cheese, vegetables, and toppings. Back in the oven it goes for another 10-15 minutes. This recipe serves four people or one snack for a sehlat. Make yours one or he won't leave yours alone, and when a 300+ kilogram creature wants something, he gets it. If you want reference pictures of what this delight looks like, go here.(http://goo.gl/1IyoZ)
~Newsletter Team Facilitator~ Good judgment comes from experience; experience comes from bad judgment. Dec 15, 2012Top Sims Contest voting ends soon
Hi everyone, Just wanted to remind you -- while it's a weekend and hopefully everyone has more time on their hands! -- that voting for the Top Sims Contest final round ends on December 26th. There are only three sims to read, and the top sim among those three will be considered the "Top Sim of 2012"! Head to the forums now to read the sims and vote on your favorite: http://www.starbase118.net/forums/index.php?/topic/7990-vote-for-the-top-sim-of-2012/ Also, the December Writing Challenge ends on December 26th. This month's theme asks you to consider the place of belief systems in Star Trek's future. Sure, we've seen the Bajorans and their Prophets, the Klingons' Sto-Vo-Kor, and the Vortas' belief in the Founders' godhood, but what else is out there? More information in the Writing Challenge forum: starbase118.net/forums/index.php?/topic/7980-december-2012-writing-challenge/ To keep up with other news and events around the fleet, just head to our Community News in the Members area of the website -- it's updated daily with posts about what's happening around the fleet: http://www.starbase118.net/members Dec 21, 2012Weekly Newsletter #39
Happy Friday, Fleetmates!
Poll of the Week: Bringing a Little Bit of Culture Posted: Fri, 21 Dec 2012 14:07:43 With Christmas looming, I thought that I would use that as inspiration and draw our attention to an "In Character" poll this week. Just with 21st century cultures all across the planet Earth, festivals and celebrations are often the hallmark of the alien worlds that we explore. Festivals and national celebrations are more than just an excuse to party hard and enjoy some time off, they are a very real reflection of the people's culture and identity as a species. So whether you are participating in reenactments of famous Klingon battles or burning Renewal scrolls at the Bajoran Gratitude Festival there is untold potential for both cultural and character building experiences. With that in mind, this week's poll asks the following: Have you simmed your character's at festivals before? Whether the festival or celebration was from your character's own heritage tell us about your experiences in such events. Who knows it may spark ideas for you to follow up in the future. Be sure to visit the forums (http://goo.gl/tZ5kv) to vote and that it is your comments that really drive these polls some make sure you share your thoughts, because that's where the fun really begins. Most importantly, have fun everyone.
Posted: Thu, 20 Dec 2012 11:00:54 With Captain Andrus Jaxx recovered from his coma, and back in command, the USS Apollo prepares to arrive in the Thracian system to confront the invading Klingon vessels. The Klingons, under the direction of Commander Krax and General Ma'Tag, claim that the Thracian territory rightfully belongs to the Klingon Empire, and that they are reclaiming it. What the small Federation fleet, including the Apollo, Achilles, and Victory, does not yet know is that Ma'Tag, Krax and any soldiers that follow them have been deemed traitors by the Empire and are to be killed on sight. The combined efforts of Lieutenant Viktor Lanius and Lieutenant Commander Savannah Taylor of the Victory soon reveal the true nature of the plot: Krax and Ma'Tag's efforts to restore the honour stripped from them by the High Council. Now the small fleet is locked in a standoff against an unknown number of Klingon ships. Forces from the Empire are on the way to confront the traitors, but the Federation fleet is left with a large unknown; will they be able to last until the Klingon fleet arrives? Follow the crew on the USS Apollo Yahoo Group (http://goo.gl/9GgXC)!
Posted: Wed, 19 Dec 2012 11:00:59 November was a busy month for the Publicity Team. Now that winter is upon us, there have been more and more returning members to the fleet and more interactions outside of the fleet. The membership has been building with more internal activities, including the caption contest on the forums and the introduction of the Star Trek Stories featured site, where the writers of the fleet can share their own personal stories. This month was the start of a new weekly story that I started on the Star Trek Stories. For those that would like to write their own featured story or column, contact Captain Nicholotti. I have personally talked with new members that have told me that they found us by Google search. This demonstrates that the team, and the fleet as whole, is succeeding in their marketing efforts. We are constantly growing, building a very strong online presence, and the Publicity Team is leading the way forward. Now, for this month, I'd like to recognize some excellent members of the TEam. The top point earner for the month again is Lt. Jg T'Mhin Ah'mygahn. Captain Diego Herrera comes in a close second place. The Publicity Team is always looking for members. If you have any questions or you would like to join the team, please contact me, Lt. Commander Alexander Matthews.
Posted: Tue, 18 Dec 2012 11:00:52 As the Victory entered the desired coordinates, joined by the Achilles and the Apollo, the culmination of the Klingon plot was revealed. The captain, knowing the Klingons were monitoring the signals, literally called them out. The message that was immediately replied to by the Klingon commander, who thanked the Apollo and Achilles for bringing the Victory "to justice," along with the "war criminal" known as Captain Nicholotti. Tensions rose as the Klingons, acting contrary to their normal nature, continued to taunt and talk, but not fight. Instead, they held back, cloaked, as the Thracian Alliance formally allied with the Federation. Unbeknownst to the Federation ships or Captains, this was the point Klingon Commander Krax had waited for. The first trap was a salute for fallen comrades, that just happened to look like 15 torpedoes being fired at the ships. Fingers began pulling the trigger to fire back, before realizing the trick. Feeling that this was the ploy, Captain Jaxx ordered the Klingons out of the area, something that, surprisingly, Commander Krax agreed to. His plan manifested in a seemingly suicidal maneuver, slowing moving between the allied ships, and calling back the torpedoes.onto his own ship! Just as the first torpedoes hit, the warship fled into warp, causing a warp bubble rupture that was magnified by the multiple torpedoes. Rocked by the resulting backlash, but glad that the situation had been resolved, the Victory limped home to a welcome home party. Follow the crew on the Starbase 118 Ops Yahoo Group (http://goo.gl/2MFD6)!
Posted: Tue, 18 Dec 2012 00:20:39 Please welcome (http://goo.gl/2zdKl) our newest class of Academy graduates to the UFOP: StarBase 118 fleet: Dueld taJoot!
Posted: Mon, 17 Dec 2012 11:00:28 Congratulations to these two COs, whose "Empty Skies Over Tokyo" (http://goo.gl/xE81F) and "Guts and Glory!" (http://goo.gl/eNVnU) (respectively) tied for first place in the November Writing Challenge. Double congratulations to Marissa, the writer behind Nicholotti, who also came in second place in Ongoing Worlds's writing contest that, like November's Writing Challenge, centered on the exploration of a character's ancestors. If you haven't already, take a look at December's Writing Challenge (http://goo.gl/QsuQd), which asks about the spiritual side of characters in the Trek universe. What sort of story can you write based upon this prompt? I look forward to seeing, but do it quickly: This Challenge ends on December 26th!
Posted: Sun, 16 Dec 2012 11:00:12 You've already seen the name join other prestigious names of the ships that make up the Starbase 118 Fleet, but what do you really know about the newest ship on the block - the USS Vigilant? We're here to shed some light on the latest addition, and ninth playable ship in the Fleet. Read on to learn what makes the Vigilant special and what those aboard will be looking forward to in the coming months. The USS Vigilant is an upgraded Intrepid-Class ship designed with the harrowing missions they may face in mind. Because of an upgraded weapons package, including five pulse-fire quantum torpedo tubes, Captain Diego Herrera and his crew will be taking on a ship fully capable of really exploring the untouched and unexplored Zeta Gelis region of space. Close to the Klingons, the Romulans, and the frontier, the Vigilant will serve to reinforce the Starfleet presence that stands like a beacon in a very dark and tumultuous region. With known, but closed off and mysterious races close by, as well as the touchy nature of Romulan/Klingon relations as they are currently, the ship and her crew may be in for all kinds of trouble. The crew, which hails from various other ships in the Fleet, will come together this weekend to celebrate the official IC launch of the ship. With an already active forum, well formatted wiki page, and seasoned command staff, the launch, both IC and OOC will be not only spectacular to watch, but smooth at the same time. To that end, we wish Captain Herrera and his crew the best as they begin this new journey! To learn more about the Vigilant, check out its wiki page (http://goo.gl/pdzt5) or visit the forums (http://goo.gl/bgvgs) and say hello!
Posted: Sun, 16 Dec 2012 01:02:48 Please welcome (http://goo.gl/c74sU) our newest class of Academy graduates to the UFOP: StarBase 118 fleet: Elopii Azul, Debra Cross, James Jonathan Fox, and Brayden Jorey!
Posted: Sat, 15 Dec 2012 11:00:34 The Captains Council of UFoP: StarBase 118 is pleased to announce the promotion of Lieutenant Commander Arden Cain to the Rank of commander. Commander Cain serves aboard the USS Mercury as executive officer to the ship and Captain Aron Kells; as the Mercury continues to explore beyond the Federation's sphere of influence, there's no doubt that a qualified commander will have much to do. Commander Cain began his service aboard the Constitution-B as an engineer; he continued in the engineering department of the Ronin before becoming that ship's chief science officer in late 2388. He worked his way through the ranks after the Ronin crew transferred to the Mercury, and he served as first officer to three Mercury COs in rapid succession: Captain Tallis for a few weeks in April, Commander Unum for a few weeks in April and May, and finally Captain Kells since May, under whom Commander Cain completed his command practical. Commander Cain handled well this revolving door, even serving as acting CO of the Mercury after Commander Unum's departure, and so he is more than ready for the burden of his elevated rank. Be sure to offer Commander Cain your congratulations on the forum (http://goo.gl/htnpC), and we wish him the best of luck as he moves forward with his command career!
Posted: Sat, 15 Dec 2012 00:13:05 Come check out the special Q&A session with the commanding officer and first officer of the USS Vigliant. The Podcast Team sat down in a live interview with Captain Diego Herrera and Lt. Commander Leo Handely-Page. Check out the interview on YouTube (http://goo.gl/SLvhe), or head here (http://goo.gl/BmDBy) to download it.
~Newsletter Team Facilitator~ Good judgment comes from experience; experience comes from bad judgment. Dec 24, 2012Last chance to vote for Top Sim of 2012
There are just three sims to read for this final round of the contest: http://www.starbase118.net/forums/index.php?/topic/7990-vote-for-the-top-sim-of-2012/ Only 41 members (about 30%) of the fleet has voted in this final round of the contest to crown the Top Sim of 2012. That means it's anyone's title at this point -- all three entries are in play if enough people vote before the deadline. For comparison, we had 80%+ participation in the fleet survey earlier in 2012. VOTING FOR THE TOP SIMS CONTEST CLOSES AT 23:59 PACIFIC TIME, ON WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 26. Click the link below to read the three sims and vote note: http://www.starbase118.net/forums/index.php?/topic/7990-vote-for-the-top-sim-of-2012/ If you have problems logging in to the forums, or need any assistance, please email me directly at t.wolf@... -- I will respond promptly with any assistance I can provide. Thank you for being a part of this special tradition to recognize our best simmers. Dec 25, 2012This thing we have
"Ohana." In Hawaiian that words means "family." You may remember it as a central concept of Walt Disney's movie "Lilo & Stitch," about a destructive, little blue alien who was adopted by an Earth family. But that word means more than just blood relatives. It includes extended, adopted, and intended family. While we're not a bunch of cute and fluffy little blue creatures from another planet, running around blowing things up -- well, okay, maybe we blow a lot of things up! -- we still have a togetherness that transcends the normal day-to-day interactions of people passing, immersed in their own worlds. There's a thread that bind us together, giving us all something in common. Within this corner of the virtual world, we have something of a sanctuary, where we all exist as we are. The vision Gene Roddenberry created inspires us to come together without having to worry about judgments, or current events happening in our real lives. And hopefully, everyone here knows that they are surrounded by friends -- an extended family forged through the trials of the characters we create and the science fiction we write. The world often throws curve-balls at us, which can make it challenging to stay positive or keep our heads up. But it's in those moments, especially during the holiday season, where gathering and being together is part of the human experience, that this adoptive family can give us hope and warmth. Extended, unplanned, and intentional. Sometimes even unconventional. While we may be geographically divided, we share a common love. In that, and in the spirit of friendship we so often see in Trek, we wanted to take a moment here and now to remind everyone in our fleet that we are one unit. Though we are separate, we are together. We are friends, and when the world seems dark, remember that we are also a family. And in that family, no one gets left behind, or forgotten. This holiday season, we want to hold to the values of a positive and rewarding message, but we also know that sometimes, life happens, and there are things in life that leave us feeling alone, and in the dark, and helpless. Sometimes we wonder why people we write with care about what happens in our daily lives, when all this is, in the end, is a game. But it's not just a game. It's a community of people who love to write. That is always what StarBase 118 has been about, since the beginning. We are a community of people who love to write and make new friends, and when times are tough in RL, we are there for each other. While sometimes we might not see eye-to-eye, we have to remember to care about each other. That is what makes the difference between this group and the many others out there. Every person here matters, through both good times and bad. In this holiday season, the staff of StarBase 118 wants to wish everyone a wonderful holiday season, and extend a supporting hand for those who are struggling. To all of our members: you are appreciated as writers, as friends, and as extended family. Ohana.
(Written by David Cody, edited by Capt. Nicholotti and FltAdml. Wolf.) Dec 28, 2012Weekly Newsletter #41
With this Newsletter we're closing a year, hope you liked it and found it useful. New Year is the time to unfold new horizons, to realize new dreams, to rediscover the strength and faith within you and gear up for new challenges. Happy The New Year 2390. fleetmates.
(newest at the top, oldest at the bottom) 1. Poll of the Week: Resolution Mania: http://goo.gl/DiTQc 2. November Plot Summary: USS Tiger-A: http://goo.gl/DUH9B 3. Voyager 1 Discovers a New Highway: http://goo.gl/PDp9b 4. This thing we have: http://goo.gl/iIgJS 5. November Plot Summary: USS Mercury: http://goo.gl/NhlLD 6. Podcast 2389-5 Released!: http://goo.gl/odc1K 7. Vote for the Top Sim of the Year Today: http://goo.gl/pnSaV 8. December 2012's Featured Bio is Marine Captain Michael Angelo Valentino of the Duronis II Embassy: http://goo.gl/dqYvo 9. New Academy Graduates: http://goo.gl/u2ZwU 10. One-on-One With Captain Diego Herrera: http://goo.gl/DkxAW 11. Character Creation: Avoiding Mary Sue: http://goo.gl/lgr4I
Posted: Fri, 28 Dec 2012 19:53:21 Well this is the last poll of 2012 and I am sure that you can all agree that it has been a good year. Besides New Year's eve parties, another decision that most people make in the final few days of a year is whether or not to make a New Year's resolution. And of course, more importantly, what that resolution will be if one is to be made. Now, even if you can decide on a resolution, it can often be easier said then done when it comes to achieving that resolution. Whether it is agreeing to stop smoking or lose weight, or improve anything from skills to your job thousands if not millions of people will make such pledges. Unfortunately agreeing to change something in your lifestyle for the better for an entire year can be tricky but I have a feeling that the people in our community will have the will power to endure. So this week's poll asks, if it weren't obvious by now, do you have a New Year's resolution in mind? If you do lets go a step further and share what it will be. Perhaps you would even like to share stories of previous years and how those resolutions turned out (hopefully for the better). Remember to leave a comment after you vote on the forums (http://goo.gl/6U94M) because it is the discussion that makes these polls fun. I look forward to seeing you all back for more polls in 2013. Happy New Year's everyone.
Posted: Thu, 27 Dec 2012 11:00:41 The crew of the USS Tiger-A continued their voyage toward the planet Bilire IV and the remains of the Romulan Colony. Upon arrival, the Tiger discovered a cloaked Klingon Vor'cha-class ship in orbit. Preparations for an away team was made as news of a disease spreading through the colony was revealed. Captain Riley and a team beamed down along with Ambassador Devar to meet with the Romulan leaders. Upon arrival, the crew was met with hostile feelings due to many Romulans who felt they were abandoned by the Federation during their relocation process months earlier. Commander Clack and a second away team beamed down hours later after a massive hurricane was discovered a few hours off the coast near the location of the Romulan Townhall. A massive effort is under way to evacuate everyone to higher ground. Follow the crew on the USS Tiger-A Yahoo Group (http://goo.gl/5kko3)!
Posted: Wed, 26 Dec 2012 11:00:03 Originally launched from Earth with its twin counterpart, Voyager 2, Voyager 1 has achieved a landmark status by being the most distant man-made spacecraft still in operation since leaving Earth in 1977 (at present, 11 billion miles from the Sun). It was from Voyager 1 that we received the first photographs of Jupiter, the ringed planet Saturn, and many of their respective moons. On its way out of the Sol System, while heading for the heliopause (the border where solar wind from our sun ends and the interstellar region of space starts), Voyager 1 dropped its latest bombshell: an unexpected "magnetic highway" at the edge of our solar system. Stamatios Krimigis and Edward Stone, a former Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) Director, describe this highway district as a region which links the heliosphere (a bubble that surrounds the solar system) with the expanse of interstellar space beyond it, created by a magnetic field that originates with the southern hemisphere of the Sun that apparently allows particles from within the heliosphere to escape into interstellar space and allows particles from this region of space to pour into the Sol System. The Voyager spacecraft (1 and 2) are expected to continue sending information back to Earth up through 2020 when their plutonium-based fuel will begin to power down, and are expected to cease operation all together in 2025.
Posted: Tue, 25 Dec 2012 17:34:59 "Ohana." In Hawaiian that words means "family." You may remember it as a central concept of Walt Disney's movie "Lilo & Stitch," about a destructive, little blue alien who was adopted by an Earth family. But that word means more than just blood relatives. It includes extended, adopted, and intended family. While we're not a bunch of cute and fluffy little blue creatures from another planet, running around blowing things up - well, okay, maybe we blow a lot of things up! - we still have a togetherness that transcends the normal day-to-day interactions of people passing, immersed in their own worlds. There's a thread that bind us together, giving us all something in common. Within this corner of the virtual world, we have something of a sanctuary, where we all exist as we are. The vision Gene Roddenberry created inspires us to come together without having to worry about judgments, or current events happening in our real lives. And hopefully, everyone here knows that they are surrounded by friends - an extended family forged through the trials of the characters we create and the science fiction we write. The world often throws curve-balls at us, which can make it challenging to stay positive or keep our heads up. But it's in those moments, especially during the holiday season, where gathering and being together is part of the human experience, that this adoptive family can give us hope and warmth. Extended, unplanned, and intentional. Sometimes even unconventional. While we may be geographically divided, we share a common love. In that, and in the spirit of friendship we so often see in Trek, we wanted to take a moment here and now to remind everyone in our fleet that we are one unit. Though we are separate, we are together. We are friends, and when the world seems dark, remember that we are also a family. And in that family, no one gets left behind, or forgotten. This holiday season, we want to hold to the values of a positive and rewarding message, but we also know that sometimes, life happens, and there are things in life that leave us feeling alone, and in the dark, and helpless. Sometimes we wonder why people we write with care about what happens in our daily lives, when all this is, in the end, is a game. But it's not just a game. It's a community of people who love to write. That is always what StarBase 118 has been about, since the beginning. We are a community of people who love to write and make new friends, and when times are tough in RL, we are there for each other. While sometimes we might not see eye-to-eye, we have to remember to care about each other. That is what makes the difference between this group and the many others out there. Every person here matters, through both good times and bad. In this holiday season, the staff of StarBase 118 wants to wish everyone a wonderful holiday season, and extend a supporting hand for those who are struggling. To all of our members: you are appreciated as writers, as friends, and as extended family. Ohana. Sincerely, The Staff of UFOP: StarBase 118 (Written by David Cody, edited by Capt. Nicholotti and FltAdml. Wolf.)
Posted: Tue, 25 Dec 2012 11:00:53 Once the crew of the Mercury determined where the captives had gone, acting CO Arden Cain ordered an away team down to the planet's interior to rescue them. Things did not go quite as planned: The captives, who had managed to escape with the help of Captain Reynolds, found themselves under psychic attack; and the away team, though they landed all right, soon became embroiled in a firefight with some (very real) Klingons. However, the team managed to recover the captives, along with a young, unknown woman rescued by Lt. Isaac Bale. Once its company was returned, the Mercury set course for Starbase 118 at warp one, the best it could manage after the sabotage and its battle with a Klingon bird of prey. She returned to 118 without further outside incident. However, Lt. Cmdr. Wulfantine was demoted to lieutenant by Captain Kells following his questionable actions in leading the away team into a firefight. Dr. Velana, Lt. Bale, and Captain Reynolds continue their investigation into the woman and learn that she is a powerful psychic. Dr. Velana begins to undergo pon farr. At month's end, the Mercury had reached 118 and the crew was released on shore leave. Follow the crew on the USS Mercury Yahoo Group (http://goo.gl/OVx0n)!
Posted: Mon, 24 Dec 2012 20:18:32 The new episode has been released! For those of you that want would like to listen online, check out our release on the StarBase 118 YouTube channel! (http://goo.gl/i8afZ)Whilst we recognize that some members would love to listen to the podcast on the go, we have uploaded it to Archive.org. (http://goo.gl/S6Oze) You can download it from the menu on the left hand side! Keep your ears open for our next release due in January! Feel free to subscribe to our YouTube channel for automatic updates. To join the Podcast Team, visit the team's Yahoo Group (http://goo.gl/gtN7n) and apply for membership!
Posted: Mon, 24 Dec 2012 17:00:34 Throughout the year this year, the best sims, as submitted by you, have gone through various judging rounds and have been voted on. Now, at the end of the year, we are down to the top three sims from the entire fleet. Now, we ask you one more time to head over to the Top Sims contest thread to put in your final vote. With only three sims to read over and judge, the task is simple, and you get the added bonus of being able to walk away having read the communities chosen 'best of the best'. Each of the sims are out of this world, and they only take a few minutes to read. This time of year and this event only happens once every twelve months! Be a part of Starbase 118 history and help choose the very best Top Sim for the year of 2012 by casting your vote here today!
Posted: Mon, 24 Dec 2012 11:00:59 Marine Captain Michael Angelo Valentino of the Duronis II Embassy trained with the elite Vulcan security ministry known as the V'Shar at the young age of 16. There he excelled thanks to both his eidetic memory and athletic prowess, and he honed both his skills in weaponry and martial arts as well as his tactical cunning. Yet while the Vulcans are renowned for their reserved passion, Valentino hasn't let their philosophy of emotional suppression extend to his romantic aspirations. This charming playboy from Sicily has attained a list of conquests nearly as long as his list of honors and achievements. Still, he's not a cold heartbreaker, and he holds a strong sense of duty and doing what's right. at least what he thinks is right! Marine Captain Valentino's bio (http://goo.gl/aFG8C) will be displayed on the wiki's front page for the month of December. As always, you can find out more about the contest at its wiki page (http://goo.gl/4V5yy) or in its forum (http://goo.gl/od134). Be sure to drop by and submit your own nominations for the next round!
Posted: Sun, 23 Dec 2012 19:02:33 Please welcome (http://goo.gl/TpMZJ) our newest class of Academy graduates to the UFOP: StarBase 118 fleet: Solara Androsia, Alahndra Nevarass, Tobias Malik, Wanda DyAmone, and Zackarias Dixon!
Posted: Sun, 23 Dec 2012 11:00:53
After resolving a major plot arc, Tallis has reached a point in his career where his reasons for joining Starfleet in the first place have been fulfilled and he is turning his attentions to other matters, such as family. Diego, on the other hand, is definitely the type of character who I could see in a Starfleet uniform until retirement age. Those members of the fleet who've had a chance to write with him (he was my secondary for two years, and served on the Eagle, the Challenger-A and at the Duronis II Embassy) will know that he's a lot more levelheaded and laid back than Tallis. He majored in both medicine and counselling at the Academy, has served in both positions in the fleet, and while one could argue he's not seen the front lines of combat quite as often as Tallis has, he's been in his fair share of scrapes and encountered some very interesting situations! With this chance to switch to command red, I'm very much looking forward to adding a new aspect to his character, and as I writer I certainly think that he has the right skill set to take on the responsibility of captaincy.
A couple of reasons. The first is that I wanted something new - a brand new start for a brand new captain, because that opens doors in terms of character development and really giving a launch a feel of a fresh new start. The other reason was that I really like the idea of being there right from the very start of a ship's first voyages into the unknown. Some of the other members of our newly assembled crew have expressed the same thing, so I'm glad that struck a chord.
Its location is a major factor. The Zeta Gelis cluster is right out on a limb and quite isolated from the rest of Federation territory, so we're really on the frontier. That means it's more difficult for Starfleet to just send out a fleet to fix up anything that happens out there! We're also close to Romulan space (and potentially therefore Klingon attack squadrons), Zalkonian space, the Zakdorn homeworld and also unexplored territory, so that means anything goes - we could run an action-based mission followed by exploration, one end of the spectrum to the other! I also really like the idea of having a starship that can land. I've heard that gets me round the 'captains shouldn't join away teams' stipulation!!
It couldn't have helped us more! I have to say that all of the COs who have been involved in the transfer process have been amazingly helpful. It's been great to receive so many well wishes, detailed transfer information for all of our officers so that they don't lose any promotion progress and just general offers of help. The way that the ship was promoted has been fantastic as well - it was great that potential transferees had a chance to read about the ship on the wiki, the forums and the main SB118 site so that they could have as much information as possible about the ship before they decided whether or not to fill in the form. I have to say a big thankyou to Fleet Admiral Wolf as well, as the organisation of the launch was flawless. The MVP in my eyes was the 'Join Vigilant' page on the SB118 main site. It was so persuasive and exciting that when I read it I wanted to fill out the transfer form myself, even though I knew I was already on the crew!
Unfortunately we did. I really appreciate the response from the fleet and I'd like to reassure anyone who did transfer but didn't find a spot on the crew that we tried to be as fair as possible when creating the Vigilant roster. Obviously we had to create a balanced roster with a mixture of ranks from Ensign to Lieutenant Commander, as well as a workable mix of duty posts and a balance of origin ships. It was no easy thing to do!
250 is an aspirational target but I think it's doable. All full time SIMmers in the fleet are expected to post 3 times per week at minimum, and if the current level of enthusiasm continues then I don't think we'll have a problem meeting that. Obviously it's very close to the holidays and already the 13th of the month, so we might not make 250 in December! When I commanded the Mercury for her launch in December 2011 we saw a steady climb from 175 SIMs up to a peak of 298 in March of 2012, and I'm confident that we can do something similar with the Vigilant. I'm very pleased with the fantastic crew we have and I certainly believe that they have plenty in the tank!
Yes. In the short term, I'm looking to get the crew gelled into a coherent unit. Looking at how enthusiastic everyone is about the start of our first mission (which will happen on Saturday, 238912.15) I think we're well on the way to that. Everyone is currently in the process of thinking about how they will arrive on the planet, and I know there are some people who have transferred from the same crew writing joint posts, which I think is a great way for everyone to introduce their characters to the group at large. In the long term, I'm looking for us to become a vibrant ship that maintains high standards of writing! I really want us to make a mark on the Zeta Gelis region and the fleet as a whole! The News Team would like to thank Captain Herrera for taking the time to speak with us, and we wish him and the entire crew of the Vigilant good luck and safe travels as she ventures out into the galaxy.
Posted: Sat, 22 Dec 2012 11:00:41 So, you need a character - and you've heard that you want to avoid creating a "Mary Sue." But what is a Mary Sue character? She can be wish fulfillment on the part of the author, presenting him- or herself as an idealized individual without noticeable flaws. Then, too, there are Mary Sues with enormous flaws or an outrageously disastrous past that moves the character from tragic to saccharine. Mary Sues are often highly unrealistic in experiences, abilities, and their interactions with other "normal" characters around them; many are far too young to have amassed the experience for their job, like a 15-year-old bridge officer or a Jedi Master. Mary Sues are often identifiable, too, by their unusual looks: unnatural hair or eye color described in more detail than what the story needs, almost as if those attributes were characters themselves. Mary Sue isn't always a female; as a male, the character is often known as Gary Stu. Gary Stus are similar to their female counterparts, but will often protest that he has too many girls chasing him around. The name Mary Sue originated in 1973 with a Star Trek fan fiction whose central character was named Mary Sue. The original Mary Sue was smart, sexy, and was a bridge officer at the tender age of fifteen; Kirk, McCoy, and Spock were infatuated with the character in an impossibly short time. The most notable Mary Sue/Gary Stu to Star Trek fans is Wesley Crusher, named for and designed by Gene Wesley Roddenberry. But now that you know what a Mary Sue is, how do you avoid it? There are a few tips that you can follow to help avoid the pitfalls of a Mary Sue. And even if your character's not in danger of Mary-Sue-dom, following some of these tips can make your character even better. The first and most important step to avoid a Mary Sue is to give your character at least one flaw. It doesn't have to be a terrible flaw, but it should be something with which the character can struggle. Is the character a brilliant scientist who is agoraphobic? Or perhaps she's a great security officer, but couldn't tell a plasma manifold from a waffle iron. Or maybe he's afraid of insects and so suffers panic attacks during a mission with an insectoid race. Everyone has a flaw, and your character should be the same, as exploring or even overcoming that flaw can be just as satisfying to write as saving the ship. Every problem your character faces will be as part of a crew and will have multiple solutions, and everyone working on a problem has somethng to contribute. When your characters works as part of a team, you - the writer - provide a better experiance for everyone. While it can be tempting to be the solution to every problem, it takes the fun away from everyone around you, and no one wants to work with the person who knows everything. Compelling, believable characters must be able to evolve and to change with their experiences. Throughout their career, your character will go through events and experiences. These experiences - including overcoming character flaws and discovering new flaws to overcome - can make him or her a better person. Good characters, the ones that will last for many years, can't be static. A Mary Sue never fails. Whether it's due to luck or skill, a Mary Sue will always come out on top. But if nothing's risked, then nothing's gained; no risk means no reward. One of the best learning experiences a character can experience is failure. Where does your character go afterwards? Don't be afraid to let your character fail at something. You might be surprised to see what he or she learns! Afraid your character is a Mary Sue? Take this simple litmus test (http://goo.gl/VaYsy) and find out!
~Newsletter Team Facilitator~ Good judgment comes from experience; experience comes from bad judgment. Dec 31, 2012Awards Ceremony, 2012
Friends, Our yearly award ceremony for Duty Post, Special, and Staff awards has been completed, and it includes the awards for Member Service Length and the name of the winner of the 2012 The Top Sims Contest. Check out the link below to read it today -- your name could be anywhere on the list: http://wiki.starbase118.net/wiki/index.php?title=Awards_Ceremony,_2012 We'll be releasing the entire list of award recipients (which includes the compiled General Awards) on the website next week. |
