Issue #39 Issue
Date: 237708.15
Editor: RAdml Ciara Randor
Editorial
Communique
by Rear Admiral Ciara Randor
Well, believe it or not, I don't have any topics that are banging
at the gates to be said. No real complaints to be voiced or pet peeves
to be growled about. Which could, I suppose, be taken as a GOOD thing,
for most of you. Sort of. I suppose there ARE things I could complain
about. Yahoo's takover of everything, including any webring I'm at,
and creating a heck of a lot of work for webmasters and ringmasters
alike, not to mention forcing people into compliance with the 'standard'
they feel they have a right to set. I could rant about the idiocy
of people who steal other people's creations and try to claim the
rewards themselves. But unfortunately ... or rather VERY fortunately
...none of that has to do with UFOP or our ships. For which, I suppose
we can be thankful.
I guess the one thing I could glare at you all for, again, is the
rather disgusting lack of submissions. Surely some of you have ideas
of things that could be included in this newsletter? You young Ensigns
who could have ideas hiding up your sleeves that would make good stories?
C'Mon, people, surely you don't expect me and your COs to do EVERYTHING
in this game. Do you? No! Don't answer that. I don't want to hear
a yes, or I might shed someone's blood. And it won't be mine. You
could think of it this way. If you don't take the time to send us
your ideas, then you can't complain that there is little in the Reporter
to interest you. Good things take effort. If you don't make the effort,
then you deserve whatever you get. Or don't get.
And yes, I know that last paragraph was a bit harsh, but this is
supposed to be a 'rant' about something, so what did you expect? Rants
are supposed to get a little heated from time to time. Besides, it
was fun to say. I generally say that about people who can vote and
don't, then complain about the government they got. (And in case you're
wondering, I'm one of those few who CAN'T vote, even if I did want
to.) So you see what I mean. After all this, I still really have nothing
to do but see what comes to mind as I type...most of which has absolutely
NO bearing on anything to do with UFOP no matter how you stretch it.
So...go away and read the rest of this newsletter. Which DOES pertain
to the group. Mostly. Well, some of it, anyway. Enjoy.
Fleet Report
by Rear Admiral Shaun Marlin
July has been a relatively quiet month for the UFOP Fleet really.
The dust has settled on the huge joint sim and the Captains Council
has been working on a realistic method for handling the Court Martial
trials of Captain Torrack Demma (Nemesis), Commander Servik (formerly
Starbase 118) and Lieutenant Commanders Lee (Kodiak) and Khanar (Magellan)
who all stand accused of charges arising from the joint sim.
Training is still working overtime to handle the furious application
rate of recent weeks and Captain Y'Shirad and her team have performed
admirably not to have gone insane through the increased pressure this
has put on them! I would like to thank her and her team, on behalf
of the UEC, for all the hard work they have put in recent months to
handle the increased influx of new staff. As some of you may have
noticed we have now changed our online application in an effort to
cut down the time wasted by dealing with false applications or 'non-starters'.
I am also really pleased that we have the Reporter being published
on a regular basis again. I am sure you will all join me in thanking
Randor for doing a fantastic job with our newsletter and I would also
encourage you to use the newsletter: submit articles, ask your captain
about writing your ship's summary etc.
Finally, work is underway on creating a solid foundation so that our
IRC SIMming branch may be launched at last! The work is still in its
early stages but watch this space; hopefully within a few months we
will be launching the branch!
In closing, as always, I would wish you and your crewmates safe journeys.
Promotions
| Old Rank |
Name |
New Rank |
Ship |
| Lieutenant j.g. |
Andar |
Lieutenant |
Kodiak |
| Lieutenant j.g. |
T’lara |
Lieutenant |
Kodiak |
Training Report
from Captain Yshirad
Greetings everyone from the UFOP Training Academy.
Life has been busy around here with the influx of applications thatnks
to our new link with YAHOO. We're trying out best to get things
done.
I'd like to say a big thanks to:
Marlin
Lysander
Laang
Macgregor
Kelly
Servik
Thanks folks for the much needed help.
I'll be away for much of aug and sept(cause I'm moving), so I'll
be leaving several people to run training. Aquiss-Wong will be here
for sept. keeping the place running for me, as well as my trusty XO,
Commander Servik.
Just remeber to keep me informed of spaces you have open on your
ships.
Summaries
USS Hammond
Captain Allen O'Malley
Hammond Site
(author Shazerah)
Following the 'incident' at AB45, the Hammond was ordered make a
delivery of much needed medical supplies to the Corana colony, which
had been suffering from an extreme outbreak of Plasma Plague
While enroute the crew was shocked to learn of the sudden death of
Captain O'Malley. So far no details surrounding his death are known...
what IS known is perhaps expressed best in the now First Officer's
words.
"As I was saying, O'Malley is officially dead, and we all officially
mourn his official death. Officially." He paused and turned to
Shazerah for a moment, and then back to the crew his voice, as was
normal, showing no emotion. "I'm supposed to wink here, but that's
not technically possible. I'm sure you get the idea."
Lt. Cmdr. Wellesley has taken temporary command of the Hammond for
the duration of the mission. Upon arriving, two parties were beamed
down to the surface. One to deliver the majority of the supplies to
the main medical centre, and the other in response to a distress call
issued by a crashed Marine craft. No news is as yet available on either
landing party.
USS Isannah
Commander Alucard
The Isannah is currently pursuing a new experimental Federation ship,
the USS Prophecy, that has disappeared. The ship was installed with
an experimental drive system called the Enigma Drive. The Isannah
was fitted with a pair of these reactors and is currently fiddling
to get the new technology to work with the older systems. Meanwhile,
fears creep up about why Starfleet would send an old Nebula class
starship after one of their new toys, the expendability factor was
mentioned, which only managed to heighten tension on the ship.
Ensign Odeau, a Changeling, developed a health condition to which
he claimed linking with another changeling was the only cure. In a
gathering at the lounge, he was astonished to discover that another
Changeling was aboard ship in secret--Lt. Cmdr. Callen. After that,
he began pursuing her to link with him, lest he would be forced to
leave the ship and seek out a changeling elsewhere. She absolutely
refused. He continued after her, calling her to his office and then
proceeding to collapse.
Meanwhile, our counselor (Lt. Dare) was trying to review the psychological
side of this, to determine if it was simply the crew's decision to
up and disappear. He found some anomalies in the log; but not as big
as the anomaly that Callen brought up in the briefing--that the name
of the Captain on two of the documents do not match--embarrassing
Dare in front of everyone. Meanwhile, the Enigma reactors, through
damage of mis-installation started leaking huge amounts of radiation,
causing sickness in some of the crew. Yet, while Callen decided to
hang out in sickbay while doing her reports. Commander Alucard called
Odeau (whom he didn't know was out of commission for the time being)
to the ready room. Callen almost intercepted the call, but Odeau awoke
and took off before she could stop him. Dixon and Callen pursued him
to the Commander's office, where she found herself locked in, and
Odeau behaving very strangely. A brief struggle followed which found
Alucard unconscious, Odeau in stasis, and Callen being helped up off
the floor by Lt. Lysander.
The Isannah crew then looked amongst themselves for a new leader,
as Callen briefly started issuing orders on the bridge. In a private
meeting between Lt. Lysander and herself, in light of the fact that
no Executive Officer was assigned for this mission, Lysander was chosen
to be acting Captain; while Callen took the more familiar XO roll,
despite her higher amount of command experience. Yet, as Lysander
returned to the bridge, another emergency arose, which Callen quickly
departed to oversee--The Enigma Reactors were overloading.
Lt. Johnson's alertness brought the problem to the crew's attentions,
but when he was attempting to make repairs he became trapped in the
Enigma Reactor Room, exposing him to high levels of radiation (And
he *still* refuses to stay in sickbay, though Callen keeps confining
him there). Callen rescued him, using her special "talents"
to open the door and get him out. He reported seeing a "gateway"
or "portal" to the Prophecy's reactor room. Later, at a
staff meeting that followed Johnson (who hobbled out of sickbay and
to the briefing) reported that it was a reaction having to do with
the active Enigma Reactors. Johnson nearly collapsed in the meeting
and was escorted back to sickbay by Lt. Cmdr. Gear.
Fox (Engineering Officer) worked on sealing the radiation from the
reactors, but one of the casualties to the radiation has been Commander
Alucard; who is now in sickbay under extensive treatment to his rather
unique physiology. Johnson (presumably quite the workaholic) again
escaped from sickbay, attempting to return to duty. Fox managed to
get things in somewhat working order when he started to see a mysterious
figure, presumably a Starfleet Officer, lurking in Engineering. He
shot the figure on stun and to his surprise Callen lay there at his
feet.
Meanwhile, in the Ready Room paranoia is setting in as the crew experiences
mental state alterations (another one of those "everyone goes
mad" plots). Lt. Lysander started attempting to convince Dare
to his supporter, thinking that Callen desires to remove him from
command and claiming that he took command of the ship illegally. Of
course, Callen is experiencing similar paranoia thinking that Lysander
is "power struck" and therefore becoming unstable, and unable
to make command decisions. And down below a particular Engineering
Officer attempts to rally the staff to his banner, mutiny arises in
close quarters, as fights and hysteria breaks out on the ship. The
question that really remains is, will the crew of the Isannah actually
survive this mission?
USS Kodiak
Commander Hollis
Kodiak Site
(author LtCmdr Rachel Daninburg)
USS KODIAK has been tasked with a classified operation concerning
SB45. If the reader has level 10 clearance or above proceed:
KODIAK was to retrieve operational computer memory for all research
data stored at AB45 and render the systems non-operational.
Upon arrival, it was determined that there existed a level 7 biohazard
and a level 9 HAZMAT contamination. An away team entered the subterranean
base in type II environmental suits and after encountering corpses
of base personnel animated by unknown biological agents the team was
able to secure the data.
The team also met with a Romulan team, purpose unknown, which was
disabled after a fire fight.
The team is now attempting to leave the surface amidst significant
storm activity; there are also Orion agents present, as well as a
Klingon team. Locally deployed spacecraft coincident with KODIAK's
position supported these other pretences. .
Having successfully retrieved the data, the Kodiak is presently in
route to Vulcan in the hopes of curing a crewman exposed to one of
the viruses on the surface.
USS Magellan
Captain Kael Laang
Following the trail of Catratitium207, found by the fragments of
Jerrin's A/M bomb we have arrived at Laian151, one of the only places
in the galaxy where it is known to exist, a system on the edge of
the area known as the Golden Discontinuity.
By 'Alternate methods' we have managed to get hold of David Jerrin's
Starfleet record. According to this he has been linked to a militant
group called "engeance" an anti-Breen group, similar to
the Marquis, as further digging suggests, 'Vengeance' have "sympathizers
from Romulans, Human groups, and most notably a Klingon House.
The Magellan is 'parked' in a close orbit to the forth moon, we have
sent a small undercover away team to the surface to try and find a
lead on David Jerrin's position and this group called 'Vengeance',
which is fast seeming to be an ever greater security threat.
USS Nemesis
Captain Torack Demma
Every new beginning comes from some other beginnings end …..
While our Captain faced a court martial trial, along with the first
officer’s of the Magellan, the Phoenix, and the Kodiak, the crew
of the Nemesis were afforded a much needed rest. Some crew were present
to witness the trials, while others stayed far away. The Nemesis underwent
repairs and took on supplies as well as new crew. Before the court
martial of Captain Demma concluded the Nemesis was sent out to rendezvous
with the USS Hood and bring them some much needed supplies. On our
way we intercept and are sent to investigate a distress call from
a Brakell ship that had been attacked.
Meanwhile, unbeknownst to the Nemesis crew, Captain Demma’s trial
has concluded with his career intact, although at the loss of the
Nemesis and reassignment to Deep Space 72 Star Base on the border
of Romulan and Federation space. While being escorted to his new post,
Demma contacts Counselor Xavier to make arrangements for his son to
be brought to him. His escort ship, the USS Enterprise, not only get
shim to his new post, but her captain, Jean-Luc Picard, helps Demma
get his ship back, with some conditions, it will be re-fit and re-named
the USS Defiance-A. If the Nemesis and her crew ever get to DS72,
they will be in for a few surprises.
USS Ranger
Commodore Brian Kelly
(author Commander Kallen Meddick)
The USS Ranger has been sent to Sector 095 to investigate an anomalous
object which was travelling, very slowly, out of a pocket of unexplored
space in Federation territory. Upon arriving in the vicinity the Ranger
discovered that the object was an enormous colony vessel of some sort,
many thousands of times larger than the Ranger; consisting of many
large globes attached by long axial members. The vessel contained
thousands of alien life forms but seemed to lack any obvious propulsion
methods save for a rather primitive solar sail arrangement.
The vessel either ignored or could not detect repeated hails from
the Ranger and when the Ranger closed to within 10,000km it began
to emit large quantities of radiation. The Ranger staff decided to
attempt a First Contact and so an away team, under the commander of
Commander Kallen Meddick, took a modified shuttlecraft to close within
5,000km of the vessel and beam over (the radiation greatly reduced
safe transporter ranges). As the shuttle approached the vessel there
was a huge radiation surge and the shuttle and alien vessel disappeared.
A broken radio message mentioned "null space" before the
message ended.
This last message provides the only real clue Ranger has as to the
fate of the team and the vessel. Ranger has commenced a circular search
pattern but so far nothing has been located. Since Null Space was
mentioned, the remaining Ranger staff have sent word for help and
the starship USS Appaloosa, a research vessel with special subspace
and spatial anomaly equipment, has been sent to the location. An initial
working theory of what happened has been drawn up and the Ranger will
soon attempt a rescue mission, which has been given approval by Starfleet
Command (due to the involvement of the prime directive).
USS Ronin
Captain Adler
It wasn't as cheerful as Captain Alder Wong- Aquiss had originally
hoped when she was finally reunited back to USS Ronin and her crew
as she learnt that their Chief Medical Officer had been killed during
USS Ronins` last mission.
A formal service of remembrance was held in the Holodeck, a lake side
scene that befitted the Late Dr Perns' aura was the chosen surrounding
for the venue. Wong-Aquiss took the service, High Priest, Herne Nyssa
reciting the prays and several crew members sharing their experiences
and memories with fellow crew members and Civilians.
After, Wong-Aquiss granted 24 hours shore leave before undertaking
the latest mission - the investigation of a war-torn planet that somehow,
SFI is involved with and Agent McClen, a guest aboard USS Ronin, is
unusually quiet about.
StarBase 118
Captain Malcolm Lysander
Starbase 118 Site
After returning from the situation at Alpha-Base 45, the StarBase
crew began returning to regularly scheduled duties. Just a few days
after their return, famous characters from Earth history began appearing
around the base. The crew was dispatched to begin investigating the
problem, as engineering attempted to quell the cascading computer
failures that were occurring at the same time. As the investigation
continued, all the crew soon found themselves alone, and the base
deserted. First officer Locke had some type of contact with another
being, who noted that he "wasn't finished yet". Within another
few hours the crew, split into two groups, appeared together. They
are trying to discern the cause of the strange occurrences and characters.
USS Starwind
Rear Admiral Ciara Randor
StarWind Site
The StarWind is still stranded on the small class M moon. The away
team has succeeded in disabling the tractor field that pulled the
ship to the surface. The lowering of that field also released the
field interfering with transporters. Lt. Yaguchi, injured on the away
team, managed to be contacted by a last survivor of the civilization
on the moon, aided by Counselor Lenara who has now transported out
to meet the team. The underground city itself has been put on to an
automatic destruct sequence, leaving the crew little time to get their
ship off the rock before the area is destroyed.
On the other side of things, the assassin has made his strike, infecting
the Admiral and several crewmembers accompanying her with a particularly
nasty virus. The doctor has been able to replicate the cure for the
virus, but due to the fact that the Admiral led a team off the ship
in search of a missing crewmember, that cure has not been able to
be administered to her or the security chief. During the search, the
assassin struck again, this time kidnapping the Admiral, and injecting
her with triple the dose of the virus, intent on killing her before
searchers could find them. While the Admiral was located, the search
party was separated, and now are intent on locating each other before
the assassin can make his last move and kill all three of them.
On the ship, Lt. Commander Morgan and Commander Mortalis are have
recalled the away teams and are preparing to relaunch the ships, while
giving the search teams the time they need to return before the city
detonates.
USS Wallace
Captain V. McGregor
Following the launch of the UFOP'S latest Steamrunner class starships,
the Wallace responded to a distress call from the U.S.S Winnipeg,
they claimed they had been attacked by a hostile alien race calling
themselves the K'lox.
Arriving at the scene in became evident that Captain Ulrich of the
Winnipeg had fired first on the K'lox thus provoking them.
At present Captain Ulrich has been taken into custody and attempts
to diffuse the volatile situation with the K'lox we're undertaken.
The K'lox however we're not satisfied with this response and have
repeatedly attacked the Wallace.
The K'lox have been able to use a technology similar to the "wall
of light" that StarFleet experimented with years ago to get onto
vessels undetected.
Due to this device the K'lox managed to get an operative on board
who seriously wounded the CO and abducted Captain Ulrich and the Wallace's
First Officer Commander Ross.
A rescue operation is currently underway.
Interview
"The Counselling Shoulder"
by Captain Adler
::After being warmly welcomed aboard USS Nemesis, a petite female
with long flaming red hair greeted me and quietly introduced herself
as Lieutenant Jade Xavier and after a quick flash of pure greens eyes
as she scrutinized me, the Counsellor showed me to her office where
I set up my recording equipment and started the interview::
Wong: What made you choose a career with Star Fleet?
XAVIER: Opportunity. ::smiles:: I come from a planet where, although
we are technically advanced, we live a lifestyle akin to Terra’s
Medieval period. Of course women on my world have much more influence
and freedom. Especially if you are not a noble. In my case I had less
opportunity and freedom than most of my people. I was betrothed at
birth and would have been pushed into an arranged marriage had my
intended not died in a racing accident. It was at that time that representatives
from the United Federation of Planets visited Mydjya, my world, and
approached my father, King Flint, about becoming a member. In the
course of discussions, they spoke of Star Fleet and I was immediately
interested. It took quite a lot of convincing to get my father to
allow me to join. But here I am and very glad for the chance to prove
I am not just another pampered princess but a capable and independent
woman.
Wong: And why the duty of a Counsellor?
XAVIER: It fell in line with my abilities. Being a high level telepath
and empath I could have gone into medicine, but my advisors felt that
with my background, I would be more effective in the position of counsellor.
As counsellor I not only help and advise the crew but also have a
great deal of influence with the commanding officers and will be called
upon in many varying situations including those dealing with diplomacy.
Wong: What is the hardest part of your duty as Counsellor?
XAVIER: Giving advice on relationships. ::Laughs nervously:: Being
as I have had almost no experience in that area myself. As I mentioned
before, I was betrothed and therefore never needed to ‘date’.
When I came to the Academy, I was not interested in dating, I wanted
to expand and broaden my knowledge and horizons. Most men who asked
me out were understanding when I explained why I would not accept.
It is sometimes difficult to put aside one's personal beliefs in order
to guide another through a situation one would have nothing to do
with themselves.
Wong: Who do you go to when you need Counselling?
XAVIER: I have my personal companion Abygaile Sweet who I can consult.
As well as my dear friends, counsellor Alethea Stuart of the USS Hammond
and Tala Jess, our new Chief Medical Officer here on the Nemesis,
her minor was in counselling. They all know me very well and would
be the first I would turn to if I needed counselling.
Wong: How did you find being an Ensign and a counsellor at the same
time?
XAVIER: I have had some...ah...rough patches since being stationed
on the Nemesis, but I cannot say if it had anything to do with rank,
or lack thereof. I never really think of my rank, considering myself
simply a counsellor. In my field, I feel rank is inconsequential.
You do your duty as best as you can regardless of whether you are
an ensign or a commander. The only time my rank comes into play is
the chain of command.
Wong: Does your advice change to officers of a higher rank?
XAVIER: I would hope. In general, I would like to think that regardless
of rank, I would offer the same advice and guidance to a midshipman
as I would a captain. Of course, the situations and problems facing
each would vary greatly. However if they were in similar predicaments,
I would offer the same counselling.
Wong: What is the most important aspect to being a counsellor?
XAVIER: Compassion. I think one has to care about the people one is
trying to help, otherwise, your advice is shallow and impersonal.
If you do not treat each case as an individual, you can fall into
an automated mode dolling out advice in generalities and that could
lead to further difficulties. One must listen, hear, understand and
feel for the person you are trying to help and then counsel. Spouting
out text book solutions is simply unacceptable.
Wong: Thank you counsellor. ::Stopping recording:: Now, off the record,
what about the rumours I have heard concerning yourself and a certain
male??
::A wide playful smile formed on my lips as I heard her splutter while
her cheeks flushed slightly but in the end, after a certain amount
of coaxing, I get the full details....::
Engineer's View
A brief cultural outline, as described through the
memories of Draqq
written and submitted by
Commander Slane Mortalis, USS StarWind
A fact that is particularly noteworthy to this report, is the fact
that the race and star system described, exist not within the Milky
Way Galaxy, but within the Whale Galaxy (also referred to as Galaxy
NCG 4631), located approximately 30,000,000 light years away (And
the Drahili homeworld specifically, is approximately 30,080,000 light
years from Federation Space), and would take an Excalibur class starship,
travelling at maximum speed, nearly 12,032 years to traverse the distance.
The giant spiral galaxy, larger than the Milky Way, was accessed by
the Federation vessel USS StarWind using an intergalactic rift, much
like a wormhole, to traverse the distance in minutes, instead of millennia.
Biologically, the Drahili people are quite different from the typical
humanoid, standing roughly six to seven feet in height, with double-kneed
legs, and two-toed feet. The configuration of their legs allows for
agile climbing, and impressive jumping. Both attributes ideally suited
for their environment. Likewise, they sport not two, but four upper
appendages, with four-fingered hands, all capable of completely independent
tasks, due to the layout of the Drahili brain. Four eyes, a longish
snout, and large, sensitive ears adorn the Drahili head, with a mane
of reddish hair brushed back from the top of the head, down the neck.
Internally, they aren't much different than other races, with a typical
digestive system, a respitory tract adapted to function more efficiently
in a rarified atmosphere, and a doubled circulatory system, complete
with two seperate hearts, allowing for a greter biological redundancy,
and making it far more difficult for a Drahili to bleed to death.
Their skin colour ranges from tan, to brown, to yellow, and even bright
red, typically with brown, yellow, gold, or green eyes, depending
on their epidermal colour.
The Drahili homeworld, Kaisheer, orbits the medium yellow star of
Drahl, located within a vast and relatively dense cluster of stars
within the Whale galaxy, known as the Tychandra region of stars known
as the Tychandra Expanse.
Kaisheer, homeworld of the Drahili race, is a moderately sized class-M
planet, with three moons. The surface of the world is geologically
active, with an unusual amount of long-term tectonic stress, and more
than double the number of drifting continental plates than is found
on the Federation world of Earth. This has resulted in a very rocky,
mountainous world, with nearly thirty percent of the surface being
made of various mountain ranges, varying form old, to newly formed.
Water covers only twenty-five percent of the planets surface, which
has resulted in a harsher environment than is typically found on class-M
planets. However, in spite of the obstacles, life has nonetheless
managed to flourish on this windswept, mountainous world. The Drahili
people, of course, being the dominant species, and the one that eventually
achieved sentience, and eventual dominance of the planet. Due to the
high geological activity, and lower surface water, Kaisheer turned
out to be a phenomenally rich in ores, minerals, and other mined substances,
and the Drahili people quickly took advantage of that fact. Once mining
technology had advanced far enough for ores and minerals to be successfully
extracted, technological development leapt forward, and scientific
achievement surged forward faster than at any time in the past. However,
such achievements came at a price, as the Drahili people, once content
to live among the peaks and cliffs of the mountain ranges, now began
looking for terrain somewhat more suited for building upon. The development
of aircraft, in particular, took a heavy toll, as different mountain
states began warring over flat land. Prairies in particular, were
especially sought after, and it perhaps ironic that so much of it
suffered during the conflicts.
Such conflicts inevitably wore themselves out, and the Drahili people,
now stronger technologically, began looking for other vistas to explore.
Naval technology, never a big priority in the past, increased, slowly,
and eventually led to the first floating city state. Offshoot technology
from this, a self-contained archology, worked into the fledgling space
industry, and it wasn't long before space capsules were launched regularly
from the surface, bound for Ree, the smallest of the moons, and the
developing habitat located there.
It was at this point in the Drahili development, however, that their
greatest resource attracted the attention of those who would take
it for their own. Known only as the Shah-Ul, the aliens made first
contact with the Drahili by systematically eradicating the colony
on Ree, and bombarding their spaceports from orbit. Then, as a show
of force, they pulverized the entire mountain state of Kahlan, killing
no less than four million, and used the pulverized mountain range
as the location for their ground-based command center. For seven years,
the Drahili were harassed, helpless to defend themselves against the
vastly superior technology. Attempts to resist, they presumed, were
detected by the sensing capabilities of the Shah-Ul, and swiftly eradicated.
The invading aliens were not infaliable, however, and deep within
Kaisheer's deepest body of water, the previously neglected naval technology
was rocketing forward. The floating city, Morria, was deliberately
sunk shortly after the destruction of the spaceports, and was later
salvaged and rebuilt, this time anchored deep within the sea. It was
here that the resistance was based, and successfully developed missile
technology that allowed them to destroy both the ground-based, and
orbiting Shah-Ul.
Following this incredible victory, the Drahili people were quick
to rebuild, but always keeping the possibility of future contact in
their minds. Thusly, the development of space technology was given
top priority, and was remanded entirely into military control. Within
a year, the colony on Ree was reastablished, this time as a first-strike
missile silo. Three years after that, the first space-station armed,
of course) was built. Further colonies were also established on the
fifth planet of the system, a class-K world known as Vouratt.
Over the next twenty five years, space technology continued to progress,
aided somewhat by anything salvaged from the Shah-Ul constructs, until
the military QuadRule committee, the governing body for the planet,
publically announced that the first faster than light vessel had been
designed, built, and tested. Now able to take themselves to the stars,
military enlistment drastically increased, and fleet production was
stepped up. At the same time, civilian space development was opened
up and encouraged, especially with the prospect of interstellar trade
looming on the horizon.
It wasn't long before contact was made with a great many races, mostly
peaceful, despite the initial Drahili defensive posture. However,
over time, relations became more amicable, and due to its rich mineral
deposits, and central location between already established alien trade
routes, Kaisheer became a major center for trade and interstellar
commerce. A prideful and self-sufficient people, the Drahili were
reluctant to ally themselves with any of the growing solar alliances,
though were slowly beginning to see the benefits should they do so.
Culturally, the Drahili were not an overly complex people. Their
natures somewhat echoing the open airiness of the peaks that they
inhabited. Typically, however, those within a single mountain state,
were named in a certain manner, in order to identify their alliegance.
Those from the Aqraqq Equatorial Range, for example, retained the
last two letters of their mountain state within their name, resulting
in names such as Draqq, Cheraqq, Kreqq, and so on. Other mountain
states had other standard practices similar to that.
As of 500 terran years ago, the Drahili had not yet aligned themselves
with any major power, and indeed, given their own military strength,
and commercial importance, hardly needed to do so. With increased
colonization insystem, and fledgling expansion into neighboring star
systems, the Drahili were very far removed from their mountain-dwelling
ancestors.
As of this time, the only contact that the United Federation of Planets
has had with the Drahili people, is through the memories and experiences
retained within a Starfleet officer through a lengthy, and rather
extraordinary set of circumstances. Draqq, the Drahili in question,
left his world nearly 500 years ago in a form of suspended animation,
and therefore has no knowledge of what may have transpired in the
time since his departure. The only Starfleet vessel in a position
to see what has become of the Drahili people in the intervening years,
is the USS StarWind. Whether or not the StarWind chooses to follow
up on the mystery is entirely up to her commander, Admiral Ciara Randor.
SIMming Tips
SECTION 4. SO YOU THINK THE PLOT IS BORING?
written and submitted by
Lt. Commander Justyn Morgan, USS StarWind
So, you think the plot you are currently in is boring and you don't
know what to do. This is a common problem to most ships and there
is little your captain or first officer can do about it. They can
offer you things to do, but responding to those orders is up to
you and where you go with them is left in your hands. Boring plots,
however, are more often than not the product of people not participating
and a select few doing what they can to drag the plot along. These
plots can, of course, be ended early, and you can be returned to
your regular duty, but because large portions of the crew don't
respond, the next plot, and the one after that, are likely to be
the same boring flavour. When few people are contributing, ideas
run low and those that are SIMming get just as frustrated as those
who are not. Remember that SIMming is being part of a team, and
it is just as much your responsibility to see that the team succeeds
as it is your commanding officer's duty.
1. Begin SIMming regularly. This does not mean you have to write
brilliant SIMs or even do a lot for the plot immediately. But SIMming
regularly will allow people to see you are available and work you
into their own plans much easier.
2. Come up with your own ideas for where the plot is going. While
these ideas may not play out exactly as you first imagine them,
it will give you a direction to send things when you write your
own SIMs. Be prepared to change these plans as other people contribute
their own ideas, however, and do not be disappointed when things
slide off in another direction. Remember that no one on board has
a clue where they are going any more than you do and the plans always
change with each contribution. This is part of what makes SIMming
fun.
3. When in doubt, throw in a twist. If the plot seems to be slowing
down, there are always new and drastic twists you can toss into
the mix to help liven things up again. Blow something up. While
you don't want to do too much damage, you can always blow up a console,
or a minor system to get attention going. Have someone captured.
Kill off your character unexpectedly. (While not something you want
to do very often, it can stir things up, and you can always come
back later, somehow or another) Have people transported randomly
off the ship. Discover some damage to the ship, or an intruder.
Have a distress signal come in. Think of the tv series and pull
some of the trouble that they run into our own plot. If you have
an idea for a twist that exceeds your position or rank, be sure
to run that idea across your CO or XO before actually doing it.
But usually they won't have much problem with it, if any.
4. If you are truly stumped with the main plot, start a subplot
that you can work on to the side of the main plot. Develop a friendship,
or start a romance, or just take time aside for your character's
hobbies. Then when you are ready, you can jump back into the plot
again.
Captain's Logs
by Commodore Brian Kelly
While on leave I was enjoying a few drafts with friends in Belfast.
They were physical therapists from Beta Hydrii 5; had been born
and raised there in a human culture with a history of nearly 250
years, as much history as the American state could claim at the
turn of the third millennium. When one of our fellow imbibers asked,
however, about that history, my friends were at a loss. They'd attended
medical training on Earth, and had then relocated to the Nomus colonies
with their families. They knew almost nothing about how Beta Hydrii
began, how it became a member of the Federation, or how such a process
worked.
The story is, actually, rather routine, as it follows a dynamic
which has been the practice since warp travel became possible, even
before there was a United Federation of planets.
In 2139, slow moving deep space search vessels (warp 3 current scale)
under the United Earth Space Force were beginning to explore the
spiral star clusters located about 120 LY from Earth. Although current
warp 9 vessels can make that trip in little over 30 days, the early
vessels took years. One of the star systems contained a class M
planet among several gas giants. Beta Hydri was, then, at the very
furthest frontier of Federation space.
Colonial vessels left Earth for Beta Hydrii immediately, arriving
five years later. The first settlers were identified by invitation.
That invitation was sent via early subspace radio to all Earth colonies,
including the ones which had already obtained independent status,
such as 40 Eridanni 6 and the Alpha Centauri Concordium. Among the
750,000 replies there were 20,000 which were selected on the basis
of occupation, age, familial status and demographic considerations
to form the first colonists.
The colony was officially established in 2147. Since at that time
the colony was under Earth jurisdiction, a governor was elected
by the colonists and a colonial assembly formed along the same model
as the representative democratic method used on Earth. Each colonist
aged 18 or older could vote for one of the assembly members. There
were 200, one for every 100 colonists, and each time the population
increased by that increment, another assembly member would be added.
All matters were decided by majority vote. Justice was administrated
by a majority vote of rotating judges; each assembly-person took
a mandatory tour as judge for part of the year.
The colony tried, as did they all, to attain colonial viability
as fast as possible. "Colonial Viability" was that point
at which outside supplies were no longer necessary, that the colony
could self-sustain. Once this was established, the colony could
trade and conduct its affairs as it liked; this was desirable for
economic as well as political reasons.
In 2154 the colony asked for permission to establish itself as an
independent state, having quickly attained the desired ratios, and
permission was, perforce, granted. In those days, this happened
quickly, because the early colonial settlers often established a
primitive form of colonial viability very quickly.
As was the case whenever this occurred, a mutual defense treaty
was quickly concluded which, for intents and purposes, tied the
colony to Earth but retained her independent status. Her governor,
who still held office the next day, woke up as the colonial president
and her assemblymen woke instead as congressional delegates. But
the form of government which had proven itself so stable remained,
essentially, the same. In 2161, when the treaty forming the United
Federation of Planets was signed, Beta Hyrdii, The Alpha Centauri
Concordium and other colonies were there to sign as member states.
It is often told that the small delegation from Beta Hyrdii was
still so concerned with farming yields back home that they talked
of nothing else. But Beta Hydrii, however small, was an independent
world, and she was there, at the beginning.
Today, although more common and far less noteworthy, the process
is the same. When a colonial site is identified, the Federation
council extends invitations to all member worlds within two years
travel at warp 8; these worlds then allow anyone interested in relocation
to so state. If the total number exceeds 100,000, selection protocols
not much different from those used in the beginning are employed
to thin the number. The colony ships are dispatched along with necessary
terraforming equipment and industrial replicators.
Today, colonial viability is essentially assured from the first
several weeks, owing to the exceptional technology, so a different
standard is used which factors out industrial and food replicators.
A governor appointed by the Federation council administrates the
colony until she petitions for member status, at which point the
Federation has a new member composed of her very own citizens and
their progeny.
Reader's Corner
Feeling ready to participate? Well, here's where you can do it.
Contests here will be free for all personnel, (although some things
may be blocked from certain ranks) and winners will be printed in
the next month's edition of the Reporter. Please be sure to fill
in your answers as completely as possible. ((Offline Readers will
have to email your answers directly to the Editor))
LAST MONTH'S CONTEST:
Who Was It That Said...?
-
"We're StarFleet Officers; Weird Is Part Of
The Job." - Janeway
-
"Time Is ACompanion That Goes With Us On A
Journey, reminds us To Cherish Every Moment Because They Will Never
Come Again. What We Leave Behind Is Not As Important As How We Have
Lived."
- Picard, Generations
"The Truth Is Usually Just An Excuse For A Lack Of Imagination."
- Garak
"Cardassian Rule May Have Been Oppressive, But At Least It
Was Simple" - Odo, Past Prologue
"A Dream That Became Reality And Spread Throughout The Stars"
- Captain Kirk
Winner: Marko from the USS Wallace has the distinction of being
the ONLY person to credit all of the quotes to the correct people.
Good job, Marko.
Some of you came very very close. Amazingly enough, most of you
attributed Odo's remark to Kira. Guess that shows that no one cheated.
I'm pleased to see that. Of course, you almost had me wondering
if *I* was wrong about that one. lol
-
NAME
SHIP
Is there a new feature or change you would like to see to the
Reporter?
I've decided to make a similar questionaire to last months due
to being short of ideas, and the apparent popularity of last month's
responses. Just remember. NO cheating. =)
Who Said That?
 "Stop smirking."
-- Dax
"I do not smirk--but if I did, this would be a good opportunity."
-?
"In my expert
medical opinion, I'd say... it's sick" -?
"I don't like
threats, I don't like bullies, and I don't like you!" -?
"Your first
command together was less than successful. You are all dead"
-?
"Facial art...
ooh, how... wilderness of you!" -?
"The mice think
they are right, but my cat eats them anyways. This is the
point, reality is nothing, perception is everything." -?
"Q might have
done the right thing for the wrong reason, perhaps we need a
good
kick in our complacency to get us ready for what's ahead" -?
"Yes, absolutely,
I do indeed concur, wholeheartedly!" -?
"The best diplomat
that I know is a fully-loaded phaser bank." -?
"Humour. It is
a difficult concept" -- ?
"Believing oneself
to be perfect is often the sign of a delusional mind." -?
Monthly
Short Story
The Three Fates
Or
The Fateful Misadventures of Maiya Jamieson
By Lt. Commander Justyn Morgan
&
Lieutenant Jade Xavier
It really wasn't all that bad, at least, it could
have been worse. For her second posting, she was impressed. Particularly
after that last incident that nearly had her and all her crewmates
swinging from the rafters before the trial had ended. No, she was
not going to find any fault with serving aboard the USS Covington.
With any luck the situation would stay simple, unlike last time.
Dropping her duffel to the bunk, Ensign Maiya Jamieson looked around
at the sparse quarters she would be sharing with her two fellow
partners in crime. Sensari col Entann, the half human, half Betazoid
girl she'd gone through the Academy with, and Skybright to Srenish,
the third of their trio, an Sivaoan who crossed somewhere between
a singer and a scientist.
Sari had claimed the bottom bunk already and Skybright was busy
bunching blankets and mattress of the single bed in the corner into
some semblance of a circle and a hammock before she even bothered
unpacking. Maiya herself got the bunk above Sari, and she decided
it could probably mean she had the best of the three. It would,
after all, afford her a little privacy. Not that she needed that
now.
They had had plenty of privacy before they had been transferred,
and had nearly been ecstatic to find they'd be sharing quarters.
Though how long that would last she couldn't guess. Still, it had
its good side. With any more luck she would also find herself so
busy in security, she wouldn't have time to be forced into speaking
with her superiors much. She shivered as the still fresh memories
of the ordeal rose up to meet her.
It was almost funny, in recollection. That everyone had been caught
up with it. And serving on a StarFleet vessel was no longer as simple
as she had thought. When her 'yes, sir' to Captain Harris had turned
out to be treason, and a 'yes, sir' to Admiral Tannish to be mutiny,
she had wanted nothing more than to curl up and die. It was over
now, mostly, she and most of the other new Ensigns had been reassigned.
Sari, Skybright and Maiya were the only three to be kept together.
With her familiarization of her quarters out of the way, Maiya
scrambled in her duffel and pulled out the PADD that held her orders.
Unpacking could come later. Not that she had much to unpack. Mostly
personal items to decorate her own area. Clothes could easily be
replicated. Not that she needed much anyway. Her needs were simple
and likely to stay that way.
"Wish me luck. I am going to report to..." She glanced
at the PADD, "Lieutenant Eccleston." She drew in a deep
breath, squared her shoulders, and lifted her chin.
Sari looked up, her wild, tawny hair falling impishly over one
green eye as she grinned. "Good luck. Let us know if he's too
much of a bear. I'm terrified about reporting to sickbay. "
No one was going to blame her for that. Even Maiya's own knees were
already going weak, and she hadn't even gotten to Security yet.
"Don't say that. I'm having enough of a struggle just to get
up there. Sky, tell her to be quiet if she's going to say things
like that. No, wait till I'm gone or I'll lose my courage!"
Maiya grimaces, and clutched her PADD in one hand, scuttling for
the door without giving either of them a chance to say any more.
"They won't eat you, they won't eat you, they won't eat you."
she chanted softly to herself, as she wound her way through the
Covington's middle decks, to the mapped area that was said to be
security. Even though she had only arrived from Starbase 118 an
hour ago, the ship wasn't hard to navigate. It took her very little
time to actually arrive outside the doors and for a moment stood
staring at them. "You won't run, you won't run, you won't run."
Her chant changed as the doors slid open and the Lieutenant stared
down at her.
"Well?" She echoed blankly, tipping her head back to
stare up at him in complete surprise.
"You are Ensign Jamieson, I'm assuming. You do have orders?"
He frowned.
"Orders?" she glanced down at the PADD, then jerked her
head up, the gold braid at the back of her head flopping a bit loosely
against her skull. "Oh. Orders. Yes, sir. Um. .. Ensign Maiya
Jamieson reporting for duty, sir!" She handed over the PADD,
blushing furiously.
"One of the three from the Hannibal, I take it?" Lieutenant
Eccleston asked, taking the PADD and giving it a cursory glance
before he tucked it behind his back and resumed his stare down at
her.
"Uh...yes....sir." Maiya struggled to hold back the gulp
that rose to tug at her throat.
"Nasty situation, that. I trust you'll do better here."
Was his next comment. Safe, but not exactly heart-warming.
"Yes, sir. I intend to, sir." The floor, she decided,
was quite welcome to open up at any time and swallow her up. Please,
swallow her up! She pled silently. The floor, however, did not cooperate.
Instead, staying quite firm under her feet.
"Very well." Was it a good thing that he didn't have
much to say to her either? "The Covington is scheduled to arrive
at the Krossing in the next 6 hours. Captain Keller will be heading
a diplomatic trade with one of the planets there. You will accompany
the team down to the surface. You have until then to familiarize
yourself with your team and the system. Is that understood?"
The gulp convulsed her throat for a moment, and she nodded, not
sure whether to thank him or to wish she could return to the cell
that had been her home for three months. At least there she had
been safe. Sort of. "Yes, sir. Familiarize myself with team
and system. Understood."
"Good. See to it, Ensign." He moved aside enough for
her to pass, and she scuttled past him into the offices.
To Be Continued Next Month. . .
Classifieds
Wanted - Reporter Submissions of all types. Please contact Editor
with ideas.
Have an ad for this section? In Character or OOC, let us see it.
OOC
Chats
Are you aware that UFOP has its own IRC chatroom? It's on irc.starchat.net:6667,
in #Starbase_118. This chatroom is open 24/7, so if you ever feel
like dropping by feel free to do so. We can't guarantee that there'll
be any people there, but if you're willing to sit and watch and
wait, it could be a good way of meeting some people from other ships.
There are also two organized OOC chats, which are moderated and
more likely to have people in attendance.
Holodeck 7: Saturday -- 7pm PST, 8pm MST, 9pm Central, 10pm
EST No moderator at present. (Volunteers?)
(For veterans of the Saturday chat, please note that we have LEFT
talkcity and moved to starchat for both chats, after talkcity had
a change in policy.)
The Euro-Chat -- Sunday -- 11am PST, 12pm MST, 1pm Central,
2pm EST, 3pm Atlantic, 7pm British Time, 8pm Central European Time
Moderator: Captain Adler NOTE:
As from the 16th of July, Eurochat starts one hour later due to
Summer work commitments of Adler, moderator of the chat.
Knowledge of IRC is not required for attending these chats, if
you would like to attend but don't know how to, feel free to contact
any of the moderators or any other member of UFOP Command, who will
be more than happy to help. More information about IRC and connecting
to it is contained in our IRC Info section.
We recommend using either pIRCh or mIRC as your Windows IRC client,
or IRCle as your Macintosh compatible client.
Message Boards
UFOP has two message boards, and an OOC mailing list.
OOC Message board
http://www.InsideTheWeb.com/mbs.cgi/mb328008
The UFOP OOC message board is a means for members of the UFOP fleet
to have OOC discussion with any other member of the fleet. This
board is for OOC messages or discussion. Feel free to leave messages
to other members of the fleet, introduce new ideas that interest
you, or just talk about UFOP in general! This is also the first
place where requests for help are posted, so keep an eye out on
it.
IC Message board
http://www.InsideTheWeb.com/mbs.cgi/mb945656
This message board exists for the use of UFOP officers and crew.
It is an In Character message board. Feel free to leave news of
your UFOP ship or installation. This is a good way to get a glance
on what is going on on other ships -- and to let other ships know
what is going on on yours. Feel free to post IC, or drop in a mission
summary sometime.
Got a comment or a complaint?
UFOP still has -- and will likely have for a long while -- a feedback
form, to hear what you have to say. Ideas, comments, complaints
-- if you have something you'd like to say, but don't know where
to say it; this is the place for it.
http://www.starbase118.netfeedback.shtml
This goes straight to the UEC, at the top of the group, and can
be completely anonymous if you prefer.
While we welcome constructive criticism -- even desire it -- we
can guarantee that a carefully worded complaint will receive a much
better response than an irate rant. Be civil with us, and we shall
be civil with you.
Interested in helping?
UFOP is a fairly busy group, with plenty going on behind the surface.
If you've been around for a while, and feel like helping out, drop
us a note and let us know.
Some sample areas: Assisting training, Reporter submissions, Personnel
liaison (Keeping the Webteam up-to-date on your ships roster). Graphic
designers, HTML coders...
If you're willing to do work OOC, please, let us know... if we
don't have anything for you at the moment, we'll let you know and
keep your name in mind, if we need someone later.
Keeping The Fleet Together
In the interests of making UFOP less a group of individual ships,
and more a community, we are starting a new project. Those of you
on different ships might have noticed that happenings on other ships
don't usually affect the group as a whole... in that vein, we would
like to devote a section of the IC message board for updates to
the political happenings; what races each ship is interacting with,
and how and what they're doing.
Example: (Purely hypothetical)
One ship posts: We're dealing with Klingons right now; the relationship
between them and the Federation seems to be a little strained right
now, but not yet hostile.
Next ship takes a look at that, and they know that the Klingons
are in bad moods; they can use that, and add that the Cardassians
and the Klingons have had a few flare ups, but no official war...
You see how it would work? Each ship adds their own perspective
on the race; each CO and crew can check to see what each race they
might deal with is acting like... There will, of course, be splinter
group behaving differently, but the goal is to have as much solidarity
as possible, between the different races.
Fantasy Branch
There's a great deal of variety amongst the ships of UFOP, but
the FSS Charybdis is quite different from the rest of them. It stands
apart from all the others. How so?
A year and three quarters ago, UFOP extended alliance to a a Fantasy
SIM: Faerin, run by our own Admiral Randor and ex-Command Liaison
Tekra. It takes place on a nearly desolate world, with unpredicatable
magic and strange creatures. If you enjoy Fantasy as well as StarTrek,
sail over to their website at www.bigfoot.com/~Faerin .
End Notes
-Please write and tell me what you like or don't like about the
Reporter. I would also appreciate suggestions regarding what you
would like to see in this newsletter.
-Submissions are welcome from all UFOP members of any rank.
-Have an idea for one of our regular sections? An idea for a new
section? Let us know.
Contacts
To Contact the Editor with submissions, suggestions, complaints
or critiques, please e-mail Admiral Randor
Individual Admirals
Rear Admiral Ciara Randor
Rear Admiral Shaun Marlin
Fleet Admiral Tristan Wolf
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