We’re here with another interview with a newer member of our community. The title of this column is “Lower Decks,” hearkening back to the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode titled “Lower Decks,” in which junior officers aboard the Enterprise-D speculate on the reasons for recent unusual actions taken by the command crew near the Cardassian border.
This month’s interview is with the writer behind Ensign Kammus Corelli playing a Deltan Male Engineering Officer assigned to the USS Thor.
DeVeau: Tell us a little about the writer behind the character — where in the world do you hail from? Anything you’d like to share!
Corelli: I currently reside in the big city of Atlanta, USA! My work outside of sim life is in film and television, which keeps me either very busy, or sitting at home waiting on the next big show. If I am sending out sims on a regular basis, its probably because I am in between projects.
What’s your experience with the Star Trek universe?
While I was old enough to understand what was happening in Star Trek V, I vividly remember watching Star Trek IV in the cinema. That’s back when going to the cinema was an event, and the local video store was the closest thing to Netflix! The opening explosion is burned into my memory. Subsequently, a few years later, I equally remember running through the house screaming every action that appeared on the telly as the Enterprise-D exploded before the commercial break in “Cause and Effect”. I have been a life long super fan nerd geek. My brother loved “the other franchise” – and while I appreciate its technical lore, Star Trek, and the hope it created is much more resonate with me personally.
What got you interested in joining a pbem and, specifically, SB118?
Being an avid Role Player, either in real life with friends, or online through various games, I was looking for more. I wanted more star trek friends in my life, and I found several options for email story telling, SB118 seemed to be the most well rounded and easy to engage with.
Deltans were introduced in the first Star Trek motion picture (if I remember correctly). What made you choose this species for your character?
Its something that hasn’t been explored on screen. There are actually Deltans in Star Trek VI, at the conference, and I believe in a few other select scenes, although one has to search quite hard to notice them. The aspect of playing something on the edges of humanity, but not quite socially equal sounded like an interesting story – even if that does get glossed over most of the time.
Why did you choose Engineering as your duty post?
Scotty, and Geordie. As a real life miracle worker, I appreciate the problem fixing and wondrous solutions presented by engineering in the star trek universe. I have always gravitated towards the technical aspects (I still have my original TOS and TNG tech manuals, held together with mom’s tape), and I still enjoy digging in and coming up with new technology, or extending the existing canon in new ways. Command can be interesting, but if real life work has taught me anything, its that the real people in charge are those that keep the lights on.
What would you like to see Corelli accomplish in the future?
My favorite ship is the NX-2000, the original Excelsior prototype, and thus, Corelli’s favorite engines are those long nacelles built for straight line speed. I have a few story plot points that might make for an interesting time revolving around Kammus’ love for old tech, and especially old nacelles. I would like to see him be able to, just once, prove that old tech is still valid.
Thanks for your time, Ensign Corelli!
You can read more about Ensign Corelli on the wiki.
