Join us for another in a series of interviews with winners of awards from our 2401 Awards Ceremony. Our goal is to give you insight into how our fleet’s best simmers write, and imagine their characters as well as their out of character contributions and achievements.
This month we’re interviewing the writer behind Lieutenant Toxin Arlill playing a male Bolian/Tellarite Operations Chief officer assigned to the USS Octavia E. Butler. He won the Voyager Medallion: “Awarded to Operations officers who have shown great skill in keeping a starship in working order despite near-impossible circumstances. The officers receiving this award have advanced the field of Operations, have acted as the liaison between the Command, Science, and Engineering departments, and are technically proficient in operations maintenance, making sure duty rosters, provisions, gear, and even recreation time are available… no matter what.“
SALKATH: Though time flies, it hasn’t been that terribly long since we last spoke with you – anything new or exciting you would like to share with us since then?
ARLILL: I’ve been up to a lot since we last spoke! I’m now a Lieutenant and in charge of all Operations on the Octavia E. Butler. But things haven’t been all smooth—Lhandon, my best friend, and I had a pretty big falling out, which has definitely changed some dynamics. On top of that, I’ve recently discovered that an entity lives in my head and occasionally shows up on the holodeck. It’s… unusual, to say the least, and I’m still figuring out what it all means.
On the family front, my mother is in the Gamma Quadrant, fighting a fierce, oppressive enemy, while my father is MIA—again. It’s been hard, but it fuels my determination to keep pushing forward. One day, I hope to captain my own ship, though the exact path to that goal is still something I’m navigating. My journey’s far from set in stone, and I’m excited to see where it leads.
One thing new or exciting to us is your award win for the Voyager Medallion. How did it feel to receive this award?
Receiving the Voyager Medallion was both an honor and a bit surreal. It felt like a culmination of everything Toxin has been through—both the victories and the struggles—especially with the recent changes in his role and responsibilities. As someone who didn’t always see the Operations role as clearly defined, it was rewarding to be recognized for advancing the field and navigating the complexities of keeping a ship running smoothly. Toxin’s been in situations where juggling the needs of leadership, friendship, and character growth have seemed impossible, but finding a way to make it work, no matter the odds, has always been a core part of his journey.
What made it even more special was that Toxin is still evolving—personally and professionally—and this award feels like an acknowledgment of how far he’s come, even while his path forward remains uncertain. It’s a moment of pride, not just for the accomplishments but for the continuous growth that comes with each new challenge.
In the writeup for your award presentation, Capt Rouiancet stated, “His dedication to his craft is evident in his sims, in which he showcases not just Arlill’s technical prowess, but also provides a refreshing sense of humor that brings life to the often complex world of starship operations.” Is humor an important aspect for your character, or is it more a personal writing style that you adopt?
I’ve always gravitated toward sci-fi characters, especially those in Star Trek, who bring humor to the table at just the right moments. For me, humor isn’t just about getting a laugh or breaking tension—it serves a purpose. When used thoughtfully, it adds a layer of humanity, provides relief in complex situations, or offers a new perspective. I aim to incorporate humor in a way that enhances the storytelling rather than simply for its own sake.
Operations can sometimes seem like that duty post which is hard to pin down, in that it can often play a more supportive role to other departments. What advice do you have about the duty post for others who might be interested in it?
When I first started playing, I saw Operations as a bit of an ambiguous role—often filled by players who weren’t inclined toward the intricacies of engineering but weren’t entirely sure command was their path either. However, through working closely with Lhandon Nilsen, Tom Sanderson’s character, we’ve expanded the role of Operations into something much more dynamic and essential. While I give full credit to Tom for spearheading the development of the Operations center, I’m grateful to have contributed to its evolution and to see how much it can truly offer to the overall mission
With this much more experience under your belt now, is there any change to your viewpoint on your character’s path over the next year and beyond?
I’ve evolved a great deal as a writer since joining SB118. In the beginning, I often wrote purely in the moment, without any planned arcs or a set direction. Now, while I still thrive on spontaneity, I’ve also developed broader arcs and ideas for my character’s journey. These aren’t meticulously planned down to every detail but rather painted with broad strokes, allowing for flexibility and adaptation. This approach lets my character’s story evolve naturally, shaped by the dynamic responses of other simmers. I prefer not to force the storyline to fit a particular end goal, but instead let both my character’s goals and their path remain fluid and open to change.
For anyone just starting or looking to refine their approach, I’d say this: find a style that feels true to you. Don’t feel like you have to conform to a rigid structure or someone else’s method. Learn from the different styles you encounter and adapt what helps you grow, but stay true to your own voice.
Mentors are available to writers to help guide us in the realm that is SB118, they should challenge us to challenge ourselves, find new goals based on our styles and approaches.
Thanks for your time, Lieutenant Arlill!
You can read more about Lieutenant Toxin Arlill on the wiki.
