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Duty Post Award Winner – David Knight, USS Atlantis (The Black Cross)

May 28, 2019by German Galven in Award Winning Interviews

Join us for another in a series of interviews with winners of Duty Post awards from our recent 2018 Awards Ceremony. Our goal is to give you insight into how our fleet’s best simmers write, and imagine their characters.

This month we’re interviewing the writer behind Lieutenant David Cross playing a Human Male Intelligence Officer assigned to the USS Atlantis. He won the Black Cross award: “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.”

GALVEN: Thank you for agreeing to have an interview with me! Could you tell us a little about yourself for our readers out there?

KNIGHT:  My pleasure, I have been a fan of star trek since some of my earliest memories and enjoy reading star trek novels. I have been simming my character off and on for almost a year know aboard the Atlantis as the ships Signals intelligence Officer

Winning a duty post award that’s outside of our normal range of  selected duty posts must be a great feeling! Do you take any inspiration from films, television, or books when writing your character and his actions?

To be honest, I was quite surprised when I won the black cross, I had been doing my best at the time to portray a Federation intelligence officer and never would have guessed I would even be nominated for the award. As for inspiration, I am particularly fond of the Deep Space Nine series. Specifically, Captain Sisco and Commander Worf, though the characters were miles apart as far as story lines and personalities. They both find themselves conflicted with the morality of how important the right information can be and whether acting upon it would be morally right. Moreover they both portray Intelligence work in more realistic light as opposed the more popular 007 approach made popular by the movies.

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Duty Post Award Winner – Valin Dermont, USS Atlantis (The Phoenix Award)

May 17, 2019by German Galven in Award Winning Interviews

Join us for another in a series of interviews with winners of Duty Post awards from our recent 2018 Awards Ceremony. Our goal is to give you insight into how our fleet’s best simmers write, and imagine their characters.

This month we’re interviewing the writer behind Lieutenant Valin Dermont playing a Human male Chief Engineer assigned to the USS Atlantis. He won the Phoenix Award: “a duty post award that recognizes engineers. Named for the vessel that legendary engineer Zefram Cochrane piloted during his historic first warp flight, this award goes to those Engineering officers who continue this tradition of excellence in the field of engineering. By performing their tasks with enthusiasm, imagination and diligence, by managing to make their equipment perform above and beyond its rated capacities, the officers meriting this award further the mission of their ship by their superior know-how. In short, miracle workers.”

GALVEN: Thank you so much for taking the time to do an interview with me! Could you tell us a little about yourself for our readers out there?

DERMONT:  I’m just a guy doing his best outside of Trek.  I am married with a daughter and spend far too many hours working.  Writing and D&D are my two biggest passions when I can find the time!

Your duty post is an engineer. Could you explain why you chose that and is there any show/movie/book that take inspiration from?

The idea of making things work just really appealed to me.  No matter what is going on….sooner of later in an episode of Star Trek something is going to need to be fixed.  I feel Dermont is a blend of Scotty, Torres, and my own inner thoughts that I would never be so coarse as to say out loud.

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Lower Decks Interview: Lieutenant JG Maddi Hyden, USS Atlantis

May 7, 2019by German Galven in Lower Decks

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 Lieutenant JG Maddi Hyden playing a Human Female Tactical Officer assigned to the USS Atlantis.

GALVEN: Thank you for taking the time out of your day to do an interview with me! Could you tell us a little about yourself for our readers out there?

HYDEN: Thank you for giving me the honor to be interviewed. My name is Stephen I’m 21 years old and I hail from West Virginia. I’ve been writing for a little over 4 years now never expected to enjoy it as much as I have, but wouldn’t change it for anything. I’m excited for some things that will be happening soon in the meantime just biding my time and waiting.

Are there any movies, shows, and/or books you take inspiration from?

Not exactly I’ve got a lot of my inspiration from multiple Star Trek shows. Usually though I have a very creative mind so I take quite a bit of time to refine my character into what I want them to be in the end.

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Duty Post Award Winner – Rune Jolara, USS Columbia (The Order of the Valiant Award)

April 30, 2019by German Galven in Award Winning Interviews

Join us for another in a series of interviews with winners of Duty Post awards from our recent 2018 Awards Ceremony. Our goal is to give you insight into how our fleet’s best simmers write, and imagine their characters.

This month we’re interviewing the writer behind Lt. Commander Rune Jolara playing a Al-Leyan female Intelligence Officer assigned to the USS Columbia. She won the Order of the Valiant Award: “This award is given to those ship’s Counselor who have shown great skill in protecting the mental health of their crewmates, clearly demonstrating superior ability to care, assist, and comfort those in need. They have gone above and beyond the call of duty in assisting their crewmates with their problems, and in preventing future problems from occurring.”

GALVEN: Thank you so much for accepting this interview! Could you tell us more about yourself for our readers out there?

JOLARA: Thank you! I started this life in a small town on the banks of the Mississippi River in Southern Illinois. I left that town as soon as I was old enough to escape and I never looked back.

I really can’t remember a time when I wasn’t writing in one form or the other. Even during my childhood I would sneak away and write. Writing, along with painting and drawing, has helped me through some pretty dark times in my life.

My earliest memories of Star Trek is watching TOS with one of my uncles. When TNG came out (yes, I am that old), my interest (almost obsession) in all things Trek was reignited and hasn’t really stopped. Way back in 2005, I found SB118 and jumped at the chance to join a group that combined two things I love. I ended up taking a few years off but came back in 2012 as Rune Jolara.

Out in the real world, I’m a Front End Web Developer with a job I actually love… most of the time. 🙂  I’m also (slowly, very slowly) working on a sci-fi/supernatural novel.

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Lower Decks Interview: Ensign Chloe Waters, USS Eagle

April 26, 2019by German Galven in Lower Decks

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 Chloe Waters playing a Human female Helm Officer assigned to the USS Eagle.

GALVEN: Thank you for taking the time in doing an interview with me! Could you tell us a little about yourself for our readers out there

WATERS: ::waves:: Hello everyone. Most of you know me by my character name, or by Gar. Perhaps some of you may know me by a few other identities. The person with the stories, the crazy person, or the blind person. Whatever the case, all of those descriptions are true. In any case, I’m eighteen years old, pal, and let me tell ya aboot my proud Canadian background, eh?

Since this will definitely come up, my history with sight, and/or lack there of, is complicated. I am a cancer surviver even though, statistically, I shouldn’t be here. I was diagnosed at six months old and was in treatment for a couple months. I lost one eye to it and the other was saved, even though the doctors didn’t think I could see out of it at the time. A few years later they discovered otherwise. When I was in the fourth grade my vision started to deteriorate and I had to have surgery to get a cataract removed. What vision I had shot back up until I had to have some residual scarring removed two years later because I was starting to lose it again. Two years after that, the cataract began to grow back, and I started to lose my sight so I needed surgery to correct for that again.

My sight was restored, until I went to bed one night a few months later and woke up the next morning… with all of it gone. To this day no one understands why, or why I have since regained some of my light perception. Despite what issues being blind has caused me, it isn’t as bad as it seems. Being without sight allows me to get to know people on a more personal level, because I judge people based on who they are, rather than what they look like.

As for my relationship with Trek, I’ve been a fan since I stumbled on it ever since I was eight years old. The show struck a cord with me immediately, thanks to a certain chief engineer aboard the Enterprise. 😉 I’ll let you all figure out which one. In any case that love of Trek has lead me to joining various roleplaying groups, trying out different characters. And now I’m here.

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Lower Decks Interview: Ensign Beelam Grog, USS Montreal

April 9, 2019by German Galven in Lower Decks

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 Beelam Grog playing a Trill female medical officer assigned to the USS Montreal.

GALVEN: I appreciate you for accepting my Interview! Could you tell us a little bit about yourself for our readers out there?

GROG: Sure thing. I live and go to college in Colorado where I am studying to become a special education teacher. In my free time I do role play for systems like Star Trek adventures, write and watch British history programs.

How did you find out about Starbase 118 and what made you ultimately choose our community and stay with us?

I find it to be a funny story. I found your group when I was searching google for Information about Starfleet academy. I found the wiki and upon seeing that this group was still active decided to join. I mostly stayed because I liked the people and how they valued the players as real people first.

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Lower Decks Interview: Lieutenant JG Groznin Smith, USS Gorkon

February 24, 2019by German Galven in Column, Lower Decks

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 Lieutenant JG Groznin Smith playing a Human/Denobulan hybrid male tactical officer assigned to the USS Gorkon.

GALVEN: Thank you for taking the time to do an interview with me. Could you tell us a little about yourself for our readers out there?

SMITH: Thanks for the chance to do this interview. My names Zech, I’m 18 and from England. I’m an avid Star Trek fan and have watched almost everything. I have two more canon films and the JJverse films and then I will have watched everything in just over 2-3 years I can’t remember.

Out of all the permitted species listed on the wiki, did you take any inspiration from any film/TV show/book when you chose to play a Denobulan?  

Yes. Dr. Phlox is one of my favourite characters in Star Trek. He is really interesting as is his species (Denobulan) I wanted to explore them further and develop them more as apart from in Enterprise we don’t see them. Since then I’ve, with the help of yourself and another one of the Denobulans Pholin Duyzer, we have created the entire planet of Denobula and even gone into a little bit of history on the planet which was super fun.

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Duty Post Award Winner – Mirra Ezo, USS Columbia (Lwaxana Troi Medallion)

February 3, 2019by German Galven in Award Winning Interviews

Join us for another in a series of interviews with winners of Duty Post awards from our recent 2018 Awards Ceremony. Our goal is to give you insight into how our fleet’s best simmers write, and imagine their characters.

This month we’re interviewing the writer behind Lieutenant Commander Mirra Ezo playing a Betazoid female diplomatic officer assigned to the USS Columbia. She won the Lwaxana Troi Medallion: “This award is given to a member who takes on a unique and non-traditional role outside of the normal Starfleet positions, while creating a colorful and engaging character such as, but not limited to: diplomat, civilian or mission specialist.”

GALVEN: First off, thank you for taking the time with me and answering a few questions! Could you tell us a little about yourself for our readers out there?

EZO: Thank you for having me! I’ve been a member of the fleet for about 3 years now, I live in Ohio with my two daughters, and I work in the healthcare field. Pretty much very un-Mirra like.

Winning such a distinguished award in our community must be a great feeling! Congratulations by the way! The award is given to a member who’s character is colorful and engaging outside of normal Starfleet positions. Do you take any inspiration from films, television, or books when writing your character and her actions?

Thank you very much, I was honored. Honestly Mirra just kind of lives in my head. I had an idea of what I wanted to play, and she kind of just became this larger than life little creation. I primarily played her as a doctor, so I did indeed take inspiration from TV and books for someone in that high pressure type role. And if I found something funny, I went with it. 

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Lower Decks Interview: Ensign Pholin Duyzer, USS Columbia

January 9, 2019by German Galven in Lower Decks

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 Pholin Duyzer playing a Denobulan Male Science Officer assigned to the USS Columbia.

GALVEN: First off, thank you for taking the time to answer a few questions. Could you tell us a little about yourself for our readers out there?

DUYZER: Thank you for inviting me! I am Quinten; I come from the Netherlands and was born and raised in the Hague. I love watching and reading science-fiction, which all started with Star Trek. I have a Goldendoodle named Silke and taking long walks with her is another hobby of mine.

How did you find out about Starbase 118 and what made you ultimately choose our community and stay with us?

Lately I’ve become what some would say obsessed with Star Trek, and I really wanted to be part of it. After realising I had to wait until 2063 for First Contact, I opted for the next best thing. I browsed around multiple different groups. Most websites looked like they were last updated in the zero’s. I chose SB118 for the great looking website and the extensive wiki. Of course, I stayed for the active community in the group and forums, and the quality of writing in all the sims.

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Duty Post Award Winner – Ensign Sotak, USS Atlantis (Cochrane Award)

January 2, 2019by German Galven in Award Winning Interviews

Join us for another in a series of interviews with winners of Duty Post awards from our recent 2018 Awards Ceremony. Our goal is to give you insight into how our fleet’s best simmers write, and imagine their characters.

This month we’re interviewing the writer behind Ensign Sotak playing a Vulcan female science officer assigned to the USS Atlantis. She won the Cochrane Award: “Awarded to those science officers who have contributed greatly to the advance of science in the midst of their Starfleet career, by staying knowledgeable about their field, participating in the community of science, but most importantly, by placing their knowledge at the service of their ship and its mission.”

GALVEN: First off, It’s an honor and a privilege that we could sit down together for an interview and answering a few questions. Could you tell us a little about yourself for our readers out there?

SOTAK:  Hello! Thank you for inviting me for this opportunity, I’m greatly honoured as well. I’m from Mexico, and I have a deep love of science and its community, so just like Sotak and other science officers in the fleet, I hope to one day contribute something to the world (or the Federation in our scientists’ case). I began simming in this group back in March of this year, and it is my first simming experience, one which I believe to be unmatchable.  It is a wonderful and irreplaceable community, and I have deep appreciation and respect for it.

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