We invite all members of our community to join us in the Discord chat room this coming Sunday, for our regularly scheduled get-together, where we’ll talk about what’s happening around the fleet, learn more about each other, and discuss Star Trek!
This chat is open to all and casual, so feel free to come and go as you please. See you there!
Each year, the Executive Council – as required by the community Constitution – pulls together a “State of the Federation Address” intended to inform the fleet about the challenges facing our community, and what we’ve accomplished in the past year.
Thank you to Lt. Cmdr. Sky Blake for spearheading the project this year!
The Executive Council is always happy to hear from our members with feedback or questions, and a thread has been opened on the forum about the State of the Federation Address for that purpose.
The Star Trek universe is home to all kinds of sentient life. The various humanoids that populate the galaxy are only the beginning. There are also the members of the enigmatic Q Continuum, giant crystalline beings, spaceborne animals, energy spirits, and a living nebula or two. But what about the androids, holoprograms, and computers of the galaxy?
Advances in the field of artificial intelligence produce artificial intelligences that are more and more lifelike and capable of things that would never be expected from the computers of previous generations. Even technology not typically treated as actual beings, such as the Enterprise D computer, have demonstrated the ability to develop a mind of their own with repeated use. The status of artificial beings such as Lieutenant Commander Data or Voyager’s EMH have been the central conflict in multiple episodes.
While Data and the other Soong androids are a unique case, there was nothing particularly exceptional about the EMH on Voyager until prolonged activation and accumulated experiences as the ship’s doctor caused him to expand beyond his original programming. If the Doctor could become a sentient being, is every hologram capable of the same transformation? Holoprograms such as the Doctor or Vic Fontaine appear to be the exception rather than the rule. What would the effects on life in the Federation change if every holoprogram and computer had the same rights as any other sentient being? How is sentience in an artificial being determined, if it is possible at all? That is the question we’d like to pose to you this week.
Do you think androids, holograms, and computers should be considered sentient beings?
DURONIS II — The Embassy of Duronis II makes ready for the arrival of two diplomatic delegations.
This just in: the Federation News Service is hiring! Seasoned journalists and freelancers are wanted to showcase what’s going on beyond the mission reports of Starfleet to the greater universe in the 24th century. What’s the latest political update from Federation headquarters on Paris, Earth? Who’s the next breakout singer from Trill? You can help shape life in the 24th century!
The Federation News Service is an exciting new venue for worldbuilding and telling stories set in the Star Trek universe. Stories like…
You can read these stories and more on fns.news.
Want to write your own?
The Federation News Service welcomes both one-time and regular story submissions! Enjoy a creative avenue for simmers, role players, and fan fiction writers to develop the larger prime Trek universe.
There are two ways to write for the FNS:
Check out the FNS’s website or learn more about the FNS team on the 118 Wiki!
EARTH, SOL SECTOR — Klingon Cultists named, “Children of Molor” and sympathisers have taken hostages to reclaim the old ways of the Empire, notably Ambassador Airwyn Vanath and a Starfleet away team.
AAVARO WILDS — In a stunning incident, the newly established Federation colony on the planet Saldhana has been destroyed under suspicious circumstances. There were few survivors.
PARIS, EARTH — As tensions continue to build between the Romulan refugee population on Ketar V and the native colonists, Federation Secretary of the Exterior Lily Ventu announced this morning that she will head to the colony to mediate talks and devise a plan forward.
On September 19, 2017 – 12 years after Enterprise last aired – Star Trek was back on our screens with Discovery. This time we were transported to 2255, 10 years before The Original Series was set. Since then, Star Trek has seen a resurgence in popularity and it looks like 2020 is going to be most exciting year yet!
Not only can we expect the third season of Star Trek: Discovery, but we are being treated to not one, but two more new shows!
Join us for another in a series of interviews with winners of Duty Post awards from our recent 2019 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 Toryn Raga playing an Al-Layan male Mission Specialist assigned to the USS Atlantis. He won the Lwaxana Troi Medallion: “given to a member who takes a unique role outside of the normal StarFleet positions and creates a colorful and engaging character.”
GALVEN: Thank you for agreeing to have an interview with me! Could you tell us a little about yourself for our readers out there?
RAGA: Certainly! My name is Rameses, I’m a complete nerd (aren’t we all?) I’ve loved Star Trek since I saw episodes of TOS my parents showed. I’ve been with 118 for going on two years now, three maybe. I started at the tail end of 2394 I think. Yeah. October. So wow, three years almost!
Winning such a unique duty post award such as Mission Specialist must be really exciting! Is there any kind of inspiration from anything in Star Trek or elsewhere when you write a scene?
It definitely is! And challenging as Mission Specialists are basically the Renaissance Men/Women of the fleet. They have to be whatever the ship and Captain needs them to be in a given moment. Which, the challenge for me is, as Raga is an Al-Leyan they are culturally prohibited from doing jobs outside what they were raised to do. In his case, a security/tactical one.
As for inspiration, I suppose it’s a mix of fiction and real world sources. At least as far as I see it, Mission Specialists are like special forces. In a way, I think they’re similar to the Starfleet Rangers. They lead, sometimes they’re alone doing a task, sometimes they have to switch between doing multiple things/roles at once. Sort of like Roadies in a way, or supporting sorts. Aragorn, the Rangers from Babylon 5, etc.
UFOP: StarBase 118 is a fun, free, and welcoming Star Trek play-by-email role playing community.
Learn more about us and join today!
