Leaderboard

Like Shayne, I wanted to also give a shoutout to several folks who are so deserving of the awards they've received this year! First big kudos to the amazing and future Galactic Empress @Jo Marshall. May she find me useful during her reign. But seriously, lady, you rock! Besides organizing this year's ceremony and making sure everything got done, you've brought that same leadership to the FNS and I have no doubt as well to your ship. I'm glad we got to sim together over this recent mission, and I hope we have more opportunities in the future! @Wil Ukinix, you've become such an amazing writer and player on Veritas, and especially this year, with the personnel changes we've had, you have stepped up to keep our ship vibrant. I cannot wait to see what's in store for you. Congratulations on all your achievements! @German Galven, I am so glad to see how well you are doing on Ops, serving Jamie as a vital member of her staff. Thank you for everything you do for the fleet, from the news articles to representing 118 at events beyond like Project Khitomer. @Lazarus Davis, it's been a pleasure listening to you on the podcast and getting a chance to speak with you for a segment. Earning the TOSMA on your ship is a momentous event, and I look forward to one day simming with you. @Addison MacKenzie, I'm so proud of what you have accomplished over this past year. Congratulations on both the TOSMA for Thor and the fleetwide duty post award for medical. That's truly a remarkable recognition from our community, and I know whether you wish to continue as a chief medical officer for a few more years or have your sights set on the red collar, nothing will stop you from achieving your goals! Thank you for everything you do for your shipmates and our fleet. @Sophie290999, it's so wonderful to see you thrive and how much you've grown as a player. You've made a lasting impression and fun, distinguished contributions to Veritas, whether it be BAXTER or just Charlena's overall awesomeness. I can't wait to see what adventures are in store for you next! @Randal Shayne, congrats on all the accolades and now your new ship! Cherish this moment; it's just the start of a wonderful (and yes challenging) journey ahead, but I know you will steer your crew well with the same dedication that you commit yourself in everything you do. @Ceciri Ariadust, after working with you for so long before in other parts of the fleet, I've been so glad to sim with you since you came to Veritas. I hope you have been enjoying your time in the fleet as well since your return. @Jalana, congrats, Commodore, again, and for everything else you do in the fleet, thank you. I can't imagine 118 without you, and it's safe to say it literally wouldn't *look* quite the same without your hard work. @Geoffrey Teller, I'm glad to see you get the recognition now from the fleet that I saw myself first as your CO. You've done a "good job" indeed, and as I've told you before, I'm so proud now that you are serving as an inspiration, mentor, and role model for the players that have since joined us and are under your care. @FltAdml. Wolf, you are truly deserving of the descriptor "champion" for all you do for this community. Though your title may be founder or fleet admiral, you really are more like the mayor or community manager of a small city. Someday, we need to do an article that covers really *everything* you do to keep this place running. Know that you have the gratitude always of over a hundred members and the countless more before and after for giving us all a second home on the web. @Quinn Reynolds, congratulations on our fleet's highest honor! There are so many things you do for our community beyond just the obvious roles you play as a CO and academy commandant. You bring a perceptive eye on our governing councils while continuing to set the standard for writing and creativity when it comes to your own characters and stories. Working on the EC and elsewhere isn't just a responsibility but a joy thanks to your presence and support. @Oddas Aria, congrats again on everything this year. From Capstone to CAL, you've earned it, and I'm excited to see what other innovations you continue to bring to our group! I still can't believe you were a cadet in my class, but it just reminds me that every cadet has the potential to become the next outstanding leader. @Sal Taybrim, we might not have simmed together yet, but I feel a connection to you through your former CO/command mentor. Maybe you feel it, too? Anyway, you've always brought an insightful perspective to how we can improve our fleet and what's important in a game versus just fan fiction writing. I can't think of a better person to lead our namesake installation. Congratulations to everyone! The best part of the awards for me is getting to read all the nominations and to see how much of an impact each recipient has had on their crew and other players across the fleet.

I'm delighted to present the badges for this years award ceremony! See below for the full badge list. If you believe you should have earned the badge but are not listed, contact your CO. Learn more about badges and how to display them on your wiki pages here. And don't forget: Make sure you take our survey about the awards ceremony to let us how you think it went. The full ceremony has been posted on the wiki now, as with all previous ceremonies. Awards Chairperson Presented to a staff member that has held the position of Awards Chairperson for an Awards Ceremony. If more than one staff member holds the title, or is appointed an assistant or deputy, all receive the badge. Sky Blake, Veritas Ishkabella Journs, Atlantis Randal Shayne, Arrow Jo Marshall, Gorkon Awards Committee Presented to any staff member that participates in the yearly Awards Committee to select Duty Post and Special Awards. Nugra, Constitution-B Ash MacKenna, Juneau Jarred Thoran, Atlantis Awards Ceremony Nominator (Standard) A player must submit at least 1 nomination for a fellow player during an awards ceremony, in any category. This badge can be earned multiple times, but is only awarded once per year. A player earning an elite or legendary badge will not also earn the lower levels in the same year. Awards Ceremony Nominator (Elite) A player must submit at least 5 nominations for fellow players in any category. This badge can be earned multiple times, but is only awarded once per year. A player earning an elite or legendary badge will not also earn the lower levels in the same year. Awards Ceremony Nominator (Legendary) A player must submit at least 10 nominations for players on more than 2 vessels in any category. This badge can be earned multiple times, but is only awarded once per year. A player earning an elite or legendary badge will not also earn the lower levels in the same year.

I'll make a confession: I'm a verbose person. I begin to write and I easily exceed the number of words I had intended. That's why SIMs like this marvel me. It has many good things and, its conciseness is only one of them. In a very succinct way, without dialogue and with a very short and elegant description, it shows us a very intimate moment of a character that, in a usual way, is a force of nature. With very few lines and in a very subtle way it reflects what past events have meant for the character, how they still weigh on her and what she is dealing with. All in a missive to home, a sweetened message to really conceal what is in her mind. A true delight for its succinctness, its intimacy and the vulnerability it displays. Thanks for this gem @Addison MacKenzie ! ____________________________________________________ (( Room 0502, Deck 5, USS Thor )) Addison sat on the couch in her quarters with her feet up and re-read the letter composed on her PADD. To: Priscilla MacKenzie, 34 Linnaean Street, Cambridge, MA, Earth From: Lt. Cmdr. Addison MacKenzie, M.D., Ph.D., FASFS Hi Mom, I know, I know – I don’t write or call enough, and you’re right, so let’s just get that out of the way now. Things have been crazy, as you well know from the bits I’ve been able to send you. I’m on my third assignment in a year and a half, which either means they really like me, or they really hate me. Time will tell, I’m sure. We recently got took on several new junior officers, including a Vulcan doctor. While she’s a colossal pain in my [...], she’s an excellent addition to this crew, and so too for medicine as a whole, I’m sure. The rest of the lot are a good bunch and will make fine officers. Hopping the galaxy does have its perks, though – I had the best burger of my life at a greasy spoon on Ketar V. While I wouldn’t recommend The Shoals as a destination hotspot, these burgers might be worth it… I know Ryan would love them. Sorry I don’t have time to write more. Try not to worry too much – Geoff is still here and keeps me in line. Give Dad and the bunch a big squeeze for me. Next chance I get, I’ll be home to visit. Promise. All my love, Addy She decided not to mention the part where she had been abducted and abused, though it was likely her parents already knew – they always seemed to have a way of finding things out. Addison took a deep breath and hit send. She desperately hoped she was able to keep that promise. --- Lieutenant Commander Addison MacKenzie, M.D., Ph.D., FASFS Chief Medical Officer USS Thor V239601AM0

Since this covers a few sims: Imagine a beach scene, the start of the conversation between Tali Namura (written by @Jo Marshall) and Arlo Thornton (written by @Theo Whittaker) A few sims later, the end of the scene: 😂

I would like to thank @FltAdml. Wolf for going above and beyond this awards ceremony. So much hard work was done behind the scene and if anyone deserves a drink and a vacation it's this guy right here! Thank you so much for your hard work! Thank you @Jo Marshall for all the hard work you did in getting this awards ceremony together as well as massive amount of back scenes management to get all those votes tallied and all those nominations sorted. You did a great job, thank you! Thank you to every player in this game. Remember simming is collaboration, and we gain more by writing with others and letting others help us write. Keep dreaming, keep writing beautiful stories and keep supporting one another! Oh and... @Randal Shayne - thank you for the wonderful and heartfelt thanks ❤️ However we have written together - for quite some time - on the Eagle. I have two characters, remember? I look forward to seeing everyone back for Awards 2021!!

I love the bits of Risian language that @Sophie290999 sprinkled into Vanlith's message. This is a beautiful little sim showing a mentor/mentee friendship continue across the stars. Well done, Sophie and @Geoffrey Teller! ((Personal Quarters, Deck 4, USS Veritas)) Charlena tucked her legs under herself as she curled up on the sofa with her PADD. She was catching her breath again after everything that had happened and she couldn’t help but think that there was one person who should know what had happened. Teller. Opening up her message she didn’t hesitate. Charlena read over her message once more before she hit send. She smiled up at herself catching her gaze in the mirror that he had gifted her. She couldn’t help but wipe the single tear that fell from her cheek as she stood and straightened her attire. A strong coffee would work wonders now she decided as she made her way out the the Brew Continuum. ((Roughly 8000 LY away, Duronis System, Embassy of Duronis II)) Geoff Teller sagged into a chair in his wildly lavish living quarters with a sigh. He had been going almost non-stop since stepping off the shuttle on the world the locals called Til’Ahn, and now that Doctor MacKenzie had been rescued and the Thunder was on its way back, he could finally take a moment to relax and regroup. His arm, fully mobile now, had picked up a strange grinding and as he rolled his shoulder around he heard what sounded like a box of pebbles within the joint. If it had been a component aboard a ship, he would’ve disconnected it and applied a through dose of lubricant. He smirked at the idea - no doubt the Embassy’s medical staff would have a more practical solution once he made the time for a follow up visit. He briefly considered going now, but found his body was completely disinterested in the idea of getting out of the plush, comfortable lounger. He kicked off his boots in surrender to good sense and grabbed a nearby PADD, content to get caught up on some of the mountain of reports that had accumulated while he was jogging through the forest. Flicking through menus, Teller stopped on his inbox and smiled. It was overflowing with routine message traffic, administrative issues that he was copied on as a courtesy, and all the logistical information that came with running a base and a small fleet of starships. One message stood out, though. A message from a friend. As Teller opened the note and began to read, he immediately found himself smiling. He could hear the young woman's voice behind the words and wondered if she had been hiding behind her hair as she wrote it. The note itself was touching and it reminded him of the family he had chosen to leave to take on this new challenge. It was not a decision he regretted but, as his freshly healed arm continued to grind, it also wasn’t one that had gone smoothly. As he finished the note and put down the padd, Geoff closed his eyes briefly and fought tears. Charlena had come aboard the Veritas equally full of potential and self-doubt, and it had been one of the highlights of Teller’s career helping the woman find her confidence. She had grown enormously as an officer during their time working together and Teller was certain she had a bright future. With a grin he opened his eyes, picked up the PADD and began composing a response. Geoff paused the recording and considered his next words carefully. He’d tried not to focus on just how much distance there was between his new and former posting, but at the moment that gulf seemed unimaginably vast. He had to remind her, and himself, that they were still on the same team - even if they were separated by duty, time and tides, as naval officers had been since time immemorial. Geoff found his vision had blurred at some point and he wiped his eyes before sending the message on. In his mind, he traveled with the packet of data, first to the local comm relay, then up to the repeater in orbit, and on to the chain of relay stations and listening posts scattered across the Federation until, finally, it found a funny little ship full of the best people Teller had ever known, basking gracefully in the light of a distant sun. Teller went to bed feeling better than he had in weeks. [End] =============================== Lieutenant Commander Geoffrey Teller Executive Officer Duronis II Embassy & Support Flotilla Rear Admiral Turner, T. Commanding V239509GT0 LT. JG Charlena Vanlith Engineering Officer USS Veritas V239604CV0