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Welcome to day four of our 20th annual awards ceremony So far this week we’ve announced the winners of the Length of Service Awards, Special Awards, and Duty Post Awards. And now we’re very excited to present the Staff Awards, which are only for those members who have achieved the rank of commander or higher. These awards recognize the hard work of our staff, who do the behind-the-scenes work required to keep the engine of our community running, and smoothly at that! They help foster the fun simming environment we all enjoy. This year we have one new award to add to our list: The T’Pau Cluster of Distinction, which is presented for long-term achievement in leading the Training Team. In previous years, the Shuvalis Diamond of Recognition recognised long-term commitment and achievement in the Training or Publicity teams, but since both teams are so important we decided they each needed their own award. We’re also very happy to announce that the first Kathryn Janeway Award in six years will be presented to a very worthy recipient! This award recognizes those commanding officers who have made a great impact on their crew and left an indelible legacy on our community history – they may have retired and taken a break but they will not be forgotten. The winners this year, as in 2015, were chosen by the fleet's first officers from the nominations made by you! Staff Member of the Year Award For staff members who have contributed tirelessly to the organization through any number of OOC channels, while maintaining excellence in simming on their vessel. Quinn Reynolds, USS Gorkon presented by Aron Kells & Cassandra Egan Manno: "Even before she served as Captain-at-Large for the Executive Council last year, Emma (Flt. Capt. Reynolds) was specifically sought out by the EC to give feedback on a difficult issue. Since then, and just to give you some context for her good work over the last six months, she's been elevated to a full seat on the EC and promoted to fleet captain, and it's easy to see why. She's taken a set of difficult circumstances on the Gorkon, including the abrupt resignation of her XO at launch, and forged a cohesive, connected community of a crew. She's active on both the Captains and Executive Councils and I find myself often parroting her good advice -- and, in fact, wishing I'd said what she'd said first! She is an invaluable asset to the group, and I can't imagine serving as we do without her. In fact, as a previous recipient of this award, it's doubly my pleasure to present her with this because of our long history together. I first wrote with Emma when I (as Lily Ventu!) was an XO and lieutenant commander for the first time, and when Quinn had just been named a lieutenant JG and chief of her department. This was, if you can believe it, either 2007 or 2008--and while our first meeting was wonderful, some rocky times followed and neither of us was sure we would be sticking around with the group. However, it's incredibly gratifying to see Emma now as a fleet captain, a member of the EC, and as the (very!) well deserved Staff Member of the Year, and I hope everyone reading this will join me in congratulating Emma and thanking her for her service and her long years of dedication. You rock!" The Picard Award The highest honor given to those officers of Admiral rank. Recipients of the Picard Award must show an unfailing devotion to the club, as well as work continually on ways to better the atmosphere of simming in our community. Toni Turner, Embassy of Duronis II presented by Tristan Wolf: "What is there left to say about the indelible Toni Turner? She started as an eager ensign with little knowledge of Star Trek and now stands in the rank of Rear Admiral, one of only a handful that have reached that high over the course of 22 years. Above all, Turner is resilient. She faced a great many trials along the path to where she is now. But all along, she has been resilient and determined to prove all the naysayers wrong. And in the end, she outlasted all of them! Now she’s a commanding officer with one of our longest records in a simming installation for far longer than most others have even been a member. She’s a member of the Executive Council, and has been one for a number of years now. She just recently stepped down from a long tenure with the Training Team as a dedicated and tireless Deputy Commandant. There’s no greater honor in our community than the Picard Award, and I can’t imagine anyone who’s put more time, energy, sweat, and tears to get here. Congratulations, Toni Turner – this is your day, and you deserve it!" The James T. Kirk Cross Given to new Commanding Officers who show outstanding potential in the field of commanding. Sal Taybrim, Starbase 118 Ops presented by Aron Kells & Cassandra Egan Manno: "Oh, man, I really wanted to write this one out! Jamie, aka Captain Taybrim, is someone who I knew was going to rise to the very top when I first interacted with her. When I was launching her former CO and it was time to consider who would be his new XO, Jamie was the first one I thought of: She was experienced, thoughtful, conscientious, and a great writer, and she had just weathered a particularly unpleasant crisis in a way that very much impressed me and further convinced me that one of her greatest strengths was leadership. She commands her ship with honor and dedication--two of her nominations for this award came from members of her crew, both of whom wrote stellar nomination essays that dug deeply into what makes Jamie an excellent CO--and she's a thoughtful and erudite presence on the Captains Council and the Executive Council. What's perhaps most impressive to me, however, is how much thought Jamie puts into everything that she does. Her many years of experience running games and groups (some similar to SB118, and some wildly different!) have given her a considerable level of experience, and she's even evolved theories of game operations that she uses to guide her crews through mission planning and execution. If this sounds too cold, I'm sure that her crew will be the first to tell you that it isn't at all! Jamie's experience and theoretical knowledge combine to help turn the current iteration of SB118 Ops into one of the most enjoyable that the group has ever seen. Here's to this year's Kirk Cross winner--and I look forward to seeing what comes next!" The Shuvalis Diamond of Recognition For long-term achievement in leading the Publicity Team as a way of advancing peaceful relations with "newly discovered life forms. Tristan Wolf, Executive Council presented by Renos: "Tristan Wolf has long provided strong support for the publicity team by providing guidance, encouragement, helpful and informative reading materials to the team's facilitator and members. He is always available to bounce ideas off and shows his passion for this most important of teams. As a website administrator making sure we're optimized for search engines and facilitator of the news team and by making sure our blog always has fresh content he is helping to make sure we rank well with search engines. He has even paid for facebook advertising out of his own pocket to push our most successful social media pages to help us make a bigger splash and pull in more new players. While other people come and go, Tristan Wolf is always there whether the publicity team is doing great or otherwise. On a personal level, I am thankful for all of the support he gave me as former publicity team facilitator and could not have been as successful without his support and guidance. It's my view that he is long overdue recognition and thanks for all that he does behind the scenes, that isn't always seen but certainly contributes to our success." T'Pau Cluster of Distinction For long-term achievement in leading the Training Team. Selene Faranfey presented by Tristan Wolf: "Our Training Team is a pivotal part of our community, for a number of reasons. First, it acquaints new members with our way of simming, which is nearly unique – at this point – in the simming world, and a proudly cherished relic from days gone by. Second, it’s the primary training ground for our mid-level leaders, and future commanding officers, who learn about mentoring, providing simming feedback, leading a team, and working with our toolset. There are a myriad of moving parts that have only grown more complex in recent years as we’ve added new components. But Captain Faranfey has navigated these parts with aplomb, acting as a dedicated member of the team in the capacity of a training officer, and then later volunteering to take on a new leadership role with our “Statisticians Team,” which keeps track of our ever-growing database of records regarding the Academy. And when the former Academy Commandant stepped down, she was eager to learn the ropes as a Deputy Commandant, and work her way into the Commandant role. She now manages the Academy with ease, improving our materials, providing honest and empathetic feedback, and coordinating the other staff. It’s a difficult job in which Captain Faranfey is still learning and growing, but one that she’s shown herself quite adept at. So for her long-time leadership of the Training Team, it’s my honor to bestow the inaugural T’Pau Cluster of Distinction on Captain Faranfey. Congratulations to her!" The Sarek Star Given to a command officer who shows great diplomatic ability in working with members and staff. Renos, USS Darwin presented by Aron Kells & Cassandra Egan Manno: "For those who have worked with him in any capacity, James's receipt of this award seems like a no-brainer. "Shows great diplomatic ability in working with members and staff" seems like it could have been written about James himself, never mind the Sarek Star, and so the only disappointment to me here is that he can't win it again and again! James epitomizes the Sarek Star, so much that I wonder if we should perhaps rename it after him after this win...but that's a conversation for another time. In one of the nomination essays, James's nominator describes him as "a cornerstone of the fleet," and that couldn't be more accurate. James leads the way when it comes to thoughtful and considerate interactions with his crew, and the respect with which he treats all of them is obvious in the respect they show for him as a leader. His calm and compassionate voice is an important one when it comes to all of his OOC interactions, and many simmers who've interacted with him have great faith knowing that he's one of the select members of the Executive Council. I remember--and bear with me if I've shared this particular anecdote before!--but back a couple of years ago when James won several fleet awards (the Rising Star, the Order of the Valiant Heart, and the Strange Medallion, among others), Emma (Flt. Capt. Reynolds) and I were discussing James's future in the fleet. She said to me then, "There's a fleet captain in the making"--and while that promotion has already come true, James is so much more than simply another flag rank. He is one of the kindest simmers I've ever encountered, and I can't express how much more whole we are as a community because of his presence among us. Congratulations, James, and thank you for all you do!" Christopher Pike Pendant Awarded to commanding officers who command their ship with honor and dedication, and help to provide an creative atmosphere which fosters outstanding simming. Quinn Reynolds, USS Gorkon presented by Aron Kells & Cassandra Egan Manno: "One of the best parts about our awards process is that the nomination process is so egalitarian: Our newest ensign can nominate the most experienced captain, and the most experienced captain can nominate the newest ensign. In many cases, that single fact may help to decide who wins--and in the case of the staff awards, when a CO has the support of a member of his or her crew, that can speak volumes. The Christopher Pike Pendant, which is awarded to COs who "command their ship with honor and dedication, and help to provide an creative atmosphere which fosters outstanding simming," is an award that I expect to see crew members nominate their COs for--after all, who knows better than a crew about their experience with a CO? In the case of this year's winner, however, Emma was nominated not just once, and not even twice, but fully three times by different members of her crew. Since launching the Gorkon, she has established herself as a CO for the history books, both in her fleet affairs and, as the Pike Pendant so rightly says, as a CO who commands the utmost respect from her crew. However, it isn't just the volume of nominations that matters; rather, it's the content that's most important. Her nominators compliment her for high standards when it comes to writing; for her ease in assisting other simmers and seamlessly pushing the plot forward; for her warmth and welcoming of new members; and for the support she offers in helping her crew develop their characters. And while these would be impressive enough on their own, I want to also share that every one of her nominators mentioned Emma's positive and voluminous communications in some way--when she speaks, others listen, and when others want to speak with her, she listens. She is one of the finest COs our group has ever seen, and she thoroughly deserves this year's Christopher Pike Pendant. Congratulations!" Chief’s Citation Starfleet history is much more liable to recognize the triumphs of its notable officers, and while non commissioned and enlisted personnel occasionally receive recognition, the NCO backbone of a starship is likely to go unremarked upon. So that our integral support staff don't similarly slip through the cracks, the Chief's Citation recognizes those essential staff members whose determined work has benefited the group, IC and/or OOC, even while their primary service was not as the commanding officer of a starship or other simming installation. John Nugra, USS Doyle presented by Tristan Wolf: "Nugra has found a niche in which he has shined: Playing the part of the pinch hitter, ready to assist even before he’s asked. Over the past year, he has stepped in to help in moments when the Executive or Captains Councils are already stretched beyond their means, assisting me more than once when it felt like I just didn’t have another moment to give. And he did it with a smile. His loyalty, resourcefulness, and cheerful disposition have been of great service to our community, and for that, we recognize him with the Chief’s Citation. I’m proud, as the former recipient, to be the one to pin this medal on him. Many thanks to him for all that he’s done and will do going forward, and congratulations to him for this award!" Kathryn Janeway Award For retired Commanding Officers who have made a great impact on their crew and left an indelible legacy on our community history. Kali Nicholotti presented by Aron Kells & Cassandra Egan Manno: "As many of us have done, I spent some time away from SB118 during my tenure here. I had been a commander before I left, and I wanted to command again, and so I rose slowly up through command positions, carving out new relationships where I could and discussing my ambitions with other current COs and up-and-coming simmers. Marissa, aka Nicholotti, had recently begun her captaincy exams when she asked me to become her new XO. Her last one hadn't worked out, and while I was only with her for a short while, she made an immediate impact on me--warm, dedicated, and personable, she was the kind of CO who got to know everyone on her crew and cared about each of them individually, both in and out of character. Marissa's tenure with the group has, unfortunately, come to a pause, but it's important to recognize her indelible legacy. You'll find SB118 littered with those who she's helped and upon whom she's had a measurable impact. Her work is also written in the group itself--she revolutionized the way SB118 is optimized for searching and spearheaded our publicity efforts for some time. She launched the Excalibur and relaunched the Apollo, and guided Ben Livingstone (who many of you will also remember) to become a successful captain in his own right aboard the Columbia. While she may not be currently serving, her legacy is one that will last for years to come, and for that, we recognize and celebrate Marissa!" Please join us in congratulating these members of the staff!

Today, eight special awards are being presented to recognise players for specific aspects of simming or OOC work, such as going that extra mile for the Training Team, investing time and effort in forum participation that draws other people in or continuing to be a dedicated and reliable simmer despite having to overcome and sort of disadvantage while simming. Just like with the duty post awards, only one of each award is given each year, with one notable exception: The Xalor Clan Xifilis award is given to any player who has overcome any sort of disadvantage while simming. We don’t compare and weigh one person’s struggles against another but rather award this to all eligible and deserving candidates who are nominated for it. Only the very best are chosen so they are highly coveted awards that every player has a chance to be considered for by getting involved and giving it their best. The nominations in these categories are reviewed by a panel of five staff members: two commanders and three members ranked captain or above. The Rising Star Award For members who show great promise in many facets of their participation in the group, and to whom we look to as a future leader. Roshanara Rahman, USS Invicta Presented by Aron Kells & Cassandra Egan Manno: "Rich has been the finest first officer I've worked with during my time as a CO, and I don't mean that as hyperbole. However, he's no longer a first officer, and he counts himself among the recipients of the Strange Medallion, the coveted award that recognizes the finest first officers in the fleet. This year, it's my pleasure to present Rich with the Rising Star Award shortly after his assumption of the COship of the Invicta. Though it's only been a few months since he did so, and only half a year since the last awards, he's somehow improved on the high level of success I had the pleasure of speaking about in my last awards presentation. He maintains thoughtful, active roles on many teams around the fleet, including the FNS (for which he was the driving force in launching) and on the wiki, and he is a notable and thoughtful voice both on the Captain’s Council and, now, on the public Executive Council. He's already improved on Invicta's functioning, too, notably with the introduction of a Player Achievement system (http://wiki.starbase118.net/wiki/index.php/Invicta_Player_Achievements) to help guide our writers through promotions and give them ideas for what to do next when they're stuck and not sure what to sim. His desire for knowledge of and involvement in all aspects of Starbase 118's operations, and his drive to work towards group success, ensures that he already has a long string of triumphs behind him and that his star will continue to rise. Luminary Award For those who show great promise in their future endeavours in UFOP: Starbase 118 RPG. Given to members holding the rank of ensign, lieutenant junior grade, or lieutenant. Rustyy Hael, USS Constitution Presented by Jalana Rajel: "Sometimes you meet players for the first time and you just know that they will be special. One of these players I had the pleasure to mentor and see grow to a shining light in our fantastic community. Noelle, the player of Chief Engineer Rustyy Hael, has been an asset from the first time she simmed and only grew in time to a player I wouldn't want to miss. Her enthusiasm in simming and OOC work is simply contagious. Within a short time I knew that I wanted her on my staff and she would say she was tickled pink when I asked her. She has supported every player on the Constitution, she pours idea after idea into plots, gives characters a unique voice and makes sure that everyone has a bunch of fun. She goes above and beyond in her OOC work and simply enjoys to share her talents with those who can make good use of them. I have no doubt that Noelle will go far in SB118 and I can't wait for her to engulf everyone in her bubbly nature and creativity. I could not imagine a better choice for the very first Luminary Award recipient. Congratulations Noelle, you truly deserved it and we are very proud of you!" The Boothby Award For trainers who go above and beyond their Academy training requirements. These trainers display an outstanding example of dedication to bringing new cadets to our community. Maxwell Traenor, USS Darwin Presented by Selene Faranfey: "When it comes to the academy, the name that has stood out is Lt. Commander Maxwell Traenor. Since day one he has always made himself available to the academy staff in any position and provided his utmost care and diligence in leading classes. He received good reviews from the cadets training him, introduced them to the world of simming in ways that inspired confidence and enthusiasm. Lt. Commander Traenor is undoubtedly the best choice for the 2016 Boothby award. Congratulations, Maxwell!" Quark's Bar Quark's Bar is a special award and is awarded to members who are regularly active on the forums and have been supportive and involved in conversations enhancing the overall forum experience. Raissa Moonsong, USS Invicta Presented by Aron Kells & Cassandra Egan Manno: "It's my privilege to award the inaugural Quark's Bar to the fine writer who inspired it! Mandy, aka Raissa Moonsong, has been a force to reckon with on the forums since she joined Starbase 118, and when I was brainstorming awards to suggest commissioning for this awards ceremony, I thought about her accomplishments on the forums and how such accomplishments should be showcased to the entire fleet. "Mandy's impressive videos and toons have become an Invicta staple, and they've inspired similar toons and graphics threads on many other ships. To date, she's provided over thirteen forums pages and three hundred toons of the Invicta crew (and plenty of guests, as well), and she continues to submit video trailers, teasers, and credit sequences to celebrate mission launches and the beginnings of shore leave (under her 'production company,' Koala Video Productions). In all honesty, I don't know how she does it all--but I do know that we're glad she does, because her presence and dedication raises the quality of the forums experience for everyone she encounters. Congratulations and thanks for all your participation and good work, Mandy!" The Xalor Clan Xifilis Award Given to any simmer who overcomes any sort of disadvantage while simming. This award was originally called the "Rachel Garett Pendant," but was renamed for the 2000 ceremony to to honor a respected simmer in UFOP: StarBase 118 who passed away in that year. This is the only Special Award that is given more than once per ceremony. Renos, USS Darwin Presented by Aron Kells & Cassandra Egan Manno: "One of the things many of our simmers say is that they aspire to be as good as the future in which they write. Star Trek presents an egalitarian view of the future in which skin color, heritage, class, sex, gender, and more are no longer used as a basis for judgment and discrimination. But as ideal as that future may be, we're often a long way from it in the real world, and so it's more important than ever that we recognize those simmers whose real struggles represent positive movement toward Star Trek's idealism. I'm very pleased to recognize James with one of this year's Xalor Clan Xifilis Awards for the way he's faced his personal challenges with grace and dignity and, at the same time, has accomplished creating a safe space for his simmers to experiment with nonbinary and judgment-less characters by leading the way with his J'naii primary character, Renos. This Xalor Clan Xifilis Award recognizes the physical and emotional demands James has dealt with and the positive impact he has made and continues to make on our community. James makes our community a much richer, more inclusive place, and we are very lucky to have him here!" Tyr Waltas, Embassy of Duronis II Presented by Toni Turner: "Captain Waltas suffered with debilitating pain finally ending in surgery and a long recovery time. Other than the time in surgery and recovery, he pushed on with his sims, and since he has been back he has returned to his normal simming. From what I understand, the pain was excruciating and it was very difficult to sit at a computer for any length of time, but he remained steadfast in his membership on the Embassy/Thunder and the Captain Counsel, both as a staff member. Boris Hendon, Embassy of Duronis II Presented by Toni Turner: "He has suffered the after effects of a heart malfunction, and although his sims are short he never fails to bring humor into them. He has maintained his loyalty as a Embassy/Thunder crew member, and as a staff member - as Captain Sam Perkins- by participating in the Captain's Counsel. It is my honor to present the Xalor Clan Xiflis Award to Lt. Commander Boris Hendon!" T'Mihn Ah'mihghan, Embassy of Duronis II Presented by Toni Turner: "T'Mihn has not only improved as a simmer, she has done a masterful job of characterization, and simming several times a week, a feat not made easy while battling vision problems. It is with great pride that I present Lt. Commander T'Mihn Ah'mihghan with this award. Please join us in congratulating all the winners on their hard work this year. And many thanks to everyone who submitted the nominations that led to these presentations!

We have 10 simming superstars in the Duty Post category to get us started in style. Each award focuses on a different department, from the major ones such as medical, operations or engineering to the more unique, like diplomacy, intel or marines. Even civilians have a chance to be recognised for the valuable contributions that can be made to our stories by those who prefer the path less worn. Each of these awards recognises a player for excellence in simming their duty post. Since only one award per duty post is given each year, only the very best are chosen and they are highly coveted awards. You’ll see from our spread of winners – who range in rank from Ensign to Captain – that every player has a chance to be considered for one of these by consistently simming to the best of their ability and striving to improve their craft. The nominations in these categories are reviewed by a panel of five staff members: two commanders and three members ranked captain or above. Prantares Ribbon - Medical Awarded to those medical officers who has moved beyond competence to display a true gift for the healing arts in the context of space medicine. The officers given this award should display the ability to keep a steady hand in the often hazardous conditions in which they must practice, as well as the willingness to risk their own life to save the lives of others. Jaxton Vee, USS Gorkon Presented by Quinn Reynolds: "Luke has continually delighted the crew of the USS Gorkon with his medical officer, Jaxton Vee. Not only does he craft entertaining and thoughtful sims, engaging with the writers behind injured characters to help them achieve their story goals, but he goes out of his way to research real medical conditions, drugs and techniques to add realism from his sims, creating convincing sci-fiction maladies and cures. He has a real knack for making medically-oriented sims fun and interesting for everyone to read. "For these reasons, I'm delighted and very proud to present him with the Prantares Ribbon, for simming a truly remarkable medical officer in our fleet. Well done!" The Natasha Yar Pin - Security Named after the Chief of Security of the USS Enterprise-D, killed in the line of duty, this award is given to those Security officers who have gone above and beyond the call of duty in protecting and preserving the lives of their crewmates, even at risk to their own. Kurt Logan, USS Darwin Presented by Renos: "Drawing on a marine background, Kurt Logan is a diligent officer with an unorthodox approach to his duties and has overcome foes with such creative solutions as flour bombs and kitchen knives. Though he sometimes doubts his own suitability in the rank and file of Starfleet, his actions and intent speak volumes about his passion for duty and desire to protect his crew from harm. He has a depth, complexity and a big heart of gold. His writer Paul, has fleshed out the department to great effect with NPCs, which he uses to support the plot and show the wider role of security on the ship from the administrative side, to the officer sent to guard sickbay while the Captain is recuperating within. Paul has gone from strength to strength and I am incredibly proud and excited to present him with the Natasha Yar Pin! Well done!" The Voyager Medallion - Operations Named after the USS Voyager, this award is presented to those 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, making sure duty rosters, provisions, gear, and even recreation time are available... no matter what. Brell, USS Darwin Presented by Renos: "Brell is that ray of sunshine fighting through the thick clouds on a miserable day. Whatever the universe throws at the Darwin, he’s there making sure that nothing falls through the cracks. He is an experienced, hands on officer that can often be found in engineering - the heart of the ship when he is not on the bridge. Unafraid to get his hands dirty, Brell always knows where he’s needed most and acts as a bridge between departments. He can draw upon engineering and tactical knowhow to offer innovative solutions to complex problems before bringing the right might of skilled officers together to execute them. "The experience of his writer shines through in an approach that is centered upon supporting other departments and offering as many opportunities to his fellow players as possible. His sims contain just enough treknobabble and references to canon to add legitimacy and realism to scenes. Coupled with his ability to show the character’s emotional side he crafts interesting and compelling sims that suck you into the plot and makes you invested in what’s happening and that’s why I am truly delighted to present Lee, who plays Brell with the Voyager Medallion! Congratulations!" The Phoenix Award - Engineering 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. Varaan, USS Darwin Presented by Renos: "Varaan is everything you would expect from a Vulcan - stoic, professional, organised, intelligent and logical. All these qualities and more make him an astonishingly good engineer. His writer Dan expertly gives us glimpses into some of the hidden emotion that lies behind the facade. He brings the engineering duty post to life in a way that is truly remarkable and has kept the sturdy Horizon class ship from falling apart in the face of attack from superior forces on numerous occasions. Not one to be easily defeated by difficult problems he has worked diligently with other departments where necessary to keep the ship in peak condition,investigate underlying faults and ensure a Borg device being studied by the science department does not overtax the Darwin's systems and remains safely quarantined. For his excellence and dedication to the duty post I am delighted to present Dan, aka Varaan, with the Phoenix Award. Congratulations!" The Cochrane Award - Science Given 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. Merrick R'Ven, USS Darwin Presented by Renos: "As a specialist scientist, Merrick R’Ven is dependable, reliable and authentic. He is highly intelligent and skilled in the field of cybernetics. Though he appears super cool and confident on the outside, his near-assimilation left him changed physically and with niggling worries about fitting in with the rest of the crew. His writer, Preston has an incredibly unique, engaging character and immense creativity and skill. His sims are infused with lots of relevant scientific jargon and Star Trek lore in a way that is easily accessible, entertaining to read and unrivaled in their immersiveness. By artfully blending science and drama he makes writing for a science officer look fun and effortless. He is truly deserving of the Cochrane Award and I hope he will display it on his wiki with pride! Congratulations Preston!" The Pilot's Sextant - Helm An award named after an old Earth navigational tool, the Pilot's Sextant is given to those Helm officers who have proven themselves to be the best of the best. From finding a safe route home to flying an emergency atmospheric landing, pilots who have earned the right to this award know the importance of staying focused, and puts their ability to make spectacular maneuvers at the service of their ship and its mission. Antero Flynn, Starbase 118 Ops Presented by Sal Taybrim: "Antero Flynn makes flying fun. He also makes the game fun for his fellow players. This is the greatest praise I can offer for a player because the entire point of a game is to have fun. From his exuberant Risian character, to his writing ability that brings the act of flying leap from the page and into the imaginations of his fellow crew, Antero Flynn has it all. Serving StarBase 118 Ops in the role of CAG officer, Antero has stepped into this role and taken ownership of it. He can bring the details of riding in a clunky civilian shuttle to life as easily as he can slip behind the helm of a starship and take the crew on a thrilling ride. And that's not counting when Flynn's party life B-plots aren't taking flight! "Most memorably in the past year Flynn took an impounded civilian transport and repaired it enough to bear an undercover away team to an independent planet. Under the persona of 'Dale Tucker, Space Trucker' he brought the shuttle Maximum Thrusters (aka 'Sweet Maxinne') to life, and it has become one of the crew's favorite memories!" The Order of the Valiant Heart - Counseling 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. Paul Scudder, USS Darwin Presented by Renos: "Though Mark, who sims for Paul Scudder has only been with the fleet a short time, he has already shown a great aptitude for counseling. When Nicu Icavoc sustained horrific burns it was he who helped the Commander reach sickbay. His soothing manner helped the injured man remain calm and focused enough to get to sickbay. When the fearful patient later learned that he would have to have his hand amputated he refused treatment despite the fact his life was on the line. With great tact Paul was able to focus the patient away from the emotions holding him back and bring him to a place where logic could take over. As a result of the counselor's carefully considered approach, the patient changed his mind and allowed the life saving treatment to go-ahead. Paul Scudder is an incredibly talented and dedicated counselor who is clever, cool and can be relied upon to support his patients at every stage in their lives. His exceptional writer Mark is this year’s deserving recipient of The Order of the Valiant Heart! Congratulations!" The Semper Fidelis Award - Marines For those StarFleet Marines who have shown great skill in protecting their crew, accomplishing their mission, avoiding tragic loss of life in the line of duty, and upholding the values of the UFoP in times of crisis. Tatash, Starbase 118 Ops Presented by Sal Taybrim: "Tatash has gone above and beyond in creating a believable, interesting marine. He embodies the spirit of marines to the core, showing loyalty and dedication in character to those inside the marines and outside of its command structure. When Tatash stepped into the role of Marine commander, he started making changes in the department that more accurately reflected a realistic marine set up, taking from real world inspiration and mingling them with future forward Star Trek ideals. This hard work is seen in both the wiki and the detail of the marine department on SB118 Ops. "Beyond this, Tatash is an incredibly complex character. He shows himself to be compassionate, gentle with children, and Dan unafraid to show Tatash's weaknesses and emotions as well as his strengths. He reflects Tatash' stern sense of duty while simultaneously revealing his deep protectiveness of those who serve under him. Instead of a gun-slinging meathead, Tatash is an incredibly well developed character who agonizes about the decision to bring in lethal force and deeply feels the loss of his fellow crew. As a writer Tatash has a mastery of description. His posts are poetic and evocative. He writes about battles with a visceral darkness, highlighted by a true emotional conflict. Make no mistake: war is never good. It's not a trigger happy video game. It's a gritty reality that people get hurt in; that causes long term emotional scars and yet is sometimes necessary to preserve the freedom and way of the Federation. Tatash encompasses all of this and does a masterful job guiding the marine department on Ops and creating an integral part of our stories." The Black Cross - Intelligence This award is 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. Trellis Vondaryan, Starbase 118 Ops Presented by Sal Taybrim: "Trellis Vondaryan started his career on Ops with big shoes to fill. Stepping into the position of intel officer on a base with an entire dedicated tower to Intel can be a daunting job, but Trellis not only accepted the challenge, he made the role his own and continued to shine in it. Collin is great at writing evocative posts that have deep emotional heart, while his character, Trellis Vondaryan, is a wonderful character to work with. Vondaryan does not play a lone wolf, but an optimistic researcher who always reaches out to others in an appropriate manner; while still managing to keep the mystique of being an intel operative. Of special note is the amount of effort Vondaryan puts on research and preparation of intel plots - both in and out of character. This makes his character and his characters actions feel realistic rather than sensationalized. "Working with all teams, and pressing on through injury and adversity, Vondaryan is embodies the role of both intel and Starfleet officer. He's an absolutely wonderful part of the StarBase 118 Ops crew, and one of the best intel officers I have seen played in many years." The Lwaxana Troi Medallion - Non-traditional roles This award is given to a member who takes a unique role outside of the normal StarFleet positions and creates a colorful and engaging character. Tyr Waltas – Strategic Operations, Embassy of Duronis II Presented by Toni Turner "Since Captain Tyr Waltas came to the Embassy, he has played a variety of positions - from XO of the Marines to Strategic Operations. He has made the transition from CO of his own ship to a productive member of our crew. He has been able to do it with a flair that is uniquely his emotionally. He is the catalyst between the Marines and the other members of the crew - the tie that binds. But beyond that he is a peacemaker when the plot calls for one, a mentor, and as he said when he joined the Embassy, "I have a lot more stories left to be told." And he tells them oh so well as he takes on a unique and non-traditional role outside of the norm, while creating a colorful and engaging character. And because of that, I am happy to present him with the Lwaxana Troi Medallion." The Strange Medallion - First Officer Named after Commander Sally Strange, widely known as one of the most creative and dedicated First Officers in the fleet's early years, this award is given to those who perform above the call of duty in the position of First Officer. Maxwell Traenor, USS Darwin Presented by Renos "Maxwell Traenor is an absolutely magnificent First Officer with a warm, upbeat personality that everyone cherishes. Jay’s sims are always highly entertaining and flawless and because if it he is frequently entrusted with the most important and difficult NPC roles. He is quite simply one of the finest staff members I’ve ever had the joy and privilege to work with. He is an outstanding and attentive mentor able to bring out the best in mentees. Aside from the many things he does to enrich the Darwin, including mission planning, world building, designing graphics, and so much more, he is also the facilitator of the Top Sims competition and has received great praise for his work in the Academy. He instills confidence in his crew as a leader, but remains approachable. He is incredibly reliable, honest, unafraid of taking the initiative and one of the fleet's very best up-and-coming officers! It is with great pride and delight I present his with the Strange Medallion. Congratulations Jay and thank you for all that you have done and continue to do for the ship and the wider fleet." Please join us in congratulating all the winners on their hard work this year. And many thanks to everyone who submitted the nominations that led to these presentations!

Welcome to the final day of our 20th annual awards ceremony! After celebrating individual achievement across the fleet for the past week, we finish the ceremony with a celebration of why we're all here: the stories we tell together. The 20th annual awards ceremony marks the beginning of a new award presentation: the Featured Missions of the Fleet. Just as the Featured Bio Contest highlights the best character pages from our wiki, the Featured Missions of the Fleet showcases the best missions as chosen by you and your fellow shipmates. Each ship's crew voted among the past missions of 2015 and the first half of 2016 to choose the mission to be featured from their ship. Then, players nominated sims from the mission to be selected as the Featured Sim of those missions, with the sim receiving the most "likes" in the forum presented with an excerpt for the ceremony. Thank you to all crews who voted and nominated during the process. And now, UFOP: StarBase 118 proudly presents your selections... StarBase 118 Ops: "Tribbles and Strife" Stardate 239212.30 - 239301.20 When StarBase 118 Ops is chosen to host the galaxy's largest Tribble Convention, what could possibly go wrong? Mission Wiki Page Featured Sim: The Anders Family - Taking the Gorn to the Bedroom Excerpt: ::Baylen could see Theo darting into a crowd and then became well hidden. How he wished he could go join him in his exile at the moment. Baylen handed his father the port and he took a sip and started looking around at all the lady's and blocked out there conversation all together.:: Alia Anders: I don't understand what the big deal is. Did you two, conduct Jamaharon yet? Anders: ::Blushing:: No it was our first date. Alia Anders: I thought you said it went well, and was very romantic. Anders: It did, but Theo is Human, I am not going to jump into bed with him on the first date. Things just don't work that way. Alia Anders: Well I just don't understand. You talked about all these feelings you had, I thought he was the one. Anders: I think he is. ::Smiling:: Alia Anders: Well you got to mount the pony before someone else does... It is the Risian way... Anders: ::Full Blown Embarrassed.:: The Risian way... The Risian way, don't tell me about the Risian way, you had us all surgical altered to look fully human so we could blend in on earth. None of us no longer have our birth heritage and seal of Risa. You turned you backs on Risa remember??? Embassy of Duronis II: "The Zone" Stardate 239303 - 239305 The crew of the Embassy takes on the Ferengi criminal Deka and The Zone. Mission Wiki Page Featured Sim: PNPC Quiana, "Contemplation" Excerpt: Quiana: Our three battle cruisers are the key to holding the Luxis system. Before we get into a pitched battle with them, we will try something else.. Tauron: Something...else, Empress? Quiana: Yes. we will find out who these people are. Find their weaknesses. Exploit them. Discredit them in the eyes of their Laudean lapdogs..::smiling:: then, we take the planet without firing a shot. The most powerful ships ever assembled for the Orion Syndicate will remain just that...intact and ready to take on the Federation, if needed. Tauron: And..what of our allies? :: Tauron was referring to those who were outside of the Syndicate..those who also had an axe to grind against the Federation.:: Quiana: They will wait. They will understand, especially those Romulan [...]s...and our ships will still be raiding, and serving our other two bases, and when the time is right...we will be ready. There will not be a repeat of 2389.... :: The rousing defeat of the Orions, who allied with the Klingons in that disastrous first invasion, almost won. In the sand bar they just left , wreckage from that battle still floated in the mist. They destroyed two Federation starships, but that wasn't enough. They invaded with Klingon shock troops and Orion Imperial guards, and had overrun the Embassy...but it still wasn't enough. One battle turned the tide against them, and another battle in the mountains took out their leadership, Tallis Kern and Tallis Meral. Settling back in her chair, Quiana watched as the stars streamed by on the viewscreen. It was time to out think Starfleet, not outfight them.:: USS Constitution: "1914" Stardate 239209.21 - 239212.01 During routine patrols in the Talos Sector, the Constitution gets shaken through violently as they are pulled into a surprisingly appearing singularity. Upon scans and research they find out that they landed close to Earth, on June 27th 1914. The temporal rift has closed itself and the ship has been damaged during transfer. Will the crew be able to return to their own time? Mission Wiki Page Featured Sim: Lt Commander Foster - Sucker Punch Excerpt: ::The director leaned his head to one side, one antennae perked forward, the other stayed upright and he stayed there for longer than Wyn felt was comfortable before he spoke again:: Jos: Giving up is always the cop out. ::He frowned very slowly:: I had heard you were a medical genius. ::That hurt. And Jos knew it hurt. He was staring the kid down openly and digging for the meaty center.:: Foster: ::He stayed stubbornly put behind the chair, as if it would shield him from the onslaught:: I was removed from my ship by a man I trusted. ::Of course he was avoiding answering the posed question, but in his round-about way of thinking it all made sense.:: I saved his life. ::fast:: Aneurysm, with infectious complications. Four and a half hours of surgery, only person who could have done it. And how am I repaid? Betrayal. ::That last word was spat towards the screen.:: ::Director Jos' gaze softened fractionally. Admission meant they were getting somewhere - slowly - but moving. Wyn was, on the whole, easier to reach than his father; though still just as frustrating.:: Jos: Do you regret it? ::Such a simple question. Such a dangerous question.:: Foster: ::A deeply furrowed frown:: I don't know. ::beat:: I think he died that day. There, on the biobed. In fact I know he died - six seconds of clinical death before life support was activated. But the real question is; did the same person wake up? I always felt like I revived a monster rather than saved a person. ::Wyn shook his head. Such questions came dangerously close to concepts of playing God - something expressly forbidden in the medical trade.:: Jos: Not your call to make. ::plain and simple:: Foster: ::Throwing his hands up in the air:: I know! ::Bad move. His balance flipped him the middle finger and he stumbled ungraciously forward, finally landing in the chair. After a few more seconds of untangling his limbs, he turned back to the viewscreen, navy-flushed, with his entire argument deflated.:: I know... ::replied meekly:: Haven't we all taken oaths? Jos: ::A light nod:: But an oath isn't a black and white rulebook. It's a promise, made by you, kept by you, and interpreted by you. ::Wyn frowned, squirming under the steady gaze of his superior.:: Foster: And I keep it. USS Darwin: "Silent Night" Stardate 239212 - 239301 On the edges of the distant Delta Quadrant. The crew is forced to take refuge on a class-p planet and live among the pre-warp society of the the Turisans while waiting for rescue. Mission Wiki Page Featured Sim: Captain Renos: "Welcome to Lomorton" Excerpt: :: Renos held nir breath as a young couple on the other side of the street looked their way. Would their disguise hold? This was a pre-warp people they were dealing with so it was imperative that every member of the crew blended in. They had brought lightweight foods, ration packs down to help support them but would need to be exceptionally careful not to allow the food or packaging to be seen. Many of the crew had picked up jobs as they would need to earn money to pay their rent, buy food etc. :: :: The sounds of their gasps made nem turn around quickly. :: Renos: oO Have they seen through the disguise? Oo Female voice: What is that up there in the sky? Above Akatosh’s sword. Do you see it. :: Renos observed the pair looking up at the night sky. It was early evening, but dark already. The streets were illuminated by what looked suspiciously like oil lamps and light reflected by the snow kissed ground. The J’naii imposer looked up to the stars and glared. Ne might have shook nir fist at the Darwin were it not so likely to draw unwanted attention. Instead ne shook nir head almost imperceptibly. :: Renos: oO I wondered how long it would take the Turisans to spot you. Oo :: Valdivia and nem had collaborated on a plan to light the Darwin up like a disco ball making one scientist in particular very happy. To think ne had scoffed at the plan having read it some months ago and now they were literally lighting up the Darwin to hide it. From here it looked like like a star. Ne watched the couples reaction most carefully, terrified about whether the response would be positive or kick off doomsday scares. The last thing ne wanted was a terrified population rioting and tearing down their city. Fortunately the couple seemed to think of it as a wondrous sign. They had dodged a bullet this time then. :: USS Doyle: "Chains of Survival" Stardate 239301.29 - 239303.15 Crash landing on the surface of a world that suppresses technology, will the crew of the Doyle find a way off? Mission Wiki Page Featured Sim: PNPC Captain Shelther Faranster - Stop wasting time Excerpt: :: Shel walked up to the door and it opened, letting him in the room. As he stepped in, he caught the end of what Ceciri was saying. :: Hakashri:... Look, we’ve been arguing for 4 minutes 22 seconds. Let’s just tell him together if you *really* don’t want to tell him directly. Faranster: I'll make it easy for you, here I am. What do you have to tell me? :: He crossed the room and stood towering over the woman, but even though he was shorter than the Vulcan, at this point he was sure his presence made the officer seem small. :: James: Ah. Captain. I was… Umm… About to come see you. :: By the expression on James' face, he realized the man was a bit more than a little nervous. These were his two most trusted officers, and he wanted them to know what was really at risk because of the delay. :: Faranster: So... you are more afraid of telling me that my sister and her crew are missing, than say... what Selene will do when she finds out that instead of taking action, you were arguing about who was going to tell me? :: That got their attention. He knew what his sister had done to take care of her crew, and what she was willing to do when they were in danger. But... he didn't know what would happen in this case, and he didn't want to risk their lives to find out what would happen because they delayed a search. :: Hakashri: Well. ::pauses.:: Accurate, sir. Faranster: Get a scout ship out there to their last known coordinates, whatever is ready and fast. :: He watched the two for a moment. :: NOW! USS Gorkon: "A Monstrous Murder Mystery" Stardate 239210.25-239212.21 A celebration turns into a murder investigation when a Cardassian diplomat is found dead during the Gorkon's awards after-party. Trapped inside a sabotaged holodeck, will they be able to find the murderer, while keeping themselves and their guests safe? Mission Wiki Page Featured Sim: Commander Walter Brunsig - "A Turn for the Worst" Excerpt: ::Haase and Chandur managed to reach the top without incident, though not as quickly as he would have liked. He was acutely aware of two things; one, that they were probably being pursued in some fashion; and two, that even dishevelled, Quinn looked lovely and he hated her for it. ::Catching himself looking, he tore his gaze away from his former lover, just in time to spot… something. The waterfall froze, as though someone had paused the program, and a huge section of the cavern in front of him -- including the staircase -- just vanished, exploding the grey metalwork of the holodeck walls. ::Beside him, Quinn had just enough time to breath a soft expletive, and then the program snapped back into life as if nothing had gone wrong.:: BRUNSIG: This just gets better and better. ::She glanced at him, then looked up toward the top of the stairs, calling out to the trio who had completed the climb.:: REYNOLDS: Is everyone alright up there? ::He could see the crewman sat on the ground, catching his breath and peering down at the stairs and cavern below. Intact, if shaken.:: REYNOLDS: We'll be right up. BRUNSIG: Will we. REYNOLDS: Well, we can't stay down here. USS Invicta: "Manhunt" Stardate 239211.30 - 239301 When Captain Kells is presumed killed, the crew of the Invicta discover a secret mission underneath the pomp and circumstance of the grand Invicta Expedition. Mission Wiki Page Featured Sim: LtCmdr Tristam Core, "Not as clever as initially thought." Excerpt: ::It was standard for all away team members to carry weapons equipment when travelling into unknown areas. Though Tristam protests this constantly, he was still required to carry some sort of weapon in the event of an emergency. Plus, phasers could come in handy when in a survival situation - boy did he know that from experience. So, instead of viewing it as a cause of bodily harm, it was a form of rescue. ::And today, it was going to make a hole in the cavern ceiling.:: ::Before his potential killer could get a shot off (or hopefully even get a chance to aim at them), he took a shot into the rocks in a lower vertex near her, though it unfortunately affected all of them. The rocks that had moved earlier must have been holding back a small river worth of water, because it was now leaking past the airlock door in a small flood. But that was the least of his problems - now, a crack began to appear, the ground beneath their feet crumbling away, until they were now falling.:: Demirjian: ~Jeffers!~ ::A name to remember for later, he mused, though by this point, there was nothing but air beneath him.:: ::Tristam landed awkwardly on the ground and was promptly covered in the water from above and various rocks from the ceiling, and made the unfortunate mistake of breathing it all in (by accident - he'd never do this intentionally). He twisted, coughing and spluttering.:: Saveron: One suspects we may have our answer. Vyrenna: Indeed! And no license for most of this equipment. Saveron: Quite. ::He agreed dryly.:: ::Investigation of a stinging sensation on his shoulder. In fact, his entire left side was in pain, some areas worse than others. Awesome.:: Saveron: Does anyone require medical attention? Core: Probably. Thank you again to each of the crews for sharing your stories with the rest of the fleet!