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I've been so impressed with @Leenaya Edrei's writing and her first patient loss is no exception so I wanted to share this excellent medical sim from our newest doctor! (Also we found this guy in the rubble, so I'm sad he didn't make it.)

I woke up, got to this line in the sim, and snorted about it, from @Karrod Niac's character, Teller. Starting to understand why he's considered a bit infamous as a character 😂

I cannot stress enough how funny @Alieth is for this answer. In a post-scarcity society, an office pizza party is actually a decent reward 😂. The Captain's commentary is left in here for context.

I am so glad that the crew found another form of wildlife than just the squirrel-dog that @Salkath shot. I'm very glad it was a cute worm. And related to that, I'm glad that it could act as the punchline to the opening of @Jovenan's sim

What did you just say about my butt!?

I love the internal relationship @Karrod Niac has with the slug 😂

@Alyndra Syrex did not make me cry. I've just got something in my eye.

Yes, but what of the restaurant recommendations? Somebody make TrillAdvisor a thing!

Also this: Kel: =/\= Kel to Rox. =/\= Rox: =/\= Ehhh…What's up Doc? =/\= Kel: ::suppressing a smile, annoyed:: =/\= Your manner is atrocious. =/\= Rox: ::mocking:: =/\= OOH look at me. I'm V'Len. I'm serious. I'm dark. I'm not like the other Trilldorians. =/\=

I love Rox. @VLen Kel Starlyn: =/\= Starlyn to Rox. =/\= Rox: =/\= We will, we will Rox you. =/\=

Thanks @Kirsty L. Carpenter. I snorted way too loudly when I first read this. Even if it was at Syrex's expense... lol

@Divya Tam This is one of the most beautiful, relatable statements I have read in the follow up to Frontier Day. I love seeing these moments of Tam.

She's right, you know.

Maybe there will be good hasperat recommendations. I've heard it's in this time of year.

This sim is well written, as Chris' always are, but it's rare that I genuinely laugh out loud while reading and this one got me. Beyond humor and a romantic rivalry, it's also got some really great Trek science in it, even if Caldwell would rather leave the big words to the blue shirts! 😅 Lieutenant Christopher Caldwell: Yeah, Science! ((Bridge, Deck 1, USS Astraeus)) ((Time Skip: 45 minutes later)) Right now Christopher Caldwell didn't have that much to do having successfully worked with his counterpart on board the Borealis around arranging a rendezvous. True there had been a minor disagreement to resolve as to which ship should divert more out of it's way in order to facilitate the transfer, something that ended up being settled relatively easily with a simple 'mine is bigger than yours', a contest the diminutive Nova class Borealis was simply never going to win. With the disagreement resolved he'd spent much of his time looking for opportunities to shave some time off of their journey, whilst it would take weeks no matter what he did, he was eager to reduce the time spent travelling by as much as possible, especially with Esa Kiax goading him about how long it would take and the Captain having served at the helm himself earlier in his career. oO I need to show both of them what I can do. Oo Matthews: Commander Kiax. I… Would you mind taking a look at this please? His ears perked up, figuratively speaking, as Charles called Esa over to his station. oO Come on now Charles, let's not us have a falling out, kindly stay away from Ms Kiax. Oo Kiax: Of course, what have we got? He wasn't quite sure how to define his relationship with Charles. At times they had got on very well, working in near perfect sync, operating as if they had been serving for years together. Other times the two had very nearly come to blows. As childish as it seemed, he did feel a little pang of jealousy as he got her attention. Matthews: The electrical interference is on the fringes of the system, but it seems to encompass it entirely. And not only could it interfere with our shields; it may cause problems with more than just that. Transporters, long range communications, engines, weapons, scanners. Basically, anything with an electrical signal. We could enter the system and find ourselves adrift. Kiax: Hm… That certainly didn't sound good. They were some distance from the system, so it was possible that some of their sensor data was inaccurate and whilst it was possible for sensor data to be misinterpreted, especially given the sheer quantity of specific measurements their sensors could record, even if the sensor data were open to other interpretations or somehow faulty, detecting such issues already did not bode well for them. Kiax: Doesn’t sound like the kind of position we really want to be in, does it…? Using the opening he quickly gestured for someone to take his station as he moved over to stand between the vacant XO chair and the railing that housed the combined security and tactical station. For a moment he took a look at the chair he wouldn't mind making his one day, especially with Esa Kiax in the centre seat, from there he could more easily engage in conversation with the pair and he couldn't help but chime in, for a few reasons, firstly he was hoping they weren't going to run into issues, secondly and if he was being honest, possibly more importantly, he didn't want to miss out on an opportunity to join in the conversation. oO Stop hogging all her time and attention Charles, it's alright Esa, Christopher is here now. Oo In his head he heard a little musical cue that accompanied that. Caldwell: Are you sure it isn't just a faulty sensor? To result in all of that disruption, the only natural phenomena would be... what... a neutronic storm intersecting the system? But I'm sure we'd known if a neutron star exploded, right? Both as a result of his Academy training and since becoming the alpha shift helm officer, Christopher had a pretty decent knowledge of various navigational hazards including dangerous astronomical phenomena and had a pretty good track record during actual encounters . Neutronic storms were a type of plasma energy storm that could easily span many lightyears. They were often nothing more than an inconvenience, a smattering of highly charged particles and neutron radiation, a 'particle density anomaly', but the really big ones could generate wavefronts capable of moving at even high warp speeds and being so concentrated that it could take weeks to dissipate. oO But if it were a neutronic storm, what caused it? They were naturally occurring but they were relatively rare. Oo Matthews: That’s true. If it could do all that, it raises several more questions. Caldwell: It's a pretty damn short list of naturally occurring phenomena that could cause that, right? He was by no means a scientist and given how they liked to overcomplicate things, it could just be that there were in fact, many natural causes of the readings that Matthews was discussing. Kiax: Are you suggesting that it’s not a natural phenomenon? Matthews: Response He pivoted to allow Esa to more easily move past him as she returned to the centre seat. She looked contemplative, she looked quite cute as her brain worked. Kiax: I don’t think we should discount any possibility yet. We’re still four weeks out, with a lot of work ahead of us. It might be worth hooking up with Lieutenant Ral, and seeing what the two of you can come up with to fortify our power grid… ::Beat:: In the meantime, howeverrrr…. With a little dramatic flair he tilted his head and struck a pose as if he was waiting for the very secrets of the universe to be shared with him. Caldwell: ::Teasingly:: Use your words. She shot him a glare, and he quickly raised both palms apologetically, he'd had a look at Esa's bad side and he did not want to be on it. Kiax: Making decisions is harder than it looks, alright? ::Beat:: What about the Bussard collectors? Build some giant energy stores in the cargo bays, and use them like massive lightening rods to absorb and store the excess? Whilst he hadn't read the always thrilling 'Bussard Collection Field Operations' for sometime, he had done some work on the nacelles. Whilst primarily designed to collect hydrogen, they could be modified to collect a wide range of particles. Caldwell: If it is a plasma phenomena then the ramscoops could be reconfigured to try and collect some but it's going to be like ::pausing to think of an appropriate metaphor:: trying to drink an ocean through a straw. Matthews: Response Kiax: Alright then… Suggestions? I’m not in the position to approve or deny anything, but we’ll take whatever we have to the Captain when he’s back… Caldwell: Depending how localised all this is could we use the main deflector array? Cut ourselves a path through ::waving his hand:: whatever all that is? Matthews: Response Caldwell: You're right, we still don't have much to go on. Kiax / Matthews: Responses Caldwell: What about running a long range multiphasic scan? Might help penetrate ::once more waving his hand:: whatever all that is? oO Where are all the blue shirts when you actually need them? I should not be having to use words like these. Oo Kiax / Matthews: Responses ==========/\========== Lieutenant Christopher Caldwell Helm Officer USS Astraeus, NCC-70652

Chief Ra has OPINIONS! I love it.

Aster the Cat voicing the collective thoughts of the officers in operations upon discovering the virus in the computer. Courtesy of @Mister_Wake

This is the most insightful and detailed Personal Log I've read. Lynn did a great job summarizing our crew's mental states after Frontier Day and reflecting on how the ship interactions have impacted her character. She also took on an interesting issue of the trials of being a "human passable" alien race. I loved reading it. The touching last line gave me chills. ((OOC: All thoughts and feelings belong to the character about other characters and are not a reflection of the writer’s personal feelings regarding other writers.)) ((Sevantha Saa’s Quarters, Deck 10, USS Astraeus)) ((Six Months Post-Frontier Day)) //Medical Officer’s Personal Log, Lieutenant Junior Grade Dr. Sevantha Saa of the USS Astraeus. Six months have passed since the events of Frontier Day. With all the pain and devastation caused by the Changelings and the Borg, it appears Starfleet has done as I told the Changeling it would. Survive and eventually thrive once again. Very few things in the universe are as unifying as destruction. The crew of the USS Astraeus have been making great efforts toward healing, physically and mentally, many have been visiting the Counselors regularly and very few have had to be tracked down for mandatory scans at Starfleet’s requests. Many have spent time expanding their knowledge, using the time so close to earth to take extra courses at the academy, achieve new certifications, and overall showing dedication to bettering themselves. I’ve taken a number of courses and independent classes to improve my performance as an officer on the ship since achieving the rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade. Counseling - Completed the class portion of the counseling training program included a dissertation defense with Dr. Alix Harford. Still there are observation hours under a certified Counselor to be done, Internship Hours which would happen on board the Astraeus which still will take a year and some pre-practicum hours which will hopefully be fulfilled in some group therapy or meetings events in the future. Bridge Officer Course - My first experience on the bridge was the little time at the beginning of Frontier Day, as one gains rank, there is more and more chance I will be in the rotation when the need for a Medical Officer arrives. My instincts as a doctor are one thing but in the heat of the moment sitting at a console is very different then working on a patient, the instincts have to be different and they need more development. Standard Federation Sign Language - One of my trauma responses is the loss of my speaking voice, selective mutism, and I have come to find that many people are not comfortable with telepathic speaking being my first language. My attempt to bridge this is trying to learn sign language to communicate as opposed to defaulting to what is comfortable to me. Admittedly, as a Betazoid on a ship with a large human population, I have struggled to not feel like an outsider in regards to social normalities. Part of this I believe stems from the fact that to most of my fellow officers, I am very passable for a regular human, and that alone comes with the expectation to have Earth based behaviors. Many forget the genetic markers of black eyes being a seeming link to many telepathic species until I do something normal for myself, or accidentally respond to what they’re thinking when on my worst days I cannot tell the difference between spoken word and over heard thought. Many members of the crew have become accepting, few even enjoying the exchange of thoughts, while others I have found means to mask for their own comfort. Sometimes I do feel like there is a need to be more human to fit the expectations they have of me when they see me, but I do not know if that is due to a discomfort I have being a source of unease for them or if they truly expect other species that appear human to behave in more human ways.. Many humanoids can say one thing to you but be thinking entirely differently, this includes their feelings about you, with the expectation you do not actually know. But… I do know and while as a Starfleet Officer I can professionally pretend until it's detrimental to my occupation, on the personal level this type of dishonesty is a struggle to adapt to. At what point is it acceptable to call out the behavior? Free thought I understand but to catch someone in a lie to you and not be able to say it feels so strange. On a personal matter, I suppose it is understandable until it's Medical, then at what point am I denying my patient the best care by ignoring it? On professional matters is it when the subject becomes a threat to fellow officers or to Starfleet protocol? I do not mean to sound like life is truly difficult, the crew, despite my own struggles, have been a fascinating group of people thrust together. The crew has changed since Frontier Day and the launch of the Chin’toka, we have lost crew and gained some, not all I have had the chance to meet. I hope to rectify that in the future. Commodore Captain Mei’konda - I have a lot of respect for the Captain. After Frontier Day, we had a good conversation regarding the fallout with the Changelings and the behavior of certain officers towards the previously assimilated. Seeing his temper flare at the injustice was in the moment a little unnerving but at a distance, inspiring, I appreciate he cares so much about his crew. I have no doubt it was on his orders the plaque in the Pagrati Lounge has been updated so quickly with the names of the lost during Frontier Day right next to the Battle of Ricker Prime losses. His compassion impresses me as I have seen all too easily how war can change someone, to maintain it, is admirable… I believe he might be due for his annual soon. First Officer Lt. Commander Lael Rosek-Skyfire - Our new First Officer who came on just before the events of Frontier Day. She has an impressive resume from engineering, instructor and admittedly a medical record that paints her as a survivor. She is one of the other telepaths on the ship I find myself capable of relating with but our positions are very different. Currently her condition has me questioning whether or not bioborg technology still within us has caused alterations to our gifts sensitivities. Al-Leyan telepathy is a largely unstudied field by the University of Medara so most of my experience will have to be learning on the job. Second Officer Lt. Commander Esa Kiax - As a doctor, it is more often than not that I meet people at their worst instead of their best. Still even at her worst she has been delightful company, whether she thinks so or not. As still an active patient of mine, I admittedly find myself always checking on her, wondering if she slept well or if the nightmares have returned or if she’s punishing herself with her hand or not. Dr. Harford has taken up her care in regards to physical rehabilitation and I trust her skills. I do not think she is unfit for duty but what she has gone through is enough to spark my worrying instincts it seems. Lt. Commander Timothy Alentonis - Our newest science officer who has come aboard just before Frontier Day who has previously served as Professor at Starfleet Academy. Like myself, he seems to struggle with finding his place on the crew, but social awkwardness might be a universal part of the Astraeus crew joint struggles. Still I look forward to seeing his contributions in the future to the ship as he settles in and hopefully finds his place. A lesson that anyone of any rank can suffer from such struggles. I will need to do a follow-up with him soon. Lt. 101 and 000 - The Bynars are a pair I do not know very well but during the events of Frontier Day, witnessed a strangeness in that one was affected by the borg, and the other was not, helping link the change to brain development. I still need to follow-up with the two of them post Frontier Day but rediscovering their sense of self was the most important as it was for many who were assimilated. Before then… only one got sick also, they are a bit of an anomaly of textbook Bynar which is marvelous. We can never know everything. Lt. Wyatt Ral - If there was anything good to come out of Frontier Day for me, it was getting to connect with Wyatt. He’s from Betazed as well and while his family is far from traditional, he helps me feel a little less like a fish out of water by reminding me of the comforts of home. His grandmother even sent baked goods from Betazed that she made herself. Our last meeting, the memory of part of Betazed being destroyed, the feeling and thoughts of all that life there and then gone haunted him, and I felt someone understand what had happened at Ohmallera… Lt. Christopher Caldwell - A talented individual blessed with good looks and adaptability, but infuriatingly confusing display of certain Earth born personality expectations. He treats vulnerability like a curse and attempts to address it as almost an offense, I do not understand it. There are few who I have met who mentally contradict themselves. He should honestly be seeing a Counselor but we will see how he recovers over shoreleave first. We are on friendly terms so long as he doesn’t use that terrible song as a mental shield again… though I know the truth is I unnerve him with what I am. Lt. Charles Matthews - The Chief of Security and I have become quite good friends since Frontier Days. Whether it is sparring or simply enjoying a drink, Matthews is good company even if he doesn’t think so. There are very few people who understand how devastating it can be to lose a sibling to senseless tragedy one can relate to. He is too harsh on himself sometimes, but I would be hypocritical to call him out on it, as I was also raised working with the scrutiny of one parent their entire life. What is the Earth phrase… birds of a feather? Lt. JG. Gwen’ora Tasen - We’ve come a long way since Starbase 118 graduation. It is odd not sharing a room with her, but we’re across the hall by design, so there is rarely a time we cannot burst into one another’s room. I am worried about her following Frontier Day however… The Ba’ku people live a simple life by design, rejecting technology due to their space faring history, but few have had to experience the pain the galaxy can inflict in the modern era… I hope she gets to see the beauty of the stars eventually. Lt. JG. Divya Tam - Forged in fire is the term I would use for our friendship. Divya was with me in sickbay at the tail end of Frontier Day, and since then we’ve done quite a bit together on shore leave such as relaxing at hot springs, exploring earth, exploring the earth relic that is a vandura, and I’ve been the Medical Officer assisting in some of her security projects. We’re both Children of War, a title Divya uses to describe us as children to soldier parents of the Dominion War. It’s comforting to have someone I can talk to about some of those heavier subjects and understand why I… sometimes I treat certain things like facts of life other than horror. I really should ask her to spar with me next. Lt. JG. Dr. Kris Fianna - Initially we had a rough start following Frontier Day, but since her return from the inpatient stay, and she’s gotten back into work we have been on much better terms. I respect Dr. Fianna immensely for the willingness to go to a facility, having been in one myself, there is an unjust stigma some cultures have about receiving help. Not to mention her drive and dedication to her patients above her own health make her an incredible doctor. Ensign Dr. Alix Harford - Initially a relief doctor from Denali Station, Dr. Harford has become a permanent member of our crew. In a short time the two of us have gone through quite a bit together, with Ensign McGillian’s telepathic awakening and the hours upon hours put into our dissertation on the “Reevaluation of Telepathic Therapy Criteria and Procedure Review.” Initially I was aware I have made her uncomfortable due my psionic abilities and her own trauma, but I believe we have both made strides being mindful. I believe we are all very fortunate for Dr. Harford’s transfer and she has done well integrating into the crew. Lieutenant JG Dr. Sylvie Doucet and Commander Serala were both part of the Chin’toka reacquisition and appear to be making the ship a permanent part of the Fleet and will be joining the Astraeus in the Expanse. Unfortunately, Lieutenant JG Slav Shewytch has also transferred off the ship for now to recover from the events of Frontier Day. I noticed a number of new cadets and recently a new Lieutenant JG named Diego Beyett who I have not yet met but saw his medical check in with Dr. Harford. I do feel a small sense of guilt following Frontier Day that I am working through in meditation. Compared to most members of the crew, I came out mentally in a much better place, which feels rather insulting to all of their struggles. Part of it is due to my experience with Ohmallera and the six months I spent at the University of Medara’s psychiatric care unit, learning how to process loss and improving my brain’s trauma processing. Frontier Day tested my ability to deal with hearing the pain and thoughts of everyone around me and keep going. Part of me feels like a monster still being able to function, hearing the Borg Queen’s voice in their minds, all of them trapped… but I couldn’t free them. All I could do was get Sickbay back up and running so we could begin taking patients. And a part of me… feels strangely fulfilled. When I joined Starfleet, I was following my brother’s dream. I told myself one difference I did want to make was to assure nothing like what happened to Ohmallera happened anywhere else. Earth wasn’t touched at the end of the day. There were casualties, terrible numbers lost in Starfleet, but part of me cannot help but feel relief in that we prevented ships from firing down onto those cities below. The Astraeus, in its first mission, does what I had set my life goal to… Fate is a funny thing, isn’t it? As we prepare for our departure to the Par’tha Expanse I have turned much of my free time into getting familiar with the Caraadians biology as well as familiarizing myself with some of their social etiquettes and expectations. Much like Betazed there appears to be a Noble House system, though it feels far more expansive and without the religious connections at the root of them. Houses of any sort always means the capacity for the crew to become entangled in the drama of the nobility, an area my upbringing has me very familiar with as a generational vassal of the Seventh House. After a talk with Matthews, I will also need to learn what I can about the Valcarian’s should we come into contact with them, both medically and socially. …There is much to be done before we officially take off but there is a shift in the atmosphere around the ship, everyone knows it’s time, and while I am thankful that many of my crewmates got to experience the comforts of home as they recovered. I have been ready to see the stars. I hope you can see them too, Velaan. // -- Lieutenant JG Sevantha Saa Medical Officer USS Astraeus A240105SS2

Y'all remember that scene in Firefly where Mal and Jayne are talking to Badger, and he makes skirting mention to getting his hands on a couple of... invites? Yeah, Jayne's face was my face when I read this, Just great.

@Jovenan's latest sim has everything: jokes, minor acts of insubordination (GASP), a cute worm, skants (the best uniform variant), the absolute most devastating emotional consequence in this entire mission so far (no cute worm pet)...

I don't kink shame, but I do kink ask why.

Not @Vitor S. Silveira trying to out-logic a Vulcan 🤣

This sim gives a really good picture of how an officer might feel when getting ready to leave their crew for another assignment, even a temporary one. It also has my favorite description ever of transporter beam travel. The writer for Charles Matthew/ Tereza Delgado did a really great job! ((Transporter Room One, Deck 2, USS Borealis)) ((Time Index: 1 Hour Later)) Tereza had made the relatively short journey from her quarters on the starboard side of the deck to Transporter Room One. The one advantage of a Nova Class starship was that getting anywhere didn’t seem to take a long time. The ship was just a fraction of the size of a Galaxy Class vessel; just eight decks compared to its forty-two, and the size difference was almost staggering. She took some time to read up on the ship, and its history, and simply hadn’t served on anything like the Astraeus before. Captain Salzburg had completely caught her off guard. In the subsequent hour since he had made his request of Captain Mei’konda, Commander Delgado had asked the old Captain of the Borealis about it further. There wasn’t much more given away. In fact, there was barely anything added to what he had initially said on the Bridge. After taking the time for a quick shower and changing into a fresh, crisp uniform, the First Officer took the chance to go and visit a few friends and favoured colleagues, telling them all she’d see them soon, before collecting a few essentials from her quarters and a data packet containing all of the information that the Borealis had obtained; just in case. As the Transporter Room door swished closed behind her, Delgado gripped at the strap that rested across her right shoulder, making sure it didn’t slide down yet another time. As she glanced around the small room, Tereza was glad to find that nobody else was here; just the Bajoran Transporter Chief manning his station. Letting out a sigh of relief, she smiled towards the taller colleague and took a step towards the Transporter Pad. She knew him long enough to know that he would be business as usual. She hated fanfare and being made a fuss of; besides, she was only joining the Astraeus on a temporary basis. Shoram: Commander. I’ve been expecting you. ::pause:: All set? Delgado: Ready as I’ll ever be, Chief Shoram. Is the Astraeus within transporter range? She felt her mouth dry as the Chief shifted his gaze to the console in front of him, tapping quickly at a few buttons before raising his head slowly. Shoram: Yes, Ma’am. Location confirmed. Delgado: ::nodding:: Very good, Chief. Tereza turned on her heels, and took a few large strides, before taking her place on the circular Pad that occupied the room. Delgado: Inform the Bridge that we are ready for transport. Shoram pressed at several more buttons, before what can only be described as a confirmation beep sounded out from the Transporter station. Shoram: Confirmation received. ::pause:: Take care, Commander. Tereza smiled, letting a warmth radiate from her eyes, and nodded. Delgado: See you soon, Shoram. With that, the telltale signs of a standard Transporter beam shimmered into being as Commander Delgado was broken down molecule by molecule, compressed into a data stream, and transmitted towards the Astraeus. In almost the blink of an eye, her molecules were quickly recombined, and she blinked slowly as she returned to whole in the unfamiliar Transporter Room. ((Transporter Room One, Deck 6, USS Astraeus)) As the recognisable whine faded away, Tereza took a slow step forward off of the Transporter Pad, casting her hazel eyes onto Captain Mei’konda and waiting for the Caitian man to speak. Mei’konda: Response Delgado: Commander Tereza Delgado, reporting, Sir. She turned her head as the woman she recognised as the First Officer took a step towards her. Rosek-Skyfire: ::steps forward:: It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Lieutenant Commander Rosek, the Astraeus’s first officer. Tasen: Response Delgado: Commander. Lieutenant. ::smiling, nodding:: Likewise. It’s a pleasure to meet you both in person. Mei’konda: Response Delgado: Captain, I am grateful you agreed to Captain Salzburg’s request. I appreciate that it was a little unexpected. ::pause:: At least it was for me… I had no idea. Mei’konda: Response Any: Response --- MSNPC Commander Tereza Delgado Simmed by: Lieutenant Charles Matthews Acting Chief of Tactical & Security USS Astraeus NCC-70652

@Christopher Caldwell had me laughing at his sims, yet again. Channeling his inner Mr Freeze with a series of puns below; https://groups.google.com/g/sb118-astraeus/c/2pIMmbOwpZg/m/tKQrU27UBAAJ Then the way he wrote his character still yearning after Commander Kiax, and seeing competition from Matthews that just isn't there 😂 https://groups.google.com/g/sb118-astraeus/c/x-Deo-DXDvY/m/TnS5yT3lAAAJ Also, brilliant sims as always. The Trek knowledge, especially in the second sim, is really good and it allows you something to consider and bounce off as a writer.

Here we have a master-class in scene-setting and hinting at further things to come, from the always-amazing @Gila Sadar. It accomplishes everything it needs to, without being overly lengthy. Check it out!

Give this man a medal, for tolerating me please 🙏

In a months long slow burn, @Toxin Arlill's main character has been playing host to another consciousness of unknown intentions. As this entity has taken more and more influence over our Toxin's thoughts and behaviors (And remained unknown to the other characters) the audience has grown increasingly anxious. In this sim (during a time-traveling mission) the entity (HENRI) makes a fateful decision and asks big questions:

You just had to remind me of that, didn't you, XO.

Big shout out to @Alix Harford for 'The Juneau' Really great to learn more about the character's backstory and who doesn't love a bit of trauma drama?

Guys....we're kidding ourselves if we don't speak of the real terror....

Two favourites from recent sims: A brilliant and hilarious insight from our newest recruit. Made me cackle, very Lower Decks @Samuel Woolheater Then of course, @Corey Wethern never disappoints: I got that reference!

Does the Artemis have a couple Vulcans running around feeling cocky? 👋

Yinn's writer has been exploring an interesting concept of a merging of minds - quite literally - but not of bodies (think Tuvix, but where Neelix and Tuvok bodies still walk around but they share a mind that is technically a single entity). Here, we see what happens when those two bodies are rent apart due to a temporal anomaly and now she finds herself as only herself again. Great sim! IC: (( Cargo Bay, Deck 33, USS Sequoia, Sol System [Frontier Day] )) Half of Yinn was gone. The stronger, heavier set of limbs. The eyes that could see better in the dark. The pain in her other back she grudgingly admitted bothered her sometimes. But worse than that, half her mind was gone. She knew, in the abstract, that she had grown up in Hitorah colony, but she could no longer remember the smells of her house there, the sound of her mother, Bu'kah, singing opera to herself when she thought no one was listening. She couldn't remember her life there. Except that wasn't her life. It was his. Loq. Who had been a part of her. Who had been her. And without warning, with no reason she could understand, he was gone. Was he dead? Was she? Their bodies had been separated before; out of phase with each other, but even as her Bolian body was comatose, her mind was intact. But not this time. She kept reaching out, trying to make her phantom limbs, her phantom body move. But it was no use. That part of her was gone. Herrick: Frontier… Day?! Richards: The Enterprise! Yinn barely registered that she was no longer at the party, no longer on the treasure moon at all. What happened to Stendhal? Who seemed to be in two places at once and then nowhere? What happened to Caras? Yinn had tried to save him and put him in even more danger. Why were they back on the ship? Why was Herrick here? Richards: Wait. 250th? That’s the… Nijal: (tilting back and forth) The most recent one. Where that fleet formation almost took out three-quarters of the fleet. Yinn: Zi... what happened to us? Was she speaking with her Bolian mouth or her Klingon one? Was she speaking at all? It used to be easy to keep track. Richards: Maybe we already have an assigned viewing lounge? Nijal: You mean, like, maybe we're meant to be here? Because we already were here? Even while we were also in the Gamma Quadrant? Yinn's fellow crewmen sounded serious. Something had happened, but she couldn't make sense of what they were saying. They're also in the Gamma Quadrant? As opposed to where? Herrick: I suspect we might be able to blend into any of the lounges as the ship’s staff. I doubt the security is that tight (beat) yet. Our priorities should be confirming if anyone else from the Butler is onboard and figuring out a plan to get home. They weren't on the treasure moon, but they also weren't on the Butler. Maybe weren't in the Gamma Quadrant. Was that why she couldn't feel Loq? Were they too far away? Had they gone through the wormhole? Her scientist brain, singular, started slowly coming back to life. Questioning. Analyzing. Richards: (with a reluctant nod) Right. (another nod) Well then. We have twenty minutes. Yinn: oOSir... what happens in twenty minutes?Oo But Richards looked past her at Nijal. Was Yinn even here? Was she out of phase again? Or had she just forgotten how to speak out loud? She took a breath and felt the air filling her lungs. Not real air, salt air, but the sterile air of a starship. She closed her eyes and felt her skirt, snug around her hips, the hundreds of shells of her necklace ever-so-slightly digging into her chest. She flexed her fingers, then her arms. She ran her tongue across the roof of her mouth. This was her body. Her one body. All she had left. She touched her tongue to her teeth, then pulled it back a millimeter. She sent a stream of air across it, an experimental hiss, just to see if she could form words. (ooc: Bolian speech is mostly hissing, I decided a while back) Nijal: It's probably better if we see as few people as possible, just in case. Richards: Responses Yinn: Sir. Herrick nodded and kept going. He heard her, she was real after all. He just thought he was agreeing. Herrick: (nodding) It’s best to avoid the transporters… (lowering his voice) you may recall that it was the primary delivery mechanism of the nanoprobes, and I’d rather avoid becoming a member of the collective today. ::motioning to Nijal:: Can you ascertain where we are? Nanoprobes? Collective? Had Yinn awoken in the middle of a mission? She was still dressed for the party... on that moon... something about a knife... Betazoids in cages... had that all been a dream? Yinn needed to stop everything, just for a minute, and find out what had happened to her. But the rest of the crew were lost in conversation. Something serious was happening. And she still wasn't sure she knew how to speak. Nijal: (reading from the wall panel) Deck 33. And this is (beat; reading) the Sequoia. (looking to Richards) Why did you think this was the Enterprise? Wasn't the Galaxy class Enterprise destroyed decades ago? Richards: Response Herrick: (nodding) That’s right. Even decades after her commission she remains infamous. Richards: Response Herrick: Do we recall what happened to the Sequoia? Richards: Responses Nijal: (continuing on) How'd we get here? Yinn: Yes. Finally. That was the question that needed answering. Yinn reached out to put an arm on Nijal's shoulder, but it just drifted off in another direction. Richards: Responses Herrick: (unsure) Maybe something happened if we did end up exchanging fire with those cult folk? ::opening his tricorder, running some scans:: There only seems to be the four of us from the Butler… and some scattered temporal readings. (beat) 2 are moving, and 1 seems stationary. Yinn: Cult? Richards/Nijal: Responses Herrick: (shaking his head) I’m not too keen to split up unless absolutely necessary. It adds more risk of exposure or further separation. Yinn: Separation. Richards/Nijal: Responses Josh looked at his tricorder and increased the resolution. Herrick: It looks like the moving signatures are up on Deck 2 and the stationary one is on Deck 9… in Solid Waste Reprocessing Yinn still didn't understand where they were or what had happened, but three of the crew elsewhere on this ship? Crew they had to find? That part, at least, made sense. Richards/Nijal: Responses Herrick: Alright team; let’s press onward. Yinn finally found her voice. She could finally push a solid stream of air between her lips. Yinn: Wait. Herrick stopped and looked back at her. Finally. Yinn: Sir. I don't understand what's happening. I was on the treasure moon with Nijal, I blacked out, and I came to in the middle of this mission. And... She was almost afraid to say it. Saying it made it real. This wasn't just some wild hallucination. Half of her was really gone. Yinn: I'm just me, sir. I can't feel Loq's body, or his memories, or... Herrick/Richards/Nijal: Responses Yinn: I'm sorry, sir. I know there are crew we need to find. And something happens in nineteen minutes. But... I don't know how I got here, and half of me is gone. I... Can't? Can't complete the mission? Do her duty as a Starfleet officer? Would she dishonor herself and her house? Yinn: I'm sorry, sir. I just needed a minute. Tell me where I need to be. Herrick/Richards/Nijal: Responses Tags! and TBC! --- Lt. Junior Grade Yinn Science Officer USS Octavia E. Butler O240011Y12

What a rizzler

Because in Avander's opinion, getting shot is nothing. LOL

Just a quick shout out to @Sevantha , I'm enjoying @Alix Harford and @Sevantha working on their proposal (even if they are ugly bags of mostly water 😂) but especially loved the call back to the Microbrain from TNG. https://groups.google.com/g/sb118-astraeus/c/p_ETmLB8_Gc

The bartender arrived with two stardusters in tall glasses and an empty cup. Vada didn’t know it yet, but she was bearing witness to the most passive-aggressive drink pouring she’d ever seen. The bartender put the glass down and poured a good deal of ice into the glass. Then, he sighed and started filling the glass with water. Finally, he got to the lemon. Each cut was slow, deliberate, and designed to drag the process out as long as possible. All while giving the Trill ensign a look of “how dare you come to one of the most famous bars in the Alpha Quadrant and ask for water”.

@Karrod Niac shows us here how to add character depth and some backstory while grounding the character in the present reality. A nice insight into the CO of the Ronin's past (bad!) behaviour!

Nailed it!

Good save!!! 🤣

HEY!!! That's not....You know what? Who cares. Let them talk. But I'm gonna make it real weird!!!!!

Never before has there been such an accurate read of Lhandon in a sim. Often the best way to see what is coming across in your sims is to see what other people write in their sims. @Avander Promontory's sims are like a mirror and they are shining examples of how exactly to sim, and how to take what your writing partners are trying to get across and elevate that. , while adding to the wider narrative and not forgetting your own character at the same time.

For as far back as anyone can remember and stretching into the 25th century, cats will be cats. 😂 Great bit of narration from @Mister_Wake.

I'm a sucker for a good "you're not meant to die yet" scene, and I'm even more of a sucker for weaving in aspects of your backstory and building them throughout the mission. In this one, we learn about Steven. We wonder, who is Steven? Clearly, he means a lot to her. @Kimonzi Lahl

This has probably got to be the best opening sentence of a new member's first sim. lol Great job Ensign Bosko!

@Wil Ukinix The whole Keehani sim made me smile, but this part particularly made me laugh uncontrollably. Awesome sim to bring us some laughs!

An excellent except from an all around excellent sim from @Solaris! A question we all must ask ourselves...

Amazing SIM by @Morro Caras

Does Wesley Crusher count? If not, I agree with @Talia Ohnari the Moopsy thing was the true nightmare