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Like Riker before him Karrod has only one off duty outfit and that's all he needs. All credit and praise to @Aliethfor Karrod's rizz.

Gogi is still getting ready! 😧

Welcome to day one of the annual Awards Ceremony! We’re very excited to present the General Awards The General (Ship) Awards have been distributed by each captain to their respective crew members. As per tradition, this year's winners, just like in previous years, were selected by the commanding officers of the fleet. In situations where the commanding officer was also nominated, the first officer took on the responsibility of making the final decision. The nominations were submitted by you, offering you an opportunity to observe the accomplishments of other ships and discover who received each award. B-Plot Award Awarded to simmers who, despite the demands of the core storyline, illustrate a substantial portion of the character's life. Their sims convey the journey of their character while bringing their fellow crew members along for the ride, allowing for collaboration and making their world feel as though their fellow writers are a part of it. Harrison Blackwood: Amity Outpost Vitor Silveira: USS Artemis Esa Kiax: USS Astraeus Lhandon Nilsen: USS Octavia E Butler Indrid Yirah: USS Constitution-B Tomas Falt: Denali Station Vylaa zh'Tisav: USS Gorkon V'Len Kel: USS Ronin Combs Cross Awarded to individuals who bring their ships to life with well-rounded PNPCs, enhancing plots and character development, without detracting from the main story and characters of the sim. They add depth and colour to the universe, and make the journey the experience. Named for Jeffrey Combs, guest star of a thousand faces. John Carter: Amity Outpost Jovenan: USS Artemis Arturo Maxwell: USS Octavia E Butler Atan T'Seva: USS Constitution-B Alora DeVeau: Denali Station Talia Ohnari: USS Khitomer Korras: StarBase 118 Ops Luxa Lorana: USS Ronin Genesis Award The Most Improved Simmer Award. Awarded to officers who show conspicuous effort in notably improving their simming skills. Kaito Moore: Amity Outpost Savel: USS Artemis Sylvie Doucet: USS Astraeus Toz: USS Octavia E Butler T'Ama: USS Constitution-B Alex Forsyth: Denali Station Lina Dahlquist: USS Gorkon Madison Marsh: StarBase 118 Ops Khan Award Awarded to a simmer who thoughtfully develops a three-dimensional villain over the course of a mission or more. They create well-rounded and grounded villains, who may be mustache twirling murderous maniacs, or the hero of their own story. A superb villain should be a formidable and deserving foe to your heroes. They should neither be so weak that they are easily defeated, nor should they be so powerful that they can only be defeated by chance. Wil Ukinix: Amity Outpost Genkos Adea: USS Artemis Azura Ada: USS Constitution-B Araxxu Vahin: Denali Station Luxa Lorana: USS Ronin Laudean Commendation Awarded to those who have shown great creativity in many facets of species creation or expansion, including physiological, psychological, cultural, social, and more, and their creativity will inspire their fellow simmers. The Laudean Commendation can cover many aspects of species development, such as expansion of the species on the wiki and documenting their history, but should primarily be based in In Character simming. Charlena Vanlith: Amity Outpost Gnai: USS Artemis Yinn: USS Octavia E Butler Mingxing Shimisi: USS Constitution-B Kettick: Denali Station Quinn Reynolds: USS Gorkon Zenno: USS Khitomer Ian O'Connor: USS Ronin Haukea-Willow: StarBase 118 Ops Nebula Bar Awarded to a simmer who has demonstrated great imagination in creating or expanding upon planets, stars, stellar phenomena, and other physical environments and settings, such that these settings create a convincing, descriptive, realistic environment that inspires other simmers or improves the flow of a given plot. Kimberly Stapledon: USS Constitution-B Oddas Aria: Denali Station Ash MacKenna: USS Khitomer Gogigobo Fairhug: StarBase 118 Ops Luxa Lorana: USS Ronin Neelix Award Awarded to officers who go above and beyond the call of duty by displaying additional, Out of Character commitment. This includes assisting fellow officers in need of simming assistance, facilitating Out of Character discussions with the crew, maintaining wiki articles, and more. Jansen Orrey: Amity Outpost Gila Sadar: USS Artemis Serala: USS Astraeus Avander Promontory: USS Octavia E Butler T'Ama: USS Constitution-B Drex: Denali Station Samira Neathler: USS Gorkon Connor Dewitt: USS Khitomer Saschenka Kreshkova: StarBase 118 Ops Luxa Lorana: USS Ronin O'Brien Award Awarded to individuals with the rank of Lieutenant or Lieutenant Commander who assist the ship's command staff by mentoring crew, arranging missions, updating the wiki, and performing other activities critical to the successful operation of our sims. These officers serve as the backbone of their ships and stations, assisting in making simming enjoyable for everyone on board. Named after one of Trek's most devoted and tenacious support personnel. Robin Hopper: Amity Outpost Lael Rosek: USS Astraeus Jack Kessler: USS Butler Laria Herren: USS Constitution-B Tomas Falt: Denali Station Doz Finch: USS Gorkon Connor Dewitt: USS Khitomer Solaris McLaren: StarBase 118 Ops Luxa Lorana: USS Ronin Pathfinder Award Awarded to individuals who have taken great care in mentoring other members during their early stages of simming and beyond. They are great communicators who continuously find ways to motivate and inspire their mentees. Nathan Richards: Amity Outpost Genkos Adea: USS Artemis Mei'konda: USS Astraeus Aine Sherlock: USS Octavia E Butler Diz'mim: USS Constitution-B Alora DeVeau: Denali Station Quinn Reynolds: USS Gorkon Nolen Hobart: USS Khitomer Gogigobo Fairhug: StarBase 118 Ops V'Len Kel: USS Ronin Q Award Awarded to a simmer who keeps their team guessing with unexpected, clever plot twists throughout the year. Though they may be sudden, unexpected, and even dramatic changes in direction, the twists must be realistic and sensible. The twists should never happen in such a way that people feel misled, fooled, or embarrassed. Great narrative twists always increase, not decrease, other simmer’s participation in the story. Kaito Moore: Amity Outpost Vitor Silveira: USS Artemis Toxin Arlill: USS Octavia E Butler Eleanor Park: USS Constitution-B John Kendrick: Denali Station Vylaa zh'Tisav: USS Gorkon Luxa Lorana: USS Ronin Russ Bar Awarded to a writer who possesses exceptional grasp of Trek mythology. Named after Tim Russ, the actor who portrayed Tuvok on Star Trek: Voyager and was a huge Star Trek fan before landing the part. Ikaia Wong: Amity Outpost Talos Dakora: USS Artemis Christopher Caldwell: USS Astraeus Avander Promontory: USS Octavia E Butler Ba'el: USS Constitution-B Ayiana Sevo: USS Gorkon Chloe Waters: USS Khitomer Madison Marsh: StarBase 118 Ops Scotty Cross Scotty Cross Awarded to an officer who shows extreme creativity while solving a plot dilemma or in character plot twist. Robin Hopper: Amity Outpost Hallia Yellir: USS Artemis Karen Stendhal: USS Octavia E Butler Azura Ada: USS Constitution-B Doz Finch: USS Gorkon Ezra Zerva: USS Khitomer Sheathed Sword Awarded to individuals who choose to inflict mental and/or physical suffering on their character, then dig into the following feelings and decisions in a realistic manner. The term is derived from a passage in a Robert Jordan novel in which a warrior must be prepared to 'sheath the sword' in their own body, i.e. incur a painful wound to attain one's objective (in this case, more realistic simming) rather than a genuine aim of the character. Jaseb Chevalier: USS Artemis Esa Kiax: USS Astraeus Lhandon Nilsen: USS Octavia E Butler Laria Herren: USS Constitution-B Ghee’looth Xiron: Denali Station Tahna Meru: USS Gorkon T'Reyna: StarBase 118 Ops Kirsty Carpenter: USS Ronin Silver Palm Awarded to individuals who are renowned to offer that spark to a plot when it is lagging, or to consistently bring fun or a touch of humour to the sim, while keeping such sims current and realistic. They constantly raise their crew's morale in a variety of methods, including Out of Character. Rebecca Iko: Amity Outpost Genkos Adea: USS Artemis Christopher Caldwell: USS Astraeus Josh Herrick: USS Octavia E Butler T'Ama: USS Constitution-B Kettick: Denali Station Doz Finch: USS Gorkon Nolen Hobart: USS Khitomer Corey Wethern: StarBase 118 Ops Quentin Beck: USS Ronin The Order of Starfleet Merit and Achievement First Class (TOSMA) The Order of Starfleet Merit and Achievement First Class is awarded to members who show great dedication in their behavior and simming abilities. A candidate for TOSMA gives strong, solid ideas to the storyline and character development on a regular basis. They also take the time to edit and proofread their sims to guarantee that their writing is of high quality. Nathan Richards: Amity Outpost Jovenan: USS Artemis Charles Matthews: USS Astraeus Margaret Walker: USS Octavia E Butler Indrid Yirah: USS Constitution-B Ghee’looth Xiron: Denali Station Tahna Meru: USS Gorkon Zenno: USS Khitomer Evan Ross: StarBase 118 Ops Ian O'Connor: USS Ronin Vega Award Awarded to individuals who bring the worlds of their crews to life with art, videos, and all kinds of artistic endeavours. Named for one of the Federation's earliest colonies. Torvi Ylvor: Amity Outpost Aine Sherlock: USS Octavia E Butler Jalana Rajel: USS Constitution-B Oddas Aria: Denali Station Jo Marshall: USS Gorkon Nolen Hobart: USS Khitomer Alieth: USS Ronin Please join us in congratulating these talented players!

Aine is stepping out of her comfort zone and stepping to a designer dress by renown Rihan Temaonra s'Nai. By combining traditional styling with modern materials, it brings an edginess not often seen in the Old Empire.

Lieutenant Doz Finch arrives in some smart and sleek black attire, freshly replicated and with an added touch to one of the shoulders. "Stitched a couple of stones in, love. Thought it needed that extra bit of something!" And not far behind her is Diplomatic Officer, Ensign Miaxdiso Avoi, in a custom designed and tailored Idridian gown. Betazoid designer Astrim Avoi, Miaxdiso's very own father, created the dress using flowers procured from the Piri Islands of Betazed, and by utilising some fascinating freeze-technology, dehydrated the blossoms (or something like that), later weaving them with precision and a certain sort of storytelling into the dress itself. Accompanying it, she wears a set of sparkling earrings by Betazoid designer Memoxi Treidam, a matching purse by another Betazoid designer Odrun Ivoistri, and heels from the House of Esoi.

Attending her first awards banquet after the birth of her daughter in an elaborate, floor-length gown by renowned Betazed designer, Delara Vonn, this ethereal, floral motif was inspired by Alora's love for African Violets.

The Commodore is wearing the latest from the Aavaro Wilds, specifically Uliria Peltori of Lightside. The leaves change with the seasons of the wearer's home planet as the dress's landscape responds to the movement of the wearer, translating it to wind and weather.

Unlike last year, Haukea is wearing a stunning deep blue dress with long sleeves. She's waiting to enter the ceremony. ❤️

Gnai was a bit rushed to come up with something to wear for awards, as it had only just been posted to its ship. It'd hate to show up underdressed and stand out... aaaaaany more than it usually did. But with a bit of determination (and frantically sending sub-space messages to old acquaintances at the Academy), it managed to get in contact with a very cordial Centauran by the name of Kirsten Olson. She was the childhood friend of a roommate of a friend of a classmate of Gnai's from its first year... or something along those lines. It didn't get too bogged down in the details of the chain of contacts, as it was just thankful to have found someone willing to help it on such short notice. A holo-engineer by trade, and aspiring fashion designer by hobby, she created the dress, with some input from Gnai on colors (blue was preferable, so it wouldn't need to repaint its chassis) and measurements (it had a file... somewhere with the specs of its suit, it could have sworn - but thankfully Lt. Cmdr. Salkath had taken measurements just last shore leave that it could use). When the final garment arrived, Gnai's stress levels dropped noticeably and it sent her a great deal of thanks. And some scans of it wearing the dress, for her portfolio. It wasn't the most professional holo-photographer in the galaxy, but it also wasn't half-bad either. (Much like Gnai, this wouldn't have been done without some help, and I want to give @Robin Hopper a BIG thanks for the initial image of Gnai that I used (with permission) as well as for guiding me through how to correct the color and the shading, as well as those last little details that make all the difference.)

Lieutenant JG Gila Sadar of the USS Artemis-A arrives at tonight's Awards Ceremony in a tasteful and elegant number crafted by the Earth-based Human/Bajoran designer, Vyal Abdelaziz. Mr. Vyal's brand is best known for crafting immaculate outfits for a wide variety of alien species, and though this number is significantly more ordinary-looking than last year's exquisite Pahkwa-thanh Dress Coat, it suits the agonizingly ordinary Lieutenant well enough. Indeed, Lieutenant Sadar seemed uniquely ill-at-ease at the Awards, with the following picture only being taken after one of her colleagues went to substantial effort to direct her in her camera manners.

There's a type of cat called a tuxedo cat. Can't beat this!

Laria is wearing a dress from a recent collaboration between Betazed's Haanriel & Brea fashion house and Magna Roman designer Caeparia Servilia Lutoria.

Drex have just discovered Italian Fashion. The 2401 classic collection.

Madison has arrived at the Awards Ceremony and she is dressed to impress!

##BREAKING## Rumour has it on 118 Ops that Lt JG Ross, who notoriously attends every official ceremony in the same black button-down, has acquired another piece of formal clothing; namely, an equally exciting black coat. This timeless attire has been designed by a nameless Ferengi in the San Francisco district, who closed the deal after hours of tiring and high-volume negotiation, finally settling on half the original price. Ross has been reported to be taking several days off after the exhausting ordeal of shopping, allegedly initiated by a Vulcan colleague of his, who deemed the size of his wardrobe illogical.

Pulling her head from Engineering, Lieutenant Hallia Yellir of the Artemis-A enters in a lavendrous gown to match her hair. A tasteful and poofy ballgown with large fluffy sleeves sitting at her shoulders, made by the artistic hands of a Cardassian by the name of Natima Heyic. Heyic's brand focuses on deep neutrals, richly coloured patterns and heavily textured fabrics, yet, she insisted on the opposite for this client in particular. Whilst significantly less simple than previous ceremonies, the volume of her skirt, sleeves and petticoats make even simple steps look like a gliding shape. Grinning with glee, Hallia Yellir does her best to maintain a big smile, embodying the fantasy of royalty, even if only for an evening.

Appearing at this year's Awards ceremony in a red cape dress which she claims was found "on a shopping trip with the girls around Amity's Mezzanine," Lt. Commander Robin Hopper is certainly making a bold statement. "Do I think I belong in red...? That's a loaded question. Who do you think you are?" she evaded -- dismissing reports indicating she may have recently turned down and offer to serve as the newly-launched USS Cambridge's First Officer. Some have speculated that the reason Hopper has continued aboard the far-flung Amity Outpost is her (now public) relationship with Chief Engineer, Lt. Nathan Richards. Speaking about their appearance together at this years' awards, Hopper commented, "I know last year I said we were just friends... I think we were fooling ourselves more than we were fooling anyone else."

Ensign Kreshkova styling for the Awards Ceremony.

For the Awards attire, Arthur had one phrase in mind: If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Combined with a classic, dark navy tuxedo in a Prince of Wales style, courtesy of the 630-year-old bespoke tailor Gieves & Hawkes of Saville Row in London; he also wears his Bajor pin for his adoptive hometown. Jalanda City represent!

Talia arrived wearing a Haliian designer who appreciates the blessed amphibian friends who assist in the famous Haliian cranberry bogs. Alas, no pockets. Again.

Dekas had a good time figuring out an outfit to wear and ended up on this slightly monochromatic number that matched well with his feathers. He got it from the very famously known designer Rep'Licator 😉. He thought it looked nice and is, in his own words, just happy to be here.

Commander Serala is sporting a Command Red dress with black trim specially designed by Davis Designs to reflect her Command Department affiliation in Starfleet.

Talos has beamed in and is ready to party.

Nilsen is an ops powerhouse. He can get everything the crew needs for the pre-awards, the ceremony, and the after-party all sorted while working out at the gym. However, he doesn't know where to even begin to look good, nor has he any idea what to wear. So, he played it safe. This suit is off the rack. He figures it works, and we can see that he's snuck away to get a smoke break, just so he can avoid those long speeches from the admirals where they keep talking in one long, incredibly unbroken sentence, moving from topic to topic so that no one can interrupt.

So, I've switched characters again but already have a pic for this occasion.

Jalana has no idea who she is wearing other than that it is not a Rajel original as she would usually wear. But she liked it because it was flowy and dreamy and flowery. It makes her feel like a fairy princess.

Ensign Gwen'ora Tasen or Gwen for short would have arrived in a nice black knee length dress and a yellow and black shawl. Both were obtained from her time on Earth.

Jaseb arrived wearing a traditional formal atiré to his birth planet from this year's collection of Alexandre Plokhov.

Today, I made Lieutenant, but I wouldn’t have gotten there if it wasn’t for both my former mentor, @VLen Kel, when we were back on the Oumumuma, and my newer mentor, @Avander Promontory . Both have been sources of inspiration for me throughout my time here so far and have put up with all of my half-baked ideas and crazy schemes, helping me to find some semblance of sense in them, plan out my long-term storylines, and just being around when I need them. You're support and encouragement have been second to none and I feel like I have my own cheerleading team hyping Special shout out to @Alora DeVeau @Erik Johnson and @Josh Herrick who have been a mega source of support. They are three people who I often lean on or share the first draft of my ideas with. They have both had to put up with my shenanigans and been pulled into God knows how many schemes I’ve come up with. But more than that, I'm proud to call you all my friends. You folks rock, and I love you all. Right, that's enough sappy stuff, I'm now going to go back to writing some angsty teen drama that would air on the CW network.

@Cory Stoyerand Ayiana have arrived. Cory changing his suit up slightly in an all-black number. Ayiana complementing Cory's attire with a black, one-shoulder gown.

Lieutenant Nathan Richards strolls in closely behind Lieutenant Commander Robin Hopper, tripping slightly over his own feet, but manages to compose himself just in time for a picture.

Ensign Saa will be a little more prepared next year, but on short notice, we go simple and clean with a sleek modern style by a Betazed counter culture designer inspired by Terran assymetrical era.

👻 AND THE WINNERS ARE... 🎃 One sec! Before we get to the winners, we've got some folks who need to be thanked: Graphics creators: We've been doing this graphics things for a few years now, and every year I'm blown away by the astounding creativity from each corner of the fleet. All the time and love that goes into these contests year on year truly make it a fabulous time to get together and do something fun, creative, and chucking us all into a web of spooky unity! Judges: One member of each ship participating in the contest carefully reviewed all of the entries and come up with our winners. Huge thanks to them for taking the time to participate in that! Ship staff: It's easy to forget that our ship staff have to do a lot of pushing, cajoling, helping, and facilitation to make this contest a success! And this year, many members of your ship staff were part of a long and detailed discussion about how to improve this contest, so thanks to them for sticking it out through that process. ALL OF OUR MEMBERS: We sincerely appreciate your participation every year in this game that helps build our fleet fellowship! Please refer to the rules above to learn more about the two categories we judge: Design and Originality, and how the final scores are modified by the number of people participating. So now... . . . . . . . . . . Who won? First, honourable mentions through the season this time! 🌌 💥 Huge shoutout to Astraeus for smashing it out of the park with this year’s Super Smash Brothers theme! Each avatar captures that playful Halloween spirit and adds a unique twist, transforming our community into a digital battleground of icons. 🎮🕹️ 🌲✨ A massive round of applause to Constitution for bringing the Enchanted Forest theme to life in this year’s Halloween avatar contest! The creativity and detail everyone poured into their avatars transformed our space into an enchanted woodland! 🍄🌙 🌟 Huge kudos to Khitomer for bringing pure Peanuts joy! This guy made me laugh and now I want a Peanuts avatar of my own. It’s been a treat to see everyone capture the spirit of this iconic comic! 🍂🧡 🧱✨Hats off to Amity for constructing an incredibly fun LEGO theme! Thank you, Amity, for this vibrant theme, and thanks to all who joined in for stacking up the fun! 🌈🧩 Absolutely amazing work all round! Loved every single entry this year and it looks like the Judges had a hard time, too! They said so, right in my inbox! All the votes are in, the maths is done, and the calculator is put away from next year. And so, the winners are: Remember that both winning crews can add the "Winner" badge, while anyone who created avatars can add that respective badge, as well. Thank you again for another fun contest, and congratulations to the winners!

Fashionably late, Lieutenant Commander Alieth arrives at the ceremony in a gown made of Tholian silk, with pearl appliqués from the native mollusc of Voroth sea. The choice of colour seems unheard of for the Vulcan, using a colour rarely used in her native region.

Here comes Lieutenant Vailani, in a design we have been told was chosen by Luxa Lorana, science officer of the Ronin, especially for the Bajoran. Despite her reluctance to attend at all, the operatons officer was convinced to pose for some red carpet snaps ... maybe next year we will coax a smile from her ... if we dare!

For her first awards ceremony, Is'Kah is wearing the latest fashion on Trill from designer Rose Thorn.

Our judges have spent the last week deliberating through all the entries and finally revealed that the winner of the Writing Challenge 2024 is... Jovenan, from the USS Artemis-A! @Jovenan's story "The Diary of Your Dead Lover" is a heart-wrencher, shepherding the reader through twelve diary entries spanning seven harrowing and emotionally charged years of the writer's life. From a perilous rescue mission containing vivid descriptions and skilled storytelling immersing the reader in the tension and fear, to the sense of urgency and the palpable danger are sewn into introspection. Through a nightmarish, surreal dream sequence, we're catapulted forward into a high-stakes mission. This narrative is a masterful blend of action, emotion, and psychological depth, making it an unforgettable journey. It's an absolute experience! Well done, Jovenan! Our runner-up this year is @Evan Ross onboard Starbase 118 Ops! They've nabbed the runner-up badge for their story "The Epilogue", a deeply moving story capturing the essence of nostalgia, identity, and heroism through a series of reflective moments in a collapsing mirror dimension. Revisiting familiar places in a hauntingly quiet aftermath of a perilous mission, bringing to life the forest with vivid description, all as a backdrop for tender dialogues. An emotional journey marked by a profound sense of introspection. An unforgettable read. Brilliant work, Evan! For this year, we've also got a special mention for @Haukea-Willow's poetic entry, "Interstellar", for their clever use of humour, action and character depth, and @Gnai's entry, "Fractions", for making us all a little emotional over a jellyfish! Story craft incredibly done! All the entries for the challenge are fantastic, well-thought-out, and wonderfully written! It's been a pleasure to read them all, and each one deserves a little recognition. Thank you for contributing your pieces, allowing us inside the worlds of your spotlighted characters, and providing us with a taste of what goes on behind the scenes. So, a big thank you to all of you for sharing your awesome pieces and letting us immerse ourselves in these captivating worlds! Thank you again to @Karrod Niac, the provider of the marvellous prompt! The winner, runner-up and judges, are in receipt of one of the following badges! Thank you once more for making this year's challenge so successful and enjoyable! We look forward to seeing even more incredible entries next spring! Please join me in congratulating the winners!

It's been a day for @Randal Shayne, @Nolen Hobart, @Connor Dewitt, @Karrod Niac, @Toryn Raga, @Alieth, and @Kali Nicholotti and their respective crews. Thank you for this lovely coda.

Lieutenant Commander Tahna Meru of the USS Gorkon barely makes it on time, offering excuses about "a very active nebula!" The author notes that this scientist makes a similar excuse every year. Her outfit was created by Bajoran designer Nadra (also responsible for Tahna's 2399 Awards dress). The dress is a collaboration with Tahna's father, Bajoran artist Tahna Rej, who hand-painted the flowers.

A rare moment where Vyla is not crawling around the guts of the Gorkon...

And another one of those forms is Charles Matthews in an orange suit with a black shirt and tie! Thanks @Christopher Caldwell 🫡

Class comes in many forms, one of those forms is Christopher Caldwell, another is Christopher Caldwell wearing a tuxedo.

LEGO Hopper: Any idea is a good idea except the non-happy ones. Those we push down deep inside where you'll never, ever, ever, EVER find them! (Checking In)

"I've never been cuter~."

"Damn, just when I thought it could not be any shorter...."

Welcome to the final presentation day of the awards ceremony! Throughout this week, we have been revealing the deserving winners of the Staff, General, Length of Service, and Special awards. Today, we are thrilled to present the highly anticipated Duty Post awards. Each award highlights the best in specific departments, ranging from medical to intelligence, from counselling to civilian - representing all the various roles that make up our universe. Every award presented here acknowledges a player's exceptional performance in embodying their duty post. Given that only one award is given per duty post each year, these accolades hold significant value and are highly sought after. Our diverse array of winners, spanning from Ensign to Admiral, demonstrates that every player has an opportunity to be recognized. By consistently simming to the best of their ability and continuously striving to enhance their skills, every player has a chance to be considered for one of these prestigious awards. Voyager Medallion - Operations Awarded to 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, have acted as the liaison between the Command, Science, and Engineering departments, and are technically proficient in operations maintenance, making sure duty rosters, provisions, gear, and even recreation time are available... no matter what. Toxin Arlill - USS Octavia E. Butler Presented by - Lia Rouiancet From the moment Erik stepped into the role of Toxin Arlill, he has pushed forward what it means to be an operations officer in the 118 fleet. His dedication to his craft is evident in his sims, in which he showcases not just Arlill’s technical prowess, but also provides a refreshing sense of humor that brings life to the often complex world of starship operations. Erik's impact extends beyond his individual contributions. He has elevated the ops department to new heights, transforming it into a robust, collaborative, and integral part of our storytelling. It’s telling that the first specific location on the OEB to receive its own wiki page (outside of the bridge, that is) was the operations center! He's an operations powerhouse both in and out of character. Even before the ship changeover, the detailed 3D renderings of the ops center on the ‘Oumuamua combined with the strong simming he engaged in brought the department to life in a way I haven’t seen before in ops. Since then, he’s, just for example, created a full deck-by-deck room plan for the OEB in Canva – and to say this goes above and beyond just doesn’t do his work justice! What really sets Erik apart, though, is his generosity. Erik embodies the spirit of collaboration and community that defines 118, and his cooperative style and friendly demeanor will make him an excellent mentor in the months to come. His contributions have not only enriched his fellow simmers’ experience but have also set a new standard for what an operations officer can be. His creativity, dedication, and camaraderie make him an incredibly deserving recipient of the Voyager Medallion. Congratulations! Shaxs Star - Security / Tactical Awarded to dual posting Security/Tactical officers who have gone above and beyond the call of duty in protecting and preserving the lives of their crewmates. Not only do they show cunning and bravery in combat, these officers know how to safeguard lives without firing a phaser, using their knowledge and experience to prevent violence and stay true to Federation ideals. This award is only available to those fulfilling the dual role of Security/Tactical, and not the individual duty posts. Kirsty Lee Carpenter - USS Ronin Presented by - Karrod Niac One of the rarest and most difficult challenges in our game is to set aside a character and a vessel and try something wholly new by bringing a new PC to life aboard a new vessel. Fortunately for the Ronin and the fleet as a whole Lieutenant Commander Kirsty Carpenter (Justin) has done so with grace and incredible creativity. Since joining the Ronin during her launch Kirsty has had a wonderful journey with a nuanced backstory and a core of real emotion that plays out in every sim. She has struggled and suffered but grown and triumphed in equal measure and has become an indispensable part of what makes the Ronin so special. I’ll never be able to adequately thank Justin for earnestly embracing such a huge change but it is my sincere hope that this recognition makes a small down payment on that much larger debt. Congratulations! Semper Fidelis Award - Marines Awarded to Starfleet Marines who have demonstrated exceptional proficiency in defending their crew, completing their mission, averting terrible loss of life in the line of duty, and maintaining the United Federation of Planets' principles in times of crisis. Their knowledge of Starfleet equipment and armaments is second to none and their dedication to the mission is only surpassed by their leadership abilities, courage, and dependability. Arturo Maxwell - USS Octavia E. Butler Presented by - Lia Rouiancet It is my great pleasure to present this year's Semper Fidelis Award to Iain, the talented writer behind the character Arturo “Max” Maxwell. Iain’s an excellent simmer — that’s a given for an award like this! — but what really sets Iain apart is the depth and humanity he brings to the role of a marine. Through Max, Iain’s shown his fellow simmers that there's far more to this position than, even as the lowest officer, there’s much more to being a Starfleet marine than just being a grunt. Max is a fully realized character with a rich past, a compelling family life, and a touching, complex relationship with his daughter. In fact, one of Iain's greatest strengths is his ability to populate the ships he sims on with a diverse cast of NPCs. Each new character he introduces is distinct and serves to add to the complex weave of the crew. This talent for creating memorable supporting characters has significantly expanded the depth of our storytelling. Beyond his excellent simming, Iain himself has quite a reputation (in a good way!). His kindness, thoughtfulness, and willingness to engage with others despite his busy life have made him a favorite among his fellow writers. It's no wonder that everyone seems to want a scene with him! He’s an exceptionally worthy winner of this year’s Semper Fidelis Award, and it’s my honor to recognize him as such. Congratulations, Iain! Prantares Ribbon - Medical Awarded to Medical officers who have moved beyond standard competence to display a true gift for the healing arts in the context of space medicine. Officers awarded 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. When they are not actively caring for patients, many doctors spend their time on duty undertaking medical research or familiarising themselves with the findings of previous medical studies. Like their colleagues in the Science department, they have utilised their specific abilities in cross department collaboration. V’Len Kel - USS Ronin Presented by - Karrod Niac Within our game the Medical Officer role is a complex challenge where you’re often tapped to be a counselor, a confidant and a physician all at once yet Lieutenant Commander V’Len Kel (Don) does so with an enormous display of grace and dignity. Since the Ronin’s launch he has navigated injury and trauma with calm dedication and has become a source of comfort and compassion for all who visit Sickbay. He has repeatedly demonstrated a level of compassion and empathy that would make a Betazoid blush and he does so often and gladly. He is a delight to sim with, a joy to read and an integral part of the Ronins soul. You have my thanks and respect for all that you do and I look forward to seeing you climb even greater heights as time goes on. Congratulations! Pilot’s Sextant - Helm Awarded to Helm officers who have proven themselves to be the best of the best, dedicating themselves to improving their specialisation. From finding a safe route home to flying an emergency atmospheric landing, pilots who have earned this award know the importance of staying focused on their task at hand, and place their ability to make spectacular maneuvers at the service of their ship and its mission. Christopher Caldwell - USS Astraeus Presented by Mei’konda Delano Ensign Caldwell joined Starbase 118 at a difficult time, in the middle of a mission during an action scene. As his ship was taking damage, he was introduced by having the NPC helmsman be injured, at which time he was called from the lower decks to take over helm during combat, something he had never done before. Ensign Caldwell's player, Chris, not only simmed his character's proficiency in this stressful situation, but the near nervous breakdown his character had to deal with afterward. It's exactly the sort of character complexity and consequences I love seeing in sims. Later, during his next mission, a fellow officer performing a EVA was knocked off of their tether and sent spiraling into space. As shown in the linked sim, several players in a runabout came up with a delightfully cinematic rescue maneuver, which Caldwell executed. He plays a great helmsman, and we're delighted to have him. Phoenix Award - Engineering Awarded to Engineering officers who continue this tradition of excellence in the field of engineering. Named for the vessel that legendary engineer Zefram Cochrane piloted during his historic first warp flight. 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. Doz Finch - USS Gorkon Presented by Quinn Reynolds All of Ryan’s nominations spoke about what an imaginative, evocative, and generally wonderful writer he is, and I fully agree! His character, Doz Finch, is an experienced member of the enlisted ranks who experienced a personal trauma which pushed her into making the leap to officer. Ryan’s simmed that transition, with all of its advantages and disadvantages, with incredible flair. He has a real knack for writing an engineer, having Doz jump into tasks with glee, solving problems with a sleeves-rolled-up, grease-on-the-cheek gusto, conjuring vivid descriptions of emotion and action, while never overwhelming his scene partners with technobabble. Even more impressive is Ryan’s ability to use an engineering problem to create character moments; from fixing a plasma leak with another engineer to solving an issue in the arboretum with an operations officer. It’s all so very well done, and I’m incredibly proud to present him with the Phoenix Award. Congratulations, Ryan! Order of the Valiant Heart - Counselling Awarded to Counselors who have demonstrated exceptional expertise in preserving their crewmates' mental health, clearly exhibiting excellent capacity to care for, support, and soothe those in need. They have gone above and beyond the line of duty in supporting their crewmates with their problems, and preventing future issues for the good of the officer, and the good of the ship. Arthur Strathmore - Denali Station Presented by Oddas Aria Arthur, Jackson, is a relative newcomer to the game, but has made quite a mark to the game. He has grabbed the role of ‘Counselor’ by the horns, made it his own, and expanded it both in scope and details, but been extremely successful both in the aspects that are explicit (such as counseling sessions), but also implicit (such as advising those around him). It has been some time since I have encountered such a good writer in this role and it is a blessing and a pleasure to have him aboard my ship. Thank you and congratulations Jackson! Natasha Yar Pin - Security Awarded to Security personnel who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to safeguard and preserve their crewmates' lives, even at the danger of their own. As an investigator, police officer, and soldier, the Security officer must be intimately familiar with all of Starfleet's armaments as well as many other styles of hand-to-hand combat. To ensure adequate duty fulfillment, the Security officer must also be well-versed in Diplomacy and Legislation. Named after the USS Enterprise-Chief D's of Security, who was killed in the line of duty. Zenno - USS Arrow Presented by Randal Shayne Zenno redefines what a Security Officer can be, and John redefines how you can write one. Bringing wit, wisdom, and, occasionally, wrath, Zenno is a formidable presence on the Khitomer, and John brings him to life in a rich, believable and engaging fashion. It can be easy to fall into the trap of turning the security department into a bunch of superheroes, or paranoid soldiers; Zenno demonstrates that competence, patience, efficiency and thoroughness bring about the best results, and sets an example for others with his realistic and believable portrayal. Beyond this, though, John has taken the time to flesh out the security department, introducing characters and introducing compelling narratives that turn what would normally be a bunch of nameless stand in NPCs into a thriving, detailed aspect of the Khitomer’s compliment. Rising talent in any division could learn from his example, and I look forward to his continued rise through the ranks. Congratulations, Lieutenant- this is well earned. Cochrane Award - Science Awarded to 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. They have performed weird and wonderful feats of scientific innovation and ingenuity, enabling their commanding officer to make those informed decisions. Tahna Meru - USS Gorkon Presented by Quinn Reynolds Eris, the writer of Tahna Meru, has brought us a character who’s delightful in her complexity, without ever being difficult to understand. A Bajoran who’s bucked the wishes of her family by leaving her homeworld to explore the galaxy, you can see her scientific curiosity and training reflected through every aspect of her character. She’s thoughtful, creative, and attentive to detail, and Tahna’s sims lean on both real world and Star Trek science for believable, yet appropriately Trek explanations. Often taking the role of a team leader, Tahna carefully considers a problem from all angles, listening to the opinions and expertise of her fellow teammates before she begins theorising. Not just a good scientific method, but a fantastic way to collaborate with others as we progress through our story. Her writing is vivid and engaging, really bringing the reader into the heart of the situation and along for her journey. I’m absolutely delighted to present her with the Cochrane Award. Congratulations, Eris! Black Cross - Intelligence Awarded to Intelligence officers who strive to accomplish the goals of Starfleet Intelligence while simultaneously upholding the ideals and structure of Starfleet Command. They display the ability to obtain intelligence through deceptive dialogue or espionage rather than forced admissions. While intelligence is frequently a game changer, this individual attempts to achieve those aims within the constraints of their commanding Officer and Starfleet laws. They are experts in research and diplomacy, as well as reconnaissance and communication. Evan Ross - Ops Presented by Sal Taybrim Intelligence is a difficult role to play. It’s not especially well defined in Star Trek canon and some of the examples we see on screen are used as the bad guys rather than our protagonists. So it’s a rare treat to watch a player step into the role with a charming and empathetic character and really own the role in a way that makes their fellow players want to engage with the department. Hannah, who plays Evan Ross, does an excellent job bringing Intelligence to life in a realistic and enjoyable way. Evan is not a moody shadowy loner hanging out in a corner. He’s a fun, nerdy, awkward person with a fierce intelligence, a strong skillset and a handful of intriguing flaws that makes him a well rounded character. Ross shines at research and strategy, which perfectly fits the duty post of intelligence, but he also needs to rely on his teammates to help him implement plans. I particularly like how Evan plays intel as a role where knowledge is power and strength comes from sharing knowledge. And I especially like how Evan's strengths and weaknesses are explored. I love reading about his anxieties, his worries and his struggles as much as I love reading about his triumphs. All of this makes Evan Ross feel like a living breathing person. To round all of this out Hannah, the player behind Evan is a consistently great writer with strong narration and great dialogue. Hannah’s been a great player on Ops, contributing to mission planning, playing exciting MNSPCs and helping lead teams to success. For all of these things I celebrate Evan Ross as this year’s Black Cross recipient. Congratulations Hannah, you have done a fantastic job and I am thrilled to be writing with you! Prestigious Service Medallion Awarded to members in the fleet who are steady and unwavering from their chosen Duty Post. This is a divisional award for each (Gold, Red, Blue) to celebrate a continuing player in the divisional role who has already won (and still qualifies in the eligibility criteria) a duty post award in a similar vein to how we enhance the Service Ribbons each time one is won. For continuous dedication to Operations... Esa Kiax - USS Astraeus Presented by - Mei’konda Delano Lieutenant Commander Esa Kiax, written by Matt, has been an Operations officer for over five years, and his experience in writing for the position shows through constantly. Operations can be a difficult role to define, as they are a combination of most other departments' backup as well as being something unique all on their own. Logistics on a starship or base are not always easy to write in an interesting way, but Matt does so consistently. In working to make the role a visible and useful one, Matt has described the large Operations area, the people who work there, and the process of logistics in a delightful and interesting way, and his character also performs the more interesting on-screen 'Data-like' duties of Operations with at least as much artistry. In fact, in our current Fleet Blockbuster, the Operations area has been the center of a Changeling infiltrator attack, and makes a great venue for an action set piece. For continuous dedication to Medical... Talia Ohnari - USS Khitomer Presented by - Randal Shayne This fleet has existed over three decades now, and as the years go by, they bring us closer together. Each of us started as a wide-eyed stranger, and over time, we’ve grown into something of a family. Good and bad are celebrated and lamented, not just in our writing, but in our real lives, too. The point is we’re connected, and that connection can affect us deeply. It’s for this reason that I felt Roxanna was eminently deserving of this Emeritus recognition. Nearly ten years as a medical character of some stripe or another has honed her writing craft into a scalpel of talent and tenderness, humor and hope. She brings her best for our benefit and enjoyment, facing down some of the most painful and challenging moments in life to continue being the beacon of delight that she is known as. On days where life stings, or our hearts are cold, her words and her presence salve the struggle, and rekindle our hearths. It’s impossible to say just how much good she has done for us; how much is a smile worth amidst a wretched mood, or a quip during dark moments? All I can say is that Roxanna, IC and OOC, embodies the best qualities of this community, and medical officers past and future. Congratulations, Roxanna, and thank you. For continuous dedication to Security... Aine Sherlock - USS Octavia E. Butler Presented by - Lia Rouiancet It’s my distinct pleasure to once again present the Natasha Yar Pin to Jared, the talented writer behind Lieutenant Commander Aine Sherlock, the Butler’s exceptional chief of security (and, as of a few weeks ago, also our second officer!). Jared won the Yar Pin two years ago, and we celebrated then his ability to bring depth and nuance to the role of a security officer. This year, he has not only maintained that high standard but has further elevated Aine Sherlock into a truly formidable character. Jared writes Sherlock as a force to be reckoned with, proving that strength comes in all sizes. While her short stature might not immediately suggest a physically imposing security officer, Jared's portrayal leaves no doubt about Sherlock’s capabilities. Through his simming, we see a character who is fiercely protective of her ship and crew, unwavering in her commitment to their safety. But, as I’ve seen firsthand and as his nominators noted, what sets Jared's portrayal apart is the multifaceted nature of Sherlock's approach to security. She's not just about brute force; Jared shows us a character who is constantly analyzing, adapting, and strategizing. In every situation, Sherlock considers potential threats, weighing not just when to act, but how to respond most effectively. This balance of quick thinking and measured action is the hallmark of an exceptional security officer, and one that, in this case, has been recognized as the fleet’s best twice in three years. Jared's consistent excellence in portraying Aine Sherlock, his ability to showcase both the physical and intellectual aspects of a security officer, and his ongoing contributions to our fleet make him a most deserving recipient of the Emeritus Natasha Yar Pin. Please join me in congratulating Jared for his outstanding work and for continuing to set the bar high for security simming in the 118 fleet! For continuous dedication to Science... Alora DeVeau - Denali Station Presented by - Oddas Aria DeVeau, Amanda, has won the Cochrane Award before, and for good reason. She writes the science officer role with superb perfection. She introduces the little details our adventures look to for fleshing out the world, she makes things feel ‘real’ and is one of the ‘go to’ people for when things need to be finalized, checked, and put together for consistency. Amanda does an amazing job - congratulations and thank you for making Denali Station great, and the Fleet Amazing! For continuous dedication to Engineering... Kimberly Stapledon - USS Constitution-B Presented by - Jalana Rajel From the Moment Kevin, the writer behind Kimberly Stapledon, has joined the Constitution, we got to see his brilliant ideas, bringing the position of an Engineer to life in a refreshing way. Kimberly's passion for holograms was used as a creative solution during her first mission with the Conny, as she used holographic bugs and spiders to distract and herd a group of very angry Nausicaans, which in the end helped to protect hostages from their wrath. During another mission when faced with possibly being on a time-traveled Enterprise under Captain Kirk, a boarding party was taken out by Kimberly turning off Gravity aboard the ship. During the same mission she also used her knowledge of coding to hunt down contaminations in the system and fix the problem that caused. All that while working together with other crew members of Engineering and other departments for the best solutions for problems. Kevin has a knack for technical solutions, ideas and improvements that some of us wouldn't even think of - I know I wouldn't - while making sure that all of us understand what he is thinking of, including others into solutions and doing it with so much gusto and enthusiasm that it's a joy to watch. It's my joy and pleasure to present Kevin with the Phoenix award for his brilliant writing of his Engineering position. I can't wait to see what else he'll come up with. Congratulations! For continuous dedication to Tactical... Michele Winters - USS Octavia E. Butler Presented by - Lia Rouiancet Two years in a row! Just last year, we celebrated Joel's exceptional work with Jack Kessler. This year, he has once again demonstrated his remarkable ability to breathe life into a complex tactician, this time with Michele Winters. What makes this achievement even more impressive is the seamless transition Joel has made from one character to another, all while maintaining the high standards of tactical simming we've come to expect from him. Even while he’s developed Kessler’s story in the background, he’s shown us that his tactical simming chops remain intact as he explores the duty post with a wholly different character. Winters is a fascinating character who straddles the line between a traditional Starfleet officer and a marine. Joel's nuanced portrayal highlights the unique perspective this dual nature brings to the role of tactical officer. While Winters possesses the analytical skills required for threat assessment, it's the marine aspect of her character that shines in Joel's writing, and that sets Winters apart from the other tactical officers in the fleet now and in years past. Joel has masterfully crafted Winters as a character who embodies the mindset of a warrior, always ready to take a proactive stance when necessary. This doesn't mean she's quick to resort to force; rather, Joel portrays her as constantly evaluating situations, assessing threat levels, and preparing appropriate responses. It's this balance between readiness for action and thoughtful consideration that makes Winters such a compelling character. Joel's ability to create such a well-rounded and engaging character in Winters, especially following his excellent work with Kessler, is a testament to his skill as a writer and his deep understanding of the tactical role in the 118 fleet. Congratulations, Joel! Please join us in congradulating all these wonderful players!

Today we are proud to present the Length of Service and Special Awards! Length of Service Awards Length of Service Awards are presented to members who have been continuously active for at least a year. We've also got tiers for three, five, ten, fifteen, twenty, and yes, even twenty-five years of continuous service. It's a prestigious road and we celebrate those who travel it. We've got some serious milestones to celebrate this year, folks! We've got numerous players who have reached long service achievements and many newcomers with their first-year awards -- and in between, veterans with their three and five-year badges. Let's give a big round of applause to all these officers who have made our community shine bright for so long. These players make our game great, with their dedication to their craft, writing, and long-term play. 1-Year Member For those who have been members continuously for one year. Kaito Moore, graduated from the academy June 7, 2023 Torvi Ylvor, graduated from the academy May 25, 2023 Alex Forsyth, graduated from the academy October 3, 2022 Araxxu Vahin, graduated from the academy June 12, 2023 Avander Promontory, graduated from the academy November 1, 2022 Doz Finch, graduated from the academy September 6, 2021 Gila Sadar, graduated from the academy June 26, 2023 Isabelle Basilia, graduated from the academy December 28, 2021 James Bowers, graduated from the academy June 12, 2023 Jora Kalis, graduated from the academy December 1, 2016 Josh Herrick, graduated from the academy May 18, 2023 Jovenan, graduated from the academy November 7, 2022 Luxa Lorana, graduated from the academy April 30, 2023 Madison Marsh, graduated from the academy June 26, 2023 Nolen Hobart, graduated from the academy January 24, 2023 Savel, graduated from the academy April 4, 2023 Senak, graduated from the academy March 19, 2023 T'Ama, graduated from the academy April 12, 2023 Toxin Arlill, graduated from the academy November 1, 2022 Toz, graduated from the academy November 22, 2021 Zenno, graduated from the academy June 12, 2023 3-Year Member For those who have been members continuously for three years. Aine Sherlock, graduated from the academy December 13, 2020 Alieth, graduated from the academy February 1, 2020 Dekas, graduated from the academy February 1, 2021 Gogigobo Fairhug, graduated from the academy November 21, 2017 Ikaia Wong, graduated from the academy November 2, 2020 John Kendrick, graduated from the academy January 4, 2021 Robin Hopper, graduated from the academy June 21, 2021 Scotty Reade, graduated from the academy April 20, 2021 Tahna Meru, graduated from the academy January 1, 2021 5-Year Member For those who have been members continuously for five years. Addison MacKenzie, graduated from the academy February 19, 2019 Azura Ada, graduated from the academy October 2, 2018 Chloe Waters, graduated from the academy November 1, 2018 Esa Kiax, graduated from the academy November 2, 2018 Haukea-Willow, graduated from the academy August 14, 2018 Karrod Niac, graduated from the academy September 17, 2018 Kimberly Stapledon, graduated from the academy January 19, 2008 Kirsty Lee Carpenter, graduated from the academy December 1, 2018 Salkath, graduated from the academy November 24, 2014 Samira Neathler, graduated from the academy August 27, 2018 Wil Ukinix, graduated from the academy November 13, 2018 10-Year Member For those who have been members continuously for ten years. Jansen Orrey, graduated from the academy June 7, 2008 Mei'konda, graduated from the academy February 1, 2013 Sal Taybrim, graduated from the academy October 6, 2013 15-Year Member For those who have been members continuously for fifteen years. Ash MacKenna, graduated from the academy May 1, 2009 Lael Rosek, graduated from the academy October 1, 2004 Special Awards Rising Star Award Awarded to members of Lieutenant Commander rank or higher who show great promise in many facets of their participation in the group, and to whom we look to as a future leader. Officers who qualify for this award consistently demonstrate their capabilities in leadership and facilitation of their fellow officers, including a recognisable dedication in their In Character and Out of Character activities to enhance the community. Nolen Hobart, USS Khitomer Presented by Randal Shayne Once in a great while, a new member joins our fleet whom anyone, from the most inexperienced to the greatest of our grizzled staffers, may look up to as a leader. It doesn’t matter their rank, or ship, or division; they bring their A-game wherever they are, whatever they’re doing. Their positivity, dedication and enthusiasm touch everything, raising spirits and setting new bars for the whole community. To these people, it’s less a matter of if they’ll become a CO, but when. Nolen Hobart is that rare, treasured wonder. The Rising Star Award was created for people such as him, who find joy in helping others, leading by example, and exploring the frontier, both in and out of character. Writing with and working with Isaac has been a highlight of my entire command tenure, and he inspires others (including me) to new heights. This award could not be more deserved. Congratulations, Isaac, and thank you for all that you do. Luminary Award Awarded to members holding the rank of Ensign, Lieutenant Junior Grade, or Lieutenant. Officers qualifying for this award have shown outstanding promise in their future endeavors by displaying their skills in leadership, dependability, and dedication to the community. Madison Marsh, Starbase 118 Ops Presented by Sal Taybrim Dedicated and motivated players can make a big impact on the community at any rank and Matt who plays Lieutenant JG Madison Marsh is certainly one of those players. From the first day Madison Marsh was assigned on StarBase 118 Ops Matt was ready to succeed. One of the very first things Madison Marsh did was gather up her fellow Ensigns and jump into the Denali Invitational representing Ops with the Ensign’s Joyride! Following this Matt actively communicated with his mentor and staff laying out a plan for his character to achieve goals. Madison Marsh wanted to be a leader and Matt took the initiative in and out of character to connect with his fellow crew, play critical MSNPCs for two missions in a row, be a driving force in mission planning and work with shore leave scenes to develop a leadership role for Madison and bonds with her fellow crew. Matt has also been a source of community connection. Starting with the Denali Invitational, Matt formed bonds across ships. He’s an active member of the Fleetwide Chat and on Discord, creates cross ship Joint Posts to keep his relationships with his cross-fleet friends active, and has actively jumped in to write for taskforces. Matt served as the 2024 writing contest judge for Ops and was a cheerleader for the event to our crew, which prompted excellent participation from Ops. Matt is an excited, dedicated and motivated player who not only makes Ops a better place to play with their hard work, but makes the community a more fun place! Thank you so much for everything you have done, Matt - I am so proud of you! Sarpeidon Award Awarded to a simmer who has made outstanding contributions to the 118Wiki. Sarpeidon was the planet in TOS's "All Our Yesterdays" where the inhabitants built a library collecting their whole world's history. This is essentially what our wiki aspires to be: a repository of our group's history and a simming database. Gnai, USS Artemis Presented by Addison MacKenzie Ensign Gnai (Lich) has only been a member of the 118 community for a few short months, but their impact, particularly on our wiki, already runs deep. Wiki work, particularly the menial tasks of categorizing pages and images, is often thankless work that few people are eager to dig into. In their short time in our community, Lich has already single-handedly categorized over 3,500 files to assist Wiki Ops in reducing the number of uncategorized images on the wiki, and has made an impression on their colleagues for doing so with positivity and initiative worthy of recognition! Thanks for your work, Ensign! Quark's Bar Awarded to members who are regularly active on the chat room, and forums, and have been supportive and involved in conversations enhancing the overall community experience with activities like keeping a quote thread up to date, consistently nominating simmers in the Appreciations forum, starting engaging chat discussions, attending chat events regularly, or being a helpful presence for new players. Gila Sadar, USS Artemis Presented by Addison MacKenzie Few of us might use the term “chatterbox” in a positive light, but I think the term certainly applies to Michelle, the writer behind Gila Sadar. They are an immensely important part of the OOC morale among the Artemis crew, always contributing to the conversation both in the Artemis ship channel and Officer’s Chat. Additionally, Michelle is frequently highlighting the contributions of other writers on the forums, and someone who understands the value of welcoming new members to our community. “Gila has been a MASSIVE part of why I immediately felt welcomed from the start on the Artemis.” Part of what makes 118 so special is the opportunity to form special connections with the others we write with, both IC and OOC. Michelle is the embodiment of everything we look for from a Quark’s Bar recipient, and I am personally grateful for all she has done for morale on the Artemis! Congratulations, Lieutenant! Community Champion Award Awarded to members who participate in – or help facilitate – simming community events, representing the best of StarBase 118 RPG to other organizations by hosting events, acting as contest judges, or otherwise contributing their expertise in a way that benefits the wider community. Oddas Aria, Denali Station Presented by Alora DeVeau Nick, the writer behind Commodore Oddas Aria, has been an integral part of our organisation for the last eight years. During this time, he has made an indelible mark on the SB118 Community. Despite being a self-proclaimed introvert, Nick has consistently involved himself in the daily life of our group. Beyond his accomplishments on his own ship, he spearheaded the development of Aria, the program that allows SB118 to efficiently track the numerous sims sent to each ship. Previously, a single person had to use a cumbersome spreadsheet to monitor the number of sims each member sent every month. In addition, Nick developed the code for the Sim Archive and played a pivotal role in Project Capstone, the fleetwide blockbuster that led to the development of the Warp XV drive and the launch of the USS Juneau. Most recently, he organized and ran the Denali Invitational, another fleetwide event that invited all interested members to join those on Denali for a small craft race, either as racers or visitors to the station. Nick's contributions extend beyond these achievements. Over the years, he has served as a judge for the now-retired Top Sims Contest, co-facilitated the Advanced Starship Design Bureau, acted as Deputy Commandant for the Training Team, and coordinated the annual Awards ceremony twice. These roles showcase his dedication to enhancing the community and providing opportunities for others to get involved. Everything Nick has done has been aimed at fulfilling a need or making the game more enjoyable, something to benefit the group at large. It is my great honor to present this year's Community Champion Award to Nick. We are deeply grateful to have you as an important and valued member of our community. Well done, and congratulations! Northern Star Award Awarded to members holding the rank of Lieutenant or Lieutenant Commander who show constant commitment to the fleet as members of task forces and through our other fleet endeavours. These officers are vital to the success of our fleet, showing their support and enthusiasm for their crews and our community through their tireless efforts. Robin Hopper, Amity Outpost Presented by Rivi Vataix The multiple nominations Keegan, the player behind Robin Hopper, received for this award all cite his tireless dedication to “engage with anyone and help anyone,” particularly when it comes to Keegan’s involvement with the Training Team, Image Collective, and the wiki as a wiki administrator and member of the Wiki Ops squadron. His involvement with these three areas of our community in particular means that he’s often called upon to help assist those who are just starting out with our community, from brand new members learning how to sim in the Academy or junior officers beginning to expand their wiki character pages beyond the basics. Keegan’s graphics work for character avatars and other images is renown. Not only is the quality of Keegan’s work well-known to those across the fleet, it serves as a shining beacon to inspire others. As one nominator put it, “When I first joined, I wasn't certain that the request that I would be making for my character image would even be *possible*, but almost as soon as I had posted it in the forums, [he] hopped on and offered to take on the challenge. I was blown away by how good my character's portrait looked, as well as how fast they were able to make it! And every other image I've seen him make for others (or for himself/his own characters) on the wiki and elsewhere has similarly blown my mind, both in terms of quality and speed of response. [He’s] someone that I look up to immensely regarding photoshop/image manipulation skills, and someone that I've found to be endlessly open to discussion about said things. [...] Keegan has created so many innovative and aesthetically pleasing pages, templates, [and] what-have-you on the wiki, and his work has been a major inspiration for my own fiddling around with character page layouts.” For being a constant and supporting presence in our community, it is my pleasure to present Keegan with this year’s Northern Star Award. Thank you for helping all of our members, from the newest cadets to our seasoned staff, and being a big part of what makes the StarBase 118 RPG community special. Jake Sisko Prize Awarded to members of the Federation News Service Team who regularly go above and beyond in their contributions and participation. These team members demonstrate passion and ingenuity in editing and composing news reports, assisting in the upkeep of our In Character news service, the expansion of the 118 cosmos, and providing inspiration for our members. Genkos Adea, USS Artemis Presented by Addison MacKenzie Elliot (Genkos Adea) has a very no-nonsense approach to his OOC contributions to the fleet. He has a long history with the FNS and his contributions to that team help ensure that much of our OOC material is always updated. He plays a vital role in making sure several articles for the FNS are edited and posted each month, that the monthly ship reports meet the standards and criteria for FNS articles, and has also had a heavy hand in posting the poll of the month on the forums. One wouldn’t normally think about these as being responsibilities critical to the functioning of our organization, but this work ensures that our quality content is reaching the far corners of the web and helping to recruit more members to our community. Congratulations, and thanks for all your work, Elliot! Okuda Award Awarded to members of the Image Collective who regularly go above and beyond in their contributions to this team's efforts, creating images and graphics for the fleet. These team members display their artistry and dedication with a visual feast for members new and old, bringing our creations to life and stoking imaginations. Jo Marshall, USS Gorkon Presented by Quinn Reynolds What can I say, except I’m surprised that Em hasn’t won this award before! She’s created art we see all around the fleet, from character images to many of our ships’ logos. Her generosity with her time has seen her help many other ships with their Halloween avatars over the years, and her skill has seen them admired by many. I think it’s fair to say SB118 would look very different if she was not a member of the Image Collective. She does an absolutely exceptional job, and has helped out so many in the fleet with her talents. I’m delighted to present her with the Okuda Award for everything she’s done over the years. Congratulations, Em! Xalor Clan Xifilis Award Awarded to simmers who overcome a disadvantage throughout simming. This award was initially known as the "Rachel Garett Pendant," but was renamed for the 2000 event to commemorate a valued StarBase 118 PBEM RPG simmer who died that year. In each event, this award can be given to all qualifying simmers Drex, Denali Station Presented by Oddas Aria Drex, Barbara, is one of the ‘non-native’ English speakers we have in our Fleet, but if she does not tell you you would never know. She is engaging, with good writing, fun stories, and overall writing a sense of fun in her character that makes her a pleasure to write with. Thank you Barabara for writing with us, and Congratulations! Is’Kah, USS Ronin Presented by Karrod Niac Is’Kah (Kaitlyn) is a simmer who routinely brings a creative zeal to her writing that is engaging, dynamic and unconventional. She does it with a great deal of passion and energy while gladly taking on NPC’s in addition to her fascinating PC, the Vulcan/Trill hybrid Is’kah. The fact that she does all this while wrestling with a condition that routinely causes her a great deal of physical pain only makes her accomplishments that much more notable and for that I’m proud to award her this special recognition. Ronin Strong, Kaitlyn! Karen Stendhal, USS Octavia E. Butler Presented by Lia Rouiancet It’s my great pleasure to present one of this year's Xalor Clan Xifilis Awards to Stefania, the talented writer behind Counselor Karen Stendhal. Written English is, of course, our primary medium of expression, and as a non-native English speaker, Stefania has not only overcome the language barrier but has excelled in crafting engaging, nuanced, and creative sims. Stefania's journey with us has been one of perseverance and dedication. After a three-year absence due to personal challenges, she returned to our community with the same exuberance that had initially endeared her to her fellow simmers. Her ability to reintegrate is a testament to her resilience and passion for storytelling. Her sims are filled with clever twists and fun dialogue, and she has even taken on the challenge of writing an NPC with an unusual speech pattern, demonstrating her linguistic versatility. Stefania's endurance, perseverance, and simming abilities make her a most deserving recipient of the Xalor Clan Xifilis Award. Please join me in congratulating Stefania for her contributions and for making Starbase 118 an integral part of her story. Her presence in the 118 community is a shining example of how perseverance and talent can transcend linguistic boundaries and enrich our shared experiences. Lina Dahlquist, USS Gorkon Presented by Quinn Reynolds I’m delighted to present this award to Mick, the person behind Lina Dahlquist. He is one of our many writers for whom English is a second language; something many of the Gorkon crew didn’t realise until recently! He doesn’t just use English, but does so in a way which communicates the vibrancy of his character; her hopes, dreams, struggles, and disappointments. It’s a testament to an ongoing dedication to his writing craft, and I’m very proud to recognise his ability to overcome the language barrier to create such engaging sims. Congratulations, Mick! Please join us in congratulating these talented players!

Science Officer Lieutenant JG Indrid Yirah is wearing a suit designed by the USS Constitution's very own Emergency Holographic Hair Stylist and Fashion Police, Georgio! This design came about after Indrid questioned whether or not the hologram was capable of designing clothing without sparkles. Georgio had this to say about his design, "It is understated elegance but look at the pattern!" (OOC: Thank you so much @Jalana for making the image and writing the Georgio quote! 🙂 )

After berating Lieutenant Evan Ross regarding his limited wardrobe, the new recently graduated Ensign T'Reyna found herself in a problem. It is illogical to not wear apparel that, by most of Galaxy standard, was appealing. They want something graceful, yet impactful, appealing to base beauty, yet reserved just enough to be... a conversation. Thus, she wore a dress that would start a conversation, as to excel in a social setting and make a good first impression upon Starfleet... Artwork by Momorojo!

"I am more beard than Funko..."