Jordan aka FltAdmlWolf

There's more discussion of this particular subject in the Lambda Alliance thread. I'll comment over there

Pretty big news: http://io9.gizmodo.com/sulu-is-gay-in-star-trek-beyond-and-its-not-a-big-deal-1783271909?rev=1467900775193&utm_campaign=socialflow_gizmodo_facebook&utm_source=gizmodo_facebook&utm_medium=socialflow

DATES: The class began on June 26, 2016 and ended July 5, 2016. LIST: sb118-academy3 COMMANDING OFFICER: Lt. Commander Varaan FIRST OFFICER: Lt. Commander Nicu Icavoc RETURNING MEMBERS: * Tyan Ai -- originally joined in the year 2000! * Quikz Santeen Welcome back to the fleet -- we're so glad you're here! My door is always open if you ever need anything

Thank you for this wonderful introduction! So now that we've wrapped up all parts of the ceremony, we bring our week of accolades to a close with some special recognition. First, I'd like to take a moment to give major applause for Fleet Captain Renos – James – who really worked absolutely tirelessly throughout this entire ceremony to ensure that everything went off without a hitch. It's hard to imagine just how many pieces have to come together for these events until you've done it, but rest assured it was basically two weeks of constant work. Honestly, this would not have happened without him, so let's give him some kudos! In addition. Thanks to all the other people who helped make this happen, including: Cmdr. Roshanara Rahman – Rich – who spearheaded this new format and introduced the Featured Missions segment; the First Officers of the fleet, for helping choose the Staff Award winners; the Awards Committee which selected the Duty Post and Special Award winners from the submitted nominations; the commanding officers of the fleet, who put in a lot of time and effort to review the nominations for their ships and ensure that the right people are selected for awards; and, of course, all of you who submit wonderful, heartfelt nominations each year! I would like to recognize Fleet Captain Aron Kells – Tony – who made a huge effort for the 2015 ceremony and was a big help for James in facilitating the hand-off of responsibilities. He didn't win any awards this year, but mostly because we've give him just about every award there is already Now for some wrap-up stuff: Make sure you take our quick survey about the ceremony to let us how you think it went. The full ceremony has been posted on the wiki now, as with all previous ceremonies. Thanks again for being a part of this special experience!

I'm interested to hear what everyone thought of our new Awards Ceremony format, which spans a week and includes the new Featured Missions segment. Please use the poll above – your choices will be anonymous – and leave us any comments below!

Welcome to day five of our 20th annual awards ceremony! So far this week we’ve announced the winners of the Staff Awards, Length of Service Awards, Special Awards, and Duty Post Awards. Now we’re delighted to share the General (Ship) Awards, which have been presented by each captain to their crew. This is your chance to see how each of the other ships did and see who picked up what award. This is another category that has seen new awards added including: The Laudean Commendation, awarded for achievements in exploration with new lifeforms. The recipient will 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. It can cover many aspects of species development, but should primarily be based in IC simming. The Khan Award recognizes a simmer who thoughtfully develops a three-dimensional villain over the course of a mission or more. The Q Award is given for continually surprising their crew with unexpected, devious plot twists throughout the year, replacing the Kalendra Award from the Special Awards category. The winners this year, as in 2015, were chosen by the fleet's commanding officers (or in cases where the commanding officer was also nominated, the first officer was called in to decide) from the nominations made by you! The Order of Starfleet Merit and Achievement First Class (TOSMA) The Order of Starfleet Merit and Achievement First Class is given to members who show great dedication in their behavior and simming abilities. A candidate for TOSMA regularly contributes good, solid ideas to the plot and character development. They also take the time to edit and proofread their sims to ensure quality in their writing. Tristam Core, USS Invicta Ayiana Sevo, USS Gorkon Talia Kaji, USS Doyle Varaan, USS Darwin Nathanial Wilmer, USS Constitution Oddas Aira, Embassy of Duronis II Theo Whittaker, StarBase 118 Ops The Genesis Award The Most Improved Simmer Award. For officers who show conspicuous effort in improving their simming skills. Rosalee, USS Invicta Cory Stoyer, USS Gorkon Brandon Craigi, USS Doyle Graeme Cook, USS Darwin Chelin ch’Gabor, USS Constitution T’Leira, Embassy of Duronis II Scotty Cross Given to an officer who shows extreme creativity while solving a plot dilemma or in-character plot twist. Della Vetri, USS Invicta R’Ven, USS Darwin Jerome Milsap, USS Constitution T’Mihn, Embassy of Duronis II Neelix Award For extra, out-of-character simming devotion. This includes, but isn't limited to, helping fellow officers who are in need of simming aid, visibility on the forums, OOC list presence, upkeep of wiki pages, etc. Raissa Moonsong, USS Invicta Sabrina Holly, USS Doyle Varaan, USS Darwin T’Mar, USS Constitution Mirra Ezo, StarBase 118 Ops Nebula Bar Awarded to a simmer who has shown great imagination when 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 enhances the flow of a given plot. Luna Walker, USS Invicta Tal Tel-Ar, USS Doyle Didrik Stennes, USS Darwin Laudean Commendation Awarded for achievements in exploration with new lifeforms. The recipient will 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, but should primarily be based in IC simming. Saveron, USS Invicta Nugra, USS Doyle Renos, USS Darwin Silver Palm Awarded to a simmer who has consistently boosted the morale of his/her crew. The recipient will be known to be able to add that spark to a plot whenever it may be lagging, or may be able to consistently bring enjoyment or a bit of humour to the sim, whilst keeping such sims relevant and realistic. Ryan King, USS Invicta Brandon Craig, USS Doyle Maxwell Traenor, USS Darwin Antero Flynn, StarBase 118 Ops Sheathed Sword Presented to those to decide to inflict mental and/or physical trauma on their character, and then dive into the resulting emotions and choices in a realistic manner. The name comes from a line in a Robert Jordan book where a warrior must be prepared to 'sheath the sword' in his own body, i.e. take a grievous wound to achieve one's goal (in this case, more realistic simming) as opposed to an actual goal of the character. Marcus Dickens, USS Invicta Selene Faranfey, USS Doyle Trel’lis, StarBase 118 Ops B-Plot Award For those simmers who manage to show a good portion of the character's life despite the demands of the main plot. Rune Jolara, USS Invicta Jaxton Vee, USS Gorkon Alexander Bishop, USS Doyle Randal Shayne, USS Darwin Jalana Rakel, USS Constitution Tyr Waltas, Embassy of Duronis II The Russ Bar The Russ bar is awarded to a writer whose knowledge of Trek lore is extraordinary. Named for Tim Russ, the actor who played Tuvok on Star Trek: Voyager, who was already a dedicated Star Trek fan before securing the role on the show. Tristam Core, USS Invicta Ceciri Hakashrii, USS Doyle Brell, USS Darwin Jalana Rajel, USS Constitution Trellis Vondaryan, StarBase 118 Ops Pathfinder Award Given to those who have shown great care in the mentoring of fellow members. T’Lea, USS Invicta Quinn Reynolds, USS Gorkon Talia Kaji, USS Doyle Renos, USS Darwin Rustyy Hael, USS Constitution Brayden Jorey, Embassy of Duronis II Tatash, StarBase 118 Ops Khan Award Awarded to a simmer who thoughtfully develops a three-dimensional villain over the course of a mission or more. Alora DeVeau, USS Invicta Alucard Vess, USS Gorkon Tal Tel-Ar, USS Doyle Maxwell Traenor, USS Darwin Hannibal Parker, Embassy of Duronis II Theo Whittaker, StarBase 118 Ops Q Award Awarded for continually surprising their crew with unexpected, devious plot twists throughout the year. Roshanara Rahman, USS Invicta Michelle Tonston, USS Doyle John Valdivia, USS Darwin Alexander Williams, USS Constitution Irina Pavlova, Embassy of Duronis II Sal Taybrim, StarBase 118 Ops Please join us in congratulating these talented players!

As was said in the intro, I want to reiterate that the fleet's First Officers chose this year's winners from the nominations submitted by you folks! Congratulations to Emma (Quinn Reynolds) for winning BOTH the Staff Member of the Year award AND the Christopher Pike Pendant, which is the highest honor for commanding officers. Tony (Aron Kells) encapsulated most of my thoughts which is thoughtful, wonderful presentation to Emma in the SMotY award, but I just want to thank her again for everything she's brought to the Executive Council in terms of critical thinking, eloquent analysis, and camaraderie. She made a huge difference this year in a number of important decisions and discussions. And what an honor for Jamie (Sal Taybrim) to be awarded last year's Rising Star award, and this year win the James T. Kirk Cross, the highest honor for new captains. She has shown from nearly the very beginning of her tenure with us that she has the skills and intuition that make a great captain, a great leader, and a great community member. I'm so thankful that I get to be a part of the staff alongside people like Jamie, who have such a clear focus and understanding of our basic values here. Congratulations to her for everything she's accomplished – I'm so looking forward to what comes next for her! I already said my congrats to Ann (RAdml. Turner) in her presentation above, but the Picard Award is basically the highest honor anyone can achieve on the staff. It really denotes that someone has put in the extra effort over the course of many years, and has left a legacy that will be remembered long in the future. And that's no small thing when you're talking about a community with 22 years under its belt! So please join in congratulations to Ann who has spent nearly a decade with a focus on being a great member, and a great commanding officer. So many people have been touched by her kindness and empathy. And James! (Renos!) A cornerstone of the fleet, indeed – what better description for someone who has put so much heart and soul into the day-to-day operations of our fleet? He's also been an incredible help in making this very ceremony happening, helping to put together each and every day's worth of the awards as well as facilitating the process of organizing and choosing recipients. Thank you, thank you, thank you, James for everything you bring to the fleet And just because I don't want to miss anyone, thanks again to Nicole (Selene Faranfey) and Jon (John Nugra), which already received my kudos and congratulations above! You folks, and our other staff members, are really just the best. Let's not forget that many other staff members were recognized just a few months ago at our last December awards ceremony. We have an amazing staff!

DATES: The class began on June 20, 2016 and ended June 27, 2016. LIST: sb118-academy2 COMMANDING OFFICER: Lt. Commander Sabrina Holly FIRST OFFICER: Lt. Commander Talia Kaji GRADUATING MEMBERS: * Fallon Rand * Laura Baxter Welcome to the fleet -- we're so glad you're here! My door is always open if you ever need anything

Here's trailer #3: Rihanna's song is pretty awesome -- they have it timed perfectly with the action for some really punctuating moments.

Welcome to day three of our 20th annual Awards Ceremony! Yesterday we announced the winners of the Special Awards, and before that the Duty Post Awards. Today we are proud to present the Length of Service Awards, which are presented to members who have been continuously active for at least a year. There are also tiers for three, five, and ten years of continuous service, marking our most dedicated and long-serving members. This year, 28 players have reached a length of service milestone. Of those, 12 are celebrating their first milestone, having picked-up the award for one year’s active membership. Another 7 have achieved three year’s active membership and 8 more have been here for five years. One player has reached the incredible 10 year milestone, joining the list of 14 other players who have also reached this milestone in previous years. 1-Year Member For those who have been members continuously for one year. Miles Driscoll, graduated from training on September 17, 2013. Sabrina Holly, graduated from training on May 25, 2014. Nathaniel Wilmer, graduated from training on July 14, 2014. Randal Shayne, graduated from training on February 2, 2015. Rustyy Hael, graduated from training on February 15, 2015. Kurt Logan, graduated from training on March 10, 2015. Theo Whittaker, graduated from training on March 23, 2015. Mirra Ezo, graduated from training on May 11, 2015. Antero Flynn, graduated from training on May 11, 2015. Cassandra Ezi, graduated from training on May 31, 2015. Graeme Cook, graduated from training on June 16, 2015. Brandon Craig, graduated from training on July 20, 2015. 3-Year Member For those who have been members continuously for three years. Lael Rosek, graduated from training on September 19th, 2008. Arden Cain, graduated from training on May 24, 2011. T'Mihn, graduated from training on January 29, 2012. Aigle Phos, graduated from training on June 18th, 2012. Selene Faranfey, graduated from training on January 15, 2013. Chythar Skyfire, graduated from training on February 17, 2013. Alexander Williams, graduated from training on June 23, 2013. 5-Year Member For those who have been members continuously for five years. Alexa Dana, graduated from training on June 23, 2000. John Valdivia, graduated from training on June 5, 2005. Rune Jolara, graduated from training on November 16, 2005. Alucard Vess, graduated from training on Jan 24, 2009. Tristam Core, graduated from training on March 1, 2011. Eerie, graduated from training on March 20, 2011. Kaylessa Yesna, graduated from training on June 28 2011. Renos, graduated from training on May 5, 2011. 10-Year Member For those who have been members continuously for ten years. Marcus Dickens, graduated from training on April 19, 2005. Thank you for your service! Your dedication and loyalty is instrumental to our continued success.

I want to join in the kudos for our Rising Star recipient, Rich, who you folks know has been tirelessly working to improve our community over the past few years, first on the wiki, then on the forums, then as a commanding officer of the Invicta! He's been a pleasure to work with each and every time I've come in contact with him, and I've always appreciated the way that he stands up for his convictions in a respectful and thoughtful manner, challenging me and other members of the staff to be as transparent and fair as possible. He's a leader for the people, and I can't thank him enough for everything he's done. Congratulations as well to the other winners – your dedication to the group has been noticed and appreciated! Without folks like Maxwell Traenor, on the Training Team, we wouldn't be able to run great classes every week. And without folks like Moonsong and Hael, our forums and OOC lists wouldn't be quite as much fun as they are. You all deserve these accolades – you've certainly earned them!

For my part, I want to thank each and every one of you for putting in your best this year to earn these awards! I'm always so impressed by the quality and commitment of our members, and for the recipients of these awards it's a testament to the dedication to portraying these characters as Starfleet officers and people that helps put the winners over the top. And again, thanks to everyone who put in nominations! I loved reading the sincere and eloquent thoughts that went into them. One awardee I want to give a special shout-out to is Maxwell Traenor, who won the Strange Medallion, which is sort of the "original" duty post award. When it was introduced for the 1999 ceremony, we didn't have duty post awards (they came much later), but this award has always played a special part in recognizing the players who are on the path to command. Check out the list of past winners and you'll see that four of our current active commanding officers are past recipients! (Also note that Varaan – who won this year's Phoenix Award – won the Strange Medallion in 2003! He went on to command the Paladin.) So huge props to Traenor for everything he's done to put him a position to win this year.

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

Welcome to our first June ceremony, marking our 20th anniversary of this awards ceremony tradition. While our group was founded in 1994, our first ceremony was held in 1996, bringing together the whole fleet for an In Character celebration. Since then, we’ve seen the addition of dozens of new awards, a transition to Out Of Character presentations, and in this latest change, a move from the traditional December presentation to June, to coincide with the yearly anniversary of our founding. It’s time to turn your heads to the red carpet as we begin this week-long event, where we’ll present to the fleet six categories of awards: Duty Post: Honoring the best simmer from each duty post Special: Honoring specific aspects of simming or OOC work Length of Service: Honoring members who have been with us for a year, all the way up to 10 years and more Staff: Honoring the work of our fleet’s staff members General/Ship awards: Honoring the members who won this year’s General, or ship-based awards Featured missions: Honoring the best missions and sims from this past year Also, in this thread, I want to introduce this year's Award's Facilitator, Fleet Captain Renos! The job of the Awards Facilitator is one that involves an incredible amount of work, from helping to pull together an Awards Committee (which reviews all the Duty Post, and Special nominees and selects the winners), to compiling all of the nominations and making sure they get to the right people, and then helping to manage all of the materials and assets required to make this ceremony a success! It's hard to imagine just how much copying, pasting, and collating is involved until you've got the mantle on your shoulders Renos (OOC: James) has been working tirelessly over the past few weeks to help bring everything together. 1,000 thanks to him for all that! 👏👏👏👏👏 We hope you've all donned your fanciest outfits – it's time to celebrate

Go ahead and don your outfit -- the week-long ceremony presentation begins tomorrow!