StarBase 118 Staff

((The black hole bar, USS Constitution-) ::It was an unusual day for Zogi. After years as a bartender he had seen his number of captains and commanders in the bar but today was something special. The first Ferengi captain in Starfleet would pay him a visit. Not for a drink but for an interview set up by the Federation news agency. :: When the request had come Zogi accepted right away. It was a way to make a nice profit after all but when the date came closer and closer he started to wonder what he should ask the man. He spend all night thinking about some good questions but in the end he only came up with two.:: ::It wasn’t often that Brek had the opportunity to visit another ship, and, as he walked towards his destination, (a black hole, of all things) he felt curious about everything, and soon fell into a routine where he compared the prestigious Galaxy Starship with the good old Columbia.:: ::Thankfully, he managed to reach Zogi’s bar before feeling too jealous about the specs of the Constitution. He sat at the bar, took in the rich décor around him, and after a sigh of contentment, he spoke up.:: Brek: I can’t possibly answer questions on an empty stomach. That would be completely unethical. ::Thinking aloud.:: What about something light and yet tasty, like a beetroot sorbet, on the house? ::Since food and drink would be paid for by the news team Zogi had prepared all kind of dishes and quickly went to his kitchen to get a few plates with all kinds of snacks. He put them on the bar and then he fired his first question:: Zogi: So, tell me captain, how does a Ferengi end up in Starfleet? ::Brek admired the dark red dessert he had been served, and at long last, he answered.:: Brek: Same as you Zogi: by following the scent of profit. Also, joining the Fleet is pretty easy. All you’ve got to do is to sacrifice some of your youth to their Great Academy. This means spending about 4 years being everyone’s minion. But, once you get promoted to the rank of Ensign, things… well they get tentatively better. ::Here Brek ate some of his sorbet, to make sure he wouldn’t have to add anything to this subject.:: Zogi: Well its not for me… to much regulations to keep up with. I’m glad i know the rules about bars. If they ask me to learn all about plasma conduits, temporal prime directives and all that I’d go nuts.. Anyway.. I contacted some of your friends and they told me you have a special lady in your life. How did you and Alice meet? Brek: Oh Alice, she is an old lady now, and she isn’t as vivacious as she used to be. ::Grins.:: In the past, she used to go through several huge meals per day; mice usually. I met her the night she ran away from her vivarium. She was unwanted and unloved, and because Ferengi too can have a big heart, I adopted her. Many will think I am mad, but with a large spider like that in my quarters, I get zero annoying visitors. What of you, do you also keep pets? Zogi: Me? No way! Thats a waste of Latinum. You have to buy them food, drinks, a home, all kinds of vaccinations throughout the year. I’d go bankrupt in a week! And no doubt Starfleet has regulations about pets too, which brings me to my next question: was it hard to adjust to all the Federation rules and regulations? Brek: I think you already know the answer to that. The Fleet is so strict, even on a perfectly productive day, it’s capable of giving you hell. But when your life depends on their generosity, you need to adapt and to give them what they want, it’s the only way to progress. Don’t you agree? Zogi: Thats is what a good bartender does isn’t it? But even then you must miss a few things from Ferenginar? Brek: ::Chuckling.:: At the risk of sounding like a renegade, I miss nothing from Ferenginar. Do you? Don’t answer right away, Zogi. I bet you think you do, but deep in your wallet, you don’t. Because people like you and I, we know that genuinely entrepreneurial Ferengis don’t stay at home. We get out there, in the galaxy, to seek our own fortune. But I’m curious, what twist of fate brought you here, on a Federation vessel? Zogi : Me? That is a long story. I wasn’t very successful on Ferenginar so I went to Earth. They were looking for a caterer on the USS Apollo-A. A big new ship so I asked my father for a loan to get started and rented the bar. It was huge. A few hours after i opened my doors those morons from the FCA show up. Buy me out and sent me over to the Constitution! I tried to get some legal aid from Starfleet but they didn’t intervene! They still don’t like us very much do they, or the Ferengi alliance for that matter. Don’t you agree? Brek: ::Uncomfortable smile, for this was a question where a faux-pas could so easily be made.:: They are the way they have always been: tense. I think it’s the natural order between these two organizations. And natural orders are best left alone. Zogi: You think it’s possible that the Alliance will join the Federation some day? Brek: ::Another complicated question, so he ate some of his sorbet to gain time and think about his answer.:: Hmm… If it does, it would mean Ferengi have turned into Hewmons. That’s a strange concept that hurts my head. On the other hand, if you were to ask me if I think the Federation might join the Alliance one day, now, that depicts a much brighter future! Zogi: ::laughing:: I’ll drink to that! :: Zogi filled two glasses with Slug-o-Cola and took a big sip from his. Then he checked his notes and continued:: Zogi: You’re having a very promising career so far and many believe you could make it all the way to the top. What would you change if you make it that far? Brek: ::Thoughtful.:: If I make it to the top… I sincerely don’t think I’ll have the stamina to get there. But if I did, I would probably want to retire right away, and live on a remote colony somewhere, without any newsfeed. Because the higher the spheres you reach, the more you realize that changing things isn’t a solution. Changing and educating minds, that’s what the galaxy need, but that would take a length of time which I don’t have. What about you, are there any things you would love to change in your career? Zogi: Simple. Less regulations. They speak of free trade but one look at my accounts shows you they still force me to pay all kinds of taxes to get a good bottle of whisky from Earth or a barstool from Cardassia. But lets not go there… before you know it I bore you do death with numbers. Its say its time for a final question. As you know many children dream of a career in Starfleet. What you advise all the young people thinking about that kind of career? Brek: Perseverance. That is to say, never allow yourself to be defeated, and stay focused. Fleeters are actually nice and dedicated people. Be as dedicated as they are, and you might even make a few friends. For those who don’t know, a friend is someone who don’t try to take advantage of you, and who listen to you when you have a problem, and all that, for free. Do you have any friends, Mister Zogi? Zogi: I have regular customers, and I’m sure some of them would help me out in my hours of need. Does that make them friends? I think it does. Brek: I see. Well, since you too have been living among Fleeters for a while, what do you feel most proud of? Zogi: Hmmm… that is a good one. ::Now it was Zogi’s turn to fill his mouth with food to give it some more thought:: Well we had this alien presence on the ship about 9 months ago. Everyone lost their minds. Somehow my Ferengi brain protected me from it so I was asked to supervise my bar that became some sort of shelter at the time. It was scary at times with people attacking each other but we made it through. Brek: That’s impressive. It makes me wonder, what do you like to do when you are not serving food and drink behind that bar? Do you actually have time to pursue other profitable activities? Zogi: Well there is so much to do… some of my regulars always have new ideas. Take a monday night for example. It wasn’t a good day for profit. Just a cup of coffee here and a few nuts there. But then these guys from earth show up with a dart board. So now we have a monday-dart-evening with a happy hour. Then there is the dabo wheel on wednesday. So in short I’m busy all the time. Its a small bar after all so everyone day i have to rearrange the furniture to prepare for all kind of events. Brek: And you’ve never been tempted to join the Academy? Zogi: No… plain and simple. Never gonna happen. Brek: So, once you have made your fortune, where do you think you will go to spend your riches? Zogi: I’ve already asked the commander for some more space but she won’t give it to me. So when i have enough money i plan to buy my own ship and hire a crew. Then i turn the ship it into one moving bar with plenty of holodecks, race tracks, casinos, bars, you name it. Traveling through the alpha quadrant and make more money they I ever dreamed possible. Brek: It was nice meeting you, Mister Zogi. We should meet again sometime, in a more convivial environment. oO Without any prying ears. Oo. Zogi: I look forward to it sir. And ::Zogi grabbed the man’s arm and pulled him closer:: If you need a new bartender let me know. I’m sure we can work something out. Triple the size of this bar and you can have 20% of my profit. The post Interview with Commander Brek appeared first on UFOP: StarBase 118 Star Trek RPG. View the full article

It has been a scorcher this week where I live. As such, I have been looking for ways to cool off in my free time. The other day, I went into a local coffee bar and decided to get myself a drink to do just that. At the counter, the person in front of me ordered a tea, turned to me and said that a nice, hot tea actually cools him down. When my turn came up to choose what to have, I tried the same and ordered a tea. Then I had to choose. I am not a tea drinker and apparently there are quite a few choices when it comes to tea. Instead of pondering, I decided to go with what I know. I chose the Earl Grey tea. As I sat sipping on the tea, I realized why I chose that tea. It was the first one that came to mind from my days of watching The Next Generation as it was also Captain Picard’s favorite beverage. I smiled to myself wondering how many other things I chose based upon influences from pop culture and was certain it was quite a bit, and to tell you the truth, I am not a big fan of Earl Grey tea. So that brings us to this week’s multi-pronged Poll of the Week. Have you ever had Earl Grey tea? If so, did you try it because of Star Trek? Did you like it? If so, how often do you drink it? The pollsters here at Poll of the Week are eager to find out, so vote away and don’t be afraid to leave your comments below the poll! The post Poll of the Week — Tea: Earl Grey, Hot! appeared first on UFOP: StarBase 118 Star Trek RPG. View the full article

TALOS STAR GROUP – Commander Jalana Rajel and the crew of the USS Constitution-B encountered a liberated member of the Borg Collective who attempted to assimilate a rescue team sent to assist the SS Medina Ascending. A team consisting of Lt. Cmdr. Nathaniel Wilmer, Lt. Cmdr. Foster, Lt. JG Rusty Hael, and Lt. JG Damian Wynter had been sent to the freighter to assess the damage. The captain of the freighter Ras Xanatos began to fear that Wilmer was asking too many questions, and he ordered his wife Abigail Xanatos to imprison Wilmer in their local holding room. Wilmer attempted to talk his way out of his imprisonment, while Rajel, on the Constitution, became suspicious of his sudden disappearance from all sensors. After being informed of Xanatos’ suspicious behavior by his first officer Krim T’Val, Rajel formed a boarding party to rescue Wilmer. The team consisted of herself, Ensigns Anneka Cage and Valoru and confronted Xanatos. Unbeknownst to Rajel, Captain Xanatos, a liberated member of the Borg Collective, had a backup plan already in the works. Using Bynar technicians, Ferengi technology, and his life savings, he reprogrammed the remaining Borg implants in his body to replicate thousands of nanites, which would spread throughout the ship and infect its visitors. It is unclear at this point if he still has a connection to the Collective. With the reported suspicions of Krim, and the scientific efforts of Lt. Cmdr. Kalos Fiorr and the crew, attempts were made to locate and identify the nature of the sensor ghost which was previously discovered. After reports from Rajel and much work, it was found to be a Ferengi mind sphere connected to Xanatos, which he used as a communication relay between himself and the nanites. The crew hoped to reprogram the previously cloaked sphere, close to the Medina Ascending. Fiorr also enlisted the assistance of Ferengi bartender Zogi, who worked diligently on the problem. “Hoah! No! You couldn’t be more wrong. Rule of acquisition number 190 clearly states: Hear all, trust nothing,” said Zogi reportedly to several suggestions offered by the Constitution crew. Using the threat of mental commands linked by the mind sphere in combination with the massive amount of nanites on board the Medina Ascending, Xanatos would either receive all the repairs, equipment, and food that he demanded, or every Starfleet officer, able bodied crewman, and civilian would become new members of the Xanatos Collective. After issuing his demands to Rajel, Xanatos then activated the auto-assimilators regardless of the compliance to his threat, attempting to enslave the entire crew to his will. Little did Xanatos know that the nanites were damaged by free floating pockets of gas present throughout the ship. These nanites reverted to their original programming, and infested Xanatos’ body, which then “super Borgified”. The now completely insane Xanatos attacked Valoru. Had it not been for the quick actions of Rajel, the young ensign could have died. Xanatos was subsequently transported to the Constitution. There the crew attempted to save his life by removing the implants. They also tried to find out more information about his connection to the mind sphere. The crew is now trying to clean up the damage in the aftermath, wondering how the ship, crew, and deranged Xanatos should be best dealt with, though that did not go over without a hitch either. Just before sending this report, activity of the mind sphere was caught by the Constitution’s sensors, perhaps attempting to call the Collective. The post Borg Invasion? Freighter captain loses mind, infects self with Borg nanites appeared first on UFOP: StarBase 118 Star Trek RPG. View the full article

Lokesh City, Lokesh Island, Til’ahn – Could the treatment of Lomales prove a stumbling block on the road to Federation Membership? Til’han – or Duronis II as it is known to non-Laudeans – is home to one of the Federation’s most intriguing neighbours. Outwardly similar to many humanoid species, the Laudean peoples possess some rare features: their fielding ability which allows them to detect energy fields, and their three-gendered mode of reproduction. Unfortunately the latter may prove problematical should the Laudeans ever choose to seek Federation membership. It is not the nature of the Laudeans’ reproduction that is the sticking point, rather their treatment of their third gender, the Lomale. Comprising only 3% of the population, the Lomale is necessary for a couple to reproduce, and where male and female Laudeans are monogamous, Lomales are expected to be promiscuous and move from couple to couple. During the invasion of Duronis II by the Romulans, Lomales were kidnapped and their movements controlled by the invaders, severely reducing the native populations, a setback from which the Laudean people had not yet fully recovered. However, once free of the Romulans, the covens have largely taken over control of the Lomales’ activities, leaving this reporter to ask how much has truly changed? To understand Laudean society you need to understand the covens and the importance of the fielding ability. A strong ability carries with it great prestige, and so whilst ostensibly lacking a caste system, standing in Laudean society is never the less in part dictated by the strength of an individual as a fielder. The covens are groups of strong fielders whose influence on society and its governance is both widespread and difficult to pin down, the organisations themselves having an unusual nature, somewhere between a religious organisation and a secret society, and their doings are not entirely transparent. One thing that is known is that they govern the activities of the Lomales, dictating whom they go to and when. The Laudeans are not the first people with this tri-gendered system that the Federation has encountered. The Vissians also possess a third sex, known as a ‘cogenitor’, which like the Laudeans accounts for about 3% of the population. However the Vissians treated their cogenitors effectively as slaves, trading them between couples seeking to conceive and keeping them ignorant. How much is the Lomale situation similar to that of the cogenitor? Whilst their liaisons are largely controlled by the Covens, Lomales are otherwise educated and participate fully in society. Like males and females they possess the fielding ability to a greater or lesser extent, and indeed it is popular folklore that a Lomale who is a strong fielding will engender children with strong abilities. Thus Lomales with strong abilities are much sought after, whilst those with weaker abilities are considered much less desirable. The lot of the Lomale has changed greatly throughout Laudean history and between different Laudean cultures. From virtual slavery on one continent to celebrity visitor on another in ancient times, from a part of the wider community to secretive subset. In the upper echelons of society during renaissance times the luring of a Lomale partner was very much a game of politics, influence and seduction. Very recently of course Lomales were abducted and enslaved by the Romulans, hoping to engender Romulans with fielding abilities. As Laudean society recovers from the Romulan invasion, contact with other species and the new ideas that brings may cause a shift in attitudes and ultimately change – again – the lot of the Lomale. Certainly new avenues have been opened, Starfleet now counts a Lomale Ensign amongst it’s Laudean officers. How Laudean society’s views will change – and in what direction – following exposure to the wider galaxy remains to be seen. It will be watched with interest by the staff of the Embassy on Duronis II, as are all developments on the world locally called Til’ahn. Rear Admiral Toni Turner’s staff will no doubt continue to represent the ideals of the Federation to those interested, whilst respecting the native cultures of the world on which they are guests, and providing information to the Federation on our neighbours, and potential new allies. We seem to have much in common, but it is those areas on which we vary that could be cause for future concern. Much is still unknown about the Laudeans themselves and that mysterious group, the Lomales. How the Laudeans treat this extremely important minority group within their population could well dictate the result of any future application for Federation membership. The post Lomales: a hitch in Federation-Laudean Relations? appeared first on UFOP: StarBase 118 Star Trek RPG. View the full article

ROMULAN SPACE — Upon his return to Columbia, Captain Ben Livingston was confined to sickbay with radiation illness while the crew assisted Romulans to clear Avronis of pollution. While Captain Livingston was confined in sickbay with a serious case of radiation sickness, Lt. Cmdr. Brek, Lt. JG Tatash, and Ensign Flynn prepared to go to Avronis. They used the Bhujerba shuttle, on which a Romulan cloaking device had been installed. After stealing a power generator from one of the recycling stations on Avronis, they flew to the site of the Iconian gateway, and unseen, they destroyed it. On their return to Columbia, Brek waited until all the supplies requested by the Romulans had been shipped to them, and then he asked Flynn to take them back to StarBase 118. The Ferengi also went to speak with Major Nelkar, a Tal Shiar agent who had fled Avronis with Captain Livingston. After a long discussion, the major decided to cooperate with Starfleet Intelligence, so that the scientists working with him could be set free. The cloaking device was removed from the shuttle by Whittaker and Didrik Stennes. Also, following orders by Tatash, they made sure that the Romulan device could never be used again. “The amazing and the illegal quite often overlap” said Didrik Stennes, a civilian observer on board Columbia. As soon as they reached StarBase 118, Flynn created a Risian holodeck setting for the crew’s traditional “end of the mission” party. Meanwhile, Lt. Johanna MacLaren and Ensign Mirra Ezo shared their distress at discovering that Captain Livingston’s health wasn’t improving. At the same time, Brek received the latest addition to the Columbia crew: Captain Nugra, their chief intelligence officer; Lt. Cmdr. Chythar Skyfire, a medical officer; and Lt. Talia Kaji, their new counsellor. Later, Brek joined the crew at the holodeck party to announce the change of command and to deliver the traditional award ceremony. There, he got the surprise to be promoted to the rank of commander by Captain Nugra. While several crewmembers went cliff diving in the Risian landscape, Brek received Columbia’s new first officer, Lt. Cmdr. Rendal Rennyn. The post USS Columbia helps Romulans clear pollution appeared first on UFOP: StarBase 118 Star Trek RPG. View the full article

The Top Sims Contest recognizes the best sims produced by our fleet, which are nominated by members of each ship. A panel of judges – one from each crew – then ranks the nominations. The winners from each nomination round then go to a run-off round, where the general membership choses the one they like the best. Finally, the winners of each run-off round go to the final round of voting to be selected for the Top Sim of the Year, as voted-on by the whole fleet. Run-off Round 2 of 2015 has just completed, and the winner has been announced: “Sad Songs Say So Much,” a joint-post by Saveron and Alora DeVeau from the Invicta. Congratulations to these writers! Per above, this sim will now head to the final run-off round of the year, which begins in December, to go against other run-off round winners for the chance to be named the Top Sim of 2015! If you’d like to nominate a top sim, just head to the forums and read the rules. It’s easy and just takes a minute! The post Winner chosen for Top Sims Contest Run-off Round 2 appeared first on UFOP: StarBase 118 Star Trek RPG. View the full article

Please welcome our newest Academy graduates to the UFOP: StarBase 118 fleet: Malcolm Flanigan and Tyrin Pylos! The post New Academy Graduates appeared first on UFOP: StarBase 118 Star Trek RPG. View the full article

EARTH SPACEDOCK — Under the leadership of Fleet Captain Kalianna Nicholott, a new crew reported to the USS Apollo-A for her relaunch. Throughout the history of Starfleet, ships have been built, assigned crews, then after some time, they have been decommissioned until a new crews were assigned. For the Odyssey class USS Apollo (NCC-71669-A), one of the largest ships Starfleet has ever built, this history has held true. For several months, the Apollo has sat dormant inside the confines of Earth Spacedock, waiting for a new crew to herald her on a new adventure and now that time has come. Under orders from Starfleet Command, Fleet Captain Kalianna Nicholotti and a new crew gathered outside the docking umbilical leading to the Apollo. The crew, composed of most of the crews of the USS Atlantis (NCC-74682) and USS Gemini (NCC-80564), had found their way from various parts of the Federation and stood waiting for a welcome aboard speech from their new commanding officer. Nicholotti did not disappoint. “Across this threshold is the future. She is the USS Apollo-A,” she said in a rousing address to her new crew. “The culmination of all we learned during the Dominion War, the conflict with our Klingon neighbors, and years of research and exploration, she is the bright light of all our futures. She is the finest ship in the fleet, and you have the honor of being her crew!” Once the speech concluded and the crew was dismissed by the first officer Lieutenant Commander Alex Blair, the boarding process for the Apollo’s twenty-five hundred personnel began in earnest. As the crew boarded and started to settle in, Nicholotti called everyone to their stations. The Apollo’s departure was imminent. The crew began to trickle onto the bridge and were delighted to see new faces as well as faces they hadn’t seen in some time. Soon thereafter, Nicholotti addressed the crew and informed them of the Apollo’s new area of operation, the Typhon Sector. On the captain’s orders, the helmsman Lieutenant JG Randal Shayne fired up the Apollo’s thrusters, and the ship and crew left on their new adventure. The post Starfleet relaunches USS Apollo-A appeared first on UFOP: StarBase 118 Star Trek RPG. View the full article

As part of our ongoing efforts to spread the word about the fun and excitement of simming, this month’s Publicity Project is all about finding new friends on writing forums! We have a list of suitable sites, so all you have to do is select the one that seems most interesting to you and sign up for an account. Or if there’s nothing there that really grabs you, why not check out last month’s writing forums outreach project to help you find something suitable that does? Anyone can participate, here’s what to do: 1) Select a site to join from below (or find another site to add to the list): Writer’s Beat: http://www.writersbeat.com/ – A community of authors, the forum is dedicated to discussing the art of writing.Absolute Write: http://absolutewrite.com/forums/forum.php – A community of authors and writers, the forum is dedicated to discussing the art of writing, publishing, freelancing etc.Fiction Post: http://www.fictionpost.com/forums/ – A community of writers discussing the art of writing.SFF World: http://www.sffworld.com/forum/ – Sci-fi, fantasy and horror genre forums.Scifiwriting: https://www.reddit.com/r/scifiwriting – Community of writers for Sci-fi and speculative fiction.Fanfiction.net (Star Trek: Other forums section): https://www.fanfiction.net/forums/tv/StarTrek-Other/ – Fanfiction site, a place to post Star Trek fanfiction.2) Create an account with your chosen website. 3) Introduce yourself in their newbie welcome areas, if they have one. 4) Have a look around for interesting conversations and join in. 5) Before you post any links back to UFOP: Starbase 118, make sure you are familiar with the site’s rules surrounding linking to other site, the use of signatures etc. Once you’ve joined in some conversations update your profile and add a link back to our website. After a couple of weeks of posting add a link to our website to your signature (if it is permitted by the forum’s rules.) The goal here is to become a part of the community, so regular participation is important. Even just a couple of minutes spent each week replying to an interesting topic will help raise your profile with your chosen forum and in turn raises our profile too, so try to drop in and participate regularly if you can. We’ve already attracted new members in this way so we know it works, all we need now is your help. The post Sunday project: Writing forums outreach, part 2 appeared first on UFOP: StarBase 118 Star Trek RPG. View the full article

Did you ever think about the skeletons in your character’s closet? What could they be? Deepest Fears, a dark past, a fearsome future? We want to see what lurks in the corners, under the beds, in the darkness of “the dark subconscious mind,” this quarter’s theme for our Graphic Contest! For more information, rules and the submission guidelines check out the Graphic Contest Forum. Deadline is September 22nd, so you have plenty of time to get inspired! We are looking forward to your entries! The post Autumn Graphic Contest 2015 has started appeared first on UFOP: StarBase 118 Star Trek RPG. View the full article

The staff of UFOP: StarBase 118 would like to take a moment and recognize the officers – please be sure to congratulate these folks when you see them around the fleet! DARWIN Michael Jellico to EnsignIniko Mpeba to Lieutenant JGLyldra to Lieutenant JGJohn Valdivia to LieutenantCOLUMBIA Tatash to LieutenantTheo Whittaker to LieutenantJohanna MacLaren to Lieutenant CommanderTalia Kaji to Lieutenant CommanderBrek to CommanderDOYLE Ceciri Hakashri to Lieutenant CommanderSabrina Holly to Lieutenant CommanderShirazi Myrta to Lieutenant JGThe post Promotions for July, 2015 appeared first on UFOP: StarBase 118 Star Trek RPG. View the full article

Please welcome our newest Academy graduates to the UFOP: StarBase 118 fleet: John Worene and Jico Rylo! The post New Academy Graduates appeared first on UFOP: StarBase 118 Star Trek RPG. View the full article

STARBASE 118 – StarBase 118 has been drawn into a web of intrigue while investigating the destruction of the freighter SS Annabelle’s Lament. Following the joyous wedding of Lt Commander Chen and Director Grier Reinard, newly promoted Captain Leo Handley-Page took a sabbatical to Earth to research what ails his sister, Ambassador Nia Calderan. As he departed, Handley-Page left Lt Commander Sal Taybrim as acting commander of Ops, for what appeared to be a routine week of reports and maintenance. Shortly afterward StarBase 118 received a call from a Federation Research Outpost saying one of their science vessels had picked up the debris from the missing Federation freighter the SS Annabelle’s Lament. The ship was destroyed, losing all 65 passengers and crew. The captain of the Lament was related to high ranking Starfleet officers who demanded an investigation into what happened. Shortly afterward, the debris was delivered to the science labs on StarBase 118 where a taskforce of scientists and engineers started sifting through the wreckage. Meanwhile, the starbase mobilized to handle the delicate diplomatic situation surrounding the freighter’s loss, including contacting families and making sure the deceased were identified. As the investigation progressed the teams found that one of the Lament’s crew was not present in the wreckage and is presumed to not have been on the ship when it exploded. While Engineering and Science found clues leading them to suspect the cargo the Lament was carrying was somehow used to form a deadly explosive, Security had their hands full dealing with a stowaway that arrived on the trade ship NGV Fortune’s Determination. This stowaway was soon linked to the puzzle, being the person who delivered the last load of cargo the Lament took on, which included chemicals that could be mixed into explosives. However, in the middle of the interrogation of the stowaway, the main brig experienced a localized power failure, and an unknown assailant tried to execute the prisoner before he talked. “It was so weird! First these animals all got out and security was chasing them around, and then there was this muffled boom. The lights didn’t go out here, but in security they were as black as night! And then there were shouts and seriously I think there was phaser fire, too! It was crazy I tell you. Just crazy!” said Jason Strepp, cashier at the nearby Donut Worry! shop. Power was quickly restored and a manhunt began for the assailant, while science confirmed their suspicions and proved that the chemicals the Lament was carrying could be combined to make explosives. Intel now reports increased Romulan traffic in the area where the Lament was destroyed, and Starfleet is working quickly to unravel the mystery and prevent dangerous weapons from falling into the wrong hands. The post StarBase 118 investigates destruction of SS Annabelle’s Lament appeared first on UFOP: StarBase 118 Star Trek RPG. View the full article

The Captains Council of UFOP: StarBase 118 is pleased to announce the promotion of Lt. Commander Tracey Townson to the rank of commander. Cmdr. Townson is currently the First Officer of the USS Avandar. Townson has been a member on-and-off for over 10 years, starting on the USS Hammond. Since then, she has served on nearly 10 ships and stations in a number of different roles including Science, Com/Ops, Intelligence, and both First and Second officer. She is highly decorated, having received the Kalendra Award, Russ Bar, B-Plot, TOSMA II, among others. Townson currently manages the Poll of the Week for the fleet. Be sure to stop by and offer your congratulations to Cmdr. Townson, as we wish her luck in her career with UFOP: StarBase 118! The post Congratulations to Cmdr. Tracey Townson appeared first on UFOP: StarBase 118 Star Trek RPG. View the full article

July had been a month of big changes for the UFOP: Starbase 118 fleet. The Atlantis and the Gemini merged together, re-launching as the Apollo-A under the command of Fleet Captain Kalianna Nicholotti. After a change in command staff, the Victory crew transferred to the Gorkon. What effect has this had on the fleet’s post counts? Let’s find out! Post counts across the fleet are up! The average post rate has increased for a third consecutive month, rising from 177 in June to 188 in July. Most of our vessels saw an increase in their counts this month, with five submitting more than 200 sims for the month. Starbase 118 Ops was our most prolific sim site, with 267 sims, and the newly launched Apollo posted a total of 144 sims — an amazing achievement, as the simming only began there on the 13th of July! Last month we looked at the trends going back a couple of years. Looking at the graph, we can see that we’re still closely mirroring the sim rates of 2013. 2014 had high average sim rates for the first half of the year, and this month the fleet managed to exceed 2014’s posts totals — only the second time we’ve beaten 2014’s sim rates this year! Will we see the mirroing of 2013’s trends continue, and enjoy a massive upswing in sim rates for the holiday month of August? Tune in next month to find out, and don’t forget to keep up with our stories on the fleet’s sim archive! The post July 2015 Post Totals appeared first on UFOP: StarBase 118 Star Trek RPG. View the full article

Please welcome our newest Academy graduates to the UFOP: StarBase 118 fleet: Drax and Jerome Milsap! The post New Academy Graduates! appeared first on UFOP: StarBase 118 Star Trek RPG. View the full article

MENTHAR CORRIDOR — Just as the USS Invicta began her shakedown cruise out of Astrofori One, a pair of Q appeared as uninvited guests to the launch celebration. With the Invicta Expedition announced earlier at the President’s State of the Federation address, Captain Aron Kells and his crew were preparing for a relatively uneventful shakedown cruise, meant mainly to entertain the large diplomatic contingent aboard the Cardiff class explorer and familiarize the crew with their new starship. “The Invicta is a fine vessel, and I look forward to seeing what she can do during this demonstration,” remarked Lucius, Special Envoy for the Republic of Magna Roma, the day before the launch. “The people of Magna Roma fully support the President’s call for a renewal in the Federation’s exploratory endeavors. After all, an empire without new discoveries and stimulus is an empire in decline.” Minutes into the cruise, however, the ship’s chief of operations Lt. Commander Mei’konda picked up a distress call from a seemingly impossible source: the USS Yamaguchi, his father’s ship that had been lost in battle against the Borg at Wolf 359 twenty-five years ago. The crew soon came across the old Ambassador class starship, very much intact and yet seemingly suspended in time. As questions ran through their minds about what was going on, a brilliant flash of white light marked the first appearance of a member of the Q Continuum, who as per their custom, only identified herself as Q. More ships appeared around the Invicta, many of them ones that appeared to have been lost to history. When a second Q, this one choosing the name Quana, appeared on the bridge, the two Q revealed that they were involved in some sort of game, and the stakes involved the collection of ships Quana had acquired. Powerless to argue with the Q, half of the senior staff of the Invicta were acquired by Quana and sent over to the Yamaguchi, where Mei’konda was reunited with his father H’lill, the ship’s first officer. The Q removed all but a handful of officers on each ship and tasked the teams with finding a flag somewhere on the vessel. This objective though wasn’t so simple as officers soon found themselves in elaborate fantasies. One involved Doctor Blueheart’s torment during his teenage years on Luna. Another involved Mei’konda and H’lill’s early life back on Terra Nova. Meanwhile, the first Q met with Captain Kells privately and revealed her true objective. The Q Continuum wish for Quana’s obsession with her collection to end, and so Q has been tasked with defeating Quana in the game and winning the rest of the collection. Whether that means the Invicta, the Yamaguchi, and the other ships can go free though remains to be seen. The post USS Invicta caught in a game between Q appeared first on UFOP: StarBase 118 Star Trek RPG. View the full article

Don’t forget to stop by the chatroom today — Sunday, August 9th — for our regularly scheduled monthly community chat! These chats are open to any member of the fleet. Come by and see, in real time, what other folks in the fleet have been up to. The chat starts at 10am Pacific / 1pm Eastern / 5pm GMC UTC (UK) / 4am Monday UTC+11 (AUS). Always check your time zone for accuracy/DST if applicable! Click this link to head to the chat page now and connect: http://www.starbase118.net/chat/ If you have problems connecting, use the instructions listed below the chat box. The post Join us in the fleetwide chat today! appeared first on UFOP: StarBase 118 Star Trek RPG. View the full article

About 45 minutes away from where I live, in a small town called Pointe Calumet, Quebec, Kylie Jenner will be celebrating her 18th birthday partying at a place called the Beach Club in a couple of weeks. Along with her, she will be bringing an entourage of other celebrities along with her as well as Justin Bieber who is supposed to emcee the event. I have been to the Beach Club twice before. What started out as a small community dance club on the beach front, has turned into an apparent international sensation. It also helps that the legal drinking age in Quebec is 18. It may be the reason Kylie Jenner is coming here instead of anywhere in America since the legal drinking age is 21. Also, rumor has it she will be paid almost $200,000 to make the appearance. Pretty good gig if you can get it, I’m sure. As with most celebrities that I have run across, she will also probably be bringing along her personal bodyguards for protection. It would be almost dangerous for big name celebrities to walk around unprotected in any public venue, although I have seen it. I ran into Dave Chappelle a couple of weeks ago at a local restaurant about a week ago for example and he was alone and quite a few sports celebrities who were alone. My first run-in with a celebrity was way back in 2003 when I met Angelina Jolie at a local Ben & Jerry’s in downtown Montreal. She too was alone at the time. So this week’s Poll of the Week deals with personal protection. What if you were famous in the Star Trek universe? If you needed to make a public appearance, which of the security officers portrayed in Star Trek would you trust most to protect you from the crowds of fans? Head on over to the polls and vote away and let us know why you chose who you did. The post Poll of the Week: Personal Protection appeared first on UFOP: StarBase 118 Star Trek RPG. View the full article

ZAKDORN IV – After responding to a distress call on Zakdorn IV, the USS Darwin-A has discovered that the situation is not what it seems. In orbit around Zakdorn, the USS Darwin, NCC 99312-A is providing assistance to a remote factory complex ravaged by explosions and fouled by an insidious toxin, with an away team led by LtCmdrs. Maxwell Traenor and Rendal Rennyn. Meanwhile, a menacing ship of unknown origin appears in orbit. When Capt. Renos attempts contact with them, he is rudely greeted by a commanding officer named Tor’kath, using the alias of Raikenoff, who demands the immediate return of the shuttle. Electing not to comply, the crew of the Darwin find themselves in a firefight with a vessel that outclasses them tactically. One intruder manages to corner and threaten LtCmdr. Luna Walker, before executing a daring plan: blowing out a section of the Darwin’s hull, and the two escape into the vacuum of space. Though having firepower superiority, Tor’kath’s ship is stymied by the piloting efforts of HCO officer Ens. Raakel Ells and the tactical skills of CPO Michael Jellico. Once the Zakdorn orbital defense satellites come into play, Tor’kath feigns damage so as to draw the Darwin away from Zakdorn; before pummeling them and knocking down their shields. With that accomplished, Tor’kath beams away the shuttle and the escaped operatives. He also kidnaps Captain Renos in retaliation. At the factory complex, Rennyn’s group follows an insistent factory supervisor named Eleene Mornay, deeper into the rubble; and Traenor’s group finds a pregnant victim trapped underneath some debris. Her condition is too delicate for transport, so Manuis and Cook decide to operate on site. Meanwhile, Mornay leads the others to a control room where she manually shuts down some malfunctioning equipment. At this location, Rennyn spies an undetonated bomb, which contains a vial of the toxin that is plaguing the disaster zone. Mpeba disarms the bomb, but there is a tense confrontation with Mornay before the Zakdorn succumbs to the airborne toxin. On the enemy warship, Tor’kath tortures a bound Renos in order to extract information from him. He is hoping to discover what, if anything, the Darwin knows about the reason for their presence at Zakdorn. Meanwhile, with the Darwin’s front shields inoperative and at heavy risk of further damage by the enemy ship, Thomas makes the decision to move all crew out of the sphere section to the safety of the drive section. There, he establishes command functions in Main Engineering. Once relocated, he recalls the Away teams from the surface and canvasses the senior staff for option in rescuing Renos. With a plan set in place, Thomas leads the crew of the Darwin to get their Captain back. Feigning a damaged status the Darwin falls into a decaying orbit and successfully lures the enemy warship into a vulnerable position. With the help of the Zakdorn defence satellites and some quick firing shots from the Darwin, the Captain is beamed out as the Darwin passes over the hull. Seconds later the Darwin is at high warp with their Captain in a critical condition. With Admiral Kwiecinski leaving Kael to Captain the Darwin in Renos’ absence, the crew is left wondering how long this will last for. Upon being advised of the withdrawal of the Darwin crew, Zakdorn Regional Supervisor Aleron Surani thanked the crew. “The disaster site is nearly under control. We need a breakthrough on treating the toxin, but for now, we’re doing as much as we can,” he said. “If you need to recall your teams from the surface to help you, we can manage down here without them. Best of luck to all of you. And to your captain.” The post USS Darwin-A investigates distress call on Zakdorn IV appeared first on UFOP: StarBase 118 Star Trek RPG. View the full article

Do you have the gift of the gab? Do you enjoy discussing Star Trek with fellow fans? Do you enjoy introducing people to facets of Trek that you find interesting? The answer to at least one of those is almost guaranteed to be “YES!” – in fact, as a member of our group, we’re willing to bet you have at least two out of three nailed. That’s why we’re offering you the chance to join the UFOP: Starbase 118 Podcast Team and become an ambassador for or group. As a member of the team, you’ll be involved with assisting in hosting the podcast as a rotating guest host, and you’ll have the chance to record your very own regular segment. Segments and podcasts will be regularly posted to the fleet’s YouTube channel, where it can be accessed by swathes of eager Star Trek fans. Your content will help to attract new members to the group, spark discussion among those already in our ranks, and form a part of an all-new, all-exciting podcast relaunch! So how do you take us up on our offer? Simple – all you need to do is send a message to Commander Chen with your idea for a regular segment! All you’ll need apart from that creative spark is a microphone, the ability to download and access Skype, and 15-20 minutes of spare time per month to record and submit your segment. We’re looking forward to hearing from you. The post Ambassadors needed for our podcast appeared first on UFOP: StarBase 118 Star Trek RPG. View the full article

STARBASE 118 – The crew of the USS Gorkon prepare to launch into the Menthar Corridor. Change. An inescapable force that lives at the very heart of the galaxy, untameable and unrelenting. From such change, great things are born. Sorrow and tragedy can be turned to joy and elation. That is the kind of change that has befallen Captain Quinn Reynolds and the crew of the USS Gorkon, NCC-82293. In the wake of the devastating news that Captain Nugra would be stepping down as captain of the USS Victory, NCC-362447, his crew found themselves with orders to report to Starbase 118 for reassignment. An English summer fete was the setting for their final promotion ceremony and a chance for them to meet their brand new command team, Captain Reynolds and Commander Chen. “This is a fantastic opportunity, for all of us,” said Commander Chen, first officer of the USS Gorkon. “The diplomatic initiative in the Menthar Corridor is ground-breaking, not to mention an exciting prospect for the crew of a ship like the Gorkon. I think I can speak for us all when I say that we’re honoured to have the opportunity to represent Starfleet in interactions with species like the Cardassians and the Kubarey, and very much looking forward to establishing ourselves as a part of Peaceforce 5.” Naturally, the crew responded in different ways, some overtly expressing their sadness as their former captain transferred to pastures new, others embracing the chance to serve on a Sovereign-class vessel with open arms. For some, it was business as usual; Commander Alucard Vess’s relationship with his new first officer looked to be on shaky ground as his two and a half year old son, Ally, decided to use the Andorian’s antennae for a game of hoopla. Indeed, Captain Reynolds and Ambassador Greir Reinard’s professional reputations entered the same territory as hilarity ensued. Elsewhere, Lieutenant Cory Stoyer proposed to his long-time girlfriend, and department chiefs took the chance to familiarise themselves with their new staff. Yet, while happy memories were being created at the fete, other events were somewhat more bittersweet. Lieutenant (j.g.) Lael Rosek was hit by the news that her partner Lieutenant (j.g.) Janel Tarna was being transferred. Lieutenant (j.g.) Adam Haase had a strange dream that ended with the appearance of a strange, serpentine artefact in his quarters, and Ensign Danny Wilde’s encounter with a holographic fortune teller left him a haunted man. With such things taking place with the Gorkon still docked at Starbase 118, who can tell what the future, and the Menthar Corridor, will hold for its crew? The post USS Gorkon becomes latest addition to Astrofori One appeared first on UFOP: StarBase 118 Star Trek RPG. View the full article

The summer is actually drawing to a close, bringing us ever closer to my favorite time of the year. With back to school, autumn, and the holidays just around the corner, there are definite shifts going on both on and offline. Regardless what these shifts bring to your life, remember that there’s always something exciting going on around the 118 forums. Check out some of the following to get involved in the conversation today! The newest round of the graphics contest has been announced recently. Whether you have a lot of experience in photoshop or other graphic editing software, or you are simply dabbling in the art, submit your piece and be a part of why 118 is so much different than any other sim group out there. http://forums.starbase118.net/index.php/topic/12193-autumn-graphic-contest-announcement/ Wondering about ranks and how to get promoted in the 118 fleet? There’s lots of answers and plenty of discussion over in our rank and promotion threads: http://forums.starbase118.net/index.php/forum/178-rank-and-promotion/ Check in with our duty post threads and talk to other players around the fleet who are playing the same duty post as you are. Learn from different perspectives and share your own ideas here: http://forums.starbase118.net/index.php/forum/52-duty-posts/ With all of the changes going on throughout the fleet, you’re likely to see a number of new ship names listed on the forums. Be sure to check in with your ship’s threads and get to know your crewmates better both IC and OOC: http://forums.starbase118.net/index.php/forum/216-starbase-118-ships/ Help to get the word out to the entire internet by taking part in one or more of our simple publicity projects. They are hugely helpful for the growth of the fleet. You’ll find information and instructions here: http://forums.starbase118.net/index.php/forum/66-publicity/ And of course, like always, there’s plenty more! Until next month, hope to see you all around the forums. The post Forums Roundup: August 2015 appeared first on UFOP: StarBase 118 Star Trek RPG. View the full article

LUXIS SYSTEM – The crew of the USS Thunder-A is relaxing at the Embassy of Duronis II after a Jurassic ordeal. Returning from the Jurassic period of time, the crews of the USS Thunder-A and support vessel USS Bronwyn were allowed an unscheduled shore leave to help give both crews time to recuperate from their ordeal. Unfortunately Colonel Tyr Walters and Lt. Commander Hannibal Parker sustained wounds, but both men are healing. Parker is resting at his new home under the care of his wife, and Walters is at Rear Admiral Toni Turner’s home under Turner’s supervision to allow the medical staff time to relax. Lieutenant Toni Lupo, who was bitten by a Jurassic bug, has discover that she is now growing a tail. She reported that the bug attached itself to her spine, and is causing the phenomenon. Meanwhile, Lt. Commander Irina Pavlova and Lt. Aurora James have asked Turner to officiate at their marriage during their time off duty. Shore leave will continue until the crews receive orders for their next mission, but in the mean time, Turner is preparing for a Federation inquisition for infractions of the Prime Directive while they were trapped within the anomaly. The post USS Thunder-A returns from prehistoric past appeared first on UFOP: StarBase 118 Star Trek RPG. View the full article

A new frontier has been opened, with age-old mysteries hidden within its depths. On the far side of Romulan space, unknown worlds await discovery, and the call of exploration can be heard once more! Returning to that new frontier, the USS Avandar heeds a call for aid, setting out once more to fulfil Starfleet’s mission – to seek out new life and new civilisations, to boldly go where no one has gone before! This week, we welcome back to the fleet our first Luna-class vessel, the USS Avandar. Again under the command of Captain Della Vetri, this ship launch is critical to opening new positions throughout the fleet for incoming ensigns and returning members. Click here to check your eligibility, find out more information, and submit your transfer request. Your promotion progress goes with you to the new ship! Act quickly if you’re interested – new ship rosters usually fill-up within 48 hours of our first announcement going out. The post We’re relaunching the USS Avandar – want to join the crew? appeared first on UFOP: StarBase 118 Star Trek RPG. View the full article