StarBase 118 Staff

March 2014 has seen some incredible stories when it comes to the final frontier. Ranging from a truly universal scale down to things a little closer to home. We’ve complied a list of interesting space science news that should pique your interest! Researchers detect evidence of “cosmic inflation,” helping prove the theory of the Big Bang On March 17th, the BICEP2 collaboration announced their findings proving the idea of cosmic inflation, as well as the first images of gravitational waves that confirm a connection between quantum mechanics and general relativity. Read more about this incredible discovery HERE. “Waves” detected on Saturn’s moon Titan Scientists have detected the first liquid waves on a celestial body other than Earth. Images taken by the Cassini probe in Saturn orbit show evidence of these waves due to how light reflects off of the lakes and seas of liquid hydrocarbons on the surface of the moon. The BBC discusses this intriguing phenomenon with planetary scientist Jason Barnes HERE. NASA’s Kepler Mission detects 715 new planets! Just another day at the office for NASA’s planet hunters. Researchers on the Kepler project using a new technique called “verification by multiplication” have verified over 715 new planets fairly similar in size to Earth orbiting 305 different stars. Read more HERE. See what NASA’s JPL Deep Space Network is listening to in real time This is a cool little toy from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory: “Real-time data is updated every 5 seconds and will allow you to examine how quickly the data is being received, how long a signal takes to and from each spacecraft and the current state of the entire network.” At the time of this artcile, DSS 43 in Canberra, Australia is talking with Voyager 2 at a range of 15.65 billion kilometers! Check it out HERE! Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, the first human in space, turns 80 Finally, we’d like to pay tribute to the man who will forever be known with human spaceflight. Yuri Gagarin, the first human to go into space and orbit the Earth, would have turned 80 on March 9th. Read more about Gagarin and his legacy HERE. We’ll keep track of interesting space news and have more for you next month. Thanks for reading! View the full article

The beginning of the year has seen several new ships launch into the fleet, ready to explore the unknown and search for new life and new civilizations. One of them is brand new: The Dakota Class USS Gemini under the command of Commander Liam Frost. Let’s take a closer look… From the ships’ wiki page: The Dakota is the evolution of the Cheyenne class, but upgraded to reflect nearly three decades of technological development. Weapons, defensive systems, engines and sensor suites have all been upgraded to serve effectively in a variety of roles. The Dakota class is designed to provide Starfleet with a multi-mission capable platform. Described as the workhorse of the modern fleet, it is capable of carrying out diplomatic and exploration missions. with a minimum of support. While not as powerful as a combat vessel such as the Sovereign or Achilles classes, it is capable of providing effective support in the defense of Federation interests, and is capable of defending itself from potential threats that can sometimes come from exploring the unknown. Commander Frost was nice enough to answer a few questions I had about the Gemini. When asked why he chose the Dakota Class for his first command: “I chose the Dakota class because it was the best fit for the different criteria that I had. First off, I wanted a true multi-mission platform. Something that could explore, or take on a diplomatic role, but could still defend herself in a fight if need be. Second, with a crew of about 375, it was the right size. I also wanted something unique that wasn’t already a part of the active fleet. I didn’t want to feel like I was just copying someone else’s work. And, of course, the part of my brain that’s still an 8-year-old wanted something that looks cool.” Captains often pick the name of their ship regarding a special meaning. I asked him if this was the case with the Gemini: “The name was something special from an In-Character perspective. Liam was born on Luna, so I’ve always believed that the NASA programs (along with Mercury and Apollo) would be important to anyone who cared about the history of their home. To Liam, the Gemini is as important to his history as Nelson and the Battle of Trafalgar are to the British, or the Mayflower to the Americans.” Gemini is operating in a region of space known as “The Borderlands,” neutral area along the Klingon Border with the Federation. Little is known about it and the Gemini will be on the forefront to represent Starfleet and the Federation. “[The Gemini] has the range to be an effective explorer, and state-of-the-art scientific equipment befitting a brand new exploration platform. But she’s no slouch in a fight either. She’s not a warship by any stretch, but if someone comes looking for a fight, the Gemini can hold her own. And with the nature of her Area of Operations, that’s not a matter of if, but when,” says Commander Frost. Fun Fact about the Gemini: According to Frost, “Her Registry number, NCC-80564 corresponds to the launch date of Gemini 1 (April 5th, 1964).” I want to thank Commander Frost for taking the time to discuss his new ship with the News Team. You can follow the exploits of this new ship on their In Character Google Group, and see some behind the scenes stuff on the Gemini’s Forums. Be on the lookout for more Ship Closeups coming soon! View the full article

Upon arriving in the Boreia System, on the far edges of the Beta Quadrant, the crew of the USS Apollo, NCC-71669 found what they were looking for. It appeared to be a pre-warp species that had developed the Omega molecule. With two inhabited worlds at war, it was a race to find something that could be used as a weapon to end the decades long conflict. Just like other species before them, they were unable to harness the power of Omega. After successfully neutralizing what was left, the crew discovered a massive boronite deposit in the system. Concerned, it could be used again, they began finding a way to eliminate the boronite from the system. While working the problem, the Apollo detected something they wished they hadn’t. Two Borg vessels were inbound, no doubt looking for Omega. Knowing that they would harvest the boronite and assimilate anyone with knowledge, the Apollo crew continued working on eliminating the boronite before setting a course to intercept the Borg vessels. Knowing reinforcements were far out, and only few vessels were capable of reaching their position, the crew began searching for a place to offload non-essential crew as they prepared to take the ship to her limits by taking on the Borg before they could reach the system. View the full article

Atlantis has been spoken of for centuries as a place of knowledge and understanding. In the UFOP we have been lucky enough to have several ships embody those principles, one of which is the namesake for this mythological island nation. Like the Atlantis of legend which vanished from the world, the our Atlantis too sank below the waves of time. However in true form of our persistence and belief in the exploration of the unknown, and unlike it’s mythological predecessor, the USS Atlantis is rising back above the waves of time and soaring into space once more. Here is a short moment with it’s new commander Raj Blueheart. Jansen Orrey: The Atlantis has been inactive for nine years, what made you decide that it was the ship you wanted to launch? Raj Blueheart: Precisely for that reason, Jansen. Nine years is a long time. It’s almost half the time SB118 has been around. With such a rich historical background, I thought launching such a ship would not only reignite the Fleet’s interest in its own history, but also remind us, as members of SB118, our own evolution through the years. It was time to not only relaunch a ship from the past, but also to relaunch those wonderful memories that make up the Atlantis. You know, some of the officers that first started their careers on board the Atlantis are still actively with us today. And one of them is part of my crew! Think of the amazing stories he’d be able to share with the rest of the crew and fleet. And even if most of the former crew isn’t around today, I’m sure there will be a ghost or two lurking in the plasma manifolds. Jansen Orrey: Was it a difficult choice between relaunching a decommissioned/Inactive ship or designing one of your own? Raj Blueheart: Not really. Designing a ship, though it allows one to exercise one’s creativity, I feel also gives me the opportunity to design a so-called “perfect” ship, so to speak. I mean, why wouldn’t I want to design a flawless ship? But I guess that is just not me. I’d rather have a ship that is flawed but tested, old yet reliable. I guess it’s the same way with relationships? You understand and tolerate one another, and accept your partner for who they are. It leads to a stronger bond between the two, and that’s what I was looking for when I had to make a choice. The future close bond between Captain and ship, and not only the close bond between Captain and crew. Jansen Orrey: Can you clue us into the plans you have for her a little bit? Raj Blueheart: Well, we just departed Deep Space 26 and in addition to our shakedown cruise, we’re transporting an ambassador to a very crucial peace talk on the far side of the Par’tha Expanse. It’s a largely unexplored territory of space despite all those years she spent patrolling the area. So you never know what we might run into along our journey through the Expanse. Then there’s the Jenatris Cloud, a mysterious nebula with strange semi-organic particles that at one time had a devastating hallucinatory effect on the original crew of the Atlantis when they attempted to study it. Well, being a science and exploratory vessel, will it surprise you if I said that the Cloud would be top on our list of things to study in this region of space? We Atlanteans just can’t stay away from the mysterious and unknown! Jansen Orrey: The Par’tha Expanse is not only a relatively young region but a slightly unstable one given the economic and political differences between the Expanse Sector and the Freeworlds Region, how do you see the Atlantis navigating those tense moments? Raj Blueheart: We’re right smack in the middle of an unstable geopolitical region. While we’re aware of the high tariffs imposed upon cargo ships entering and leaving the Freeworlds Region, at the moment we are adopting a neutral stance on the matter. At least until we receive new orders telling us otherwise, from HQ. Of course, in the interim, if we so happen to be in the right place at the right time – in other words, war between those governments – we wouldn’t hesitate to arbitrate on behalf of SF. Jansen Orrey: As a scientific and exploratory vessel can you foresee the Federation learning more about the Chon Empire who inhabited the region? Raj Blueheart: I’d make that a priority for this year. An ongoing mission, if you will. We will definitely continue the work initiated by Dr Rathmin in gathering and archiving data on the Chon civilization, beginning with our base in the Expanse, Deep Space 26. Being an abandoned Chon outpost, I think it’s the best place to start researching them, before tracing their steps throughout the Expanse. I think that whatever the remnant civilization, there’s always a valuable lesson to be gleaned from it for the benefit of the present generation and governments. Military strategies, economic development, et cetera, are all valuable information no matter the outcome of that former civilization. Also, who can resist the romance and adventure of learning about a mysterious empire that flourished 13,000 years ago? As you can see Atlantis has risen and is firmly on it’s way to continue our understanding and knowledge of the universe around us. View the full article

::As the title graphic fades and the lights come up to show a stoic Vulcan sitting in a chair looking at the recorders. Beyond his chair the familiar small table sporting two coffee mugs and the chair of his guest.:: Sopek: Greetings to you my friends. It is time again for The Lower Decks. My guest today is the Chief Tactical & Security Officer on the USS Garuda, LtCmdr Leo Handley-Page. Good evening Commander. Handley-Page: Good evening, old boy. Glad to be here. Sopek: So, you’ve recently shifted to the Garuda. How can you compare it to the other ships you’ve served on? Handley-Page: It’s certainly the biggest ship I have ever had the pleasure to serve on. We’re just heading out on our first mission. I have served with one or two of the crew before, but it’s good to meet new faces as well as familiar ones. Sopek: I understand you have held a few positions within the ranks of the crew. Handley-Page: I was privileged to have been First Officer when my previous ship, the USS Vigilant, was launched in 2389. I then became Strategic Operations Officer, Byzallian Liaison and Major of Marines before my recent transfer. Sopek: What did you, in your position as the Strategic Operations Officer do? Handley-Page: That is a good question. Basically, the role combines areas of Tactical, Security and a bit of Operations too. With such a good Chief Tactical & Security Officer on the Vigilant already in the imposing form of LtCmdr Eerie, I had taken the SOO dept in a more off-ship context, working with other departments to ensure the safety of the ship from hostile threats. Sopek: You also led the Marine contingent on the Vigilant. What can you tell us about the Marines in your squad. What set them apart? Handley-Page: I really enjoyed leading the marines, and I miss it very much. Being head of the marines fitted perfectly with my role of SOO. I also liked to think I was the bridge between the marines, and the ship’s security teams. My team of marines was second to none. They were fierce, determined, skilled and very brave. They were also all ladies, which is unusual but most welcome in our modern starship. Each and every one of them would be a credit to any ship in the Fleet. Knowing they have things under control allows me to take some time off, now and again. Sopek: What about your pastimes? Handley-Page: Well, I have quite a few. I enjoy playing with all kinds of gadgetry and mechanical curiosities. I have a large stash of them in my quarters. I am also quite fond of fencing, Parrises squares, investigating mysteries and listening to Byzallian music – mostly solid state surge and chemical metal. Sopek: You’ve served a variety of ships and had your fair share of missions. Could you share some of your most memorable? Handley-Page: Well, my career has been long and varied – ups and downs aplenty. I do recall some crazy antics. One mission that I recall as being especially epic was on the USS Vigilant earlier this year, during Fleet Captain Herrera’s absence on Duronis. The crew, under Acting CO Greir Reinard, flew to the underwater city of the Asavii people, and helped them evacuate their crumbling biodome and make a new life among the stars. We had to deal with giant building-eating eels and treachorous locals, especially the firebrand religious zealot of the tribe – Ozryn Bram. He was eventually defeated by his own plans when the eels he was trying to control turned on him and his temple. Sopek: A truly fascinating mission. Being first officer and then a leader of the Marine contingent, do you aspire to command? Handley-Page: Yes, I would dearly love to command a ship of my own one day.. but the course of one’s career takes many twists and turns, not all of them planned. Who knows.. maybe one day.. but for now I am content to do my duty and serve with the Fleet. Sopek: ::With a slight nod.:: Did have you find that being Byzallian Liaison in the Zeta Gelis region and the Menthar Corridor affected your balance of duties? Handley-Page: It had been relatively easy, and in some cases very useful. During a recent mission at Deep Space Six, a group of Zalkonian terrorists tried to seize the station, and our quantum slipstream drive for good measure. The gun battles to retake the station were furious, and were balanced on a knife edge. Fortunately the station had a platoon of Byzallian troops stationed there, and I was able to point them in the right direction of the battle. As for juggling it with my other duties, it fitted in nicely with being head of the marine contingent. Both Byzallians and Marines were experienced in the art of warfare, so the two roles went hand in hand. I am hoping one day that the USS Garuda may visit Byzatium. I can then give my colleagues a guided tour of the planet, assuming the war there had died down a bit. Sopek: Is it hard being raised in such a manner? Handley-Page: Yes, very hard indeed. I actually spent the first ten years of my life with my Mum and adoptive Dad in great comfort on Earth. However, my biological father – Mons Vor – took me, against my will, to live with him on Byzatium. From age eleven onwards, I was thrust into the dark world of intrigue and courtly battles as my father tried to unseat the government. He failed, and I escaped after seven years with him. I have never returned. I guess I was luckier than most. My father’s high rank meant that I faced very little of the everyday hardships of Byzallian life – but Mons Vor wrath was even worse at times than a continent full of *Crazies* (what we called the mutants wandering the wastelands there). Sopek: And you chose then to enlist in the academy? Handley-Page: Yes, I needed some place to not only hide, but to use the skills my father had instilled in me. If I just took any job on a private ship I’d probably have been hunted down and captured. Star Fleet academy was probably the safest to be at that time. I thoroughly enjoyed it and focused my energies into the areas of science and engineering. It was only after my unexpected career interlude that my focus moved more towards tactical and marines. Sopek: Which interlude led you to that path? Handley-Page: I was trapped in amongst a colony full of Romulan rioters. My only means of escaping was letting my phaser overload, which sadly took some of my attackers with me. I got sent for a court martial, but was exonerated. Since then I realised that I actually had more skills in fighting than in science and gadgets, so I opted to swap. Sopek: Can you tell us more about that? Handley-Page: We were transported down to build an encampment to help the Romulan colonists on Bilire VI in the wake of the Hobus disaster. There was a plague sweeping through the colony, and some of the locals blamed the Star Fleet officers for introducing it. Some hotheads started a riot and attacked our encampment. We were heavily outnumbered and outgunned. I drew some of them away into the jungle, but was cornered in a clearing. My action in exploding the phaser was not my preferred option, but desperate times… anyway, I am still here and battling on. Sopek: Very efficiently from your record Commander. Handley-Page: One tries. Sopek: Your mother and adopted father, did you have occasion reunite with them since your return? Handley-Page: Yes, yes I do, probably not as often as I’d like.. but at least once a year, and more often on sub-space comms. Having been parted from them for nearly eight during my teens, it made me appreciate the time I do spend with them now. After escaping Byzatium and getting back to Earth (and Star Fleet), I spent a few months with them… reluctant to even leave the family home in Oxford. Sopek: You’ve had an opportunity to get much out of your career and have seen so many places and people. Does the exploration aspect interest you? Handley-Page: Yes, what drew me to Star Fleet was the opportunity to explore new worlds, and push the frontiers of the known galaxy. That’s what it is all about. Sopek: Do you ever find yourself regretting choices made? Handley-Page: Constantly… Sopek: Unfortunately Commander that answer also marks the end of our time together here on The Lower Decks its been a pleasure talking with you and I hope you have many more years of success before you. Handley-Page: Thank you so much for this opportunity. It has been a pleasure. Leo the Writer: I joined Starbase118 in November 2010, or should that be Stardate 2387.10? Either way, it was probably the best decision I have ever made.. seriously. Anyway, I guess you’re wondering what makes my SIM world tick? Writing has always been a passion of mine and my first taste of formal prose came when I started writing articles for my student union newspaper. Later in life I branched out into technical writing as a profession, but science-fiction and alternative history stories have always been my first true love (writing-wise anyway). View the full article

Since the sixties, we’ve had Star Trek thrown at us in so many ways that it is hard to fathom that a television pilot, filmed in half black and white and half color, called The Cage, would have gone on to such heights. To this day, I am curious how the first Captain of the Enterprise, Jeffrey Hunter, the actor who portrayed the original Captain Christopher Pike, would have dealt with that after giving up his role to take on movie projects. Unfortunately, we will never know as the man passed away at the young age of 42 in 1969. But Jeffrey Hunter was just the first of a long line of actors and actresses that wore the famous delta insignia on thir left breast through the years. And that insignia has become synonymous with Star Trek, no matter what era it is portrayed in. It is the one symbol that can be found in each and every incarnation of Star Trek save for “Enterprise”. So where am I going with this, you may ask? Well it’s just a long winded way to introduce this week’s Poll of the Week question. Of all the Star Trek you have watched, which was your favorite and why? So head on down to the polls and vote for your favorite form of Star Trek that you have ever seen. View the full article

After the surprise attack on DS 17, the senior staff of the USS TIGER-A began to assess the situation and find the identity of the attacker. Assembled on the Command Bridge of DS 17, Queen Eratis appeared with a message surrounded in mystery as survival of her Kingdom was at stake. Shortly after departing, a ship of unknown design and origin was detected not far from Eratis. Captain Riley ordered Commander West to take a search party and investigate. The crew assembled on the USS Triumphant as an emergency meeting was called to analysis the new information. When the away team returned, Commander West was not among them. Strange incidents among those returning suggested the presence of Changelings hiding among the crew. View the full article

Please welcome our newest Academy graduates to the UFOP: StarBase 118 fleet: Dial and Mark Stone! View the full article

Please remember to nominate a character bio for the latest round of the Featured Bio Contest before it closes on Tuesday, April 1, 2014. The rules have been simplified so it’s even easier than ever before to nominate a bio to the competition. Just check these three simple points: Nominated articles must be of a player character played by a CURRENT and ACTIVE member.Nominated articles must be either a PRIMARY or SECONDARY player character. PNPCs are ineligible.All information in the article must be CURRENT as of the submission date.We’re looking for the highest quality bios in the fleet to not only help provide an example for our members on how to structure their bio, but also to show off how much our members put into the creation of realistic and emotional characters. Head to the Featured Bio Contest forum to nominate a bio today. View the full article

Since its discovery in 1930, Pluto has been touted as the ninth planet in our solar system, though its always been an tenuous title. From the beginning, doubts about whether or not it should be considered a major planet have been in discussion by**astronomers. That status seemed even more in jeopardy with the discovery of Charon, Pluto’s largest moon that could almost be considered a planet in its own right, along with other icy objects *near the kuiper belt *that seemed to share similar characteristics to Pluto*. *Some of those objects are even more massive than the tiny planet. It wasn’t until 2006, however, that it’s grasp on the title of ‘major planet’ was lost. The International Astronomical Union (or IAU) officially sat down in 2006 to discuss what characteristics defined a body so that it could be categorized as a ‘planet’. Before that, there was no specific definition for a ‘planet’. So what is a planet? According to the IAU, a planet is a heavenly object that orbits the sun and is round thanks to its personal force of gravity. That’s not all – a planet also has to ‘dominate’ its own neighborhood. One of the sticking points seems to be the size of Pluto in relation to its moon. Most planets dwarf their moons, but Pluto is only about twice the size of its largest moon. Another definition is that planets keep their neighborhood clean by ‘sweeping up’ debris that enters their orbit. Pluto’s neighborhood has some work to do when it comes to that. This definition is still under scrutiny by many astronomers by those who don’t agree. A proposal that would have sethe bar lower and allowed Pluto to retain its status – but also would have meant reclassifying dozens of other bodies that should be called ‘planets’ under its definition. Despite protests, however, the IAU stands behind its decision to reclassify what was once our smallest planet. Mike Brown, Professor of Planetary Astronomy at the California Institute of Technology states that by keeping the definition so narrow, “Finding a new planet will really mean something.” You can learn more about the decision to officially definite a planet here: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/08/060824-pluto-planet.html View the full article

Please welcome our newest Academy graduates to the UFOP: StarBase 118 fleet: HoS’elth and Cassidy Flynn! View the full article

Captain Egan Manno and Commander Ross led an away team down to Rho Aurigae IV to attempt to contact the silent Kubarey, the race that had invited a first contact. Once there, they discovered some sort of cultural event and unknowingly interrupted it. To determine their worthiness to stay, the group was allowed to undergo the Kubarey’s trials of honor, beauty, courage, and wisdom, though this was not warmly received by all members of the away team and Commander Ross was unceremoniously removed from the group, leaving Egan Manno, Counselor Jolara, Lt. Shryker, and Science Officer DeVeau to undergo the trials with the Kubarey’s speaker, Ananja. Meanwhile, the crew of the Garuda made further overtures to the Kubarey vessel in orbit and unwittingly provoked their wrath, which led to the Garuda’s disabling and boarding as members of its crew began to disappear. CEO and acting CO Roshanara Rahman led a group to the shuttlebay to try and access the power of one or more craft there, while chief of security and acting XO Leo Handley-Page marshaled the Starfleet resistance. View the full article

Please welcome our newest Academy graduates to the UFOP: StarBase 118 fleet: Alana Larson, and Nienne Kenoi! View the full article

As part of the ongoing overview of the fleet as a whole, here are the monthly figures for total posts for each ship. This summary will give you an idea of how active the ship is on a month-by-month basis. It’s been a difficult February – as the big freeze hit the US, posting numbers have also frozen, leaving us a little short of the bar we set in January. February is traditionally slow in comparison to other months so we’ll be looking to up our game again as we head into March, full of the joys of Spring! Our next chart gives the number of sims for each ship over the course of February. The Atlantis came out of the blocks to establish itself among the fastest paced ships in the fleet and the Gemini got off to a solid start. All remaining ships were down on their January totals (own up – you were out playing in the snow, weren’t you!) View the full article

After rounding up a bushel of awards at the 2013 ceremony Commander Greir Reinard is also commanding a brand new vessel in the fleet, the Horizon class USS Darwin-A. Lets see what we can learn from the following interview conducted by Newsies Reporter, and Darwin crewmember, Jansen Orrey. Jansen: First off Congratulations on the Awards. Greir: Thanks very much! Jansen: So what made you choose the Horizon class as your ship? Greir: I wanted to use a class of ship that wasn’t currently being used in the fleet. I’ve never been massively into combat oriented missions; I prefer science, exploration and poking my nose in where it doesn’t belong. The Horizon class appealed to me because it has a very distinct look and the spherical containment section is quite different to almost all other classes of ship. I thought we could have a lot of fun with it and that it would add something distinctive and unique to the fleet. Jansen: How does it feel to be the winner of the Top Sim contest for 2013? Greir: It’s feels pretty great! It’s the second time I’ve won the top sim competition and I couldn’t be more proud. The sim was part of one of Greir’s major plot arcs for the year, Ed and I really enjoyed writing it. There was some pretty difficult and tense moments in there and we wanted to get it just right. I’m just really pleased that so many other people in the fleet read it and enjoyed it – that’s the best reward of all as far as I’m concerned. Jansen: Let’s talk about Grier for a moment. What makes Grier so unique of a character to write for? Greir: One of the most unique features about him is his fielding ability, which allows him to sense all manner of energy. It’s a sense no other species has and I’ve had a lot of fun exploring it. He’s great because he has a lot of personality. Before I started writing for him I did a lot of research about the Laudeans and their home planet Til’Ahn/Duronis II. Because I had a strong backstory for him and had an opportunity shortly after starting writing for him to do some great character development with him I was able to create a much richer character than I’d ever done previously. He has certain characteristics which work in his favor in some circumstances but which can hold him back in others. Jansen: Grier has also had a meteoric rise to this current stop on his career path based on your own hard work. Can you talk a bit about what you most enjoy about working Out Of Character within the fleet? Greir: What I like about doing OOC work is that it’s my opportunity to give something back. I’ve had a lot more fun playing this game than many MMORPG’s which I’ve subscribed to. I’ve met a lot of really great people and made a lot of friends. I want the group to continue being as successful and I want everyone else to have as much fun here as I do – so I roll up my sleeves and help! Not only that, but helping with different groups and projects lets me meet even more people from around the fleet that I maybe don’t get to write with regularly. Jansen: Part of that was evidence by your Rising Star award. Much of which shows your fellow members faith and trust in you as a leader. How does it feel to receive that award? Greir: I couldn’t be happier really. It’s a real honour to receive that award. Jansen: You also received, The Order of the Valiant Heart, The Strange Medallion, and The Locutus Award. What drives you as a writer? Greir: I’m always looking for ways to improve as a writer. I think that there’s always more to learn whether you’ve been writing for weeks or years. Other than that it’s the characters. I really enjoy writing for my different characters, particularly Greir and I usually have some idea or concept I want to explore with them. I also love getting to know the other characters in the fleet and seeing how they’re similar or different to mine, finding out how they interact with others and deal with events eyc. Jansen: Can you give us some outlook into the future? Both for Greir and yourself within the fleet? Greir: I want to carry on giving it my best really. As for Greir, I have plenty of ideas and plans for him in the works. no spoilers though. You’ll have to read along to find out what’s in store for him. Jansen: And tell us a little about your experience within our group so far. Grier: It’s been a very positive experience. I’ve really enjoyed all the adventures and developing my writing ability. I love that i’ve got to the point where I feel able to pass on what I’ve learned in the last two years to others. I’ve developed leadership ability too but by far the best thing about this groups is the people. I’ve met so many great people and made many friends, so I couldn’t be happier. Jansen: Thank you very much taking the time to talk with me today. Grier: No problem. It’s great to talk to you too. View the full article

Just sit right back and you’ll hear a tale, A tale of a fateful trip That started from this tropic port Aboard this tiny ship. You were a mighty sailing person, The Captain brave and sure. Five passengers set sail that day For a three hour tour, a three hour tour. The weather started getting rough, The tiny ship was tossed, If not for the courage of the fearless crew The minnow would be lost, the minnow would be lost. The ship set ground on the shore of this uncharted desert isle With you A Starfleet Captain too, The millionaire and his wife, The movie star The professor and Mary Ann, Here on some deserted isle. So. Who do you think would be the Captain that would give you the best chance to have you all rescued in short order, and why? Head on down to the polls and let us know. View the full article

Ah, jewels. They come in all colours, shapes, and sizes. My particular favourite is one that’s considered on semi precious – the ever lovely, ever purple Amethyst. It probably doesn’t hurt that it’s my birthstone. Most people are familiar with that, but also stones that tend to be more desirable. Rubies, sapphires, emeralds, they are all beautiful and considered precious. When one thinks of expensive jewels and precious stones, however, usually it’s the diamond that comes first to mind. Diamonds have been treasured by various peoples for various reasons for centuries. In ancient India, they were used as religious icons. They’ve been used as engraving tools for thousands of years. They became particularly popular during the 19th century, mainly due to an increased supply, and became even more so in the 20th century thanks to a DeBeers’ campaign which coined the phrase ‘A diamond is forever’. While not the only event to spur this lust for the sparkling rocks, this advertising played a large part in the modern popularity of diamonds. Today, over 78% of engagement rings contain at least one diamond. Despite claims to the contrary, diamonds aren’t really that rare. They might have been difficult to access at one point, but modern tools and discoveries of various pockets of diamonds have increased the world’s supply. Advertisers like to tout the rarity of such gems, but Earth actually abounds with these shiny stones. Funny thing is, it looks like space may also have a rather large supply! 55 Cancri orbits a star not far from our own. While only about twice the size of Earth, it’s far too hot to support life. However, that heat combined with its makeup, which is mainly of carbon, make it the perfect environment to create diamonds! It’s estimated that about a third of the planet consists of this most sought after jewel. Move over Hope Diamond! You’ve lost your crown. Read about 55 Cancri here. View the full article

The crew of the USS Thunder NCC 70605-A, fresh from returning from DS9, was now enjoying their remaining shore leave on Duronis.Some, like Ambassador Della Vetri and Lieutenant Commander T’Lea, got used to their new digs at the Embassy. The crew received the most joyous news when Fleet Captain Toni Turner went into labor, and gave birth to a baby girl, who she named Breeanna Turner-Tallis, or Bree for short. Shore leave had to end sometime, and Starfleet got the USS Thunder crew in action. Most of the senior staff, with the exception of Commander Alucard Vess and Captain Turner, now on maternity leave, were tasked with assisting a Laudean archaeological expedition in the Quentisi Mountain Range. Gathering their teams together, they set off for the site… Meanwhile, back at the Embassy, a visitor…a Romulan ambassador, requested a meeting with Ambassador Vetri and the remaining senior staff. His purpose…to gain the release of the Romulan assassin T’Ana, and return her to the new Romulan Republic. All was not smooth, as the ambassador was attacked shortly after his shuttle arrived, but it did not deter him. Several remaining crew members were en route to try to identify the perpetrator…the believed second assassin…before he/she could strike again….. View the full article

With this year’s Writing Improvement Month behind us, it might seem like the activities are dying down, but they really aren’t! No matter what time of year, there is always something happening around the Starbase 118 forums. Here are just a few of the things you can get into with your fleetmates in March. We’re always looking for ways to make our events better for everyone involved. As such, we’d love to hear from you you with your thoughts on this year’s Writing Improvement Month. Be sure to share any ideas you might have for next year and we’ll see if they can be incorporated: http://forums.starbase118.net/index.php?/topic/9821-have-your-say/ Looking for other places to write and share your creativity? We’ve got a few areas where you can write IC on the forums just to have some fun. Even better, you can interact with people from other ships while you’re having fun. http://forums.starbase118.net/index.php?/forum/464-in-character/ There are always a number of groups and teams that could use your help around the fleet. From large projects to small ones that would only take you a few minutes, there really is a way for everyone to help no matter how much time you have to offer. Take a look at the list of available teams that need you today and contact the facilitators or your CO for more information: http://forums.starbase118.net/index.php?/forum-105/announcement-29-fleet-activites-that-need-you/ There are some new ships on the block! Head over to their forums and welcome them to the fleet or learn more about their vessels: http://forums.starbase118.net/index.php?/forum/216-starbase-118-ships/ There’s a new Trek related question on the forums every single week. Head over to the Poll of the Week thread and join in the conversation or suggest a question for the future: http://forums.starbase118.net/index.php?/forum/328-poll-of-the-week/ And of course, there’s tons more. Be sure to check in from time to time so that you don’t miss a thing. See you around the fleet! View the full article

Our 118Wiki marks its 10th anniversary of launching today! You can take a look at the first layout of the page at this link. Step through the history of the main page by clicking the “Newer revision” link at the top of the page and see how things have changed over the last 10 years. In 10 years, there have been nearly 306,000 views of our main page on the wiki, and we currently have over 7,100 pages. Recent improvements to the wiki include hundreds of revamped pages with more graphical elements, templates that make it easier to create and upkeep pages, auto-building rosters, and much more. Many thanks to LtCmdr. Roshanara Rahman, our resident wiki coding expert, who has been tirelessly working on these improvements. There’s another big anniversary coming up on June 15th: Our community’s 20th anniversary of launching! View the full article

The Vigilant crew was still mired in problems and split into two groups. An Away Team joined FltCapt. Diego Herrera to meet with the Zakdorn Stratigo, Bokzadema Bokzadeshti in Prak Zel. Lt Cmdr. A’ern Zerxes, First Officer, remained on the ship as team works to stop a virus-triggered auto-destruct. Herrera’s team faced accusations from Bokzadeshti that Federation policies were favoring founding races such as Terrans and Vulcans to the detriment of other worlds. Herrera sent a team led by LtCmdr. Eerie to investigate suspected conspiratorial activity at the Sulliban embassy. Shortly after they left, the chamber that held Herrera, Bokzadeshti, and other crew suddenly began filling with toxic gas! They managed to access environmental systems to reverse the gas flow but remained trapped and detected armed Sulliban nearby! Meanwhile, Dr. Velana and LtCmdr. Alleran Tan worked on the evacuation of both Vigilant crew and civilians at Zakdorn IV’s Gelesev Shipyards. Lt. Dueld taJoot and his engineers eventually found a way to access the virus’ source and shut it down. The ship was completely powered down and temporarily emptied. Shortly after, Zerxes received communication from Herrera informing them of the problems at the capitol. Zerxes’ and Eerie’s teams encountered Sulliban assault teams in the streets. The teams chased off the Sulliban and reconnected with Herrera’s group. Lt. Richard Matthews was able to retrieve data from a chip found on the Sulliban. It revealed communication between the Sulliban and the Vulcan homeworld, adding significant weight to the Stratigo’s earlier conspiracy theory. View the full article

The staff of UFOP: StarBase 118 would like to take a moment and recognize the officers promoted in the month of February. Please be sure to congratulate these folks when you see them in the corridors of your vessel! Darwin James to Lieutenant CommanderJack Corbin to Lieutenant JGExcalibur Sal Taybrim to Lieutenant JG View the full article

Join us today at 10am Pacific / 1pm Eastern (US) / 6pm GMT (UK) / 5am Monday UTC+11 (AUS). (Always check your time zone for accuracy/DST if applicable!) for our monthly OOC chat event in our chat room: http://www.starbase118.net/chat/ You’ll have the chance to meet other members of the fleet, catch up on what’s going on in our community and in the world of Star Trek, and dish about upcoming in, and out of character events. If you have problems connecting, use the instructions listed below the chat box. See you there! View the full article

The morning following the live test, the crew of the USS Excalibur-A, NCC-41903, prepared for a mission of pure exploration. With the directive to test the slipstream drive and explore beyond charted space, excitement traveled quickly. Some chose to join the occasion on the bridge, while others buried themselves in work. Whatever they were doing, it didn’t last long. Not long after the drive was engaged, the ship was ripped from the slipstream and thrown through ‘normal’ space. Soon, everyone began experiencing mental illusions and hallucinations around them. Ranging from seeing passed loved ones to fears brought to life, the stability of everyone was questioned. While the medical staff and science officers worked on a solution, a distress call came in. A ship nearby was being swallowed by some unknown force. With seconds to act, the Captain orders the occupant transported aboard allowing everyone to learn a little about the area of space they’ve stumbled into. Not far from their position in space was a station made of biotechnical material. The occupant that had been saved seemed leery of the crew, yet was diplomatic enough until she was returned to her station upon an ultimatum issued by the station’s commander. Since her return, nothing had been received from the station, even in return to a request to come aboard in peace. There was an eerie silence between the two, broken only when a massive energy wave sweeps through the sector hitting both station and ship like an invisible brick wall. View the full article

There has been rumor, keyword, rumor, that a new Star Trek series may be on the horizon. No matter how far fetched it may be, it is something I am sure a lot of us would like to see. Star Trek back on the small screen! Now I reiterate that this is all rumor because I don’t want my team of pollsters to be inundated with hate email should there not be a new Star Trek television series within your lifetime. But that being said, it is once again dream time. Should there be a new television series for Star Trek, in what era would you like it to be placed? In which universe? In what fashion? Yes, this week will be a multiple poll in one because of all the elements involved in which a new Star Trek series could be based upon. So head on down to the polls and vote for your favorite potential Trek ideas for a new series, dictated to me by a famous local fortune teller and palm reader. And as always, don’t be afraid to add your own ideas to the mix. View the full article