Rahman and Rivi Vataix

November 15, 2015

From Core:
::He'd been tempted to add "So long as you don't let Alora put it up, you should be all set" to the end of that sentence, but due to her and Moonsong's current tent predicament, he imagined the comment would give him less humor and more plant pots thrown at his head.::

LOL!!!! At least he's learned when to keep his mouth shut. In this case anyway. ;-)

He's been properly trained.

::Rahman and DeVeau share high fives.::

Core: :-|

November 13, 2015

((The Pocahantas))

Alt!DeVeau: Il y a les ténèbres. Il n'est pas sécuritaire. Nest pas sécuritaire!

::The utterance was soft, but still audible in the confines of the ships cabin. Although spoken aloud, they were done under the influence of sleep as Alora muttered in between the unconscious whimpers that punctuated her slumber.::

::He looked over at the sleeping woman with a slight frown. He recognized the sound of the language but not the words. He could have used the translator but he decided not to bother. For all he knew, she was spouting all her secrets. He had secrets of his own. Far too many. With a sigh he turned to the comm and sent out a signal. It did not take long to get a response. The voice was female.::

Woman: =|= You again?

Lobo: ::smiles:: =|= I need a favor

Woman: =|= You always need a favor

Lobo: =|= You owe me, love.

Woman: ::audible sigh:: =|= What is it?

Lobo: =|= Medical.

Woman: ::a touch of anxiety could be heard:: =|= Again? Bran, you have got to stop doing this. There will be a time I cant fix you up. Youve barely recovered the last time. The nerve damage to your face You could have lost your eye

Lobo: ::chuckles:: =|= Easy, Soop. Its not for me.

Woman: ::Another sigh.:: =|= Another stray? Really Bran

Lobo: =|= This one is worth a lot. ::pause:: Shes Ronin.

::There was silence for a long moment.::

Woman: =|= Are you sure?

Lobo: =|= Im sure.

::Another moment of silence followed by a long sigh.::

Woman: =|= How far out are you?

Lobo: =|= Ill be there in a couple of hours.

Woman: =|= How serious?

Lobo: =|= Broken arm, leg and ribs, single gash on her forehead. Possible internal damage but no other bleeding I can detect.

Woman: =|= All right. Well be waiting.

Lobo: =|= Thanks, Soop.

::With that he closed the comm. He leaned back in his seat and this time letting out a sigh of his own. Absently, he ran a hand over his face, pausing over the scar. He had allowed Soop to save his eye and knit the skin, but he didnt allow her to take the time to heal the rest of the damage. He had been in a hurry at the time. Then he discovered the advantage of it among his own kind. The perception of who he was and what he did changed. It made things easier and harder at the same time. It was a choice. His choice.::

Alt!DeVeau.: Who is she?

::She had awoken to the burning sensation in the pit of her stomach that had become far too familiar over the years, even if it wasnt constant. As she had drifted awake, shed caught most of the conversation with whomever it was he called. Soop?::

::He turned the seat around to face her, and eyebrow lifted in inquiry.::

Lobo: Someone I know.

::All right, fine.::

Alt!DeVeau: Who do you plan to sell me to? Its not as if the Ronin can afford to buy me back. You plan to hand me over to the Dominion? If so, you should have just left me there, they already had me.

::Alora doubted they would treat Lobo kindly should he try to do so.::

Lobo: So it doesnt matter. The Jemhadar arent the only ones buying.

::Her eyes fluttered shut again and she attempted to take a deeper breath, an action that resulted in rasped breathing. Even doing that was too difficult still. Alora focused her attention to that sensation, then her eyes flew open.::

Alt!DeVeau: Somethings wrong

::Strangely enough he didnt move.::

Lobo: Do you want something for the pain?

Alt!DeVeau: No. Somethings...somethings wrong. Somethings

::How could she explain it? Honestly, Alora didnt quite understand it herself, the strange sort of warnings she seemed to get. Unfortunately, because she was unaware of the route they were taking or his plans, she wasnt sure how to get him to understand.::

Alt!DeVeau: Where are we? Somethings coming

::He glanced at her with a frown then he turned back to his console, scanning the area around his ship. Just because something sounded weird or unbelievable didnt mean he wouldnt listen. He would have been dead long ago if that had been the case.::

Lobo: Something like what?

Alt!DeVeau: I dont know. I cant explain...its just

::She paused. Would he believe her? The only person shed truly confided in was Raissa.::

Alt!Alt!Alt!DeVeau: I get these...feelings sometimes and they generally mean something bad is going to happen.

Lobo: Always?

Alt!DeVeau: Always get them or always bad?

Lobo: The latter.

::Alora shifted, her eyes darting toward the screen that afforded a view of the outside. There was nothing there, but that didnt mean something wasnt coming. If she had a feeling, she knew it would happen eventually. Her heart beat rapidly against her chest and she struggled to sit up, a feat that was impossible between the pain and her inability to use her hands.::

Alt!DeVeau: Turn around...turn around, go a different way, do something!

::Before he could react to her advice, a ship rippled into existence. Immediately, a light flashed and the vehicle they occupied rocked against an impact.::

::Lobo swore with such creativity the air almost turned blue as a side effect.

::The ship rocked with another blast and Alora cringed. As a third one hit, the reaction of the ship was enough to cause her to tumble out of her cot. Her teeth drew blood as she bit down in order to keep from screaming in agony. Even with that, a half scream, stunted in her attempt, made its escape.::

::Outside the ship shifted around and took position on the Pocahontas left flank.::

::Lobo was still swearing and cursing a blue streak. His hands danced over the board, proving he was a skilled pilot. The Pocahontas abruptly flew backwards. The with equal abruptness dropped straight down. He didnt fly in any particular pattern and that was what kept them from being hit again.::

::Lobo was almost as fond of his ship as he was his life.::

Lobo: I dont have time for this crap

::Neither did she. Alora emitted another groan and a strangled cry. If she were rattled again in such a violent fashion, she wasnt sure shed be able to remain conscious.::

::The ship corkscrewed and spiraled, straining the inertial dampeners to the limit. A quick scan of the immediate vicinity gave him what he needed. Oort Clouds on the edge of solar systems were amazingly handy. Better than asteroid fields. Another shot just missed them and the Pocahontas dived into the debris of broken comet.::

::Although her eyes scrunched closed as she attempted to deal with the pain, they flew open as she managed to choke out.::

Alt!DeVeau: Keep going!

::She wished she could see, but the roiling in her stomach eased with whatever action hed taken. With another violent twist, Alora heaved, unable to withstand the nausea that welled up from within even with an empty stomach, then suddenly fell still and limp.::

::Lobo ignored the smell. He was completely focused on his piloting. The scans had told him what kind of ship was after him. In this galaxy there were pirates and there were Pirates. Unfortunately he had [...]ed off the latter on more than one occasion which explained the bounty on his head.::

::His hands tightened around the manual controls of the his ship, his eyes glued to the screens as he twisted and turned through the debris like a crazed dancer on hallucinogens. He slammed close to the edge of a chunk, blasting it, sending up a billow of plasma and debris her dove through, then swinging up he dropped his ship underneath the ledge, letting the debris and fire mask the sight of him. Once there, he shut down all his power except for passive sensors and his jamming system that would mask the lifeforms on his ship. He leaned back and shook the circulation back into his hands.::

::With a sigh he got to his feet to deal with his passenger. He reinserted her onto his bed and then dealt with the mess she left behind on the floor.::

Lobo: Im starting to wonder if youre worth all this.

Alt!DeVeau: Probably not.

::Alora managed a smile, though in her present state, it shone weakly at best.::

Alt!DeVeau: Sorry for the mess.

::Though, really, why was she apologising? She guessed shed always been brought up to be polite. After a few moments in an attempt to catch her breath and calm her heart, she managed to find her voice once more.::

Alt!DeVeau: What now?

::He straightened up, his arms crossed as he stared down at her. His face was devoid of expression as his dark eyes glimmered with intensity.::

Lobo: That is a good question Jettisoning you would be the quickest.

Alt!DeVeau: Dont like that option.

::Honesty, considering everything, Alora was amazed at her calm. Maybe she was simply in too much pain to get worked up.::

Lobo: So you dont like something?

::What did that mean? Aloras eyes fluttered shut as nausea twirled with dizziness.::

Alt!DeVeau: You never answered my question.

Lobo: Which one?

Alt!DeVeau: From earlier. When you were...so...insistent. About fear.

Lobo: Thats true. I didnt.

Alt!DeVeau: Well?

::Conversation. If nothing else, it helped, whether to bear with the pain or the situation in general, she couldnt say, but she just needed to keep talking. A smile touched his lips for a moment.::

Lobo: Yes I did say I would tell you, didnt I?

Alt!DeVeau: Yes.

Lobo: I lied.

::He reached up over her head to his medical supplies and withdrew a hypospray.::

Alt!DeVeau: I guess...I shouldnt be shocked.

Lobo: Yet you are

Alt!DeVeau: Not really. Is this...how you treat all the girls? Or am I just...lucky?

Lobo: No, this is how I treat fools

Alt!DeVeau: A fool?

::He sat down on the edge of cot, the hypospray in his hand.::

Lobo: Somehow in this nasty little universe we live in, you think you can survive on ignorance, illusions and high morals. ::pause:: Which pretty much tanks your value beyond having that all stripped away once.

::If he expected a response, he was to be disappointed. Alora simply lay there and gazed up at him.::

Lobo: So my idea of stealing you from the Jemhadar is becoming one of my poorer choices in hindsight.

Alt!DeVeau: I guess were both fools, then.

TBC

=========

Alora DeVeau (alternate)

as simmed by

Lt. Alora DeVeau

Chief of Science, USS Invicta

M239008AD0

&

Lobo

as simmed by

Lieutenant Raissa Moonsong

Chief of Counseling, USS Invicta

G239107RM0

November 12, 2015

"Welcome to the Invicta, Avandar folks! Don't ask me about the captain... or the rest of the crew. I just work here."

November 7, 2015

Subspace relay network disruption leaves billions cut off from wider Federation

By T'Vas

Stardate 239211.07

Aging infrastructure such as subspace relay stations badly in need of repairs and upgrades was blamed for yesterday's outage.

MONASH SECTOR - Several worlds and outposts across the Monash sector were cut off from the Federation subspace relay network temporarily before communications were quickly restored.

"There was a short outage in the network due to a faulty subspace relay station that led to a cascade failure, but the problem has been resolved," said Iris Kena, general manager of sector operations, to reporters outside the Federation Civic Center on Ramsol III.

Residents first noticed the disruption at 07:41 FST yesterday, when com signal errors began logging across several media networks.

"I'm trying to catch up on the Olympic hockey qualifier when the whole transmission cuts off just as Pascoe is about to score!" complained Theriss Min, a chemist and resident of Daltan II. "Don't tell me who won! I heard they're going to replay it tonight."

Though there have been occasional disruptions in the network over the past few years, yesterday's outage was the largest yet. Communications network officials blame outdated equipment and poorly maintained subspace relay stations.

Reinvesting in aging infrastructure has been a priority for the outgoing Bacco administration. Legislation to upgrade communications and transportation systems across the Federation was passed by the Federation Council last year, but the much needed supplies and workers were delayed during the Federation Transport Union strike.

"With the strike over, they can get started working again in full upgrading the system," said Frajaan, director for Global 7, the largest media network on Ramsol III, "but the truth is we needed those upgrades long before the strike."

"The problem is so do the sectors around us," he added.

Starfleet Command assured reporters that no Starfleet operations were affected by the outage, which lasted approximately three hours.

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November 6, 2015

Dear Ops,

Thanks for making your FNS stories fun to read.

Sincerely,

Rich

“I’m not kidding you, I saw a girl turn into a giant spider!” commented orderly Vas Lannin. “Seriously, giant. Like, no one should ever see a spider that big, giant."

November 4, 2015

Congrats and welcome to the fleet!

November 3, 2015

Here's another article speculating about the possibilities of TV vs movies for Trek, with this amusing graph:

November 2, 2015

Television lends itself to a different kind of storytelling than summer blockbuster movies, though, with more time allowed for character development/exploration, world building, and (assuming it follows current TV trends) season(s)-long story arcs and threads. If one judged prime Trek from just the first ten movies (and especially the TNG films), you wouldn't necessarily think they were from the same franchise that gave us stories like "The City on the Edge of Forever" or "The Measure of a Man."

November 2, 2015

Hmmm, the fact that they go out of their way though to mention this in the press release:

The brand-new “Star Trek” will introduce new characters seeking imaginative new worlds and new civilizations, while exploring the dramatic contemporary themes that have been a signature of the franchise since its inception in 1966.

makes me think they might actually be interested in going back to the morality plays of the previous series. In contrast, I don't remember any of the new JJ-era films every being advertised as anything more than action and nostalgia and some brief lip service to Star Trek's "optimistic view of the future."

October 27, 2015

Another from Alt!Rosh as simmed by Tony:

Shandres: In my opinion… ::mutter:: Which means nothing here ::louder:: You should stay put and out of the way. I’m sure there’ll be a time you can play with the techy-babbly-wibbly-wobbly stuff later.

Alt!Roshanara: Ah, well, but we're in luck!

:: She held out an empty hand for him to see. ::

Alt!Roshanara: Here's a reminder of how much your opinion matters. Come on, Taz.

XD

I might have to steal that someday for the prime Rosh to use...

October 17, 2015

One on one with candidate Narala
By Vian Nova
Stardate 239210.17

Nimbus III Chief Administrator Narala on Deep Space 9, Bajor Sector.

Narala is known as "the crusader" in her run for the presidency. Much of her publicity has boasted of her ability to take action when it comes to politics. Yet while her record fighting corruption and transforming Nimbus III from a failed colony to a prosperous, galactic hotspot is impressive, she remains unfamiliar to many across the rest of the Federation. She was also the only candidate who did not attend the Berengaria Caucus - a move many political commentators believe may have cost her the presidency.

I was able to get a hold of an interview with Chief Administrator Narala whilst she held a meet and greet on Deep Space 9. Despite being a candidate, it is surprisingly difficult to get a one-on-one interview with her. I was lucky to get this rare opportunity.

There's been a lot of controversies whilst you've been in the running - I'd like to go over them with you. The first one is that your eligibility to run has come into question numerous times throughout the campaign. Has it hindered you in any way?

"No more than it being an awfully common question. I am a Federation citizen - Nimbus III was a joint effort involving the Federation. I know they've run investigations into my eligibility, but there's no question about it - I'm a legitimate candidate for this election."

There's been a few questions about how you came to power on Nimbus III, namely about how quickly you came to power after the arrest of Chief Administrator Ventimago Weil.

"It was a fluke. I had nothing to do with the rallies that were run. I'd certainly never considered being Chief Administrator before then, too. But when the opportunity arose, and I was urged to run for office, I took it. I ran legitimately there, too. A lot of those rumors you're talking about mention some backdoor dealing, but there was nothing like it. It was a proper campaign, the people voted, and I was put into office."

The Prometheus Incident was quite the debacle. Do you stand by your comments about the investigation being led by someone not affiliated with Starfleet?

"Of course. I stand by those comments 100%. Starfleet does a lot of things for the Federation, but when a mistake of that magnitude occurs, I believe it's best that an independent party comes in to investigate what exactly happened."

Moving forward to more recent events - Vivian Voreic, Orion crime lord, on Nimbus III. Did you push forward with your appeal?

"The people of both Nimbus and the Federation are rightfully concerned about Voreic. I can say that the case has been appealed, and it's currently under review by a secondary prosecutor as per the Nimbus Security Regulation Act."

READ PREVIOUS STORY: "Candidate Narala faces questions about crime lord's sudden acquittal" - SD 239206.10

There was a report released recently about Bajoran voters. Have you seen it?

"I have."

What are your comments on that report?

"I think that the Federation has lost its way by focusing more on a select group of planets than not of the entire Federation itself. The United Federation of Planets doesn't feel very united right now - it seems that the planets have been categorized in a "level of importance", and I don't stand for that. That is something that must be changed. The figures and comments from Bajor seem to indicate that the Bajoran people no longer feel important."

Do you think there should be a Bajoran candidate?

"I think every planet should have a candidate. Every planet's needs should be represented, the Bajorans included. I pledge myself to represent the needs of those who feel unheard. Every voice is important, not just a select few."

Do you plan to go to Bajor?

"It's my next shuttle ride."

True to her word, Narala departed Deep Space 9 shortly after our interview to head to Bajor. Whether she'll be headed to Paris at the end of this year to take the oath of office remains to be seen.

Read More: Exclusive Election 2392 Coverage

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This story was written by the writer for Lt. Cmdr. Tristam Core. Submit your own news stories to the FNS!

October 8, 2015

It's not easy when your mom is/was a starship engineer...

Taz: Mom, look, I'm sorry for sneaking off. I just wanted to see more of the ship.
Alt!Roshanara: Taz, there are only four decks.

Hmm, for some reason now, I picture a Cardassian interrogator: "How many decks do you see?"

There. Are. Four. Decks!

Or maybe not...

September 30, 2015

Congrats, and good work, ensigns.

September 30, 2015

Congrats and welcome!

September 26, 2015

Here's one example of a game session:

September 23, 2015

This is what I thought the Star Trek: TNG Interactive Technical Manual was going to be when I saw those screenshots on the back of the box way back in the 90s!

The future is finally here!

Posted September 12, 2015 · September 12, 2015

Bajoran author Pela Zhor speaks at opening of Berengaria Caucus

By Deyvani Chandur
Stardate 239209.02

This year's Berengaria Caucus features a star-studded list of guests and speakers as the Federation elections loom near.

BERENGARIA VII — The Berengaria VII Caucus began today in the capital city of Urraca, with all major (and even many minor) candidates in this year's presidential race present.

Joining them are such Federation luminaries as Siraan of Vulcan, Cardinal Maria Santiago, Dr. Ven Tell, and many, many more, including many FNS contributors.

"The Value of Open and Free Discussion"

Noted author Pela Zhor of Bajor gave the opening address, reflecting on the changes in the galaxy since the last time he opened the Caucus in 2320, most notably the transformation of his homeworld of Bajor and what value and place Federation ideals have in an increasingly factious and unstable galaxy.

"We look to the Federation Charter not as the haughty values of yesterday's idealists but as the culmination of hundreds—thousands of political movements over just as many years and ten times as many worlds. Over the Federation's existence, these ideas have been challenged, from within and without, and there have been temptations to call our ideals 'superior' to those we would call 'barbarous' and 'backward'. But that's not what the Federation stands for."

"The Federation is not a haughty, shining city on the hill; it is an organization that seeks to turn fists into open palms, by extending one of its own. Our ideals make no claim to completeness, to absolute truth. Rather, our ideals believe most of all in the value of open and free discussion. We do not let differences simmer and shatter the peace we have all so hard worked for. We acknowledge them and the validity of our opponent's opinion."

A Historic Forum

The Berengaria Document, signed by Vulcan, Andoria, Tellar, and Earth, was a statement of common values and ideals among the assembled worlds when the Federation proper was still a nascent idea. It outlined comprehensive concepts of citizenship, sovereignty and interstellar law that would eventually give rise to the Federation Charter. In the late 22nd century, the Berengaria Caucus was started by T'Shar of Vulcan and her New Federation movement to serve as a free and open intellectual arena, in the spirit of the Document. While the New Federation Movement quickly declined, the Caucus continued and came under the direction of the Berengaria VII government, which has organized it annually ever since.

Everything one can think of is discussed in the Caucus, and many regard it as the high point of interstellar discourse. So called "dangerous ideas" and unpopular opinions are never shunned, and the only rule is that the decorum of the Caucus be maintained and that speakers discuss and debate in a respectful manner. As Governor Ingrid Stellstrom reminded the audience, "This isn't Chaya VII".

Indeed, very few of the workshops ever turn heated, and the Berengaria Caucus is known for its sincere and calm exploration and discussion of ideas. Much like a classroom, the point of the Caucus is to explore ideas, not to declare a winner in an intellectual battle or determine the moral superiority of one view over another.

Discussions on Policy

The first workshop of the Caucus was devoted to a discussion of Federation foreign policy, with special attention given to the new alliances of the Menthar Corridor. Ambassador and presidential candidate Lily Ventu joined the discussion as one of the experts, alongside noted Detapa Council member Natima Lang and Federation Foreign Minster Shelaen Varea. By all accounts Ambassador Ventu did well and was deemed by attendee Lirisha as "poised, confident and eminently quotable" in her discussion points.

Other candidates are lined up to speak at various individual workshops, while the main event of the Berengaria Election Forum will be held at the end of the week, with an open invitation to all declared candidates to join. Other hot topics on the board include the Prometheus Incident and a discussion on Starfleet oversight and scientific ethics in the wake of the disaster. It's also standing room only in the discussion on the Prime Directive as it relates to the Romulan Republic and whether the Federation should recognize the nascent liberal Romulan state.

Read More: Exclusive Election 2392 Coverage

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This article was written by Erin aka Anen Sonbef, FNS Team Facilitator.

September 4, 2015

There's a distinction between local jurisdiction and Federation law. The Federation penal settlement is for those who broke the latter, such as the Maquis or Bashir's father when he violated the ban on genetic enhancement for his son. It's akin to a US federal prison, whereas the local planetary prisons within the Federation would be akin to a county jail or a state penitentiary.

September 4, 2015

Core: I need your help snooping around your contact list.
Sanchez: And why is that?
Core: So I can find the guy that has my boss's table. And, in turn, the guy that gave it to them. And also because I know none of the contacts here.
Sanchez: Gee, I dont know, Im awfully busy.
Core: Really?
...
Sanchez: Maybe if you beg

Hmm, that boy definitely has a type...

September 3, 2015

Congrats and welcome to the fleet!

August 16, 2015

President Bacco accepts invitation to visit new Romulan capital

By T'Vas
Stardate 239208.02

After the destruction of Romulus (pictured) and Remus in 2387 by the Hobus supernova and years of infighting, Rator III has emerged as the new capital of the Romulan Star Empire.

PARIS, EARTH — The Palais de la Concorde announced that President Bacco has accepted an invitation to visit the new Romulan capital of Rihan on Rator III later this year.

The new Imperial Senate of the Romulan Star Empire had extended the invitation to the Federation President earlier this year in a move widely seen by foreign affairs analysts as an attempt by the new Senate to secure its legitimacy as the rightful successor to the original Imperial Senate that was destroyed on Romulus by the Hobus supernova in 2387. President Bacco's trip will be the first visit to the Romulan Star Empire by a sitting Federation president in nearly a century.

Some Federation Council members are opposed to the visit, citing the Romulan Star Empire's current conflict with the Romulan Republic, the breakaway democratic nation whose sovereignty is not recognized by the Empire.

"How can President Bacco accept the invitation to dine with the same people who are butchering those Romulans who simply want a free and democratic government?" asked Councilor Mara Kell of Betazed.

Others however see the potential for a rekindling of amicable Federation-Romulan relations, which first began in earnest during the Dominion War alliance and then were renewed again after Starfleet assisted the Romulan military in defeating Praetor Shinzon following his coup d'état in 2379. Relations between the two powers had cooled somewhat during the 2380s, but Romulan affairs experts agree that the Federation's post-Hobus relief efforts have gone a long way in strengthening the historically tenuous relationship.

"If anything, this is a chance for the Federation to reestablish strong diplomatic relations with our former Dominion War ally," said Dr. Keahvon of the Cerberus Group, a San Francisco think tank. "In the aftermath of Hobus, Federation generosity was given to numerous Romulan refugees at a time when many other powers, including the Klingons, chose to take advantage of their weakened state. The Romulan people have long memories, and they have certainly not forgotten that."

READ PREVIOUS STORY: "Romulans extend invitation to Federation President Bacco for state visit" - SD 239203.18

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August 15, 2015

President Bacco announces deal to end Transport Union strike
By Reza Kardgar
Stardate 239208.15

Federation President Nan Bacco's deal with the Federation Transport Union calls for increased security for transport convoys, with private contractors supplementing Starfleet's anti-piracy efforts.

PARIS, EARTH — As she promised at her State of the Federation address, President Bacco and the Federation Transport Union have come to an agreement, bringing an end to the strike that began nearly eight months ago.

"This is a day of celebration across the Federation and beyond," said Bacco from her office at the Palais de la Concorde in Paris, Earth, as Transport Union leaders stood next to her, along with business tycoon Tyson Holt.

Holt, CEO of Holt New Alliance, whom insiders have said was crucial in swaying the Transport Union to agree to the deal, made some additional remarks.

"Thanks to the President's leadership, today marks the moment when the Federation economy returns to warp speed," he said. "I know I for one am looking forward to getting my convoys running again."

Transport Union official Akilah Kalu agreed, thanking both Bacco and Holt.

"This has always been about saving lives," she said. "Our members want to get back to work, but they want to know they'll come home to see their families. That they don't have to worry about piracy and other attacks on their livelihood."

New Arrangement
The agreement marks an experiment in Federation policy as it calls for private contractors such as New Alliance Defense, a division of Holt New Alliance, to supplement existing Starfleet efforts that provide protection along trade routes such as Operation Safe Harbor, an anti-piracy effort begun by Starfleet last year. New Alliance Defense will be providing security for transport convoys along major routes as a deterrent against attacks.

Joining Bacco at the announcement was Holt New Alliance CEO Tyson Holt, whose company will be among the private contractors escorting the convoys.

However, some have expressed doubts about the new plan, including those in the Colonial Coalition that have been most affected by both increased piracy and the Transport Union strike.

"I'll believe it when I see it," said Yaline Troa, a shopkeeper on a trade station near Avaris IV. "We've heard these kind of promises from Bacco and the Federation Council before. Just look at Operation Safe Harbor. I certainly don't feel any safer."

Contentious Vote Ahead
The deal still must be voted on by the Federation Council, and though President Bacco has many allies on the council, other council members have expressed their concerns, including Terra Novan councilman and presidential candidate Kevin Steiner.

"The key to a strong defense is not outsourcing our obligations but on rebuilding a stronger Starfleet," said Steiner to cheers from his supporters while making a campaign stop on Trillius Prime. "Don't be fooled by this president's love for theatrics. This is nothing more than a band aid for a crisis her policies have brought us."

Terra Novan Councilor Kevin Steiner continued his criticism of the president's foreign policy, stating that it was Bacco's lack of renewal in an expanded Starfleet that has led to the brazen attacks on freighters in recent years.

Another member of the Federation Council was concerned about oversight for New Alliance Defense and other private contractors.

"Starfleet operations are strictly governed by protocols set forth by this council," said Antasa Dros of Peliar Zel II. "Furthermore, Starfleet officers undergo rigorous training to become the professionals they are. Will these private operators be following a similar structure? I'd like to think so, but I don't know because the president hasn't given any specifics."

FNS commentator Lixa Dansha, who has called for convoys to answer the threat of piracy, echoed those concerns.

"While I am relieved to see Starfleet Command and the Federation take this seriously, I hope the oversight is robust," he said.

Still, most political analysts expect the vote to pass given the devastating effect the Transport Union strike has had on the economies of many council members' worlds. For those hit hardest by the strike, the news of the agreement was met if not with cheers then at least sighs of relief.

"Finally, something's being done," said Jaev'i, a farmer on Niwa IV whose farm had been shut down by the Niwa Department of Agriculture since stardate 239202. "First the strike, then the drought. It's been a tough year for us."

He sighed, looking at his fields for a moment.

"I want to work."

HAVE YOUR SAY: Do you support Bacco's deal to end the Transport Union strike?

Reporting for the Federation News Service from the FNS Paris Bureau, with additional reporting from Sol Sector FNS correspondent T'Vas.

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August 15, 2015

HAVE YOUR SAY: Bacco's Deal to End the Transport Union Strike

The Issue

The Federation Transport Union, citing continued Nausicaan pirate attacks and Klingon raids that have killed dozens of transport crews, has been on strike for nearly eight months, with all shipping and transit runs suspended, including those of 812 major shipping carriers. The strike has been an economic crisis throughout the Federation and beyond, devastating the economies of numerous member and allied worlds.

The agreement announced by President Bacco calls for existing Starfleet anti-piracy operations—stretched thin and cited by many colonists to be ineffective—to be supplemented by private contractors who will escort transport convoys along major trade routes to provide additional protection against pirates and raiders.

Read more about the strike, piracy, and the agreement:

As with all FNS stories, your comments on the current situation are welcome below.

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August 15, 2015

Odo is basically the T-1000. When there was a changeling infiltrator that pretended to be Dr. Bashir, it managed to steal a runabout after killing the entire crew. If Odo really wanted to, he could be terrifyingly unstoppable.

August 13, 2015

It's on our wiki: http://wiki.starbase118.net/wiki/index.php/Featured_Bio_Contest/Easy_Starter_Bio

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Posts posted by Rahman and Rivi Vataix

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