Tony, aka Rouiancet

Well done to everyone! I'm really proud of Matt, Wes, and Jacob especially because I know how talented you guys are firsthand ... but honestly, the duty post awards are my favorite category every year because it shows off how talented folks around the fleet are at bringing their specialties to life. Congratulations to you all!

The staff awards this year reflect correctly the dedication and commitment of the folks who toil behind the scenes to make sure everything runs -- not like clockwork, which would be rote and boring, but like some kind of Dali-esque, zany-as-heck clock that keeps things continuously interesting. Congratulations!

Well done everyone, and I'm so very impressed by those folks who have won length of service awards. A year of simming and continuous membership in this community is no small thing, to say nothing of those folks who have simmed for even longer periods, and you should all be immensely proud of your accomplishments!

Brilliant work all around! I'm continually awed and inspired by the impressive community of simmers at Starbase 118, and this set of awards is an excellent way to reflect on the best of our community!

I know there are tougher ships, but it has to be the Galaxy for me. The way they were shown to be the backbone in the Dominion War, oof. *chef's kiss*

I chose Timothy Dalton as Kells's avatar years ago at the suggestion of @Moonsong, and finding formalwear for a former James Bond makes dressing Kells for the awards a snap! (Although he looks kinda angry here. So maybe he doesn't like dressing up, eh?)

Very, very impressed with how well @Sirok handled this beautiful mission-ending sim! Plus the Interstellar soundtrack fits VERY well. -- OCC::I recommend read this post (and all the last ones) with this soundtrack: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lM5IxG1qhl0 _____________________________________________________ ((Main Engineering, USS Thor)) Sirok: =/\= Sirok to Captain Kells. Probe ready to launch on your mark. =/\= Kells: =/\= Proceed, Chief. =/\= Sirok: =/\= Do you need anything else, Captain? =/\= Kells: =/\= We appear to be about to beam up the last away team members and the colonists... but I want to stay in orbit of Vel Maijan for as long as you can give me. =/\= Sirok =/\= By your command. Sirok out. =/\= As soon as he received the order, he sent the probe towards the star. He tried to make it go at maximum speed, so he could send useful data before they had to leave. Kortho: These modifications will help us stay in orbit, look how already we are remaining more stable. It's small but I believe the effect is growing. Sirok: It is a good idea to increase our remaining time by 30% ::It may not seem much, but they were talking about a space-time anomaly affecting an entire solar system. :: Kortho: We can't beam up more than twelve at a time, with all this interference. Will there be enough time? Sirok: We have very little time to spare.If they don't beam up soon, we'll have to leave them behind or travel where and when the anomaly takes us. ::The computer data was clear, they had just over 15 minutes before they reached the point of no return. Yang's modifications were very effective, but that event exceeded every scale known to date.:: Kortho: We can take the power from replicator systems and science labs. Sirok: I already did it. ::He preferred not to have sacrificed ship functionality, but Kells' orders and intent seemed clear, they would not leave without the away team and human settlers, so in energy-saving plan Sirok had been quite aggressive.:: I only left power to one of our replicators, in case we need any parts, and to those in the infirmary. I am going to draw power from life support. ::It was something he had planned, but he could only do it in the last minutes before the event. There would be air left in the rooms, and the residual heat would have to be stirred until they left or were dragged away. At least in that second case they would have plenty of energy to redirect from the warp drive, as they would not need it to escape.:: Consoles began to display the batteries' energy of the batteries as they beamed up the people from the planet. In spite of the pattern enhancers the consumption of each trip was humongous, since they had to make them pass through an enormous amount of rock, plus the interference of the anomaly and the atmosphere interacting with the gases of the nebula captured by the planet. The Vulcan's calculations had been accurate for the drain they were having. Sirok had reserved the amount of power based on the number of colonists he was told, plus the five members of Commander Teller's away team. According to the latest reports, they had gained a slight margin because the away team had been reduced to three, the others would go up on the Ra. And at least one casualty on the part of the colonists. If they didn't use it to transport anyone else they would get a few more seconds of stay and a little more time to make the transports safely. Sirok: =/\=Sirok to Captain Kells, 10 minutes to point of no return, 168 people remaining in the planet.=/\= Sirok had turned off the holographic table, but maintained a traditional two-dimensional view that still displayed graphically the ship and her surroundings. Despite Thor's efforts to stay in her space-time, it became increasingly apparent that the surrounding space was being drawn to the anomaly. Ion discharges between the atmosphere and the nebula resulted in huge rays that illuminated the outside of the starship despite its distance. The gas cloud that formed the nebula showed changes in direction that were not what they should be according to normal natural forces, creating denser shreds in which greater ion storms built up. Sirok: =/\=Sirok to Captain Kells, 8 minutes to point of no return, 128 people remaining in the planet.=/\= The Thor's shield became increasingly visible, as if it were holding a continuous fire from an external enemy. Small wear cracks appeared on the shielding plates closest to the bussard collectors, which would have been the result of the ship being active and not being changed or repaired for decades. The deflector dish glowed with increased intensity, due to the energy used to generate the anti-chroniton particles. Sirok: =/\=Sirok to Captain Kells, 6 minutes to point of no return, 89 people remaining in the planet.=/\= In engineering, activity boiled, systems were pushed to the limit and different crew members were sent out to try to mitigate the effects caused by trying to keep the ship in one piece. Without being the most pressing matter, Sirok couldn't avoid to look at the state of the probe that had been sent towards the star was getting closer and closer to what, according to his theory, should be the origin of the singularity. Sirok: =/\=Sirok to Captain Kells, 4 minutes, 49 people remaining in the planet.=/\= Despite being pushed to their upper limitations, the inertial stabilizers couldn't compensate everything that was happening outside. A growing vibration began to be felt throughout the bowels of the ship. Outside the hull, several bolts cracked quite close, yet failed to impact due of the anti-anomaly. In case they had doing so, they probably won't destroy the Thor, but the starship would have been heavily damaged. Sirok: =/\=Sirok to Captain Kells, 2 minutes, only the away team and 7 colonists remain on the planet. The probe has reached its destination, collecting data. =/\= Soon every human colonists and the away team should be transported and the ship could leave. But Thor kept showing more and more how hard she was trying to accomplish the mission. From the outside the shields were glowed brightly, as they worked at maximum, so much that the ship's silhouette could hardly be seen. Some plates near the bussard collectors had been shattered and then reassembled, but they were not attached to the hull anymore. The vibration increased and anything not properly attached to walls or floor began to fell. The usually gentle humming of the warp drive, omnipresent in every working starship, evolved into a more high-pitched shriek, which become a little disturbing to crew members with a more acute hearing. Sirok tried to keep his eye on everything that was going on, so that the ship wouldn't disintegrate, but he still couldn't help but look at the data coming from the probe. For the vulcan, the information coming from the little autonomous craft was the most important thing at the moment. He understood the importance of saving lives, and of rescuing the away team. Nevertheless, if they were able to get out of there, the most important scientist event recorded to date was happening just at the other side of the hull, and they could gather some data of the largest space-time anomaly known, one that, to this moment, was barely a mystery. As they were trapped by that very same anomaly, they need to know what was causing it. The first useful piece of information was a slight increase in the chroniton particles density. During the whole trip it seemed that their concentration only decreased around the Thor, yet it was remained a constant in the rest of the system, embracing it. Sirok tried to adjust the probe so that the particle augmentation wouldn't disturb the probe, hence it was able to find its source. Just at that moment, something else arrived at his display, as the probe detected an exotic object, perfectly spherical, but it was almost impossible to have information about its size or composition. Sirok: =/\= Sirok to Captain Kells everyone onboard, 1 minute to the point of no return.=/\= Just before it stopped transmitting data, the probe managed to send a single image. It was a sphere 500 km in diameter, with no single irregularities on a surface of fully polished metal that reflected the surrounding space. The probe did not provide any information about its energy source or the composition of the metal shell, except that it partly reflected the sensor beams as well as it did with light. Sirok raised an eyebrow as he read all this. Sirok: Curious... ((End of Scene for Sirok)) ==================== Ensign Sirok Acting Chief Engineering Officer USS Thor NCC-82607 Fleet Captain A. Kells, Commanding E239702S10

I have an inexplicable soft spot for the lil' weirdo that is the Oberth class.

I just think Janeway could do anything, soooo

I really want Star Trek: The West Wing. Show me how those politics actually work!

POMPOUS. WAFFLE. GOBLIN. ded

Actual footage of Aron parading around in a skant and the senior staff's appreciation. (And also DiDa Ritz is awesome.)

So clearly I had to drop back in to say hello, to thank everyone above for their kind words, and to congratulate my fellow winners! I'll start with James, who is absolutely deserving of the Picard Award and the T'Pau Cluster. I was endlessly disappointed when I saw that James was taking some time away from the group several summers ago, even though I knew it was necessary, and I hoped that -- when he came back -- he would do so with a vengeance. He exceeded my expectations at every turn! James has redefined in many ways how our group functions and how simming takes place. I've been lucky enough to work with him as he plans, and the amount of effort and energy he put into starting the Andaris Task Force represents his absolute dedication. He's a legend! I'm glad to see this year's Chief's Citation go to Lee. He's always struck me as one of those unsung heroes of the group, just like the award intends, and so I hope it's a great reward for him to be recognized with this -- and at the staff level, no less! Well done on that deserved promotion, too, Lee! Ann's kind hand and gentle generosity make me a little surprised she hasn't received the Sarek Star yet, but it seems like this is definitely the right year. Way, WAY back when, she mentored me as a new CO as I worked toward the rank of captain, and she was always ready with positive feedback and encouragement to explore my own style as a CO and use what worked for me. She's one of the longest serving COs in the fleet's history with one of the most dedicated crews, and it's easy to see why. Oh my gosh, Jamie! I have so much respect for Jamie. Not only is she one of the coolest people I've ever met through 118 (seriously, just look at any of her hobbies!), but she was one of those people I knew from the start would do great things for the group. But the respect I have for her comes, in part, from my recognition of her experience -- when I was much newer to the group, I wanted to reach command so I could create ships, missions, and stories, and once I got there, I learned administration and how to run a ship. Jamie's experience allowed her to make informed decisions at every step, and whenever she's stepped into a new role or declined an invitation, it's always with both eyes firmly fixed on how to create the best experience for the writers on Ops. I've come to think of her work there as the Ops renaissance, because while Ops has been around for decades, no one has run it as smoothly, as kindly, or as intelligently as Jamie. Finally, Rich. Like he says above, we've written together for a long while, and it's been a privilege to watch him work and write during that time. He and I have always worked together, in part because we're both focused on ideas and pushing boundaries. Sometimes that could be great, especially when we complemented each other, and other times we could go absolutely crazy as we both focused in on something new! But as happy as I was to see Rich go for his own command -- and as thrilled as I am that he's both a CO and serving the group at its highest levels -- there was always a part of me that regretted losing him as my XO, because how could anyone ever measure up? (I don't mean any disrespect to my other XOs, of course -- I've been lucky in having an immensely talented group of XOs -- but Rich was with me longest and has gone farthest in 118 since!) He's amazing, one of the best folks I've ever met, period, and I can't say more than that. Stealth mentions to a couple of folks who make presentations! Jordan and Emma are legendary in their own rights, and I miss our conversations on the EC and putting together things like this celebratory write-up. Great job, both of you, and it's always a pleasure to read!

My skant powers are tingling! What's going on around here?!

((Engineering, USS Za)) :: As soon as Laura entered engineering she knew something wasn't quite right, it didn't sound right. She couldn't put her finger on it at first, then she noticed the warp core it wasn't glowing or make the usual humming sound she was accustom too. :: :: She moved quickly towards the warp core and heard people busying around. :: Human crewman: Ready to reactive reactor injectors Bajoran crewman: Go ahead. I'll monitor the anti-matter flow from here. :: Laura watched as the warp core light up, it was an impressive site. :: Andorian crewman: Reaction is increasing steady. Bajoran Crewman: Keep an eye on it. It takes about 30 minutes for it reach operation levels. Give me a shout if there are any problems. :: Turning to the human crewman:: Run the standard warp core initialisation diagnostic sequences. I'll be back in 20 minutes. Human crewman: Understood, sir. :: Laura moved to intercept the Bajoran crewman as he walked away from the warp console. :: Baxter: Ensign Laura Baxter, nice to meet you. Vreya: Chief Petty Officer Vreya Kima, I'm a little busy at the moment :: He continued walked and Laura quickly followed behind. :: Baxter: If you could just give me an update on the current situation? Vreya: What is your role? Baxter: Acting Chief Engineer ::Proudly:: :: Vreya stopped and turned, looking her over intently. :: Vreya: What happened to Lieutenant T... Te..., I can't remember his name ::He said shaking his head:: and Lieutenant Phillips, I think it was his assistant? Baxter: I don't actually know ::Honestly:: I was ordered to transfer about 2 weeks ago weren't you informed. :: Vreya shook his head :: Vreya: Do you know when your replacement will arrive? :: Laura shoke her head, but she couldn't hide the surprise from her face.:: oO My replacement Oo ::She hadn't though about the fact that they may be sending someone experienced to replace her. :: oO But I am only acting Oo Vreya: How long have you been out of the academy? Baxter: 2 months ::Embarrassed:: oO That doesn't sound great Oo But I have lead teams during my days as a civilian engineer. Vreya: It's a bit different being in the military. If you need any help just ask. I've taken Crewman Behl over there :: pointing to Andorian :: under my wing. Baxter: I'll bear that in mind. ::Slightly frustrated:: Vreya: Anyway need to get back to work. :: Kima walked away. After a few seconds Laura realised that she hadn't got the answer to her question. She considered chasing after him, but now felt very uncertain of herself and didn't want to face him again. :: :: Laura went to hide away in the engineering office, not ready to face anyone else. She pulled up the personnel record for Vreya. He was 45, with over 25 years experience serving on starships. :: oO No wonder he didn't respect me Oo :: Laura read further. He had a wife and two children who were onboard and he had joined the starship during it's refit on starbase 118. She closed the record, she was getting distracted and pulled up the current status. It looked like the warpcore had been shut down due to the need to make some adjustments due to diagnostic amoralities with it's interaction with the slipstream drive. :: Solzano: =/\= This is Fleet Captain Zalea Solzano to all Za personnel. Please board the Za at your earliest convenience. We will be departing at 1000 hours, at which point all officers should report to their Alpha Shift posts. ::beat:: Solzano, out. =/\= :: Listening to the communication, Laura decided it would be best to stay in engineering and monitor the situation with the warp core, then once they were going steady she would report to the captain. Though she would monitor from a distance, as she was still feeling a bit uneasy about her authority after her conversation with Kima. :: Ensign Laura Baxter USS Za Acting Chief Engineer ID number: E239306LB0

((Arboretum, Deep Space 32)) ::It was a strange thing, this need for nature. And it was a need, a telling mark of the tether that bound them to planets; to ground and open sky and growing things. They were, all of them, creatures of living worlds, not truly adapted to an existence in space, however much their technology might allow them to move through the dark between the stars. And so they brought these little pieces of planetary ecology with them.:: ::The trees of Deep Space 32's Arboretum were majestic, the small patch of grass lush and inviting, to those who were accustomed to such things. Green, rich, humid, with the trickle of water in the background. Nothing like home; nothing like arid plains, dry orange skies and red vegetation of Vulcan. His world, like his people, were an anomaly amongst the humanoids of the galaxy; one exercise in extremes. But they were not the only one.:: ::And now they were venturing to another extreme, the deep galactic south, far beyond Federation borders. I was the kind of exploration that called to him, even as he left things behind. But such was the nature of a career in Starfleet. From the Embassy on Duronis II to the previously little-explored Menthar Corridor aboard a series of ships; theMercury, Garuda and finally Invicta. And now further afield still, on the newly refurbished USS Za.:: ::The ship was unknown territory as, quite probably, were all his crewmates. Perhaps a few might be familiar, but he understood that the crew was drawn from across Starfleet. The Captain was an unknown as well, but he understood that they shared both a career in Starfleet Medical and a concern for the plight of the Romulans. Perhaps that was why he had been requested. The unknown would require flexibility and diplomacy, if the space they were to explore was anything like that they were leaving.:: ::There would be time enough to meditate on that, and on other things.:: Saveron: Saavok.::He called to his son.:: It is time to board the ship. ::The young Vulcan boy looked up from where he was investigating a heretofore unencountered plant with the kind of enthusiastic and slightly destructive interest of young children everywhere.:: Saavok: Yes father. ::He would rather have stayed, but he knew they had to go. Every movement took them further from the Corridor and the friends he had made. Even if those friends also came and went as their parents transferred. Such was regrettable, but it was a consequence of his choice to accompany his father.:: ::Brushing off the knees of his trousers, the boy picked up a small carry-cage and approached his father. The white angora tribble in the cage began to coo at the movement. After a moment the two set out together in the direction of the ship dock.:: Saveron: Our possessions will have been conveyed to our quarters. We shall go there directly. Saavok: Do you know whether there are any other children on board? Saveron: Negative, however I will enquire on your behalf. ::He had already resolved to do so, aware of his son's preference for companions of his own age.:: Saavok: At least it's a long mission. It will not be easy for them to transfer away. ::He mused.:: ::Saveron let the comment go. His son expressed excessive regret at their departure from the Corridor, but emotional suppression was not the easiest discipline when one was nine.:: ::They both left friends behind, those whose company they considered preferable. Some more than most. But in some cases a clean separation was preferable to the unanticipated difficulties surrounding continuing association with one with whom he had been... very close.:: ::Such things were in the past. As they approached the umbilical joining the ship to the station, the only way to look was forward to the future. If it was anything like his time in the Menthar Corridor, it would be full of fascinating challenges.:: END Commander Saveron Chief Medical Officer USS Za R238802S10

I went with my absolute favorite, but mad respect for another program. I think you'll know what I'm talking about if you take a good look....

Welcome to the fleet, and welcome to the Za!

Welcome to the fleet, and welcome to the Za!

I can't not post this again, because it was that good!

Just saw it yesterday! A lot of folks have said what I've been thinking already, esp. Rich & Ryan, but there's one major thing I want to give them credit for: I had a few other problems with the film, but overall it was a hugely and unexpectedly fun time.

I've seen a lot of discussion of the new show around the interwebs. A lot, and I mean a lot, has been about the design of the ship. To this, my favorite community of interweb Trekkies, I add my thoughts: They could have them flying around in a giant rubber duck with the registry code NCC-Z 1/2, and at this point I wouldn't care, because... I'M JUST SO EXCITED WE'RE GETTING A NEW TREK SHOW!

Ryan. Ryan, no. Please, won't you think of the children?

Mandy beat me to it, but I have to throw in this gif given what Ryan said about his TOS watching....

I've chosen to go with my first character to reach the rank of fleet captain, Cassandra Egan Manno, for my dressy avatar--but the actress who portrays her, Danai Gurira, has too many flawless looks to go with just one, so I've chosen this one for these festivities: And, because I can't leave Kells out, here's a particularly fun (if irritatingly watermarked) image of his actor, Timothy Dalton, posing with Whoopi Goldberg--perhaps Aron Kells has met the erstwhile Guinan?