Toni

It's the Southern influence that pegs (or plagues) me, is it? Using it as I speak, I tend to leave off the subject, but it is implied, making it proper south of the Mason-Dixon line, is it? So the translation would be, "They have been..." (meaning Judges) or "It has been....( meaning Judge's Panel)" is it? However, the question still remains, "is it?" It is!

Aww, Llewelyn, and I thought you could understand proper English, but I'm sure Captain Taboo knows I was not calling him a "has been" and I see no reason to retract the sentence. *lol*

Has been Captain Taboo, Commander deMarc (maybe one more) along with the winner from the last contest. Anyone who can pinpoint it, please do.

(( Mess Hall, USS Constitution-B )) :: Devyn sat in his usual position, reading the padd that was on the table in front of him. He'd been thinking lately about going back to Sparta and more about if they would have him back. He thought about home. Home meant a lot of different things to people. He observed those in the ranks of Winter Company and presumed he had quite a good idea what home meant to them.:: :: To Mack Thornell it was at the Dabo table or sat behind a Royal Flush, edging her bets. To Jol Brox it was in the Holodeck, jumping off cliffs. For Dade, he didn't know. The man had never settled and for as long as Devyn had known him, Dade had a bad case of itchy feet. He couldn't sit still for long enough and was always looking for the next best thing.:: :: It had surprised him that the Major had stuck around in once place for long enough to be promoted. :: :: For Devyn, home was on the battlefield and it always would be. He picked up a knife from the table and spun it around his hands with a delicate ease. Sharp, razor sharp, but he was trained to handle it. The handle went up in the air, he caught it by the blade between his finger and thumb, throwing it back up again.:: (( Flashback, Holodeck 5, Starfleet Marine Corps Training Facility )) :: They were running, all of them, up Table Mountain in the Holodeck. It was raining, as Devyn could remember; adverse weather conditions toughened the skin and built character. He was on the left of Private Dade Adarnis; a rough cut [...] and on his left was Private Caro Malachi. New recruits and they needed breaking like a horse bucking at the reigns.:: Company: You can have your Engine Yellows, and your Science Blues, But here's a different fighting man, I'll introduce to you. His uniform is unlike, any you've ever seen, the Borg call him `Devil Dog', His title is `Marine'. :: Their heavy boots hit into the wet mud and the sound of khakis was deafening. With twenty pounds of weight in their carry sacks, a phaser rifle, two handheld phasers, plasma grenades and a complete of rations they were weighed down to their full. Still, they kept chanting.:: Company: He was trained in Paris Island, the place that God forgot, the sand was fourteen inches deep, and the sun was blazing hot. He awakened up one morning, in front of his rack he'll stand, and in through the doorway walked, a giant of a man. West: KEEP IT MOVING, LADIES! WHAT ARE WE HERE FOR? Company: THE MONEY, SIR! West: WHAT DO WE WANT? Company: GLORY, SIR! :: The rain didn't stop. Aches and pains were but the tip of the iceberg. They'd run for four miles already uphill, with the promise of another six half way up. Shuttlecraft were launching overhead, screaming through the skies. Dade stumbled into Devyn, but the Spartan held him up, getting him back on his feet – the thanks was a pat on the shoulder.:: Company: He turned and faced this young Marine, with eyes as cold as steel, He said, `I am your DI, and this is for real. I'll make your life as miserable, as miserable as I can, and when you finally leave this place; you'll be a fighting man. West: YOU'LL BE A RIFLE EXPERT! Company: OOORA! West: YOU'LL KNOW YOUR WEAPON WELL! Company: OOORA! WEST: AND WHEN YOU FINALLY LEAVE THIS PLACE, YOU'LL HAVE SPENT SOME TIME IN HELL! Company: OOORA! OOORA! :: They pushed up the mountain, sweat pouring down their foreheads, mixing with rainwater. Failure was not an option for this Company; they were the best that the Marines could offer in every fibre of their very existence. Destiny kept them there. Captain West ran along side them, his rifle in his hand, gripping the phaser to his chest.:: West: Now gather around you young Marines, and lend me all your ears, and I'll tell you of a few things, we've conquered through the years. We fought at Wolf 359, the land of fire and Hell; we killed all those Borg, and took their space as well. Company: OOORA! West: Now you can tell your ladies, and this my Lad is true, to get herself a young `Marine', there's nothing he can't do. He's peeled a million onions, and twice as many spuds, then you'll find him in the slot chutes, a soaking up the suds. :: A rumble of laughter came from the Company and while maximum effort was being exerted the atmosphere felt lighter.:: West: And when he gets to Heaven, to St. Peter he will tell, Another `Marine' reporting Sir. Company: I'VE SERVED MY TIME IN HELL! WEST: NOT YET YOU HAVEN'T! :: One more growl of laughter as boots thundered up the hill. The bottom of their khakis were caked in mud, still wet, weighing them down. Another mile and they'd be half way there. They'd done the five, the six was nearly clear. Captain West barked orders with a smile at the leading hand up front and left.:: :: Devyn looked at Dade who had that smug smirk plastered on his face. They were starting out on a career together; hopefully it would be a long one.:: (( Present - Mess Hall, USS Constitution-B )) :: He still had to teach that chant to the new recruits coming in. The knife spun in the air and Devyn caught it behind his back by the handle. Still got it. He slid it onto the table. There had been times when that was all he had as arms; when he and Dade got out in the field, weaponless in War Games. They'd survived by pure determination.:: :: That hadn't gone. They still had that determination but it wasn't as focused. Devyn made a mental note to bring up that point with Dade and request some joint meditation on the matter, to which he could anticipate the rebuttal from the Marine Major. Major. Now that was a turn up for the books.:: :: He looked over at the group of Marines from 1st Squad kicking back in the Mess and thought back to those days they were doing the same; coming in from that day up the mountain, kicking boots up on the table, covering it with dried mud. Only one thought went through Devyn's head.:: Krtasiai: What a mess. TBC PNPC MGSgt. Devyn "Spartan" Krtasiai Marine Gunnery Sergeant Winter Company USS Constitution-B SIMed by Major Dade Adarnis

This is an area for members of this training class to keep in touch with each other.DATES: The class began on April 27, 2009, and ended on May 3, Year....LIST: sb118-academy1COMMANDING OFFICER: Commander Toni TurnerFIRST OFFICER: Lt. Commander Heath WestCLASS MEMBERS:- Alex Montoya- Adnan Valkner- Matt StormCongratulations to you all, and welcome to our fleet!

Congratulations, great to have you aboard !

Looks like I forgot about Shran. Welcome Shran! Sharan was in a different class. See: Here

Welcome, Shran. Glad to have you with us.

This is an area for members of this training class to keep in touch with each other.DATES: The class began on April 13, 2009, and ended on April 17, 2009.LIST: sb118-academy2COMMANDING OFFICER: Commander Toni TurnerFIRST OFFICER: Lt Cmdr Jhen ThelevCLASS MEMBERS:- Russ Heston- MythrixCongratulations to you all, and welcome to our fleet!

((Starfleet Academy Extension Campus ,Shinraka)) ::The day had started pleasantly enough for Roberts, age 50. He'd arrived early at the Campus of the Starfleet Academy extension program facility to stretch. Officially retired from active duty, he retained his rank but most of his duties consisted of overseeing the Academy's Enlisted personnel induction training, Starfleet's equivalent of a boot camp for those who did not quite make the grade as officer candidates. His day consisted of primarilly desk jockey duties, looking over the progress notes from the drill instructors, teaching occasionally the finer points of support and logistics, and playing "role model" to the few enlistees stupid enough to volunteer for the much tougher Marine Boot camp which followed the first 5 weeks of general Starfleet orientation. The highlight of his day, apart from his morning constitutional was taking PT with the recruits. While he had yet to meet the new boot who could smoke him in the morning workout routine his advancing years combined with the mileage he'd put on his body required that he get to the office at least an hour early to begin his conditioning pre conditioning. Passing one of the cadets performing guard duty on the way in he'd noted that the recruit seemed extremely proud in his cadet dress uniform as he snapped his phaser rifle up in salute and gave the greeting of the day. It warmed the old battle axe's heart to see that at least some of the Shinrakian youth still valued what the Federation had done for them. Recent student radical activity had been decidedly anti-Federation and support for Starfleet seemed to be waning amongst the up and comers.:: Roberts: As you were Cadet... ::Roberts said warmly, just as a small metallic object "clinked" at their feet. The sound was unmistakeable, and instinct took over...:: GRENADE! ::Acting with a determination of a bonafide soldier rather than a raw recruit, the cadet threw himself over Roberts as the munition went off, reducing the once proud cadet to green mist and globs of green goo. The other guard in the far shack suddenly opened fire in the direction of the attackers as he made his way to the stunned Marine.:: Cadet 2: SIR, YOU'V GOT TO GET INSIDE... ::Disrupter fire began vaporizing parts of the cement planter boxes which were providing cover. Bravely and with remarkable accuracy the cadet returned the fire. Snatching up the weapon from the now pulverized first cadet, Roberts "snapped in" at the corner of one of the planter boxes, raining compressed phaser fire down on the attackers advancing across the once tranquil lawn of the quad. :: Roberts: Go! I'll cover you! ::The cadet hesitated, determined to stay with his superior:: Roberts: GO DAMMIT! THAT'S AN ORDER! ::Alarms started blaring and Cadets on guard duty began taking supportive positions on the walls of the Academy. They'd trained for this, just as every Academy class had since the Breen attack on the main Starfleet Academy on Earth. To the left of the main group of attackers, hidden back amongst the trees Roberts spied black suited terrorists setting up what looked to be a photon mortar. Taking careful aim as the cadets on the wall began firing the Academy's limited number of phaser rifles to suppress the main attack, Roberts lined up the mortar team and dropped them in rapid succession. Looking back over his shoulder he noticed the surviving cadet from the main gate beckoning him to follow. Rolling to his left, Roberts sprang to his feet and sprinted inside, tongues of phaser fire licking his footsteps as he ran.: Roberts: ACTIVATE THE SHIELDS! ::Suddenly an explosion rocked the compound from within, and after taking cover Roberts noticed that the main administration building was a smoldering ruin, taking with it the Academy's shield generator. From the edges of the debris he watched in horror as two cadets, ostensibly rushing to help defend the wall suddenly began firing into their fellow recruits. The blood froze in Roberts' veins as he realized that they'd been betrayed from withn their own ranks. Confusion reigned as the cadets on the wall realized what was happening, their numbers cut in half by the treachery. Roberts wasted no time in dropping the traitorous recruits and quickly began barking orders to the Starfleet and Marine personnel, some clad in only their nightclothes and PT gear, as they began to emerge from the dorms carrying whatever weapons they could lay their hands on. Roberts: FALL BACK! FALL BACK! ::The distinctive sound of incoming mortar rounds whistled through the morning air:: Recruit: INCOMING! ::The recruits scattered and dove to the ground as one of the mortars, obviously targeted by a novice exploded hundreds of yards away in the middle of the parade grounds and another a little farther on.:: Roberts: Lt. Meehan! Get all Recruits to the Armory. Issue whatever we have! Our rally point will be the main barracks! And get some of the @#$!ing training artillary up and hot! =/\=Winters to Roberts...What the hell is going on out there?=/\= ::Admiral Winters, head of the Officers training portion of the Academy demanded angrilly...:: Roberts: =/\=CODE ORANGE, REPEAT CODE ORANGE!=/\= ::Roberts called out as he rushed to the designated rally point. The Enlisted Induction Center abbutted the main campus, which was sequestered further within the compound, ostensibly because visitors to the officers candidate school liked to see and hear the sights and sounds of the enlisted trainees going about their daily training. The reality was that the campus was set up for just such an eventuality as this, and the Cadets were allowed the space necessary to prepare a better defense.:: Winters:=/\= Understood! Get whatever weapons you can and fall back to the main campus, Colonel! I'll get the flight instructors to give you some air cover.=/\= oOWell all right then...Oo ::Roberts thought. He hated to trade real estate for security, but orders were orders and defending from the enclosed main campus would be a better gamble...:: Roberts: =/\=Roger that!=/\= ::Explosions continued to rock the compound as the mortar team or teams began getting better at their infernal jobs, walking the fire in an inexorible line towards the protective wall... Roberts reached the armory with the last of the surviving stragglers, all of whom he was proud to note had retrieved every last weapon from their fallen comrades...: : Roberts: Meehan! Meehan: Sir? ::Suddenly a mortar round struck home on the wall, obliterating a 20 yard section of it.:: Roberts: CHANGE OF PLANS! GRAB WHAT YOU CAN WE ARE FALLING BACK TO... ::The ground shook as 4 Starfleet flight trainers screamed overhead and began firing their training phasers into the attacker's positions. While the armaments were little more powerful than a phaser rifle, they were effective enough against attackers in open ground...:: Roberts: @#$!ing Aye! That's right you muther... ::Robert's jubilation was cut short as first one then all 4 trainers suddenly spiraled out of control and smashed to the ground, taking out buildings and streets and a large section of the quad.:: Roberts:=/\= Roberts to Winters! We have sabatours! Someone @#$!ed up the trainers and they are gone, Sir!=/\= Winters:=/\= My God! THE GROUNDSKEEPERS! THEY'RE FIRING ON THE ...UNNHHHH!= /\= ::More explosions rocked the campus and Robert's watched in disbelief as the main Cadet dormatory imploded. Suddenly there came a familiar voice, the head groundskeeper. ..:: =/\=Starfleet Personnel! You are ordered to lay down your weapons immediately and surrender to the Soldiers of the Shinrakian Liberation Movement. This is your...Aaaargghhh! =/\= =/\=Attention all personnel! We've managed to kill the collaborators. This is Lt. John Connor, I'm the last ranking instructor left at the OCS. All personnel are to take what weapons they have and converge on Colonel Robert's Position. He is in command! Connor Out!=/\= ::Meehan looked at Roberts in stunned silence for a moment:: Meehan: You were saying Sir? Roberts: Holy $#!+, this just became the Alamo... MNPC Lt. Colonel Lloyd Roberts UFPSMC-Retired Starfleet Academy Extension Campus Shinraka SIMed by 1st Lt. Iolo Llewelyn

This is an area for members of this training class to keep in touch with each other.DATES: The class began on March 30, 2009, and ended on April 7, 2009.LIST: sb118-academy3COMMANDING OFFICER: Commander Toni TurnerFIRST OFFICER: Lt. Commander Andrus JaxxCLASS MEMBERS:- TraestRuyt th'Tane - SenaJ'eff - Jonathan Scott- Ralik - Mailea Labria Congratulations to you all, and welcome to our fleet!

Congratulations and welcome to SB118.

It sure nuf is an interesting topic, bringing a vast amount of ideas to mind. I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with. ::Wonders what path she will wander down on this one.::

Cool, then we should be hearing something about the next challenge in a week or two.

Nemitor, did you pick a topic yet?

Congratulations, Nemitor. Great job.

This is an area for members of this training class to keep in touch with each other.DATES: The class began on February 3, 2009, and ended on March 1, 2009.LIST: sb118-academy2COMMANDING OFFICER: Lt. Commander Andrus JaxxFIRST OFFICER: Lt. Commander Aleana NetalCLASS MEMBERS:- Lewis Little- Jennia ErenCongratulations to you all, and welcome to our fleet!

Congratulations, and welcome to SB118.

::hearing pins drop:: Everyone sure nuf has been quiet this month. Quite unusual for this a challenge thread.

This is an area for members of this training class to keep in touch with each other.DATES: The class began on February 9, 2009, and ended on February 15, 2009.LIST: sb118-academy3COMMANDING OFFICER: Major Sakorra ReedFIRST OFFICER: Commander Toni TurnerCLASS MEMBERS:- Daran Sykes- Elros ValeCongratulations to you all, and welcome to our fleet!

A Viking’s Call By Toni Turner Dispersing some of the Warriors behind the boulders near the West Gate, Auda lined up the rest in rows. When the Jem'Hadar began to swarm in on the Palace, she gave the order to shoot their arrows. When the rain of their projectiles met their marks, they continued to shoot wave after wave at the advancing hoard. She thought, oO By the gods, where are they coming from. We're not making a dent in them. Oo Pouncing down from a nearby boulder, a Jem’Hadar, lifted his phaser to fire, but was met with a flurry of arrows. Over the screams of agony and battle cries, she shouted, “TAKE UP YOUR SWORDS!" With that, she drew her sword and went into attack mode, scaling the boulders to meet the enemy head on, wielding her sword in hand to hand combat along side the Warriors. The clash of swords against swords and armor was deafening. More than once their efforts seemed futile. One Jem’Hadar was quickly replaced by another, but the Warriors had their hearts in protecting their stronghold. They fought on, driving the Jem’Hadar back slightly, but then their foe's numbers increased again and they found themselves retreating inside the confines of the Palace gate. Hurrying to close it, Auda hoped that it would delay their advancement long enough for the rest of the away team to get into place, but the weight of the hoard was too much for it, and the gate fell as the Jem’Hadar poured inside. Auda and the Warriors rushed them, intent on delaying them until the rest arrived. It was then it happened, a blade came crashing down at Auda. She tried to dodge it, but it caught her shoulder. She screamed with agony and fury, then thrust her sword into the offending Jem’Hadar. With that, came the sound of fighters, pounding the Jem’Hadar infantry with everything it had. Auda slumped with relief and blood loss, but one of the Warriors grab hold of her, carrying her into the safety of the Palace. Severely wounded, Auda slept, but thrashed in her slumber, dreaming of the horrors she had seen and lived through. Mostly, she seldom gave into this kind of dormancy, because of the dreams that plagued her, but this time she had not been given the choice to keep distance from deep sleep, and she fought and ran from a pestilence of demons that tormented her, and now, they threatened to kill her. The intense fear made her scream inwardly, unable to be heard. The isolation was devastating. She questioned the sanity of whoever had put her in this state, and as soon as she could almost come out of it, they mercilessly put her under again. Then there was nothing. A mind totally blank of those memories. A mind that could not think for itself, a blank slate with no past, no future, no voice, no thoughts. For all purposes and intents, she was now a vegetable whose expression was a blank stare. Through sheer determination to survive the mind assault of her demons, Auda separated her intellect from her physical being. All that she knew, and all whom she had known, faded into the darkened abyss of unconsciousness. At peace with herself, she lay motionless, blotting out all pain and pleasure. If she could only have the luxury of this state for always, she would never fear her demons again. She was on the verge of nothingness, but then suddenly, she was drifting, suspended in the beauty of the Universe. And in the distance, someone reassured her that he would stay with her. "Fight, Auda. Fight to live, and live to fight again, my friend." Auda felt herself adrift, and moving toward the distinctive sounds summoning her back to a time when "dragon ships" carried fearless warriors. Their blood-red sails heralding the presence of true paladins of war, and he, the most revered. She bent to his command to fight. She reached out a weakened hand, touching the face of her advisor. "You called me friend, but it is you who are the friend, for I have heard your Battle horn, and tasted the nectar of your Hvitinger. You have summoned me to face my heritage and fight beside you. And I yield to your Viking's call." End

This is an area for members of this training class to keep in touch with each other.DATES: The class began on January 26, 2009, and ended on January 31, 2009.LIST: sb118-academy1COMMANDING OFFICER: Lt. Commander Delinda ShareeFIRST OFFICER: Commander Toni TurnerCLASS MEMBERS:- Renesme Javinx - Raj Blueheart Congratulations to you all, and welcome to our fleet!