Federation News Service

RISA — The first-ever galactic poetry competition was announced today and will be held on Risa. Entrants from across the quadrants will be sending their poets to compete for the titular prize, which has yet to be revealed by the judging panel. This is sure to be of great interest as venerated poets from the Klingon Empire, Cardassia, and Earth have confirmed that they will be competing for the top spot with more entrants to follow in the next month. Poet laureate Jeremiah Folkstone went on record as being the first to throw his verses into the ring. He has even written a poem to celebrate the event, although, it isn’t going to be entered. According to sources close to the event, the poem isn’t to be released until the day the competition starts, hoping to create an interest amongst the general populace. “Poetry is highly regarded on Cardassia,” advised Tiss Zol, the Cardassian entrant competing for the title. “Our literature reflects our values and the submitted art will be a celebration of this. I will not require your Federation insistence of ‘luck’. The spirit of Iloja of Prim will be with me.” The Klingons are rumoured to have five entrants. It is an honour among Klingon culture to commemorate an important event with a poem, and the flourishing art form has seen a surge of support on Qo’Nos. With a history of poetry like “The Fall of Kang,” they are sure to be worthy opponents and are already the favourites to win. “So honour the valiant who die ‘neath your sword… But pity the warrior who slays all his foes” —Excerpt from “The Fall of Kang” The post First ever galactic poetry competition to be held on Risa appeared first on Federation News Service. View the full article

MEMORY ALPHA — Staff at the major Federation library on Memory Alpha are performing damage control operations after a virus of unknown origins infected and corrupted the data of four major data banks containing government records. The first signs of trouble were reported by the night shift officer shortly before the beginning of the morning shift. When any request for information is made from Memory Alpha, any failure to retrieve information produces an error in the control room. The damage done by the virus produced more than fourteen errors within the span of two minutes, causing the officer on duty to institute security protocols. Once the data banks were isolated, the crew began their investigation to determine the cause of the corrupted data. All four of the data banks affected were used for storing official Federation records and documents. Files lost include archived law enforcement reports, communication logs, and long-range sensor data. Data recovery experts from Starfleet are attempting to restore as much corrupted data as possible to a readable state. So far, corrupted data has only been discovered on the four affected data banks. Diagnostic tests revealed no major problems with any other sections of the library. “Starfleet will investigate this matter as thoroughly as possible and seek to bring those responsible to justice,” stated Lieutenant Commander Taisir of Starfleet Security. Officials are searching for any indications of who developed the virus and how it was delivered to Memory Alpha. It is possible that the virus was deployed through an information request to Memory Alpha or was physically brought onto the planet. Starfleet investigators do not currently have enough information to determine the vector for the virus at this time. The post Unknown virus corrupts Memory Alpha data banks appeared first on Federation News Service. View the full article

CESTUS III ⁠— The reigning champions of the Cestus III Baseball League are trading in their bats and mitts for bowls of broth and plenty of rest. Remy LaFleur, Assistant General Manager for the Pike City Pioneers baseball club, confirmed that the team’s offseason training which was set to begin today has been delayed due to most of the players and coaches contracting food poisoning. Team doctors are not sure of the exact nature of the infection but stated the team should be able to commence their training in the next few days. When asked in which restaurant the players likely contracted the food poisoning, LaFleur declined to speculate. However, the cause is most likely due to ingestion of bad sushi at a favorite Pioneers player restaurant, according to one fan theory. “I call on all Pioneers fans to boycott Rainbow Pagoda! They tried to kill our boys!” said super fan “Wagon Train” Rick, speaking as President of the official Pike City Pioneers fan club at the club’s annual preseason meeting held last night. “We all know that’s the favorite restaurant of the team, and we all know how bad their sushi can be this time of year!” The owner of Rainbow Pagoda, a popular seafood and sushi restaurant in Pike City’s market district, could not be reached for comment. Rival teams, the Cestus Comets and Traerston Tigers, could also not be reached; however, rumors indicate both teams are prohibited from consuming non-replicated food for the remainder of the season and plenty of antacids to alleviate acute functional dyspepsia are on standby. Pike City is coming off their fifth straight championship title and baseball pundits from across the planet have already named the Pioneers a favorite to be a “Six-peat”, even with the delayed start to training. Exhibition games for the year’s spring training are set to begin next month. The post Champion baseball team training delayed due to illness appeared first on Federation News Service. View the full article

CRESCENT VIEW, MERIDIAN — Weeks after a bio-attack on the world of Meridian was stopped by the USS Montreal, unrest continues to grow as some locals blame Starfleet for the attack in the first place. As rebuilding of the Crescent View Medical Research Facility continues, local rallies have begun to erupt at what they see as Starfleet bringing Federation-wide problems to the Shoals. “No terrorist attacks like this happened before Starfleet began to pay so much attention to the Shoals,” said Mariela Smith, a local activist. “If this is the cost of their ‘protection,’ then maybe we should strike out and give the [Colonial Coalition] marshals this power — at least they’re accountable!” Meanwhile, the colony administrators are still going through all of the colonial enclaves and tightening security with the aid of the Klingon embassy, both shaken after this attack. In a briefing this afternoon, Starfleet announced that a support ship had been dispatched to the colony to assist. “We are committed to protecting all citizens of the Federation,” said Commander A.J. Ciaravolo of Starfleet Public Affairs. “We deeply regret that these attacks have made people feel uncomfortable, but we will always exert our utmost to protect fellow citizens.” The post Anger against Starfleet from colonists on Meridian grows after terrorist bio-attack appeared first on Federation News Service. View the full article

In his latest column, Lixa Dansha examines whether the Federation is ready for conflict in light of new tensions from the Tholians and other threats. The recent drumbeats of war emanating from the Shoals along with the resurgent Klingon Empire and chaos of the Romulan Empire has convinced this journalist to return from sabbatical so that I might ask the question, as many of you must be, “Is the Federation able to withstand this tempest?” The cornerstone of the Federation is the idealism at the core of its charter: through peaceful coexistence, the whole will become greater than the sum of its parts. High minded and inspiring as these concepts are, they have regularly lead to the wholesale slaughter of our fellow citizens as logic, compassion, and benevolent rhetoric were met with hostility and arms which our fleet and officers were simply unprepared to match. And as a Bajoran, I can say that my people have experienced 50 years of the consequences of compassion without preparation. It was thought by many that the Dominion War was a wake-up call for the Federation, a conflict so vast that even a core world like Betazed fell to the Jem’Hadar, and Earth itself was scarred by a suicidal but determined enemy. That said, 21 years out from the end of the Dominion War, the fleet has been downsized, politicians running for the highest levels of Federation government are calling for less military preparedness, and calls for refits and updates to existing ships are being summarily dismissed. We must ask, what has this gotten us, and where will it lead? The Tholians Assembly is aggressively expanding in the Shoals, challenging long-held Federation claims and threatening numerous colony worlds. The Klingon Great Houses are shouting ominous calls for a renewed military campaign to bolster their flagging society. Lastly, piracy, once though virtually eliminated within our borders, has become a resurgent menace in many outlying sectors of the Federation. Efforts to rearm and upgrade ships, as well as creating new ship designs, have been laughed down and characterized as warmongering. Even the efforts of individual member worlds to fortify their self-defense forces have received alarmist coverage, but when you think about it, why shouldn’t they be allowed to protect themselves if the Federation as a whole is not in a position to properly defend its members? I can tell you from experience that not being prepared can lead to pain. I do not want it suggested that I am ungrateful to the Federation or that I resent our proud moral center. That idealism has lead to prosperity among hundreds of worlds, and the principle of the rule of law prevails. But even peace needs its guardians, and I call upon my readers to contact your representatives and let them know how important it is to make our forces strong enough to protect our prosperity and to protect our peace before we once again suffer the consequences of our shortsightedness. The post Preparing for the Worst: Perspectives from a Prison Camp Survivor appeared first on Federation News Service. View the full article

From deep in the Beta Quadrant to the remote edges of the Shoals, here are the latest updates from the ships of the StarBase 118 fleet. Crew of the USS Apollo-A Welcomed to StarBase 118 in Momentous Merger STARBASE 118 — StarBase 118 has welcomed on board the senior staff of the Odyssey-class USS Apollo (NCC-71669-A) upon its return from deep space exploration operations within Delta Quadrant. The Apollo completed the tour of duty with prestige, and the existing crew transferred to the station to continue their work in the hopes to better service the Trinity Sector. Eagle Officers and Refugees Rescued From Alien Imprisonment AAVARO WILDS — Following an unusual and hostile first contact, the USS Eagle managed to secure members of her crew from captivity, inciting diplomatic unrest in the process. Manhunt Begins For Fugitive Starfleet Officers from USS Gorkon TYRELLIAN SECTOR — A Federation wide manhunt for escaped prisoners Valesha Sienelis and accomplice Orson Marshall ordered to ensure their timely capture, reportedly fleeing on a stolen prototype shuttlecraft. USS Veritas Defeats Ancient Defense System, Sentinel, in Menthar Corridor GAMMA CAMELOPARDALIS SYSTEM — The crews of the USS Veritas and USS Solaris have successfully neutralized an ancient Menthar defense system that became active at the former site of Astrofori One. USS Montreal First Officer Captured by Vulcan Extremist KARRAKA, SHOALS — Lieutenant Commander Lael Rosek of the USS Montreal has been captured by a Vulcan Extremist known as Lenik. USS Atlantis Scrambles to Investigate Disappearance of Deep Space 26 PAR’THA EXPANSE — Deep Space 26, the only Federation stronghold within the confines of the Par’Tha Expanse, has vanished. Embassy crew attempts to secure escaped android, leading to its own demise TALISON FOREST — The intense pursuit of a renegade android by the crew of the Embassy of Duronis II ends in android’s self-destruction. USS Constitution crew evacuates remote outpost in the face of immediate danger GAMMA ORIONIS — The crew of the USS Constitution evacuated a significant research outpost before an approaching life-threatening storm could endanger the away teams. Historic officer exchange underway between USS Columbia and Imperial Losarian Commonwealth LOSARIA — As part of cultural exchange between Starfleet and the Royal Court of the Imperial Losarian Commonwealth, three senior staff and several enlisted crewmen from the USS Columbia (NCC-85279) have been invited aboard the Imperial Losarian Cruiser Illrith. The post Starfleet Mission Updates: Stardate 239605 appeared first on Federation News Service. View the full article

ANDORIA — Action ramps up at the Galactic Ice Hockey Tournament as the Denobulan Dodgers are off to a flying start after topping their first division and set to face old enemies in the next game. Losing only one of their games in the group – their game against The Gallant Grazites – missed by the last minute goal making the score 2-1 in favor of the Grazites. The loss was a shock to everyone, as they were last in the group with the one game to go. Sadly, they stayed in the last position but showed performance to be proud of for their fans. Other teams in the league displayed rousing feats of power as well. The Blessed Bajorans came second. While they didn’t lose any matches, they drew two and only won the singular game, coming in position behind the Denobulan Dodgers by only a couple of points. In third was the Haliian Heroes. They lost all their games bar one against the Gallant Grazities, which came in at 4-1. Their opponent came in dead last, losing all their games bar the surprising win over the Denobulan Dodgers, and coming in under the Haliians due to scoring fewer goals in the group. They only managed the three goals by full-time – two against the Denobulans, and the one against the Haliians – they failed to score against the Bajoran team, thrashed 7-0 by the team. The highest scoring match in the group was the Denobulan Dodgers vs. Blessed Bajoran match, culminating in a thrilling 8-9 win for the Denobulan Dodgers. Every fan in the stadium was up on their feet for almost the whole match. It was quite something to watch. The lowest scoring match was the Blessed Bajorans vs the Haliian Heroes, in which they shared a 0-0 draw, leaving many fans disappointed. “My guys and gals did amazing out there,” commented Captain Arax – of the Denobulan Dodgers – how she felt about her team’s success in the group. “I’m extremely proud of them and I know that they did our planet and people just as proud.” Receiving the “Denobulan of the Match”, Krez Carlson scored four of the nine goals against the Blessed Bajorans. A Denobulan Human Hybrid, Carlson was permitted to play for the team due to his Denobulan heritage. “It’s an amazing feeling,” said top goal scorer Carlson, regarding his performance in the matches. “I’m just happy I can show off how much we’ve developed as a team since the last tournament. We didn’t do too well then and we’ve all been training almost day and night for the past three months for this. So yeah, it’s amazing!” The Denobulan Dodgers will go onto play the Antaran Athletes in the next stage of the competition following their decisive victory in their group. The game is set to be an interesting one due to the history between the two species. It will be exciting to see how that game plays out and see who will progress further on towards the final of the tournament and claim the prize of Galactic Ice Hockey Tournament. The post Denboluan Dodgers set to face Antaran Athletes after rousing victory in first division appeared first on Federation News Service. View the full article

RONARA — Reports of extreme weather have baffled engineers and meteorologists attempting to implement a weather-control system on the planet of Ronara. Snowstorms, floods, avalanches and fires are among the reported incidents, and fears now indicate a “bomb cyclone” is due to descend. As the planet was about to be thrown into an ice age, scientists all around the Alpha Quadrant had been trying to figure out how to curb such an event by creating a weather-control system by building four satellites around Ronara. Built weather stations on the surface would allow a duality of a combination of controlled ground and air substances. During the first three years, the Ronaran citizens enjoyed the weather, with each season the same, and if enough people requested for a certain weather pattern, meteorologists would enter a few commands and astrophysicists would slightly turn the satellites in such a way to grant freedom for the weather system to react to what was asked. The planet’s high volume of natural resources seemed to grow exponentially and gave the government an influx of economic wealth. “We were living in prosperity and comforted security,” said Belkin Ospl, a local tradesman. “It wasn’t until a year ago when some pretty abnormal events started to rise. We thought nothing of it at first.” With the seasonal changes the controlled weather system brought, it also started to interfere with the planet’s core. Becoming hot to the extent that galvanized wires that held up bridges started to wither away until it became a peril to structural integrity, including building collapses. At first, the engineers were at a loss to the cause. Droughts started which turned crops and farms into dust in a matter of weeks. “I lost my family’s business,” said N’Val, a generational farmer. “In just a month, everything was gone which my ancestors started millennia ago.” Unexpected and unpredictable earthquakes occurred that baffled Geologists and Seismologists. The epicenters were hard to search for with the incorrect amounts of pointless data which caused major continental shifting allowing for avalanches and volcanoes erupting. Thankfully, through the aid of Starfleet, mass evacuation from the planet was organized, though few were unlucky as they succumbed to the disasters. All around the world, electromagnetic storms and tornadoes started to damage the weather stations. Scientists scrambled as the threat of a bomb cyclone is beginning to loom over their radars. Now, the government and scientists are asking for help with the coming of an apocalyptic event of epic proportions. “This is a message to all known life in every corner of space,” pleaded Grahm Nortus, the Ronaran President. “We need help and will do anything to restore our natural way of life. Our planet is on the brink of extinction. Our ignorance is leading to our demise.” The post Threat of “bomb cyclone” hampers installation of weather-control system appeared first on Federation News Service. View the full article

J’mai Osen questions the aversion to genetic engineering in the Federation scientific community. Last week, I met an intelligent young Teplan scientist, recently emigrated from the Gamma Quadrant and on her way to the New Horizons Conference on Deluvia IV. As a child, she had been profoundly inspired by a Starfleet doctor who created a vaccine which eradicated a bio-weapon afflicting her planet. Her passion for furthering medical research and zeal to help others was matched only by her disbelief in the long-held, human-driven view of genetic engineering which dominates Federation science. Why, she asked, has this fundamentally vital area of research been all but suppressed by the Federation Science Council? In trying to formulate an answer that would satisfy her, I found myself asking why, indeed? Dark Page in History For those with little knowledge of Federation history, and you could be forgiven for that as there is quite a lot of it, the de facto ban on genetic research as a field and genetic engineering as a practice can trace its origins back to one of the Federation’s founding planets, Earth, during that world’s last great cataclysm, locally known as the Eugenics Wars. To summarize, during Earth’s early nuclear period, a group of scientists working independently of the period’s governing authorities believed their world to be on a path to imminent destruction from which the only salvation was the field of “eugenics.” Their belief system, such as it was, lead them to reason that through the judicious application of genetic engineering to human DNA, they could artificially create a superior human specimen. That species, Homo superior, would unify their planet with benevolent and enlightened leadership, among other lofty aims. Much like the man who wishes upon the monkey’s paw, they got their wish, but the cost was a holocaust beyond their wildest nightmares. The genetically engineered subjects did attempt to unify the planet, but they did so with the iron grip of tyrants. Their enhanced cognitive abilities allowed them to inflame a global conflict that ultimately set the stage for a large scale thermonuclear exchange, resulting in countless deaths and an Earth on the precipice of extinction. In the aftermath of this conflict, the remaining nation states of Earth banded together to form the first nascent planetary government, and one of their very first edicts was a prohibition on the hateful technology which had nearly brought them all to ruin. Thankfully, Earth survived this dark chapter and much like the literary phoenix, rose from its own ashes to become the widely acknowledged utopia we know it as today. That said, a look past the idyllic trappings will show a world that still bears deep scars which even enlightened locals are somewhat loathe to acknowledge. Those scars, now almost three centuries old, are still a source of profound fear and inhibition. That inhibition has been spread, much like human culture itself, from one side of the Federation to the other and, with rare exceptions, has remained unchallenged ever since. Forbidden Fruit The very idea of a scientific field of pursuit being too inherently dangerous in and of itself is almost laughable when you consider some of the other technologies regularly exploited at the moment. We travel from star to star in ships driven by titanic energies. Citizens routinely have their bodies dismantled to their constituent atoms, digitized, energized, and then reassembled at some distant point for no purpose other than to save themselves a long walk. Even now, you’re reading this article after it has been transmitted through, not what we’d consider “normal” space, but a layer of the universe known as subspace. When did these technological breakthroughs become routine, when they themselves have regularly been used as horrific weapons? How have we as a culture become so blasé to their use but remained so ardent in our opposition to genetic engineering? Does that not smack of hypocrisy, something our Federation insists it has grown beyond? As I struggled to explain this inconsistency, the Telpan scientist merely smiled, as one does when explaining complicated subjects to a child. As we said our goodbyes, she politely asked if she could share something. It was a copy of the personnel file of the doctor who had saved her people from an unending torment. Contrary to Federation law, his parents had his genes re-sequenced as a child so that he might become something greater than what he was. He didn’t become a tyrant or a dictator, nor did he raze cities and enslave the weak. He became a healer whose name is spoken with reverence on a distant world, and a brief look at his career shows that it is just one of the many places his talent has touched for the better. I cannot and will not suggest that each and every example of genetic re-sequencing would produce such noble, or ignoble, ends. That said, given the multitude of challenges faced by the Federation from within and without, can we continue to stubbornly hang on to prejudices of the ancient past? Can we continue to call our reticence anything other than cowardice? It is far past time to reflect and reassess. The post Genetic engineering in the Federation: a time for reflection appeared first on Federation News Service. View the full article

SOL SECTOR — Starfleet Command proudly announced today the formal dedication of Trident Science Station in geosynchronous orbit of the planet Neptune. The brand new, state-of-the-art outpost will have dedicated facilities for numerous scientific disciplines and will serve as a hub of investigative efforts for the planet itself and the adjacent Kuiper belt of asteroids and moonlets. Neptune, the outermost planet of the Sol system, is still largely a mystery to Starfleet Science, something Trident Station hopes to change. Among the station’s advanced facilities are an elaborate astrometrics center, multiple geo-scientific laboratories, and a full suite of chemical analysis resources. The facilities aboard Trident Station will be shared by Starfleet Science and a variety of independent contractors. Starfleet Science has inaugurated the launch of a three-year mission into comprehensive mapping of Neptune in multiple ranges of the electromagnetic spectrum. Renowned astrophysicist Dr. John Till is scheduled to lead this mission. “Neptune has a special place in the Sol system,” said Dr. Till to reporters at the announcement. “Apart from it being the farthest planet from the sun, research projects conducted over the last century have indicated that it has somehow shifted positions with Uranus in the distant past.” Dr. Till went on to say investigating whether this was an intentional event orchestrated by some unknown force or a natural process will be a core mystery that the station’s mission seeks to unravel. “The results of our efforts will provide insight in multiple fields of study, including cosmology and cosmogony,” he added. Starfleet Science has indicated that there are numerous future projects in line for Trident station. Among these is a possible investigation of the galactic core itself. Dr. Till indicated he is actively seeking collaboration with noted Vulcan astrophysicist Dr. Astin, a leading expert on gravitational singularities, to lead this investigation. Dr. Astin is currently aboard the station for a part-time mission, investigating gravitational waves using the new high sensitivity astrometrics array available at Trident. “The study of giga-energy systems, such as black holes and gravity wells, is important for both the safety of astrometrics and as a means of achieving insights into galactic formation,” said Dr. Astin. Trident Station’s astral position was modeled on V’Kali Station, which orbits the outer planet of the 40 Eridani A system, also known as the home system of the Vulcans. V’Kali Station will be partnering with the efforts aboard Trident, using their existing array of deep space telescopes to provide an additional layer of observational data of Neptune itself. The purpose of this two-fold approach is to investigate the historical planetary formation process by observing light which is only now arriving in the Vulcan system after its sixteen light-year journey. Beyond the purely scientific facilities, several groups have already expressed an interest in providing goods and services aboard Trident. Members of the Ferengi Trade Alliance have eagerly set up shop to act as one of the station’s suppliers. “Trident station is close to Earth, which allows for much profit to be gained for the Alliance,” said Daemon Wart, leader of the FTAs delegation. In addition, Tellarite political science professor Dr. Ellaris of the Tellarite Educational Outreach Embassy will be using space aboard the station to open a School of Debate. “[My aim is to] educate the humans of the Sol system in the art of Tellarite political debate,” said Dr. Ellaris. “This will bring future members of the Federation Council much-needed expertise.” Dr. Ellaris also indicated that Trident station will allow Tellarite scientists to investigate gas giants, a type of stellar body their own star system is lacking. The Tellarite government will also be cooperating with noted anthropologist Dr. Emily Paskin in a small project investigating the possibilities of founding a colony on Neptune’s largest moon, Triton. Trident Station’s proximity to the moon will make it a natural jumping off point for any such future efforts. The post State-of-the-art research station launched in orbit of Neptune appeared first on Federation News Service. View the full article

VERSAILLES, EARTH — A couture maven was killed and several others injured in an apparent terrorist bombing shortly after a fashion show outside of Paris. Choupette Marchionne, the head of the eponymous French fashion house Marchionne, was killed by an explosion just minutes after debuting her autumn/winter collection on the grounds of the Chateau de Versailles. Details are scarce at this point, but sources close to the investigation say that the bombing may have been a product of the Maquis Reborn, a terrorist group led by Nikael Kalre, a notorious Betazoid beset on dismantling the Federation. Suspicious activity within recent months has also increased following the anniversary date of the attack on Ohmallera (stardate 238802.22). Kalre’s open letter to the Federation incited protests outside the Paris offices of the Federation News Service in 2392. Marchionne (31), herself half Betazoid, is survived by her daughter Victoire, who was unharmed in the blast but was found with a note attached to her back. Victoire was discovered by Ensign Ghant Xerix and Doctor Addison MacKenzie, both of the USS Veritas (NCC-95035) who were on the planet for the show. “A note found attached to Ms. Marchionne’s daughter was suspicious in itself,” stated Sten Caridia, a member of Starfleet Security, in his address to the press this afternoon. “And while we are still investigating, we have strong evidence to suggest it was from the group who identify themselves as the Maquis Reborn.” Choupette is mourned by the glitterati of the Alpha and Beta quadrants. Her memorial service is to be held on Betazed and is expected to be a who’s who event of the fashion world. More details to be reported as the investigation continues. The post Fashion designer killed in bombing at Paris Fashion Show appeared first on Federation News Service. View the full article

FURON III — A Klingon starship stumbled onto a class-M planet after receiving transmissions requesting assistance before being caught in a hostage situation and eliminating a great number of residents of the planet. When the Wovmohwi’ siq traveled through the Furon system in the Beta Quadrant and received a distress call from the third planet in the system, Captain J’anako Bochang answered the plea with the aim to provide whatever help his ship was able to and returned the call to the transceiver on the planet. Furon III is a planet currently in the E category according to the Richter Scale of Cultures, which defines planetary development. Planets in the E category are defined as having reached the atomic age. As soon as the Klingon captain arrived on the surface to question the aliens who had contacted him, his landing party and the captain himself were taken hostages by one of three factions apparently involved in an atomic war on Furon III. The reason for this capture is assumed to have been to exchange weapons and power for the hostages taken. Klingon tradition dictated that the Wovmohwi’ siq‘s crew had to avenge the honor of their captain, thus they struck the planet in full force, utilizing what armament they possessed. In the process, they eliminated both most of the members in the warring faction and the hostages held. Fulfilling their honor code, Commander Jetova Ogh fell into place as the next captain for the Wovmohwi’ siq, which returned to the course set before their incursion with the inhabitants of Furon III. “It was an unusual mission, but Bochang was an unusual captain,” revealed Ogh. “We presume they had sufficient technology to attempt a hopeless mission to gain alien attention and hold that as an advantage against other factions. We were the… unfortunate ones… passing by, but Captain Bochang will always be remembered as a brave and honorable warrior.” Whether the decision made by Captain Bochang was resented by the crew of the Klingon warship or not seemingly had little impact on the crew. “It was our duty to ensure dignity and honor to our Captain,” clarified Ogh, when asked about the retaliation. “We are not afraid to fight for those values, and those we killed, we killed in his name. We have nothing to regret about that.” Many who have heard the news have wondered if the Wovmohwi’ siq‘s crew should suffer consequences for introducing alien culture to a world currently being in the E classification of development. However, while Starfleet is bound by General Order 1, also known as the Prime Directive, the Klingons are not. Nevertheless, this is a troubling event, and it is sure to be greatly influential in Furon III’s development for the future. The post Mercy mission turns deadly after natives attack Klingon warship appeared first on Federation News Service. View the full article

MOR’EM CHA, QO’NOS — In a crowded, smoke-filled taproom in the city of Mor’em Cha, the sound one doesn’t expect to hear is that of a Vulcan lute accompanied shortly after by a ripping, heart-hammering solo on a Klingon-styled bat’leth guitar. You could be forgiven for believing this is a secluded occurrence, unprecedented in its destructive disregard for the seasoned eardrum. A new revival in cultural sound has taken the Klingon music scene by storm in the last decade. Late-centurians are not content with simply rejecting the music and clothing of the older generation; they aim to completely destroy the perception of a traditional Klingon harmony. The particular band in question, named “Hab SoSli’ Quch!” (The publication apologizes for the slur. —Ed.) promises an evening of “cultural appreciation”, during which various music genres throughout the Federation will be featured and combined. A Vulcan funeral dirge is twinned with a Bajoran Boldaric, accompanied by the ear-splitting noise of the Ressikan flute player hovering in the background like a coward while the proud Klingon concertina musician proudly stands in the front to deafen those too near the stage. “Human, your puny ears would not understand the delight that comes from rendering the complexities of the mighty Klingon eardrum to a bloody pulp,” Bradac, a spokesperson for the band, declared while fighting to be heard over the wails of a Human violin combined with a Bajoran tivara. It would appear that some of the older Klingon music lovers do not share the same views on such contemporary art. “They pride themselves on being unrelatable,” said Rargik of the House of Noggra, who gave this reporter a long and fastidious interview regarding the habits of these late-centurians and how they are progressively ruining the Klingon way of life. “They refuse to eat gagh, whether out of disdain for the barbarism or it is simply too much work to fight with the creature through the digestive tract. They bathe regularly with an assortment of hand-crafted soaps from the shores of Risa and beyond. They refuse to break the clavicle on the wedding night, fearing irreparable damage to their mate. Their blood-wine is infused with fruit from around the galaxy. They demonstrate the adoption of a Vulcan vegetarian diet. It is entirely un-Klingon!” Is this the end of the traditional, socially obscure ways of the Klingon Empire as a new generation takes hold of the future? Are they doomed to fall beneath the tread of renewable and sustainable footwear made from bark instead of targhide? This reporter would not like to speculate. Today is a good day to hold dear the holodisks of time-honoured Klingon opera, as the Empire falls beneath the treaded boots of a generation set on decimating the Klingon way of life, while those who prefer the traditional ways are confined to meliorism. The post Is Klingon Opera too “conventional” for the new generation? appeared first on Federation News Service. View the full article

MARS — A passenger transport vessel was forced to make an emergency landing today on the nearby moon Deimos after a substantial coolant leak was detected during mid-flight checks. The passenger transport Seven Stars, operated by Red Carrier, was bound for Risa when an unexpected coolant leak was detected soon after departure by the engineering crew during routine maintenance checks which forced the ship’s captain, Domenic Alegre, to divert to Deimos, safely evacuating the ship at the base on the moon. It was later discovered that an error in the injectors to the propulsion system had caused the engines to overheat, forcing the Seven Stars to cut its trip short and inducing massive delays in transportation from Mars due to a high volume of flight cancellations. “It was a routine trip until the alarms sounded when we got past Deimos. We quickly turned around and landed safely,” Captain Alegre remarked. “I am grateful that my engineering staff was able to keep the propulsion from severely overheating. It could have gotten much worse had we continued on our course.” “There were alarms and screams throughout the ship,” said Mitchell MacDonough, a passenger who was interviewed on Deimos after the landing. “If this is how Red Carrier keeps up their ships, I might just have to look at another starline.” No one was injured in the incident and engineers from Utopia Planitia were dispatched to Deimos to ascertain what caused the error. Speculation swirled that this might be another of a series of maintenance shortcuts that Red Carrier has been accused of in the past. The Seven Stars remains on Deimos until it is deemed capable of traveling back to Mars for further evaluation. The passengers were afforded alternate transportation to Risa by Starfleet in an effort to ease the delays on Mars. Officials at Red Carrier issued a statement to assure the public. “We’re thankful no one was injured during this isolated incident,” read the starline’s statement. “We at Red Carrier are committed to providing safe transportation to all our passengers.” Further requests for comment have gone unanswered. The post Major delays for travelers after Red Carrier passenger transport makes emergency landing appeared first on Federation News Service. View the full article

SURAYA BAY, RISA — Featuring a low-key coastal resort, famous family-friendly sandy beaches, interesting nightlife and festivals with cliffside villas overlooking beautiful views of the sea, Suraya Bay is often considered the foremost attraction by Risa’s visitors. Risa isn’t lacking in beautiful places to visit, and there are very few reasons to not venture onto the pleasure capital of the galactic atlas in pursuit of rest and relaxation. With delicious food produced by some of the galaxy’s most famous chefs, and ample opportunities to enjoy water sports and mountain climbing, there is something to suit everyone at any time of the year. However, beyond its tourism appeal, Suraya Bay is something quite special. Luxury villas are built into the side of the cliff face, painted white to hold in the heat from the midday sun. A gorgeous garden stretches out in front, filled to bursting with local flowers and cultural bounties. This surrounds quaint table and chair arrangements, appointed to allow guests to dine in the delight of the encompassing vista. Every evening, a floating restaurant comes alive in the bay just as the sun descends on the horizon, where couples can wade out to the ship and enjoy freshly caught seafood cooked on the deck, a process showcasing a unique blend of remarkable culinary expertise and undeniable artistic appeal. There is a strong feeling of well-being, with the tangy scents of nearby orchards washing away worries and cultivating a contented mind. A short walk from the villas are restaurants and curiosity shops, and local business owners come out to greet you as you make your way down the hillside. Swimmers dive off the ancient cliffs down into the bay below, breaking the quiet with the occasional satisfying splash of cool water. If relaxing isn’t your style, there are lots of interesting paths to hike upon, with many leading up the volcanic mountains that dot the landscape. Once at the summit, it is a time-honored tradition to roast marshmallows and skewered local fruits on the eternal flames emanating from small holes in the pitted volcanic rock. Burning for thousands of years, the flames survived the harsh weather conditions prior to the formation of the weather control network. And, of course, if you’re planning your visit in the summer, don’t forget to check in for the Lohlunat Festival down in the bay. A night of campfires and mai-tais after a surf on the crystal clear waters will kindle any sparking romance until the dawn. If you’re in dire need of a romantic getaway with your partner, don’t think twice before booking your next cruise to Suraya Bay, the hidden gem of Risa. The post We’re all going to Suraya Bay: An intriguing look at the romantic hotspot appeared first on Federation News Service. View the full article

ALPHA CENTAURI — As the University of Alpha Centauri begins offering new courses in Klingon history, the Klingon High Council has expressed its disapproval of some of the instructors chosen to teach them. While the study of Klingon history is not unheard of at Federation institutions—having been thought for instance at Starfleet Academy and the Vulcan Science Academy for decades already—the Centaurians have courted controversy with the Klingon Empire due to the announced faculty for the courses. The Klingons have expressed their troubles directly to the university. “The education of Klingon History has been applied in the past over several Federation worlds and is a study in Starfleet,” read a statement to the university’s president from Klingon High Councilmember Kargan of the House of Mo’Kai. “However, the University of Alpha Centauri has broken multiple codes of conducts that are associated with that education.” Kargan is supposedly referring to Dr. E’Klasha, a Klingon sociologist hired by the university for her expertise in the history of her people. Dr. E’Klasha is a political refugee from Klingon space that sought asylum at Betazed in 2275 at the age of only 16. She has since been given Federation citizenship and has finished a master’s degree in sociology in 2288. “The hiring of Dr. E’Klasha has no intention of disrupting the good relations with the Empire,” said the university’s history department chairperson Dr. Lille Magnussen in response. “Dr. E’Klasha is a known expert on Klingon history, and her political views were thoroughly screened by the university before bringing her aboard.” Dr. Magnussen also informed Starfleet Science that students of the new field of study will be able to work better as liaisons and ambassadors to the Klingons, as well as offer opportunities for exchanges between the Federation and the Klingon Empire. These shall not only be limited to diplomatic but also scientific and cultural exchanges. While this exchange has been ongoing inside Starfleet for several years, the inclusion of civilian institutes into this exchange has been barred by the Empire for almost as long as the Khitomer Accords were signed. “The Empire has no desire in providing mere civilians with advanced knowledge of Klingon society if this leads to repercussions from the same,” said Kargan. “Especially if the Federation is using harbored traitors to educate the people in a blackguarding manner.” University president Dr. Ange Lambert expressed his understanding of Klingon concerns but assured Kargan that he stands behind Dr. Magnussen intentions and the hiring of E’Klasha. He even went as far as to suggest a further exchange of Klingon educators to ensure the good relations between the Federation and the Klingon Empire. “We at the university are proud of our ability to create an unbiased, broad education in all of our study fields,” said Dr. Lambert. “We will maintain our research into the application of good programs in the entire Klingon Studies field.” Federation Secretary of Culture Senral Usei of Betazed also affirmed support for Dr. Magnussen during a press conference. “The study of Klingon History is an imperative field to aid in the diplomatic relations with the Empire,” said Secretary Usei. “In that field, all views must be respected. Dr. E’Klasha has expressed not to harbor any further distrust of the Empire, and that her personal views will not be spread during her work as an educator.” Secretary Usai explained to the Klingons that the freedom of work and those of thought and speech are imperative rights within the Federation and that Dr. E’Klasha is defended by the Federation constitution to seek employment in her line of work. Multiple civilian universities have expressed similar views on the matter. Professor Ograx, a history professor at the University of Betazed, also expressed interest in partnering with Dr. Magnussen to offer similar courses on Betazed if the curriculum will prove to be successful and the concerns with the Klingon Empire are resolved peacefully. “Dr. Magnussen is a talented social scientist,” said Ograx. “We will be pleased to adopt her programs if they are successful, even if this includes personnel disliked by the Empire.” The post Faculty choice for new Klingon history courses at University of Alpha Centauri brings controversy appeared first on Federation News Service. View the full article

Get the full details about the next generation subspace communications network under construction in the Shoals. If you live in the Shoals region, chances are you suffer from poor connectivity to the Federation’s subspace network or poor extranet speeds, but good news came in late 2394 when it was announced that Starfleet and the Colonial Coalition were working together to improve the quality of communications in the Shoals in the form of the second widespread network upgrade. Supposedly, plans for the network upgrade began ten years before the announcement was even made, but engineers within the organizations providing the current access on Colonial Coalition planets suffered repeated delays when they found that upgrading to the current network infrastructure widely used by the greater Federation would prove problematic, as it didn’t account for the ongoing tetryon emissions experienced in the area of space. At this news, many resigned to having to use the old 2362-dated network. However, Starfleet has brought in their own communications and components specialist, and a non-Federation citizen is even heading up the project. They expect the overall upgrades to be completed by early 2400 – a gift for the new century. For some planets, however, the upgrade could be experienced as early as late this year. Here is what we know so far: Infrastructure upgrades Work has been completed in three major areas that are key to the 3rd generation network (3GN): Coalition Outpost Loa (also simply called Outpost 3), which originally tracked the Mother Road before it was heavily damaged by a pirate attack in 2394, will be the primary relay for Antor II and Shadow’s Edge, as well as their surrounding minor settlements. Kidman I is a newly-established settlement with whom Starfleet has formed a mutual agreement. Kidman I now hosts a primary subspace communication relay that’s responsible for Meridian and Donova IV, as well as their surrounding minor settlements. Star Station Esperance now acts as an improved relay after extensive upgrades completed this week. They connect Kidman I and CO Loa to the wider Federation. A view of Esperance, an allied, non-Federation world known as the “Gateway to the Federation” due to its location near the border of the Federation and the Colonial Coalition. Originally there were four expected upgrades, as a new colony to be established in the Thura system would have held a primary subspace relay similar to Starfleet’s agreement with the colonists of Kidman I, but following the reports of a Starfleet ranger missing in that region, plans for the Thura relay were put on hold. Connectivity test results between the current three relays have been positive, and Starfleet is now looking to upgrade Coalition Outpost Oodnadatta (in an optimal location for Ketar V), though no plans have been drafted as of yet. Havley’s Hope will also need a relay, but no potential ones have yet been identified. Discussions had with Klingons for Karakka Colonists located on Karakka have to deal with the worst of the 2GN, as they are located behind the Shadows and farther away from Federation space than the rest of the Shoals all together. This makes upgrading them to the 3GN more complicated, but Starfleet’s engineers issued a response to queries in early December: “With Karakka’s location, it will be difficult for us to connect them to the wider 3GN. There is no way around this. As such, we’ve contacted the Klingon Empire for some assistance. As Karakka is just outside their territory, we believe it’s more prudent if Karakka has immediate access to their communications network and secondary access to the Federation network until such time we’ve developed a concrete and reliable connection from Karakka to the rest of the colonies.” Karakka, the most remote Federation colony in the Shoals At last report, the Klingon Empire has sent a team of surveyors to Karakka to determine what resources would be necessary to improve communications in not only their small slice of the Shoals but also for Karakka. From the Klingon Empire head of communications: “We will not go into an agreement until such time we have made our own survey. We will make a determination once it has been completed.” They’re expected to arrive on the colony in June. No word yet whether first reports from the colony itself has made them more open to discussion. Starfleet reports that connectivity will begin for certain colonies in phases, beginning this year. Phase One: Subspace communication improvements for within and outside of the Shoals Subspace communication is one of two typical ways an average person speaks to their loved ones or has long-distance business calls. In the Shoals, it’s next to impossible to get a clear reception using the current 2nd generation network. It’s riddled with static, drops out, and often suffers from delays – and that’s just to other planets located within the region. Speaking to the wider Federation is next to impossible. The 3GN is expected to bring some stability to calls – while Starfleet is not promising that contact to outside the Federation will improve, they expect that “colonies relatively near to each other” will be able to have an ongoing communications channel open with no static, no drop-outs, and few delays in speed. Map of the Shoals region They’ve not yet specified what is meant by colonies near each other, but it’s rumored that the Y-region colonies (Donova, Antor, Meridian, and Shadow’s Edge) are set to receive this immediate upgrade by May of 2397. Phase Two: Data packet and letter delivery improvements The drawbacks of tetryon-riddled space is that colonists still often need to send big files through courier, as the high-density data stream will not make it across the Shoals and into the Federation. As such, letters outside the region take a little more than two weeks to reach their destination, and more often than not, these are sent by couriers for more reliability. Couriers. In the 24th century. The 3GN promises to improve data capabilities for letters and data packets with an “express link” directly to a station outside the Shoals. The wait time to receive letters or data packets is expected to cut down for certain regions to the following predicted averages, as stated by the Colonial Coalition: Colony 2GN Average 3GN average Ketar 3.5 weeks 2 weeks Meridian 2 weeks 3 days Shadow’s Edge 2.5 weeks 4 days Antor 3.5 weeks 5 days Donova 4 weeks 2.5 weeks Note that while Havley’s Hope and Karakka have not yet been added to the 3GN predictions, Starfleet have stated that they should expect a network upgrade by 2401. Phase Three: Vastly improved Federation extranet connectivity When the colonies were established in the early 23rd century, no immediate effort was made to connect colonists to the Federation extranet. At present, while it is possible to connect to the extranet, the speeds are well below the average of colonies on the outskirts of the Federation. It is impossible to even search the extranet, let alone game online or stream the latest cooking shows from the Bolian homeworld. Meridian, the most populous Federation colony in the Shoals Each planet has their own internal network with dedicated high speeds for every colonist, but the Coalition states that work has begun on Meridian to improve poor access to the Federation extranet. Antor, Meridian, and Shadow’s Edge are expected to see better access by 2399. This includes, but is not limited to, extranet speeds capable of accessing: Low-end Federation standard online gaming ALTRA quality news and entertainment streams Federation colony education resources What’s first? Phase one of the 3GN (improved subspace communications) is expected to begin implementation for Antor II, Shadow’s Edge, Donova IV, and Meridian this year, and set to be completed in May of 2397. Check with your governing provider to see if your equipment is ready for the upgrade. The post The Shoals 3GN – everything we know so far appeared first on Federation News Service. View the full article

FERENGINAR — Under the rain-soaked atmosphere of the Ferengi homeworld, a notorious animal trafficker has succumbed to a fatal poisoning after receiving mortal injuries from Vulcan Le-matya beasts smuggled to Ferenginar. Over sixty Le-matya beasts were discovered yesterday on an agricultural property in the region of Gonahl alongside poisoned Ferengi business owner Girrot, who was known within the local area as an entrepreneur and more widely as a trafficking smuggler. The casualty was transported to the medical facility in the capital city of Fereng, where it is reported he died shortly after from a combination of the wounds and the inability to pay for the antidote. Believed to be purchased recently and smuggled from Vulcan, the beasts in question are considered to be in good condition, despite their issues with the wet Ferenginar environment and change in climate to their dry and warm requirements. Although it is still unclear as to how the logistics of the trafficking occurred, authorities have confirmed several small craft vessels under the ownership of Girrot were seized alongside the animals and are enduring a careful investigation into other perpetrators that may have collaborated with the Ferengi. Anyone who may be in possession of information pertaining to the crime, or others, may report it to the proper authorities. “It is a regrettable situation that the beasts were transported from our homeworld,” explained Federation zoologist T’Pasik, who possesses an extended career in studying the Le-matya. “However, the recovery of the animals is expected within the month, and Vulcan acknowledges the agreeable return.” Approached for observation, the Ferengi Commerce Authority declined to provide commentary on the situation and insisted all regulatory information be procured from the local authorities on Ferenginar. The post Ferenginar trafficker poisoned by Vulcan Le-matya beasts appeared first on Federation News Service. View the full article

BAJOR — The Bajoran Festival of Ha’mara was recently celebrated on Bajor and throughout Bajoran communities around the galaxy. Twenty-years since the joining of the Emissary with the Celestial Temple have passed, and this year’s annual festival of Ha’mara was a special celebration. It has been twenty-six years since the festival began on Bajor, traditionally celebrated as the arrival of then Commander Sisko as the Emissary of the Prophets. However, what was once a celebration of the arrival is now also a remembrance. As seen in previous years, the festival started with a period of fasting from sunrise to sunset. Once the sun goes down, the party atmosphere began, with a fabulous firework display rated as one of the best in the quadrant. “It is a time of great contemplation on the suffering of others,” said Yirduk Pim, member of the Council of Ministers on Bajor. “We fast to understand the anguish and challenges of our predecessors, of the universe, and to reflect on the teachings of the Prophets.” After the pyrotechnics, there were many local delicacies on offer such as Hasperat and Larish pie, similar to the human dessert of cheesecake. Also included in fare were Creole foods honouring Sisko’s heritage. It is a tradition for the elder Bajorans to tell tales of Sisko and when they met. Sadly, the number of people to regale the tales dwindles with each passing celebration as generations join the Celestial Temple. The Bajorans believe the Emissary will, when needed, come again to aid the plight of the people. Until then, they continue to celebrate the life of this human, this Starfleet officer, this Prophet, as the Bajorans believe he joined the Celestial Temple, becoming one with the Prophets, and will return when the need is great enough. The FNS wishes to extend their wishes to the Bajorans and those who celebrated with the traditional greeting of “Happy Ha’mara.” The post Festival of Ha’mara celebrations held as Bajorans mark twentieth anniversary of the Emissary’s sacrifice appeared first on Federation News Service. View the full article

SAN FRANCISCO, EARTH — Dr. Leonard Kopalski, a renown astrophysicist, published an honorary publication this week chronicling the greatest historical works in physics. Studying more than 900 years of research, Dr. Kopalski dissertated the works of more than 60 historical physicists. Starting with the legendary Sir Isaac Newton, Kopalski described the progress of more than one millennium of research into physics, chemistry, and the secrets of the cosmos. Other notable figures are described as well, including Blaise Pascal, Albert Einstein, and the late Zefram Cochrane. Other species were mentioned as well, such as the Vulcan T’Karmu and the Bajoran Kizma. These figures were responsible for discovering similar ideas as their human counterparts. Dr. Kopalski wrote the publication mostly as a piece of historical appreciation, but it also serves as a reference framework for new Federation scientists to delve into these ancient theories to prove their worth in the warp-technological era. Dr. Kopalski was not afraid to include several controversial people in his documents, such as the Klingon scientist Waafrun, who was responsible for the creation of nuclear weapons on Qo’Nos. “In my study, I found it important to include all historical figures, no matter how dangerous their ideas might’ve been,” said Dr. Kopalski. Federation scientists have commended Dr. Kopalski for his thorough work and are looking to spreading the publication around Federation space. “It truly shows how far the Federation has come in its scientific research over so many years,” said Minister Usei of Culture on the piece. Dr. Kopalski hopes that the dissertation becomes part of a further study into the history of science, a field he fears has been neglected for some time now. However, the professor confessed that many of the works of human scientists were lost during the nuclear wars. He had to carefully piece together evidence from disparate sources, most notably the ancient Vatican archives that were mostly spared in those disastrous times. The post Astrophysicist publishes memorial dissertation appeared first on Federation News Service. View the full article

DELOS SYSTEM — Fifty-two government officials representing 32 regions on Delos IV were held hostage for eight hours this week when a group of “unsatisfied Brekkian citizens” isolated the politicians in their own government building and demanded that they sign a partial unification accord. The Federation’s relationship with the Brekkian people has been strenuous at best following Starfleet meddling nearly three decades ago between the Brekkian and Ornaran cultures, effectively freeing the Ornaran people from wrongful servitude to the Brekkian people. Federation vessels of any kind struggle to enter the Delos system without a flare-up of diplomatic conflict with Brekkian representation, in spite of the efforts made by the quickly redeveloping Ornarans. Historically a society not united under one government, this week marked the first time leaders of approximately 32 Brekkian territories came together to discuss trade and possible unification – talks of which experts suspected would result in very little. But tense discussions were quickly done away with when a group of just six citizens managed to take control of the building, refusing officials exit until such time that all 52 people unanimously agreed to a large document, dictating exactly how a unified government would operate and the penalties that would be incurred if the leaders failed to follow through. The six offenders were described as “possibly Brekkian” in appearance, wearing white clothing and appearing non-hostile. Witnesses indicated that no weapons were used during the building’s takeover, and no injuries were reported. The leader of the group, an aging Brekkian man with brown hair and eyes, wearing a white beanie, called himself “Jhalen Novu”, and spent much of the eight hours seated with access to a rebreather (possibly suffering a medical condition). He was described as “calm” and “extremely understanding” – strange descriptors to give someone responsible for a hostile takeover. Diplomatic conflicts with the small and easily forgotten world of Delos IV have been far and few between, the last involving an argument over the allowed immigration of a Betazoid child born on Brekkian soil back to the Betazed homeworld. Though Federation President Narala expressed concern over the hostage incident, no offer of assistance has been extended to the Brekkian people. “The Brekkians are not allies – the Federation can barely claim to even be an acquaintance,” said Narala’s office in response to FNS query. “The Federation cannot help disputes had on worlds that are outside of our space, have had no interest in even opening channels for civil discussion with the President, and are intentionally passive aggressive towards Federation vessels passing through the Delos region. As such, we will not be sending help to resolve conflicts on Brekkian soil that do not concern Federation citizens.” According to Brekkian news sources, all government officials were released after signing the partial unification accord, and the six offenders escaped the building shortly after. All Federation citizens have been advised to avoid Delos IV, though no travel restrictions have been placed. The post Brekkian governments held hostage, forced to sign partial unification accord appeared first on Federation News Service. View the full article

J’mai Osen pushes back against the notion that the spirit of the Federation has anything in common with the Borg hive mind. It has recently been suggested that the Federation and the Borg Collective are, at their most basic, far more alike then they would appear on the surface. One columnist has gone so far as to argue that Starfleet’s mission of exploration is comparable to the Borg act of physical and psychological sequestration known as “assimilation.” These claims are deeply odious, inflammatory and wildly offbase, so much so that this columnist feels the original article should be mounted on a plaque on the original columnist’s stasis pod shortly before it’s launched in the direction of the Delta Quadrant. Let us discuss these matters point by point until reason can once again prevail. Explorers versus Predators The first malformed concept we must discuss is the article’s comparison of Starfleet’s exploratory and first contact protocols to that of the wholesale usurpation employed by the Borg. Somehow, it is suggested that Starfleet vessels, who are “not knowing what they’re getting themselves into,” deploy landing parties to examine and catalog new worlds and peoples, and that this behavior can paint them with the same brush as the Collective. While I agree that our contacts with other cultures have not always been entirely without calamity, I would suggest that the differences of intent, and that of our stated non-interference directive, place us in abjectly different moral territory. The Federation, as a people, do not take by force, nor do we consume without consent. We do not suborn cultures to our will and turn them against their fellows, or to whomever our most recent target for conquest may be. We have a long and well-documented history of collaboration and peaceful coexistence with our fellow sentients which speaks plainly of our values. The Borg also have a long and well-documented history, and it is one that will, eons after their scourge has been removed from the galaxy, mark them as one of the most heinous predators to have ever climbed the long ladder up to the stars. Diplomacy versus Domination The second pile of journalistic excrement, that our diplomatic efforts are alike to the Borg’s “philosophy” of forced assimilation, would be laughable were it not so dangerously uninformed. The brave men and women of the diplomatic corp spend years studying the fine arts of cultural sociology and anthropology, along with countless hours spent perfecting a negotiation style that has carried the Federation from its nascent days, through its darkest periods, to the titanic power it is now. These people have, repeatedly, risked and lost their own lives in the pursuit of the dream of mutual coexistence, and to have their efforts slandered in such a way should be an affront to every sensible Federation citizen who lives within our borders. To suggest the Borg, who have slaughtered countless billions in the pursuit of their version of “perfection,” conduct anything resembling this type of diplomacy is sickeningly farcical. The Borg have no such compulsion and similarly, no concept of self-sacrifice, as the very nature of the Collective doesn’t allow for it. Their external “diplomatic” efforts, when they haven’t simply deployed their fleet in overwhelming numbers, have been uniformly self-serving and of convenience to them only. In the incredibly rare cases we’re aware of where dissension occurred within the Collective, their tactics were more akin to a surgeon removing diseased tissue. They quite simply have no belief in the vision of collaboration that the Federation stands for, and it is that very weakness and shortsightedness that has hindered their progress as a people and corrupted them into the foul abomination we know today. The Self-Imposed Limits of the Prime Directive versus the Collective’s Insatiable Hunger The final point, that if the Borg were to institute a Prime Directive of their own, contrary to their entire history, stated aims and cultural drive, suggests the author himself neither understands the Borg or the Prime Directive itself. Time and time again, we have seen with our own eyes, or through records found on dead worlds, what the Borg thinks about “non-interference.” To quote their typical refrain, “Non-interference is irrelevant.” The Collective functions more like a virus than it does as a culture, as it is one explicitly designed to consume and expand itself at any cost. We even have evidence that their aims are so vast, our galaxy itself could not sate their hunger and they have looked into other shards of reality for new resources, to their great and lasting folly. The Federation, in comparison, has gradually grown, through fits and starts, because of how delicately we seek to strike a balance between our aims, and that of our neighbors among the stars. It has limited our expansion in a way the Borg would simply see as inefficient. To them, morality is a net loss logistical issue and nothing more. The Federation Charter is an astonishing document because it codifies a philosophical worldview that, unlike so many similar documents before it, allows for the peaceful and benevolent collaboration of all peoples, of all worlds, to whatever end they, and not the document’s signers, see fit. It is a living document which has been revised, amended, debated, expanded and refined through the work of centuries. The Collective does have this one similarity to us, in that it refines itself over time to be greater than it once was. A greater menace. A greater engine of pain and loss. A greater monster to all those who would not willingly give of themselves. A greater plague. In this writers opinion, the Federation and the Borg are more alien to one another than any other species or lifeform we’ve ever attempted to interact with. They are the very antithesis to what we are as a people and the anathema to what we consider most precious in life. For any rational adult to think otherwise is the most literal definition of insanity, and we should pity, and seek to educate, any soul that profoundly confused. The post The Hive Mind: A Rebuttal for the Rational appeared first on Federation News Service. View the full article

SAN FRANCISCO, EARTH — Disturbing reports have been received that many Starfleet personnel are joining the Nyberrite Alliance once they have completed their tour of duties. The main group reported as enlisting are usually crewmen up to the rank of petty officer. Naturally, this is a very worrying finding, and investigations are in motion to discover the root of this disturbing trend. Initial reports are that crew unsatisfied with promotion prospects are joining for opportunities to advance in rank and gain honour as what is classed as an equivalent to an old Earth military called the Foreign Legion. The French Foreign Legion was active in the 19th, 20th, and 21st century. It served across Earth in many conflicts. The Nyberrite Alliance has a similar reputation. So far, unconfirmed reports believe the Nyberrites are preparing for combat with an as-yet-unknown opponent. It is rumoured they may well be planning an offensive against the Orion Syndicate. FNS has yet to find a Nyberrite to confirm these reports; however, the loss of many exceptional Starfleet personnel will surely be a blow for starship operations across the Federation. In a meeting with the press, Admiral Jenkins at Starfleet Command unveiled plans to aid retention. “Crew who take this offer can elect to do a reduced semester of officer training or receive enhanced training to help them achieve higher rank/responsibility if they choose to accept it,” said Jenkins. Another high ranking Starfleet official who did not wish to be named stated that Starfleet is looking into additional plans to tempt crew to remain with the service rather than leave. The post Nyberrite Alliance increases recruiting of ex-Starfleet personnel appeared first on Federation News Service. View the full article

VULCAN — Winner of the Saarum Strange Prize, the first holonovel in the Daavyc series has already begun to gain traction with the galaxy’s champion writers. An outstanding plot, combined with original and obsessive characters to get lost in, suspense and terror to lose sleep over – You think you know crime writing? Think again! Falling short of winning the coveted prize for fiction before, author Skilku showed his delightful surprise by deeming the competition as “satisfactory” and bestowing his gratitude for those who voted to keep the expanding series in the running. While there were many dry eyes in the house, the ceremony hosted in Vulcan’s prestigious ShiKahr Academy, there is a renowned respect for the clear imagination and dedication to the craft Skilku has shown. “It’s not something you’d expect to find yourself in,” praised Ibil Graaax, a critic recognized for reviewing several leading literary works in recent years. “The deductive capabilities of the lead are almost Sherlockian in delivery; however, the writer has teamed this with a coalescing sequence of events, and an interesting twist involving, without giving too much away, Bendii syndrome, that leaves the reader questioning the very nature of the boundaries of the novel itself. It will keep you up at night.” There are six holonovels currently in the works to be designed fully, which will continue to follow the adventures of the main character, Daavyc, into the crippling world of crime and thrilling intrigue. If harking back to the golden age of puzzles and vice whets the appetite for more, readers can expect the next installment of the highly anticipated, harrowing tale to be available on the Federation Library Network within the month. The post Vulcan holonovelist Skilku wins premier prize for pushing the boundaries of the crime genre appeared first on Federation News Service. View the full article

When people think of the Borg, they imagine the worst possible way someone can be thrown into a system against their will. Acting in a manner as if it’s the only way for others to join them. The Collective’s techniques are questionable at best and the way people are turned into mindless drones is unnerving, but doesn’t Starfleet act in a similar manner? One would typically argue that the United Federation of Planets has better morals and ethics than the Borg. Yet do we really not know what we’re getting ourselves into as our starships approach undocumented planets? Instead of documenting what we see from orbit, we feel compelled to go down to the surface and explore the unknown, not fully grasping how an indigenous species would treat us as if we were the hive mind ourselves. The Prime Directive has a set of rules that help Starfleet Officers be more mindful of species who think we are just as alien as they are to us. But what if the Borg had the same structure? Obviously, we have a better understanding through communicating first contact through our diplomats than the hive mind does. But isn’t that the same thing as assimilating someone? We give them provocative ideas and things for unknown species to consider — but through the lens of our own opinion. Just the same goes with the Borg. They have their own opinion, however harmful it is, that they don’t have the mindset to reconsider themselves. The post The “hive mind” of the Federation and the Borg: Are they similar to one another? appeared first on Federation News Service. View the full article