Laria Herren

On a Starfleet ship or station, especially in the days before replicators and advanced food synthesizers, one of the most valuable members of the crew is the ship’s chef. The crew works best if there are a variety of quality dishes available in the mess hall. Just take a look at Deep Space Nine. The promenade was full of restaurants for the crew to choose from. Whether you would rather join Bashir and Garak for lunch at the Replimat, visit Quark’s, or make your own meals like Captain Sisko, there is a dining option for you. Even in the age of replicators creating ready-to-serve meals out of thin air there is still a preference for food made from scratch. People are willing to forgo the convenience of a replicator for a home-cooked meal. A real chef and a dining establishment to supplement a mess hall full of replicators can still benefit a 24th century ship or station. But who would you pick to be your ship’s chef? There are no shortage of chefs with culinary experience, both Starfleet and civilian. Some of them are restaurateurs full-time, while others just see cooking as a hobby or skill. If you had your own ship, who would you ask to keep the galley on your ship running smoothly and producing good food? Do you think that your crew is tough enough to survive Leola Root everything? Maybe you would prefer to see Sisko’s Creole Kitchen open a location on your ship. Who would you choose to run your ship’s mess hall? Be sure to cast your vote below!

One of the most impressive things about the Starbase 118 community is the wiki. It provides an extensive record of the group’s history going back years. The UFOP: Starbase 118 Wiki has been online since early 2004. There you can find hundreds of character biographies as well as a list of ships in the fleet, both active and inactive. When it comes to the various classes of ship in the Star Trek universe, everyone has their favorites. Ships range from the pride of the Federation fleet like the Sovereign-class or Galaxy-class to the very fragile Oberth-class. Many of the “official” starship classes have been used for PC vessels in the fleet at one time or another. However, starship classes from sources outside of the main shows have also been used. Simming on a new class of ship provides exciting opportunities to expand on the locations and bring to life ships that we didn’t get to know over several seasons on-screen. This week we’d like to know which of those non-canon ship classes you think deserves a promotion. Information about any of the classes that you haven’t heard of before can be found on the wiki. Which non-canon ship class would you most like to see featured in a future series? Cast your vote and let us know below!

Starfleet is an incredibly large organization with many different branches. The backbone of Starfleet are the Starfleet ships which explore the galaxy and serve as the primary line of defense for the Federation. There are also starbases and ground facilities throughout the Federation that often have a similar roster of senior staff as Starfleet ships. There are also special branches of Starfleet that are focused on specific issues like legal matters and courts martial, intelligence-gathering, or medicine. There are also those highest-ranked admirals at Starfleet Command who oversee the entire organization. Each Starfleet officer has their own specializations and their own ambitions for their time in Starfleet. Not everyone wants to be an admiral or rise all the way through the ranks. Every Starfleet officer isn’t in it for the long run. The galaxy offers plenty to see and do beyond Starfleet. Or they might just like what they do and not want to take on different responsibilities. This week we want to know more about your character’s career ambitions in Starfleet. Are they the ambitious type aiming to become an admiral, or are they more than happy where they are now? Or did Michael Eddington get it right when he said that “It’s the captain’s chair that everyone has their eye on.”? What are your character’s Starfleet career goals? Let us know below!

The United Federation of Planets is all about bringing its members together. Federation worlds are spread all across the Alpha Quadrant and vary wildly. Each planet has their own climate, history, attitudes, and cultures. However, all of them can still come together and work towards a common goal that benefits them all. Hundreds of species serve side by side in Starfleet and the Federation government. For the most part the interactions between all of the members of the Federation is related to defense or other vital government functions. The Olympic Games on Earth brings together most of the countries on Earth to compete together in various sporting events. What if the Federation had something similar? Each member planet has not only the unique physiology of their native species, but also that planet’s physical characteristics and the sports they have there. While Vulcans have more raw strength than other species, they might lack as many experienced athletes or be at a disadvantage in the cold. Meanwhile the team from Andoria would likely find that operating in the cold weather conditions of most winter sports comes naturally to them. Different sports will require different skill sets and most planets will have at least one sport where they have an advantage. But who do you think would wind up with the most wins? Does Team Earth have your vote? Which Federation world would win the most gold medals? Let us know who you think would win below!

On the wiki, the Intelligent Lifeform Index lists 188 different species that are permitted for player characters. This list includes the usual suspects like Humans, Vulcans, and Klingons. There are also plenty of species who only made a single appearance anywhere in any Star Trek series. Species original to Starbase 118 like Laudeans are also on the list. New writers have no shortage of choices when it’s time to pick a species for a character. But how can you narrow down so many choices to one? A species like the Vulcans have a large collection of source material that can be drawn from. Decades of existing in the Trek universe have made the Vulcans very well-established. Meanwhile there are species that have little more than a name. The history, characteristics, and cultures of a species can influence how we write for our characters. What helped you decide which species your character would be? Each species that you could choose makes a character unique and brings something unique to the table. A well-developed species with a rich history and culture provides plenty of material that can be used in sims. Meanwhile, helping to flesh out the worlds and customs of a less-explored species like the Bolians or the Deltans can be just as fulfilling. There is no right or wrong way to decide which species your character should be. How did you choose your character’s species? Be sure to cast your vote and let us know your thoughts!

Recently, the first trailer for Star Trek: Picard was released. Since then, people have been analyzing everything in the trailer. There are already fan theories and speculation about the plot based on details revealed in the trailer. Based on what we’ve seen so far, Star Trek: Picard will feature the return of multiple old characters and introduce us to a new cast as well. Nothing is certain until the series actually premieres in 2020, but we are learning more as the series gets closer. This week we want to know your thoughts about the upcoming series. Can the first episode of the new Picard series not come fast enough? Are you trying to control expectations based on trailers? Are you excited for Stark Trek: Picard? Be sure to cast your vote and share your thoughts below!

The Star Trek galaxy is full of alien worlds and while some may be very similar to Earth, many of the more developed planets have a distinct feeling all their own. Whether you want an Earth-like planet full of beautiful art and architecture or a smog-filled metropolis with near-constant rain, there’s a planet for you somewhere in the galaxy. Some, like the pressure domes of Luna or the underwater cities of Bolarus IX offer very different environments compared to Earth. If you were to pick one of the planets in the galaxy as a place to live, where would you begin your search? Perhaps a small house overlooking the Vulcan Fire Plains. Is a large city like those on Ferenginar or Qo’noS more your speed? If you’re looking for a breathtaking view, seeing the Bolarus ocean floor outside your window is tough to compete with. Or maybe you’d be more than happy right where you are, as there’s no place like home. Which Star Trek world would you most like to live on? Be sure to cast your vote and let us known which planet you would choose below!

There is no shortage of alien species in Star Trek. However, at times a species can lack a certain level of cultural complexity. Alien races in science fiction tend to become singular, monolithic entities without much variation or development outside of the defining features of their species. The Klingons are warriors obsessed with honor and combat, and this is reflected in almost all aspects of them that we see on screen. Everything on Ferenginar, including ideas of the afterlife, are wrapped up in business and the acquisition of profit. The Vulcans are always collected and logical. Despite this, Star Trek does manage to give its aliens a fair amount of development and worldbuilding to help make them feel more realistic. We learn more about the major players in the Alpha Quadrant and beyond both through storylines featuring them and in how specific characters like Worf grow and develop over time. Which species do you think was the best-developed and least one-note? Be sure to cast your vote!

Starfleet seems to have a problem with keeping their ships safe. In a fight between ships, a Starfleet ship can usually hold its own. The problems begin when someone gets on the ship. Starfleet Security has demonstrated time and time again that it might be just a little bit too trusting. Starfleet ships have been hijacked by just about every group imaginable. The Maquis, Klingons, Romulans, and Bynars are all among the many powers who have successfully commandeered Starfleet ships. The flagship of the Federation itself was once taken over by a group of Ferengi in a few surplus Klingon ships. It doesn’t even end there. Security protocols are easily bypassed by the officers and civilians aboard the ship. If you want to avoid being tracked, all you need to do is remove your combadge. At one point, a civilian was able to escape the ship in a shuttle without assistance or permission from anyone. People could be replaced by changelings for months and avoid having their identities or their acts of sabotage being discovered. However, not every ship had this problem to the same degree. There are some threats that can’t be prepared for. No security is entirely foolproof. This week, we want to hear your thoughts on the issue. Which series featured the worst ship security? Be sure to cast your vote below!

One of the biggest steps in a Starfleet officer’s career is the promotion to the rank of captain. Given that such a promotion might come with a change in assignment and a ship or station to command, this isn’t a promotion we often see in the middle of a series. While members of the senior staff may evolve as characters and move through the ranks, we don’t really see them take that final step. However, we occasionally see glimpses of the possible future where a character like Nog or Doctor Crusher has become the captain of their own ship. These alternate timelines only last for an episode or two before things return to the status quo. A new series is currently in the works that follows the continued adventures of Captain Picard. Michael Dorn has pitched a series that follows Worf as a captain. This week, we want you to imagine that you are making a new sequel series and choose which character you’d promote and put in command. Would you want to see more of Captain Sulu? Perhaps a series set further in the future with an older and more experienced Nog or Harry Kim would be more to your liking. Which character would you cast as the captain for a new Star Trek series?

Insurance for Starfleet ships would be a nightmare. The ships are constantly investigating dangerous anomalies and getting into fights. But that’s not even the most dangerous thing that a Starfleet ship does. There’s a less obvious danger hidden in plain sight on most Starfleet ships. A piece of technology that is so ridiculously prone to failure or malfunction that it is one of the best-known Star Trek cliches. Of course, this is the holodeck. It would seem that every time an episode centers on the holodeck, something has to go wrong with it. This could be as simple as the doors locking and the safety protocols turning off. However, that is only the start of what could go wrong with the holodeck. It could even, with a little outside interference, take on a mind of its own and actively try to hunt you down and kill you. We can only assume that the engineers responsible for the holodeck safety protocols are the same engineers responsible for the tendency of bridge consoles to explode. There are a lot of problems that could be pointed to in the holodeck’s safeguards. Which holodeck malfunction do you think was the worst? Let us know your thoughts on the holodeck’s safety below!

The most important aspect of the overall story of Voyager was the distance of their journey back home to the Alpha Quadrant. Shortening the distance that the ship had to travel, or even returning to Earth immediately was a frequent plot device in Voyager episodes. It seems like at least once a season there is the potential of some shortcut getting the crew back home only to not work out or only take them part of the way. On one occasion this desire to find an alternate way home got the ship stuck in a trap they thought was a wormhole. It’s understandable that there were occasional episodes centered around this idea. Sometimes it was a good idea to shave time off of the trip like in the episode “Night” where the ship had to get clear of an empty void of space thousands of light years across or in the finale “Endgame”. However, it will appear in a story from time to time where it isn’t related to the primary plot. Sometimes the plot device of a shortcut to Earth was just used to raise the stakes of an episode and was never mentioned again. This week, we want to know which Voyager shortcut you felt was the least necessary for the episode. Let us know your answer below!

The holodeck is one of the most versatile pieces of technology at Starfleet’s disposal. When you use the holodeck, there is a nearly limitless amount of resources at your disposal. Any item in the database from a wine glass to a shuttlecraft can be recreated by the computer. Characters with artificial personalities can be added in to either create a particular atmosphere or act out a story. The walls and floor with the yellow grid on them can become any number of vistas or locations from across the galaxy with the push of a button. Everything is controlled by the ship’s computer, adapting the program as it goes along to provide whatever the user is looking for. Holodecks are primarily an outlet for crew recreation, but they have many other uses as well. Aspects of the Delta Flyer were originally designed and simulated using the holodeck. Authors can make a living by writing holonovels. In some cases we’ve even seen holodecks used in group therapy sessions or to covertly test someone’s loyalty to the Federation. In this week’s poll, we want to know what your character most frequently does when they use the holodeck. Do they save the world from evil villains and take part in historical battles, or are they more likely to utilize the holodeck when they’re trying to simulate a project or need to do some training exercises? What does your character use the holodeck for most? Cast your vote and let us know below!

The ships created by the major powers of the galaxy each have their own unique characteristics and design schemes that identify who they belong to. The Romulans, Cardassians, Klingons, and Ferengi all have very distinct styles of ship design. However, most ships share the same essential elements. There is almost always a bridge, some form of energy and projectile weapons, both warp and sublight engines, and basic living spaces for the ship’s crew. All of these features come standard for starships all over the galaxy. Beyond unique design styles, most factions also have their own special technologies that are seen as trademarks of their fleets. Both the Romulans and Klingons equipped their ships with their own versions of cloaking devices. The Breen were feared for their unique energy dampening weapon that turned the Second Battle of Chin’toka into a decisive defeat for the Federation, Klingons, and Romulans. There were also non-standard features that were unique to certain classes of ship. The USS Prometheus had a revolutionary new multi-vector assault mode that could turn one ship into three built on older saucer separation technology. If you were designing a starship, you would have to include all of the standard features in the design. But no ship has room for all of the optional extra technologies that are seen on starships across the galaxy. A ship that was transwarp-capable, cloaked, multi-vector assault mode equipped, and armed with special weapons would likely never hold together. Ships like the USS Defiant show that an over-specialized ship stuffed with advanced technology was an engineering nightmare to keep running. If you were designing a starship, which non-standard feature would be at the top of your list? Let us know what your first choice would be below!

Of all the famous Starfleet captains, there are few who have made as many controversial decisions as Captain Jonathan Archer of the NX-01. Archer’s Enterprise was the first Warp Five starship built by Humans. It was Earth’s first deep space explorer, and Starfleet itself was still a fairly new and inexperienced organization. Captain Archer did not have any of the benefits that future Starfleet captains enjoyed. He had access to less data, was a member of Starfleet when the organization was relatively weak, and didn’t have the experience of previous Starfleet captains to call on as he was the first to go out into the unexplored reaches of space. Archer would eventually serve as a role model for his successors, teaching them both what to do and what not to do. Mistakes, even major mistakes, have happened with every captain. Some have even acted in a criminal manner. Some of Captain Archer’s decisions do make some sense given the lack of precedent and his limited experience. However, there are some decisions that seem to indicate a simple lack of good command skills. The use of an airlock to torture a prisoner is just one example. We’d like to know what you think of the command decisions of one of Starfleet’s earliest captains. What do you think is the worst thing that Captain Archer did?

Congratulations and welcome to the fleet!

If you are looking for something to eat on a ship with replicators there is no shortage of options. Starfleet replicators have a massive library of recipes from across the Federation and beyond. It doesn’t matter what a Starfleet officer could want. Whether as simple as a piece of toast for breakfast or catering a dinner party for members of a dozen alien species, the replicator can provide. Simply push a button and ask for whatever dish is desired. And if on the off chance there is a food not already in the database the replicator pattern can be created and uploaded to the database. However, everyone has their own preferences for food. Everyone has foods that they prefer not to eat if they can at all avoid it. It is unlikely that many people could go through the entire replicator database and not find some foods that they would dislike. This week’s poll asks you what dishes would not be found on your character’s table. What types of food can your character not stand? Be sure to cast your vote!

In the distant past, Romulans and Vulcans were one. Romulans did not exist for centuries of Vulcan history. Only during the Age of Surak did the Romulans begin as their own people. They refused to adopt Surak’s philosophies about logic and emotion. These Vulcans who “marched beneath the raptor’s wings” left the planet on a long odyssey. Eventually, these wayward Vulcans would find their way to Romulus and form the Romulan Star Empire. For the longest time Vulcan and Romulus remained separate. They went on divergent paths of history and developed their own unique cultures. The Vulcans joined the Federation and continued to follow the logical path of Surak’s teachings. Meanwhile, the Romulans became an expansionist military power built on extreme paranoia and mistrust. Despite their common roots the two civilizations didn’t seem to have much in common. This hasn’t kept people on both sides from desiring a unification between the Vulcans and Romulans. What form would this reunification take? For most Vulcans, the idea was to have peaceful diplomatic discussions with the Romulans. The Romulan Star Empire saw the goal of reunification as the conquest of Vulcan. Reunification remains a dream for many Romulans and Vulcans despite the barriers to unification. What do you think about the prospects of a reunion for the two powers? Could Vulcan-Romulan Reunification work? Let us know your thoughts and cast your vote!

In Star Trek, the characters often reference art from their respective cultures. This could be as simple as a passing reference to a novel or something as complex as playing out scenes from a play on the holodeck. Data was a fan of Sherlock Holmes. Worf was known for being well-versed in all things related to Klingon culture. Multiple members of the Enterprise-D senior staff played parts in classic plays from Earth during their down time. Star Trek is full of references to classical music, Shakespeare, and literature. However, one aspect of culture seen much less frequently is the modern-day literature, art, and music of the Federation. Whether it be Worf’s Klingon opera or Data and Picard playing out a scene from Henry V, most of the culture from the Federation that we see is historical and not current. With art from Earth it makes sense for producers to reference well-known classics like Shakespeare. But even when dealing with alien art we always seem to see art from that world’s distant past. While a few episodes do give us glimpses into the bestselling holonovels and popular culture of the 24th century, it seems that most people are content to stick with the classics from centuries ago. What do you think about the lack of modern culture in the Star Trek universe? Is it just a trick to limit production costs or a major missed opportunity for worldbuilding? Cast your vote and let us know what you think!

The command department is a very important department to the ship, but most people don’t start there. Captains and first officers all start somewhere. Everyone was an ensign once. With time and experience officers climb up the ranks and may one day find themselves sitting in the center chair. You can never know which department your commanding officer worked in before they were in command. Perhaps they were an engineer, or maybe a medical officer. Maybe they bounced between multiple duty posts before going into a command role. There are several skills that someone commanding a starship requires. Of course, good leadership skills are required. A commanding officer will have to take care of overseeing the ship’s mission as well as delegate tasks to different departments and officers. Each department head acts a specialist in their field while the command division oversees everything and keeps the ship running smoothly. It also helps to have at least a basic familiarity with the different departments under your command so that you can delegate work effectively to the right specialized group of officers. There are captains who have come from every Starfleet background imaginable. Captain Picard was originally the flight controller aboard his first command, the Stargazer. Before serving on the Enterprise Captain Kirk worked on a phaser crew. Captain Janeway was a science officer during her early Starfleet career. This week’s poll asks for your opinion on which duty post you think would best prepare a person for a command role. Is there a specific duty post that provides unique experience that would be useful to a member of the command department? Maybe experience with multiple departments is better and makes for a more well-rounded skill set? Do you think that no department holds the advantage? Let us know which duty post you think best prepares officers for command below!

Welcome to the fleet, everyone! Congratulations on graduating.

The Kobayashi Maru Scenario is the most notorious test at Starfleet Academy. This test is the famous no-win scenario that tests the character of a Starfleet officer as much as it tests the technical skills of command. The scenario is famously impossible to beat. No matter what course of action you take the outcome is always the same. Only one Starfleet officer ever beat the Kobayashi Maru, and it’s only because he cheated. While the exact elements of the simulation have changed from era to era the basic setup remains the same. The version that we are most familiar with strands the civilian freighter Kobayashi Maru in the Klingon Neutral Zone after striking a mine. Once the cadet’s ship enters the Neutral Zone multiple Klingon battle cruisers converge on them and attack. It’s considered impossible to both survive the attack still intact and save the crew of the Kobayashi Maru. In a possible variant in the 24th century, a Ferengi transport and an ambush by Romulan warbirds are used in place of an attack by the Klingons. It is obvious that there is no “right” answer when it comes to facing the infamous scenario. That’s why it is considered unwinnable, and what makes it an excellent tool for teaching command-track cadets. How the cadet chooses to proceed is more important than finding a path to a complete victory. This week, we’d like to know what you think is the best answer to the no-win scenario, if there is one. While you might not be able to win, do you see a strategy that is superior to the others? What do you think is the best approach to the Kobayashi Maru scenario?

Congratulations, ensigns! Welcome to the fleet.

Welcome to the fleet!

The United Federation of Planets is a union made up of hundreds of member worlds. Starting as an alliance between Humans, Vulcans, Andorians, and Tellarites, the Federation grew outward as more and more worlds joined. Planet by planet and sector by sector the United Federation of Planets expanded its reach across the Alpha Quadrant. Hundreds of species live in harmony and cooperate together to operate the Federation and its military arm, Starfleet. Many governments of varying attitudes and governing styles call the Federation home. However, there are some governments that might not make that transition so gracefully. Some governments just aren’t well-suited to giving up their autonomy and becoming just one part of a larger whole. They may be too paranoid or too independently-minded to give up their power to a higher organization. Others might consider some of the core ideals of the Federation too restrictive. Joining the post-scarcity Federation without a strong unified currency would be a hard sell for the business-friendly Ferengi. Many of the enemies and allies of the Federation probably wouldn’t smoothly transition from autonomous government to Federation member. This week’s poll asks you which government you think could make the change easiest. Would the Klingon Empire be able to set aside their more aggressive military policies and merge together with Starfleet? How much work would have to be done to reform Cardassia’s government until it could be accepted? The change would be difficult for any of them, and some might not be able to do it. Which government do you think would make the easiest transition into Federation membership? Let us know what you think below!