Captain’s Corner: Toni Turner, CO of Duronis II Embassy

StarBase 118 Staff · April 15, 2018

Each month, we interview a captain or first officer of the fleet to gain more insight on what it takes to command a ship and learn more about how each of these staff members found their way into these roles.

This month, we’re interviewing Rear Admiral Toni Turner, the CO of the Duronis II Embassy.

TRAENOR: It looks like the last time we interviewed you was just over two years ago – certainly things must have changed some during that time! Can you refresh our audience’s memory and tell us a little bit about yourself including where you hail from and what you like to do when you’re not contributing to our group?

TURNER: It’s been a busy two years, filled with changes. I’ve always live in the “Deep South,” but I moved to a new house during that time, closed my business, and now enjoy a less stressful life with my four German Shepherds.

Some of our newer members might not know what, if any, differences there are to simming on an installation like the Embassy as compared to simming on a ship. What would you tell them to expect with such a unique venue?

They should expect the Embassy to be like a home base, because now the we added the USS Thor, a Vista Class starship, and converted the USS Thunder, an Akira class, into an all Marine ship, and a NPC ship USS Bronwyn, this has given us a wider range of exploration that includes the Typhon Expanse. This change has not only presented a challenge for players, but also gives them more time aboard a starship.

During shoreleaves they have more time for character building as they interact with other players. Family life thrives at the Embassy as some of our married couples make their homes on the Embassy grounds, and raise their children there. The Embassy encompasses the best of both Worlds — land and space.

Your rank is a dead giveaway that you are a valued veteran member of this organization. How much has things changed during your tenure with our group, or conversely, how much has it remained the same?

In the time between 2005, when I joined the group, to 2018 change was inevitable. Writers have matured, gotten better at their craft, and it shows in their writing. The two constants: our Constitution guides our leadership and members in all matters, and we have our founder, Tristan Wolf, who is the driving force behind the group as a whole, keeping the group fresh and up-to-date.

Where do you draw your passion and inspiration from when it comes to writing and contributing to the game?

Writing is my passion, and I draw from the inspiration of the other players’ creativity. They are always coming up with something that sparks the urge to write.

With your proven track record as a trainer, mentor, and CO, you’ve certainly seen plenty of rising stars thrive under your watch. What is the most important piece of advice you can give to someone rising up the ranks, whether a new Ensign or a seasoned officer on their way towards their first command?

Learn to play the game by the rules, and when you write, be the character you’ve created… and finally, follow your dreams and never give up.

Finally, you’ve portrayed Toni for a good length of time. How do you keep her fresh and interesting, both to write for and to read, as time goes by?

Toni is the embodiment of how I think the modern woman would be in our stardate. She is a progressive woman who fought her way through the ranks and along the way she adopted one child, and gave birth to four more, two being twins. She is always walking a delicate balance between Rear Admiral and her children. But her’s has been a tragic story on losing her first two husbands in battles, leaving her with three children to raise alone. However, she is now happily married to the father of her twins – Captain Tyr Waltas.

The thing that I rely on is the other characters I play. Hella is a Marine captain who it a reverse personality of Toni. I like her the best of all the characters I play. She’s Special Operations in a good many covert actions, basically, she a hard hitting hellraiser and pilot, but she is one of many characters that I play.

Thank you so much for your time!

You can read more about RAdm Turner on the wiki.

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