Thanks Ali, for another awesome issue, as always!

Quote by Seannewboy

Actually im thinking that our fleet does not know the power of the Dark Side.

Hah. I'm *always* desperate for people to contribute ST:TOR (and GW2) stuff, and because I don't play those games I'm entirely relient on contributions. Something on LoS would be fantastic.

All of my Klingon ships are named after Roman Emperors (Hadrianus, Septimus Severus, et al).

I have four Fed officers. All but one of those officers use mythical Greek names. My main, T'oi, names all his ships after famous scholars and scientists. My Ambassador is named after a very famous LGBT Medieval Scholar, the U.S.S. John E. Boswell, more on him later; my Mirror Science Recon Vessel is the U.S.S. Niehls Bohr, my Recon Science Vessel is the original U.S.S. Carl Sagan in game.

Captain's Yachts are named for other university lecturers and administrators I am friends with.

~J

Actually im thinking that our fleet does not know the power of the Dark Side.

So this project arose from the character backstory I'd given my KDF character, Semil. As a matter of personal preference, playing Klingon holds little appeal for me. But this Vorta character of mine dates back to the days of dial-up and using AOL CDs as coasters.

So how to explain a Vorta working for the Klingon Empire? And here, we join the story.

Chapter I: From Beginning to End to Beginning

The first few breaths were always the worst part, he remembered. Far moreso than the disorientation, the nausea, or the dizziness. Crystalline pins surged through the lungs, in deep, gulping gasps.

The rancid sweet smell of the bath, he recognized as colloidal growth medium A8. The warm gel provided just the faintest resistance to movement. Not that there was anywhere to get to in a hurry goopy and naked. Definitely growth medium A8. He didn't have to open his eyes to know it was a cloning vat, but did so anyways. The dull searing of overly bright lights overhead did little to provide clues anyways.

A few more gulps of razor-edged air weren't enough to drown out the voice that boomed out of the black void at the edge of his peripheral vision. "Don't strain. Your retinas have not yet completely matured."

He recognized in the voice reasonably fluent, if strangely accented, Dominionese. But what accent?

"Do you know where you are?"

It wasn't a standard reorientation protocol, he remembered, but it seemed reasonable given the circumstances. It wasn't entirely clear what protocols he was remembering anyways. "Kwonat." He forgot that speech took some time. Factory fresh vocal cords didn't seem like they needed time to adjust until you needed them. He paused to slow down and concentrate. Just like in training. "C-cloning vat."

"Do you know who you are?"

Well, of course he did. The memory engrams were supposed to come pre-loaded, after all. No use being a race of cloners, if you didn't have the kinks worked out after a few millenia. Still, what seemed like an obvious answer wasn't springing up unbidden.

A few moments passed before the right neurons synapsed. "Sshmul." Dammit. Again with the enunciating. "Ssssemil. Semil. Aaagent eight-ssshix-six... freee... onnne... seven." It was always so frustrating having to relearn how to use one's tongue, even if he knew it wouldn't last.

A tube was pulled roughly from out his nose by the vague blurs shifting in his clouded vision. Hardly the worst discomfort or indignity in the process. Is that something new?

"What's the last thing you remember?"

Moments seemed like an eternity as he struggled to piece together a jumble of images. Smells of fire and burning. A dull pain throbbing from his shoulder. Sounds of klaxons and rumbling deckplates. A few barely whispered abortive "I..." came out, with no clear intent to continue or finish.

A second booming voice, only slightly less abrasive, made itself known from the background of the dark void. "It's possible some memory engrams did not engraft. Or the imprints are still integrating complex memory access. We'll know more after the full cognitive series. With the first battery..."

"Aaaavenal." Even slurred, Semil's voice quieted the other two. "Avenal seven. Firsssht, dead. Lost.. starboard nacelle. P-piloted... transporrrters down. Crasssh land...?"

Silence. From the radiant warmth and the fetid breath, Semil could tell someone was leaning in. Even with the hushed volume, he could recognize the first voice. "And who do you serve?"

Even without functioning retinas, Semil blinked. "Who... sssurve...?"

The voice asked again, slow and deliberate. "Who do you serve?"

Semil stammered again, with non-reply, and fell silent.

After a few moments, the second voice came back to intervene. "We'll know more after the full cognitive series."

I name my ships after French composers. Machaut, Dufay, Couperin, etc.

Quote by Seannewboy

Just out of curiosity what would be a due date for getting an article in?

March 17, for the March-April edition of the magazine.

Were you thinking of contributing a feature on PvE? :)

The one that has the actual Kumari name is uber badass.

Quote by Seannewboy

Did everyone see the new season log with all 3 of the variants?

http://sto.perfectworld.com/news/?p=821691

*Hyperventilates*

*Faints*

Did everyone see the new season log with all 3 of the variants?

I stopped watching the UK version when they killed off a certain character off-screen. Don't want to say who it is in case it's a spoiler.

Hey Tamek,

Glad we were able to be there for you even though we didn't realize it. :)

My sympathies and understanding for you. I know it's difficult, but just know that we are here for you.

And thank you for being there with us as well last night. Your company was very welcome. I won't go into details, but it was nice having a normal night last night with other guys as well. So even though you didn't know it either, you were helpful and supportive as well. :)

Just out of curiosity what would be a due date for getting an article in?

The US version has gone in a completely different direction from the UK, they could merge again I suppose, but I doubt it. The UK version went to a really weird place in season 3, I could barely watch it and I dont think they'd repeat that for a US audience.

Even though I was not part of this conversation on Vent, I'm really glad you found comfort talking to them about this. Putting your pet to sleep is never an easy thing to do. They're like family, you know? I'm really sorry to hear about your cat. :( *hugs* I really wish you well.

Oh wow sorry to here that im glad we was helpful :)

Not sure where to put this. I wanted to say thank you to the crew I was chatting with in Vent overnight tonight. This morning I am going to put my cat to sleep in a couple of hours. Last night could have been real crappy being all by myself. Thank you for letting me chill and feel a little like a normal person last night.


You never really know what someone else is going through. I didn't say anything because I didnt want to be a buzz kill.

I have put a picture of her stalking her natural enemy in my profile.

Does anyone keep up with both the US and UK versions?

I've been thinking about watching the UK version again, but I don't want to if its going to spoil the plot of the US version.

I bought an Asus Transformer tablet. I didn't quite know what I was going to with it besides play games and surf the web... So that's pretty much all I do with it. I do love to travel so the only real reason was to make it easier for me to keep in touch with people when I'm out of the country.

Though right now I just take it to work and surf facebook. :3

^ thanks man. I was thinking more handwritten notes with a stylus us more my style. (lol see what i did there, style jokes).

Is that somehting you can do with a Nexus? That was the other one I was looking at.