ST: Pandora [[Episode 1.3]
ST: Battlefront [[Episode 1.4]


Lieutenant Edgar Calvin’s Personal Log, Stardate 87730.4: The New Orleans has been destroyed by the Undine using a barrage of heavy plasma torpedoes. The ship had a full crew of two hundred, and I should be grateful that over fifty percent have survived at one hundred and seventeen. However, I view any consolations and optimisms minimize the impact of the lives that were lost and thus an insult to their memories.

The chime at Edgar’s temporary quarters broke the silence. “Enter.”

Aron-Mu walked into the room holding a PADD. “Sir, I’ve retrieved the biographical crew manifest from the flight recorder of the New Orleans. The logs and final events are being decrypted right now.”

Eddie took the PADD and started skimming through the first few names in an alphabetical order. His smile immediately turned into a hard frown. “I don’t recognize any of these people, and half of them are dead.”

“Sir...” Aron said trying to bring his commanding officer back to the current situation. “You can’t blame yourself for this. There was no way we could have been prepared for that kind of fight.”

“Aron, what was your experience on the Kobayashi Maru exam at the Academy?” Edgar asked as he tossed the PADD to the bed. Aron followed it and noticed the wide bed had imprints of two individuals instead of one. He quickly snapped back to attention and looked at Edgar.

“Sir I...failed that test.” Aron confessed. It was not something he liked to admit in the slightest and the embarrassment was completely obvious.

“Everyone does; it’s a test of character, not a puzzle to rescue the ship. Starfleet touts that it’s morally required to judge a cadet’s character in the face of a no-win scenario, to see how they handle overcoming the fear of death.” Edgar scoffed as he paced the room. “What a load of garbage! That test has no merit when you actually face that scenario in reality or on the battlefield.”

Another chime interrupted Edgar’s complaining. The two men exchanged glances. “Enter...”

At the door now was Lt. Matoya. “Captain, do you have a moment? I’d like to discuss some things that have happened during your tour on the New Orleans.”

Edgar grimaced an annoyance as he picked up the PADD he had tossed onto the bed. “Apologies, Lieutenant, but I need to assess the status of my crew right now...excuse me.”

Edgar slipped out of his quarters, dodging Maggie and any line of questioning she had hoped to get through. Maggie turned to Aron and looked fairly annoyed, and Aron deflected the look with one of his own. Maggie faltered slightly that her stare had been so easily deflected, but she quickly brushed it off under the pretense of Aron’s species. Maggie turned to chase after Edgar, but Aron stopped her. “Lieutenant, if I may advise you...”

“And what advice could you have for me, Ensign?” She shot at him, marking rank.

“I advise that you leave him alone until he’s ready to talk to you.” Aron said, making his own exit from Edgar’s quarters. “He can be quite unreasonable if you force the issue.”

Maggie scoffed and made her way to the bridge. Upon entry immediately requested to speak to her captain in his ready room. Once inside and the doors shut, Maggie explained what just happened. “What do you suggest sir, I do not know how long we can allow him to delay this.”

Oren-De thought for a moment then seemed to make a note on his console. “Lieutenant Calvin’s interview is your top priority. All of your other duties are relinquished until you have it. I don’t care how you get the information out of him, just do so quickly.”

Have added my pin to the map too. Great idea. The b/f was quizzing me about the [strike]Guild[/strike] Fleet membership and the best I could tell him was that there's lots of us from everywhere. :-D Really looking forward myself to seeing our gang's distribution.

Boston here. I did the map, great idea Brandon!

San Diego, CA :)

everyone! use this map and add your location:http://www.zeemaps.com/map?group=149208

Press "additions" at the top, then add marker, then click "map select a location", then click on the map where you are and it will fill in your Longitude and Latitude. Enter your user name as the "entry name" :)

I added myself and Peej

OK, here I go. My name is Mike and I'm 38 YO (end of April, I'm 39). I have lived in Tampa for the past 14 years. I work for a very large Health Care company (basically a bunch of hospitals, SNF's, and various other facilites working loosely together under the same umbrella). I have a B.A. in Psych from USF and have been working in health care 4-EVER (usually in a data analyst capacity). I'm currently a Six Sigma Black Belt working with other department to eliminate defects in the processes (variation is EVIL).

Prior to all of this I was in the US Navy for 4 years. Even though there is still a ban, there are a lot of queens in the military (at every rank, every branch, and in every unit). I'm really glad I went, but I'm really glad I'm out. Trust me, it's not as exciting as you would think. I lot of tedious boredom. At least the Marines and Seals onboard made things interesting. I love a man in uniform. Basically my ships (USS Guadalcanal, USS Nassau) only did Medditeranean "cruises". We almost went to Somalia while Clinton was in office (yes, Somalia), but he wised up and brought us back to the Med.

I love games. I remember going to the arcades when I was a kid and played Pac Man and Centipede. My first computer game was called "Wizard's Isle" and it was on a cassette tape that took 6 minutes to play into my Sinclair-Lewis. Gaaawd, I feel old. Now to modern times. I have an XBOX 360 and enjoy Mass Effect, Fallout 3, Borderlands, Dragon Age, and Overlord. For the PC I have Civ 4, Gallactic Civilizations 2, Sins of a Solar Empire, and WoW (been playing since retail).

For Star Trek, I've been watching it for a long time. Not old enough to see TOS when it was on CBS, but saw plenty of it in syndication (we need Horta in the game). TNG was my favorite series. So many good episodes. "All Good Things..." is my favorite. It was the perfect last show. I also enjoyed DS9. I saw some Voyager, but wasn't thrilled with it. My favorite of the movies are 1 (yes, I said the first one), Wrath of Kahn, Voyage Home, and First Contact. I also loved the new one as well and had to buy it on BlueRay.

Other things I love: BSG, B5, Firefly, X-Files, Venture Brothers, Family Guy, American Dad, Phineas and Ferb, Spongebob, Big Bang Theory, 30 Rock, Dune (original movie), Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, Boondocks, Doctor Who, Les Miz, Wicked, V for Vendetta, and many other things.

OK, so I know I made a similar post on the forums, but that was before the game went live and the membership went through the roof lol So, here we go again. Why? Well, I for one would love to meet other members in my area (Tampa, Fl) so I'm sure others would like to do the same.. but we gotta know where everyone is right?

Reply with your location, and maybe a bit about yourself if you like. If you have a facebook or myspace that helps too. I'll start:

Names PJ, live in Tampa, Fl. Biochem major at USF. Facebook is PJ Mitchell, USF network.

Some of us in the fleet are already trying to get a RL social group in tampa bay (hence why I wanted to do this). If you are interested, let me know :)

hehe no need to apologize at all!
I said that was because i didn't want people to think i was spaming the thread lol
hope the tool helps

Well, ok, here goes....

My names Samantha, but friends and people who know me call me Sam, people like shortening names, whatever.

I live in Oregon, USA... there is some nice weather here, and no, it does not rain all the time here :p

I am NOT the best gamer out there, and will never be... I play for fun, usually.

I am an extremely shy person with a touch of social anxiety, so I may not talk much in chat for a while, at least till I get to know a few people. In fact, it's taken me a while to build up the courage to post anything about myself on here, hands shaking and all....

I'm bi, but moving to lesbian.... my current b/f is the last man I will ever be with, and its not even sexual relationship anymore anyway, but we are good friends still.

Thats about all I have for now. Better press the post button now before I get scared and delete this.

Ep 3:

*Captain's Log USS Eclipse Stardate 87758.12*

*Begin encryption protocol Stanton-Beta-Six*

"Captain Sean Stanton reporting. I encrypt this log for specific reasons I shall not go into here. Noone will ever be able to decrypt this, as there are only two other encryption specialists in Starfleet even capable of producing this encryption sequence. Captain Data has better things to do, and Seven wouldn't care enough to attempt. I received a communication from Seven this morning. Took me 10 minutes 15 seconds to decrypt the Borg heuristics she encrypted the message with. She had some intriguing warnings about Borg activity in the Delta Quadrant. She knew that, if the messages came from me, Starfleet might take a second look. As I was reading the message, a hard Red Alert was issued. As I arrived on the bridge, we were hailed by a Klingon Raptor that was decloaking off our starboard bow. It was K'trim. I knew I'd felt a familiar presence, but I just couldn't place it. I thought I was just imagining it. K'trim disappeared only 2 years ago, and he joined the Klingon military. I can't say that I'm surprised, but I had hoped I would never have to face him. He's one of the best friends I've ever had. He taught me everything I know about ground combat and martial arts. He even recommended me to a martial arts competition based upon my three bat'leth technique, where I mirror moves on three bat'leths, one in hand, the other two using my telekinesis. And now, here I am staring at his face as the commander of a Raptor that I will have to destroy. He greeted me, and told me what an honor our fight would be. Sam looked at me, expecting me to try to talk him out of fighting us. I really need to figure out how to shield my mind. Sam, even with our short time together, already knows me better than I know myself. I signaled battle stations and our combat began. The ship sustained little damage in the fight, but I killed a good man today. I can only hope this war doesn't last much longer, or more good men will die.
On a less somber note, we were just in space dock for refit and to requisition crew. I'm starting to get known around the fleet as a gay commander, and its showing. We just received another gay couple. One engineer and another security. Barring a few other ships, I'm starting to get the gayest crew in the fleet. I kind of like it. The crewman's lounge looks like Studio 54 sometimes. And of course, very few people running around these days would even understand what that means. Sam says I should start up some socials or something of the sort. I think he just wants he hook up with someone. And if I didn't know better, sometimes I think that its me. Don't get me wrong. Hes really good looking. Intelligent. And nice. Funny. He and Sabin are becoming rather a comedy duo, at that. But, as Captain, I have to stay apart from the crew. No true emotional attachments. Professional distance. If I fell in love with Sam, I couldn't let him do his job. Anytime he might go into danger, I'd worry. Not like I don't worry already about all of my guys. But Sam's special. And I just don't know what to do. Maybe Seven will know. Her thing with Chakotay seems to be going well.
*End Log*
*Encrypt and Code for Non-Retrieval*

Trying to catch up with posts so I'll read the rest of it tomorrow but looks awesome, great job everyone!

I have posted this before in another thread, but since alot of people still confused about what skills to spend points in here is a tool that will help anyone to better build thier ship

STO char builder

how to use:
on top of the page (right under the URL box)
select Federation or Klingon

then Select your captain class

then on the left of the screen select ship of your choice (defaulted as Advanced Escort, if thats the one you want select another ship then go back to the escort for it to show up
it will then show all the station and abilities your Bridge Officers are allowed to use in the chosen ship, when you select skill, the info on that skill will show up to the right side of the page that tells you what it is

once you have picked all the abilities you like, the middle of the page is the skill tree just like in the gamne, the skills you have picked earlier will be highlighted in yellow
those are the skills if you do spend points in them will improve all the abilities you have chosen for the officers

you will need to spend enough points in each rank to gain access to next tier just like in the game.

hope this helps
maybe the fleet officers can include the tool on the forum somewhere people can access easier? just a thought

Thanks, Brandon and all the writers...what a great read!

-Xak

Amazing job to all the writers! Looks fantastic.

Thanks Brandon for putting it together!

Wonderful job everyone! I'm looking forward to the next issue. :)

Nice pic my friend! Nice.

Great issue everyone!! Wicked funny :).

events updated :)

Hello, everyone!

Please see your email inbox or click here for the second issue of The Stonewall Times!

We look forward to your comments and feedback.

Enjoy!

Took this yesterday blowing up some Cardassians!

Lieutenant, now Lieutenant Commander, Auzrel Lolaro walked down the grey corridor running through the center of what the crew were calling the snow globe. "Stellar cartography is here, and most of my science labs." She waved one hand at the rooms honeycombed into the globe. They were all made of a similar material so as not to disrupt the transparency, and Brooks imagined that standing in one of them while in deep space would feel like standing in the middle of the stars.

"It's great," he told the Trill. "I love how you have it set up. But why are you playing tour guide for me?"

She grinned. "Patience, my dear, patience. Follow me." He trailed after her obediently, watching her point out all the different research stations. Finally, they came to the end of the hall. "So, here's the deal."

Brooks crossed his arms over his chest. "I'm eagerly awaiting this deal."

"Kelphy was supposed to be working in this lab, but she was nauseous just looking at it and begged me to let her keep working out of the sickbay labs."

"And you told her to suck it up and deal, right?"

She gave him the evil eye. "What kind of monster do you think I am?"

Brooks glared right back. "You are the AuzMonster, terror of science departments and sad little doctors."

Auz snorted. "Okay, true enough. But that is not what I did with Kelphy. I let her keep her lab in sickbay, and rather than letting this beautiful workspace go to waste, I went to talk to Sioh."

"You lost me." Brooks was starting to feel the buzz at the back of his neck that warned him something odd was about to happen, but whether it was good odd or bad odd was still up in the air. "How does he factor into this?"

Her grin grew wider. "Well, if you'd shut up, I could tell you." Brooks pretended to zip his lips closed. "Thank you. As I was trying to say, I went to talk to Sioh, and we both agreed that since he had no problem with it, and I have the space and am also the first officer and thus allowed to make these kind of decisions, that if you want to work here on your fabrication projects, the place is yours."

He froze. "It...really? You mean it?"

She tilted her head at him. "Of course I do."

Brooks took a step forward, into the lab. Transparent walls, floors. He'd be in the stars, nothing around him but the deep black and the pure, bright pinpricks of light. "It's beautiful."

Auz's smile turned soft. "It really is, isn't it? I thought you'd appreciate it."

"Thank you." He glanced back at her, finding it hard to hear his eyes away from the view.

She patted his shoulder. "You're welcome, Brooksie."

If she noticed the dampness in his eyes, she was polite enough to keep it to herself.

---------

Siohdasii Traht leaned back against the med table. "Doctor, I know you're just doing your job, but really. I'm fine. They're minor burns. If you just give me your regenerator, I could probably fix it myself."

"Or, you could damage your hands forever, and I bet that would make it really difficult to be an engineer." Igoshin Joazub's voice was, as always, abnormally soft, but Sioh could detect a hint of a prickle. "I'm almost done here. Just...wait. Please."

Sioh held back a sigh. "Okay, I'm waiting."

Igo turned to look at him. "Thank you." He walked to the med table. "The first thing is to put on this lotion. It will help the skin heal better." He squeezed some cream onto Sioh's left hand and began to rub it between both of his own. "It may sting, but I promise it will make your hands left stiff while they heal."

In truth, Sioh had no intention of complaining. The younger man's hands felt good against his own. Even when Igo's long, black nails scored lightly against the surface of his palms, they sent pleased little nerve pulses straight to his spine. He bit his lip against another sigh, this one completely different from the first. "Am I hurting you?" Igo asked, hands stilling.

Sioh shook his head. "No, I'm fine."

Igo gave him a wary look, but Sioh met his eyes straight on, and eventually the other man accepted his sincerity. "Alright then, why don't we work on your other hand?"

He obediently put it forward. "You might want to be careful with this one. I cut it and..." Sioh trailed off. Igo was unwrapping the makeshift bandage, heedless of his words. "Hey. Dr. Joazub. You..."

The bandage was off now, and Igo stopped his gentle examination of the gash long enough to look up at Sioh. "Is there something I need to know about? Something complicating your injury? How did you cut your hand in Engineering anyway?"

Sioh opened his mouth, closed it again. It would be stupid to remind the doctor of a medical fact he surely knew already, but... "I'm a Bolian," he finally said. "You know that you shouldn't get too near my blood."

"Oh!" Igo smiled, almost shyly. "Well. Thank you for your concern, but as you can see, I'm pretty well protected." He turned his rough, grey hands over in front of Sioh. "It takes a lot more than Bolian blood to affect Krynygor skin."

"I didn't know that." Sioh had to smile back. "Sorry for doubting you. Carry on."

Igo waved it off. "No apology necessary." He picked up a dermal regenerator and began to wave it over the cut. "I'm sure a human would have appreciated the warning."

But, of course, he wasn't human. Sioh looked at the small spikes that lined Igo's brow and wondered idly if they were sensitive. He wasn't sure why this line of thought was coming to him, but he kinda liked it.

"All done." Igo's voice interrupted his reverie. "Should be almost as good as new."

Sioh looked at his hands. They were, indeed, healed. "Hey, thanks."

Igo shook his head. "It's my job. Just try to be more careful, okay? I don't want to see you back here for quite awhile."

Sioh agreed, but not without a faint tinge of disappointment.

--------------

Chiron Stasia looked around her new bridge. "I think the chairs are too big.”

T'Lir sat down at the first officer station and found that it was indeed far too spacious. "I suppose that some would say that it's we who are too small."

Chiron grinned. It would certainly not be the first time someone had made disparaging comments about their height, or lack thereof. "And then you would break them in two, right?"

"I would not resort to violence over mere verbal insults." She paused. "However, I might force them to redesign the furniture."

Chiron laughed and walked over to sit in her captain's chair. Her feet barely reached the ground. It did not give her any greater sense of confidence in her own ability to command. She leaned her head back against the chair, glancing around to make sure no one else had entered the bridge. "Miral commed me yesterday."

"Oh?" T'Lir turned slightly to look at her friend. "On matters of business or of pleasure."

"She said she wanted to thank me. Again. Said she was glad it was me." Chiron sighed. "I never thought I'd be crossing time and space to rescue my academy girlfriend. It's so cliché, so fairytale. Life isn't actually supposed to work like that, right?"

T'Lir froze for an instant before regaining her composure. "I really would not know."

"Oh, dammit, I'm sorry, I forgot." Chiron reached over to touch T'Lir's shoulder before realizing that too would be unwelcome. "Did he message you? Has he said something?"

"Why would he? We are nothing to each other now. Our missions were completed satisfactorily. There is simply nothing to say."

Chiron frowned. "I still wish you'd let me hurt him."

"I know." There was so much she should say, about logic and rationality and control and the pointlessness of violence. She couldn't. "Knowing that you wanted to was enough."

At that, Chiron did take her hand, and tried to think as hard as she could about nice happy exploration missions and how she'd be completely lost without her spectacular first officer, and T'Lir allowed herself a brief moment to soak it in.