FNN Edition 32

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Federation News Network

Headlines

Sabotage in Star Fleet

RACHEL CHRISTIE
Editor-in-Chief
Stardate 21102.01

STARBASE CHARLIE – Despite the relative calm that has fallen on the Federation since the end of the war, Star Fleet has become the target of fowl play.

Sources tell the FNN that several starships have been victims of sabotage. The ships were on mission within Star Fleet's Third Fleet when components of their warp drive systems failed. At least two starships were affected in the attack, and there is speculation of a third ship being involved, if not more. One of the confirmed vessels managed to make it home under it's own power, however another needed to be towed back to the nearest Fleet facility.

There were no injuries or fatalities reported, and the extent of the damage was concentrated in a small location that would do the most damage. Investigations are currently underway to find the saboteur.

No group is taking credit for this deliberate act of sabotage. Star Fleet representatives denied comment.

Travel the Galaxy

Top 10 Tips for Bajor Trips

ARTEMIS WALKER
Staff Reporter
Stardate 21102.01

Do your travel plans this year take you to the Bajoran home world of Bajor? Whether it's your first trip or your fiftieth, here are some great tips to ensure you have a fabulous time!

1. Take the time to visit many of the historical sites. Bajoran stretches back more than half a million years, which is long before Terrans even learned to make tools.
2. If you're visiting with that special someone, why not rent a room near the Holana River. The river is considered one of the most romantic places on the planet.
3. The Dahkur Hills offer many hiking trails for the adventurous at heart. Try the Shakaar Resistance Trail for an added narrative into the history of the area.
4. Many first timers to Bajor are often eager to visit the renowned Fire Caves. Note that these are off limits to all visitors, no matter how much you try to convince the locals otherwise.
5. Though they appear very green from orbit, the green tint of Bajor's seas is actually due to the Bajoran atmosphere.
6. Be warned: hasperat, a traditional and very popular Bajoran dish, is incredibly spicy! Those visiting from cultures with a more plain flavour palate should avoid this.
7. If something more tropical is your style, you should stick with the Eastern Province, with it's lush valleys of wildflowers and myriad pools and waterfalls.
8. If you visit during the Bajoran Time of Cleansing, be mindful of your Bajoran hosts.
9. The Bajoran Springball Association often offers free lessons for tourists during the off-season.
10. Everyone needs to try a jumja stick at least once! The ones served in Jalanda City tend to be the most flavourful!

FedSpace News

20 Questions

Cdr Terra Arking

RACHEL CHRISTIE
Editor-in-Chief
Stardate 21102.01

This month we get to learn more about Andrew, the player behind Commander Terra Arking, First Officer aboard the USS Dauntless, BC-1553.

Age, Sex, Location?
24, male, Reading U.K.

When did you first join FedSpace?
Well I first joined about 2005 I think with a character that was basically me personified. But I didn't get through the academy stage. The second time I joined (A year later) I came up with a completely different character concept. so it will be five years this year.

What brought you to FedSpace? I was looking for something Star Trekky to do originally and I loved writing, always have. (Although I can't say it has been up to par with some of the great writers we have here.) I made a google search and I joined a few actually.

Most of them were PBEM and I didn't like them much at all and then I came across Fedspace and after a little hiccup in the begining I cam back and stuck with it.

Tell me a little about the process of developing your character. To be honest it has been a long process in developing characters for the site. My first character was cocky and over confidant. A brilliant genius little toe rag that ran naked throughout the Copernicus and bit the Captains leg. However he too I felt was too much based on me and things became a little boring. There was no challenge to it as I already knew what he would do, the mindset didn't have to change at all.

My second Character Chris Eaglestone was probably by far the most loved (by my fellow crew mates.) He was the embodiment of Starfleet and all its rules and regulations. As stiff as a plank and a walking engineering encyclopedia there was no way he was ever going to call anyone Commander if he could just as easily call them Lieutenant Commander. I honestly can't remember why I dropped him as a character (considering he is now my alt) I guess he got a little stale after a while and I needed a new challenge.

Then last but not least Came Terra Arking, the blonde, unjoined Trill. She has to be, personally, my best PC. I wanted a challenge and boy did I pick one. Not only was she a woman, (How challenging can you get) But she had her own personality and attitude towards everything. The challenge of keeping up with her alone is enough to keep me occupied for some time to come.

So I guess, by that history, character development was completely trial and error, I took things I had learnt from previous characters and incorporated them to give me something I enjoyed playing.

Do you think it is easier or more difficult to play someone based on yourself?
In my experience I find it far more difficult. Of course finding things to post were easy I just literally thought of the situation and what I would do in that given situation but I found it boring, or more precisely unchallenging.

So far, what is your favourite part about being a member of FedSpace?
The family. I know it's almost a clichéd answer but to be part of Fedspace is to pretty much be part of a large family. No matter where I turned there was always those willing to help and those that understood. Of course a big bow to Perry who has pretty much tutored me from the beginning. I doubt I would still be here if it weren't for him.

If you were president for a day, what would you change?
Celebrate? Seriously I doubt I would change anything. The site is what it is because the President and those behind the scenes make it what it is. In my opinion a great balance has been found between everything on the site and it's what keeps players here, it's what keeps them returning and what will attract new players into the future.

What makes a good Ship/Station?
Always having power, no malfunctioning holodecks and plenty of shields... Nah, it's the crew. All the players that turn it from a ship into a home for all the characters on the site. From a Good CO to a good Midshipman everyone works together to make their ship/station great.

What do you spend your time outside of FedSpace doing?
Well I have taken up drawing again as a hobby, I forgot how much I missed it. Also I apparently now have a social life, (Believe me I have no idea how it happened.) So I am actually spending my free time on Fedspace now, my life has been taken over by work, my GF and getting ever so slightly tipsy at the weekend. Plus a few games of footy with my mates when they come round.

What is your favourite Star Trek series?
I may get egged for this one but, Voyager. I loved the characters and the premise of the series. The plot literally forced Trek back to its roots to explore and seek out new life.

Do you have a favourite line or phrase from either a show or movie?
I do indeed, its something that always runs through my head. Picard modifying a phaser rifle as Lily walks into the ready room: "I will not sacrifice the Enterprise, I have made to many compromises already, to many retreats....they invade our space and we fall back, they assimilate entire worlds and we fall back. But not again, the line must be drawn here! This far, no further!...And I....will make them pay, for what they've done!"

Do you have a favourite character from the shows and why?
Benjamin Sisko. With everything that man went through he was still strong and was willing to sacrifice everything to explore a new frontier. You felt the pain he suffered, the grief and the anger. But you also enjoyed and shared the happier times in his life.

What piece of Star Trek Technology would you most like to see today?
Thats a hard one... Anti-matter power generation I think. People always say transporters or replicators but how would we power them? Maybe I have been playing an engineer too long but with anti-matter power generation we get massive amounts of power from little consumption of the most abundant element in the universe. It would replace our need for fossil and other fuels and we would have the technology to build the next generation of spacecraft and maybe explore that final frontier.

What FedSpace player would you most like to meet in real life?
RAdm Grayson (AKA Perry) He has been my mentor throughout my time on Fedspace and although I have made some great friends (and met a couple,) I would find it an honor to shake that mans hand... and maybe rub his head for luck.

What FedSpace character would you most like to meet in real life?
That is a hard one, I honestly don't think I could pick one. There are so many interesting, strange and positively hilarious characters I would just have to throw a party and invite them all.

If you could list one pet-peeve about your fellow players, what would it be?
Sometimes a players personal life can get intertwined with the game itself. It's a horrible thing when that happens and some good players can be lost by things of that nature. It's a hard thing to police because of course sometimes these things can be really subtle, but luckily we have a great team who make sure things like this never go on that long and are always dealt with. My motto is it's a game, don't take anything personally... unless it really is personal... Sometimes players can forget the job GM's have to do and take things a little too personally as well.

Do you feel there is any disconnect between you and other players based on geographical location?
Sometimes I feel there is. The internet of course brings everyone closer but still there is always that cultural divide which can be a tad too razor sharp for my liking. It's hard to get into the mindset sometimes that my sarcastic, witty and dark English sense of humor can be lost on others from other countries.

What is in your FedSpace future, for yourself and for your character?
Well the runes say disaster, the tarot cards say I'm already dead and the crystal ball says; "Why you asking me, I'm a glass ball!"

Seriously I don't know. I hope that Fedspace will always be here and I along with it. At the moment Terra is the longest main character I have had and to be honest I don't see me getting any more tired of her in my recent future. Along with career in intelligence, a career of being a teenage girl and a career as an unbending stick in the mud... Oh and don't forget a very evil GM.

If there was one thing you would want everyone to know about you, what would that be?
I'm insane... slightly, well OK a lot.

Other than that i'm a people person so all those who want to add a player to MSN or any other messenger service feel free. Those wanting advice or help likewise. I don't bite... hard anyway.

Thank you to Andrew for answering my questions! Would you like to be featured in 20 Questions? Please email our editor-in-chief!

Dear Abby

Dear Jimmy

CDR JAMES ESPERENSON
Guest Columnist
Stardate 21102.01

Abby is taking a break from the Dear Abby section this month, so she asked me to answer the questions she received. So this month you get Dear Jimmy!

If I want to stay at a lower rank for a while and not get promoted right away is that allowed and what do I do?
Of course it is allowed, it is your character. You simply need to talk it over with your CO and the two of you (Three including your FO and if you have a DH the four of you) can work it out.

If I have a new ship design that I would like to use on site who do I talk to about it?
Email your design to the head of star fleet engineers and they will evaluate your design

If I have a shore leave plot that I would like to run but it will effect fed space history am I still allowed to run it?
If you talk it over with your CO and the Creative Director they will help you with it and make a decision on if it is allowed to be run.

If I have found a mistake on the wiki, who do I talk to about it?
You can either email the Content Manager or post it in the 'Wiki Updates' area of Red Alert.

I have been reading the Academy and I have found a mistake in a bio that the Academy instructors didn't pick up, what do I do?
If it is still during the bio evaluation period then I would leave it however if the bio has been approved I would email the Academy admins, the Dean of Evaluations, Dean of Admissions and the Academy Superintendant.

Do you have a question for Abby (or Jimmy)? Please email Abby or the editor-in-chief.


Academy Graduates

CAPT ABIGAIL TAYLOR
Guest Columnist
Stardate 21102.01

Please join me in welcoming all the recent graduates to Federation Space! Please note that this table reflects the new Midshipman who graduated in January.

Rank Name Ship
Eng-mid.jpg Joe Kadar USS Copernicus, GEC-9035
Tac-mid.jpg Maverick Kenmore USS Dauntless, BC-1553
Sec-mid.jpg Don West USS Columbia, FF-6145
Sec-mid.jpg Vox Templar USS Sheridan, DD-4086

Trek News

Headlines

So Much for Retirement

RACHEL CHRISTIE
Editor-in-Chief
Stardate 21102.01

Last year about this time, Leonard Nemoy was starting to spread around the word that he would be doing his last convention tours, shooting a few final projects, but ultimately 2010 would be his last year of acting or convention seeking.

However, just last week Nemoy confirmed he would be coming out of retirement (again) and stepping back into acting. He'll be returning to the role of Doctor William Bell on the TV show Fringe, which is created by 2009 Star Trek director JJ Abrams.

As for conventions he's already slated to appear at the Las Vegas and San Francisco Star Trek conventions this year. While that is a considerably thinner convention schedule than last year, it's a good indicator that Nemoy isn't quite ready for that retirement.

Trek Trivia

RACHEL CHRISTIE
Editor-in-Chief
Stardate 21102.01

Each month on the FNN we ask 10 Trek Trivia questions! Some may be easy, some may be difficult. Think you know some or all of the answers? Submit them to the Editor-In-Chief. Each month we'll post the Top 10 Scoreboard and Top 10 All Around Champs, along with the previous month's answers and new trivia questions. Good luck!

This Month's Questions

Q10. Name this species.

1. Who was James T Kirk's nemesis at Starfleet Academy?
2. By what title did Picard frequently address Riker?
3. Name the Bajoran scientist who raised Odo.
4. Who arranged Tom Paris's release from a Federation penal colony?
5. Who had left Starfleet but was brought back to service in The Motion Picture via a "reserve activation clause"?
6. Rom once started a labour union after being inspired by _____________'s ancestor.
7. From what plant did Professor Robert Crater claim Crewman Darnell died after investigating?
8. Who is James Kirk's nephew?
9. Which series does the episode "Allegiance" belong to?
10. Name the species pictured to the right.

Submit your answers or email them.

Last Month's Answers

A10. This species is Osaarian.

1. Who was the only character to cross over from the original Trek pilot, "The Cage," to the regular series?

  • Spock

2. In The Next Generation, what term is used to describe what was known as a "landing party" in The Original Series?

  • Away team

3. By the end of the Cardassian Occupation, how many orbs have been found by the Bajorans?

  • Nine

4. What is Tuvok's job aboard Voyager?

  • Chief Tactical Officer

5. What was Janice Rand's job in The Motion Picture?

  • Transporter chief

6. In "Balance of Terror," Kirk and crew had never seen a Romulan before. They were surprised to find that the Romulans strongly resembled _________.

  • Vulcans

7. Where was Kathryn Janeway born?

  • Bloomington, Indiana

8. Name Dax's ninth host.

  • Ezri

9. Finish the Klingon proverb: "Revenge is a dish ______________."

  • "That is best served cold."

10. Name the species pictured to the right.

Last Month's Winners

1. Alexis Tregelen
2. Jonathan Cooper
3. Azernal Rin
4. Rachel Christie

All Around Champs

Rank Player Score
1. Jonathan Cooper 12
2. Alexis Tregelen 8
3. Alice Dega 7
4. Azernal Rin 6
5. Rachel Christie 5
Hall of Fame
Player Points Year
Kyle DeWitt 86 2010
Laura Macleod 91 2009

Joke of the Month

Top 10 Tacky Ship Registries

10. U.S.S. Answer NCC 42
9. U.S.S. Pickup NCC 52
8. U.S.S. Satan NCC 666
7. U.S.S. Friday NCC 13-8
6. U.S.S. Oldsmobile NCC 442
5. U.S.S. James Bond NCC 007
4. U.S.S. Rescue NCC 911
3. U.S.S. Ivory NCC 99 44/100
2. U.S.S. George Orwell NCC 1984
1. U.S.S. Beverly Hills NCC 90210

Science News

Astropic

Feb2011astropic.jpg
Apollo 14: A View from Antares
Credit: Edgar Mitchell, Apollo 14, NASA

Astronomy News

Unmanned Cargo Flights to the ISS Leads to New Radio Satellite

NINA GARCIA JENKINS
Staff Reporter
Stardate 21102.01

February makes the month of two unmanned cargo flights headed for the International Space Station. The first of two unmanned flights will include the Russian Progress 41 has already launched and the second ship built by the European Space Union is set to take off on February 15.

Progress 41 is an interesting since it will be providing fuel, oxygen, books, the Kedr satellite and birthday presents for Commander Scott Kelly. So it provides a little bit of everything for those on the ISS: food, shelter and some entertainment.

Plus the Kedr satellite is a satellite that will allow an amateur radio experiment by the Radio Amateur Satellite Cop and RSC Energia. The Kedr satellite will transmit it’s signal on 145.95 MHz and have the call sign of RS1S. The satellite will actually be tossed overboard during a space walk on February 16. It’s designed to transmit 25 greetings in 15 different languages and have photos of Earth and telemetry.

Then on February 15 another cargo ship will launch to the International Space Station.

This Month in Astronomy History

Apollo 14

NINA GARCIA JENKINS
Staff Reporter
Stardate 21102.01

This month in astronomy history… the first golf ball was shot on the moon.

On February 5, 1971, Captain Alan B Shepard Jr and Cdr Edgar D. Mitchell took their first moonwalk during the Apollo 14 mission. They became the fifth and sixth person to walk on the moon. Apollo 14 was the third successful lunar landing.

Originally Capt Shepard, Cdr. Edgar D. Mitchell and Stuart Roosa were scheduled to command Apollo 13.

But he felt he needed more training time after receiving corrective surgery for Meniere’s disease so they were swapped for Apollo 14. This swapping of missions worked out well for the Apollo 14 mission crew.

Apollo 14 was important for a few reasons. It was the first mission to successfully broadcasted television color pictures from the moon to the earth for their moonwalk. Alan Shepard also piloted the most accurate landing of the entire Apollo program. But most notably, Shepard modified a lunar sample scoop handle with a Wilson six-iron head and launched two golf balls with one hand that went on for miles and miles.