The Federation Tribune - May 2002

[Gamemaster ST Frontier Fleet]

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 -- StarTrek Frontier Fleet --
 -- The Galactic Gazette --

   == THE FEDERATION TRIBUNE ==
     May 2002

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 FROM THE EDITOR
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Hi all,

With Clare not doing well right now, I've currently taken
over the duties of the Chief Editor.

I think I speak for us all when I wish Clare well.

-- Guido


==========================================================
 BIRTHDAYS (in May and June)
==========================================================

May 2 - Loren Tivoli, Bartender Medea, USS Calhoun
May 6 - Adrian Rodd, CO Jennifer Su, USS Calhoun
May 13 - Katherine Mazurok, ACMO/Couns Releina Shyzala, USS Odyssey
May 23 - Clare Bradley, CO Rylie Tir, USS Valkyrie

June 4 - Brandon Allard, CSO Giellun Maiek, USS Valkyrie
June 17 - Howard Smith, ACEO Morba J'haron, USS Valkyrie

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Editor's note: If you birthday is not listed, send a note to
chiefeditor@frontierfleet.com and we add it to our list for next year. If you're
birthday is coming up soon then it might be best to send a copy of your mail to
Clare to me at gamemaster@frontierfleet.com, although I hope Clare can do the
next edition again. :-)


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 SECOND TRANSWARP SHIP NEARLY COMPLETED
   (by Bram Peeters)
==========================================================

Stardate 2390.10.04 - Starfleet News Service, Earth -- Exactly one month
(stardate 2390.06.05) after the christening of the first Starfleet transwarp
vessel, the USS Calhoun (stardate 2390.5.5), Vice Admiral Cussler of the
Starfleet Engineering Department announced that the second Prometheus class
ship, the USS Epimetheus, was going to be refitted with a transwarp drive.
The USS Epimetheus has been in dry dock at Pandora Station for several months
now, and construction is nearly completed. Admiral Cussler expects the ship will
be ready in one or two months.
But not everyone is happy with the Epimetheus. Since the arrival of the
Epimetheus, even without the transwarp drive one of the fastest Starfleet ships,
security on the starbase has been increased. The owner of the bar "Quark's" at
Pandora's Casino deck complained: "All those hoo-man security types are keeping
away my customers."


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 TALES FROM THE CALHOUN AND DELTA ONE
  (by Adrian Rodd)
==========================================================

As we remain alone and isolated on the Talaxian-built station, Delta One,
seventy-thousand light-years from Federation space, tension seems to be building
up, and potential threats are gathering.

A Talaxian delegation has come on board, but this event was followed shortly by
a new arrival, that of six Kazon warships, representing six allied Kazon sects
who claim they have a right to keep an eye on us...

Add to that the swarm of unidentified vessels which has recently dropped out of
warp, and with whom any form of communication seems impossible due to their
utterly alien technology, and the situation here on Delta One remains extremely
uncertain...

Meanwhile, the USS Calhoun has returned to the Alpha Quadrant, with orders to
ferry diplomats and new personnel back to the station. Delegations from the
Klingon Empire, the Romulan Star Empire, the Cardassian Union, the Ferengi
Alliance, Bajor, and several other sovereign worlds, came aboard the transwarp
vessel.

The Calhoun's stop in Alpha Quadrant space was supposed to last only a few hours
at most, but new events came to light before the ship could head back for the
distant station, changing the mission parameters somewhat drastically. An
outbreak of Lacol Alitosis Crymenium, a highly lethal and contagious disease,
was detected on board by CMO Tymm. Three members of the crew were immediately
identified as being infected, including two Science officers: Ensign Breurs, and
CSO MacCumail.

The Calhoun, under the command of First Officer Logix, immediately set a new
course towards a planet thought to be developing a cure for the deadly illness.

On Delta One, we remain waiting for the ship's return, hoping we can delay any
confrontation with the Kazon...

As the Kazon ships hold position outside, and Security searches for a traitor
who is sending information to those potential enemies, the yellow lights of
alert seem to be on very often on Delta One...


==========================================================
 PROJECT STAR GATE
 (by Mark van der Laan)
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Space, the final frontier. Or is it? In a remote corner of the Alpha Quadrant, a
new and unique project has been started. Here, in the distant Bel System we find
a new type of star base, one unlike ever seen before. This star base, wielding
the codename 'Maelstrom', utilizes the sun's power to create a rift in space, a
vortex much alike a wormhole, for a brief period of time, allowing whatever
passes through it to travel to any part of the galaxy, or even to distant
galaxies. These stories follow the adventures of its crew as they travel towards
new destinations, meeting new friends and encountering new foes. These are the
adventurers of the Star Gate.

==========================================================
 TALES OF THE ODYSSEY
 (by Elizabeth Klein and Guido Dorssers)
==========================================================

It is an exciting month for posting and for life, because all of us on the
Odyssey are such great people, right? Of course :)

We have two 20's now (Editor's note: two-oh-s, not twenties), which are Andrea
Victory (played by Elizabeth Klein AKA me) and T'afek Sarin (played by Merijn
Donders). We also have new recruits, or, at least they are new since last
month's newspaper. They are: Christopher Jay as ACSO Bandabras Taine and TamTam.
TamTam is his dog (actually a tame wolf), and he is blind. For more read his bio
:)  Also, we have Dennis Church playing Matuga Denebris our ASTC.

As for the Story:
We finally wrapped up our dealing on the planet Zoldur IV, and have moved on too
other things.

A few weeks later, while we were playing cab for a scientist who needed to go to
DGSSC MMCCCXC (Deep Galaxy Science Symposium Conference 2390) on DS14, we
received a distress call from Dr. Teral Nadya, aboard a shuttle under attack
near the planet of Alc'Traz. The USS Odyssey, being the benevolent ship that we
are, is off to offer assitance. Being seven hours away at maximum warp, it meant
we couldn't protect them. The shuttle has crashlanded on Alc'Traz and now our
crew is off to rescue them from the evil seven-foot aliens! Meanwhile the Pilot
Logan Ghat is being tortured by means of the Brodequin.. ~ Ouch ~ ...

I suppose I will not make this long and boring!
 -- Elizabeth Klein


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 MARIELL'S COOKING AND COCKTAIL CORNER
 (by Merijn Donders)
==========================================================

Hi, I'm Mariell Delari and I'll be filling up this piece of this newspaper up
with delicious food and drinks, which you can prepare right at home.

For this first time, I picked a nice sweet drink with a strong taste...

The Tequila Sunrise.

Needed:
 - 2 ounces Tequila
 - Grenadine
 - 5 ounces Orange Juice
 - Ice

Pour 2 ounces of tequila into a highball glass, you can vary this a little to
make the drink stronger, but be careful to not ruine the drink's taste.

Then fill the rest of the glass with orange juice and stir it.

Add grenadine by tilting the glass and pouring grenadine down the side by
flipping the bottle vertically very quickly. The grenadine should go
straight to the bottom and then rise up slowly through the drink.
Garnish the glass with an orange, cherry and a fancy straw.

Have fun with the drink. And if you're using real alcohol and used to drinking
synthehol .... be carefull !!!

I'll see you next time, when I prepare a nice meal for all you hungry people out
there.

Kisses,
 ~ Mariell


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 VALKYRIE NEWSPAPER REPORT
 (by Ian Beacock)
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<<Morning, 2390.06.30>> to <<Late Night, 2390.09.15>>

At the end of last month, the crew of the once-mighty USS Arakov was on the USS
Hardy, the craft that came to rescue the floundering officers.

This month began much the same way, with some final posting on the Hardy,
healing sick and injured crewmates, etc. etc. During this time, Ender Durron was
mysteriously transported away...

Then came the three month time jump.

After the USS Hardy dropped the crew off on Starbase 23, they enjoyed a few
months of pleasant relaxation time, frequenting the local restaurant.

The restaurant bore the same name as our pleasant GM (Guido's), and was the site
of much character development for all involved. Hard-hitting reporter Charles E.
Neumann (played by Bram Peeters) was also there, trying to find out exactly what
happened to the USS Arakov.

The crew was defensive of the suspect, Ender Durron, and were all anxious to
continue on with their careers.

Sooner than later, however, they were assigned a new ship. The brand-new
Prometheus-class starship USS Valkyrie was set to arrive at the station that
evening. The crew was overjoyed, and immediately boarded.

The first mission of the Valkryie?

A training exercise on the Valkryie!

While the ship was docked at the station, the inside functioned like a big
holodeck, allowing crewmembers to do what they wished. One group were Invaders,
attempting to wrest the control of the ship from the grasp of the Defenders.

Mass carnage and destruction occured, with a standoff between Ensign Freeman
(David Riele) and hologram Bahl (Mark van der Laan), destroying one of the
ship's sections. This chaotic yet amusing training session still continues.

But what happened to Ender Durron (Ian Beacock) during all this, you ask?

He was held in some sort of strange compound for about three months, having
contact with no one, being given only the essentials. He was released
eventually, gaining consciousness in a back alley of Ankara. Still disoriented,
he headed for Edmonton, where he spoke with his mother.

A plan forming in his mind, he set off to find a pilot to take him to find the
Valkyrie. He found a perfect candidate in Muriel Hewitt (Adrian Rodd), who
agreed to fly him pretty much anywhere, charging nothing, looking forward to the
adventure.

They set off for the current location of the Valkryie, and are currently flying
through warp. Ender was introduced to Seef (Elizabeth Klein) the unfinished
Android on Muriel's ship, the Gertrude, as well.

April proves to be as exciting a month as March. But what will happen to the
Valkryie next? What will their next mission for Starfleet be? Will Durron the
Fugitive, Seef, and Muriel escape the Starfleet investigators? Tune in next
month to find out!


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DO'S AND DON'TS ACCORDING TO FERENGI?
  (by Lizz Mazurok)
==========================================================

Editor's note: After reading this I simply had to ask Lizz permission to publish
the article in our own ST Frontier Fleet Newspaper. Luckily Lizz allowed me to
do so. Thanks Lizz! I hope everyone has as much fun reading it as I did when I
read it the first time.

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

And now, it's time for...

    QUIRK AND TROG'S COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO MANNERS AND ETTIQUITTE

Quirk: What does comprehensive mean?
Trog: Shut up! *cuffs Quirk* Greetings hyu-mons and other species of the
universe. I am the great Ferengi Trog and this is my not-so identical win
brother, Quirk.
Quirk: We're here to give you a few tips on how to have good manners.
Trog: Of course, with enough latinum, you can have good manners...
Quirk: Okay, let's get started. Gee, Trog, I'm getting mighty pekish!
Trog: Not much of surprise. You eat about as much a tellarite.
Quirk: Well, I'll just sit down and make myself comfortable. *sits back in a
chair and sticks his feet up on the table, resulting in one foot resting in his
soup bowl.*
Trog: Now, what this idiot has done wrong is that it is considered impolite in
hyu-mon society to add footwear to your soup as a flavoring, or even a
condiment.
Quirk: Exactly! *scratches behind his earlobe*
Trog: I'd like to introduce you to my new friend, Jean-Luc Picard *holds up a
cardboard-cutout likeness*
Quirk: Not right now, I'm busy eating!
Trog: Now, what Quirk has done wrong this time is that he has let the hyu-mon
guest know how unimportant they are. A rule of thumb to be remembered is that
hyu-mons find it rude when they are reminded how pitiful and small-lobed they
are.
Quirk: Hey, Trog, there are so many pieces of cutlery here, I don't know what
they all do!
Trog: *dryly* Not a huge surprise.
Quirk: For instance, what purpose does this strange, four-pronged instrument
serve? I've tried to eat my soup with it, but it doesn't hold enough of the
liquid for my efforts to be successful.
Trog: That, brother, is a salad fork. There are many mistakes when it comes to
the extensive and elaborate extenses of hyu-mon cutlery. However, there is one
rule that I have lived by that is easy to remember, and always ensures that you
use the proper item for the proper use. It is this: hyu-mon cutlery serves no
purpose save for making eating inefficient and unenjoyable. Just throw the
cutlery away and eat the food as you see fit.
Quirk: Wow, that is so simple, yet so profound. You've changed my life, brother!
Trog: Quirk! Didn't you remember that we had that banquet for the delegates this
evening?
Quirk: *slaps his forehead* By the lobes! I forgot!
Trog: Well, we have the table set and the food ready. All we need to do is make
a seating plan.
Quirk: Oh, but Trog, I don't think we need to make a seating plan.
Trog: *rolls his eyes* That's right Quirk. Then would you mind if the Bajoran
ambassador ended up sitting next to the Cardassian ambassador?
Quirk: Ummmmmmm....no?
Trog: Yes. When planning large events which include many different species, you
must sensitive to cultural differences and which cultures don't like other
cultures. For instance, it is not wise to insult a Klingon guest on their
ridiculous armor, or their stupid-looking hair.
Quirk: But they didn't like the haircut you gave them.
Trog: Quiet! It's not my fault if they don't appreciate my artistic brilliance!
Quirk: On a final note, I will go over interactions with other members of
society. As you may have noticed throughout this entire session, Trog has been
hostile and used rude language. This is why he has no friends.
Trog: It is not! And like you're perfect? You didn't even know what a salad fork
was and you'd lived on Earth your whole life!
Quirk: Well, at least my lobes aren't 0.55 millimeters too short!
Trog: That's it!!!
*The two become engaged in a brawl*
Lizz: Well, err....this concludes our seminar on manners and etiquitte. So
please, keep these lessons in mind and NEVER USE THEM! That way, it will make
out universe a better place to live. :)


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 SETI: THE SEARCH FOR EXTRATERRESTRIAL INTELLIGENCE
 (by Guido Dorssers)
==========================================================

In 2390 we all know that there is life all around us in this big galaxy. But,
(un)fortunately we do not know those things right now, in 2002. However,
although we do not know these things, mankind has been wondering whether we are
or aren't alone in the universe since the beginning of civilisation. And hence,
in late 1959/early 1960 the SETI-Project was born.

In the late 1960s/early 1970s NASA took part into the project on a low lever.
Unfortunately in the early 1990's, less then a year later that NASA on Columbus
Day in 1992 had initiated a formal and more intesive SETI program it got
cancelled by the Congress. And so SETI got on it's own again.

One of the SETI programs still running these days, is the SETI program at  UC
Berkeley. It is here were the SETI@Home program has originated.

So, what is SETI@Home?

According to their own website: "SETI@home is a scientific experiment that uses
Internet-connected computers in the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence
(SETI). You can participate by running a free program that downloads and
analyzes radio telescope data."

Now, what does this all mean?

As they explain at their own website, a lot of people in these days have one or
multiple computers at home. Those computers are often turned on and still
running when they are not in use. Wasting electricity and processing power on a
screensaver that only draws some nice figures on the screen. And this is where
SETI@Home comes in. Instead of running that 'simple' screensaver you can install
the SETI@Home Screensaver. Now, when the screensaver kicks in, your PC starts
searching for signs of extraterrestrial life! All it needs to do is occasionally
synchronize with a server to send back the currently analyzed packet and to
retrieve the new one.

The time in between these synchronisations depends on several environmental
things. Like: how fast is your CPU, is the program always running or merely as a
screensaver, is the program running with or without graphics, etc. Additionally
it is possible to install a queueing program like SetiQueue. This will cache
packets for analyzing and for returning and will do this only between the times
you enter.

In short, wanna do something usefull with your spare CPU time? Join SETI@Home.

ST Frontier Fleet is supporting the SETI@Home project with it's own Team, which
is located at: http://setiathome.ssl.berkeley.edu/stats/team/team_127658.html.
(The link can also be found in our COMM section of the website).

Current Team Statistics are:
1. Guido: 1203 packets, 1.548 years CPU time
2. Bram: 224 packets, 3658 hr 32 min CPU time
3. Ian: 27 packets, 671 hr 00 min CPU time

Total: 3 members, 1454 packets, 2.043 years CPU time

Wanna read more?:
- http://setiathome.ssl.berkeley.edu/learnmore.html

Wanna download the program?:
- http://setiathome.ssl.berkeley.edu/download.html


==========================================================
 PROJECT STAR GATE --- CHAPTER I -- MAELSTROM
 (by Mark van der Laan)
==========================================================

A lonely runabout took off from Starbase 18, its destination: an empty patch of
space. Piloting it was only one person: David Rolans, a promising young
Starfleet officer from earth. David was very excited - he was only twenty six
years old, and already StarFleet had made him the Commanding Officer of his very
own Starbase. And not just any Starbase; judging from what he'd been told so far
this Starbase would be special in more than one way and could lead to a
revolution in deep space exploration. The details had been kept secret to him so
far, but that it would be special he was certain of.
He hadn't even been told the location of his new home - instead he'd been given
sketchy instructions on a rendezvous point just out of sensor reach of Starbase
18, where someone would meet up with him to instruct him further.

And as instructed, a long range sensor scan indeed revealed to him that another
ship was waiting for him; judging from the size it was another runabout and
David wondered if this would be the start of a wild goose chase...
The computer beeped. The other ship was hailing him, audio only: "Good
afternoon, Commander Rolans. You're well on time, it's good to know the future
commander of something as special as the Maelstrom is punctual."
"Thanks for the compliment... Though I'm curious to know what this Maelstrom is?
Is it the name of the StarBase I'll be in command of? And where is it anyways?
It's not in this area..."
"Everything will become clear to you soon, Commander," the pilot of the other
runabout reassured, "And by the way, my name is Captain Black. I'm sending you a
new set of coordinates. Simply enter them in the computer and let the auto-pilot
do the rest. And don't turn it off, no matter what."
"Ehrm...acknowledged," David agreed with some hesitation, entering the
coordinates in the computer, even though the instructions sounded weird.

Without further conversations both ships then departed, Black's runabout in the
lead followed by Rolans' ship closely behind. They kept their heading for quite
some time at impulse speed when the shuttlecraft's external sensors picked up
something, getting the commander's attention with their beeping. Apparently they
were approaching a large graviton distortion, and according to the readouts,
they were headed directly towards it...

Feeling slightly worried  about approaching an anomaly like that, David decided
to contact Captain Black who had made no actions to change their heading.
"Captain, my sensors detect a strong graviton field dead ahead. With our current
heading we'll fly right into it."
"I am aware of that, Commander, but there's no need for concern. Keep your
heading and ignore the readings, please."
Still, David couldn't help but to feel very concerned. According to the readings
he was receiving those emissions were powerful enough to tear apart a
Galaxy-class starship within minutes; he could only imagine what they could do
to two helpless runabouts. Again Captain Black reassured him that there was
nothing to worry about, and reluctantly David Rolans agreed, sitting back and
waiting for what was yet to come as the auto pilot guided him on....

And finally the anomaly came into visual range, and its shape and size surprised
David completely when he finally caught a glimpse on it.
The anomaly was in fact an enormous silver disc, shining on the starry horizon
like a large, bright star. The graviton readings seemed strongest on its outer
edges, even though there was more than enough to crush a ship, or at least shake
it up good, at the centre.
When Black's runabout flew directly into the anomaly, David had expected it to
appear on the other side of the large disc, crushed to a lump of metal, but
instead the runabout disappeared completely and he finally realized what the
disc was: it was a wormhole - and not just any wormhole, it was a stable
wormhole, most likely created by StarFleet engineers!

"This is amazing!" David cried out, seconds before his runabout entered the
wormhole as well. He'd expected to be blinded by the silvery light, but instead
his ship was surrounded by total blackness for a brief moment as time itself
seemed to have come to a complete stop.
And then the starry skies returned and his ship automatically came to a full
stop. Short range sensors registered the anomaly behind him and Black's ship in
front of him, also motionless. Long range sensors however were offline and he
couldn't get a bearing of his current position.
"Your long range sensors are most likely offline," Black informed him, "But your
present location is the first planet of the Bel System. Welcome to the
Maelstrom, your Starbase, Commander."

"Where is it then?" David asked, puzzled, "My sensors only register the wormhole
and your runabout."

"Ah yes, the graviton emissions must block it from being detected... You'll get
a reading of it when the wormhole closes in a minute or so, but for now I
suggest you get a visual of the graviton anomaly...It'll explain a lot to you."

David did as he was told, switching on his rear camera, and indeed it did
explain a lot. He couldn't detect it at first, but when he zoomed in he could
clearly see the metal structure surrounding the silvery disc. Just then the disc
dissipated and collapsed on itself, leaving only the Starbase.
"So that's it..." David whispered to himself, not realizing he was still
transmitting, "This entire Starbase... this Maelstrom, it's basically a device
to create a stable wormhole. Amazing!"

"It is, isn't it?" Black agreed.

David heard the Captain's words, but didn't pay attention to him. His full
attention had shifted from the Captain and the Maelstrom towards the moon of the
first planet of the Bel System, when his sensor readings told him what was going
on there...

"That's no moon," he whispered softly, "It's a space station..."

 ...TO BE CONTINUED...

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Editor's note: Great writing. I can't wait for next month's episode of the
newsletter!! :-D


==========================================================
 PROMOTIONS
  (by Ian Beacock)
==========================================================

>From Cadet to Ensign:

 ACSO Bandabras Taine USS Odyssey
 ASTC Matuga Denebris USS Odyssey
 AOPS Elshara Tolqu USS Calhoun
 Civilian Medea  USS Calhoun

To the Position of Second Officer:

 OPS Sarin  USS Odyssey
 CMO Victory  USS Odyssey

==========================================================

  == CREDITS ==

Editor, Guido Dorssers
SNS Earth, Bram Peeters
USS Calhoun & DSD1 Tales, Adrian Rodd
Project Stargate, Mark van der Laan
Tales of the Odyssey, Elizabeth Klein & Guido Dorssers
Mariell's cooking and cocktail corner, Merijn Donders
Valkyrie Newspaper Report, Ian Beacock
Do's and Don'ts, Lizz Mazurok
SETI@Home, Guido Dorssers
Project Stargate (Chapter I), Mark van der Laan
Promotions, Ian Beacock

==========================================================

Thhaaa... thaaa... thattttt'ss aaallllll folks!!! More next month. :-)

____________

Kirk: "Time's the problem. You and I are nothing. But you heard the judge, the
peace conference is on again. Whoever killed Gorkon is bound to attempt another
assassination. Unless we can get out of here--"
 -- ST VI: The Undiscovered Country, Stardate 9523.8