The Federation Tribune - April 2004.
Rob Versteegt
robversteegt at tiscali.nl
Thu Apr 15 16:02:12 CEST 2004
==== The Federation Tribune ====
==== April 2004 ====
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Public Relations Status Report March 2004, by Rob Versteegt
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This month, I've subscribed to another Yahoo group, with the PR account.
It's another RPG-advertising group. This group has just started, so I don't
expect to see results just yet... but there may be some results in the
future...
Also, I've placed ads at startrek.com, pbem.com, and at other advertising
sites. I've also placed ads on Usenet, although there aren't a lot of
results coming in yet.
Nevertheless, we have received 17 signups this month! I again made a list
where those people found us.
4 signups: Yahoo (groups/search engine)
3 signups: Topwebgames.com
4 signups: Google
3 signups: Through a friend
2 signups: Unknown
1 signup: Just looking on the Internet.
It would appear that advertising on Yahoo was indeed a good idea... Maybe I
should do that more.. ;-)
Topwebgames also looks like a good source of signups.. however, most of
those signups are.. let's say, useless.
Google is also a great help to us... so if anyone has a website which
doesn't carry a FF link/banner... then please, put that on now! ;-) Banners
can be found at http://banners.frontierfleet.net. Thank you!
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USS Calhoun / Delta one, Status Report, by Adrian Rodd
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STARDATE 2391.03.30
Even as the crew grants asylum to Esyat, a Kazon woman, the battleship
pursuing her mysteriously explodes. The crew soon discovers she was
responsible. Lieutenant Roberts, while working on studying Esyat's
ship, is beamed out by the Kazon's accomplice, and taken to a nearby
asteroid base. . . until her crewmates successfully retrieve her. In
the meantime, Commander Harris is briefly admitted to Sickbay with a
serious, mysterious condition. . .
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USS Odyssey Status Report, by Ben Versteegt
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Stardate 2391.03.20
After Ensign Nerell has contacted the Odyssey to inform them that Lieutenant
Helfrump is unconscious, Commander Denebris leads the two Pabloyan
representatives (who have become somewhat suspicious when they see that the
crew seems to be on some kind of mission on Pabloias Prime) to see the
prisoner called Tholok, who has been recaptured. Lieutenant Andrusia gets
angry with Ensign Elan, since she allowed the communication from Nerell to
come through. He claims that the communiqué could have jeopardised the whole
mission. When Denebris returns to the Bridge, he discovers a disturbing fact
about the Pabloyan mining equipment; so disturbing even, that he proceeds to
the ready room to send a message to Starfleet Command about it. As he does,
Andrusia and Elan resume their heated argument.
Meanwhile, on the surface of Pabloias Prime, Captain Bennek, Counsellor
Sellser and Lieutenant Byrne have teamed up with the rebels who rescued
them, and they decide to help the rebels to defend this city, which is
attacked by the government.
The other team on the surface, consisting of Lieutenants Velden and Travian
and Ensign Lett, is posing as offworld merchants in an attempt to find the
Rebel leaders and find out more about the rebels and their cause. They meet
a couple of Pabloyan rebels, and are instructed to wait in an empty room.
After a while, they are led to a large land-vehicle, where they meet Akra, a
Pabloyan rebel leader. She sees through their disguises, and the team is
forced to reveal that they are Starfleet officers. Their true identities
revealed, the team is ordered to hand over their equipment. Gradually
however, they manage to win Akra's trust.
Velden, Travian and Lett leave the vehicle near the rebel city, as Akra
heads off into battle help the rebels. Arriving in the city, the officers
meet Captain Bennek just before they enter the rebel hideout. The Captain
has a plan: everyone in the city has to go to the mining facility, because
that's what the government is after: the Gyranzite which is mined there.
On the Odyssey, Andrusia goes to complain to Commander Denebris about Ensign
Elan's behaviour towards him. Elan joins the argument, and is cleared of the
blame by Denebris. As Andrusia blames Denebris, they are called to the
Bridge. Sensors have detected a Breen ship moving towards them. They had
intercepted the message Denebris sent to Starfleet, concerning the Pabloyan
government's mining equipment; part of it was made out of Breen technology.
The Breen are secretly assisting the Pabloyan government, both in their
mining operations and in their fight against the rebels. That is also what
Captain Bennek found out on the surface; the energy weapons mounted on the
Pabloyan tanks seem Breen in origin. Now the Breen have sent a ship to make
sure that the Breen involvement will be covered up. They are coming to
silence the Odyssey...
Seeing how allowing the Breen to send troops to the surface would only
increase the danger to the away teams, Commander Denebris informs the Breen
Captain that he will fire upon the Breen vessel if they transport down
people or launch shuttle's. Not long after this, the Breen do indeed beam
down troops, decreasing the odds of the away team to win the fight against
the Pabloyan government. The Breen are calling Denebris' bluff...
Commander Denebris is true to his word, and fires at the Breen ship while
their shields are down. However, the Odyssey does not do enough damage, and
the Breen begin to fire back. The fight does not go well: the Breen ship is
more than a match for the Odyssey. On the surface, the crew faces a battle
as well, as the government's forces are marching up to the mining facility.
Fortunately, Captain Bennek manages to persuade the government forces to put
down their weapons. Now the crew only has to deal with the Breen...
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USS Valkyrie, Status Report, by Brandon Allard
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Stardate ending 2391.03.16
The crew of the Valkyrie has begun it's efforts to restore the Borg
survivors to their pre-Borg state. Due to the instability of the drones
recovered, the process is bound to be slow going. Some signs of
individuality have already been spotted in the more active drones. The
remaining survivors deemed recoverable have been temporarily house in the
cargo bay under forcefield and armed guard. As the de-similation process has
only just begun, more data on the subject will follow as it becomes
available.
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Pandora Station status report March 2004
By Bram Peeters and Rob Versteegt.
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(] Current Situation [)
Stardate: 2391.04.16
Mission 6 - One Hour at Transwarp
The new transwarp engine of the USS Epimetheus is being tested for the first
time in a one-hour flight to Earth.
(] Mission Summaries, by Rob Versteegt [)
Mission 5 - Alternate Enemy
Stardate 2391.04.12
The question from the FO of the alternate ship, to join the maquis was just
a trick. Her true intentions became clear when First Officer Holmes barged
in, and was taken hostage by Ms. Von Klinkerhoffen. It was a situation that
could have escalated quite easily. So Dr. Vok and XGO Underhill let the 2
go, out of sickbay. They didn't have any choice.
The 2 commanders, however, were followed by a new arrival to the Station:
Ensign Nel. He had seen what happened, and took it to himself, to find out
what was happening. He called down a security detachment, and 'entrapped'
Ms. Von Klinkerhoffen.
Like a caged rat, von Klinkerhoffen realised there was no way out. The
people at Main Ops showed this, when they transported Holmes away, together
with the phaser von Klinkerhoffen was holding. Although the Alternate
Commander didn't have a weapon anymore, she did almost escape. In this
escape, a civilian reporter, and a PO security officer were hurt. But thanks
to a quick reply from Ensign Nel, more casualties were spared.
In the next few hours, the prisoner was turned over to the alternate maquis
ships, who were waiting outside the station. Captain Janssens said goodbye
to his alternate self... with the knowledge that maybe... just maybe, this
alternate self would come back some time...
Mission 6 - One Hour at Transwarp
Stardate 2391.04.16
A few days had passed, and things were going their usual way again on
Pandora Station. Until Starfleet had decided that the crew of Pandora could
take the Epimetheus, the ship Pandora Station was refitting with a
transwarpdrive, on some sort of shakedowncruise.
Of course, the crew of Pandora happily accepted this, and began to get
ready. It wasn't long before Pandora's docking clamps were released, and the
Epimetheus went to warp, to get out f the system. Once they were out, the
transwarpdrive was engaged. And, to everyone's relief, it worked perfectly.
It's taking the crew an hour to get from Pandora to Earth, for some well
deserved shore-leave. In this time, lots of things have happened. The crew
had been busy with their daily routines... investigating a new disease,
giving tours to a reporter, investigating the sudden hysteria from another
crewmember, declaring love for each other, and playing a modified
childs-program in the holodeck, to name a few things.
Now, the Epimetheus is less then half an hour away from earth, where the
crew will enjoy their shoreleave. But will the crew even make it, or will
they be too stressed because of all their daily activities...
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USS Atlantis Status Report, by Vincent Raposa
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Stardate: 2391.03.28
The U.S.S. Atlantis has previously fled Draysian Space
with minimal damage to the vessel. Repairs had been
conducted and have been completed. All of the away
teams returned either unharmed or with minor injuries.
Things, it seems, are finally slowing down.
Starfleet has sent the crew of the U.S.S. Atlantis
numerous presents as of late. With the arrival of the
Security and Tactical Chief Lieutenant Commander Leon
Nefertii also comes the newest experimental shuttle
known as the Gamma Flyer. It is the only one in the
fleet as of late and has been specially designed for
the U.S.S. Atlantis who will test its capabilities in
the large expanse known as the Gamma Quadrant.
Numerous promotions have occurred aboard the Atlantis;
Ensign John Stalker has been promoted to Lieutenant
Junior Grade and transferred to the Operation
Department as Chief of Operations. Lieutenant
Commander Ellie Charlile has been promoted to
Commander and given the position of First Officer
while Lieutenant Alfred Torn has been promoted to
Lieutenant Commander and given the position of Second
Officer while sustaining his position as Chief
Engineering Officer.
But recent events have called for a recent departure
of one of the Command staff. Captain Essar Quinn has
been promoted to Commodore and transferred back to
Earth, Sector 001, where he will take over the
position of Assistant Chief of Starfleet Operations
due to his Bajoran background. Thus causing double
promotions for those on the Command Team. Lieutenant
Commander Alfred Torn has been promoted once again to
Commander and given the position of First Officer,
while Commander Ellie Charlile has been promoted once
more as well to Captain and given command of the
U.S.S. Atlantis. Lieutenant Circe Pilkington has been
promoted to Second Officer and Lieutenant Commander
while sustaining her position as Chief of Counselling.
As of late things aboard the Atlantis are quite hectic
will all department personnel attempting to finish
reports and get ready for the newly installed
"inspection" protocols the command team implemented on
the Atlantis. Activity is buzzing and all senior staff
and their assistants are currently en-route to the
Observation Lounge for the breifing of their new
mission.
U.S.S. Atlantis, NCC 83548
New Worlds, New Exploration
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The Alpha Centauri Mystery - Part 10 -
"Out of the Frying Pan..." by Ben Versteegt
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Summary:
It seems as if everybody in the Alpha quadrant is after some mysterious
samples, which emit radiation that, so it seems, happens to be an incredible
source of power. Ensign Sandra Burke, who carried the samples, beamed over
to the USS Aquinas after her base in the Alpha Centauri system was attacked
and destroyed. The Aquinas had to flee from a Prometheus class Starfleet
vessel, who was firing at her to obtain the samples. Finally, in a desperate
attempt to slow down their enemy, and when the Aquinas was forced to drop
out of warp, Captain Ayer ordered Chief Engineer Zjavick to eject the warp
core and detonate it.
The warp core detonated, resulting in an explosion that tore the ship apart.
Now, the Engineering section and the saucer section are separated from each
other by the force of the shockwave, and the ship is in ruins. Not only is
the damage irreparable and the death toll immense, but Sandra has also
disappeared... she has been transported to the Prometheus class ship, where
she has been drugged and subjected to the interrogation of a Captain without
mercy...
And now the continuation...
Ayer and Watters were, so it seemed, the only ones from the Bridge crew who
had survived the tearing apart of the ship by the shockwave. Zaag was on the
Bridge as well. They had completed their gruesome task of identifying the
bodies, at least on the Bridge. Only Zaag was checking an Operation officer
for lifesigns. It was a young Ensign, probably just out of the Academy. "To
die like this on your first mission," Zaag said softly. "It's horrible."
He was still worrying about Sandra, but worrying got him nowhere. They first
had to assess all the damage and plan what they were going to do next. It
wouldn't be an easy task. Most systems were offline, but an emergency beacon
could probably be activated. But even though they were deep in Federation
space, help would most likely not arrive within six hours. It was as Ayer
had said earlier; the Federation was weak. Starfleet had lost a lot of
ships, and most of the ships that they had now were assigned to patrol the
borders of Federation space.
"Six hours..." Zaag said to himself. "Far too much can happen in six hours.
That other ship might come back." He examined the Ensign, who wasn't moving.
"Poor kid."
Suddenly, he was grabbed by the arm. Startled, he pulled himself loose and
stood up. It was the Ensign he was examining. It turned out he wasn't quite
dead yet. His blood-covered face turned towards Zaag, and with great
difficulty, he spoke. "Help... me. Please..."
"Captain!" Zaag yelled to Ayer. The latter took a few brisk paces and
arrived at the Operations station. He knelt down next to the Ensign.
"Ensign Mill," Ayer said in a soft, gentle tone of voice. "How are you
feeling?"
Mill's eyes widened. He was obviously in a lot of pain. He grabbed the
Captain by the shoulder and pulled himself up a little. It might as well
have been a whole marathon for him, because it looked like this task was too
much for the poor Ensign. He was hurt too bad.
He tried to speak, but all that came out of his mouth was blood. It ran down
his chin and drops of the red substance fell to the ground, producing a
stain on the Ensign's already stained uniform. Blood was everywhere. It
wasn't a pretty sight to look at.
"Captain..." the Ensign finally managed to get out. He tried to move, but
winced in pain. He strained to turn his head around, and was even able to do
so. Zaag and Captain Ayer now saw why Ensign Mill was in such pain, besides
the reason that he had burn marks all over his body. There was a large piece
of glass, roughly 10 centimetres, stuck in the back of his head. It was in
deep. Zaag reached out to remove the piece of glass, which had come loose
from one of the exploding consoles, but Ayer put his free hand on the
Ferengi's arm, and shook his head.
Mill clearly was in agony, as he turned back to face Ayer. "Captain," he
said again. His grip on Ayer's arm intensified. He squeezed his hand tighter
to prevent slipping away. The Ensign just stared at Ayer, with blood still
coming out of his mouth in irregular, vomiting bursts. "Help..." Mill said,
accompanied by more blood out of his mouth and nose.
Ayer felt the grip on his arm become looser. Ensign Mill was loosing
strength rapidly. "Ensign, stay with us!" Ayer said urgently. He looked at
Zaag, who was scanning the Ensign with his tricorder.
"We're losing him!" he shouted. His tricorder sent out rapid bleeps that
gave Ayer the same message.
"Damnit Ensign, keep yourself together!" Ayer tried to shout, although it
came out as an urgent whisper. "That's an order!"
Ensign Mill didn't comply. With one last sound, that was supposed to be a
sigh but that was muffled and altered by the blood in the Ensign's throat,
Mill passed out, never to wake up again.
The tricorder gave a single, long high-pitched tone. "It's over," Zaag said
with a lump in his throat. "He's dead."
Ayer was visibly shocked, and kept staring at the body of the dead Ensign.
"He was a brilliant student at the Academy," he said finally, as he still
kept his eyes fixed on Ensign Mill. "He had the potential to become a great
officer." He closed his eyes and turned his face away. Tears rolled down his
cheeks and fell onto the ground. "I promised his mother I would look after
him..." his voice had been reduced to a soft whisper, filled with tears.
Sobbing, he just sat there on the floor. Finally managing to get a hold of
himself, he took a deep breath and stood up. He wiped away his tears as
discretely as he could. "Well, I guess I failed in that too."
He turned around to Zaag and Watters. "It would seem we have finished
identifying the dead bodies," he said dryly. The Ferengi and the STC could
very well see that this whole experienced hadn't left Ayer untouched,
though. "Any suggestions as to how we should proceed?"
"Our first priority should be to find a way to send a distress call to
Starfleet," Watters suggested. "The ship's transponder is off line, we
currently have no means to launch a buoy, and communications are down. But
we should be able to put a few of the emergency transponders in the escape
pods together to rig a..."
The Captain was shaking his head. "No," he said. "If we send out a distress
call, there's a good chance the Prometheus class ship finds out we're alive,
and returns to finish the job. And in case you've forgotten, Lieutenant,
we're in no shape to face another attack right now."
"But sir," protested Watters. "They've already got what they want. Their
goal wasn't to destroy the ship, but to get the samples, any way they
could." he paused, and took a step forward, all the time looking the Captain
straight into the eyes. "You're right, sir," he continued. "We're in pretty
bad shape. But let's face it; it can't get much worse than this."
"They could blow us up if they find us," Zaag intervened.
"If we stay here and do nothing, we'll run out of air," Watters argued.
"Then we'll die as well."
The Captain seemed to be convinced, but still thought it was a bad idea.
"Fine then. Send out your damned distress call." He walked to the other side
of the Bridge and began to tap a console violently.
"Sir... what are you doing?" asked Watters.
"I'm *trying* to get communications back," Ayer said, irritated by the STC.
"I want to know how many of the crew we have lost. And I want to get
whoever's left of the senior staff together on the Bridge for a staff
meeting. It's about time we get off our butts and finally take some action."
Watters said nothing. He knew it was pointless to continue a conversation
with the Captain at this point. Ayer was, maybe more than everyone else,
deeply troubled by the loss of the Aquinas. It was his ship, after all. But
now it wasn't a ship anymore. Ayer was in command of a large collection of
debris now.
"Sir, we may have to assume the worst," Watters said carefully. "Engineering
did bear the brunt of the shockwave. We have to account for the possibility
that Commander Zjavick and the other engineers are dead."
"I can't accept that, Commander," Ayer said fiercely as he turned around. "I
can't, and I won't accept that we're the only ones left. I will not accept,
ever," he said with a raised, voice, as he held up his finger. "that all of
my crew are dead."
Watters just nodded. It was understandable to him that the Captain reacted
this way. This ship, *his* ship, was completely in ruins. The Captain was
mourning... but this wasn't the time to mourn. "Captain. Please." The STC
walked towards Ayer. "Snap out of it, sir. You're no good to the rest of the
crew if you keep acting like this."
There was a long silence, as Captain Ayer swallowed and covered his eyes
with his left hand. He made some effort to wipe away his tears in a way that
the crew couldn't see it, but Zaag and Watters saw it anyway. Although they
couldn't imagine what the Captain was going through now that he had lost his
ship and most of the crew, they did understand how he felt about loosing a
great number of his shipmates - his friends.
Zaag broke the silence. "We will get through this, Captain. We have to. If
not for the samples, or for the crew, or even for this ship, then for
Sandra. We have to find a way to rescue her, to get her back. We cannot just
sit here, arguing amongst each other about what action to take. It's time to
get moving, and show the bastards who did this to us that there are still
people alive on this ship. Let's show them that we do not intend to allow
them to destroy our ship and leave it at that. Let's show them that we do
not stand by idly while a member of our crew has been abducted. Let's show
them that we, the remaining crew of the Starship Aquinas, will thwart their
every plan, and will do anything to get our crewmember back." His hands
formed fists, and for a moment it seemed as if the Ferengi was exploding in
rage. "We *will* get even with those low-life toothgrubs who did this to us,
Captain. And we will do it for Sandra."
Ayer couldn't help but show a smile. Zaag had shown an awful lot of spunk
for a Ferengi. But what made the Captain smile the most was the fact that
Zaag was speaking as if he were a part of the crew, when in fact he was only
just a passenger. "For Sandra," he repeated.
Taking a deep breath, the Captain regained his composure again. "All right,
here's what we'll do. Watters, you start working on sending out that
distress call. Zaag, you and I see if we can reach a shuttle. It should have
its own transmitter and transporter system. That should at least allow us to
reach Engineering - or what's left of it. Maybe there we can finally find
out how bashed up this ship is." He stopped for a moment to take a breath.
"Watters," he said, continuing to give orders. "Once you finished sending
out a distress call, start working on..."
He didn't get the chance to finish his sentence, as he was cut off by the
whining sound of a transporter. In just over a second, multiple green
transporterbeams had placed six Romulans on the Bridge of the Aquinas.
Before any of the remaining crew could react, the Romulans had already
surrounded them. Disruptors were quickly aimed at the two Starfleet officers
and the Ferengi.
Slowly, Ayer put his hands in the air, and gestured for Zaag and Watters to
follow his example. Then he spoke. His voice remained even and calm - he
probably realised things couldn't get any worse anymore. "I see the Romulans
have taken an interest in my humble vessel. I'm honoured by your visit. We
would give you a guided tour if it wasn't for the damage to the ship," he
said, not without irony in his voice. "I'm sorry, but you will have to
leave. This ship is in no condition to receive any visitors today."
The Romulan who seemed to be in charge took a large step forward and put his
disruptor against Ayer's head. "Do not play games with me, Captain," he said
in an angry, sinister and soft voice. "You have five seconds to give me the
samples... or I'll blow your head off."
Ayer swallowed. This wasn't looking good; they had no samples to give...
To Be Continued...
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Science Facts, by Bram Peeters
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Stars Appear As Grains Of Sand In Nearby Galaxy
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What appear as individual grains of sand on a beach in this image obtained
with NASA's Hubble Space Telescope are actually myriads of stars embedded
deep in the heart of the nearby galaxy NGC 300.
http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0404/10hubble/
Cassini Watches As Two Storms Merge On Saturn
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Three months before Saturn arrival, the Cassini spacecraft caught two
storms in the act of merging into one larger storm. This is only the
second time this phenomenon has been observed on the ringed planet.
http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0404/09saturnstorms/
Controllers Giving Spirit Rover A Software Overhaul
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Spirit has begun a four-sol stand-down while the rover receives a flight
software update that should make its remaining martian days even safer and
more productive, mission control reports.
http://spaceflightnow.com/mars/mera/status.html
Mars Rovers Have Missions Extended Through Sept.
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NASA has approved an extended mission for the Mars Exploration Rovers,
handing them up to five months of overtime assignments as they finish
their three-month prime mission.
http://spaceflightnow.com/mars/mera/040408extension.html
Asteroid Search Taken To Southern Skies
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The hunt for space rocks on a collision course with Earth has so far been
pretty much limited to the Northern Hemisphere. But last week astronomers
took the search for Earth-threatening asteroids to southern skies.
http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0404/09asteroid/
NASA Names Exploration Project Directors
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NASA selected Garry Lyles as deputy director of Project Constellation and
Charles Precourt as program director of the Crew Exploration Vehicle.
Lyles is responsible for the development of all exploration transportation
and support systems needed to achieve the Vision for Space Exploration.
Precourt is responsible for developing the CEV -- NASA's first human
exploratory spacecraft since Apollo.
http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0404/08exploration/
Latest GPS Satellite Declared Fully Operational
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A U.S. Air Force/Lockheed Martin team has completed on-orbit checkout of
the upgraded Global Positioning System satellite launched successfully
March 20 from Cape Canaveral. The spacecraft, designated GPS 2R-11, has
been declared fully operational for navigation users around the globe.
http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0404/08gps2r11/
New Operations Center Heralds New Era For GPS
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The Global Positioning System, the space technology that brought
space-awareness to many civilian and military users alike, marked another
historic milestone April 2 with the unveiling of a new GPS operations
center.
http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0404/08gpsopscenter/
Launch Of Einstein Space Mission Delayed
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A technical glitch has forced managers to postpone by two days the
long-awaited launch of NASA's Gravity Probe-B spacecraft that will check key
aspects of Einstein's general theory of relativity.
http://spaceflightnow.com/delta/d304/040407delay.html
Milky Way Past Was More Turbulent Than Known
--------------------------------------------
A team of astronomers from Denmark, Switzerland and Sweden has achieved a
major breakthrough in our understanding of the Milky Way, the galaxy in
which we live. After more than 1,000 nights of observations spread over 15
years, they have determined the spatial motions of more than 14,000
solar-like stars residing in the neighborhood of the Sun.
http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0404/06milkyway/
Successful X-43A Mission Proves Scramjets Work
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NASA's successful X-43A hypersonic research aircraft flight resulted in a
treasure trove of scramjet data. The initial data review confirmed
high-fidelity flight data was obtained throughout the vehicle's boost, stage
separation and descent to splash down.
http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0404/07x43a/
FAA Issues License For Historic Launch
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The U.S. Department of Transportation announced it has issued the world's
first license for a sub-orbital manned rocket flight. The license is to
Scaled Composites of Mojave, Calif., headed by aviation record-holder Burt
Rutan, for a sequence of sub-orbital flights spanning a one-year period.
http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0404/07faa/
Working To Save Houston's Saturn V Moon Rocket
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It could have launched Apollo 18, but it never got off the ground. Still,
the Saturn V rocket on display at NASA's Johnson Space Center has long
outlived its sisters that took men to the moon between 1969 and 1972.
http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0404/06saturn5/
PAS-6 Communications Satellite De-Orbited
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PanAmSat announced that it has decided to de-orbit one of its in-orbit
international spares, PAS-6, due to a failure in the satellite's power
system. The Loral-built craft was launched in 1997.
http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0404/05pas6/
Northrop Grumman Tests New Engine
---------------------------------
Northrop Grumman Corporation has developed and successfully tested a
Reaction Control Subsystem engine for next-generation reusable space launch
and transportation vehicles. The new engine burns nontoxic propellants, an
achievement that enhances safety, reliability and affordability.
http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0404/05rcs/
Saturn Moon Casts 'Once-In-A-Lifetime' Shadow
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A rare celestial event was captured by NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory as
Titan -- Saturn's largest moon and the only moon in the Solar System with a
thick atmosphere -- crossed in front of the X-ray bright Crab Nebula. The
X-ray shadow cast by Titan allowed astronomers to make the first X-ray
measurement of the extent of its atmosphere.
http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0404/05titanshadow/
Genesis Locks The Vault On Solar Wind Collection
------------------------------------------------
Since October 2001 NASA's Genesis spacecraft has exposed specially designed,
collector arrays of sapphire, silicon, gold and diamond to the sun's solar
wind. That collection of pristine particles of the sun came to an end last
week when the spacecraft's collectors deactivated and stowed. The
sample-return capsule lands on Earth later this year.
http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0404/05genesis/
Nasa's Aura Satellite Delivered To Vandenberg
---------------------------------------------
NASA's Aura spacecraft, the latest in the Earth Observing System series,
arrived at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., to begin launch preparations.
The 22.5-foot-tall, 3.25-ton satellite will serve as a space-based chemical
laboratory, helping scientists to better understand the Earth's ozone, air
quality and climate.
http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0404/05aura/
Largest Moon In The Solar System Imaged From Earth
--------------------------------------------------
Titan, the largest moon of Saturn was discovered by Dutch astronomer
Christian Huygens in 1655 and certainly deserves its name. With a diameter
of no less than 5,150 km, it is larger than Mercury and twice as large as
Pluto. It is unique in having a hazy atmosphere of nitrogen, methane and
oily hydrocarbons.
http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0404/04titan/
Celebrating 5 Years Of The Very Large Telescope
-----------------------------------------------
One of the world's most advanced telescope facilities, Very Large Telescope,
situated in the Atacama Desert in Chile, celebrated its fifth birthday April
1. During its short history the telescope has captured some breathtaking
images furthering our knowledge about the far reaches of our Universe.
http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0404/04vltat5/
Shuttle Pump Technology Helps Children's Hearts
-----------------------------------------------
The same technology that powers the Space Shuttle into orbit may now help
children, thanks to a tiny heart pump recently approved for implantation in
young, critically ill patients.
http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0404/04pump/
Radio Astronomers Lift 'Fog' On Milky Way's Dark Heart
------------------------------------------------------
Thirty years after astronomers discovered the mysterious object at the exact
center of our Milky Way Galaxy, an international team of scientists has
finally succeeded in directly measuring the size of that object, which
surrounds a black hole nearly four million times more massive than the Sun.
http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0404/02blackhole/
Europe Plans For Mars Sample Return Mission
-------------------------------------------
EADS Space has made significant progress in completing the first definition
of a European Mars Sample Return mission. While EADS Astrium is defining the
overall mission and the spacecraft, EADS Space Transportation is responsible
for the re-entry systems and a 'Mars Ascent Vehicle' - a small rocket to
carry the precious sample up through the Martian atmosphere.
http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0404/03marssample/
Spots On Saturn
---------------
As Cassini closes in on Saturn, its view is growing sharper with time and
now reveals new atmospheric features in the planet's southern hemisphere.
This latest image was taken when the spacecraft was 35 million miles from
Saturn, or slightly more than one-third of the distance from Earth to the
Sun.
http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0404/02saturnspots/
http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/index.cfm
http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/area/index.cfm?fareaid=12
New Quasar Studies Set Stringent Limit
--------------------------------------
Detecting or constraining the possible time variations of fundamental
physical constants is an important step toward a complete understanding of
basic physics and hence the world in which we live. A step in which
astrophysics proves most useful.
http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0404/03quasars/
Launch Nears For Next Station Crew
----------------------------------
Plans for the next crew rotation on the International Space Station are on
schedule. On Thursday, managers conducted a Stage Operations Readiness
Review and found no constraints to the planned April 19 launch of the Soyuz
carrying Expedition 9.
http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0404/03issstatus/
SpaceDev Awarded $43 Million For Six MDA Satellites
---------------------------------------------------
SpaceDev announced that it has been awarded a five-year $43 million
cost-plus-fixed fee indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract by the
Missile Defense Agency to conduct a micro satellite distributed sensing
experiment, an option for a laser communications experiment, and other micro
satellite studies and experiments as required in support of the Advanced
System Deputate.
http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0404/03spacedev/
Spirit Finds Hints Of Past Water At Gusev Site
----------------------------------------------
Clues from a wind-scalloped volcanic rock on Mars investigated by NASA's
Spirit rover suggest repeated possible exposures to water inside Gusev
Crater, scientists said Thursday.
Gusev is halfway around the planet from the Meridiani region where Spirit's
twin, Opportunity, recently found evidence that water used to flow across
the surface.
http://spaceflightnow.com/mars/mera/040401status.html
Astronomer Tells Congress Of Lunar Water Challenges
---------------------------------------------------
The discovery of accessible deposits of water on the moon would "profoundly"
affect the economics and viability of a lunar base, a Cornell University
astronomer said Thursday. Unfortunately, he said, recovering water deposits
will not be an easy task, since they are likely to exist in the bottoms of
very cold, permanently dark craters at the moon's poles.
http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0404/01lunarwater/
Builders Of Ancient Tombs, Temples Followed The Stars
-----------------------------------------------------
Two studies of ancient monuments in southwest Europe reveal the influence
the Sun and stars had on their builders according to Dr Michael Hoskin, a
historian of astronomy at Cambridge University.
http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0404/01builder/
Hunt For Extrasolar Earth-Like Planets Intensifies
--------------------------------------------------
An international group of astronomers are about to continue their hunt for
extrasolar planets with an enhanced world-wide telescope network in May.
They are hoping to secure the firm evidence for the existence of Earth-mass
planets orbiting stars other than the Sun, which has so far eluded
astronomers.
http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0403/31planets/
Calculating The Odds Of Other Habitable 'Earths'
------------------------------------------------
More than 100 planetary systems have already been discovered around distant
stars. How many of the known exoplanetary systems might contain habitable
Earth-type planets? Perhaps half of them, according to a team using computer
modeling to calculate the likelihood of any 'Earths' existing in the
so-called habitable zone.
http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0403/31habitable/
Dozens Of 'Mini-Galaxies' Discovered By Astronomers
---------------------------------------------------
A new survey made with the Anglo-Australian Telescope has revealed dozens of
previously unsuspected miniature galaxies in the nearby Fornax galaxy
cluster. They belong to a class of galaxies dubbed "ultra-compact dwarfs."
http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0403/31minigalaxies/
Searching For Life On Icy Worlds Of Outer Solar System
------------------------------------------------------
At present, we know of no worlds beyond our Earth where life exists.
However, primitive organisms on our planet have evolved and adapted over
billions of years, colonizing the most inhospitable places.
http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0403/30europalife/
Is Andromeda Galaxy A Cannibal On Our Doorstep?
-----------------------------------------------
Astronomers have collected the first clear evidence that the Andromeda
Galaxy, also known as M31, is pulling one of its bright satellite galaxies
apart, and discovered 14 previously unknown globular clusters orbiting far
from the center of M31 which could have been left behind when Andromeda
devoured their parent galaxies.
http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0403/30andromeda/
Ocean Waves Forecast For Saturn's Moon Titan
--------------------------------------------
When the European Huygens probe on the Cassini space mission parachutes down
through the opaque smoggy atmosphere of Saturn's moon Titan early next year,
it may find itself splashing into a sea of liquid hydrocarbons. In what is
probably the first piece of "extraterrestrial oceanography" ever carried
out, scientists have calculated how any seas on Titan would compare with
Earth's oceans.
http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0403/30titan/
http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/index.cfm
http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/area/index.cfm?fareaid=12
Probe Confirms Methane In The Martian Atmosphere
------------------------------------------------
During recent observations from the European Space Agency's Mars Express
spacecraft in orbit around Mars, methane was detected in its atmosphere.
Whilst it is too early to draw any conclusions on its origin, exciting as
they may be, scientists are thinking about the next steps to take in order
to understand more.
http://spaceflightnow.com/mars/marsexpress/040330methane.html
Andromeda Yields Cache Of Stellar Black Holes
---------------------------------------------
Astronomers have discovered ten previously unknown likely black holes in the
Andromeda Galaxy by means of a powerful new search technique they have
devised. The Andromeda Galaxy is the nearest neighboring spiral galaxy, 2.5
million light years away.
http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0403/29blackhole/
Ultraviolet Astronomy In Danger, Scientists Say
-----------------------------------------------
World astronomers are becoming very concerned about their ability to carry
out observations in ultraviolet light following recent announcements about
the future of the Hubble Space Telescope.
http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0403/29uvastronomy/
Reflector Successfully Deployed On MBSAT Satellite
--------------------------------------------------
The 12-meter (40-foot) diameter furlable mesh reflector system successfully
deployed aboard the MBSAT satellite early Monday. The craft was launched
earlier this month aboard an Atlas rocket from Cape Canaveral.
http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0403/29mbsat/
Cassini Examines High Winds On Saturn
-------------------------------------
Wind-blown clouds and haze high in Saturn's atmosphere are captured in a
movie made from images taken by the Cassini narrow angle camera. In the
movie, atmospheric motions can be seen most clearly in the equatorial region
and at other southern latitudes.
http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0403/28cassinisaturn/
http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/index.cfm
http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/area/index.cfm?fareaid=12
Supernova Remnant Reveals Magnesium In Abundance
------------------------------------------------
The Chandra X-ray Observatory image of N49B, the remains of an exploded
star, shows a cloud of multimillion degree gas that has been expanding for
about 10,000 years. A specially processed version of this image reveals
unexpectedly large concentrations of the element magnesium.
http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0403/28chandra/
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Top Posters of March 2004, by Rob Versteegt
--------------------------------------------------------------------
10. Ben Versteegt: 21 (Ody 15, Pan 6)
9. Jake Hanlon: 22 (Cal 22)
8. Clare Bradley: 22 (Valk 22)
7. Laura Elliot: 26 (Cal 26)
6. Kelley Mackinnon: 28 (Cal 28)
5. Martin Miller: 29 (Ody 9, Atly 20)
4. Sussie Anderson: 29 (Pan 29)
3. Aaron Langston: 35 (Pan 35)
2. Adrian Rodd: 73 (Cal 27, Ody 15, Pan 17, Valk 14)
AND THE NR 1 POSTER IN MARCH IS:
1. Rob Versteegt: 102 posts! (Ody 12, Pan 67, Atly 13, Valk 10)
Fleetwide ranking:
1. Rob Versteegt: 102 (Ody 12, Pan 67, Atly 13, Valk 10)
2. Adrian Rodd: 73 (Cal 27, Ody 15, Pan 17, Valk 14)
3. Aaron Langston: 35 (Pan 35)
4. Sussie Anderson: 29 (Pan 29)
5. Martin Miller: 29 (Ody 9, Atly 20)
6. Kelley Mackinnon: 28 (Cal 28)
7. Laura Elliot: 26 (Cal 26)
8. Clare Bradley: 22 (Valk 22)
9. Jake Hanlon: 22 (Cal 22)
10. Ben Versteegt: 21 (Ody 15, Pan 6)
11. David Susman: 19 (Ody 8, Atly 11)
12. Chantal Marie Sellers: 18 (Ody 15, Atly 3)
13. JD Coughlan: 17 (Cal 17)
14. Wes Buchanan: 17 (Pan 17)
15. Dennis Church: 16 (Ody 11, Pan 5)
16. Michael Smith: 13 (Cal 6, Pan 7)
17. William Lea: 13 (Ody 13)
18. Rob Verlinden: 12 (Ody 12)
19. Bram Peeters: 9 (Pan 8, Atly 1)
20. Dave Church: 8 (Ody 8)
21. Jonathan Hardy: 8 (Ody 6, Atly 2)
22. Brandon Allard: 8 (Valk 8)
23. Ann Montague: 8 (Valk 8)
24. Aaron DeLay: 7 (Cal 7)
25. Vincent Raposa: 7 (Atly 7)
26. John Gibson: 4 (Atly 4)
27. John Wenerowicz: 4 (Valk 4)
28. Jamie Davison: 4 (Atly 4)
29. Eric Hess: 3 (Cal 3)
30. Astrid Henricsson: 3 (Pan 3)
31. Mike Sheinin: 3 (Atly 3)
32. Mark Cornelissen: 3 (Valk 3)
33. Dreamer Jopnes: 3 (Valk 3)
34. Jed Cohen: 3 (Valk 3)
35. Tom Shilakes: 3 (Valk 3)
36. Cody Ferro: 2 (Cal 2)
37. Merijn Donders: 1 (Atly 1)
38. Sandy Alexandra: 1 (Cal 1)
39. Linia Saddington: 1 (Valk 1)
Top 3 posters on the USS Calhoun:
3) Laura Elliot: 26 posts.
2) Adrian Rodd: 27 posts.
1) Kelley Mackinnon: 28 posts.
Top 3 posters on the USS Odyssey:
3) Rob Verlinden/Rob Versteegt: 12 posts
2) William Lea: 13 posts
1) Ben Versteegt/Chantal Marie Sellers/Adrian Rodd, 15 posts
Top 3 posters on the USS Valkyrie:
3) Rob Versteegt: 10 posts.
2) Adrian Rodd: 14 posts.
1) Clare Bradley: 22 posts.
Top 3 posters on Pandora Station:
3) Sussie Andersson: 29 posts.
2) Aaron Langston: 35 posts.
1) Rob Versteegt: 67 posts.
Top 3 posters on the USS Atlantis:
3) David Susman: 11 posts.
2) Rob Versteegt: 13 posts.
1) Martin Miller: 20 posts.
Dutystation rankings:
Pandora Station: 193
USS Odyssey: 153
USS Calhoun: 139
USS Valkyrie: 79
USS Atlantis: 70
Total posts: 634!
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Promotions in March 2004, by Rob Versteegt
--------------------------------------------------------------------
>From cadet to Ensign:
Cadet Richard Creek, played by J.D. Coughlan was promoted to ACSO Ensign
Richard Creek, on the USS Calhoun.
Cadet Pieter Nel, played by Aaron Langston, was promoted to AOPS Ensign
Pieter Nel, on Pandora Station.
Cadet Jayson Kelly, played by Mark Tucker, was promoted to AOPS Ensign
Jayson Keller, on the USS Valkyrie.
>From Ensign to Lt.jg:
ASTC John Stalker, played by Mike Sheinin, was promoted to OPS Lt.jg John
Stalker, on the USS Atlantis.
>From Ensign to full Lt:
AOPS Ensign Ren'dell, played by Michael Smith was promoted to OPS Lt.
Ren'dell, on the USS Calhoun.
Other promotions:
COUNS Lt. Circe Pilkington, played by Chantal Marie Sellers, was promoted to
2O/COUNS, Lt.cmdr Circe Pilkington, on the USS Atlantis.
2O/CEO Lt. Cmdr Alfred Torn, played by David Susman, was promoted to FO
Cmdr. Alfred Torn, on the USS Atlantis.
FO Cmdr. Ellie Charlile, played by Vincent Raposa, was promoted to CO
Captain Ellie Charlile, on the USS Atlantis.
And of course:
CO Captain Essar Quinn, played by Merijn Donders, was promoted to Assistant
Chief of Starfleet Operations, and Commadore! (Goodluck in your post-FF life
Merijn! ;-) )
Congratulations all!
--------------------------------------------------------------------
In the line of duty, part 2: "No way out", by Rob Versteegt
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary:
On starbase 375, Esther Keel, who is a starfleet cadet that is temporary
stationed there, has committed a murder. The authorities on the station
still have no idea who murdered this person, and why. Most of the starbase's
inhibitans are frightened about this murder... After talking with a few
civilians a little while, Esther followed a man, and entered his room.
There, that man, whom Esther already knew, complimented Esther on the
murder, and told her that she had been accepted... he also told her, that
things were going to get more difficult now...
And now, the continuation...
Esther was trembling. The words of the mysterious man were still echoing in
her head. ~It... it will get far more difficult?~ she thought. ~But.. what
does he mean by that?~ She now looked at the man again. "What do you mean?"
The man stood up, and walked across the room. This made Esther more nervous
then she already was. ~He's up to something.~ She knew that one hundred
percent certain. ~But what could it be?~
"Why did you accept my offer Esther?" The man suddenly asked, without
looking at the cadet. The man's voice was still dark, and almost spooky, but
Esther thought she could hear a humorous undertone in it.
"What... What do you mean?" She stammered.
The man now quickly turned around, and quickly walked over to Esther. "The
question is simple!" he shouted. "Why did you accept my offer to join this
organisation?"
For a moment, Esther didn't know what to say. That man already knew the
reason! Why would he need her to tell him the reason again? Still... she
couldn't just ignore the man. She wanted to, but she couldn't. The stare in
that man's eyes.. almost hypnotic! She then knew there was no escape. "I..?
she started. "I want to.. protect Starfleet.."
This seemed to be an answer the man could live with, because he started to
walk away again. He walked around Esther, so that she couldn't see where he
was going. But she felt it. She felt the eerie eyes of the man looking at
her.. staring at her. Like 2 sharp knifes that stabbed her in the back. It
actually hurt! "Why do you.." Esther whispered. "Why do you want to know
that?"
Somehow, this man always had an answer ready. And usually, this answer was
something that raised even more questions. This was no exception. "Because
I'm testing you." The man said, not as loud as before, but still too loud
for a room as small as this. "To see if you're ready. I think you are."
"Ready?" Esther managed to bring out. "Ready for what?"
Then, with force, Esther was pushed down in the chair by the man. The chair
turned around, and Ester now saw the man, looking at her, with some sort of
strange pleasure in his eyes. "For the greatest adventure in your life!"
Again, he shouted. But Esther didn't have the time to react to that.. the
chair was spinning again. This time, when the chair stopped, she saw a big
viewscreen. The man, who was still there, tapped a few controls, and the
viewscreen turned on. "You remember this man I asked you to kill?"
Esther just nodded. It wasn't easy to forget. That man seemed so honest.. so
innocent. And when Esther had fired that phaser.. Let's just say she would
never forget the screaming. Ever.
"Remember.. I already told you he was a Romulan agent." The man said, as if
he could read her thoughts. "You shouldn't feel guilty about killing him.
You've done the right thing. You've eliminated one of starfleet's threats.
But it isn't over yet." At that point, the mysterious man tapped some more
controls, and the viewscreen showed a map of starbase 375.. the starbase
they were on now.
"It would seem there are even more agents here." The man said, in a
surprisingly calm way. "We want you to eliminate them."
There was a silence for a few seconds. "Well?" the man then spoke up. "Don't
you know who you have to kill?"
~I'd rather not kill anyone..~ Esther caught herself thinking. But then, as
if she had done this a dozen times before, she spoke up. "Who?"
"Glad you asked." The man said. "First of all, you have to start with.. this
one." Again, the viewscreen blinked, and a picture of a Huanni appeared.
Esther jumped up. "What?" she shouted out. "But that's Bernadette!" She was
furious. "You're not going to tell me Bernadette is a spy? I don't believe
it! She's no spy! She's my friend!"
"Maybe." The man said, still in an eerie, calm way. "Maybe she's both. Then
you have to decide if it's worth having a friend as a spy... If you want to
betray Starfleet, by having a spy as a friend. Tell me... she's been asking
questions about Starfleet, right?"
Esther didn't answer right away. She was still shocked. ~Killing
Bernadette?~ She was quiet for several seconds, but then answered the man's
question. "Y..yes." she said. "She has asked questions..." Again, there were
some seconds of silence. "But... that doesn't mean she's a spy!"
"Ms. Keel!" The loud, dark voice of the man again filled the room. Then,
after a pause, he spoke again, softer this time. "Esther. You have to
choose. Choose between this so-called friendship you think you have, and the
Duty you have to Starfleet. What, do you think, is more important?"
The silence said it all. Esther didn't know. ~How am I supposed to choose
between a friend, and my duty...~ Then, she spoke up again. "Can't I think
about this for a little while? Please?"
"No." Was the short, and devastating answer. "You can't. You have to decide
now. I think you're ready Esther. What do you think?"
This was a tough moment for Esther. A moment of pain. A moment of choices.
"Very well.." she said, but her voice carried no strength in it. "I will do
what you ask... I will kill... Bernadette."
The man smiled. "Good Esther... I knew I could count on you. You know the
procedure, and what setting on the phaser you should use.."
Esther just nodded again. "Very well." The man said. He actually smiled.
"Now go out there... and don't come back before you've killed that woman."
He tapped a button, and the door opened. "Go."
Within a few moments, Esther stood outside again. Only when the doors
closed, she broke out into tears. It finally occurred to her: she had just
agreed to kill her best friend...
To be continued...
==========
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