The Federation Tribune - February 2007

[Rob Versteegt]

                  ==== The Federation Tribune ====
                         ==== February 2007====

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Chief Editor's Notes:
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And welcome once again to another issue of the Federation Tribune! In this
edition, you'll find a Legendary post, the answers to last month's quizzes,
summaries, and much, much more. Have fun!

Rob.

In this edition of the Federation Tribune, you'll find the following
articles:

USS Calhoun, January 2007 summary, by Adrien Rodd.
USS Odyssey, January 2007 summary, by Rob Versteegt.
USS Valkyrie, January 2007 summary, by Rick Clogston.
USS Atlantis, January 2007 summary, by Ben Versteegt
Pandora Station, January 2007 summary, by Rob Versteegt.
Public Relations Status Report, January 2007, by Rob Versteegt.
SF Academy Status Report, January 2007, by Martin Miller
Promotions in January 2007, by Rob Versteegt.
Posting Stats January 2007, by Rob Versteegt.
Legendary Post, by Rob Verlinden.
The Federation Tribune Competition!
Music Quiz Answers, by Martin Miller.

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USS Calhoun, January 2007 summary, by Adrien Rodd.
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STARDATE: 2393.01.09
EPISODE: #28, "Aryna"

The Calhoun remains trapped in orbit of the Y-class planet, its three
crewmates still missing aboard a Cardassian vessel. A Kazon crew, their
vessel seized by the Cardassians, have joined the Calhoun, seeking help.
Meanwhile, the Calhoun's officers face ethical dilemmas, as the captain of
the USS Courageous - trapped in orbit for the past eleven months - urges
them to believe that the only way to survive is to kill their various
prisoners and plunder alien vessels.

Unsure whether to consider the Courageous crew friends or potential enemies,
the Calhoun officers decide to turn to the Cardassians, hoping to forge an
alliance. . .

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USS Odyssey, January 2007 summary, by Rob Versteegt.
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Locations of the USS Odyssey:
- A planet near the Wolf system.
- Andor
- Pandora Station

Stardates:

2392.10.17
2392.10.18
2393.01.12
2393.01.13

Summary:

Mission #14: Somewhere Only We Know.

2392.10.17:

When the USS Odyssey arrived at Andor, the Away Team had already made sure
that Romarana's death wasn't in vain: Mr. Drelev, the Andorian minister of
off-world relations, was found out to be a murderer, thief, and a corrupt
politician. Captain Bennek, along with the Away Team, went back to the
Odyssey again, and tried to rest for a little while. After all, they had
been through a lot.

2392.10.18:

Captain Bennek called a senior staff meeting, in which ACOUNS Graves and
ACMO Termal were promoted to the chief of respectively the Counselling and
the Medical departments.

2393.01.12:

Captain Bennek decided to leave the Odyssey. So, Commanders Jalando and
Nerfertii organised a farewell ceremony for him. Besides the usual speeches,
the ceremony became more interesting with ACEO Helfrump getting drunk.
Figures: he had bought his 'synthehol' at Marg's. . .

Mission #15: Vanishing Point (working title)

2393.01.13:

A surprise came to Commander Jalando in the form of a promotion to CO and
Captain of the Odyssey. Subsequently, Commander Nerfertii was promoted to
FO, and the Odyssey crew got a new mission. They had to go to Tarakana II,
to investigate the disappearance of thousands of people. . . and more seemed
to be disappearing each night. Leaving immediately was not an option though,
since at least 60 new officers arrived to assist on this mission.

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USS Valkyrie, January 2007 summary, by Rick Clogston.
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Doctor MacKenzie and the crew of the Valkyrie determined that the best way
to cure the plague was not going to be eradicating the offending virus, but
simply shutting it off. A Te'hari childhood disease was chosen to carry the
trigger, and before long the plague was being reversed all over.

Emile Schofield and X'ok PaRel had achieved a similar level of success, and
in much the same way. Where the Valkyrie was curing a disease with a
disease, they found their target by hiding from it. Their activities finally
attracted the attention of the people they were sent to find. When they were
brought before the ringleader, they told him everything. Then, they turned
what should have been their execution into the destruction of the lab, and
the ship it was on.

During this, Schofield and Lance Foster, another former Starfleet Officer,
became infected with the virus. And so, they took a chance that the Valkyrie
had discovered a cure and returned there.

In other news, Lt. T'Cal and Ensign Masters were rescued from the planet.
T'Cal tragically died when a replicator gave her poisonous cheese. Masters
brought back a Te'hari child, Makrid Jolin, whose family had succumbed to
the disease. Both are recovering, and Masters was ordered to return to duty.
Jolin's fate is yet to be decided, once he has recovered sufficiently. Lt.
Fletcher, the new CSO, was not so lucky. He became seperated from the rest
of the away team, became infected, and died.

Kevin Novia, the son of the ship's new counsellor, got into trouble almost
as soon as he arrived by following the Lando triplets and Carlos Byrne on an
adventure to Engineering and getting caught. Ensign Bailey got into trouble
for his choice of punishments, and revealed to the Captain that he is
actually Emile Schofield's nephew, Aloysis. Expatriate Klingon T'Karg
decided to turn over a new leaf.

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USS Atlantis, January 2007 summary, by Ben Versteegt
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Stardates:

- 2393.01.08

Locations of the (crew of the) USS Atlantis:

- (Holding position at 3 AU from) the planet Acebi, which is the fourth
planet of the Aorya system in the Gamma Quadrant.

Summary:

- 2393.01.08

The pre-warp culture of the Acebi people is about to become not so pre-warp
anymore. On a mission to evaluate and investigate the Acebi warp project
more thoroughly, the Atlantis away team, consisting of Commander Velden,
Lieutenant Montgomery, Doctor Kadar, Ensign Gambit and Ensign Connor, had
beamed down to the planet in a deserted alley disguised as Acebi citizens,
careful not to contaminate the Acebi culture. They were even wearing
replicas of the necklaces every Acebi citizen has to wear. During their
brief investigation, it became clear that the Acebi value truth above
everything else.

When the away team visited the warp test site, they were caught wearing
false necklaces. When Commander Velden, trying to talk their way out of this
uncomfortable situation, was caught telling a lie, the truth-loving Acebi
guards called in the Adjudicators: the truth-enforcers. The away team fled,
but was unable to elude the Adjudicators, who used shock prods to deliver a
paralysing electrical current to the members of the away team, causing them
to loose consciousness.

They woke up in a prison cell, where they soon found out that their fake
necklaces had been replaced by real ones, which emitted a powerful and
painful jolt each time the wearer told a lie. When questioned, they were
unable to lie, but they couldn't tell the truth either because of the Prime
Directive; the truth might damage the Acebi culture irreparably.

Meanwhile, on the Atlantis, Lieutenant Jomorr discovered a powerful ion
storm in the making. The atmosphere of the planet would protect the away
team and the Acebi population sufficiently, but the Borhyas, currently in
orbit around Acebi, would be heavily damaged if its shields were not raised.
Lieutenant Rofellian and Ensign Andrusia volunteered to take a Runabout to
the Borhyas to raise its shields.

A little later that day, Commander Djesco, on a mission to evaluate the crew
of the Atlantis, questioned Lieutenant Fletcher about his condition: she
believed the multiple personalities, all fighting for control inside his
head, made Fletcher unfit to be a Starfleet officer.

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Pandora Station, January 2007 summary, by Rob Versteegt.
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Locations:
- Pandora Station, orbiting Pandora II
- In a Delta Flyer, entering Pandora II's ocean.

Stardates:

2392.12.18
2392.12.23
2392.12.24
2392.12.25
2392.12.31
2393.01.01
2393.01.16

Summary:

2392.12.18:

Commanders Jeff Jalando from the USS Odyssey and Paul Velden from the USS
Atlantis met, and started discussing the repair schedule of both ships.
Jalando suggested that the two organise some sort of contest: the winner
could let his ship go first. Still, this was obviously a joke... or was it?

2392.12.23:

Petty Officer Gnone wasn't in agreement with Chief of OPS Tiburo, about the
thanks the latter should give the former. STC Jaal was brought in, who,
after a tirade from Gnone, escorted the Bajoran Petty Officer to another
location. Namely, the security offices.

Nurse Ida Waldau exited the rainy park, and bumped into CMO Marck...
strangely enough, she knew how to resist his charms...

Overlooking the park, Melissa Kinnard met Koda Nerfertii, and the two
youngsters started to talk about religion, the weather, and of course,
boredom.

2392.12.24:

STC Jaal and SciO Sophronia from the Calhoun had a conversation about the
latter's home, family, and other sad, sad things.

2392.12.25:

Emile Schofield, of the USS Valkyrie, bumped against Admirals Baine and
Anyanka. This in itself was of course not a good career move, although the
Lieutenant didn't seem to care. STC Jaal arranged a romantic dinner for both
Schofield and Alvarez.

Vice Admiral Cussler talked to Admiral Truesdale about his job. But the
Admiral didn't *want* to talk about that. He just wanted to get away from
Cussler, not only because Cussler had stepped on Truesdale's foot, but also
because Truesdale found Cussler to be very annoying...

To liven things up a bit, STC Jaal and SciO Sophronia started performing out
in the open: a small concert was what followed.

Later that day, Captain Denorian was being Santa Claus, while several people
from various dutystations came to tell him a wish or two. The last one to do
this was Iana Darnena, the reporter for the Federation Tribune. She told
Denorian the news that she was ill. . . and that there was no cure for this
disease.

Captain Denebris of the Valkyrie had a conversation with FO Paul Velden of
the Atlantis. The two of them hadn't talked to each other in a while, and
both had some catching up to do...

2393.12.31:

Finally, after all those months of uncertainty, ACMO Vok found out why
exactly Truesdale had left him: it was because of the death of their unborn
baby: a baby Vok had known nothing about until now. XGO Underhill had told
him that, but he also told him that he probably wouldn't be able to forgive
the Petty Officer. And Vok was ashamed to say that Underhill was right. . .

Captain Denorian Berann welcomed everyone to the New Years Eve party, and
gave a speech, in which he thanked Pandora's crew for having him as Captain,
and in which he counted down to the new year. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1... 2393 has
begun!

A lot of people enjoyed the New Years Eve reception. Commander Summers and
Qar from the Calhoun, for example. Playing with the snow like children, they
were really enjoying themselves.

Also, STC Jaal of Pandora Station and CSO DeTroyes from the Calhoun were
having a conversation about Trill, Klingons, and the brig. During the speech
of Captain Denorian, Tessa Elan was searching for her brother, Alan Nerell.
When she finally found him, she was *just* in time to wish him a happy new
year. To her surprise, her brother turned around and passionately kissed a
woman standing behind him: this appeared to be his girlfriend, Ms. Jyll.

2393.01.01:

Captain Denorian starts the new year with a Captain's Log: Stardate 70000.0.

ACMO Vok was unpleasantly surprised when he found out that an Admiral had
hurt his ankle, and that he needed to keep the treatment off the record. But
the shock was complete when he also found out that this Admiral was
Truesdale's father!

Meanwhile, Emile Schofield and Anita Alvarez both came to the decision that
they wanted to get married! Look out Valkyrie, a marriage is on its way!

2393.01.16:

Lieutenant Vrass got a transmission from Dr. Bati of Poseidon Station, the
small underwater research station on the ocean floor of Pandora II.
Apparently they had found something exciting. After receiving permission
from Captain Denorian, Lieutenant Vrass took AAO Ja'al and his -near-
namesake STC Jaal with him, to a mission which would take them to the bottom
of the ocean.

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Public Relations Status Report, January 2007, by Rob Versteegt.
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An enormous pressure rests on my shoulders. It's not 'just' making sure that
we have a lot of signups, but it's also writing this status report every
month. I want every status report to be original. Every time it needs to be
something more than just a status report. A work of art. That is what I'd
like to let it be. But I am beginning to find it increasingly difficult to
think of something original, inspiring, fascinating, humorous, etc.

Still, I will give it a try.

The number of signups...

Oh well, they can wait. Who cares that we got 14 signups in January, which
were actually just 11 signups, since 4 of those 14 signups were the same?
Well, of course we all care, since we like Frontier Fleet to grow, but
pfft... that's no way to write a status report, is it? Well, it is if you
want it to be boring. And it shouldn't be! After all, these status reports
are published in the Federation Tribune! And potential members might
actually *read* the Tribune. So they read the status reports. That means
that they read this status report as well. (Yes, I'm talking about *you*! If
you haven't done so already, join Frontier Fleet!) In other words, Status
Reports have to catch one's attention. They have to be nice to read.

Just mentioning how many signups found us where though, doesn't invite
people to read this status report. I mean, if there was another way to say
that 7 people found us via websearch (Google etc.), 2 found us via unknown
ways, 1 person got to us via a friend, and the last one just happened to
stumble upon us, then I would certainly use that way. But unfortunately
there isn't. So I'll just not say where all those players found us. Sorry.

It's very difficult to write a decent, enjoyable status report. You ought to
try it sometime. After you finished voting, of course. And since we all know
that the voting site can be found at www.frontierfleet.net/comm/vote, I
won't tell you that anymore either.

Bleh, what a lousy status report this is. I've told you absolutely nothing
about the status of Frontier Fleet's public relations! Ah well, better luck
next time.

Regs,
Rob.

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SF Academy Status Report, January 2007, by Martin Miller
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Active Instructors: (4)

Chief Instructor Sedaq, played by Adrian Rodd.
Instructor Aaron Mackinee, played by Martin Miller.
Instructor Dorvan Lar, played by Rick Clogston.
Instructor Vivienne Creenan, played by Rob Versteegt.

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Instructors LOA: (1)

Instructor Kembra Iarin, played by Scott Rick.

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New Instructors: (3)

Chantal Gaudiano (In Training)
Blayne Welsh (In Training)
Ann Montague (In Training)
Jeroen Nagtegaal (In Training)

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New Signups: 11 (4 entered the Academy)

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Individual Cadets: (4)

Cadet Josentier Minosa, Lester Frothinger (Adrian)(Since 14th of December)
Cadet Arron Drexel, played by Elijah Caswell (Bobby)(Since 9th of January)
Cadet Criss Kerrang, played by Angie Felce (Rick)(Since 9th of January)
Cadet Polean Drenden, played by Polean Drenden (Martin)(Since 28th of
January)

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Graduates: (2)

Cadet Solok, played by Brad Wells => ACEO Solok, USS Calhoun.
Cadet Matt Gershich, played by Matt Juro => ACEO Matt Gershich, USS Odyssey.

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Cadets lost: (1)

Cadet Andrew Wright, played by Kevin Padilla

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AcadCM Comments:

An interesting month we've had here at the Academy, so let me tell you that
we had two graduates and there are more to be on the way soon or so I am
informed by the Frontier Fleet Instructors.

We had one departure from the Academy due to inactivity and constantly
asking for LOA and not only that we have four new Instructors to aid
Frontier Fleet so congratulations to the four of you and I hope you have
fun.

So all we need is some new signups and a few graduates and the Academy will
be buzzing with life, stay tuned for next months status report.

Cheers,
Martin
Admiral Elizabeth Anyanka.

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Promotions in January 2007, by Rob Versteegt.
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>From Cadet to Ensign:

Cadet Solok, played by Brad Wells => ACEO Solok, USS Calhoun.
Cadet Matt Gershich, played by Matt Juro => ACEO Matt Gershich, USS Odyssey.

Other promotions:
ACMO Ensign Linda Termal, played by Jeroen Nagtegaal => CMO Ensign Linda
Termal, USS Odyssey.
ACOUNS Ensign Gareth Graves, played by Chantal Willington => COUNS Ensign
Gareth Graves, USS Odyssey.
2O/STC Commander Leon Nerfertii, played by Martin Miller => FO Commander
Leon Nerfertii, USS Odyssey.
FO Commander Jeff Jalando, played by Rob Versteegt => CO Captain Jeff
Jalando, USS Odyssey.

Congratulations, all!

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Posting Stats January 2007, by Rob Versteegt.
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Calhoun players:

Adrian Rodd: 18 (Cal 15, Ody 1, Panda 2)
Kelley MacKinnon: 14 (Cal 13, Panda 1)
Laura Elliot: 3 (Cal 3)
Mark O'Bannon: 8 (Cal 2, Panda 6)
Gael Imaddedine: 0
Aaron DeLay: 0
Jake Hanlon: 8 (Cal 8)
Benjamin Ditch: 0
Brad Wells: 2 (Cal 2)

USS Odyssey players:

Rob Versteegt: 47 (Cal 7, Ody 15, Valk 6, Atly 7, Panda 12)
Martin Miller: 15 (Ody 7, Atly 2, Panda 6)
Guido Dorssers: 2 (Ody 2)
Rob Verlinden: 6 (Ody 6)
Scott Rick: 0
Daniel Balding: 9 (Cal 5, Ody 4)
Jovan Gegov: 0
Jeroen Nagtegaal: 8 (Ody 8)
Chantal Whittington: 6 (Ody 6)
Jamie Davison: 3 (Ody 3)
Matt Juro: 1 (Ody 1)

USS Valkyrie players:

Dennis Church: 8 (Valk 6, Panda 2)
Jonathan Hardy: 4 (Valk 4)
Richard Clogston: 43 (Valk 23, Panda 20)
Ann Montague: 7 (Valk 7)
Nick Bartkowiak: 0
Ruben Hilbers: 31 (Valk 19, Panda 12)
Don Draper: 3 (Valk 3)
Blayne Welsh: 11 (Valk 11)
Abby Leib: 2 (Valk 2)
Kelly Power: 10 (Valk 10)
John Lark: 0
Jaap Marsman: 6 (Valk 6)

USS Atlantis players:

David Susman: 12 (Ody 3, Atly 6, Panda 3)
Ben Versteegt: 8 (Atly 4, Panda 4)
Bram Peeters: 22 (Cal 3, Ody 4, Atly 6, Panda 9)
Chantal Sellers: 0
Alonzo Soban: 4 (Atly 4)
Patrick Buidin: 3 (Atly 3)
Morgan Kadar: 3 (Atly 3)
Peter Pitrilli: 1 (Atly 1)
Larry Ostwald: 4 (Atly 4)
Tim Mottishaw (Skeeter): 0

SPC Only:

Merijn Donders: 1 (Panda 1)
Sussie Andersson: 3 (Panda 3)

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Legendary Post, by Rob Verlinden.
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Most legendary posts have been from a while ago (the good old time) :-) But
this month, it is more recent. The last mission on the Odyssey featured a
pirate crew. Captain Lewis in the Celestial Dagger (not Dragon) had stolen
information from Andor. The USS Odyssey asked a captain of a small vessel
(Montgomery) for the whereabouts of Lewis. He answered that he had once met
her. In the following post you can read how that happened. My attention was
drawn to this post because of its length. It's 8 pages, 4135 words or 22367
characters!! It might be the longest post in Frontier Fleet history. Let me
know if there has been a longer post on other dutystations.

That reminds me: for the legendary posts in the newspaper I need *your*
help!! If you spot great posts on your dutystation, or you remember that
legendary post two years ago: *let me know*. I'm not reading all posts in
the fleet, if you want a post featured here, mail me. You find my address in
the members section.

Subject line: Captains Lewis and Montgomery

(Rigel X - Trade complex, a bar - 2390.06.20, 1430)

Krang entered the establishment at the Rigelian trade complex where he had
agreed to meet an Earth woman called Sarah Lewis. She had been looking for a
buyer for some goods she had recently acquired.

Sarah had been sitting at one of the tables not far from the bar, she was
enjoying herself the rowdiness of the bar and the lively music that was
coming from what could be best described a musical box, it wasn't all that
loud so it would seem had degraded over the years which suited her fine as
she didn't have to shout to be heard.

She was enjoying one of her favourite drinks from Earth that was kind of
easy to find in these establishments as it was one of more popular drinks,
bringing the tankard to her lips the foam of her root beer kissed her lips
first before the fine cool liquid which was eagerly accepted. She was
waiting for an esteemed patron of this bar, who she had struck a deal with
and today was payment day all though she was quite a few tons short of what
he wanted it was hard to get self stealing stem bolts, well in the quantity
the Klingon wanted, but get them she had... the Dagger was on the docking
pad with his shipment.

Checking her chronowatch he was late, why did they have to be late? There
were far better things she could be doing than hanging around bars waiting
for people to do business, looking around she spotted him coming into the
bar and then acted if she hadn't seen him, but he made his way to where she
was seated.

"Captain Lewis," Krang said by way of greeting. "Before you offer me a
drink, like you humans often do during this kind of thing, I have to inform
you that I chose this place for its lack of Starfleet customers, not for the
quality of its drinks."

Well if she was here for the drinks she wouldn't be here at all, they were
expensive and she knew better places in where to get cheaper drinks as these
were not that bad, but not worth the latinum she had paid for her two
tankards... she was now on her third as she had arrived early to scope out
the scene as she had not frequented this bar and wanted to get a scope of
the bar so if the deal went wrong she could get out easily.

Krang sat down opposite the woman. "Nor do I like the smell of this place,
so let's get this over with. I am looking for self-sealing stembolts, and
you have self-sealing stembolts, correct?"

"I have them yes." Came back her simple reply, there was no point to go into
any major details as they were here to do business not have small talk or a
lengthy conversation, it was an in and out job as usual.

"How many are we talking about?" Krang asked. "I am looking to buy quite a
considerable amount."

"I have three tons, and let me tell you they were not easy to get." She and
the crew of the Dagger had made a run against a Starship graveyard as she
had received a tip off that one of the ships hauled in had a shipment of
self-sealing stem bolts it had been easy getting in, but getting out was the
hard problem... as being gunned down by a Galaxy cruiser hadn't been one of
her ideal escapes, but luckily for them she had used a nearby nebula to
escape.

Krang looked at the woman. "That is only half of what I was looking for, but
it will have to do. What's your price?"

"My price is fair... 800 strips of latinum." She removed a PADD from her
pocket and pushed it across the table at him, showing what she wanted for
them and also where and when the payment was to be received, as she didn't
want anyone else to know what they were doing or that she wanted others to
know when and where they would be meeting as in places such as this you
couldn't tell who was or wasn't really listening.

The Klingon laughed. "Very funny, Ms. Lewis. Now what is your *real* asking
price for those stembolts?"

She easily smiled and looked down into her tankard of root beer before
taking another drink, not once did she look at him but replied coolly. "That
*is* the asking price." Putting down the tankard that was now empty, she
stared hard at the Klingon.

"What? I know Ferengi petaQ who would ask less," Krang said loudly while he
slammed his fist on the table. "I suggest you stop wasting my time and lower
your price drastically, or you spend an eternity searching the quadrant to
find an idiot who would want to pay what you're asking."

"My price will remain unchanged Krang, I have a ship to repair and a crew to
feed." The situation was changing and she couldn't have that, plus people
from around the bar were now looking in there direction. Reaching under the
table, where she had kept her left hand for most of their conversation she
gripped hold of her weapon and now aimed it under the table at the Klingon.

Krang jumped up from his chair and unsheathed a small dagger. He pointed the
blade at the woman. "When I said 'drastically', I meant drastically, Ms.
Lewis. What you are asking is ridiculous." He growled. "You're not even
worth killing..." He jammed the dagger into the table in front of Lewis and
turned away. A moment later he had left the bar.

Sarah eyed the dagger as it still wobbled a little then snapped at the bar
patrons who were staring at here. "What are you lot staring at? Can't I
enjoy a drink in peace?" She lifted the empty tankard in front of her to
simulate her taking another drink, she felt silly but it had the desired
effect as they stopped looking and returned to there own conversations.

Not many in the bar seemed to have paid much attention to the argument
between the Klingon and the human, but one older man now approached the
woman's table. "Nice dagger you got there," he said, gesturing at the weapon
that was stuck in the table's surface.

Looking up at him she smiled, and replied. "I thought it made an interesting
table decoration."

"I wouldn't worry about that Krang too much," the man said. "He's like a
Klingon glob fly. A lot of irritating noise, but no sting. He's not very
smart either, most of his business deals end up like this." He gestured at
the dagger again before pulling it out of the table.

"You seem to know him well, but before you seat yourself at my table... I
like to know whom I am drinking with?" Bringing her left hand up from
underneath the table, she still clasped the weapon she had been prepared to
fire at Klang and placed it on the table right in front of her, just to make
her point she wasn't in the best of moods.

"Ah yes, where are my manners," the man said with a smile. "Allow me to
introduce myself. I am Captain Leonard Montgomery." He put the dagger on the
table and extended his hand toward the woman.

Thinking about it for a second she took his hand in a firm grasp, "pleasured
I am sure... Captain Sarah Lewis, at your services." She wasn't sure what he
wanted but it didn't hurt to see if he knew anyone who wanted to buy any
freshly acquired stem bolts, as he seemed like a seasoned fellow who knew
his way around these parts.

"Would you mind if I joined you?" Lenny asked. "I couldn't help but
overhearing you are selling some self-sealing stembolts."

Had they been louder than she wanted? How many other people had overheard
their conversation? "No you can join me..." She gestured with her hand for
Leonard to take the seat that Krang had vacated not moment's ago, and while
her hand was outstretched she picked up the knife and pocketed the weapon.
"...you wanting to buy them are you?"

"Well, I wasn't actually looking to buy them..." Lenny said and he paused a
moment, before he continued, "but that last price you suggested to Krang
sounded reasonable."

"It was indeed a reasonable price I could of asked far more, so by sitting
here at my table... I assumed you're interested in my wares?" She looked
over at him, not entirely sure what he wanted if he wasn't looking to buy
them why had he come to her.

"Tell you what, I will not only buy those stembolts for that price, I'll
even buy you a drink," Lenny said with a smile.

His answer satisfied her, all though she had learnt a while ago... not to
accept drinks from strangers. "No thanks... no offence of course, I just
doesn't know you."

"All right, no drinks then," Lenny said, "Just the stembolts."

"Then it's a done deal Leonard... you wouldn't know of any other business
transactions would you?" The Celestial Dagger and crew had been looking for
business near Rigel, and had failed to establish any real contacts so asking
the man seated before her if he knew of anything was a wise decision.

Lenny grinned. "Around here a lot of people are looking for business
transactions, but it can be hard to find the right ones. Some are just
greedy idiots like that Krang, there are others who wouldn't hesitate to
swindle you out of everything you own without you even noticing it. That
doesn't mean it is impossible to find anyone it is safe and profitable to
deal with."

"Really? And you would know how to contact them?" It would seem he was far
more upcoming with his information far too easily, there had to be something
he wanted in exchange for the information he was providing her with.

Lenny nodded. "I might be able to give you some directions to some people I
know," he said.

"Actually I will take you up on that drink, my treat?" She reached into her
coat pocket and threw three pieces of latinum onto the tabletop, "That
should be more than enough to pay for what you want and myself I will have
another root beer."

"One root beer," Lenny repeated and took the pieces of latinum. On his way
to the bar he slipped them into his pocket. "Jarek, one more root beer for
the lady," he said to the barkeep, "And for me a Saurian brandy. Put it on
my tab."

She watched him leave the table and make his way to the bar, she still
didn't trust him so kept her eye on him as he purchased the drinks so he
couldn't slip anything into her drink as this was one of those places she
didn't want to become the prey. In the time it took him to collect the
drinks and make his way back to their table he had not put anything into her
new tankard filled to the brim with root beer.

Lenny returned to the table with the tankard of root beer for Sarah and the
glass of Saurian brandy for himself. "Here you go," he said and he put the
tankard on the table.

"Thank you, so you were saying?" Sarah didn't really want to be in the bar
for much longer as staying in one place for too long as that usually brought
more trouble than it was worth and Sarah was short handed as she preferred
to make deals by herself and that sometimes gave other the advantage.

"Ah yes," Lenny said after taking a swig from his glass. "Well, I know tgis
Tarkalean at a colony on a moon in a nearby system. He's always looking for
all kinds of stuff to buy. I'm not sure what he does with it, but that
doesn't really matter. He pays well." The Tarkalean paid very well indeed,
but that didn't really make up for the fact that it was an arrogant
clodhopper who acted as if he owned the colony (which in fact he actually
did). Lenny might miss the money, but he certainly wasn't going to miss
having to deal with this guy.

"He does, does he?" Now that wasn't something she could easily turn down, a
job was a job after all... "Where abouts can this Tarkalean be found?" She
took a drink from her tankard.

"It's about halfway between here and Deneva," Lenny said, taking another
swig from his glass. "If you want the exact coordinates, I'd have to ask
Ecci," he said, before adding, "My ship's computer."

She was about to ask who Ecci was, but he answered the question himself.
Lenny's presence at the table was hardly noticeable if she hadn't been
talking to him she wouldn't of noticed him, he seemed quiet and at a
distance, she didn't see him as the type to be a pirate but yet he was. "So
back to the stem bolts, where and when do you want them?" Sarah was mostly
about business, as if things were for her gain she couldn't complain she
just had to offload these stembolts onto someone else so if she was colored
by Starfleet she could claim she was innocent.

"My ship, on the docking pad just around the corner," Lenny said. "How about
tomorrow morning?"

"Sounds reasonable enough, but would today be better? I mean we're both here
and the cargo is on board my ship." The quicker the better, besides they
were both here so why not.

"Today's fine too, but I haven't finished unloading my current cargo yet. I
had just come here for a quick drink. I hadn't really expected to run into
business here."

"Good... then I guess once we have finished these we will part our separate
ways." Their ships weren't that far away so it would be a simple matter of
beaming the stem bolts to Lenny's ship and the Dagger could be on their
merry way like they weren't even here.

"I'm going to need about half an hour to unload," Lenny said. "For one item
I haven't found a buyer yet." He drank the last bit of brandy. "I don't
suppose you are interested in a pair of Tesnian parrots? They're like their
Earth cousins, except a bit smaller, and instead of talk, they just screech
loudly and a lot. Sometimes even in their sleep. Their eggs are supposed to
be a delicacy however."

Sarah wasn't an animal type person and if he was having bother selling them
on then Sarah would most certainly have that very same problem.
"Sorry, I'm not into livestock running around my ship."

"Oh well, I'll just have to find someone else then. Shouldn't be too hard to
sell a pair of screeching birds, if they'd keep their beaks shut for at
least five minutes." He grinned. "My first mate suggested we turn them into
parrot stew. If I really can't find a buyer, that's always a solution I
suppose."

"You could always let them go on a planet..." Letting them go also meant he
would be free of them and they would become someone else's problem, besides
if he was desperate to get rid of them then surely he wouldn't eat them? Or
would he.

"That's an option too, I suppose," Lenny said, "But I think my first mate
really seems to be in favour of eating them. He can be very stubborn once he
has made up his mind about something, especially if that something kept him
from sleeping the last two weeks."

Before Sarah knew it the two of them had finished their drinks and were both
getting up to leave to return to their respective ships. "Well it was
interesting meeting you Lenny..." she spoke a little louder, "...but I best
be going."

"Oh, alright," Lenny said.

Sarah fished in her pocket and palmed a small tablet, holding her hand out
she wanted to  shake Lenny's hand and at the same time giving him the
information he would need on where to find the Dagger if and when he came
looking for them. Taking his hand she passed the tablet onto him and broke
their handshake and then walked from him and head to the Dagger and prepare
the cargo for transport.

As she reached the entrance she turned back once and nodded at him and then
turned corner and towards the docking platforms that weren't far.

(Rigel X - Eccentrica Gallumbits, Cargo hold - 2390.06.20, 1515)

Lenny turned toward his first mate while he pocketed a small data padd. "I'm
going over to Lewis's ship now. Let me know when the goods have been
transported aboard."

The tall man nodded and walked toward the ship's small bridge, while Lenny
turned around, picked up a briefcase and exited the vessel. After a short
walk he arrived at the dock where Lewis's ship was.

(Rigel X - Celestial Dagger docking pad - 2390.06.20, 1519)

The hangar doors to the Transport vessel were open and Sarah was standing in
the entrance hands on her hips and relaxed, she had received word that Lenny
was on his way and she wanted to meet him the second he walked into view.
Sure enough she spotted him as he wandered up to the Dagger and stood down
the bottom of the ramp.

"Captain Lewis, I hope I didn't keep you waiting too much," Lenny said when
he arrived.

Sarah smiled and shook her head before she answered, "No, you most certainly
did not, so right down to business." Sarah walked down the ramp to where
Lenny stood, she didn't want to seem threatening and besides Lenny had done
nothing thus far for her not to distrust him.

Lenny showed her a data padd. "The coordinates of my ship," he said, "And of
course, the latinum." He held up a small briefcase and opened the lid. "800
strips of gold-pressed latinum. You can count them and scan them to see if
they're real, but you are not going to get them in your hands before I hear
from my first mate that the cargo has arrived at my ship of course." Lenny
smiled. "That's not because I don't trust you, captain Lewis, that's just
how I deal with everyone, even the ones I have known all my life."

Sarah checked the padd after taking it from him, his ship wasn't that far
away from them there transporters should be able to handle the distance. "I
wouldn't expect anything less Captain Montgomery... if you would like to
step into my office." She gestured up the ramp and walked away from him up
to one the crates that was full of self-sealing stembolts.

Lenny followed the other captain and then looked at the crate. "I suppose
those are the cargo?"

"This is them yes." Pressing a numberlock on the side of the crate, it
opened with a hiss to reveal the stembolts neatly packed and organised.
"They are the genuine article." Lifting one of the bolts out she held opened
her palm for him to take. "All the crates are locked and you will be given
the codes to the crates in just a second."

Examining the stembolt, he asked, "Precautions, I presume?"

"I have to take my precautions just like yourself, Lenny as there is nothing
stopping you from taking the stembolts..." Sarah stepped over to the wall
and pressed a panel and opened a channel to the Engineer that was stationed
at there transporter that was shoved in the corner of one the corridors.
"Akenliz, send our crates to the co-ordinates of Captain Montgomery's
ship... the co-ordinates are 92.15.132, his ship should be just on the edge
of our full range."

The crates disappeared from view and hopefully to where Lenny's vessel was
waiting, "Well captain it would seem our business transaction is almost
complete." She took the few steps over to him crossing their cargo hold with
ease as it was considerably empty.

"Yes yes," Lenny said, replacing the communicator in his pocket with the
single stembolt that had not been among those beamed over to his ship. As he
did so, it chirped and he flipped it open. =/\=Captain, this is Smith. The
cargo has arrived,=/\= a rather distorted voice said.

Lenny frowned. "That's good to hear, but what's up with the comm system, Mr.
Smith? I thought you fixed it."

=/\=So did I, captain, but it seems it still needs some more work.=/\=

"Then get to work, Mr. Smith," Lenny said. "Montgomery out." He closed the
communicator and put it back in his pocket. "Well, captain Lewis, it would
seem the stembolts have arrived at my ship. Here's the payment." He lifted
the suitcase with latinum and held it toward her. "The codes, captain?"

Sarah grinned from ear to ear, he was not as foolish or as quiet as she had
originally thought he was in fact quite the opposite. Fishing in the inside
of her pocket of her trenchcoat she pulled out an Isolinear chip, it was old
technology but it was reliable she tossed the chip at him. "All you need do
is scan it with a scanner and the codes will be revealed, not everyone still
uses Isolinear chips." The Dagger was old and Isolinear chips were still
embedded in most of her systems and it was getting harder and harder every
year to replace the chips that broke or needed replacing.

"Thanks, Ms. Lewis," Lenny said with a smile as he handed the suitcase with
the latinum to Captain Lewis. "It's been a pleasure doing business with
you."

She took the case and put it straight down on the floor by her feet, "It has
been a smooth transaction, if all of them were like that then it would be an
easy life." Looking around the docking platforms there were a few people
moving around, no one was really paying attention to them.

"I agree," Lenny said with a nod and a smile.

"So where you headed now?" She asked, it wasn't all that often she had a
chance to talk with a fellow captain as normally when they conducted
business it was either on bad or very bad terms, so this was a rarity if it
was one.

"I'm not sure yet, maybe to Pandora Station, in the Pandora sector," Lenny
said. "Although I've heard Starfleet has increased security there because
they're building one of their fancy new super-fast ships at that station
now. That might make my job a bit more interesting..." He sighed. "Ah well,
I'll just see where I go next. What about you?"

"Me? Heading to see that contact of yours see if we can get some more
business." If she could secure some contacts in this area and they gave her
new contacts then the crew and her could develop quite a good run and build
a name for themselves in this sector of course they would have to avoid the
Starfleet vessels that traversed this area but that was easy enough.

"I'm sure you will find he always has something," Lenny said. ~Even if it
involves smelly and noisy livestock most of the time.~ "Bon voyage,
captain."

Captain Lewis then stepped back into her ship and closed the ramp behind
her. When the other captain was out of view, Lenny grinned and began the
trip back to his own vessel.

(Rigel X - Eccentrica Gallumbits, Bridge - 2390.06.20, 1535)

"Well, Mr. Smith, how's the comm system?" Lenny asked after manoeuvring his
way to the bridge through a rather full cargobay.

"I'd say that voice scrambler is working fine," his First Mate said and the
man turned around in the pilot's chair.

"I've heard only an idiot would pay that price she was asking," Lenny said
to the man with a grin. "I guess that makes the pair of us a pair of idiots
then." He paused. "Are we cleared for departure? Our client is waiting for
those bolts." Lenny gestured in the direction of the cargo bay.

The First Mate nodded. "We've been cleared for lift-off by traffic control,
and I already programmed our course. We are ready to go."

"Excellent," Lenny said and sat down in the other chair on the bridge.
"Let's get off this planet then, Krang."

The Klingon turned to face his station and pushing several controls he
powered up the ship's engines. "I'm going to need a new dagger," he said,
"Again."

(Reply none)
(Posted by Martin and Bram)

--------------------------------------------------------------------
The Federation Tribune Competition!
--------------------------------------------------------------------

There was only one person who responded to the Federation Tribune
Competition, and that was Brad Wells! Brad, congrats on winning this
competition... again!

Now, ten more questions about this edition of the Federation Tribune!

Question 1:
The legendary post was a joint post between which characters?

Question 2:
What was the stardate of the first Captain's Log in 2393?

Question 3:
How long has the USS Courageous been trapped in orbit of the Y class planet?

Question 4:
What was the name of the Klingon in the Legendary Post?

Question 5:
Who got promoted to CMO?

Question 6:
Why did Vrass, Jaal and Ja'al go on a mission to Pandora II?

Question 7:
What happened to Lieutenant Fletcher?

Question 8:
What's the moral dilemma the Atlantis Away Team are faced with?

Question 9:
What's going on at Tarakana II?

Question 10:
How many people answered last month's quiz? (and, bonus question: how many
people will answer this month's quiz?)

Mail your answers to chiefeditor at frontierfleet.com before March 10th. Have
fun!

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Music Quiz Answers, by Martin Miller.
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi All,

Well what a fun quiz that was, only three entrants, but easy come and easy
go. Here are the participants and their answers in no particular order:

Rob Verlinden: 7 right answers
Bram Peeters: 9 right answers
Rob Versteegt: 4 right answers

This make Bram the winner of my last quiz ever, I'm ending my quizzes on a
high note and this is it. Thank you for those who have participated in my
written quizzes and who knows maybe someone else will write one.

The answers are in the following place:

Movie Answers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tg5LzxZ88ZM

Tv Theme Answers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GY-bd9tYmQ

Take Care of yourselves,
Martin


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