DC December 2007

Special notes of interest:

• Next DC Submission Deadline is:

January 10, 2008

• Promotion Submissions Deadline:

January 25, 2008

Inside this issue:

Editors Note & Star Trek News 2

From the Desk of the Vice-Commander 3

Star Trek News 4

Feature - Bio - Seven of Nine 5

A Moment with Sam Christiansen 6

Star Trek News 9

Recent Academy Graduates 11

A Chat with Commander Zed Drebin 12

More Museum Pics 22

Reflections 26

We Talk to Admiral Calhoon 18

Outpost Alpha—Recruiting in The Mall 24

UF Starfleet Info & Publishers Corner 27

Stardate 071120.10 Issue 4

THE DELTA COMMUNICATOR

UF ST@RFLEET UF ST@RFLEET UF ST@RFLEET UF ST@RFLEET ---- DELT@ QU@DR@NT DELT@ QU@DR@NT DELT@ QU@DR@NT DELT@ QU@DR@NT

UF Starfleet is Born - Inaugural Town Hall Meeting

Page 2 THE DELTA COMMUNICATOR

a Star Trek Czech

fan club,

Kontinuum.cz, has

produced a Star

Trek fan film a

Star Trek Czech

fan club,

Kontinuum.cz, has

produced a Star

Trek fan film”

Star Trek News Courtesy of Trek today.com

Editors Note By Ensign Heiraxes Maximus

.Well we have a full Issue for you all this time around. Including a new feature “Bios” in which I will spotlight a different Trek Character/Race each Issue, so if you have a favourite Character/Race. Send a note to the submissions desk and we will move it up the list. We also have our usual collection of News and Information, Interviews and Pictures. Check out the first in a series of interviews with the Cap-tains of our RP Ships—A Moment with Sam Christiansen. So we all hope you will enjoy this issue.

Ensign Heiraxes Maximus. Senior Editor

Star Trek fandom is worldwide and recently a group of fans in the Czech Republic produced an ama-teur Star Trek fan film.

As reported at Radio Praha, a Star Trek Czech fan club, Kontinuum.cz, has produced a Star Trek fan film for Czech Star Trek fans. The film, called The Metren Incident, took three years to complete and was inspired by Star Trek: The Next Generation. Anna Stefanova, fan of Jean-Luc Picard and director of the film, said "A few people from the Star Trek fan club, namely a friend and I, were kind of discussing of in a tearoom on doing something about Star Trek and we hit upon the crazy idea of making a film." Even though neither of the two had experience in filmmaking, they did-n't let the lack of experience stop them. "I think we thought that we would just write a script and shoot it in a month or something! In the end, it took a lot longer. But it was quite fun and in the end quite a

good experience, I think!"

Twenty-three fans, ranging in age from sixteen to fifty, worked on the film either as crew members or actors. Ann acted as well as di-recting the film. "Difficult was the fact I had a small role in the movie itself," she said, adding "I was never satisfied with how I acted. I didn't like it at all! But in the end I had to put something in! It was more about fun."

The Metren Incident takes place aboard the USS Avatar, led by a female captain, Talisa Ren. The story had the captain put in a diffi-cult situation after a crewmember is kidnapped by a previously peaceful race. An "away team" is sent to try to resolve the situation.

Last weekend, the film had its first screening at the Atlas Theater in Prague, with one hundred and fifty fans in attendance. There are plans for future showings and a DVD release may be in the works.

Czech It Out

By T'Bonz; November 30, 2007 - 4:07 AM

Page 3 ISSUE 4

“At such a time it is natural and right that you

should pause to take stock of our

position, “

The wind of change is blowing through our family, and whether we like it or not, this change and growth of our groups are a fact. We must all accept it as a fact, and our group policies must take account of it.

It is a special privilege for me to be here among each of you when you are celebrating what I might call the rebirth of our family. At such a time it is natural and right that you should pause to take stock of our position, to look back at what we have achieved, to look forward to what lies ahead. In the short time of our existence the members of our various Star Trek groups have built a strong bond founded upon a healthy kinship and thriving and resilient love of all things Trek.

No one could fail to be impressed with the immense progress which has been achieved. That all this has been accomplished in so short a time is a striking testi-mony to the skill, energy and ini-tiative of everyone.… As I've traveled around the other Trek related groups I have found a deep preoccupation with what is happening in the rest of our own groups

Ever since the break up of the Roman Empire on Earth one of the constant facts of life has been the emergence of inde-pendent worlds. They have come into existence over the centuries in different forms, different kinds of government, but all have been

inspired by a deep, keen feeling of family, which has grown as the groups have grown.

In the twentieth century, and es-pecially since the end of Earths World War II, the processes which gave birth to the nation states of that planet have been repeated all over the galaxy. We have seen the awakening of national con-sciousness in peoples who have for centuries lived in dependence upon some other power. Many worlds there, of different races and civilizations, pressed their claim to an independent national life.

This weekend the same thing is happening in Second Life, and the most striking of all the impressions I have formed since I first joined Star Trek in SL is of the strength of this family type bond of ours. In different places it takes different forms, but it is happening every-where, but most importantly it is with us.

I’m looking forward to being with you as we explore a new begin-ning…let the journey into the stars continue.

Semper Fidelis,

Brigadier

Sanstrom Laxness

Vice Commander,

UF STARFLEET

From the deck of the Vice Commander

Star Trek News - Cont. Courtesy of trektoday.com


"The "The "The "The

insidiousness insidiousness insidiousness insidiousness

of public of public of public of public

interest in interest in interest in interest in

celebrity is celebrity is celebrity is celebrity is

at a fever at a fever at a fever at a fever

pitch," pitch," pitch," pitch,"

Zachary Quinto

Zachary Quinto Keeps It Honest

By T'Bonz; November 30, 2007 - 6:54 PM

Zachary Quinto may play the role of an alien from beyond the stars, but his feet are firmly on the ground here on Earth.

Speaking with the Los Angeles Times, Zachary Quinto explained how the writer's strike has drawn the creative people of the city closer. "The strike is an incredibly unifying force in terms of the peo-ple that are creating stuff here," he said. "It's a really challenging time. I think the energy of the city, the psyche of the city, reflects that. It's bringing people together who might not be together against a larger force. From that emerges a sense of pride and confidence about what people are creating here." Quinto, a Pittsburgh native, has resided in Los Angeles for the past eight years.

He went on to explain the direct impact of the strike on his work on Heroes. "As it became clearer and clearer that that was going to devolve and there was going to be a strike, the tone of things on set just sort of shifted. There was no formal conversation. We have screenings every Friday on our lunch break of the episode about to air. By that time the strike had already happened. All of a sud-den the writers weren't there. An unexpected, unwanted vacation for everybody." Quinto expressed sympathy for the crew of the show. "The unfortunate need for

the sacrifice of individuals to benefit for the group is uncom-fortable and painful. The crew doesn't benefit from the outcome of the negotiations. That's a diffi-cult thing for me."

With a raised profile comes more attention. Quinto has had to deal with the increased scrutiny from both the public and the press. "The insidiousness of public in-terest in celebrity is at a fever pitch," he said. "It's indicative of our larger societal problems. It's very frustrating to be involved in an industry that perpetuates a detachment from what's really going on." While he deplored the seeming lack of interest in seri-ous things as opposed to the ob-session with the trivial, Quinto enjoys public interaction. "I love to meet people, and I love to go out," he said.

Quinto makes sure to keep his role in life in proper perspective. "It doesn't matter who you are and what you do for a living in the countryside of Germany," he said, after a recent backpacking trip there while waiting to hear the results of his Star Trek audi-tion. "It was about reminding my-self of the place that I'm in in the world, not just in this town in this industry, in a much larger spec-trum

Page 5 ISSUE 4

DELTA QUADRANT UPDATE BIO-FILE: Seven of Nine Species: Human (assimilated by Borg as a child but severed as an adult, retaining portion of cybernetic implants)

Full Name at Birth: Annika Hansen Parents: Magnus & Erin Hansen (both assimilated by Borg ca. 2356); only known surviving relative is an aunt, Irene Hansen

Place of birth: Tendara Colony, SD 25479 Marital status: Single Last recorded assignment: U.S.S. Voyager (no formal assignment or rank)

Current status: Returned to Alpha Quadrant with Voyager in 2378

Seven of Nine Played by Jeri Ryan

**Includes updates through SD 55000 (2378); updated addenda pending

Introductory Medical Notes: EMH Doctor, AK-1

The Borg formerly known by the designation "Seven of Nine" has been dis-connected from the Borg collective mind through the neutralization of the upper-spinal column neurotransceiver. In total, I have extracted eighty-two percent of her Borg hardware implants. The remaining bio-implants have been stabilized and remain critical to her life support. I have also stimulated her human metabolism and immune system, though the Borg Nanobots in her bloodstream will more than suffice until she has stabilized. Hair follicles have been repaired and stimulated. Left eyepiece has been replaced by an artificial organ replacement, simulating her own organic eye.

Starfleet records indicate that Seven of Nine was formerly Annika Hansen. Annika's parents were last reported to be leaving a remote outpost in the Omega sector, headed towards the Delta Quadrant in a small vessel The Raven. It is possible that the Hansen family were the first humans to be as-similated by the Borg.

For detailed records of the implant removal process, access U.S.S. Voyager Medical Database 01-022473-007.

See also: Medical logs, U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D, SD 44001.4, CMO Beverly Crusher. Subject: Locutus, aka Jean-Luc Picard. All records classified.

Seven of Nine

Character Bio Courtesy of Startrek.com

“I have extracted

eighty-two

percent of her

Borg hardware

implants. The

remaining bio-

implants have

been stabilized

and remain

critical to her life

support.”

A Moment with Sam Chrstiansen By, Ensign Heiraxes Maximus

“My father

was the head

of security

and my

mother had

just started

out as a fresh

new science

officer.“


This months Feature RP Inter-view is with Lt(JG) Sam Christiansen, Captain of the USS Lassen. Many of you will not know, but for variety’s sake, Lt(JG) Christiansen does not RP under his own name, bat under the name of Hayden Ballentyne. For ease of Identification, Cap-tain Ballentyne has kindly al-lowed us to use the name Sam in this interview. The Delta Com-municator would like to thank Captain Ballentyne for this privi-lege.

Heiraxes: So Sam, tell us a little about the Sam before Starfleet. Just a little personal History, like where were you born, who you your parents are and what they do, and what you did before join-ing Starfleet.

Sam: Both my Parents are in the Andorian Navy (Andorian Navy being Space Navy). My parents met on the ANS Kimacho. My father was the head of security and my mother had just started out as a fresh new science offi-cer. About 5 years later. along I came. I've been on all the An-dorian ships that my mother has served on. which has been 3. The Kimacho was an explorer. At the time, the Andorian explor-ers were getting attacked a lot. So my Mother and Father trans-ferred to the ANS Grena. She

was a diplomatic ship and as such hardly ever entered com-bat. Her main purpose was transferring the ambassadors around. So I saw a lot in my young age, and I was kept safe by my parents.

Heiraxes: And so I would as-sume, if it is safe to do so, that you also joined the ASN?

Sam: Andorians have a lax pol-icy on when you can enter the Andorian Navy. I joined when I was 15. Because my parents both served on the same ship, I became a recruit on that ship. We served on the Grena for 5 years. The Grena was being decommissioned and my father was offered a position as the Executive Officer of the ANS Yaikata. Both my mother and father transferred over there, and because I was a boy of 20, I was eligible to enter Starfleet. The Yaikata's first mission was to take me and an ambassador to earth. where I resigned from the Andorian navy, and entered the Starfleet academy. The rest, as they say, is history.

Heiraxes: So Sam, please tell us all just what did prompt your decision to join Starfleet?


A Moment with Sam Chrstiansen - Cont. By, Ensign Heiraxes Maximus

“and my

most

obvious

region for

joining, the

Humans. I

love

Humans.”

Sam: What prompted my deci-sion to join Starfleet? Well, I had always fantasised about Star-fleet. My parents had told me since I was very young that Star-fleet was where I should be, and because I knew of all the hard-ships that the Andorian Navy faced (during my youth the An-dorian government was going bankrupt and ships with prob-lems were being decommis-sioned for spare parts). They told me all about Starfleet, and encouraged me to join up. My father got the Commander of the ANS Grena to write me a good letter of recommendation to in-clude in my application to join Starfleet.

Aside from those parts, I was always fascinated by Starfleet. Their ships were grand, majes-tic; and their missions; they were always the first to respond to distress calls. They didn’t have to worry about supply issues, they were the most polite people I’d ever met, and my most obvi-ous region for joining, the Hu-mans. I love Humans.

Heiraxes: OK. So you served in The ASN for 5 years, what posi-tions did you hold during that time

Sam: During that time I held the

position of ANS Recruit, ANS Pilot Trainee, and ANS Pilot. I was officially declared a mem-ber of the Andorian Naval Pilot-ing Corps after 4 years. I served as the Helm Officer on the Grena for most of that time, working my way up. If I had chosen to go to the ANS Yai-kata like my parents, I’d have been promoted to Lieutenant (Lt(JG) in Starfleet terms).

Heiraxes: Sounds like a fairly important position, and I am sure you gained quite a bit of valuable experience during that time. Now I am sure you were very well trained in the ASN. So what additional training did you have to do after you joined Starfleet?

Sam: Apart from training to be a helm officer in Starfleet. I had to learn how to pilot their star-ships. It was a bit different to the Andorian ones. more re-sponsive. I also had combat medic training (I signed up to be a combat medic marine in my 3rd academy year) as well as basic security procedures. Apart from all the other general Starfleet training things, like how to handle a weapon, basic sensor training, et cetera.

(Continued on page 8)

“After I

graduated

from the

academy, I

also applied

myself hard. “



After I graduated from the acad-emy, I also applied myself hard. In some of my off duty hours I learnt from the engineering crew of the ship I was first assigned to how to repair the engines and navigational sensors. It took a lot of years to learn all that. I’m still learning things about being a combat medic.

Heiraxes: So you have a back-ground in engineering AND Helm Opps, sounds like quite a C.V when you add your Combat Medic Training. And how long was it until you had your first tour of duty on a Starfleet Ves-sel?

Sam: My first tour of duty? That was 1 month after I graduated from the Academy. About 10 years ago, I would say. I was 25. I served on the USS Aeon out of Infinity Station in the Alpha Quadrant.

Heiraxes: And what other as-signments have you had prior to taking command of the Lassen

Sam: I served on the Aeon for a couple of years, then I trans-ferred onto the USS Freedom under Captain Tarlon. The Free-dom had just been commis-

sioned. She is a Galaxy class, and she served out of Starfleet HQ. However, on a routine es-cort mission to Romulus, a group of Rogue Romulan ves-sels attacked the Freedom. She sustained heavy damage and was eventually driven off due to some of my *ahem* manoeu-vres. But she limped to Romu-lus and got repaired there. Dur-ing the battle the captain died. Commander Versailes took over. She is a good friend of mine today. It was she who re-quested transfer to the Delta Quadrant.

This was about another 3 years after I joined the Freedom. Captain Versailes request for transfer was accepted, and the Freedom (along with the crew who wanted to transfer that far out, and some new crewmem-bers) started on her 1 year jour-ney to Cascade Station. I served on her for another 3 years out there, after which transferred to Cascade station. The Lassen started construc-tion, and I was offered the com-manding officer position. The rest you know.

Heiraxes: Sounds like quite an interesting time. So tell me, you have assembled quite a crew here, tell us all a bit about them all.

Page 9 ISSUE 4

B’Elanna Torres struggles with Ocampa Doctors

Photo: startrek.com

“I have

Holograms,

Trill, Humans,

Androids, and

Cadets.

People from

everywhere.”


Sam: My crew. my crew. Well I have assembled an array of crew, from all walks of life. I have Holograms, Trill, Humans, Androids, and Cadets. People from everywhere.

We'll start with my XO, Codi Hazlehurst. She's a good friend of mine, and I would trust no other to command the Lassen if I was unable.

My chief helm officer is an ex security officer called .Atragon9 Oh, I’m not sure of his capabili-ties as a helm officer, but I hear he's pretty good.

My Chief Medical Officer is an EMH called Chad, a Mark 3 pro-totype. A fine addition to my crew.

My chief engineer us Kosmos Asturias. She's an Android and a friend. I trust that she'll be able to keep the ship going, no mat-ter what.

My security chief, and 2nd offi-cer, is Sheridan Jewell. I trust her with my life. We've known each other since she joined the Academy. A fine addition to the crew.

Sniper Schridde; a marine. Very marine like, but he'll get the job done ;-)

Cadet Shana Flute and Cadet Dale Hirano. Fine additions to my crew. They will learn a lot from their parent divisions, and hopefully pass the Academy with flying colours.

And finally, Cadet Mimps Malsa. A Cadet with lots of ex-perience, I’m sure she'll be a fine addition.

Heiraxes: And Your Ship. I am sure you are VERY proud of The USS Lassen, tell us all a little about her and your jour-neys together

Sam: Well, she's a pretty stan-dard Defiant Class with a few of the new technologies, as all new starships tend to carry. The first and foremost is the Pulse Phasers Mk II. which use less power, for the same amount of damage, and the EMH MkIII. She's just been completed. and we'll be taking her out of dock this weekend for her shakedown cruise. Hopefully nothing will go wrong, but you know how these things are, something is bound to go



“I believe

they called

themselves

something

like

Corion...”


wrong.

Heiraxes: Well that is what a shakedown is all about, isn't it

Sam: hehe. Yeah.

Heiraxes: I noticed from your log that you did some diplomatic work while waiting for the Las-sen’s construction; care to tell us a bit about it?

Sam: I would love to. but unfor-tunately, it’s classified. However, I can tell you where I went and how I got there. I was going to take a shuttlecraft, but Captain Versailes offered to be my es-cort for the mission to the Pin-strari system, planet Pinstrari Alpha.

Heiraxes: Sounds Interesting, while I am sure the specifics of the mission are classified, but tell us what you personally thought of the planet and its people

Sam: It was an M class planet, fortunately. Lovely people. they reminded me of an Andorian crossed with a Cardassian. Pale blue. but with neck and forehead ridges, and antennae. I fitted in pretty well. They're a shy peo-

ple, I think that’s why I was cho-sen to go on the mission, they might warm up to me (if Andori-ans can even be warm) better than a human. The people had an affinity with the coasts. There were large sprawling cit-ies all along the coasts of their continent (they only had 1), and the inland was mostly farms and mines.

They had a few largish islands as well. It looked like a peaceful planet. Unfortunately, the spe-cies they were in dispute with is classified. But I assure you that you have all heard of it.

Heiraxes: OK. So I am sure that these People, and just what, by the way, do they call them-selves, had an interesting cul-ture, and that is what we are all about, embracing new cultures. What did you think of it?

Sam: I believe they called themselves something like Corion or something along those lines. they were like you Humans. Different species name to their planet. I had a lovely time there. even the ne-gotiations seemed like a holi-day.


We would like to acknowledge the following recent Academy Graduates.

Well done and congratulations.

Blush Babii 071127 Medical

Silkie Dagger 071127 Medical

Heiraxes Maximus 071127 Communications

JesseAnn Heckroth 071127 Tac/Ops

Michaels Toshi 071127 Tac/Ops

MoarPye Preez 071204 Science

Recent Academy Graduates Since Stardate 071121


Heiraxes: So just what are your Plans for the Future of the USS Lassen?

Sam: Not to die. But seriously, I want to seek out new life and old civilisations. To boldly go were only Voyager may have gone before, and to explore the Delta quadrant.

Heiraxes: And for yourself. What does the Future hold for you?

Sam: Well. I’m considering teaching more at the academy, which will take the Lassen’s ad-ventures away from Cascade less frequent. until Codi starts to

take command on some shorter missions.

Heiraxes: OK. Well thank you very much for your time. I'm sure the Lassen is in good Hands.

Sam: Thank you for your time.

“ So just what

are your Plans

for the Future

of the USS

Lassen?

Not to die. “

Commander Zed Drebin has been a member of UF Starfleet (formerly SL STARFLEET) since its humble be-ginnings in the Pinastri SIM. He is the Commandant of UF Starfleet Academy and a member of the UF Starfleet Joint Chiefs of Staff. He is also a member of the Promotions Board. In his First Life, Zed lives in New York City and works as the Chief Technology Officer of a private investment firm.

The Communicator caught up with Commander Drebin, Academy Com-mandant and Chief Archivist and His-torian in his office surrounded by a pile of PADDs filled with student data.

Delta Communicator: Commander, thank you for taking time out of your (now) even busier schedule. As you know, the Communicator is a HUGE fan of the Academy - or the 'jewel in the UF Starfleet crown' as it is often called. What's the secret of its suc-cess?

Zed Drebin: Thank you. I am hon-ored by the praise. We are success-ful because of the remarkable contri-butions of the Academy Faculty, In-structors, Students and Command. Every single person in UF Starfleet makes the Academy what it is. It is also hugely important to make the process of attendance and gradua-tion as painless as possible for stu-dents. I do my best to keep things simple and I’m sure that this has con-tributed greatly to our success. My team also works very hard to ensure that all of our processes are well documented and that nothing has to

depend on only one person. The Academy must be able to function even if the entire staff were to disap-pear tomorrow. Taylorholic has cre-ated detailed process flow charts that we constantly tweak and test against reality so that they are both accurate and useful if we ever need someone to step in and take over or help.

But no matter how much I talk about our processes, the absolute single most important factor in the Acad-emy’s success is the people and the incredible time and dedication put in by the CCOs and instructors, and most especially by Vice Comman-dant Taylorholic Durant. Our secret: People teaching… People writing incredible and interesting courses… People taking the courses… People living the dream….

DC: Clearly the potential for the Academy is limitless - how many lessons and courses do you cur-rently offer - and how many more are planned?

ZD: There are currently 40 courses in the Curriculum. I have 10 (!) more classes confirmed and approved to be finalized in the coming weeks. In addition to that, I have several idea proposals on my desk for more courses that I hope will become a reality in the near future. Plus, we are always revising and tweaking existing material.

When we started the academy al-most a year ago, I set a goal to have 50 classes running by the end

““““We are

successful

because of

the

remarkable

contribution

s of the

Academy

Faculty.”.”.”.”


A Chat with Commander Zed Drebin By, LT Samuel Whizenhunt, Communications

of this year. Secretly I would have been overjoyed at 20. I honestly did-n’t think it was an attainable goal. I thought fifty was merely a nice round number to spout in case someone asked. I have also said, on many oc-casions, that I wanted to add an ad-ditional 100 courses by Stardate 090101. Perhaps I should say 200 and see where that gets us… *chuckles*

DC: What other plans are afoot for continuing the excellent tradition of interstellar learning?

ZD: The possibilities are indeed limit-less. I can only say I have some ideas that I think will set the Acad-emy on a course to new heights of greatness. I plan to create a better means for more efficient record keeping, and it is my intention to greatly expand the role-play potential for those in the Academy division. I have some other plans that I have been discussing with Admiral Cal-houn, but it is best that I not say more about that just now. *smiles*

DC: When you set up the Academy, what inspired you? Have you had experience running an institution like it before?

ZD: What inspired me? Believe it or not, that is a hard question to an-swer. I do not have any experience as an educator, although I have men-tored many people professionally and I tend to get a great deal of per-sonal satisfaction from teaching. I suppose my inspiration was the po-tential I saw in this group. I had been

in another Trek group and, although there were Trek fans there, the peo-ple here actually wanted to LIVE the dream. It was very compelling for me. In my old Trek group, I had al-ready created my Teleprompter HUD and used it to give lectures and tell stories, so I had some ideas on how it all might work. There were so many projects that Admiral Campbell and then Commodore Calhoun wanted to get under way and the Academy was one of them. I simply saw an opportunity to help get the ball rolling and ran with it.

DC: Your TAD as Chief Historian and Archivist is interesting - what

Does the position involve and do you know who will take over from you?

ZD: *laughs* I was buttering up General Laxness because I needed something or other, and I made a flip comment about appointing my-self as Chief Archivist. He gave his CoS Tammy Durant an order to make an announcement right then and ‘poof’ I was dubbed chief. No one can ever say that Tammy is not super-efficient. *smiles*

At the end of the day I firmly believe that we need an historian, perhaps as an addition to the communica-tions division or a professor at the Academy. For now, I intend to keep the documents and manuals man-agement under the Academy. I still feel like I have more work to do on that front before the process and flow can be handed over. Besides, I


“I can only

say I have

some ideas

that I think

will set the

Academy on

a course to

new heights

of

greatness”


A Chat with Commander Zed Drebin - Cont. By, LT Samuel Whizenhunt, Communications

enjoy the work.

We have the beginnings of an histori-cal account of the group in the form of the old SL STARFLEET History class that is currently being re-written by Ishan Broek and me. A group his-torian could begin with that. Perhaps among your good readers there is someone that has excellent writing skills mixed with a love of history and a love of Trek; someone that can ap-preciate the huge value of having an official history; someone that can feel in their bones that understanding our past is the key to shaping our future.

DC: Next month we will be interview-ing Zania Turner about the Fleet Plan. What is your personal percep-tion of it as it stands - do you see it as a natural extension of the Acad-emy companies and do you think it will work?

ZD: The Fleet Plan is nothing short of brilliant! I love it… Think of it… That is what our group has been miss-ing… We are all milling about Star-fleet Command sticking our fingers up our noses, but what are we com-manding?! Where are the Starships? Who are these special folk that must boldly go where no one has gone before? I sincerely believe that the Fleet Plan represents an extraordi-nary shift that will propel us light years ahead of any fan group that has come before us in SL or RL. Our charter is to live the dream. We have been trying to live the dream without Starships. That is like wearing your underpants outside your uniform. It is good for a couple of laughs but it’s just not right…

I know the fleet plan will work, but in order for it to work well, it needs to be kept simple and it needs to start out small. Create a process to get everyone deployed and accounted for… that’s it… stop there. Once that is done, then think about the next step. The applications for per-sonnel have already been sent out; now it’s time to send out a few hun-dred reminders! Never stop corral-ling the cats; never loose focus on the goal; get one thing done and verified and then move on to the next thing. Only then can we start adding layers. We must have the people in place to support more functions.

The Academy has reporting and accounting methods that eliminate the need for quarterly roll calls and provide us with useful information about where everyone is in our process. Those practices could eas-ily be transferred to the Fleet Plan and I believe that is the intent. Op-erations can easily learn our meth-ods if they wish to use them; my staff and I are more than happy to help. So far, though, internal difficul-ties in Ops have slowed things down. It is clear that people want to role-play - just look at the forums to see the new logs every day. There-fore, in my opinion, the Fleet Plan is what the entire group – to a life form – should be focused on at this time.

DC: To what extent do you think the split with STARFLEET: The Interna-tional Star Trek Fan Association now gives us greater freedom to excel in Second (and perhaps Real)

“...at times

we are like

a real

family.”




Life?

ZD: I am not sure it gives us any more freedom. We are always free to grow if we are creative and respectful of one another. I am incensed that jealously and drama has made it come to this. One of the things that was so interesting to me about this group was the connection to SFI. We will excel with or without SFI, but un-fortunately, I don’t think that SFI is ready for us. You would be surprised how set in their ways they are. My experience is that they have trouble with change and SL would be such a huge shift in their understanding of a correspondence chapter that we would get sucked into a great big vortex of drama and red tape if we stayed. I very much wish it was not true, but recent events are clear in their portent.

DC: Will you retain your SFI mem-bership? Why or why not?

ZD: I will remain in SFI. I see great potential there too. As long as Admi-ral Calhoun has a command I will be on his crew. Even if the Aviator were to go away for some reason, I will stay in SFI and transfer to another ship. SFI gives us an identification card, you see, and I like to be able to say I am a “card carrying geek.” *winks*

DC: In a forum post, you were re-ferred to as UF Starfleet's 'Guinan'. You are certainly viewed as one of the calmest and wisest officers serv-ing out here in the Delta Quadrant and your opinion is often valued very

highly. To what extent is the huge responsibility you bear a burden, and how do you reconcile duty to UF Starfleet with your other inter-ests?

ZD: UF Starfleet is not a burden to me - my wife would argue other-wise, but that is another story. *grins* Star Trek is one of my true loves in First Life. I have been watching it since I was very, very young. For many years I watched at least one episode of Star Trek every single day. Now I skip a day here and there so I can spend the time at Sector 001. *smiles* I have wanted to join Starfleet since I first heard the word, and UF Starfleet is cer-tainly not a burden to me. In fact, it is the very thing that makes the small burdens I have in First Life seem not so burdensome.

I am no wiser or smarter than any-one else. I stay calm because I know that anger and drama are a complete and utter waste of energy. I always try to focus on the solution rather than the problem itself and, to the extent I am successful, I may appear wise. But thank you for the kind words. *smiles*

DC: In that vein - what other inter-ests do you pursue outside of UF

Starfleet in SL and RL?

ZD: Obviously one cannot live on Trek and cheese from an aerosol can for very long, so for fun and ex-ercise I’m an avid SCUBA diver. I’m


“The awards

program will

be another

way to

recognize

members...”


also on two paintball teams: one amateur tournament team and one woods ball team. I have a motorcycle that I like better than most people I know and I love to explore the coun-tryside on her.

DC: A more difficult question - do you miss Brice Campbell, or do you think that the Fleet has moved on from that period of our history now?

ZD: I hate, hate, hate that this all went down in a flame of drama. I do miss Brice. He and I were becoming friends. We talked on the phone a few times before SL had voice and he was always a big supporter of mine and I always did my best to be a supporter of his. In fact I often ar-gued in his defense. My guess is that he is laughing sardonically as he reads this, but I swear it is the truth. I did not support Mike over Brice. I supported what I thought to be the best hope for the group to survive. I love this group. Which is to say I love the people in the group. My motiva-tion has always been to make the group stronger for the members. Make it survive all of us. It is possible to do that, but we are not even close yet. Everything I do with the Acad-emy, writing manuals, helping the DHs with procedures, and working with individual cadets and people that wish to join the group, is done through the lens of learning the best way to create processes and sys-tems that will survive the loss of a member, or even a number of mem-bers. No one: not Mike, not me, not you, should be able to take this be-loved thing away from all the others.

If a person decides to take a leader-ship role in a group as dynamic as UF Starfleet, they have to fully real-ize a few things. This group has members from all over the world and that means it is a 24/7/365 af-fair. It exists inside an experimental precursor to a holodeck, which has its own huge limitations. We are try-ing to emulate a fictional universe - which many people interpret differ-ently - and most importantly, we all have first lives to attend to. These are but a few of the huge challenges our leadership face. Our leaders must realize that the demand on their time, their creativity and their management skills will be formida-ble. The only alternative would be to close the group to new members. My guess is that we will start to suck within three months if we did that.

DC: You've made it clear that you feel Christmas is non-canon - and most people agree with you, despite wanting to celebrate it. However, a great deal of what we do, what we build and where we plan to go is non-canon – how 'hard line' do you think we should be in sticking to Gene Roddenberry's vision of Trek - and how much scope is there for our own imaginations to run wild? Are details or principles more impor-tant?

ZD: This is a very hard question to answer. On the one hand I fully rec-ognize that we are all individuals. Some of us have been watching Star Trek since TOS, and for some it is a new love. Others are not ‘hardcore fanboyz’, but appreciate

“That’s all I

ever really

did, was

want to know

what was

going on with

each

division. “



our ideals and our camaraderie. We need to make the group fun for eve-ryone and I think we are largely suc-ceeding, but I also think that we must not loose sight of the Star Trek my-thos. My favorite pet peeve is the practice of saluting. I defy anyone to find one instance of Mr. Spock salut-ing Captain Kirk or Ensign Kim salut-ing Captain Janeway or anyone ever saluting anyone in any Star Trek tele-vision show or movie. There is prece-dent for people coming to attention, and I think that it is appropriate for the Marines to salute since they are not canon anyway and it seems to suit them. My point is that canon exists for very good reasons that may not be obvious to the casual observer. Let’s be careful when treading on that particular deck plat-ing and I am sure that we will do the right thing. The Marines or our new uniforms, for instance, make us unique and give people the opportu-nity to express their creativity and that is a great thing - but it should not be at the cost of our Trekdom.

“Again, its

not like I'm

spending all

my time

plotting , ...”


DC: Commandant, very many thanks for taking time out from your packed schedule to talk to us. We hope that you won't mind if we check in from time to time to keep our readers up-dated on the exciting things happen-ing at the Academy in the coming months. Do you have a (definitely not Christmas) message for the Fleet?

ZD: Thank you. I am greatly honored. Please feel free to reach out to my staff or me at any time. And I do have a message for the Fleet. May each of you find the peace that this season hopes for and Thank YOU!

THE COMMUNICATOR LEFT COMMANDER DREBIN HAPPILY BURIED UNDER A PILE OF PADDS. CHECK IN NEXT MONTH FOR AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH CAPTAIN ZANIA TURNER AND THE INSIDER LOW-DOWN ON THE FLEET PLAN.


Commander Zed Drebin

Commandant UFStarfleet Academy

Delta Communicator: Admiral, many thanks for joining us again. We have much to talk about! In our last conversation we touched upon the Fleet Plan - I'd like to come to that in a moment. But first: new name, new logo, new direction? How has the transition to United Federation Starfleet gone? Mike Calhoun: For the most part the transition went smoothly, ex-cept for the little snafu with most of the objects on SIM going 'poof' - nothing a good roll back couldn't fix though - and as a result I ended up with some nice double items, in-cluding poseballs, in my inventory. Seriously, the whole senior staff worked very hard to make this tran-sition go as smoothly as possible, and I think we succeeded in doing this with minimal trouble for the membership. DC: Indeed, our thanks go out to all the officers and senior staff who sorted out the new groups and made sure that 'no one was left be-hind'. Can you tell us how relations are with STARFLEET: The Interna-tional Star Trek Fan Association (SFI) now? MC: Officially we are still doing well, although we have removed every reference to SFI. According to the new Commander STAR-FLEET, SFI isn't even our parental organization because we don't fall under their rules and leadership. So, in order to avoid any problems between the two organizations in the future, I decided it was best to

step away from SFI. I received two Cease & Desist letters from the STARFLEET Marine Corps in re-gards to using some modified logo's and we complied with this right away. However, due to this, we will not be recruiting or doing promotion for SFI; our group is not a member pool for SFI to come and recruit from. Due to this state-ment and to my resignation from the STARFLEET Marine Corps, I learned through the grapevine that I angered some high SFI Officers and, as such, ended my SFI ca-reer. Sad but I guess that's poli-tics. In any event, I will remain on duty as a member of the SFI Admiralty Board until such time as I'm re-placed. I will also keep command-ing the USS AVIATOR as an offi-cial SFI chapter. DC: Can you clarify whether Admi-ral Campbell had anything to do with failing relations with SFI? MC: It is my express opinion that Admiral Campbell is in no way re-sponsible for these problems with SFI. It is my belief that MGen Nimitz Beck is the culprit. As many of your readers will know, MGen Beck and Admiral Campbell had some RL disagreements in the past, which Beck decided to carry over to SL STARFLEET in an at-tempt to create strife between my-self and Admiral Campbell. In the mean time, his RL XO, BGen Gus-tav Kronfeld, also joined SL STARFLEET. Mr Kronfeld is the COINFOCOM of the STARFLEET Marine Corps and it was he who

“I didn't want

to stand

down...”


We Talk to Admiral Calhoun. By, LT Samuel Whizenhunt, Communications

brought this to the Marine Com-mandant. So you see, all of this was just a petty game to get pay-back at the expense of Admiral Campbell and to damage the group DC: Are the new groups created for UFS secure - meaning - who is the 'owner' of the groups and how many 'owners' are there? MC: I created all the major groups as either myself or as one of my ALTS (Mike Adamle or Michael Elswit). The Academy Comman-dant, Cmdr Zed Drebin, created the Academy groups and Lt Cmdr Mateo Infinity created the Commu-nications group. I'm an owner of all these groups, but for the ones I cre-ated, I have of course made Briga-dier General Sanstrom Laxness a co-owner. This is in order to make sure that, in the event that I fall away, the group will continue to prosper and grow. Never should everything depend on one individ-ual. DC: Let's move on to the Fleet Plan. In our last conversation you outlined in detail how the Fleet Plan was intended to operate. Is this op-erating model still the same and has progress been made? A num-ber of recent UFS Forum postings have addressed the topic and it seems Tac/Ops was initially con-fused internally over who was deal-ing with getting this operational? MC: It was my hope in getting this fully operational before my trip, but as you can see, many issues still need to be resolved. Most of these I believe can be solved if all of us

can sit together and listen to each other instead of everyone trying to have a say in the matter. As far as progress being made: all the fleet groups have been created and Captain Zania Turner is back in overall command of Tactical Op-erations & Simulations. DC: On the UFS Forum, Tac/Ops has been the subject of a continu-ally heated debate. Are Ops and Tac/Ops under scrutiny - are you happy with the way things are go-ing or do you think they need a bit more time to sort themselves out? MC: Of course I'm not happy that it all takes so long – it is well known that I'm someone who likes to get things moving fast. But I also real-ize that everyone is doing his or her very best and that Tac/Ops is a very difficult branch to set up and manage. I do think that the Academy can play a vital role in this since both are similar in set up. I think that Academy Vice Commandant Lt. Durant - who is one of the most organized people I have worked with so far - is the best person to assist Tac/Ops in getting the ball rolling. One thing I would like to say is that I still have faith in the Tac/ops team to make it work and I would like to thank Zania Turner, Sam Christiansen, Chase Quinnell and Reina Beaumont for their con-tinued efforts in the Tac/Ops Branch. DC: With regards to the Fleet Plan, you've said that you are set against 'dual roles' whereby an

“...ask your

own

questions, do

your own

research... ”


We Talk to Admiral Calhoun - Cont. By, LT Samuel Whizenhunt, Communications

officer could be assigned to both a ship and HQ. To what extent will that mean that members aboard ships that are currently 'on a mis-sion' and away from HQ will not be expected/allowed to spend time at HQ while their ship is away? I.e. how realistic is this going to get? MC: There is some misconception here that needs to be cleared up. 'No dual roles' only applies to peo-ple who are vital to the working of the group; they can only take one posting. People like the Joint Chiefs, the Head of Personnel, the Events Director, or the Vice Com-mander, for example, can only be assigned to HQ – and ships' cap-tains will only get ship assignments. It is logical really; these people al-ready have full time jobs managing the place. It is my hope to make this as realis-tic as possible - but I acknowledge the fact that this may not be entirely possible. Of course anyone 'on a mission' will still be allowed on the SIM :-) DC: Are you concerned that the HQ Divisions will suffer a significant drop in numbers and therefore a significant reduction in the scale and types of projects they can un-dertake? MC: No, I do not feel that this will have any bearing on HQ positions. There aren't that many positions in HQ to go around anyway. What should/will happen is a constant flow of members going back and forth between HQ and ships, and that's fine; it will be just like real life

with re-assignments and new posi-tions. DC: More personally, if you'll al-low, how are preparations going for your trip to South America? You must be very excited? Will you miss your home during the festive period? MC: Well, as I write this I still need to pack my suitcases and I leave tomorrow! I'm very nervous, of course, but very excited. For those who would like to follow my flight plan, I leave Belgium on the 12th December at 10.10 hours (GMT+1) and arrive at Atlanta Air-port at 14.10 hours. There I will need to wait till 17.25 hours to board a new plane and my arrival at c airport is scheduled for around 22.09 hours local time. I will be back in Belgium on January 9th. Of course I will not be in game much for the next month, so as stated in my forum posts, Briga-dier General Sanstrom Laxness is in charge of the day-to-day work-ings of the group, along with Lt Taylorholic Durant. Both have the means to contact me if needed and I can be on line very quickly. I would like to ask all of you to keep personal IM's to a minimum and please folow the CoC. All my sen-ior staff is capable of handling any issues that might occur. In the event there is a SIM related prob-lem, please contact Lt Ssaspriina Sismondi. DC: Thank you for speaking to us once again Admiral. Do you have a seasonal message for the Fleet?

“Well, as I

write this I

still need to

pack my

suitcases and

I leave

tomorrow! I'm

very

nervous...



MC: I do not think I will be in game during the XMas or New Years Eve parties that are being planned by Ssaspriina, so I want to take a min-ute to wish all of you and your fami-lies my very best wishes for the New Year. May all your dreams come true and may you all find joy and happiness and anything else you wish for! It is my hope that 2008 will bring exciting times for United Federation Starfleet and that we will continue to grow and prosper. Thanks for everything my Second Life Family, I love you all As for me… "Second star to the right and straight on till morning."

"Second

star to the

right and

straight on

till

morning."



“If you prick me, do I

not… Leak?”

Lt Commander Data

The Naked Now - ST:TNG S1E2

Stardate 41209.2

Photo: startrek.com


On a Recent Trip to The Trek Museum Photos By Cadet TessaLee Writer

The Enterprise:

Main Engineering

The Enterprise:

Captain Kirks

Quarters


On a Recent Trip to The Trek Museum Photos By Cadet TessaLee Writer

The Enterprise:

Briefing Room

The Enterprise:

Shuttle Bay

United Federation Starfleet opened its

first remote recruiting outpost last

month. The office was designed by

Cyril Barthelmess and contains every-

thing that a visitor might need to get

signed up to UF Starfleet.

The outpost is situated in the Magic

Dreams Mall owned by Carlos Brick-

lin, and can be found at the cords:

Plush Epsilon 157, 155, 23. The office

uses a total of 38 prims and the allow-

ance and space were kindly donated by

Bricklin free of charge. The mall itself

offers everything from clothes to pools

and is well worth a browse. Bricklin

confirmed that he is a long-time fan of

Star Trek and is more than happy to

have our outpost as part of his world!

Admiral Calhoun noted that, “Our first

outpost will be a great addition in get-

ting the word out.” Lt. Cmdr. Barthel-

mess added that it was “a great way to

bring people into our growing Star

Trek family.”

So, if you’re bored and want to help

the Fleet, why not man the outpost for

an hour or two and see if you can’t

persuade some shoppers to give Star-

fleet a look. There’s even a comfy

chair to sit on!

Samuel Whizenhunt


Outpost Alpha Outpost Alpha Outpost Alpha Outpost Alpha –––– Recruiting in the mall in the mall in the mall in the mall

By, LT Samuel Whizenhunt, Communications

Outpost Alpha is located

in

Magic Dreams Mall

(Plush Epsilon 157,155,23)

Outpost Alpha—Magic Dreams Mall


Outpost Alpha – Recruiting in the mall

By, LT Samuel Whizenhunt, Communications


Reflections.

By, Ensign Heiraxes Maximus

Well I had a subject for this issue all ready to go, but I ash canned it when I saw something in the Welcome Centre today.

As always I will be mention-ing no names. Any people involved already know who they are, and, as always; this is MY OPPINION ONLY.

That being said, here goes.

I am somewhat dismayed by the continuing and increasing amount of inappropriate discussion being conducted in our Welcome Centre. The Welcome Centre is the first thing Visitors entering the Sim will see unless they have been tele-ported in by someone else. The behaviour of people in the Wel-come Centre has come under fire quite a bit of late and I am coming to agree that the nature of discus-sions there is at times, highly ques-tionable.

We are a group of suppos-edly Mature Adults. So why then is it that even after we have all been told that such behaviour is unac-ceptable, that we still see people throwing what basically amounts to childish tantrums in this area.

If you have a problem with some-one, take it up with them in person, talk to their DH, Go to the Inspector General if need be. And this advice is not just limited to the Welcome Centre, this should apply all over

the Sim. Check your Temper at the Transporter and behave like an Adult AT ALL TIMES. When you are wearing your Uniform or have you Group Label active you represent UFS and we value the opinions of our Visitors. If they see us carrying on like a group of pre-schoolers fighting over a Favourite Toy, will they still want to join us, or are they more likely to stay away.

Always Remember: A man can be a Tyrant his entire life, but give his life selflessly and be Hon-oured as a Great Hero, He can spend his life doing charitable work, and through one thoughtless deed, be remembered as a Mon-ster. The same applies to Impres-sions.

************

Seen something around Sim or in the Group that you think needs comment, then drop me a notecard or write a re-flection and send it to the Submissions

Desk.

NB: Reflections IS NOT a place to cre-ate Drama. Ideas/Articles that can be considered Inflamatory, derogatory, or simply have the possibility if creating too much negative feeling in the group

will NOT be considered.

“We are a

group of

supposedly

Mature

Adults.”

UF STARFLEET - DELTA QUADRANT

“Boldly going…… Helm, what’s our heading again?”

The Delta Communicator is a production under the UF STARFLEET Communications Division - Information and Publications (SIP) Team.

Chief of Comms & DC Publisher

LTCDR Mateo Infinity

Lead, SIP Team & DC Chief Editor:

Ensign Heiraxes Maximus

Website:

WWW.UFSTARFLEET.ORG

smoothly running forward. Any matters per-taining to the publication of this newsletter should be directed to the Editor, Heiraxes Maximus. We are slowing moving the Delta Communicator towards a monthly publication as it was originally intended. You’ll see publi-cation dates moving that direction starting with this edition and through January. Stay safe this New Years.

Greetings all! The Communications Division is working on some great stuff for this New Year. I can’t divulge all the details yet, because a few of them we need to work out some logistics first to make sure they are do-able. The one thing I hate most is promising something to members, and having to turn around and either fall through on it, or say we can’t do it. But let’s just say that we will be the media envy of all, MMUUHHAAAA. Speaking of which the month of January will be ex-tremely stressful for me. But, I have an awe-some team here, and everything will continue

The Publishers Corner By, LTCMDR Mateo Infinity

ABOUT US

Have you always wanted the opportunity of wearing

your Star Trek uniform everyday? What about having

the chance of interacting with other Trek fans on a daily

basis and even role-play with them? Do you think it’s

too good to be true? Well, we, on United Federation

Starfleet do that , everyday.

UF Starfleet was founded on Stardate 071202 as an

evolution from the group SL STARFLEET. SL STAR-

FLEET is a Second Life offshoot of STARFLEET: The

International Star Trek Fan Association, Inc.known as

(SFI). UF Starfleet is not affiliated with SFI but many

of our members are also members of that organization.

But what does that mean to us, UF Starfleet Members?

It means that beside being able to wear our cool uni-

forms everyday (although virtual they are still pretty

cool!) and being able to interact with each other on a

daily basis, we can actually experience what Starfleet is

all about.

Documents

DC December 2007