As I often tell an old friend of mine; life and death are seldom logical, and there is nothing logical about the state of the earth right now. It seemed like a good time to reach out and check up on you all, wish you well and encourage you to stick together during these troubled times.
We are after all ahead of the game when it comes to sticking together and building communities while in reality being physically quite separate and sometimes isolated. We have a talent for using out imagination and communication skills to bridge the gaps in time and space that separate us. The world needs people like us right now.
As a trained Star Fleet doctor I could tell you all about washing your hands, and maintaining social distance but you already know the basics. So what advice should I give? I often tell my good friend that the release of emotions (something he struggles with), is what keeps us healthy– emotionally healthy, that is.
Staying emotionally healthy right now is just as important as keeping that virus at bay. We have these great imaginary worlds to lose ourselves in and express ourselves through, as well as wonderful communities of people from all walks of life to chat and share with. Reach out and make the most of it.
I’m a doctor not a fortuneteller so who knows what the future will bring, but I do know that I feel lucky to have such great communities to enjoy my time and express my creativity with.
Kirk, Spock and McCoy are lost in the Star Trek multiverse and find themselves beamed in to your stories. You can’t see or hear them but they can see and hear you. Just goes to show, you never know who’s watching. So here we go, beaming into the USS Sanctuary to witness its opening scene through the eyes of our favourite Trek heroes.
Fade in to the familiar golden shimmer of transporter beams as three figures appear in a dark room. They immediately draw phasers and glance around as if waiting for attack.
“Dammit Jim, where are we?” the doctor glanced around nervously.
“I have… no idea. What do you think of Spock?” the Captain turned to their Vulcan companion waiting for a response.
“I suspect…” Spock mused, “…that we have been drawn into an alternate dimension. We are here to witness monumental events and perhaps learn from them.”
“That’s nonsense. How could you know that you green blooded goblin.” Spat McCoy, his nerves getting the better of him.
“It is quite simple.” Spock explained, “I have read the script.”
“Oh boy!” exclaimed Kirk as he lowered his phaser in shock.
“That Captain, is the wrong franchise, but otherwise entirely appropriate to our current circumstances.” Spock replied.
“So what now?” demanded McCoy.
Lieutenant Commander Robert Razer has been dead for many years. his body lost to the cold space…
“Who said that?” McCoy jumped at the ethereal voice.
“I suggest you calm yourself Doctor.” Spock holstered his phaser, “that was just the narrator.”
A light flickered on from above and…
suddenly,
Robert gasping for air..naked… in a dark room with a single light shinning down on him …his head, arms and legs were strap down… he did not have a clue where he was nor who he was.. he felt random eyes staring down on him within the darkness… but he could not do anything to escape.. his body hurt… his mind was on fire, he was crying and he could not speak..
“Good heavens man we should help him.” McCoy made to reach for the trapped man but his hand simply passed through the solid matter like mist.
“I am afraid we can do nothing but observe.” Spock looked on impassively.
“He’s naked.” observed Kirk, “we can see his phaser.”
“Dammit Jim dont look at those.” the Doc turned his back.
“Mine’s bigger,” mused Kirk.
The scene flickered and changed. The same man but no longer strapped to the table.
Curled up in a corner Robert squeezed his legs against his body.
Kirk runs over and kneels next to the man, listening as he mumbles under his breath.
Robert- no it can be?…i can’t be alive?…. i cant? .. can’t… I am dead… I am dead…
Robert rocked back and forth repeating the words. My hurts… my head hurts so bad. why am I alive?….
The room had no lights in it.. It was bare. Bare floors, bare ceilings. There was nothing in the room but Robert.
“Who is he?” Kirk demands as the man continues to speak to himself his voice becoming louder and more frantic.
“This must be hell …. Hell. Hell…..hell (and as loud as he could scream) Hell!……
“Someone should give him a sedative.” said McCoy.
“That would defeat the object of the torture.” replied Spock.
Robert never thought of the outside world .. what was going on or where he was.. just the pain, just the darkness. there is no we ..there is only darkness.. darkness is my friend.
“This narrator is bugging me out.” McCoy looked around trying to find the source of the strange voice.
“Pretty cool though, having darkness as a friend.” Kirk considered the idea, “Hey I’m Captain Kirk and this is my good friend Darkness.”
“He was not being literal.” Spock gave a long suffering sigh.
“I bet darkness rides a motorbike.” Kirk pressed on unperturbed.
Robert rocked back and forth…. Laughter began to arise from the darkness…
“Oh he’s losing it.” Kirk stood up and went to stand next to Spock. They both looked down at the stranger named Robert as he cried out.
“Strike me down demon scum.. stop your toying with me and end my suffering.. if this is indeed hell…kill me…”
“I think he’s talking to you.” McCoy gave Spock a grin just as golden light surrounded them once more.
“That Doctor was uncalled for.” Spock’s voice lingered for a brief moment as the trio vanished into the ether.
The IDF Hall of Fame is active once again. After an 8-0 vote of eligible voters, I hereby officially approve the latest amendment to the Hall of Fame charter, which re-activates the institution after it was suspended indefinitely in 2014. Look for us to take nominations later this spring for the 2020 class that will be inducted on our 19-year anniversary of July 4th.
Below you’ll find a list of all 20 current Hall of Fame members and the newly amended charter. It’s a great day to be in Independence Fleet!
Hall of Fame Inductees
Class of 2013
Captain Jasson Asuka
Lt. Cmdr. Seth Rain
Lt. Cmdr. Mira Rodale
Captain Alayne Tolbin
Commodore Zachari Vrona
Class of 2012
Lieutenant Airika Calhoun
Captain Ace Decade
Commander Paula Fredericks
Fleet Admiral Jeremiah Griffith
Admiral Richter Hiron
Class of 2011
Captain Julie Absecon
Commander Samira Barajas
Commander Entera Danae
Commander Ingoldo
Lt. Cmdr. Reggie “Big” Johnson
Rear-Admiral Henry “Hank” Logan
Captain Steve McCloud
Lt. Cmdr. Dick Phelps
Commander Kiara Rodale
Commander Tavik
Independence Fleet Hall of Fame Charter
I. Purpose
A. The Independence Fleet Hall of Fame shall recognize individuals for exemplary service or extraordinary contributions to the fleet.
II. Eligibility
A. Characters, not players, are to be inducted. Multiple characters from a single player are eligible.
B. Characters must be inactive for at least one year prior to induction.
C. Characters shall be inducted no more than once.
III. Process
A. Nominations shall be taken every May. Nominations may be made by anyone, regardless of rank or fleet affiliation. Self-nominations are permitted.
B. Voting shall take place every June, with each nominee receiving a separate vote. All Commanding Officers and active members of the Admiralty may cast one ballot (yea or nay) for each nominee. A player with multiple characters may cast no more than two ballots per nominee.
C. Characters receiving yeas for more than one-half of their ballots and finishing in the top five of the year’s nominees shall be inducted. Characters receiving more than one-half of the ballots cast, but not finishing in the top five of the year’s nominees shall be automatically re-nominated the following year. In the event of more than five nominees receiving the required votes for induction, tie-breakers for the final spots shall be determined by the Command-in-Chief to prevent more than five inductions in any cycle.
D. Characters inactive for more than ten years, regardless of nomination status, may be inducted by consensus decision from the Veterans Committee. All active members of the Admiralty shall serve on the Veterans Committee. Veterans Committee selections shall be capped at three inductions per cycle and shall not count toward the maximum of five from the standard selection process.
E. Inductions shall take place every July 4th. All inductions are final and shall not be overturned.
IV. Amendment
A. Changes to this charter must be approved by at least two-thirds of eligible voters and Independence Fleet’s Commander-in-Chief.
B. Amendments shall not be proposed in May, June, or July.
As most of you already know, Rear Admiral Bolak is our new Director of Media. When I first told him of the old My Favorite Treks we used to do, he immediately came up with this new format. As a result, I can’t claim to be the brilliance behind it. Expect him to do a mix of My Favorite Treks and Captain’s Chairs moving forward. In the meantime, here’s Bolak…
Welcome to the Captain’s Chair, Mr. Bolak. Please input your details into the data pad before we begin.
Name: Bolak
Rank: Rear Admiral
Position: Director of Media
Fleet Sim: Currently None
Thank you, Rear Admiral. So let’s get started with your favorite Captain. Whose chair are you sitting in this evening?
“It has to be Picard’s. Sorry Kirk but despite the off screen tiff with James Corden Picard is class in a glass, and man he even has his own series now and it is fantastic. Q and I agree that Picard is our man!”
Does that make TNG your favourite series or is there another?
“TNG all the way. It’s the series of my youth and contains a whole bunch of my favourite personalities and story arcs. Also for me it brings more breadth and depth to the star trek universe than any other series in the franchise.”
Do you have a favorite episode?
“Now that’s a tough question, there are so many! Let’s go with Q Who… Why? Not only is it action packed, With a healthy dose of our friendly neighbourhood Q. This is where we meet the Borg for the first time! Fantastic. This is where shit got real for the Federation.”
How about the movies, which is the best one?
“Come on… Wrath of Khan all the way! Isn’t that everyone’s favourite? Notice I said favourite, not favorite. It’s like the Empire Strikes Back of the Star Trek universe. Dark and gritty with some amazing action scenes and even a smattering of Shakespeare.”
Good choice, and the worst?
“The Undiscovered Country. Oh Sybok, if only Deadpool would cross the multiverse and shoot you in the head at the start of the movie to save us from what follows. It’s just utter mush.”
Wow ok, so not a fan of The Undiscovered Country. Noted! How’s Picard’s chair by the way? Comfortable?
“Very.”
Good, good. How about the ship? Are we on the Enterprise-D or would you prefer another? You can have anything you like, we have a huge imaginary budget.
“Can I have a Firefly?”
Darn right you can!
“Shiny!”
When did you start simming Bolak?
“2016.”
And what was your first Sim?
“I started off with a Stargate Destiny game on Ongoing worlds. It was great fun but only had a few players so it eventually fizzled. I took a small break then before returning with a few games of my own that I still mod today.”
What keeps you interested?
“I’ve just always wanted to write and I am a huge fan of role play games. This is just the perfect hobby for me. I love the communities I write with and have had the honour to write with some amazingly talented people.”
Me being one of them of course?
“Erm, yes of course.”
What about real life? What else do you enjoy doing?
“Minecraft is my guilty pleasure, as well as working through my out of control Steam Collection. Damn you Humble Bundle why are you so cheap! Between work and the kids I don’t have time for a whole lot else.”
It take it you’re a Firefly fan given the ship we’re on. What else are you into besides that and Star Trek?
“Yeah Firefly is amazing. I am a massive Buffy and Angel fan as well.”
And at the Movies?
“Ok so let’s put Star Wars, Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings on the shelf because that’s too easy. I’ll also pop Shawshank up there next to them because damn that movie is a masterpiece. I am going to go with… Barbarella. That movie is bubble gum for my brain. Jane we salute you!”
Time for the quick fire round now before go to warp.
“I am pretty sure the Firefly is a sub-lightspeed vessel so capable of warp.”
Don’t be pedantic.
“Sorry.”
Quickfire round. Are you ready?
“Yup.”
Favorite book? – Mere Christianty by CS Lewis
Favorite video game? – Minecraft or anything in the ElderScrolls universe
Favorite musician or band? – Pixies
Favorite superhero? – Hell Boy
If you could have any super power, what would it be? – Good Luck
Favorite sport? – Bloodbowl
Favorite team? – Greenfield Grasshuggers
Favorite food? – Tandoori Chicken
Coke or Pepsi? – Coke
Lennon or McCartney? – Lennon
Star Trek or Star Wars? – Star Wars (Wait do I get fired now?)
Jordan or Lebron? – Jordan
Excellent! Thank you for sitting in the Captain’s Chair. It’s been a pleasure to get to know a little more about you today.
Bolak, everyone!
I’m not sure if I was conducting that interview or if it was this. Regardless, I hope you enjoyed it!
After discussing the matter with his crew, Captain Shran dh’Klar has elected for the USS Washington (NCC-81533-E) to stay in Independence Fleet. The Washington had been released last month to explore opportunities outside of the fleet. However, we’re more than pleased to have Captain dh’Klar and his crew remain a part of the IDF family.
The Washington’s tradition dates back to IDF’s founding on July 4, 2001, when we launched with three active sims. The Washington’s crew has won numerous awards and set many records over the years. We look forward to watching their role play adventure continue here for many more to come.
This section may be familiar to those of you who have been with Independence Fleet for long time. We even did a whole group interview over at Ongoing Worlds back on Star Trek’s 50th Anniversary. For those who might be new, this is where we interview a fleet member about their favorite Star Trek episode, some other Trek-related items, and now even some non-Trek topics.
As Director of Media, Rear Admiral Bolak will be conducting these and more moving forward. I think he even has a few ideas on how to change them up a bit. I can’t wait to see what he has planned!
Until then, I thought Director of Art Rear Admiral Sadie Stanton would be a good place to start. She’s the creative force behind all of our graphics and the general artistic theme of the fleet. Doesn’t the site look great! Since she’s done so much with the visual, why not give her the change to share her words too? Here’s Sadie Stanton…
Name: Sadie Stanton Rank: Rear Admiral Sim: N/A Position: Director of Art
Favorite Star Trek episode? “In the Pale Moonlight” Why? I love the drama. I love Avery’s delivery, and the way he and Robinson bounce off each other. Favorite Star Trek series? Deep Space 9 Why? Again, drama. I LOVE a good overreaching plot arc, and I like seeing a grittier side of Trek. Favorite Star Trek film? IV or VI. I’m not sure. Why? I love the whales and the humor of IV, but I like the mystery of VI. Favorite Star Trek Captain? Sisko when I’m watching DS9; Janeway when I’m watching VOY.
What year did you start simming? 2001 What sim was it? USS Cortez What keeps you simming today? I love to write. I love the interaction and the stories. Favorite non-simming hobby? There’s other hobbies? Favorite non-Trek series? That’s a hard one… Depends on the day you ask me. Favorite non-Trek film? No way I can choose. Favorite book (fiction or non)?The Heroes by Joe Abercrombie Favorite video game? I don’t have time for video games much these days. Favorite musician or band? Within Temptation Favorite superhero? Black Widow If you could have any super power, what would it be? I honestly don’t know. Favorite sport? I watch college football on rare occasion. Favorite team? UCONN Huskies Women’s Basketball Favorite food? I like a good steak and potato dish. Coke or Pepsi? Coke. Lennon or McCartney? Don’t care… Jordan or LeBron? Jordan Star Trek or Star Wars? Star Trek
Rank the Trek TV shows from best to worst. DS9 -> VOY -> TNG -> ENT -> TOS. I don’t watch DSC or Orville. I haven’t gotten to Picard yet. Rank the Trek movies from best to worst. G, FC, I, TVH, TUC, TFF, TWOK, Abrams, N, TSFS, TMP, B, ID Was this too many questions? Yes. I didn’t like the ranking thing. 😛
Thank you for that introduction, Fleet Admiral West. I can’t express how excited I am for the days ahead, especially as we get closer to some big fleet milestones. Yes, our best days are ahead. To help us get there, we’ve put together a highly talented and absolutely fantastic staff. Without further ado, here they are:
Vice Admiral Ken Gillis Director of Technology Responsible for IT architecture & infrastructure
Ken Gillis has long been a technical leader and trailblazer within the role playing community. In the early years, he led RolePlayerUSA, which provided hosting services to many of the top clubs. He even served as Simming League President in 2002 and later won the Squiddie Award in 2015.
Rear Admiral Sadie Stanton Director of Art Responsible for graphics & design
Sadie Stanton is a veteran role player who has served in a number of fleets during her career. Her artistic talent rarely goes unnoticed as her outstanding work adorns the sites of several groups. Most recently, she provided all of the graphics for and co-hosted The Simming Endeavor game show.
Rear Admiral Bolak Director of Media Responsible for media content & engagement
Bolak, new to simming in 2016, wasted no time in making an impact. He has been a player and leader in many games across multiple genres on the Ongoing Worlds platform. Known for his quick wit and imaginative stories, he finished as runner-up on the 2019 Simming Endeavor game show.
Rear Admiral James “Rook” Mirtoh Director of Personnel Responsible for awards & recognition
Rook Mirtoh hails from Independence Fleet’s early days, having joined in the first year. He has served in many capacities and made numerous contributions since. Known as one of the most talented role players ever, he is the only fleet member to have individually won all five of the fleet’s original awards.
As always, the IDF Admiralty exists to support you, the role players. Our goal is simple: create and maintain the best simming environment possible. If there’s ever something we can do better, please don’t hesitate to let us know. Here’s to IDF!
As of 00 hundred hours this morning, I have assumed command of Independence Fleet (IDF / IDFleet.com). All active sims with the exception of the USS Sanctuary (NCC-2880) and the USS Chuck Norris (NCC-4005) are hereby released from the fleet and free to continue as independent games or to seek membership with other groups. Additionally, all members of the Admiralty are also released from their duties with this fleet.
I have appointed Admiral Charles Star as Chief of Fleet Operations to assemble a new Admiralty and reorganize the fleet. I’m also proud to announce that the USS Ganymede (NCC-80107) is launching for action today.
I know that none of you were expecting this. I’m sorry. I’m going to have you to ask you to grow up a little sooner than you expected. Know that I have full confidence in you and every member of this fleet to continue role playing excellence.
Independence Fleet may be almost 19 years old, but I believe her best days are still ahead. Let’s role play!
