The Anvil U.S.S. Hephaestus: NCC-2004
The Captains ALWAYS ONWARD A MEMBER OF STARFLEET INTERNATIONAL
January 2016
The Anvil
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Inside This Issue
HEPHAESTUS is the Greek name for the Roman god of the forge, Vulcan. Birmingham has the world’s largest iron statue, that of the Roman god, Vulcan. We named our Starfleet chapter the Hephaestus to give us ties to our city and to Star Trek, which has had its own Vulcan since 1966. Hephaestus forged armor and weapons for the gods. We create our own “armor and weapons” here, in our newsletter, so it is called The Anvil.
From the Ready Room
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XO Briefing
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Ship’s Log
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Starfleet Marine Corps
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Starfleet Renewal Reminders
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Treasury Report
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Away Team and Activity Schedule
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Cover: Jonathan Archer, Kathryn Janeway James T. Kirk, Benjamin Sisko Jean-Luc Picard
Anvil Focus Schedule - 2016
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Web Links
The Captains – Who They Are
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Theme Article
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Starfleet www.sfi.org
Do You Know…?
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Captain’s Top 10
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Quotable Quotes Star Trek News & More
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Region 2 www.region2.org USS Hephaestus www.facebook.com/groups/Hephaestus2004/
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www.twitter.com/Hephaestus2004
Star Trek Fiction
11 Anvil Back Issues
Name the Captain
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Reviews
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Theme Poster
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While on an Away Mission
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Feedback
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Area Conventions & Exhibits
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Hunt for the Icon Answers
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Name the Episode Answers
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Starfleet Academy
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Command Structure
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www.issuu.com/ncc2004
Editor
MarkAdam Miller
Layout, Graphics and Publishing
Brenda A. Miller
Marine Reporting
Neil Yawn
Treasury Reporting
MarkAdam Miller
Fiction
Donald Arnold
The Anvil, Issue 293 is the monthly newsletter of the USS Hephaestus, NCC-2004, of Starfleet, The International Star Trek Fan Association. All terms and phrases from Star Trek are owned by Paramount Pictures Corporation, a division of Paramount Communications and all rights are reserved.
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From the Ready Room Greetings from your Captain, Happy New Year. We have several thing going on this year. The biggest is that Star Trek is 50 years old. There will be lots of things going on and your reporting team will try to keep you up to date on what’s happening through The Anvil and on Facebook. One change in The Anvil schedule is the focus for September: It will be on the 50th Anniversary (see page 4). Security (Red Shirts, Yar/Worf, Odo, Tuvok, Reed) that was planned has move to October and Social issues will be some time in 2017. I will be looking for pictures, quotes and remembrances about the past 50 years of Star Trek. You can send your contributions to cohephaestus@bellsouth.net. Take a look at the Focus Schedule. If you would like to write an article for one of the Focus topics, please send me your article. Your fellow crewmates would love to hear your ideas on the different subjects. Also that will give the crew someone’s view point other than mine. July 22, 2016, is the premier date of Star Trek Beyond. We will try and plan an outing at one of the theaters. If people are interested, we can also maybe set up a table at one of the theaters to promote the club. Hope you are having a great New Year. See you around the ship. Capt. MarkAdam Miller, cohephaestus@bellsouth.net, https://www.facebook.com/groups/Hephaestus2004/
XO Briefing Hello crew, The Vote of Confidence for our CO was held in November. I’m pleased to report a unanimous vote of approval was given for MarkAdam Miller to continue as CO. Congratulations to MarkAdam Miller. This is the month of The Captains. Let's start with Captain Archer he was the first captain that did not have a Prime Directive: there was no Federation, but he was pivotal in its start. He became an admiral, then, President of the new Federation. Captain Kirk was the youngest person to become captain of a starship. He was an admiral when V-ger came to Earth to destroy it but he diverted the probe from destroying Earth. Captain Picard was the first to meet Q who introduced the Federation to the Borg. At one point he was assimilated into the Collective and tried to assimilate earth but failed because of the U.S.S Enterprise crew. Captain Sisko was the new commander of DS9 and also the Emissary to the Bajoran people. He came in contact with the Founders which started the war between both species. He helped the Federation negotiate a peace treaty with the Founders then went to be with The Profits. Captain Janeway was the first to explore the Delta quadrant and brought the crew home with minimal casualties. The future Janeway came to the past to save the crew and destroyed the Borg queen which put the Borg into chaos. Lt. Phillip Mangina, phillip3056@charter.net USS Hephaestus
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Ship’s Log December 12, 2015 – Social The social was great fun. We had the normal snacks and pops. Phillip brought Ant-Man, so we watched it and commented on the different aspects of the film verses the other Marvel movies that have come out. We also watched trailers for several upcoming movies. We had a good turnout. Wayne Thompson a former member showed up which was especially enjoyable. Attendance: 14 People Personnel Updates: Captain’s Personal Log December 23-29, 2015 – Holiday Travel Brenda and I traveled to Ohio for Christmas. We stopped in Kentucky to see Jill and Dennis Rayburn and Donald Horn. I shared with family and friends my work on The Anvil and several of them said they would like to see a copy of it.
(If you have any news or accomplishments you would like to share with the group please email them to me at: cohephaestus@bellsouth.net. Also your personal updates can give your Captain added info to help get you recognition and awards at Summit for your accomplishments).
Starfleet Marine Corps Greetings, The 654th MSG is looking for members. There is a completely different set of Academy schools for those trying to get the Boothby awards. There is no pressure in joining. There are two categories: Active which means all ranks will be Marine ranks, and Reserve which means you stay primarily Fleet and only use Marine ranks when doing marine stuff. Contact Lt. General Neil Yawn (the654msg@aol.com), if you are interested or have questions. Looking to boost your Boothby Awards? The Starfleet Marines Academy may be your answer. Check out what SFMC Academy has for you. Lt. General Neil Yawn, OIC 1 BN, 2BDE, OIC 654 MSG the654msg@aol.com
Human beings have a code of behavior that applies whether they're Starfleet officers or space boomers, and it isn't driven by revenge. Just because someone isn't born on Earth doesn't make him any less human. – Captain Jonathan Archer, ENT: Fortunate Son
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Starfleet Renewal Reminders Potts Family Bentley Mohney Family Holsey Mangina Green Hicks family
03/05/16 04/07/16 04/15/16 05/30/16 05/15/16 06/04/16 06/17/16
Lindsay Miller Family Davis Tiner Youngblood-Yawn Arnold
07/07/16 08/26/15 08/31/16 09/13/16 11/30/15 11/30/16
Treasury Report December Description
Payments
Deposits
Balance
Beginning Balance
$
24.00
Ending Balance
$
24.00
Away Team and Activity Schedule Date Jan 2, 2016 Jan 9, 2016 Jan 15, 2016 Feb 6, 2016 Feb 13, 2016 Feb 19, 2016 Feb 26-28, 2016 March 5, 2016 March 12, 2016 March 18, 2016 Apr. 2, 2016 Apr 09, 2016 Apr 15, 2016
Event/Time Anvil Deadline Social – 7 pm Poker – 7 pm Anvil Deadline Social – 7 pm Poker – 7 pm Summit Anvil Deadline Social – 7 pm Poker – 7 pm Anvil Deadline Social Spring Cookout, Poker – 7 pm
Location/Activity cohephaestus@bellsouth.net Pete Mohney’s House Miller’s House cohephaestus@bellsouth.net Pete Mohney’s House Pott’s House Navarre, FL cohephaestus@bellsouth.net Pete Mohney’s House Burtyk’s House cohephaestus@bellsouth.net Pete Mohney’s House Pete Mohney’s House
ALL EVENTS AND TIMES SUBJECT TO CHANGE, PLEASE REFER TO THIS SECTION FOR UP TO DATE INFORMATION USS Hephaestus
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Anvil Focus Schedule 2016 Month
Theme
January
The Captain’s (Krik, Picard, Sisko, Janeway, Archer)
February
Comedy Episodes
March
1st Officers (No. 1, Spock, Riker, Kira, Chakotay, T’Pol)-
April
Time Travel Episodes
May
The Doctors (Bones, Crusher, Basher, EMH, Phlox)
June
Earth like Episodes
July
Engineers (Scotty, LaForge, O’Brien, Torres, Trip)
August
Prime Directive
September (changed)
50th Anniversary of Star Trek
October (changed)
Security (Red Shirts, Yar/Worf, Odo, Tuvok, Reed)
November
Science (Spock, Data, Dax, Kim, T’Pol)
December
Helm/Navigation (Sulu/Chekov, Laforge/Crusher, Dax, Paris, Mayweather)
(The highlights are changes to the September and October Focus because of Star Trek’s 50 th anniversary. The Social Issues Focus is moved to 2017 so that Security Focus is grouped with the other departments that we are discussing this year.)
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The Captains - Who They Are Captain Jonathan Archer was a 22nd century Human Starfleet officer and captain of the Enterprise NX-01, United Earth's first full-fledged starship. In that role, he was responsible for greatly expanding United Earth's presence in the Alpha and Beta Quadrants and making first contact with more than a dozen species, among them Klingons, Andorians, and Xindi. He went on to become one of the Federation's earliest presidents.
Captain James Tiberius Kirk was a male Human Starfleet officer in the 23rd century. He was arguably one of the most famous and highly-decorated starship captains in the history of Starfleet. As the commander of the Constitution-class starships USS Enterprise and USS Enterprise-A, Kirk served Federation interests as an explorer, soldier, time-traveler, and diplomat.
Captain Jean-Luc Picard was a celebrated Starfleet officer, archaeologist and diplomat who served during the latter two thirds of the 24th century. The highlights of his career were centered around assignments as commanding officer of the Federation starships: USS Stargazer, USS Enterprise-D, and the USS Enterprise-E.
Captain Benjamin Lafayette Sisko was a famous Starfleet officer best remembered for his seven-year assignment commanding station Deep Space 9 in the Bajor sector. After discovering the Bajoran wormhole, he became known to the Bajoran people as the Emissary of the Prophets. He fought the Borg at the Battle of Wolf 359 and played a critical role as a Starfleet strategist and front line commander in the Dominion War.
Captain Kathryn Janeway was a 24th century Starfleet officer, most noted for her service as captain of the starship USS Voyager. She became the first Federation captain to successfully traverse the Delta Quadrant, encountering dozens of new planets and civilizations over the course of seven years. While there, she and her crew also survived numerous encounters with the Borg. By 2379, she was a Vice Admiral at Starfleet Command. http://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/
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Theme Article: The Captains By Captain MarkAdam Miller The Captains of Star Trek has given us five different leaders that give us a basis not only of how to interact with other people but how we need to conduct ourselves personally and professionally. They each are in command of a Starship/Station and are responsible for the crew of that Starship/Station. The question is often asked: Who was the better captain? The reason this is a matter of debate is because all five have qualities that are good but the situation for each is different. This makes the comparisons hard since the situations are like comparing apples to oranges. What I will try to do is show where the Captains are similar and what situation each delved into and how they handled it. This is how I see the five Captains. Captain Jonathan Archer is the Explorer. He is going where no one has gone before. He has some set guidelines but still he has to make up things as he goes. He is like Lewis and Clark, Christopher Columbus or Sir Francis Drake. Captain James T. Kirk is the Wagon Master or Commander of the Fort. He does do some exploring but he is mostly there to help and protect the people of the Federation. He is like Captain Kirby York (Fort Apache) or Wagon Masters Seth Adams or Christopher Hale (Wagon Train). Captain Jean-Luc Picard is an Ambassador. His exploration entails getting to know each culture and how the Federation can help without destroying it. He is not really looking to fight and will try to negotiate before he fights. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi come to mind when thinking of Captain Picard. Captain Sisko is the Town Marshal or Community Leader. He is there to keep the peace and protect the people from outside harm. He is like Matt Dillion (Gunsmoke), Lucas McCain (The Rifleman) or Ben Cartwright (Bonanza). Lastly there is Captain Kathryn Janeway. She takes qualities from all of them but this, I feel, is more because of being lost in the Delta Quadrant than who Captain Janeway truly is. Looking at the character of Captain Janeway, she is more a Madam Marie Curie. She sees herself as an explorer but she is more comfortable in a Lab. I am going to do the comparison on three aspects: Crew interaction, Prime Directive and how each sees Starfleet. These are the best ones to show what they are alike but also how they are different. Crew Interaction: When looking at these five captains in how they interact with their crew Archer, Kirk and Sisko are similar: they try to get to know their crew and how the crew affect the day to day operation of their ship/starbase, both personally and professionally. Picard and Janeway, on the other hand, try to keep a distance between themselves and their crew. They know their crew but only in terms of the crewman’s job performance on the ship. This formal way of doing things is tested many times in TNG and VOY because we as humans are social creatures and we are not made to keep things in a formal way. It takes seven seasons for Picard to realize that he needed to take time to be with the crew (All Good Things, S7) and it is forced on Janeway by Neelix in The Phage (S4). So looking at this aspect, the best Captain is Captain Sisko. The reason: he has a son and is also dealing with the personal loss of his wife. From this he knows how personal things effect what a person does. This helps him know if a person will be able to do a job professionally because he knows the whole person not just the professional abilities. Prime Directive: When you consider those who keep the Prime Directive then Picard, Sisko (not as much) and Janeway get top honors in keeping it. Kirk is known as the worst as he seems to break it every time he lands on a planet. Archer USS Hephaestus
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sort of falls out of this discussion since there is no Starfleet Prime Directive in his time period. T’Pol tries to make him follow the Vulcan way which is “don’t do anything since what ever you do will cause a problem.” This doesn’t work for an explorer who is trying to learn new things. Archer admits that there needs to be some type of prime directive (Dear Doctor, S1) but says he doesn’t know what it should be. Since a rule book has been established for the other four captains, how they follow it determines how good a captain they are. Case in point, Picard, Sisko and Janeway tend to not do anything so as not to break the rules – the problem is not solved and their actions make difficult problems for the cultures that they run in to. Like all rules there are exceptions. Kirk violates the Prime Directive while seeking a solution which best benefits the culture. The Prime Directive is best summed up as “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few or the one”. Kirk knows that the exception is “the needs of the one will sometimes outweigh the needs of the many.” When Kirk violates the Prime Directive he knows that letting the situation alone will cause more problems down the line. For this reason, I believe Kirk is the better captain in this area. How Starfleet affects them: Each captain is also different because Starfleet is different in each case. Archer is at the beginning of Starfleet. Starfleet is still learning how to walk and they are more an exploratory agency instead of a protection force for the Federation (United States after the Revolution War). When you get to Kirk you have something that is set up and running but still there are a few bugs to iron out (United States after World War II). With Picard you have a Starfleet that has been around for a while so it has a set way of doing things (United States after Berlin fell). Sisko is in the same time period as Picard but has to deal with threats outside of Starfleet but internal problems as well (present day United States). Janeway is on her own. She is holding to an ideal to get her crew home the best way she can (United States before the Revolutionary War). This is the main reason that it is hard to compare the captains because they are in different situations. How Starfleet helps the Captains makes the difference in how the Captains handle the situation. In the case of Janeway and Archer, they are on their own where Kirk, Picard and Sisko have Starfleet close at hand. But a case for Picard, Sisko and Janeway could be that it is easier for them since they have the knowledge of Archer and Kirk to fall back on. You could make the same case for Kirk as well since he has Archer to fall back on. Based on this I believe Archer is the better Captain since he set the Standard. In conclusion, is there a better Captain? No. Since each captain had something special in their time that they had to face and overcome. It really comes down to personal opinion and that mostly falls to which captain you were first introduce to. For me it is Captain Kirk but it will depend on what the situation is at the time. (P.S. I did not compare Pine’s Kirk vs Shatner’s Kirk because we don’t have enough on Pine’s Kirk to highlight the differences. This will need to be a topic for another time.) People’s Thoughts: Bren Tiner: My favorite will always be Captain Kirk. Captain Kirk is a walking stack of books. He can recall tidbits of information in a flash. Knows how to create weapons and gun powder from items found on alien planets. Quick thinking, humorous, crafty, always two steps ahead. He beat the Kobayashi Maru. Kirk tries to understand different cultures. Prefers poker to chess (he's excellent at bluffing). Very loyal. Would sacrifice himself to save the ship, crew and friends. He's original and blazed a trail for the other captains!
Tea, Earl Grey, hot. – Jean-Luc Picard USS Hephaestus
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John Anderson: Captain Archer. Because he was a man's man. He seemed like an everyday average Joe. High moral values but wasn't afraid to get his hands dirty. Selflessly put his crew before himself and played the role of mentor to his aspiring officers. Lewis Stockham: Captain Picard. He was calm, cool and composed. But he had a passionate side he kept hidden. http://www.imdb.com/ http://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki http://www.startrek.com/
Do you know this alien?
The Captain’s Top 10 Captain’s Top Ten Things to do in 2016 1. See Star Wars: The Force Awakens more than once in the theaters. 2. Read more books. 3. Have friends over for dinner. 4. Finish writing a novel this year. 5. Take an online drawing or cooking class. 6. Take Starfleet Academy courses to get a Boothby Award. 7. Build a Lego Tardis on my own without a kit. 8. Finish my Star Trek and S.H.I.E.L.D. ID badge wallets. 9. Get my comics sorted and logged in a database. 10. See Star Trek Beyond more than once in the theater. That should keep me out of trouble this year.
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Quotable Quotes We're going to stumble, make mistakes… I'm sure more than a few before we find our footing. But we're going to learn from those mistakes. That's what being Human is all about. – Jonathan Archer, Ent: Shockwave
I don’t believe in a no-win scenario. – Captain Kirk, TOS: The Wrath of Khan
There is a way out of every box, a solution to every puzzle, it's just a matter of finding it. – Jean-Luc Picard, TNG: Attached
As an old saying: Fortune favors the bold. Well, I guess we're about to find out. – Sisko, DS9: Sacrifice of Angels
A stranger is a friend you just haven't met yet. – Captain Kathryn Janeway, VOY, Fair Haven
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Star Trek News & More Is George too Busy? If you need George Takei for something you might be out of luck. George Takei has been busy lately. He is starring on Broadway in the play Allegiance. The play is loosely based on Mr. Takei’s experiences in the Japanese internment camps during World War II. He also has done voice over work for the new animated film Kubo and the Two Strings. If that were not enough Mr. Takei took time to write an op-ed piece for USA Today – The Currency of Fear (Dec. 20, 2015). This was his opinion on Donald Trump’s call to ban Muslims from entering the country. Mr. Takei is also chatting up a storm on social media. Keep it up George, hope I am as active as you are when I reach your age. (www.startrek.com)
Star Trek 50th Anniversary Commemorative Stamps The USPS is commemorating Star Treks 50th Anniversary with 4 Stamp designs. Headed by project art director Antonio Alcala, the group, Heads of State, designed the stamps. The four stamps feature the four colors of uniform worn in the original series: red, gold, blue and green (Captain Kirk’s later season uniform). Each stamp features ionic symbols from the show. (www.startrek.com, treknews.net)
Doctor Who going away If you have been binge watching Doctor Who on Netflix, then you need to finish up. On February 1st Netflix will be dropping Doctor Who from it list of shows you can stream on-line. For those who have just started watching then you may need to find friends who own DVD collections. I also recommend that those who feel they may go through withdrawals check out The Blue Box Companions (www.facebook.com/groups/bbcbham/). This is a local fan group for Doctor Who. If all else fails, then contact Netflix to let them know you want it back on. Good luck and save the red Jelly Babies for me.
In Memory of: In the past couple of weeks we lost a few guest stars of Star Trek: Karen Montgomery (1949-2015) – Beate, TNG: Angel One, S1E13 Jason Windgreen (1920-2015) – Dr Linke, TOS: The Empath, S3E2 If you would like to see who all passed from Star Trek last year you can go to: http://www.startrek.com/article/remembering-those-we-lost-in-2015 If you want to see who passed in the entertainment world you can watch this: https://www.facebook.com/nbcnightlynews/videos/10153905433648689/?fref=nf, (www.startrek.com) USS Hephaestus
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Star Trek Fiction Star Trek: The New Adventures: Filling in the Blanks By Ensign 3rd Class Donald Arnold Home was the only thought on Bill’s mind. Sadly, he did not reach home. He was thrown back to what appeared to be Earth, but not the Earth he knew. The year was 1897 and Bill was in… Transylvania.
pulled forward again…
Stephanie had done a great deal of research and discovered several events that had been wiped from the memory of most of Earth. She discovered things such as A dense fog lay over the city and Bill looked around the forgotten “Battle of New York” and “Sokovia Accords”. quickly. Seeing that no one was wandering the streets, he Finally she found it: The Infinity War. A mad being named quickly popped into the appropriate attire. He wandered Thanos took on Earth’s greatest warriors, The Avengers. into one of the only buildings with a light burning in the Then she made the exact discovery she needed. The gems window. Upon entry, he discovered this was the tavern. from the gauntlet used by Thanos had shot from the Infinity The fireplace burned as if it had just been refueled. A Gauntlet when it was destroyed. Thanos had been arrested group of men were sitting at a corner table, muttering. Bill by some slowly reformed government organization called cautiously walked up and said, “Excuse me. Could any of SHIELD. One of those gems had landed on Vulcan. Bill you fine gentlemen point me in the direction of an inn?” found it and three more. Stephanie found only one surviving member of the original Avengers team. His name The largest of them, a tall man with what looked to be a was Vision and he was an android who was currently on wooden hand, answered, “You’ll have shelter in the Earth, the political representative of a country called morning. Tonight we’re hunting that evil beast.” Bill was a Wakanda. Stephanie decided she would find this Vision bit confused and thought about the setting. Then, he and see if he knew what happened to Thanos after his replied, “Ah, you mean Dracula.” The men all gasped, a arrest. smaller man than the first exclaiming, “Don’t speak its name! Who are you anyway?” Bill didn’t even need to Thanos had made a short mental connection and warned think. Remembering the stories, he quickly jumped into Bill. Now he only had to wait. He was nearing the Space character and answered, “Doctor Van Helsing. I can take Gem. It wasn’t the most powerful, but he needed it if he care of your vampire. Tell me where and when.” The large was ever to regain his former glory. Unfortunately for him, man answered, “Tonight. Now! His castle! We raid it, you Bill was on his way, with greater pace than his. kill him, and we burn the place to the ground with his Vision’s office door opened to reveal a young woman he corpse inside!” did not know. She simply and bluntly stated, “Mr. Vision, I Bill nodded and within an hour, the men were off. Bill have some questions about The Avengers and Thanos.” had one mission: find whatever brought him here. When he The android looked down and answered, “First you must saw Dracula, he knew. There were two gems on him: a red tell me why you are here.” Stephanie decided this request one around his neck and a green one in a ring on his finger. was fair and replied, “My husband was taken by one of the Bill knew what he had to do and he did it. It wasn’t exactly Infinity Gems. I need to know what happened to them and hard. He simply popped in next to Dracula and put a stake Thanos.” Vision remained motionless as he stated, “The in his heart. He took the gems and fled the castle. Once he Gems are back. I must sadly tell you that means that the made it into a small secluded grove, he slid the stones in titan who even I thought dead is back, and he will stop at place. Suddenly, he felt a wave of power and heard a voice. nothing to take back what he believes he owns. I can help, It bellowed, “BRING ME WHAT IS MINE!” Everything but not alone… I’ll make some calls…” returned to normal and Bill was back in his uniform, being Donald Arnold is a member of the Hephaestus and has written many Star Trek fan fiction. If you have any fan fiction you would like to submit, then send me your stories at cohephaestus@bellsouth.net
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Name the Captain
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Reviews Movies Star Wars: The Force Awakens * * * * SPOILER ALERT * * * * Review by Shirley A. Burton So, I was very lucky to get a shot at seeing the newest Star Wars movie on Thursday, December 17th. After holding on to the ticket for nearly two months, I went to see it and… it was worth the wait and the extra money I paid for it. Since this is fairly fresh, I won't post too many spoilers. So, it basically starts off with Rebel pilot Poe Dameron trying to get some important information to the Resistance (no, not the Rebellion this time). The First Order (today's equivalent of the Galactic Empire) has to get the information from Poe. But before he gets captured he gives the key piece of info to his little robot, the very cute BB-8. The little droid meets up with Rey, a scavenger who's got a lot of knowledge. As for Poe, he's at the mercy of Kylo Ren, the one in charge of the First Order. Fortunately, Poe gets help from a disgruntled Storm Trooper named FN-2187 (who Poe names Finn). Getting down to Jakku, the pair gets separated when the Tie Fighter they used to escape crashes. Finn meets up with Rey and BB-8, and when the First Order Storm Troopers (led by FEMALE Captain Phasma) try to destroy a town, they all manage to get away…in the Millennium Falcon. Soon, they meet up with two favorites: Han Solo and Chewbacca. They all take off for a different planet, where Rey finds something nobody expected her to find: Luke Skywalker's light saber. As for the Resistance, they get some help from Finn on how to destroy the newest Death Star. Without going overboard, here's what I can tell you: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
A major character will die before the end of the movie. The trailer fooled us about the "Jedi," as mentioned by Han Solo. General Leia has NOT aged well, but she looks as REAL as she could be. The conversations between Finn and Han Solo are downright hilarious. Watch for J.J. Abrams' old childhood friend Greg Grunberg to show up…as Rebel pilot Temmins "Snap" Wexley.
Now, I'm a Star Wars fan, but not an uber fanatic like some people. I was very impressed with how the story was told, and the movie flew by very quickly. I was lucky to be a part of the $57 million preview night and the $1 billion that's been done so far. My score for this one is a definite 5 out of 5 stars. (Would you believe I already pre-ordered the Blu-Ray/DVD at Books-A-Million?) Rate: AAAAA Review by Capt MarkAdam Miller It was a good movie. I plan to see it several times in the theaters. I am not convinced it is as great as the hype says it is. There are several missing pieces that do not come across well. The biggest is the unclear relationship between the Republic, the Resistance and the First Order. Only after talking to other fans was I able to figure it out. The other missing pieces are the backgrounds on some of the characters which hopefully will be revealed in the rest of movies. It’s a good job compared to the Prequels and I am looking forward to the sequels. Rate: AAAAa USS Hephaestus
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Star Wars: The Force Awakens (continued) Review by Ensign 3rd Class Donald Arnold This was one of the greatest films I have seen in 2015! I was honestly concerned given the reputation of the prequels. However, with heart-string pulling emotion built into every scene, action to leave a Wookie breathless, and cameos that were placed perfectly, J.J. Abrams truly outdid himself. I couldn’t, however, stop myself from being a little torn apart by him killing one of the franchise’s most iconic characters to date. Anyway, back to the overall review. The characters were well placed, the storyline was full circle with the original trilogy, and there was even properly placed comedy. All in all, I will of course say, if you haven’t seen this movie, what are you waiting for?! The Force compels you to go. Rate: AAAAA
William Shatner Presents: Chaos on the Bridge Review by Lou Lala * I’m not a fan of behind the scenes extras, blooper reels and bonus content. I like my fiction with a healthy dose of suspension of disbelief and seeing all the nuts and bolts is not particularly attractive to me. The only time I indulge is when I’ve watched the entire series or film, my enjoyment is complete and there’s nothing new to see. Then I might feel compelled to view something connected to it that I haven’t seen, but only if it deals with a facet of the movie or show that intrigues me. Such is the case with William Shatner’s new documentary, “Chaos on the Bridge.” It investigates why the first couple of seasons of Star Trek: TNG stumbled so badly. I was one of those folks who stuck with the series when it first aired despite the fact it came off like a stunningly stiff rehash of the first series. I always wondered what caused such a valuable intellectual property to be so mishandled. Being who he is, Shatner has access that we regular Joes and Josephines would be unable to get so he is able to speak to lots of the people who were at the center of it. They provide fresh, credible facts and observations regarding those early troubled years, so the movie is one new revelation (at least to me) after the other. Shatner does a great job with the interviews. He asks smart questions and when he asks tougher ones, he does so with charm and wit, making it easier for the interviewees to speak freely. Production values are minimal but effective and attractive. A lot of the audio is accompanied by comic book like art panels depicting the subjects being discussed. This documentary isn’t padded: he gets to the bottom of things and it ends, clocking in at a trim 59 minutes. For those of us who’ve seen the show over and over, or who’ve seen it once and want more, this piece of the puzzle is critical and highly recommended even if you tend not to want to “pull the curtain back on the Wizard.” I saw the film on Netflix but it is available through a variety of download outlets including Amazon. I recommend it. *Guest Reviewer Lou Lala is a friend and mentor of Captain MarkAdam Miller. Mr. Lala enjoys reading The Anvil and because of this and their friendship, wished to contribute to the group.
Did I miss something? You have an interesting movie or TV show you would like to review or be reviewed? Then send me your suggestions and articles to cohephaestus@bellsouth.net.
It's never easy, but if we turn our backs on our principles, we stop being human. – Captain Janeway, VOY: Equinox USS Hephaestus
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The Captains
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While on an Away Mission By Captain MarkAdam Miller
Starfleet Command has determined that the Hephaestus’ latest mission contains elements that are sensitive to our dealings with the Klingons and Romulans. Therefore, they have classified any further logs concerning said mission. Once certain aspects the mission are fully vetted, Starfleet Command will release details of the mission. Fleet Captain Ryan Case Region 2, Starfleet Command (Because of the Christmas holiday I was not able to work on the Away Mission. Hopefully I will have it done by February)
Feedback No feedback was given for last month’s THE ANVIL.
Was there something you liked or disagreed with? Was there some news that was not covered? Comments on stories or articles or ideas for the club can be sent to cohephaestus@bellsouth.net
Coffee: the finest organic suspension ever devised… –Janeway, VOY: Hunters
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Area Conventions & Exhibits For additional Cons please go to http://www.southernfan.com/calendar.htm
January January 16-17, 2016 – BrickFair – BJCC- Birmingham, AL www.brickfair.com/ Join fans of LEGO from across the USA and around the globe. Be inspired by LEGO genius, great and small, and share in the passion for building, creating, and inventing! Be inspired by amazing LEGO creations. Spot hidden jokes in towering skyscrapers and learn new techniques from creative builders just like you. Take a chance, join a game - maybe win some LEGO! Shop aisles of LEGO goodies, including shirts, hats, minifigures, custom weapons, unique LEGO kits, keychains, discontinued sets, jewelry, printed and engraved LEGO pieces, and so much more! Discover LEGO models and winding trains circling sprawling LEGO cityscapes, all spread over 71,000sq ft. January 21-24, 2016 – Atlanta Game Fest – Holiday Inn Atlanta Perimeter – Atlanta, GA http://www.atlantagamefest.com/ The Atlanta Game Fest is a chance for boardgame fans from across the Southeast to gather for four days of fun and games. There will be hundreds of the world's best boardgames available for play as well as friendly folks who can help with the rules. January 29-31, 2016 – ChattaCon 41 – Chattanooga Choo-Choo, Chattanooga, TN www.chattacon.org ChattaCon is an annual Speculative Fiction convention held in Chattanooga, Tennessee held at the historical Chattanooga Choo Choo.
February February 5-7, 2016 – Days of the Dead – Atlanta Sheraton, Atlanta, GA http://www.daysofthedead.net/atlanta/ The Dead invade Atlanta. Guest include: Elvira, Billy Dee Williams, Jeremy Bullock, Tim Rose and Mike Quinn February 6, 2016 – AnniCon – Anniston City Meeting Center, Anniston, AL http://www.annicon.com/ AnniCon is a FREE, one-day celebration of Asian culture including art, music, costuming, manga, anime, gaming, food, history, and special guests. February 26-28, 2016 – AnachroCon – Atlanta Marriott Century Center, Atlanta, GA www.anachrocon.org AnachroCon, founded in 2009, is the premier place in the Southern United States for people to celebrate Historical Reenacting, Alternate History, Steampunk, Sciences, Horror, Etiquette & Indulgence, Fashion, Fabrication, Literature & Media, Costuming and socialize with people of like minds. We strive to bring you the best possible guests and experts in their respective fields so that you may leave the convention relaxed, educated, entertained and wanting more! February 28, 2016 – Comic Book & Toy Show – CocaCola Space Science Center – Columbus, GA www.ccssc.org Comics, Toys, Movies, Flight Simulators, Exhibits, Costume Characters & More USS Hephaestus
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March March 5, 2016 – Cardboard*Con – Atlanta, GA cardboardcon.com Cardboard*Con is the first and only science fiction / fantasy convention dedicated to the art of cardboard costuming. Encompassing more than 3 Atlanta downtown hotels, Cardboard*Con has become a tradition among all fun-loving nerds. The SECRET of Cardboard*Con is that there really isn't a plan - you have to make it fun all by yourself, using your imagination and your manners. March 11-13, 2016 – Kami-Con Season 8 – BJCC, Birmingham, AL kamicon.net/ Kami-con is a 3-day convention that celebrates Japanese culture, geek culture, cosplay, anime and manga. Kami-con is also a uniquely interactive convention in that it features events which allow congoers to affect the outcome of its story! March 18-20, 2016- FantaSciCon 2016 – EconoLodge Motel and Convention Center, Dalton, GA www.fantascicon.com/ A Glitch in Time - In 2016 we will be exploring Time Travel. Into the future as well as the past. There are many ways to accomplish this feat, Delorians, Fancy Chairs or Worm Holes, they all end with the same result. More information coming soon. This section lists Cons that might be if interest to our group. It is not intended to be a complete list. If I’ve missed one, please let me know so I can list it in the next issue. Also please post any Con that your fellow crewmen might find of interest on our Facebook group.
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Hunt for the Icon Did you find the five Icons last month? Last month’s Icon was a Christmas trees 2. If you did not find them all they were: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Pg. 1 – From the Ready Room, after the Greeting Pg. 4 – Away Team and Activity Schedule, After Summit Pg. 6 – End of the fourth paragraph. Pg. 9 – End of the 1st paragraph. Pg. 16 – End of the paragraph of the While on an Away Mission.
I hope you found them all. This Month Five Cats example above.
are hidden in the Anvil. The five doesn’t include the
Name the Episode TNG: Ménage à Troi, S3E24
TNG: Dark Page, S7E7
DS9: The Forsaken, S1E17
DS9: The Muse, S4E21
TNG: Heaven, S1E11
TOS: What Little Girls Are Made Of, S1E9
TNG: Cost of Living, S5E20
TNG: Manhunt, S2E19
TOS: The Naked Time, S1E6
TNG: Half a Life, S4E22
If you have a suggestions or a questions, then send them to cohephaestus@bellsouth.net Answer to Do you know these aliens? (pg. 6) – Antedeans – TNG: Manhunt, S2E19
By Captain MarkAdam Miller To encourage people to take Starfleet Academy courses, Jill Rayburn and I are going to have a contest to see who can get the most academy course done in a three-month time. This started on January 1st and will run till March 31st. The person who gets the most courses finished in that time will win a handmade reward from Jill Rayburn. It doesn’t matter what course you take. Log into http://acad.sfi.org/ and start taking courses. The winner will be announced at the April social. Have fun! Live Long and Prosper!
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Looking for the following people to help with the Anvil: Reporters for the Following: Star Wars News Dr. Who News Firefly News NASA News Latest Sci-Fi/Fantasy books coming out Reviewers: Books Movies Games Conventions Convention Scouts: Someone to find conventions in a 2 - 3 hr driving distance of Birmingham. Write a short synopsis and give possible websites
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USS HEPHAESTUS COMMAND STRUCTURE
Command Staff
Executive Committee
MarkAdam Miller, Captain – Commanding Officer Phillip Mangina, Lt. – 1st Officer Brenda Miller, Lt Cmdr – 2nd Officer
Sue Ellen Mohney, Captain Denby Potts, Rear Admiral Danny Potts, Rear Admiral
Sciences
Navigation
Roy Green, Brigadier, SFMC – Archaeology and Anthropology
Pete Mohney, Admiral
Computer Sciences
Engineering
Danny Potts, Rear Admiral
Flo Hurst, Commander
Communications
Security
Brenda A. Miller, Lt Cmdr Pat Simmons, Lt Cmdr Donald Arnold, Ensign 3rdC
Roy Green, Brigadier, SFMC – Chief of Security Intelligence Sandra Holsey, Ensign Nicole Breanne Bentley, Ensign
Operations
Marines
Sue Ellen Mohney, Captain – Chief of Operations and Counselor Sheila Benton, Lt Col, SFMC – Stampede Coordinator Brenda A. Miller, Lt Cmdr – Ship Administrative Assistant Lynnette Yawn, Lt. – Ships Galley Officer
Neil Yawn, Lt. General, SFMC Roy Green, Brigadier, SFMC Sheila Benton, Lt Col, SFMC
Medical
Ambassadors
Sheila Benton, Lt Commander, – Chief Medical Officer, SFMD
Mike Burtyk Shirley Burton Dennis Evans, Fleet Captain (ret.)
Cadet Training
Unassigned Crew and Civilians
Katrina Mohney, Cadet Crewman Tara Mohney, Cadet Athena Youngblood, Cadet Kimberly Davis, Cadet in Training
Pat Hicks, Fleet Captain Brenda Tiner, Crewmen Diedra Robinson, Ensign Haley Youngblood, Crewmen Matthew Potts, Crewmen James Davis, Ensign Gabrielle Davis, Civilian
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For More Information Contact: Captain MarkAdam Miller 1204 Southwind Dr. Helena, Al 35080 cohephaestus@bellsouth.net
Lt. Phillip Mangina 3056 Fox Trail Fultondale, AL 35068 phillip3056@charter.net