Anvil June 2017 by USS Hephaestus NCC-2004

The Anvil U.S.S. Hephaestus: NCC-2004

ALWAYS ONWARD A MEMBER OF STARFLEET INTERNATIONAL

JUNE 2017

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From the Ready Room

XO Briefing

Changelings

While on an Away Mission

The Hephaestus Redshirt Challenge

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.

Exploring Trek

Cover: Odo - Rene Auberjonois, DS9

Quotable Quotes

Reviews

Star Trek News & More

Inside This Issue

The Captain’s Top 10

Ship’s Log

Web Links STARFLEET www.sfi.org Region 2 www.region2.org

Personal Log Special Report – Star Trek: The Cruise 12 Recommendations

Crew Happenings

STARFLEET Academy

STARFLEET Marine Corps

Anvil Focus Schedule

Do You Know this Alien…

Hunt for the Icon

Name the Andorian Answers

Away Team and Activity Schedule

STARFLEET Renewal Reminders

Area Conventions & Exhibits

Command Structure

USS Hephaestus - Group www.facebook.com/groups/Hephaestus2004/ USS Hephaestus – Page www.facebook.com/USSHephaestus/ Twitter www.twitter.com/Hephaestus2004 Anvil Back Issues www.issuu.com/ncc2004

Editor

MarkAdam Miller

Layout, Graphics and Publishing

Brenda A. Miller

NASA Reporter

Curtis Salors

Doctor Who Reporter

Matt Boyd

Field Reporter

James Davis

The Anvil, Issue 310 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, There is a lot going on this summer. I am personally involved with Magic City Con and the Ship is involved with Play-On-Con and The Hoover Library Sci-Fi/Fantasy Festival. Check out these events in the convention section of the newsletter (pg. 18) I want to welcome Curtis Salors to the team. He has accepted the post of NASA correspondent. You can read his first article in the News section (pg. 9). The Anvil has room for a lot more reporters, so if you have a particular interest that you think the crew would like to hear more on then write up an article and send it to me at cohephaestus@bellsouth.net. The deadline for all articles of the newsletter is the 1st Saturday of the month. See Away Team and Activity Schedule for the specific dates. (pg. 17) We are always looking for idea of what we can do as a group. Let me know what you are thinking and we will get it on the calendar. Don’t forget to catch the Ship Status’s Report Monday nights around 6:30 on FB Hephaestus – STARFLEET group and the repost on FB U.S.S. Hephaestus page.

As always, see you around the ship, Fleet Captain MarkAdam Miller cohephaestus@bellsouth.net, www.facebook.com/groups/Hephaestus2004/

XO Briefing Greetings from Sec 31, The summer season is upon us time to be outdoors, vacations, and time for traveling. There are plenty of movies at the theater to go see in the next month we need to plan a night to go for a social. There is some tv shows this summer I am waiting for like The Last Ship to watch. If you need me, I’ll be with Section 31, Lt. Commnder Phillip Mangina, phillip3056@charter.netv

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Changelings By Fleet Captain MarkAdam Miller Changelings or shapeshifters are a common occurrence in Science Fiction and Fantasy. Werewolves and Vampires are the most common know shapeshifters. Star Trek is no different. The original series had two episodes that had shapeshifters in them. The salt monster (M-113 creature) from The Man Trap and Garth of Izar in the episode Whom Gods Destroy. Garth was human but because of an accident on Antos IV, the beings on that planet gave him the gift to transform so that he could heal his damaged body. Another shapeshifter was in Star Trek VI: The undiscovered Country. Martia was a Chameloid. She appears as a female when we first meet her but later when they go into the mine she appears as a large male. She also transformed in to Kirk. The Next Generation had its shapeshifters as well. The Traveler (Journey’s End), the Devidians (Time’s Arrow) and Satarrans (Conundrum) just to name a few. These changelings all have some human type form which is different from the Changelings in Deep Space Nine.

ways to dominate them so that they would not be hurt by the solids. When we first meet the Founders, they look like Odo. This was so that Odo would feel welcomed and not an outsider. Later we find out that they can do more complex forms even appearing as familiar people. (The Adversary - Ambassador Krajensky, Paradise Lost Miles O’Brien, etc). When the show wants us to know it’s a Founder, mostly a female shape shifter, it takes the Odo-like form. This form became a slap at Odo for not joining what is called the Great Link which allows the Founders to join together in one big orange liquid sea. The Founders’ sense of bringing order to the chaos around them may be why Odo has a sense of justice which made him a good security officer. Odo’s sense of justice though conflicts with the actions of the Founders to bring order and keeps him from joining them. The Founders try several times to show Odo the danger of the solids. Odo, on the other hand, tries to show the Founders that they are condemning solids based on past fears and the assumption that all solids are the same. Odo also tries to show that some of the actions of the Founders have caused the solids to fear them and that fear can cause solids to react in a harmful way.

Deep Space Nine gives us a true changeling that can take the form of anything, human, animal or inanimate object. The first Changeling we meet is Odo. The series explores the changelings mostly through his eyes. Odo doesn’t know who he truly is until DS9 starts exploring the other side of the wormhole. This doesn’t happen till the beginning of the third season. We find that Odo’s people are The Founders who rule the Gamma Quadrant (The Search, S3E01-02). The Founders had such troubles with the solids (their term for non-changelings) that they found USS Hephaestus

Even though the Founders did not seem to be formable, their control over the Jem’Hadar made them a force to recon with. The Jem’Hadar were genetically engineered humans created by the Founders for their protection. The combination of the Founders and the Jem’Hadar made for a great antagonist in the DS9 series. Changelings make for an interesting species. They can blend in with those around them or take on forms such that they cannot be seen. Most Changelings are foes but DS9 showed that the changeling can also be 2

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a friend. Odo was the outsider looking in to help us better understand ourselves. Odo then gave us a way to not judge the Founders to quickly because we felt they had to be somewhat like Odo. Odo lastly was showing the Founders that not all solids are bad. One side story was Odo and Kira’s relationship which

made an interesting set up not only for romance in DS9 but also a good friendship that showed they could rely on each other. The changelings of DS9 make for one of the better explored species in the Star Trek Universe. The Changelings is what makes Deep Space Nine a great series.

While on an Away Mission By Fleet Captain MarkAdam Miller Fleet Captain MarkAdam Miller: What do you mean the ship’s logs seem to be missing? Captain Brenda Miller: I transmitted the logs to STARFLEET HQ and then went to archive them and they weren’t there. FCapt Miller: Did they get to HQ? Capt Miller: I am waiting for conformation but the transmission logs show that they went though. FCapt Miller: Okay, Get Admiral Potts’ Computer Team to start a diagnostic check and see if they can recover them. Capt Miller: On it. An Hour later… Admiral Potts: I found them but also found these files as well. Not sure what to make of them. Hands me a P.A.D.D. ***** Captain’s Log: Stardate *#*#*#*#.** Captain Harvey T. Pooka, commander of the Starship Hephluffytus. The mission to Fluffterious was unsuccessful. Sensor could not pick up any life on the planet but atmosphere was safe for Fluffy Beings. The away team consisted of myself, Science Officer Stubs, Red Shirt Miles Bearington and the Red Shirt Racoon brothers (Brocket, Sprocket and Cogswell). As soon as we materialized we were attacked by dragons. A phaser fight ensued but we lost the Racoon brothers before we were able to be beamed out. The transporter room had trouble beaming us out because they lost our bio signals as soon as we materialized on the surface and had to lock on to our communicators to beam us up. Science Officer Stubs would like to stay in orbit to see if he can figure out what is in the atmosphere of the planet that disguises lifeform readings. I think he will have time as right now Transporter Room One is down since we beamed up a USS Hephaestus 3

baby dragon that swallowed one of the Racoon brother’s communicators whole. The problem is we had to erect a force field around Transport Room One so the dragon will not tear through the wall but we can’t transport him off the ship with the forcefield up. I am headed to sickbay to get an aspirin for my headache. Science Officers Log: Stardate *#*#*#*#.** Commander Stubs recording. The planet Fluffterious has many interesting aspects to be explored. The presence of dragons does seem to be problematic. Once the ship’s science personal can figure out how the planet’s atmosphere is masking fluffylogical life forms and we can determine where the dragons are, we will be able to do a complete study of the planet. Before I can see to that, the fluffyogical lab is over run by tribbles. Their purring is driving me to almost having an emotional reaction. Communication Officers Log: Stardate *#*#*#*#.** Lt. Ellie Mae Phant recording. I take personal responsibility for knocking the Tribble cage over. I was doing research to see if the purring of the tribbles might have some communication equivalent to speech that might make it possible to communicate with the cute fluff balls. My tricorder strap caught on the cage and dump it into Commanders Stubbs bowl of Honey Quadrotriticale cereal. The cool exterior of Mr. Stubbs almost was broken but he quickly got control of himself. I just wish they were not a delicacy on Red Shirt Bearington’s planet. I don’t know how he can eat them. I hope I can convince the Captain not to let him eat them. Security Officer’s Log: Stardate *#*#*#*#.** Lt. Miles Bearington recording. Another day as a Red Shirt and I lose three more good Fluffies. What is it about red shirts that makes us Always Onward

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such a good target? At least I will be able to have a nice meal of tribbles in a red sauce tonight.

After Danny leaves MarkAdam mutters under his breath, “Looks like being a CO of a starship gives all Captain’s headaches. I wonder if the Hephluffytus’s aspirin is better than ours?”

***** MarkAdam scratches his head and hands the P.A.D.D. back to Danny, “Send it to STARFLEET. I have enough on my plate to deal with right now.” Danny gives MarkAdam a halfhearted salute and walks out.

(The T’Pol story will continue in next month’s Anvil. I needed a break form the story and this was running through my head.)

The Hephaestus Redshirt Challenge Me and MarkAdam have been walking 2.8 miles, two or three times a week now. Hopefully by the end of the summer we can walk the whole trail and lose some weight while doing so. By the end of June hopefully I can be drinking nothing but water. – Lt. Phillip Mangina Jr. (1st Officer), Director, Hephaestus Red Shirt Challenge I am still looking for ways to lose weight. Doc says everything looks good just need to lose weight. Phillip and I are trying to get out and walk a trail here in Helena that use to be a supply track for the railroad and the mines. Making almost 3 miles in an hour. Hope this summer we can do more often. Keep an eye on the website for updates: https://www.facebook.com/Red.Shirt.Challenge/. – Fleet Captain MarkAdam Miller, Trying to lose weight. (If you have a goal for weight loss, quitting smoking or getting something done then let us know what you are working on through the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Red.Shirt.Challenge/ so we can encourage you)

Exploring Trek This month’s discussion was on the Borg. We discussed the change in the Borgs from the initial episode in Next Gen through the First Contact movie through Voyager and finally into Enterprise. Surprising the discussion ended up short so we finish up discussing the difference between the Borg and the Jem’Hadar that was the villain in Deep Space nine. Which was the discussion question for doing on your own. The June Exploring Trek will be June 22, 2017 at Kingdom Comics. We will be discussing people and places in Star Trek that we know from somewhere else.

Kingdom Comics – the place for all your Star Trek needs USS Hephaestus

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Quotable Quotes Odo: Has it ever occurred to you that the reason you believe the Founders are gods is because that's what they want you to believe? That they built it into your genetic code? Weyoun 6: Of course they did. That's what gods do. After all, why be a god if there's no one to worship you? – DS9: Treachery, Faith, and the Great River, S07E06

Dr. Julian Bashir: [to Odo] I need to borrow a cup… of goo. I'll give it back. – DS9: When It Rains, S07E21

Laws change, depending on who’s making them, but justice is justice. – Odo, DS9: A Man Alone, S01E04

Too many people dream of places they’ll never go, wish for things they’ll never have, instead of paying adequate attention to their real lives – Odo, DS9: If Wishes Were Horses, S01E15

Odo: To become a thing is to know a thing. Female Shapeshifter: To assume its form is to begin to understand its existence. – DS9: Behind the Lines, S06E04

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Reviews Movies Wonder Woman – Review by Fleet Captain MarkAdam Miller For most people, Wonder Woman is Linda Carter. They have tried a couple times to bring Wonder Woman back to TV but have not been successful. When DC announced that they were making a movie it was met with skepticism. With DC’s recent track record of so-so movies (Superman Vs Batman, Suicide Squad and Green Lantern) there was worry that they would not be able to pull this off. The previews gave us hope and the movie delivered. This is a period piece set in World War I. This was a good choice even though Wonder Woman is associated with World War II. The horrors of war is a theme in this movie and the depiction of World War I plays this part well. Not only the problems of the period help the story but all the advances that humans were going through also plays out in this movie. Gal Gadot makes Wonder Woman her own. She brings a strength and a personality that brings Wonder Woman from a two-dimensional comic book character into a fully formed person. She doesn’t replace Linda Carter but updates what Ms. Carter did for the present day. Chris Pine is a good choice for the Steve Trevor part.( I joke that Chris Pine is getting type cast that he can only play captain parts.) He does a good dashing rogue but adds a human side that we did not see in Lyle Waggoner’s Steve Trevor. Ms. Gadot and Mr. Pine are a fine pair to play this part. I liked the movie. It had a good plot. The plot was fitted to the character and not the characters to fit the plot. This was the problem with the previous DC movies mentioned. The problems I had with the movie were jumps in time and the fight sequences. The time jumps were a little harsh but it is hard to show what happens when people have to travel great distance. An example is when Steve and Wonder Woman travel from Themyscira (Paradise Island) to England. You knew they traveled but the length of time and what they did on the trip is missing. The fight sequence is a pet peeve I mine. They show a person fighting and as that person is ready to throw a punch or a kick they slow the action down and pan to show the action from another point of view and then speed it up. It gets confusing who is who and where in the scene you are looking from. It makes me dizzy. I recommend going to see the film. I saw it in 3D but only one or two scenes really use the 3D so it is not worth paying the extra money to see it in 3D. I think people who like Wonder Woman, War pictures or action movies will like this movie. Rate: AAAAa

I've spent most of my life bringing people to justice. Now that it's my turn, how can I run away? – Odo, DS9: Broken Link

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True Grit –Review by Lt Commander Philip Mangina I am a big John Wayne fan. My favorite movie is True Grit. While viewing the movie I saw two actors that were in Star Trek. John Fiedler , Lawyer Dagget in True Grit, was in the TOS: Wolf in the Fold. The other was Kim Darby, Mattie Ross in True Grit, who played Miri in TOS: Miri. Back ground on John Wayne: Born Marion Michael Morrison on May 26, 1907 in Winterset, Iowa; Died – June 11, 1979 in Los Angeles, California. Marion Michael Morrison moved with his family to Glendale, California in 1916. Marion was inseparable with his Airedale (his horse) so the local firemen nicknamed them "Big Duke" and "Little Duke", a nickname which stuck for life. While on a football scholarship to USC, Marion worked on the Fox studio lot and met director John Ford. In 1930 Marion was cast in The Big Trail by Raul Walsh who, with Ford, gave Marion his new stage name John Wayne. John proceeded to make 153 films of which 76 were Westerns. In 1969, the movie True Grit premiered and as U.S. Marshal Reuben J. "Rooster" Cogburn, Wayne won his only Oscar. Here some interesting things I found out about True Grit (1969 film). It is the first film adaptation of Charles Portis' 1968 novel of the same name. The screenplay was written by Marguerite Roberts. The film was directed by Henry Hathaway and starred Kim Darby as Mattie Ross and John Wayne as U.S. Marshal Rooster Cogburn. Wayne won his only Academy Award for his performance in this film and reprised his role for the 1975 sequel Rooster Cogburn. Historians believe Cogburn was based on Deputy U.S. Marshal Heck Thomas, who brought in some of the toughest outlaws. True Grit was remade in 2010, starring Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, and Hailee Steinfeld. Frank Ross (John Pickard) is murdered by his hired hand, Tom Chaney (Jeff Corey). Ross's young daughter, Mattie (Kim Darby), travels to Fort Smith, Arkansas, where she hires aging U.S. Marshal Reuben "Rooster" J. Cogburn (John Wayne) to bring Chaney in, raising his fee by shrewdly horse trading with Colonel Stonehill (Strother Martin). Mattie has heard that Cogburn has "true grit." She gives him a payment to track and capture Chaney, who has taken up with outlaw "Lucky" Ned Pepper (Robert Duvall) in Indian Territory (modern-day Oklahoma). Some time later, Mattie's attorney, J. Noble Daggett (John Fiedler) meets Cogburn in Fort Smith. On Mattie's behalf Daggett pays Cogburn for Cogburn's part in Chaney's capture. Cogburn offers to wager the money on a bet that Mattie will recover just fine, a bet Daggett decline. In the epilogue Mattie, her arm in a sling, is back at home recovering from her injuries. She promises Cogburn he will be buried next to her in the Ross family plot after his death. Cogburn reluctantly accepts her offer and leaves, jumping over a fence on his new horse to disprove her good-natured jab that he was too old and fat to clear a four-rail fence, and rides off into the valley below. I fell in love with John Wayne as Rooster Cogburn while watching this movie. I always wanted to be a cowboy because of this movie. Rate: AAAAA

Never underestimate the element of surprise. – Odo, DS9: Sacrifice of Angels

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Star Trek News & More Remembering Leonard Nimoy In May of this year, WGBH Boston premiered Remembering Leonard Nimoy. This was a documentary produced and directed by his daughter Julie and son-in-law David Knight. The program drew much praise and such a large share of viewers that American Public Television is releasing it to all 365 PBS stations nationwide beginning November 1, 2017. The program looks into the life of Leonard Nimoy not only as a star but as a son, husband and father. It also explores how his COPD affected not only him but his family as well. Interviews include his wife Susan; children Julie, Adam and stepson Aaron; and grandchildren. Home videos and photographs are shown as well. Remembering Leonard Nimoy will also be shown at Star Trek Las Vegas convention at the Rio Suites Hotel in August. (www.startrek.com, www.rememberingleonardfilm.com)

Star Trek: Discovery The latest news for Star Trek: Discovery is that the show will be 15 episodes instead of 13. This gives us more Trek to look forward too. Along with the announcement of two more episodes there will be a post-show called Talking Trek. This gives some hope for the series as the post-show will give us insight in to what the creators are thinking with this Star Trek. The latest list of actors for the show include Michelle Yeoh (Captain Philippa Georgia) Sonequa Martin-Green (First Officer Michael Burnham), Jason Isaacs (Captain Lorca), Chris Obi (T’Kuvma), Doug Jones (Lt. Saru), James Frain (Sarek), and Shazad Latif (Kol), Anthony Rapp (Lt. Stamets), Sam Vartholomeos (Ensign Connor), Mary Wiseman (Cadet Tilly), and Mary Chieffo (L’Rell) and Rainn Wilson (Harry Mudd). Behind the scenes we have Gretchen Berg, Aaron Harberts, Rod Roddenberry, Trevor Roth, Heather Kadin and Alex Kurtzman as executive producers on the series. Nicholas Meyer, Kirsten Beyer and Ted Sullivan are serving as writers and consulting producers. These names do give us some promise of a good series.

Star Wars Update – By Lt James Davis Greetings, fans of the Jedi and Sith! The new trailers are out for Episode VIII: The Last Jedi. I couldn’t be happier with them, and one moment in particular… The moment Luke Skywalker says that “It is time for the Jedi to come to an end.” This foreshadows the whole idea behind the Whills acting as overseers of the Force, and those Force masters who chose no path, either dark or light. If you’d like some more background on the topic of a ‘Neutral Force’, check out the novel Ahsoka or Star Wars Rebels: Steps Into Shadow. For an up-front teaser, Bendu famously stated "Jedi and Sith wield the Ashla and Bogan. The light and the dark. I'm the one in the middle. The Bendu." Perhaps this will be the fate of our beloved Rey. And what then lies in store for Finn? We’ll find out on December 15, 2017. The best news this month? After Episode VIII whets our appetite for the next film, we have only to wait until May 25th of 2018 for the new Han Solo premiere!

I am one with the Force. The Force is with me. USS Hephaestus

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Doctor Who News – By Ensign Matt Boyd Hello Whovians! Do you like comics? I do. Well good news for you! A new tenth, eleventh and twelfth Doctor comic book is coming out. It may be out right now by the time you read this. It is featuring new stories that continue us on the adventures of the Doctors we love. Episode 6: Extremis has come out and boy does this one feature some creepy baddies. We finally find out what is in that vault and what he has been watching. If you want to know more you’ll have to watch the show, no spoilers here, I will tell you. Do you like games? Do you like Doctor Who? People can pilot the TARDIS through the time vortex with the new 360-degree game that is available for mobile devices. The game is a first for the BBC, they have had Doctor Who games before but none like this. As the player speeds through time, you will tackle hazards and obstacles appearing from the future ahead as well as the past. This is where the 360 degrees part comes into play, to avoid obstacles you will have to turn around to evade both past and future. This fully interactive game will have you spinning more than a TARDIS in the time vortex as you try not to get dizzy. You can download it for free on any device wherever and whenever apps are sold…or given away.

NASA News – By Curtis Salors (passenger) Solar Probe Plus: A NASA Mission to Touch the Sun We have set human feet on the Moon, probes on Mars; and have accomplished orbital study of other planets, their moons and rings for many decades. Dare we approach our nearest Star? That's what they are doing at John's Hopkins University. According to Annette Dolbow, "…it's taken a really large team of electrical, mechanical and thermal people to put this all together." Annette is the Integration Test Lead Engineer at the university's Applied Physics Laboratory. They hope to launch the unique spacecraft by the summer of 2018. If orbiting Earth can give us cutting edge television and sophisticated GPS systems, what could orbiting the Sun do? The goals of the project, according to scientists who are involved, are to unlock the secrets of the Sun's mysterious corona; as well as learn more things that will protect a world, which is "becoming increasingly dependent on technology", that is affected and/or threatened by space weather. The robotic Solar Probe Plus or Solar Probe+ will truly 'go where no man has gone before' as it approaches the surface of the Sun. Going closer than any spacecraft in history, it will come within 3.67 million miles of the Sun's surface. Because of the extremely sophisticated engineering behind the probe; it's internal circuits will remain at room temperature while it's exterior solar shield will face temperatures of 1,400° Celsius (2500° F). The Solar Probe Plus’s voyage is planned to be at 6 years, 321 days.

Seeing Stars Robert Picardo in Planetary Post: http://www.startrek.com/article/watch-planetary-poston-saving-earth-from-asteroids Peter Davidson, the 5th Doctor at Con Kasterborous, June 10-11 in Huntsville, AL Nichelle Nichols at MCMComic Con in London (know of a sighting of a Star? Let you fellow crewmen know where they could have or can see Stars. Send you knowledge to cohephaestus@bellsouth.net) USS Hephaestus

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Never Forget… Sir Roger Moore – May 23, 2017 (age:89) Even though Sir Roger Moore was not in Star Trek, he is well known as the spy James Bond 007. Even though James Bond was supposed to take place in the modern time it did have its Science Fiction aspect with doomsday devices and futuristic weapons. The best example being Moonraker which includes a space shuttle and space station. Condolences to the Moore family. Vince Deadrick, Sr – May 27, 2017 (age 84) Stunt actor and stunt coordinator for Star Trek TOS. His last stunt for Star Trek was in Enterprise: Borderland (S4E4) for his son Vince Deadrick, Jr. who was Stunt Coordinator for Enterprise. Vince Deadrick, Sr. is well known as a stunt double for Steve McQueen and Lee Majors.

(Did I miss a news item or news item that might be of interest to your fellow crew members? Then write it up and send it to cohephaestus@bellsouth.net)

The Captain’s Top 10 The Captain’s Top Ten Enjoyable Deep Space Nine Episodes! 1. Far Beyond the Stars, S06E13 2. Armageddon Game, S02E13 3. Explorers, S03E22 4. Captive Pursuit, S01E06 5. Civil Defense, S03E07 6. The Visitor, S04E03 7. Statistical Probabilities, S06E09 8. Children of Time, S05E22 9. Tribunal, S02E25 10. Take Me Out to the Holosuite, S07E04 These are my favorites. They may not be the best ones but they are enjoyable.

You know, Nerys - observing humanoid relationships and being in one... are very different things. – Odo, DS9: Tears of the Prophets USS Hephaestus

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Ship’s Log May 20, 2017 – Social

This will give more people the opportunity to come to that event.

We did something different and had the social at Ensign Donald Arnold’s home. This gave Pete and Sue Ellen a break from hosting. We had a great turn out considering how bad the weather was. Plenty of food and drink were available. Discussions covered multiple topics, including Star Trek, Guardians of the Galaxy and ancestry. Promotions that were not handed out at the last social were given out. In total, the gathering was a blast.

Captain’s Personal Log May 6, 2017 – Free Comic Book Day, Kingdom Comics As a consultant for Kingdom Comics I was there to help. I was able to promote the club by using the latest IDW free comic that is an intro to a Star Trek Mirror Universe series that would premier the following Wednesday. I was helped by passenger Kris Bishop in handing out fliers for the club.

Attendance: 15 people

May 11- 15, 2017 – Captain’s Holiday

May 25, 2017 – Exploring Trek

I and Brenda traveled up to Ohio for Mother’s Day and my father’s birthday. As we passed through Kentuc ky we stopped off and saw members of Station Nikola Tesla, Jill and Dennis Rayburn and Donald Horn. After staying in Louisville, KY overnight we proceeded to Ohio to spend time with family and friends. One interesting activity was visiting EnterTrainMent. The attraction was reviewed in May’s issue of The Anvil (pg.6). It also included dinner at a favorite restaurant of mine Montgomery Inn. We traveled home on Monday and made good time as we were home by 5PM CST.

Exploring Trek went well. We discussed the Borg and how they were portrayed in the different episodes. Attendance included three new people which is one of the goals of Exploring Trek. One of the guests was an actor who played one of the ravengers from the new Marvel movie, Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2. Side note: his make-up artist was a make-up artist on several Star Trek series. Snacks and drinks were provided. Attendance:10 people. Supplemental We are discussing changing our monthly poker game to a Saturday afternoon instead of Friday evening.

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Personal Log Special Report By Lt James Davis Following a great nap, we prepared for the day while watching Star Trek IV on our in-room communicator. We grabbed some lunch on the way to “Bringing Forth the Next Generation” with Denise Crosby, John de Lancie, and Marina Sirtis on the pool deck, hosted by Jordan Hoffman of the noted Trekkie podcast. We were there in time to see the Monean Ship Building Trials (where guests built cardboard boats for an in-pool regatta. The pool itself was salt water, so the ships were a bit less than fully engineered for a five-year mission. Hilarity ensued as a great number of the fleet sank about half-way across the pool (which was pretty cold that day!). We watched from the warm safety of a hot tub perched above the pool itself. Not too shabby.

Stardate 2017.01.12 – At Sea – Day 4 Today, the cruise ship ‘Enterprise’ set off for the pleasure planet of Risa (Norwegian’s private island Great Stirrup Cay). Sensors, however, showed that there would be a class 3 ion storm between the ship and Risa. To make it to the shores as planned, we would have to push the ship’s engines to the limit. This resulted in a heaving, bouncing ship that absolutely flew through the water. Who knew a ship as large as our ‘Enterprise’ (the Norwegian Pearl) would be able to reach such speeds? Stepping outside onto the pool deck on our way to the breakfast buffet, we were able to really get a sense of how fast we were going, and it was seriously impressive.

Downstairs, a poker tournament was in full swing, probably preparing guests for the gala tourney on Risa, and there was even an offering for a behindthe-scenes look at the ship’s leadership as they directed the Pearl’s operations. Then… the announcement. We weren’t going to make it to Risa. Not today anyway Scottie had given ‘er all she’s got, but the ion storm was pushing the dilithium to the brink. The Captain saw fit that we should slow down and enjoy the ride and risk having an additional day at sea over making port early and having difficulty transferring crew to the surface via shuttlepods. What to do besides slow down, take it easy, and knock back a few with Chancellor Gowron!

Today was light on big events, but the entertainment value was high nonetheless. The day started with a Proxima Centauri bowling competition, made all the more entertaining by the unpredictable ride across the Caribbean waves. We then had the choice to see either “The Voyages of the Voyager” with Robert Picardo or “UltraModern Technology and Real Space Travel” with notable physicist Lawrence Krauss. Exhausted, however, from Q’s Masquerade Ball from the previous night, we chose to nap instead. We discovered that any crew needs its rest in order to function properly on an away mission, and we had to make a leadership decision under pressure to abandon both lectures. I still wish we had seen Dr. Krauss speak, but looking back on things I think we made the right call. USS Hephaestus

The afternoon was no less full of event offerings, ranging from “Hang on Tight and Survive!” with William Shatner, “The Ingredients to Cooking and Comedy” with Ethan Phillips, and the premiere 12

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event of the evening, “Showtime: A Night at Chamrock’s Comedy Club” with Joe Piscopo. Unfortunately, the headline show of the evening was the biggest let-down of the cruise, where Kendra and I as military members felt like cheap applause and had to explain to other audience members around us that our job in the desert wasn’t to “bag Mohammed and throw him in the trunk,” to which Mr. Piscopo got resounding applause. Kendra and I bailed from that show quietly so others could enjoy what they wanted and instead went to “Songs from the Holosuite” with Chase Masterson, and discovered a new friend in Chase that we were very glad to have met. Chase has quite the voice and a very kind heart, as she began

and leads the Pop Culture Hero Coalition, an organization to fight bullying that we’ll hear more about later. For now, what is important is that the night ended on a very high note, surrounded by new friends and a great time partying away at the awards gala and a party well into the dark and stormy night with DJ Needles. Next time, chaos in Risa’s orbit as our crew is trapped aboard the ship! Until next month, LLAP!

Recommendations By Fleet Captain MarkAdam Miller Star Trek books that are favorites of mine

Captain Sisko: Why would the Founders send such helpless creatures out into space? Odo: To find out if the species they encountered posed any threat. What better way to gauge another race than to see how it treats the weak and vulnerable. – DS9: The Begotten USS Hephaestus

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Crew Happenings May Social Promotions

Sandra

James

Kendra (James subbing)

Food and Socializing

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STARFLEET Academy STARFLEET Academy has changed its address: http://main.sfiacademy.org/ One of the perks of STARFLEET is being able to take course in the organization’s STARFLEET Academy. Two important tests that members need to take if they wish to be leaders in the club is OTS (Officers Training School) and OCC (Officers Command College). These tests help you understand the rules and bylaws of STARFLEET International. If you take these tests you will need to read the STARFLEET manuals that give the rules and bylaws of STARFLEET. The major manual being the STARFLEET Members Handbook (http://sfi.org/download/starfleet-membership-handbook-2015-edition/). This is a good overview of the workings of STARFLEET and can give you a better understanding of how STARFLEET is put together as a fan club. So, sign up for STARFLEET Academy and take OTS. Then explore the other colleges to find something you always wanted to know more about. You may even learn something about yourself. Live Long and Prosper.

STARFLEET Marine Corps Crewmates, did you know that the STARFLEET Marine Corps encourages the organization of Wilderness Challenges? Each Brigade is authorized to coordinate for a Wilderness Challenge to promote esprit de corps, physical fitness, and education about wilderness enjoyment and survival. In fact, attending one of these events as a STARFLEET Marine or Reservist entitles you to an award, the Wilderness Challenge Campaign Award, one of the nicest in Starfleet! Our guide for operations, the SFMC Marine Force Manual, states: 7.3.4.2 Wilderness Challenge Campaign Award This badge is issued to any Marine who participates in the Annual SFMC Wilderness Challenge and completes all the criteria. The badge is a black ribbon and a gold frame with a device indicating the SFMCWC that was participated in, ie. SFMC Wilderness Challenge 2000’s device is a bronze arrowhead. A maximum of three such devices can be added to the ribbon. On a Wilderness Challenge, one of the Commandant’s highest priorities for a Brigade, members participate in team challenges, including hiking, camping, treasure hunts (geocaching or navigation skills training), and first aid fundamentals. Some Brigades due swimming, kayaking, or cycling. Sounds like a good time with friends, right? Only one event is approved for each Brigade each year. That means that in order to host one, the MEU, or unit, needs to submit a request to host the event. We can plan it for whatever we think would be fun and inkeeping with the spirit of STARFLEET. What a great opportunity to spend good time with friends and get to know more people in our great organization! If you’re interested, let Lt Gen Neil Yawn or me know, and we’ll cook something up.

Semper Invictus! USS Hephaestus

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Do you know this Alien?

Anvil Focus Schedule July: Borg August: Deanna Troi, Counselors September: The Future of Star Trek (Feel free to send me an article on any of these topics. Your fellow crew members would love to know your thoughts on these.)

Hunt for the Icon Did you fine the five Klingon ships hidden in the May issue of The Anvil? One was really hidden. If you did not find the five then they were: 1. Pg. 2, 2nd column near the top. 2. Pg. 5, at the end of Eve Dallas Book Review 3. Pg. 7, End of the Mirror Universe Fans Article 4. Pg. 11, end of the paragraph in STARFLEET Academy article 5. Pg. 16 in the “M” of Comics in the Kingdom Comics ad. Five Vulcan science officers are hiding in this issue of the Anvil. The five doesn’t include this example. The first to send me the correct locations gets to choose next month’s Hidden Icon. Hidden Icon is from .

Name the Andorian Answers Talas (Molly Brink), Enterprise Talla (Jasmine Anthony), ENT: These Are the Voyages… Unnamed Andorian (Richard Geary), TOS: Whom Gods Destroy Keval (Jeff Ricketts), ENT: The Andorian Incident Tarah (Suzie Plakson), ENT: Cease Fire

Telev (Christopher Shea), ENT: Cease Fire Thelin (James Doohan - voice), TAS: Yesteryear Tholos (Steven Dennis), Enterprise Thon (Gregg Sargeant), ENT: The Andorian Incident Thelev (William O'Connell), TOS: Journey to Babel

If you have suggestions for new challenges or questions, then send them to cohephaestus@bellsouth.net Answer to Do you know this alien? (pg. 13) Lennier, a Minbari (Bill Mumy), Babylon 5 USS Hephaestus

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Away Team and Activity Schedule Date Jun 3, 2017 Jun 10, 2017 Jun 17, 2017 Jun 22, 2017 Jul 1, 2017 Jul 6-9, 2017 Jul 8, 2017 Jul 15, 2017 Jul 27, 2017 Jul 28-30, 2017 Aug 5, 2017 Aug 12, 2017 Aug 18-20, 2017 Aug 24, 2017 Aug 26, 2017

Event/Time Anvil Deadline Social – 7 pm Poker – 2 pm Exploring Trek Anvil Deadline PLAY ON CON Captain’s Cookout – 2 pm Poker – 2 pm Exploring Trek – 7pm Sci-Fi/Fantasy Festival Anvil Deadline Social – 7 pm SFI International Conference (IC) Exploring Trek – 7pm Poker – 2 pm (later because of IC)

Location cohephaestus@bellsouth.net Mohney Potts Kingdom Comics cohephaestus@bellsouth.net 4-H Center, Columbiana, AL Mohney Miller Kingdom Comics Hoover Library, Hoover, AL cohephaestus@bellsouth.net Mohney New Orleans, LA Kingdom Comics Evans

ALL EVENTS AND TIMES SUBJECT TO CHANGE, PLEASE REFER TO THIS SECTION FOR UP TO DATE INFORMATION

STARFLEET Renewal Reminders Tiner Green Lindsay Family Miller Family Davis Family Boyd Family Carr Family Baxter Hicks Family

Looking for the following people to help with the Anvil:

09/13/16 06/27/17 07/08/17 08/26/17 08/31/17 09/17/17 09/19/17 09/24/17 10/03/17

Youngblood-Yawn Bentley Stockham Potts Family Arnold Mohney Family Mangina Holsey Bishop

News Repoters Wanted For Hephaestus Anvil

Reporters for the Following: Star Wars News (assigned) Dr. Who News (assigned) Firefly News NASA News (assigned) Latest Sci-Fi/Fantasy books USS Hephaestus

11/30/17 12/21/17 03/02/18 03/07/18 04/19/18 05/10/18 05/15/18 05/30/18 05/29/18

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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Area Conventions & Exhibits For additional Cons please check out www.southernfan.com/calendar.htm

June June 10 – 11, 2017 – Con Kasterborous, Huntsville, AL http://conkasterborous.com/ Doctor Who convention in Huntsville, AL. It is being held at The Westin on Bridgestreet. June 30- July 2, 2017 – Magic City Con, Birmingham, AL www.magiccitycon.com/ Magic City Con is a three-day weekend event that focuses on sci-fi, gaming (both tabletop and video games), and cosplay. We have interactive panels, workshops, and host special events like our Heroes and Villains Masquerade Ball, a Mos Eisley Cantina, a Saturday KidCon event, and more! We are a family friendly event that will be taking place at the Hyatt Regency-Wynfrey Hotel June 30th-July 2nd 2017. Our website is www.magiccitycon.com and you can keep up with announcements on our Facebook page.

July July 6-9, 2017 – Play On Con, Alabama 4-H Center, Columbiana, AL www.playoncon.com Play On Con (POC) is a family-friendly four day fantasy and science fiction fandom convention held each year in Birmingham, Alabama--the Magic City! We focus on four main areas for our attendees: (1) Shows: Interactive and energetic programming that welcomes new fans as well as old. (2) Gaming: The best board, RPG, live action, video, and card gaming available. (3) Parties: Nightly (and daily!) hospitality events thrown by award-winning party hosts. (4) Community: Active personal involvement with related fandom events throughout the year. July 28 - 30 2017 – Sci-Fi/Fantasy Fest, Hoover Library, Birmingham, AL www.hooverlibrary.org/sci-fi-fantasy, www.facebook.com/hplscifi The Annual Sci-Fi & Fantasy Fest will be a 3-day event with 3x as much geeky, nerdy fun! Like our previous events, we'll have gaming, cosplay, discussion panels and more.

August August 18-20, 2017 – IC 2017, New Orleans, LA www.ic2017.org/ The STARFLEET International Conference is the annual members’ conference where the members of STARFLEET: The International Star Trek Fan Association, Inc. gather to meet the organization’s leadership, participate in panels related to science fiction and the organization; attend informational sessions, formal banquets, award ceremonies and other events; sight-see the city before and after the conference; and socialize with friends from around the world.

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August 31 – September 4 – Dragon Con, Atlanta, GA, www.dragoncon.org/ The largest multi-media, popular culture convention focusing on science fiction and fantasy, gaming, comics, literature, art and film in the universe.

Does The Anvil cover stuff that you are interested in? Did you disagree with a review or point of view in one of the articles? Did we miss some news article that you think should have been covered? The staff is looking for your feedback to help us send out something that you are interested in. Send your feedback to: cohephaestus@bellsouth.net

Local Attractions (Only events relative to Star Trek are shown, Check the website for more information) Alabama Theater – Birmingham, AL - www.alabamatheatre.com Birmingham Zoo – Birmingham, AL - www.birminghamzoo.com McWane Center – Birmingham, AL - www.mcwane.org/ Southern Museum of Flight – Birmingham, AL - www.southernmuseumofflight.org/ U.S. Space and Rocket Center – Huntsville, AL - www.rocketcenter.com /

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USS HEPHAESTUS COMMAND STRUCTURE Command Staff

Marines

MarkAdam Miller, Fleet Captain – Commanding Officer Phillip Mangina, LtCmdr – 1st Officer Brenda Miller, Captain – 2nd Officer

Neil Yawn, Lt General, SFMC Roy Green, Brigadier, SFMC (Reserves) James Davis, Capt, SFMC (Reserves)

Executive Committee

Unassigned Crew and Civilians

Sue Ellen Mohney, Captain Denby Potts, Rear Admiral Danny Potts, Admiral

Navigation Pete Mohney, Admiral

Sciences Roy Green, Brigadier, Fleet Captain – Archaeology and Anthropology

Computer Sciences Danny Potts, Admiral

Engineering

Donald Arnold, Ensign 1st Class Kendra Baxter, Crewman Nicole Bentley, Lt JG Kris Bishop, Crewman Andrew Boyd, Ensign 1st Class Karen Burtyk, Civilian Renda Carr, Ensign Timothy Carr, Civilian Anya Davis, Civilian Pat Hicks, Fleet Captain Mark Lindsay, Captain Michelle L. Lindsay, Crewman Pamela Lindsay, Cmdr Matthew Potts, Crewman Lewis, Stockham, Crewman Carly Strickland, Civilian Brenda Tiner, Crewman 3rd Class Haley Youngblood, Crewman

MarkAdam Miller, Fleet Captain Flo Hurst, Cmdr

Operations

Ambassadors

Sue Ellen Mohney, Captain – Chief of Ops and Counselor Brenda A. Miller, Captain – Ship Admin Assistant Lynnette Yawn, Lt – Ships Galley Officer

Mike Burtyk Shirley Burton

Security

Retired

Roy Green, Fleet Captain – Chief of Security Intelligence Sandra Hosley, Lt

Dennis Evans, Fleet Captain Pat Simmons, Lt Cmdr

Communications

Cadet Training

Brenda A. Miller, Captain Matthew Boyd, Ensign 1st Class James Davis, Lt Curtis Salors, Civilian

Katrina Mohney, Crewman Apprentice Tara Mohney, Cadet 1st Class Athena Youngblood, Cadet 1st Class Kimberly Davis, Cadet in Training

For More Information Contact: Fleet Captain MarkAdam Miller 1204 Southwind Dr. Helena, Al 35080 cohephaestus@bellsouth.net

Lt. Phillip Mangina 3056 Fox Trail Fultondale, AL 35068 phillip3056@charter.net