Red Shirt Down Vol 1, Is 1

United Federation Starfleet U.S.S Sheppard NCC 74679—A

Stardate 190828 Volume 1, Issue 1

Red Shirt Down

Welcome Reader This is the first edition of “Red Shirt Down”, the official newsletter of the U.S.S. Sheppard. We are excited to bring you news and information specific to this ship and the brave crew who serve her. The USS Sheppard has a rich history dating back to 2383. She was originally commissioned as an intrepid class vessel and served Starfleet for 34 years before being decommissioned. Her legacy was passed on to the newly commissioned Odyssey class star cruiser. You can read more about the history of the Sheppard by checking out her wiki page or taking the Sheppard classes from the UFS Academy (Moodle) website.

I have the pleasure of serving as the commanding officer. My history ties to the history of this vessel as she was my first assignment out of the academy. I served as an operations officer from Ensign through Lieutenant Commander until I ended up in command several years later. You can read more about my history and that of my crew from our wiki pages. Thank you for taking the time to read our newsletter and welcome aboard.

In service, Fleet Captain Rich Lombardia

Inside this issue Crew Photo ................................. 2 Openings ..................................... 2 Science Highlight......................... 3 Good and Wellness ..................... 3 Recognition ................................. 4 Past Missions .............................. 4 Death of the Month .................... 4 Meet the Aquarius ...................... 5 India Moon Mission .................... 5

Special points of interest •

UFS Academy

•

Academy Continuing Education (ACE)

•

Intelligent Species Index

Crew of the U.S.S. Sheppard (August 2019 aka 2417) Front Row, left to right: Lt. Jg. Kara Andel, Lt. Cmdr. Emerald Lombardia, Fl Capt. Rich Lombardia, Cmdr. Fema Firefrick, Lt. Gabriella Santana.

Back Row, Left to right: Ensign RondaDoll Resident, Ensign Slash Godard, Lt. cmdr. Martian McDunner, Lt. T’Preea Wirefly, Ensign Nyxie Shadowchan, Civillian L1z1x Not Pictured: Ensign Hawke Phoenix, Lt. Jg. Kes Ellison, Ensign Launce Kolbey Picture by Slash Godard

Open Positions

Command – Full

Need a Duty Assignment? We have openings This story can fit 100-150 words.

Operations – Full

The subject matter that appears in newsletters is virtually endless. You can include stories that focus on current technologies or innovations in your field.

Engineering – 2 open

You may also want to note business or economic trends, or make predictions for your customers or clients.

Security – 2 open

If the newsletter is distributed internally, you might comment upon new procedures or improvements to the business. Sales figures or earnings will show how your business is growing.

Medical – Full

Some newsletters include a column that is updated every issue, for instance, an advice column, a book review, a letter from the president, or an editorial. You can also profile new employees or top customers or vendors.

Science – Full

This story can fit 100-150 words.

Intelligence – 1 open

Come be part of the Sheppard Family. We accept officers, enlisted and marines.

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The subject matter that appears in newsletters is virtually endless. You can include stories that focus on current technologies or innovations in your field.

You may also want to note business or economic trends, or make predictions for your customers or clients.

If the newsletter is distributed internally, you might comment upon new procedures or improvements to the business. Sales figures or earnings will show how your business is growing.

Some newsletters include a column that is updated every issue, for instance, an advice column, a book review, a letter from the president, or an editorial. You can also profile new employees or top customers or vendors.

Good and Wellness Each month we will highlight our crew members rez days (if in world), birthdays (if disclosed), UFS anniversaries and Sheppard crew

anniversaries.

Rez Days -None

Birthdays Days -None disclosed New Fusion Engine via The University of Alabama in Huntsville

Real life science once again mirrors the visions of Star Trek by Slash Godard In 2012, we were informed that Lithium has successfully been modified into Dilithium Crystals, and is being developed for propulsion that "could cut travel time to Mars down to six weeks". In a nutshell, this unit incorporates fusion propulsion, therefore becoming Impulse Drive using Deuterium (just like the starships).

UFS Anniversaries -None

Sheppard Anniversaries Kes Ellison—1 year

https://www.businessinsider.com/newest-fusion-engine-is-powered-on-star-trek-like -dilithium-crystals-2012-10 Recently there has been another development that will allow us, from space, to "scan" a planet for life signs. In the past scientists have used the presence of Oxygen and its variations to predict the possible presence of life. However, Oxygen levels can vary because of chemical conditions and not just biological ones.

We can now detect Organic molecule chains. Natually, both a left-hand and a righthand chain exist in any given environment. However biologically, living organisms only have a left-hand signature made up by their amino acids. Organic molecules will emit electromagnetic waves in clockwise or counterclockwise spirals. Inorganic molecules will generally not emit this phenomenon. So- we now have a light modulation signature that will allow us to monitor and analyze the potential for organic matter.

Scanning for lifesigns! https://www.foxnews.com/science/scientists-are-building-a-real-life-version-of-thestarship-enterprises-life-scanner

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August Crew Recognition Graduation: Hawke Phoenix OCTS: RondaDoll Resident ADP Associates: Martian McDunner Slash Goddard Order of Demeter (20 classes) Hawke Phoenix

Past Conflicts Pave Way for Future Friendship We just completed a six-part story arc that looked back at the Federation Klingon War of 2405-2410. A powerful Klingon adversary known as “The General” wreaked havoc on the Federation and nearly ended Captain Lombardia permanently. He was just a mere Lt. Commander and served as an operations officer. The rest of the Sheppard crew had the opportunity to play officers and command staff during the war. They felt the icy grip of the General as an ambush forced them to cling to hope aboard an outpost surrounded by a Klingon fleet.

RondaDoll Resident Slash Godard Order of Athena (35 classes) Nyxshadowchan Resident Distinguished Teaching Award Rich Lombardia UFSA Superintendent’s award Emerald Lombardia

Just as the station was about to crumble, a Federation Fleet came to the rescue. The outpost was lost but Rich was able to escape along with members of his former crew. Rich found himself temporarily in command and faced the General in a one on one battle. With much of the crew down and the ship all but disabled, they awaited the final blow. Then, a priority communication was received

by both ships. An armistice was signed, the war was over.

13 Years later, the General is encountered as a shadow of her former self.

Dishonored and booted from the Klingon Empire, she struggled to maintain a rag-tag crew. They were nearly wiped out by a group of Kazon pirates who stole several critical ship components.

Captain Lombardia had to put off his feelings of hate to help a former foe.

Together, they tracked down the Kazon pirates and retrieved the parts of her ship just in time to repel a Kazon attack. The General was once again in her prime and former enemies found themselves as friends.

Order of Romulus, 3rd Class Kalliebirdsong aka Gabbi Santana

Prestigious Service Award Martian McDunner Medical Cross Emerald Lombardia Executive Action Award Emerald Lombardia Bronze Star Martina McDunner Promotion to Lt. Commander Martina McDunner Promotion to Fleet Captain Rich Lombardia

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Lombardia Death of the Month A short drop and sudden stop. Not all natives are friendly This story can fit 100-150 words.

The subject matter that appears in newsletters is virtually endless. You can include stories that focus on current technologies or innovations in your field.

You may also want to note business or economic trends, or make predictions for your customers or clients.

If the newsletter is distributed internally, you might comment upon new procedures or improvements to the business. Sales figures or earnings will show how your business is growing.

Some newsletters include a column that is updated every issue, for instance, an advice column, a book review, a letter from the president, or an editorial. You can also profile new employees or top customers or vendors.

Meet the Aquarius Class Light Escort The Aquarius-class starship was a Federation light escort designed as an auxiliary craft of the Odyssey-class variants and in service in the early 25th century.

As development progressed on the new Odyssey-class starships, Starfleet Command saw the need for variants of the class in order to fill the various roles fulfilled by Starfleet vessels. As such, the aft section of the Odyssey variants were converted into docking ports for Aquarius-class light escorts. https://memory-gamma.fandom.com/wiki/Aquarius_class

“All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them.”

Walt Disney

Will India be the 4th Country to safety land a spacecraft on the moon? By Rich Lombardia Chandrayaan-2, the name of India’s spacecraft they hope will land them a spot in the space hall of fame. Only three countries have landed a spacecraft safely on the moon, USA, Russian, and China.

Israel nearly became the fourth, but their lander’s engine shorted our shortly before touching down resulting in the destruction of the spacecraft. Their anticipated touch down will be on September 7th.

A successful mission means that India will have show the world that it has advanced its technology and is ready to take it’s place among the other great nations.

Mission specifics: The spacecraft consists of multiple pieces: • •

•

an orbiter; a lander named Vikram, after Vikram A. Sarabhai, the father of the Indian space program; and, a six-wheeled rover named Pragyan, which means “wisdom” in Sanskrit.

In September, the lander (which will be carrying the rover) will detach from the orbiter and head to a landing site near the South Pole of the moon.

https:// www.nytimes.com/2019/07/22 /science/chandrayaan-2-indiamoon.html

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United Federation Starfleet We are an international fan organization dedicated to love of Star Trek by participating in small and large group activities through an established system of Ships and Stations for Roleplay and discussions on all things Star Trek™.

Our goal is to provide all of our members the Ultimate Starfleet Experience!

United Federation Starfleet, or UFS for short, started as a dream…a dream to realize and bring Gene Roddenberry’s vision to life within the realms of a metaverse community.

“If man is to survive, he will have learned to take a delight in the essential differences between men and between cultures. He will learn that differences in ideas and attitudes are a delight, part of life’s exciting variety, not something to fear.”

Gene Roddenberry When UFS started in 2006 we envisioned an opportunity where people could live in the galaxy created by Roddenberry by either being a Federation Citizen or joining Starfleet and exploiting it with other fans.

The dream started in 2006 in Second Life™ and since then has grown to other metaverse grids, the gaming commu-

nity and even the real world. We are still growing and developing ourselves.

In UFS there is almost no limit on what you can do, we have an immersive and interactive Academy, events happening every month and are always looking for ways to bring our members fun and Star Trek™!

United Federation Starfleet http://www.ufstarfleet.org U.S.S. Sheppard Join us for a mission in the virtual world of Second Life, every Sunday at 1545 hrs., second life time (SLT).