Stonewall Times - Autumn Winter 2020-2021 by Stonewall Times

stonewall Official magazine of the stonewall gaming networktimes ISSUE 40 AUTUMN-WINTER 20/21

RD6 Hunger Games Arecibo tribute Learn Klingon Cassini - member fiction Captainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Chair - JoystickJoshy Festive treats & recipes PLUS more!

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CONTENTS

92 SGN UPDATES

FEATURES

05 ● SGN events 2020

12 ● RD6

17 ● Fright Night

68 ● Arecibo Telescope

10 ● Discord facts

A recap of Reflection Day 6

Recap the SGN Hunger Games

52 ● Fortnite

06 ● Times at 40

36 ● Captain’s Chair

Reaching 40something

An interview with PR’s new recruit

08 ● Xmas Lights

52 ● Cassini

Read about how Xmas lights affect gaming

Read an extract of a member’s novel

46 ● HoNR update 72 ● Aunt Agony Phaser 84 ● STO plaque offer

ARTICLES

86 ● Gaming playlist 2021 92 ● Festive DIY treats 96 ● Recipe corner 100 ● Crossword

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TEN-FOREWORD

Editorial team Editor-in-chief Cal Layout Callex ADDITIONAL Layouts BY GXV3, CHIPZ416, TLARA Cover art by GXV3 Proofreading IM_TRICK

I hope you’ve enjoyed our Stonewall Times advent calendar and now Santa can bring you this 40th XL edition to a PADD near you.

Contributors @chipz416 @dauntless_red @GXV3 @hippiepunk @insanefuture79 @jimmyjoe1a @joystickjoshy @TLara/tedhembach @voleron

Enjoy reading a recap of some of those events starting with Reflection Day and the Hunger Games from Halloween Fright Night.

It’s been quite a year like no other in living memory. 2020 has seen all our plans change—and we’ve had to adapt to the circumstances like all good Borg do. But in that time, we’ve been given the opportunity to reflect upon what is important to us—family and friends. We’ve spent more time gaming too and SGN has been a home from home for that. In 2020, we’ve put on quite a number of events—check out our recap and we had our biggest ever Pride prize vault this year too.

Our newest STO Fleet Captain, JoystickJoshy, takes the Captain’s Chair in an exclusive interview. Continue learning Klingon with the House of Nagh-reD, read about the Official Game of SGN and see how our Agony Phaser Aunt has answered some of our readers’ problems. We also highlight one of our member’s foray into the novel writing business—read an extract inside. With it being the festive season—check out our festive treats recipes to try out and also insights into Xmas lights and WiFi!

Social Media @StonewallGN Website stonewallgaming.net

On behalf of all of the Times team here, we wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, please now enjoy this 40th XL edition of your Times with a mince pie and a hot beverage of your choice! Cheers,

Star Trek & related properties are trademarks and ©CBS Studios Inc. Star Trek Online (STO) & related properties are ©Cryptic Studios Inc. Star Wars & related properties are trademarks and ©Lucasfilm Ltd. Star Wars: The Old Republic & related properties are ©EA International (Studio and Publishing) Ltd. Guild Wars 2 (GW2) & related marks are ©ArenaNet Inc and NCSOFT Europe Ltd. Overwatch is a trademark of Blizzard Entertainment Inc. Pokémon go ©Niantic Inc. © Pokémon. ©Nintendo / Creatures Inc. / GAME FREAK inc. Pokémon and Pokémon character names are trademarks of Nintendo. No infringement of these or other rights is intended. Stonewall Times is a voluntary, community-made, non-profit production.

Made from recycled photonics a TACTICAL INITIATIVE

MMXX

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Cal As always don’t forget to check out our home at SGN, and on issuu.com as another channel for you to read at your convenience.

Recent previous editions of the Stonewall Times are available online at our archive https://sites.google.com/site/stonewalltimes/home

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Cal

FORTYSOMETHING Reflecting on the Stonewall Times

Six years and ten issues on (plus one special) from our 30th edition way back in May 2014, we’ve now hit 40 with this edition in your very hand.

STO to the ever increasing portfolio of games that it hosts, as featured in our cover of SGN’s 10th anniversary in issue 36.

In the time since, Star Trek Discovery, Short Treks, Lower Decks and Picard have all come on to the scene and continue to tell us stories of the future to come.

Dead by Daylight (DbD) took the coveted cover of Issue 37, a game that has seen a big take up in SGN with regular plays by our Cocky Pallet Jockeys. See where DbD fared in our Discord plays on page 10.

The Skywalker saga finally came to a conclusion with a not uncontroversial sequel trilogy but we were charmed by the adventures of the Mandalorian and baby Yoda who has now got a name (no spoilers here!) The world too has changed much geopolitically with the impact yet to be seen. The Times itself saw a loss of much of its early history due to a hard drive failure resulting in issues 1– 26 going missing like some Dr. Who episodes. But since issue 30, we have had a series of multiple expansions in Star Trek Online (STO) with quite a few voice actors reprising their roles from Star Trek. We even had an exclusive interview with Voyager actor Manu Intiraymi, who played Icheb, in Issue 35. LEFT Issues 31 through to 39

Over these 10 issues, the Times has seen SGN continue to grow and expand from

STO will always be the founding game of Stonewall. But we do have our “official game” of SGN too—read more about that story on page 52! Why not take the time to read the Times back catalogue - it’s a record of the memories that we have made together as a community, memories and friendships that continue to be made. If you have contributions for future editions—you know where to come. We accept all from your art to prose, across all areas and games of SGN. Why not get your hobby or pastime featured by sharing your passion for it?

What would you like to see more or less of in the future? Get in touch now.

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Like many people around the world, when the holiday season drops it’s time to dig out your sparkly decorations to adorn your abode. I myself enjoy throwing sparkly items that glow and twinkle around the place. So when December 1st came, it was time for me to dig out my baubles from the attic and place the tree in my favourite spot near the window, grab the box full of decorations and twirl the fairy lights around the tree first. To put me in the festive mood, I asked Alexa to play some festive tunes. She agreed and I started my duet with Mariah Carey as I placed and tidied up the lights wrapped around the tree. Wanting to see what the lights looked like, I plugged them in. Hey-presto, the tree sprang to life with twinkly lights! After a minute or so, Mariah stopped dueting with me… Alexa was having a hard time buffering the playlist, stopping and starting. It was quite irritating, but I carried on decorating regardless, adding more fairy lights around my home. Everything has to be camp to cheer me up!

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All decorations were up and I could relax, sit back and have a little gaming session. On booting up the PC, I noticed that the Wi-Fi was down, then after a minute or so came back on again. After five minutes the Wi-Fi was down again, kicking me from STO, then came back online again. This repeated itself all night and the day after, I thought there must be a fault in my ISP’s networking, Virgin Media are normally a good and stable provider. I thought nothing more but the problem persisted over the week, with me restarting my router and looking up help on the Virgin Media website (when I could get a stable connection) but alas nothing would fix it. I eventually came across an article explaining that LED lights may drastically affect your Wi-Fi signal. Could festive tree lights/LED strips really affect Wi-Fi? Here comes the science bit…

Christmas lights emit a very weak electromagnetic field which can theoretically interfere with the radio waves being transmitted from your router, thus affecting your Wi-Fi speed. If the lights were to transmit electromagnetic radiation at or around the same frequency, then yes, they could slow down your Wi-Fi. Between the LED or lamp being completely on or off, it can exhibit negative resistance which in turn causes radio energy. This happens less

with modern-day lights than older ones though. Is your tree lit up to give a soft glow, or does it look like something fresh out of Las Vegas illuminations? The more lights you have, the stronger the electromagnetic field will be. And the closer the router is to the lights, the higher the chance of interference... Or a slowed down Wi-Fi experience if you have a multitude of devices running at the same time.

For example: To give me the festive experience and oh-ahh sensation, I have Netflix running on my XBox to create a crackling fireplace on the TV, Alexa may be playing my playlists, whilst I’d be on my PC playing Fortnite as well as on my phone using up the Wi -Fi to scan for coronavirus in my area. A lot of devices are using up Wi-Fi, and it’s battling to fight its way through the Christmas light experience, so it will make any signal weaker.

TOP TIPS TO GET A BETTER SIGNAL 1)

Don't place any lights near your router. While it has been reported that routers that were placed too close to festive lights could negatively be affected by signal interference, if they’re not directly next to each other or on top of each other, it should be fine.

Always use a mains plug socket. The festive time sees us always on the lookout to find a spare plug hole to give power to your decorations, but don’t be tempted to unplug the router and plug it into the extension. It will work a lot better, and faster, if it’s plugged into the main socket.

The more modern the lights, the better. There are generally 2 types of light whose qualities have the potential to cause interference. Older types of Christmas lights that are arranged in a string of low voltage lamps in series with each other and are designed to blink can cause radio interference which can lead to dips in Wi-Fi speed. More modern Christmas lights use solid-state LED’s and have an external control for flashing which don’t create radio noise. However, it’s worth noting that some LED’s have a chip inside the bulb to control the blink and these devices can also cause interference. On the whole, though, modern lights are definitely less likely to cause you a Wi-Fi problem, so maybe save yourself the annual horror of trying to untangle your 10-year-old string of lights and treat yourself to some new ones.

So if you have been experiencing some Wi-Fi drops or router problems, maybe look toward your Christmas tree?

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REFLECTION DAY 6 EVENT RECAP This November saw the sith year of Reﬂection day, a day in which all the stonewall star trek online players shake things up a bit and play as their main characters mirror counterparts. We Changed our toons appearance, changed the ship we normally ﬂy and equip it with weapons and gadgets we are not accustomed to.

The The RD6 Month Mont started where Stonewall ﬂeet, now named “Stonewall were asked to submit answers to famous star trek wall Empire”, Empire” w quotes, made a little harder when they had to hold a mirror up to the screen to read them before submitting answers. well done to the winners.

The next week members were asked to submit mirror biographies as well as ship builds they planned to take into battle on the main day. Some very good and well-written entries were submitted, and can be viewed on the SGN website, click the “events” tab and press “past events” to be able to go and read them.

The day started off with us going into battle, with several teams jumping into PvE queues all guns blazing.. For the glory of the empire! We then moved on to stonewalls tradition of having a fashion show in every event we do, this proved quite popular and took a little longer than expected, as all the Empire wanted a turn sitting on the fashion throne to get judged.

We then moved onto the RD6 video quiz, split up into teams to watch the streaming video via twitch. Congratulations go to Team Delta, Nick, Joey, Tlara and Hippiepunk who won first place and got 31 questions out of 40 right! This years quiz was a little different in that we had to guess more than we have in the past, with general knowledge taking a back seat. The next fun game was a new game we tried out, using your artistic skills, I gave you a scenario to draw using paint, photoshop.. Or in fancy-pants Nick’s case.. Using his windows pro tablet board. Some.. shall we say.. Unique drawings came back as you can see. The results of these drawrings lead to a few laughs and belly aches. Recreate a drawing of Capt Janeway hitting 7of9 with a cucumber Recreate a drawing of Picard hitting a turkey leg on Deanna Trois bum Recreate a drawing of Cmdr Data sitting on a mushroom while Riker plays a flue next to him Recreate a drawing of Pikachu zapping Guinan with electric bolts from up a tree Recreate a drawing of The Queen Knighting Capt Janeway with her sword Recreate a drawing of The Whale space probe, entering the Gamma quad wormhole Recreate a drawing of Captain Archer holding two melons while his dog begs him for a treat Recreate a drawing of Dath Vader stabbing Micheal burnham with his lightsaber from behind Recreate a drawing of Captain picard trying to pick up a very heavy pig Recreate a drawing of B’Lana Tores eating 2 french baguettes at the same time Recreate a drawing of Troi playing a flute that’s coming out of Laforge’s pocket Recreate a drawing of a giant Sisko popping his head out of the wormhole

IMAGE CREDIT SaintPlazma

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Every frame from each Star Wars film displayed in a disk. The opening frame is at the border of the disk, the end credits at the centre. Posted on reddit by u/tyty51404 16 Â Stonewall Times

Voleron

FRIGHT NIGHT Find out who survived, who died, who betrayed and who lied in a recap of this Fright Night lead up event .

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As the Tributes Stand on Their Podiums, the Horn Sounds... @Perseus75 runs away from the Cornucopia. @nicholasjohn16 sneaks away from the Cornucopia. @JoystickJoshy runs away from the Cornucopia. @Voleron runs away from the Cornucopia, . @Niko snatches a bottle of alcohol and a rag. @calx runs away from the Cornucopia, tearing up out of fear. @Rasilek gathers as much food as he can. @Ashe_Odinson runs away from the Cornucopia until he's out of breath. sqwelookle runs away from the Cornucopia. @robertjaneway runs away from the Cornucopia. @jmccomb1979 runs away from the Cornucopia. @VietHai runs away from the Cornucopia. @ThatIndividual grabs a sword. @GXV3 runs away from the Cornucopia. @Saintplazma snatches a bottle of alcohol and a rag. @Jspectre runs away from the Cornucopia. @NeoGabi stabs @Eurrsk with a tree branch. @Tourma, @Margali13, and @JimJMcL1a work together to get as many supplies as possible. @VietHai, @Kierix, @Traull, and @Gravity share everything they gathered before running

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The Tributes Who Escaped the Bloodbath at the Cornucopia Make Their Way Into the Wilderness... Some Seeking Alliances and Others Choosing to Fend for Themselves... @Margali13 seeks out potential food sources and collects fruit from a tree. @NeoGabi discovers a cave and conceals herself within the dangerous depths. @sqweloookle tries to hunt rabbit but has no success and goes hungry. @Gravity ties himself to the branches of a tree and tries to sleep through the entire day. @JimJMcL1a thinks about his home district and the Caledon Forest, wishing himself there. @JoystickJoshy sprains his big toe while running away from @jmccomb1979 and limps slowly to his camp. @Niko trips on a tree root, spraining her ankle and hitting her funny-bone while running away from @Jspectre, who screams a murderous war-cry while in pursuit. @GXV3, @Saintplazma, @Perseus75, and @Ashe_Odinson raid @VietHai's camp while he is trying to hunt wild game. @Traull, @robertjaneway, @ThatIndividual, and @Tourma, raid @calx's camp while he is hunting, stealing precious supplies and a secret stash of pornography. @nicholasjohn16 and @Rasilek work together to corner Kierix, drag him to a nearby stream and drown him as he screams for mercy. @Voleron constructs a shack for shelter. He stops when he observes @Kierix's lifeless body floating down the nearby stream, cries, and wonders how it all came to this.

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Part of the stolen hamster porn collection

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The Night is Dark, and Full of Terrors... @Ashe_Odinson attempts to start a fire, but is unsuccessful, spending the entire night shivering alone in the cold. @Margali13 climbs a tree to rest and narrowly escapes falling to her death... @robertjaneway tends to his wounds, using a compound of eucalyptus and beetle dung as a foul smelling healing agent. @nicholasjohn16 thinks about winning for his District and the glory that would bring. He thinks about his ally @Rasilek and fantasizes about what could have been... in a different world. He knows that to survive, he'll have to kill him. Feeling defeated without his supplies or pornography, @calx screams for help. After a physically and mentally exhausting day of drowning his former friend in order to survive, @Rasilek passes out from exhaustion. @NeoGabi and @Niko run into each other and decide to a truce for the night. After a brutal, all-out 10 minute fist fight, @Voleron mounts @GXV3 's surrendered body and strangles the last life out of him. @jmccomb1979 shoots a poisonous blow dart into @Tourma's neck, causing a slow and painful death as the toxin tediously permeates every organ in her body. @JimJMcL1a sneaks up behind @Traull and strangles him to death with a dangling vine. @sqweloookle barely fends off @Perseus75, @Saintplazma, and @ThatIndividual from his fire, as they encircle his camp like vultures waiting for the first sign of weakness. @Jspectre, @Gravity, @JoystickJoshy, and @VietHai group up together and snuggle overnight for warmth and security while sleeping in shifts. A lone wolf howls in the distance, as @Gravity sobs uncontrollably at the thought of Traull's death and his own, looming mortality.

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"Hell is Empty and All the Devils are Here..." @Margali13 uses soiled leaves, rotten sticks and a pig skin to construct a make-shift tent in preparation for nightfall. @JimJMcL1a resolves himself to escaping the hell that is the arena and dies from falling down a ravine and becoming impaled on a jagged tree stump, his innards splayed for the crows to feed. @VietHai chases @Voleron away, after finding him skulking around his camp, looking through his unmentionables. @calx runs away from @robertjaneway, who is hot in pursuit with murderous intent, after hearing @calx's cry for help. @ThatIndividual steals wild berries and hair gel from @NeoGabi's backpack while she drinks like a fawn from a stream. @Jspectre stalks nicholasjohn16 from the bushes, breathing heavily whilst waiting for the perfect moment to strike as he bathes in a nearby creek, the morning dew glistening on his supple skin. @Niko, @JoystickJoshy, @Gravity, and @Ashe_Odinson form a temporary coalition and go on the hunt for other Tributes while being gleefully boisterous, foolishly thinking themselves safe in numbers. @Perseus75, @Saintplazma, @jmccomb1979, @sqweloookle, and @Rasilek form a wolfpack and begin tracking the weakest of the tributes. When they find no one by day's end, @Saintplazma begins to consider making the wolf an endangered species.

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"Listen to them, the children of the night. What music they make!" Laying uncomfortably next to his fellow wolfpack members, @jmccomb1979 worries about betrayal, wishing desperately to be home and subtly tapping his heels together thrice, hoping it to be true. @Gravity cries himself to sleep, hoping his coalition won't notice his vulnerability, while staving off the horrific pangs of hunger gnarling through his hollow stomach. @Perseus75 tries to cleanse his already pussing infection with swamp water; the only readily accessible liquid, save that of his own urine... and he's doesn't feel the situation merits that measure quite yet. @Voleron cooks a horrifically tasting armadillo looking thing of unknown prehistoric origins before putting his fire out and drifting off into unconsciousness in a shrubbery, so as not to be easily found. @Saintplazma quietly hums Bayu Bayushki Bayu while slowly descending into madness beneath the pale moonlight of the eerie night. @robertjaneway longs for home and wishes for a family he'd never had, instead of being sent into the arena and to his likely death. @sqweloookle remembers a television series from his childhood and looks up at the night sky, hoping he'd be beamed away. @NeoGabi lets @ThatIndividual into her shelter as light rain begins to fall, but later regrets the choice amidst the horrific snoring that ensues. @VietHai and @JoystickJoshy run into each other. Cunningly convincing @VietHai that this may well be their last night alive, @JoystickJoshy encourages a truce for the night... with certain benefits that shall go unmentioned. @Niko and @Margali13 talk about the Tributes still alive and rank them in order of attractiveness, giggling quietly like school girls under the night sky until they fall asleep in each other's arms. @Ashe_Odinson desperately fends @Rasilek, @nicholasjohn16, and @Jspectre away from his fire as they encircle and taunt him like ravenous hyenas, throwing rocks and sharpened sticks at him for several hours without ever mustering the courage to move in for the kill. @calx receives an explosive from an unknown sponsor. 24 Â Stonewall Times

"“Double, double toil and trouble; fire burn and caldron bubble.”" Descending further and further into madness, @Saintplazma rocks back and forth in the forest by his lonesome, reciting verses from the Wrath of Khan while cackling to himself... Using a dowsing rod and the tongue of an expired frog, @jmccomb1979 crafts a slingshot. Having been abandoned by the wolf pack and having not eaten in over a day, @sqweloookle collects some pineapple from a tree, desperately gnawing through the bark to get to the juicy innards the fruit has to offer. @NeoGabi and @ThatIndividual injure themselves as @NeoGabi forcibly revokes @ThatIndividual's tenancy in her camp. @Margali13 wrangles up and defeats @calx as he tries to scurry away from her during a ground fight, but her sense of morality prevents her from killing him and she decides to spare his life. Their temporary coalition having run its due course, @JoystickJoshy runs away from @Ashe_Odinson, who chases him with a large cudgel as he grins sadistically from ear to ear. When the food supply runs thin, the wolves begin to turn on one another. @Rasilek attacks @Perseus75, biting him ferociously on his upper thigh and drawing blood that seems to feed @Rasilek's ravenous fury. @Perseus75 manages to barely escape the unprovoked assault. @robertjaneway runs away from @VietHai, who gives chase with every bit of energy he can muster. @Voleron overhears @Jspectre and @Niko talking in the distance, and creeps carefully through the busy to within range of the conversation... @Gravity ambushes @nicholasjohn16 as he walks through the forest and bludgeons him with a dull rock, slamming it into his head repeatedly until he's dead. Exhausted and remorseful in the minutes that follow, @Gravity kisses the supple lips of @nicholasjohn16's lifeless corpse before leaving it for the crows.

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"Forget the Future, Forget the Past, Life is Over, Breathe Your Last." @VietHai receives a hatchet from an unknown sponsor. Satisfied with the intelligence he's gathered from overhearing last night's conversation, @Voleron withdraws to a remote area and starts a small fire for warmth, hoping not to be seeen. In a different part of the arena, @calx desperately tries to start a fire using kindling, rocks and fabric from his torn shirt, but is unable to get one going and sleeps without warmth, shivering through the night. Now, more than ever, he wishes for his stolen porn collection. @NeoGabi climbs a tree to rest for the night, just thankful to be free of that nuisance that was @ThatIndividual. Reflecting back on things, she wishes she'd have smothered him with a pillow in his sleep when she'd had the chance. Shaken moreso by his act of violence than he'd originally believed possible, @Gravity stays awake all night, re-living the murder of @nicholasjohn16 over and over in his mind, babbling to himself while repeatedly washing his hands in a stream like Lady MacBeth. With nights becoming increasingly cold, @sqweloookle convinces @Niko to snuggle with him for companionship and warmth. The pair sleep well into the morning. @robertjaneway and @Margali13 tell stories about themselves to each other. @robertjaneway is just happy to talk, and talk... and ... talk. @Margali13 is happy to collect intelligence that may prove valuable later on. While others tried to find precious warmth and sleep, @Perseus75 remained awake, skulking through the forest following the sounds of snoring to a nearby camp, and indiscriminately bashed through the make-shift shelter with a mace, smashing @Saintplazma's head in, splintering in into pieces as a warning to other Tributes. @ThatIndividual ambushes @Rasilek while he cooks a fish over his fire, choking him to unconsciousness and kicking his lifeless corpse into the blaze, while he enjoys some deliciously cooked fish. Oblivious to the violence being perpetrated elsewhere in the arena, @JoystickJoshy, @Ashe_Odinson, and @jmccomb1979 discuss the games and what the morning might bring. @Jspectre is awoken part-way through the night by nightmares of the deaths of his former friends @Rasilek and @nicholasjohn16. He stares at the night sky until it gives way to the light of day number four...

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A New Terror Born in Death... Thinking of the necessity of planning for the long-game, @jmccomb1979 constructs an actually fairly impressive shack. Although not entirely discrete, it's a defensible position. @Margali13 explores the arena, using some of the knowledge foolishly disclosed to her during the previous night's discussions. Hungry and exhausted from a long night of mental deterioration, @Gravity walks around aimlessly until he finds a fruit bearing tree, from which he collects. @Ashe_Odinson and @VietHai agree to a plan to split up for the day to independently search for resources and to reconvene before nightfall to share their haul. @sqweloookle runs away from @Voleron, who he sees is in hot pursuit with a sharpened tree branch and seemingly wearing a the skull of a fallen tribute as a helmet. "This guy's fucking nuts!" he thinks to himself as he struggles to gain distance from his pursuer. @NeoGabi steals from @ThatIndividual's pack while he isn't looking, thinking herself clever, but is astonished to find her hair gel and berries that she assumed she'd simply lost! Her dislike of him grows exponentially. Noticing @calx seemingly setting up a trap using what appears to be some sort of explosive device, @JoystickJoshy decides to dispense with the threat and shoots an arrow into @calx's head. After a few seconds of twitching, @calx falls to the ground in a lifeless heap. Having come across an unsuspecting group of Tributes, @Perseus75 holds @robertjaneway at arrow-point and forces him to kill either @Niko or @Jspectre to save his own life. With @Perseus75's arrow trained squarely at his chest, @robertjaneway decides to kill @Niko, plunging his dagger into her throat as @Jspectre watches on and screams in despair, but relieved that he wasn't chosen. Collapsing to his knees in agony, @robertjaneway stares at his blood soaked hands, grits his teeth and vows revenge, as @Perseus75 laughs sadistically and walks away.

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Et tu, Brute? @robertjaneway starts a fire using only his pure, unadulterated hatred of Perseus75. @Ashe_Odinson questions his sanity after @VietHai fails to return from his expedition to share his haul as planned. Ashe is fairly certain they agreed to meet back up... but where is VietHai? Meanwhile, as @VietHai lives the hai life, gorging on his many provisions that he's chosen not to share, an unknown sponsor gifts him fresh food. @sqweloookle spent the night quietly humming to himself while rocking back and forth underneath the canopy of a tree. Seeking a physical connection to ground him mentally, @Gravity convinces @ThatIndividual to hold hands. Meanwhile, @ThatIndividual sets his eyes on getting that much closer to @Gravity's supply pack... @Margali13 precariously chooses to attempt to fend @NeoGabi, @Jspectre, and @jmccomb1979 away from her fire using raw aggression and it works. The would-be assailants decide not to risk injury and eventually leave. Finding him scouting alone, @Perseus75 and @JoystickJoshy train their arrows on @Voleron, who narrowly dodges the first volley of their ranged arsenal. A frantic chase ensues through the forest for several kilometers, with arrow after arrow drawn from their quivers screaming within inches of @Voleron's face, but repeatedly failing to make their mark. His leopard like reflexes having nearly outwitted his pursuers, they contemplate giving up the chase, when suddenly the forest terrain transforms into a rocky ledge. With nowhere left to run, @Voleron spins on his heels and launches his hatchet at @Perseus75, who narrowly side-steps the deadly projectile, the authentic moment of mortal fear in his eyes slowly replaced with smug and arrogant confidence. "Get on with it then!" @Voleron spits, as @Perseus75 and @JoystickJoshy take slow aim and launch a final, deadly salvo at their target, who falls lifelessly off the cliff. A flock of white doves scatter as @Voleron's falling corpse disturbs their sleep, in what viewers rate the most unquestionably heroic death of the games so far.

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Ding-Dong the Witch is Dead @robertjaneway harvests some flora, hoping to find toxic plants and use their petals to develop some sort of putrid serum in which he could dip his weapon. Unlike in the movies, however, toxic plants aren't actually found in abundance and he essentially spends the day just picking flowers. @VietHai desperately searches for firewood so that he can finally cook the gourmet meal his mysterious sponsor had gifted him. Hardly having gone hungry, he decides that he wants to indulge himself, just in-case the worst were to happen. Parched from his attempt at Margali's life the previous night, @Jspectre searches for a fresh water source; one that ideally hasn't been contaminated by the urine, blood and soiled bath water of the other Tributes these past few days. Feeling compelled to ensure that their arsenal is topped up, @jmccomb1979 and @ThatIndividual each spend the afternoon sharpening branches into wooden javelin and carve the names of each of the remaining Tributes into the tip of each spear. A devious smile consumes their faces as they begin to carve each other's names into the last of their projectiles, glancing briefly at one another but then averting their gaze. @sqweloookle charges toward @NeoGabi with weapon drawn, but @NeoGabi pivots to face her incoming attacker, displaying intimidating warpaint artistry on her face, and a sword much larger than his. Letting out a robust, spine-chilling warcry, @sqweloookle re-assesses his course of action and retreats. In the middle of an open plain, @JoystickJoshy and Margali13 square off, almost as though re-creating an arcade fighter scene. Both draw their bows and take aim, parrying each other's opening shots as they charge toward one another. As they draw near, @JoystickJoshy discards his bow for a dagger, transitions into a slide and slices through Margali13's Achilles tendon. As she limps away severely injured, @JoystickJoshy plunges his dagger into her back, putting Margali13 out of her misery. Meanwhile, deep in the depths of the forest, @Gravity, @Perseus75, and @Ashe_Odinson get into a fight. The trio form a circle, carefully eyeing one another, determining who will make the first move. Brawn jump into action first, with @Perseus75 and @Ashe_Odinson charging to meet each other's blades. Both strikes connect with each other's arms, causing them to drop their respective weapons. They re-center themselves and resort to their fists to convey their aggression, trading blows until @Ashe_Odinson falls on his back. The snide, confident smirk returns to @Perseus75's face as he reaches for the ground to re-equip his blade in order to finish off his fallen adversary, only to realize... it's no longer there. Wielding the lost steel behind him, @Gravity plunges it through @Perseus75's body, causing him to fall on @Ashe_Odinson, also impaling and killing him. Though the result of mostly sheer luck, @Gravity feels triumphant in his victory over both of them.

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Just an Uneventful Night... His belly full but his spirit empty, @VietHai loses sight of where he is and ends up in a dangerous head space. @jmccomb1979 spends the night cold, alone and thinking about home. Seeking revenge for yesterday's attempt on her life, @NeoGabi searches the forest until she comes across @sqweloookle's camp and destroys his supplies while he's asleep. Completely exhausted from five long days in the arena, @Jspectre, @robertjaneway, @JoystickJoshy, @Gravity, and @ThatIndividual agree to sleep in shifts so that every member of the party can get a bit of rest overnight.

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The Cornucopia is replenished with much needed food and supplies. Some Tributes are tempted to risk their lives to collect precious items to help them survive the games longer, while others play it safe... @ThatIndividual, @Gravity, @JoystickJoshy, and @Jspectre decide not to risk death or injury and do not go to the feast. Watching from the bushes until the clearing appears safe, @jmccomb1979 sprints toward the Cornucopia and stuffs a bundle of dry clothing into a backpack before sprinting away. It wasn't the haul that he'd hoped for, but he wasn't willing to risk spending any more time in the open. @sqweloookle and @VietHai encounter one another at the Cornucopia and attack one another on sight. @VietHai swings first, slicing through the shoulder strap of @sqweloookle's backpack, narrowly failing to connect with his chest. The momentum of @VietHai's missed swing exposes his left side and @sqweloookle takes full advantage by plunging his axe into @VietHai's shoulder over and over until he falls to the ground, dead, a stream of blood moistening the field. As @robertjaneway collects precious food, @NeoGabi ambushes him from behind, jabbing her knife into his back. Luckily, the weapon fails to penetrate @robertjaneway's backpack and he spins on his toes, delivering a swift back-hand blow to @NeoGabi's face. @robertjaneway climbs the Cornucopia for higher ground, but @NeoGabi is right on his heels. The pair square off on top of the structure, @robertjaneway taking the offensive, landing blow after blow on his beleaguered opponent. He pulls out his own knife and lunges for @NeoGabi, who uses her last ounce of strength to sidestep the attack and push @robertjaneway off the Cornucopia. He lands awkwardly on the ground head-first, snapping his neck.

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And Then There Were Three... Famished from the fierce fight at the feast and having sprinted away from the battlezone, leaving her pack behind in a panic, @NeoGabi returns to the usual practice of collecting small fruits from a tree in an effort to survive. Likewise, having only collected dry clothing from the feast, @jmccomb1979 resorts to picking berries to sustain himself and is pricked by thorns while doing so. He hopes the barbs not to be toxic. Sleeping in proximity to so many men the previous night, @JoystickJoshy finds himself in desperate need of dry clothing after having elected not to risk the bloodbath of the feast. He searches for dead fall with which to start a fire for warmth and to dry his clothing and more importantly, his unmentionables. Having had enough of these morbid games, @sqweloookle and @ThatIndividual resolve themselves to escaping the arena. They know it's a manufactured environment and believe that if they walk far enough in one direction that they'll naturally encounter a wall and hope to find an escape. They hike for kilometers until finally coming to what appears to be the edge of the environment, separated only by what appears to be an algae ridden creek. Thinking themselves nearly to freedom they wade across the brook, but shortly after exposing their abdomen to the liquid, they realize that something is very wrong. Their flesh begins to burn; at first they think it a simple itch, but within seconds, the highly acidic liquid begins to devour their dermis and their bones. Shrieking in pain, the pair are consumed by the acid in which they are submerged, leaving nothing but a foul stench behind them. @Jspectre and @Gravity encounter one another at the edge of a cliff. They draw their respective weapons: a tomahawk and a stiletto that they both wield, staring at one another, each waiting for the other to make their move. As the minutes drone on in deadlock, the pair have what the Klingons call "tova'dok", a moment of clarity between warriors on the field of battle. But unlike the Klingons, @Jspectre and @Gravity were not warriors. They knew in that moment that they could not come to do harm to one another. The pair make a double-suicide pact and on their collective count of three, impale one another with their deadly devices. They collapse to their knees, face to face, the life draining from their pursed lips and injured vessels. They lean until they collapse sideways together over the cliff, embracing one another in close friendship as they fall.

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A Victor Emerges... Feeling dizzy, nauseous and disoriented from days of starvation and attempts to sustain herself on merely small berries, @NeoGabi begins to experience delusions. Giggling, she stumbles through the forest, lost in her hallucinations, letting the petals of the flora caress her hands as she skips, teetering on losing her balance with every other step. Finding her way to a pond, she lays back in the water, staring up at the sky and picturing herself home, until the few remaining nutrients in her body are simply no longer sufficient to sustain her and she dies of hunger. Senses heightened, @jmccomb1979 makes his way through the forest in search of remaining Tributes. He's sure that he heard laughing coming from this direction and is intent on finding his prey, not realizing that @NeoGabi's boisterousness had also attracted another predator. Concentrating on every possible angle of attack on the two dimensional plane, @jmccomb1979 doesn't notice @JoystickJoshy waiting on a tree branch above. As he passes, @JoystickJoshy jumps from the tree, attacking @jmccomb1979 with all his vigor. @jmccomb1979 desperately attempts to access his axe as the pair exchange blows, unable to locate it on his belt in the panic. His tactile senses failing him, he momentarily dedicates his gaze to his waist and locates his weapon, however, @JoystickJoshy takes advantage of the distraction and plants his knife squarely into @jmccomb1979's chest. He staggers, collapses to his knees, looks at the knife and lets out a hearty laugh before finally falling over dead, leaving but one victor of the first Stonewall Hunger Games!

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COMING UP NEXT Now you can read all about the victor who takes his seat in the Captain’s Chair!

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GXV3

JOYSTICKJOSHY The Captain’s Chair

PROFILE

Hello Josh and welcome to the Stonewall Times interview suite.

Current department: Public Relations

Firstly, I wanted to say congratulations on becoming the first-ever Public Relations senior member for the Stonewall Gaming Network (SGN).

SGN position: Senior Member

What made you want to apply for the position?

STO rank: Fleet Captain Known as: Caledones (STO) Nicknames: Josh, Joshy Motto: “This too shall pass.” Flagship: U.S.S. Chapel Hill Ship motto: “Stars guide us.”

Thank you very much! I decided that after spending so many hours over the last few months being in and around SGN that I wanted to roll up my sleeves and help out, and so I decided it was time to apply! I wanted to lend my limited talents to Stonewall so that I can help others become part of the family.

As SGN’s new boy senior member, can you: 

Tell us how the application process went; and



What you had to do to get the job?

It was an interesting and fun process! I started by talking about my intentions with a couple of Senior Members to get their take on things and to see if I’d fit in, and then spoke to an Admiral to enquire about the process itself. From there it was all about putting my best self forward and being available to help the process go smoothly. Everybody was very friendly and welcoming the whole time!

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You’re working closely with Voleron. Have you and he made any exciting plans for the future of SGN that you can give the Stonewall Times as an exclusive “heard it here first”? We’re currently working on plans to have a streaming and larger video presence out there in the world. It’s currently in the planning phase but we’re really excited about the possibilities and hope people will love and interact with what we do!

We often see you in the SGN playrooms playing various games, which game, in particular, are you enjoying at the moment? That would definitely have to be Dead by Daylight. It’s taken over my life! I love the thrill and the strategy behind it and being able to play with friends makes it so much more enjoyable.

What’s your advice for new and budding players when they first start DBD? I think the best thing to do is have the Wiki open to search. There’s so many perks and details in the game that help you to become better, as you start to learn what to expect and develop your play style. Playing with others is incredibly helpful too!

What first got you into gaming? And what game was it? I had a PC from quite an early age, my first being an Amiga 3000. It had some great games, my favourites were the original Monkey Island, The Settlers, Desert Strike and a fun platformer called Alfred Chicken.

We all have fond memories of a particular game we have sunk several hours into, what game would you say was your all-time favourite? This is a difficult one! I think it’s going to have to be the Monkey Island series in general. I was never actually good at adventure game puzzles, but I still enjoyed them anyway. It’s a source of “in jokes” for me and my family, which is how I learned about the games in the first place.

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My dad and I play video games (circa 1995)

Moving on from the game world, what are your other hobbies and interests? Well I play the piano and clarinet, although I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t practice nearly as much as I should! I spend a lot of time learning languages, and I tend to switch from one to another in rapid succession. I also knit (badly) so I just make endless scarves that nobody wants.

Some of us have seen your Christmas carol remix in the Dead by Daylight channel, have you any plans to make more game-related music? I do! I do not have anything specific planned but I like the thought of either remixing existing music or creating parodies or other fun music to go along with the games I play.

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So we know you are from Scotland, tell us a bit more of your home life. I'm sure your fans would love to know if you’re single and ready to mingle? Or have you a certain gentleman friend in your life? Ha! I’m afraid it’s been a while since I mingled. I live in a little town called Johnstone, not far away from Scotland’s largest city. I live with my partner Adam, who I’ve been with for 11 years now. We also have our German Shepherd Ziva, as well as our cat Storm.

STORM, the lazy cat

ZIVA Our German Shepherd stonewallgaming.net 41

Word on the street is that you can speak a multitude of languages, just how many do you know? Well, I really only speak English and French properly, and I worked as a translator for Amazon for a few years. I also studied Russian for a couple of years at university. But I know my basic phrases and can have limited conversations in quite a few other languages. I’m trying to improve them all the time!

So with all that knowledge of the different tongue, I bet you have travelled a lot? Not as much as I’d like! I lived in France for a year while at University, and I’ve been on holiday to Spain too. I went to Romania once as part of a charity thing to help renovate a school. The furthest I’ve probably been is to Karachi, Pakistan where I stayed with my best friend for a couple of months!

Have you ever been to any conventions, for Star Trek or other? No! And that’s the biggest regret of my life so far. I’m really hoping to make it to one at some point, it’s definitely on the bucket list.

What was the last film you saw at the cinema? What’s a cinema? Hmm, I think it probably would have been the last Star Wars? I tend to wait and watch stuff at home.

So now we ask the traditional Stonewall Times question, What’s in your bag? Your everyday bag, backpack, shoulder bag or purse, and if you don’t carry a bag, what would we find in your pockets? Well I can’t live without my phone because I’m constantly scrolling social media. I’ll also usually have my AirPods on me because I’m always listening to podcasts. You also tend to find some loose dog treats, because they seem to get everywhere! I always have a coffee of some sort in my hands, too.

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Are you ready for some quick-fire questions.. Here goes,

Fave loungewear

Fave workwear

Fave gaming wear

What's your star sign?

When is your birthday?

Best present you’ve ever received

Fave tune(s)

T-shirt and some sweat pants.

Unemployed! See above.

I’m not a clotheshorse, so see above.

Taurus

Early May!

Sega Mega Drive

Anything pop that I can sing to

Fave Trek series

Voyager

Fave Trek captain

Janeway

Fave snack food

Dairylea Lunchables

Fave drink

French Vanilla Latte from Tim Hortons

Fave Meal

Sushi

Fave sandwich filling

What do you call raw toast?

What are you watching at the moment?

Your most used phone app

Chicken mayo

Bread that hasn’t yet fulfilled its ambitions

Discovery, I’m so woefully behind

Discord, followed by TikTok

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You’ve been a member for some time now, What are your best memories of being with SGN so far? It’s generally all the fun time in our Discord voice channels. I’ve met, and played games with, so many people that I would never have otherwise met, and I’m very grateful for that. There’s been many late nights I’ve spent into the wee hours playing games and chatting, and it just turns into one big happy memory for me. How did you first discover SGN? Probably the way many do, by searching for an LGBT+ STO fleet! The holiday season is fast approaching, what do you normally do on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day? Christmas Eve, I’ll usually have a drink or two and watch a Christmas film. Usually that’s the Muppets Christmas Carol, although I’m becoming a bigger fan of It’s a Wonderful Life. On Christmas Day, it’s a set schedule of: Stockings, bacon rolls and Buck’s Fizz, presents, calling family, Christmas Dinner and then a blur of alcohol, chocolate and TV.

How about New Year’s Eve? The Scots love an NYE party, What do you normally do to celebrate? I’m very boring on New Year's Eve I’m afraid! I’ll usually have some family round and watch TV as we stay up for the bells and to watch the fireworks. It’ll be quieter this year for obvious reasons!

Well, speaking of celebration, the Times Christmas party is about to start downstairs, I better put my glad-rags on. It’s been an absolute pleasure chatting with you this time around. Anything you’d like to have a final say on? Perhaps another exclusive of what's planned for SGN 2021? All I want to say at this point is a huge thank you to everyone in SGN for the big, warm, welcome you’ve given me, and the fun times I’ve had meeting you and playing games with you. If I haven’t gotten round to getting to know you yet, just grab me at some point and we can play a game together!

IMAGES BY JoystickJoshy INTERVIEW BY GXV3

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TedHembach & Hippiepunk

UPDATE Build a batâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;leth competition Learn Klingon - Lesson 4

OVERLEAF View the entrants in the HoNR Build a Batâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;leth competition Continue your lessons in Klingon stonewallgaming.net 47

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Cal

FORTNITE The story of the “Official Game” of SGN

IMAGE CREDITS JoystickJoshy, GXV3, NicholasJohn16, Perseus75

This is how the Stonewall Fortnite story began, with GXV3 and Halish above inviting others to try out a new game, or rather a new F2P battle royale mode for Fortnite which itself ultimately became more popular than the main “Save the World” mode. History has since showed that NicholasJohn16 changed his opinion from his response above to GXV3 and played this game so much so that I jokingly began calling Fortnite the “official game” of SGN at any and every opportunity. I guess it stuck! I myself knew very little about this game despite the fact that there were rather cute characters in the game (and that it is free to play!) It’s now been almost a year that I finally succumbed and downloaded and installed the game in order to collect the freebies from the Winterfest of 2019.

LEFT The countdown clock to the end of Chapter 2 Season 4 event, Nexus War

I especially enjoyed the Christmas music theme that played in the game lobby so much that I had it on repeat all the time during the festive season https://

www.youtube.com/watch? v=Q2fZyvu8uXQ I also got the Millennium Falcon glider out of it too but it has since been stored in my locker as it is far too big! I had already been watching Nick & co. streaming in our Discord channels and so started to play this game in early 2020. Like Nick, I found it challenging and therein felt the excitement of winning and, especially, the ultimate buzz of achieving a Victory Royale. I am grateful to the Stonewallers who played with me, coming along to fish, to survive the storms, to complete the XP challenges, to find those pesky XP coins, together. My thanks too, to Halish for gifting me a battle pass one season...and hooked me for an eternity!! The generosity of the community continues to show. I am still relatively new at the game and yet to even start building.

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CONGRATULATIONS Chris was the first of us to achieve the magic completion level of 220 in Chap 2 Season 4.

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There are many strategies in the game— from being bold and engaging in direct assaults to the patient and those who hide before making their move. From the expert builders (and hence the name Stonewall Erectors) to the sniping from the tops of trees—oh such an elative feeling! Much like other SGN games, such as Overwatch (StonewallWatch) or Dead by Daylight (Cocky Pallet Jockeys), teamwork is also critically important— communication with your team members, factoring in situational awareness and reporting positions of yourselves and the enemy. The fact that teamwork plays such an important role to the game means that you have to learn how your teammates play, their style, how they flex and adapt to the mechanics of the team’s gaming style. That is not to say we don’t have moments of hilarity when it doesn’t quite go to plan… “Where’s Joey?” “Shit, the storm’s here!” “Ooh, a pro fishing rod”

In Fortnite, like in STO, shield potions can be drunk or found in splash cans—and we love getting together and splashing our bodies with what’s termed as freshly squeezed Nick juice in honour of NicholasJohn16. You get extra freshness for being splashed by Nick himself! Check out some stills in the pages overleaf from one of Nick’s videos showing his prowess! Part of the lure of Fornite is equality— everyone of the 100 to go into the battle royale island starts out the same—with nothing. Then it’s all about looting up with weapons and materials, I do love getting wood. The harder the better so as to erect your defensive builds. Still learning though! As you learn the skills to better your placements, accuracy and aim and the weapon types for long range or close combat. The tactical shotgun is one of my favourites—back in Season 5, it’s a powerful weapon that can take out your opponent if you get the aim right in a close quarters fight. Knowing which weapon to use, when helps give you that added advantage. stonewallgaming.net 55

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IN THE â&#x20AC;&#x153;NICKâ&#x20AC;? OF TIME Nick did get to 220 eventually, just shortly before the final hours of the season. stonewallgaming.net 57

ACTION MAN Nick in the prime of action

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Fortnite has seasons in game with set themes. Season 4 of Chapter 2 saw the Marvel universe collaboration and lots of familiar characters pop up in game. From trying to chase Wolverine to getting chased by him popping up when you least expected. There have been some big end-ofseason event spectaculars too with a choreographed show with toons involved in the game in an immersive experience. Season 4 saw Galactus come to the island in a big finale with us players having a key role in defeating him. As usual, the Erectors gathered in the 62 Stonewall Times

lobby, with a heated debate as to whether to go in early or wait...a decision which could lead to lack of entry if the game was full. Thankfully this time round, with the time selected by Epic to perhaps ease the load, a group of us did manage to get in to enjoy. But first we had our frolicking aboard the Avengers helicarrier and emoting away, whilst admiring the gold plated gluteus maximus of Dunro’s Groot. It is moments like these that form the fun memories that we take away from gaming. So there you have it, it wasn’t just one

single individual but a group of us who have put this game in its place as the “official game” in the SGN universe of games. If you haven’t already, I do hope you too give it a try some time and shout out to play Fortnite with your fellow Erectors. There’s plenty of freshly squeezed Nick juice to get splashed with!

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GROOTY BOOTY Whilst waiting for the Nexus War event to begin, the Erectors admire the view of Dunroâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Golden Groot. Clockwise from golden Groot: Dunro, Cal, GXV3, Peetah, JoystickJoshy, NicholasJohn16, ThatIndividual, Ziggy Not pictured but around: JSpectre, robertjaneway

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How would the heroes from Overwatch look if they were real? Check out this amazing rendition by someone who used the software Artbreeder to do just that! Can you name them all? Found on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/Overwatch/comments/kgyo6c/ my_attempt_at_making_realistic_portraits_on_most/

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Chipz416

ARECIBO So long and thanks for all the data

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Arrivederci Arecibo an Homage to the Arecibo Radio Telescope by Chipz416 Construc on of this future‐defining telescope started in the early six es of the previous century and since first seeing the light of night on 1 November 1963, the Arecibo Radio Telescope has made many scien fic discoveries during its long and faithful service. Recently its career was painfully ended though, when the Fantas c year of 2020 royally messed up yet another thing of goodness in our lives! The Stonewall Times would like to honour the memory of this icon of astronomy by highligh ng a few of its many achievements and give it the proper farewell it so deserves.

Bathroom stories Before we get all emo onal though, and I promise you we will, let me take you on a trip to Engineering the bathroom and discuss the technical features and the working principle behind the Arecibo Radio Telescope. The more vain among us have spent many an hour in front of the mirror admiring our own lovely reflec ons. And while very useful for fawning over one’s beauty, our bathroom mirror isn’t very useful for studying the stars, because …story‐of‐my‐life… it’s unfortunately straight! The flat surface of a dressing mirror isn’t very useful in astronomy. Fortunately for humankind though, in 1888 the German physicist Heinrich Hertz was the first to build a parabolically shaped reflector which has the big benefit that it focusses the light of far‐away stars perfectly in a single point – the focus. This makes it easy to get sharp astronomical images by direc ng the interior of the parabola towards the region of space you wish to visualise. You might just think then that Arecibo would be similarly shaped, but in fact, it’s reflector is shaped more like the bo om part of a big football. And as you can see in the three pictures below, the reflec on of light on a spherical mirror does not perfectly convene in a nice focal point. And no, this is not due to my amazing PowerPoint skills!

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Why then, you might think, would we even build a radio telescope in the shape of a sphere? For Arecibo the reason is simple: sinkholes! Beneath Type: Gregorian spherical reflector its base in Puerto Rico lies a big sinkhole which radio telescope was rather convenient for the construc on and Wavelength: 3 cm (10.0 GHz) to 1 m (300 MHz) support of a reflec ng telescope. Just the presence Diameter: 304,8 m of this geological support structure allows for the Secondary diameter: 27 m construc on of a bigger telescope than normal, Illuminated diameter: 221 m and as with all important things in life: the bigger Collec ng area: 73.000 m² Focal length: 132,6 m they come, the more fun they are! The only major drawback to building a telescope in a sinkhole though, is that you can’t easily move it around to focus on different parts of the night’s sky. For that reason, a steerable receiver was suspended on cables above the spherically shaped dish. By moving around the receiver above the dish, it became possible to take images of different parts of the universe, reflected on different parts of the dish. And while a parabolic dish leads to picture‐perfect images of the stars only at its focus, the spherical dish is more flexible. Any imaging imperfec ons due to the spherical shape of the dish (called spherical aberra ons) can be corrected using either a correc ve assembly of extra mirrors or so ware techniques. Arecibo Radio Telescope Data Sheet

A good day for science In its life me the telescope has been at the cradle of many a scien fic discovery, ranging all the way from the definite determina on of the orbital period of Mercury to the detec on of prebio c molecules in the fantas cally named merging galaxies of Arp 220. It was also instrumental in 1968 in delivering the first solid proof that neutron stars exist, which un l then were only hypothe cal objects. In 1992, the astronomers Wolszczan and Frail discovered two planets around pulsar PSR B1257+12, which would become the first two extrasolar planets of which the existence was scien fically confirmed. Two years later yet another planet was discovered by Arecibo around this pulsar and this terrifying threesome got the rather demonic names of Draugr, Poltergeist, and Phobetor. Another highlight in Arecibo’s rich history that speaks to the imagina on is the Arecibo Message. This interstellar message sent out by humanity in 1974 to globular cluster M13 contains 1679 bits of informa on and is shown graphically on the next page. The message was developed by Frank Drake (of the Drake equa on!) in collabora on with, amongst others, Carl Sagan. The purpose of the message was not so much to establish communica on with aliens, but to display the scien fic and technological achievements of humanity. From top to bo om in the figure, it starts (white) by depic ng the first ten numbers in a binary representa on. The illustra on in purple uses these numbers to state the atomic numbers of hydrogen (H), carbon (C), nitrogen (N), oxygen (O), and phosphorous, (P) ‐ the chemical elements that make up DNA. In green then, these elements are used to inform aliens of the chemical groups that cons tute our gene c structure; deoxyribose (C5H7O), adenine (C5H4N5), thymine, (C5H5N2O2), phosphate (PO4), cytosine (C4H4N3O), and guanine (C5H4N5O).

Although the first extrasolar planets of which the existence was confirmed, they were not the first to be detected! That honour befalls the 1988 discovery of the planet Tadmor around 44,9 lightyears from Earth. Unfortunately, the confirma on of this dis‐ covery took un l 2002, but you can read more about that in Issue 37 of the Times.

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The average shape (very very roughly…) and size of a human, alongside the size of the popula on in 1974 of 4,3 billion are shown right above the representa on of our solar system in yellow, indica ng all the planets (ignorantly s ll including Pluto) where Earth is oﬀ ‐set by one pixel. The bo om purple, white, and blue parts give a depic on of the Arecibo telescope, alongside it’s diameter again in binary. Now the extra‐terrestrials have all they need to make a bio‐weapon against the human infesta on and they even know exactly where they need to direct it at. Very much afraid of a reply we don’t have to be though, since M13 is more than 22.000 lightyears away, but you never know what fun plans 2020 s ll has in store for us!

Farewell faithful friend The long line of achievements of everyone’s favourite radio telescope came to an end though, beginning in 2017 with structural damage caused by hurricane Maria. One of the feed lines broke, cu ng of the feed to the 430 MHz radar transmi er. The cable fell and damaged the dish, but the telescope could s ll be used. However, budget cuts since 2006 had already had a more detrimental eﬀect on the state of the telescope, and the cost of restoring the full func onality of Arecibo would be very large. Nonetheless, a consor um of commercial par es and universi es ventured to try just that, but unfortunately it would turn out to not be enough. In August of 2020, a er tropical storm Isaiah passed, yet another cable broke ‐ this me a support from Tower 4, crea ng a 30 m long gash in the dish. Not much a er, two more cables broke from this tower and at that point the only safe op on remaining was a controlled decommissioning. On the 19th of November in 2020 it was thus announced that Arecibo would be dismantled. Before this plan could eﬀec vely be executed, however, several more support cables failed, and the en re support structure, antenna and dome assembly crashed into the dish at 7:55 AM local me on December 1, 2020. Arecibo Radio Telescope, you have given humanity one of the greatest gi s in history; you answered many a fundamental ques on on our place in the universe, and you inspired many people young and old to learn about astronomy. You were a wonderous place of science and imagina on, on a beau ful Caribbean island, and you will be very dearly missed.

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AGONY PHASER AUNT

J asks: Dear Helouise I have a bee hive growing in my dishwasher. What should I do?

Send in your woes into AP Aunt c/o the Times Editor and we’ll get you the help you deserve! Names will be changed to protect the guilty. 72 Stonewall Times

AP Aunt answers: Dear J, never look a gift honey hive in the eye so ask yourself, “what would Pooh do?” He’d begin by plunging his hand into that hole to enjoy the sweet sticky stuff of gold that your dishwasher is now home to . No longer will you have to bend your back and put cutlery and crockery into its orifice but instead you get to get liquid gold to ooze from it. After all, like those of us in the old world, use a bucket in a sink to do your dishes! Fairy liquid!

Bather asks: Dear Auntie Proton I’ve wanted to say this for about 18 years now: I don’t want to take baths with my sister anymore. I don’t mean to sound like a bitch, but I’m the only guy in my age range who still bathes regularly with his little sister. It’s enough that we share a small bedroom. The few friends I still have all make fun of me because a few weeks ago I told them about it... I thought sibling bathing was the normal thing to do. So I think now is a good time to address this situation. To be honest, awkward bath time moments between Gabby and I have increased in frequency and intensity ever since she turned 22 and began her rapid development into a young woman. And really, we both don’t fit into the bathtub like we did when we were kids. There’s lots of bumping and confusion, which makes our baths take even longer. I hope you guys can understand what I’m saying here. I still love Gabby very much. Now it’s just I love her for more than a sister... How can I explain to mother that I no longer wish to cohabit at bath time?

AP Aunt answers: Dear Bather, first of all let me say how wonderful it is that your mother has told you to share baths. Indeed she should join you! This is how we can save the ecological and environmental problems of the planet. In fact why not even do the dishes of our other reader overleaf at the same time—there are just so many efficiencies to be gained from this! As to the issue of growth, you’ll start to find fun times as things just pop up in the bath which only makes bath times super stimulating and interesting! Now I know that some baths may start to feel small—in that case, you can adapt by getting a plug in shower for your bath (available at Argos) and just stand up! Now you can get your sister to rub soap all over your body and vice versa. And with two people in it, one can bend over and pick up the soap when it slips! It’s also time to open your friends’ minds—invite them around to your next bath time so you can share your pleasure with your friends and spread the practice! But be sure they are in your support bubble in these Covid-19 times!

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Polaron asks: Dear Aunt Agony Phaser... About three months ago, the starbase across the way was sold to a "father and son," or so we thought. We later learned it was a much older Andorian and a young Aenar fellow, about 24. This was a respectable neighborhood before this odd couple moved in. They have all sorts of strange-looking company: Reptilians who look like Insectoids, Insectoids who look like Gorn... yesterday I even saw two Klingon nuns go in there and one of those monks who guard the time crystals. There are strange looking spaceships and shuttlecraft parked outside and even escape pods scattered all over their front space. They must be running some sort of brothel or a club. There's a steady stream of "clientele" coming and going to their place from the local Borger King at all hours of the night. They keep their shades drawn so you can't see what's going on inside and sensor scans can't penetrate the ionic interference coming from within! They must be up to no good, or why the secrecy? We called Starfleet Security, but they said that unless the neighbours were breaking some sort of interstellar law, there was nothing they could do. Aunt Agony Phaser, these weirdos are wrecking our property values! How can we improve the quality of this once respectable spacebourhood? AP Aunt answers: Dear Polaron, Firstly, sensor scanning without consent is a breach of data protection regulation 24601 so quickly shut down your penetrative protocols. Secondly Starfleet Security isn’t what it used to be these days. I mean every single security incident that has ever occurred in the history of the Federation was never ever secured by SS! Instead, you need to use the mindset and skills of the Tal Horniar to find out a bit more about what is going on. If you are not Vulcan by genetic modification, you can hire one on VBay under Section 69—be sure to tick the box for one with mind meld experience. Get your new agent to infiltrate the starbase and report back on every exact intimate detail via mind meld so that you can get the full picture in your mind’s eye. Experiencing it in mind meld is one thing, you should take it to the next level and pop in—be neighbourly and bring your box of Bajoran Beads, Andorian Slave Bells, Terran Balls, Bolian hot wax Candles and Vulcan stimulant Incense (all available at Q’s Winter Wonderland—now open!) And you need not worry about property values since money was phased out in the late 22nd century. https://memoryalpha.fandom.com/wiki/Money Being a part of the Federation means we are accepting of all cultures and ways of living—and I do think you’ve found the origin of where the viral video “2 Klingon Nuns, 1 time crystal” was holo-recorded. Write in and tell us how it went, or better still, send in your ASMR holo-recording!!

ThatDude asks:

AP Aunt answers:

Dearest Aunt Agony.

Dear ThatDude,

Lately I have had troubles with a boy, let's call him... “Garet.” Yeah. So anyway, I have the biggest crush on him; he is just so strong and dreamy. I even wrote a cheer for him. (not TM.)

Thank you for your letter, now I first must say that this letter is concerning. I fear you are trespassing on the border of Stalker Town, and you must turn back before the crazy police (above) catch you.

He's sexy, He's cute, He's popular to boot, He's bitchen , great hair The boys all love to stare He's wanted, He's hot He's everything your not He's pretty, He's cool he dominates the squad Who is he? Just guess! Guys wanna touch his chest! How do I confess my love for Garet? Oh please, please, please help me!

My advice is to try and take your mind off of this boy, get yourself a little hobby... for example, find an empty Tic-Tac box and go into your garden and make friends with a woodlouse, ask him if he would like to go on a great adventure, if he agrees, place him inside the tictac box and flush it down the toilet.

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Your woodlouse friend within his new submarine would have a great underwater adventure, and you can ponder on his journey forever more. That should take care and snub out any thoughts towards boys.

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Dauntless_Red

CASSINI A novel excerpt

I'm Jordan and I'm a 33 year old hairstylist from Yorkshire, England. I never really set out for that to be my main occupation—it kind of just happened—but I do enjoy it a lot and have been doing it for the past 14 years. I have been a huge fan of Star Trek from an early age and watched at least 2 episodes a day throughout my teens (and most of the time in my 30s too). 76 Stonewall Times

I guess growing up as a gay redhead who also happened to be quite a lot shorter than his friends, I loved that there were all these different characters and alien races that got along, and it is definitely one of the main driving forces for my out of work creativity whether that be writing, or more recently. video editing. I decided to start with a short story in the hopes of putting it out there and seeing what

people thought of it, and then continuing the story further in the coming months. I often find myself distracted and overwhelmed by the world—even moreso this year—and so doing things like writing really help to ground me and are a really good way of improving my mental health.

“I have been a huge fan of Star Trek from an early age

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alking the corridors of the habitat section of Starbase 294 had been something of routine for Cadet Sanders, but this time it was different. He could feel the ever growing anticipation that usually accompanies big change and he wasn't sure if he was ready. He walked for a few minutes more and pondered until he had reached the end of the corridor and was greeted by the pale blue doors of the officers’ lounge which were emblazoned with Starfleet insignia. He paused for a second then entered; he knew he wanted to have a good look at his new posting before boarding her, as if in some way that would help alleviate his anxiety.

posting huh?" she said in a warm yet inquisitive manner. He pondered her question, trying to think of a response that wouldn't betray any of the confidence he had initially built up to leave his quarters this morning. "Yes ma'am, I'm just awaiting the signal to board the ship I have been assigned to." He could feel a bead of perspiration glide down his forehead at a speed so slow it seemed to defy basic physics. She had clearly noticed but she detracted from it immediately.

he desperately needed. No sooner had he slipped the PADD back in with his belongings that Marta returned with his beverage.

She placed the cup down onto the table in front of him but just as she did so the station’s intercom beeped, followed by an audio announcement which echoed all around. "Now hear this, now hear this: Cadets assigned to the U.S.S. Cassini please report to airlock 4 Beta immediately." The comm silenced and Marta, who had been so nice to him, glanced down at the drink then up at his He wiped the bead away and focused on what she was about to say. "You'll be face and simply said "You'll have to get fine," she smiled, "I have seen many just used to that I'm afraid." As soon as she like you pass through these doors over had returned to her duties he stood upright with a jolt and began to make the years and each and every one of his way to the airlock. He saw the them has worked up the ranks. Now, His walk slowed as he approached the maroon shapes of ensigns, captains and how about something to drink?" she large observation window. He had said. He could tell she was trying to help everything else in between as he looked out of that window so many walked the corridors one last time. alleviate the pressure which was now times before and yet he couldn't help They were just blurs to him as all he written all over his face. "A coffee will but see his future for the first time could think about was who would he be do, thank you." He ordered the drink through it. He felt himself pause and sharing his quarters with and what hastily without realising what he had then... There she was! actually ordered. "Coffee!?" She let out would his first duties entail. The perfect blend of form and function, a little laugh and then took it upon herself to correct the cadet’s order. "I Finally he had reached the airlock and the U.S.S. Cassini. An Excelsior class think coffee might not be such a good he observed a steady stream of people vessel by design and one of the more idea. How about I fix you a nice cup of making their way on board the ship. He recent models of the class to be Bolian tea instead?" too started to join in with the organised equipped with newer more efficient chaos and eventually his footfalls which engines . Since the original transwarp She was, of course, right. "That sounds had been metallic clattering were program had been scrapped due to replaced by soft carpeted muffles. He 'technical issues' and 'safety concerns,' like just what I need, thank you." She had made it on board.... walked casually over to a bar that was although nothing concrete was ever neatly etched into the corner of the released to his satisfaction, Starfleet room and began making his drink. He had focused on more conventional He had been spending the last few looked down at his bag of possessions modes of propulsion and had made a months committing the ship’s internal concerted effort to make her one of the and opened it up. There on top of a layout to memory and navigated the neatly folded pile of clothes, among fastest in the fleet. deck he was on with ease. He knew he which was his spare uniform, laid a had to find his quarters and then report solitary PADD. He picked it up and directly to the captain, and no sooner He pulled himself away from the pushed in a key sequence and watched had the thought of meeting the captain window and sat down on one of the the screen transform seamlessly from a passed through his mind had he found burgundy sofas that were littered around the lounge. A member of lounge matte black into the image of a woman: himself at door 59-c, his home for the his mother. Cadet Sanders had never next year. He pushed his personnel personnel approached: she was a known his father and his mother was code into the door panel; it chirped mature woman with flecks of grey running through her brunette hair. She killed in an incident with the Romulans briefly and the door slid open with a hasty grace. gave a slight nod of acknowledgement. a few years ago. He wanted to see her face as it brought him the sense of calm "Marta at your service... your first

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"I think coffee might not be such a good idea, how about I fix you a nice cup of Bolian tea instead?

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A young male Caitian with an amber like coat stood in the centre of the room. He had clearly unpacked all of his belongings already and had been waiting to greet him. "Hello, I'm Cadet Nohl. Pleased to meet you," he said whilst simultaneously extending his arm for the obligatory handshake. He had a somewhat inquisitive look about him, although that could be said for all Caitians as they were all naturally curious beings. "Pleased to meet you, I have been looking forward to meeting you," said Sanders. Although a true statement, Sanders found himself looking forward to getting to grips with the ship itself and potentially meeting her captain...

genuinely eager to see it all. "Where's the lavatory?" Sanders asked. "Oh it's..." 'BURRRBUP' The sound of the ship’s internal comm system had activated, interrupting Nohl before he had a chance to answer, and was promptly followed by an audio announcement. "This is Captain Lessing to all decks. Prepare for departure from Starbase 294. Secure all stations and report to your designated posts." The channel ended with a simple beep and both cadets just looked at each other and grinned.

This impressive sight was broken up only by the rushing of people walking to and fro. Engineering looked like a theatre stage with every person carrying out their scenes each completely consumed by their own roles, using every kind of tool and equipment available.

This flurry of movement and sound was lulled by the gentle hum of the warp core which, as he approached closer, became louder and like the rhythmic pulse of a heart it seemed to bring order to the stage in which he had now been They knew that this was it, the start of a completely consumed himself. new chapter. "I guess we should follow our orders," said Nohl. "Where are you A stern looking man who looked like he posted?" asked Sanders. "Oh, I'm on was carrying every stress of the ship on cargo bay duty" said Nohl. "And you?" Cadet Sanders began to take out his his shoulders made his way towards the he asked." I have duties in main personal items, clothes, etc. from his cadet. He was quite a tall man whose engineering and cargo bay inventory bag and placed them in their correct insignia immediately gave him away as when needed," Sanders responded. locations around the quarters. Nohl being the chief engineer of the vessel was perfectly content to just observe and so the stress that Sanders had the Cadet and seemed intrigued by his They both exited their quarters and detected in his face and through his choice of placement for each item. body language now made sense. began their route to their respective "Something wrong?" Sanders inquired. postings. The deck’s design was quite "Cadet!" Said chief Munro. "I need you "Not at all, I have just always found it militaristic with grey metal wall panels to re-align the antimatter flow mildly amusing that humans seem to regulators before we can jump to broken up only by the blue and green focus on the work before fully taking in glow of LCARS terminals which warp," he said with a sharp their environment" Nohl said with a authoritarian tone. He then gestured at appeared at intervals of a few metres smile on his face. With that Sanders felt apart. The floor had diamond plated another member of the engineering compelled to stop what he was doing strips on either side of the corridor and staff. "Lieutenant Harper go and assist and scanned the room with his eyes. It him." Before Cadet Sanders could a strip of teal carpet down the centre. was a spartan room, and it had an properly introduce himself he was Sanders couldn't help but admire the angular shaped bulk head which simplicity of it all even if he was aware being whisked away from the warp core dominated the ceiling of the quarters. and towards a Jefferies tube. "Don't of the tangled web of technology that Their bunks were located to the far left was located behind its facade. worry," she said in a tone not much and looked remarkably crisp. The louder than a whisper, attempting to sheets were royal blue and were say it covertly. "He's just under a lot of Sanders had reached the turbolift and accompanied by a single pillow each, entered. "Engineering," he said out loud pressure from Starfleet; we have a lot which seemed to merge with the to the computer and waited patiently as of speed records to break this aesthetic of the room seamlessly. A afternoon that's all," she continued. "It's the decks rushed by for it to reach his sonic shower and wash basin were OK" he said. "I just didn't expect things destination. The turbolift halted and located in a small room just adjacent to the doors opened. He exited and to be so... so..." the main room. walked a few metres until he arrived. "Stressful?" she finished the sentence The large blue doors of engineering Sanders felt that he had sufficiently greeted him briefly before they parted for him as he was clearly uncomfortable “taken in his environment,” partially to and he could see the whirling light show speaking ill of the opportunity to serve quell Nohl’s original observation about of purples and oranges emanating from aboard a starship."Exactly," he said. humans, but also because he was the heart of the ship, the warp core.

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he absolutely had to make a good first impression with the captain. He had made his way through the ship, and as he used the turbolift to get to the bridge he could feel his stomach turning into knots of anxiety. The turbolift halted as it had reached the bridge and the doors opened to reveal the calm and composed room that was inhabited by the ship’s senior officers. "Cadet Sanders," said Mr. Vesh, "I understand the captain is waiting for you," he continued. He then gestured towards a Sanders had been busying himself with door way that was located to the right hand side of the bridge. Sanders walked what seemed like an endless list of across the bridge; he attempted to tasks assigned to him by the chief focus purely on his destination but his engineer. He carefully placed a hypospanner back into the tool kit that eyes strayed as the many consoles and stations on the bridge were too had been at his side all morning. "OK Cadet, I think you've earned yourself a distracting not to have a peek. The break. We can handle it from here," said door had its designation on a strip that slashed through the middle and read Chief Engineer Hawkins in a much 'D01 - Captain’s quarters.' calmer tone than Sanders thought possible after the way he had spoken to "Cadet Sanders, please come in and him on their first encounter. "Oh, and take a seat," said the Captain, without cadet... I apologise for the way I addressed you earlier." He extended his making eye contact. His concentration was occupied by a PADD that was arm to initiate a handshake. "I want to firmly within his grasp. make the cadets assigned to me the best and the best way to do that is to push you. No hard feelings?" said The ship’s docking latches were Sanders approached and sat down. Hawkins. "No sir, I just hope that I can disengaged and the huge ExcelsiorImmediately he had a pang of deja vu as meet your expectations," said Sanders. this was similar to a situation he had class vessel began its departure. It “Cadet, I hope you not only meet my glided through the starbase interior once found himself in at the academy. passing smaller shuttlecraft and worker expectations but you surpass them, The Captain placed the PADD down on too," and with that he returned to a bees as it did so. The doors of the the table and looked up. He regarded panel on the wall just to the left of the starbase began to open and the U.S.S. the cadet and smiled. "How are you warpcore bringing the conversation to settling in, Jona?" A perplexed Cassini emerged from its cavernous a somewhat abrupt end. Sanders exited expression passed over the cadet’s face. interior and into open space. "Helm, I engineering and knew exactly where he Why did the Captain, a man who was want full impulse until we reach the outer edge of the system" ordered the wanted to go: to his quarters. He responsible for a crew of 350, bother started walking down the corridor and himself to learn the name of a lowly captain. "Aye," said helmsman Porter. entered the turbolift once more. The The ship began to pick up speed and cadet? Before his mind began to dissect doors parted and he entered. "Deck was a magnificent credit to the the query he replied. "I'm enjoying the 20," he said. Upon arriving at his engineers who had constructed her. challenge, sir". "Excellent, I'm expecting quarters he paused for a second and "Now approaching the outer rim great things from you, Jona". There it then entered. He laid on his bunk and captain" said Porter. "set a course for was again, why had he used my first contemplated the events of the Borea IV... warp 7!" The entire bridge name and not my rank? The captain’s morning. His mind had started to crew passed a communal smile. smile dropped and he spoke the words wander and the imagery had become that every Starfleet officer dreaded, let that of his parents... 'Burrbup' the alone a cadet. "Cadet, what I'm about to The image of stars on the ship’s comm panel next to the bunk had tell you is classified…” viewscreen began to distort and a thousand streaks of light began rushing initiated. The voice of the Captain began to fill the room "Cadet Sanders, towards the ship finalised with a large this is the Captain. Please report to my white flash. "We have entered warp captain," said Porter. He glanced down ready room." The terminal’s blue and at his console and watched as it rose up green key panels which were seamlessly placed beneath a sheet of to warp 8." We have reached warp 8 transparent aluminium faded and the and speed is constant, sir," he entire panel was black. "I'd best be on continued. The captain regarded his update and immediately turned to face my way," he thought. It was one thing to curry favour with the chief engineer but the tactical station.

They began their descent to a lower deck via the Jefferies tubes. He could feel his hands beginning to waver as each rung he grasped seemed to rub away a layer of skin. A far cry from the seemingly comfortable and thought out layout of the ships corridors he thought. They had travelled through 3 decks until they had reached a junction. a small space in which they could stand upright and begin the task they had both been assigned. She handed him a tricorder. "OK, you keep scanning the flow rate whilst I begin the alignment of the regulators," she ordered. "OK, everything's looking good," said Sanders. He worked the tricorder like a musical instrument he had been playing for years and had a face of concentration that could not be broken. "There," she said, "that's done it, the antimatter flow regulators have been re -aligned, now let's get these readings back to engineering". They made their way back up the Jefferies tube to engineering. A short while later they emerged It seemed just as hectic an environment as before as all stations were preparing for departure.

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"How's structural integrity holding up, lieutenant commander?" A confident looking woman acknowledged the captain. "Structural integrity is holding at 90 % of maximum but the drop was to be expected, sir," she said. "Excellent work everyone. I'll be in my ready room, Mr. Vesh you have the bridge". A Denobulan rose from the operations console and began to make his way to the captain’s chair. "Aye captain," he said.

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READER OFFER New service to STO members coming soon!

Stonewall Fleet’s Resources department will be launching a new service in 2021 for our STO members (including Armada) to get their own personalised digital copy of a starship dedication plaque in exchange for a fixed fee of EC 1,000,000. All proceeds will go directly towards supporting our key events by helping to purchase items for the Stonewall prize vaults. We are offering plaques for the Kelvin timeline and Discovery as well as Klingon for the first time as pictured here, to match your ship and toon accordingly. You are welcome to request variations to these or plaques in other styles for an additional fee to be agreed based on the complexity of the request. The Stonewall Times is pleased to offer its readers an exclusive 20% launch discount which runs through to end of February 2021 —be sure to quote “TIMES” when you order. This service will be on a first come, first served basis and is subject to availability of our team. More details and an order form will be published on the SGN website shortly! 84 Stonewall Times

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GAMING Games to watch on SGN’s 2021 playlist

IMAGE CREDIT ThatIndividual

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After looking back through the year that was 2020, let us look forward to what 2021 might bring. Pictured here is a screenshot from Phasmaphobia—a game that was introduced to SGN where you might find it being played usually in the Delta channel! This game sees you taking on the role of a member of a paranormal investigation team. The experience is very audio-visual and headsets are recommended so you can experience the full immersive caboodle! Be warned—some of it can get a little intense! The Times has had the pleasure of watching some of the SGN crew gaming with some hilarious outcomes. Phasmaphobia is currently in early access release on Steam.

No Man’s Sky had a difficult birth

into the gaming world—not unlike other games (we’re looking at you Cyberpunk!) but after a number of patches it has settled into its own. NMS has just had its own Discord channel dedicated to it on SGN’s server—be sure to pick up the role and join in to find out more about it. In fact, this game has the singular distinction of being the game to take our former Morale admiral, Chipz416, away from STO—his one time “only game I ever play.” Wow, our interest is piqued!

League of Legends is a free to play team-based game with some 140+ heroes to play with. Will this make it onto SGN’s 2021 playlist? You decide!

Clusterduck is a mobile game on Android and Apple which is free to

Among Us is another up and coming play and looks uniquely fun. Will it

game that saw its popularity skyrocket thanks to a number of streamers highlighting it. SGN held its first Among Us get together in October with cross play on PC and mobile! It is a game where you have to have your wits about you—who knows who is the imposter and who is the crewmate… and you have to defend yourself against accusations whilst trying to maintain a straight face!

have the same humour as that goose game? Why not try it out and give the Times your review?

Overleaf—see which categories these games won in the 2020 Game Awards (hosted virtually this year!)

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BEST MULTIPLAYER - WINNER Game Awards 2020

BEST DEBUT GAME - WINNER Game Awards 2020

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BEST ONGOING GAME - WINNER Game Awards 2020

BEST ESPORTS GAME - WINNER Game Awards 2020

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Available on Apple App Store And Google Play Store stonewallgaming.net 91

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JimmyJoe1a

RECIPE Try these recipes for a main and dessert

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JIM’S TWO METHOD POT ROAST

INGREDIENTS 

2.5 – 5 lb roast



1 large onion sliced



2 stalks celery roughly chopped



2 cloves fresh garlic crushed



6 medium red potatoes cut into 1 inch cubes



8-10 carrots peeled and cut into 1-2 inch pieces



1 box of beef broth



Salt and pepper to taste

METHOD ONE Place all ingredients into a 5 quart Dutch oven, and place into a 325 degree oven, for 4-5 hours, lower oven to warm until ready to serve

METHOD TWO If you must leave the house for work or to run errands, Method two is to use a crock pot set to high for 5-6 hours, then lowered to warm until ready to serve.

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NONNAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE

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SPONGE CAKE 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees



6 eggs room temp



2 cups of granulated sugar



2 cups of flour



1 tsp baking powder



1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Whisk eggs, sugar, and vanilla together on high until fully combined Sift flour, and baking powder together, and add slowly to egg/sugar mixture. Grease two 9 inch cake pans with butter and flour Pour mixture evenly into pans Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes, or until cake tester comes out clean. Cool in pans for 10 minutes, and turn out onto wire racks, and cool completely.

TOPPING 

2 containers of Strawberries



1 ½ pints of heavy whipping cream



¼ cup confectioners sugar



1 tsp pure vanilla extract



¼ cup granulated sugar



1 tablespoon lime juice

Reserve 8 large strawberries for garnish Cut the remainder into bite size pieces, and combine with granulated sugar, and lime juice. Let macerate for 1 hour, or until sugar is fully dissolved. Freeze your mixing bowl, and whisk attachment for at least an hour, then put your whipping cream in the freezer for no more than 20 minutes. Pour your whipping cream into cold bowl, add your confectioners sugar, and vanilla. Whisk on high until stiff peaks form. Put macerated strawberries on first layer of the cake, and top with whipped cream, and spread to edges, place top layer of cake on and frost cake with the remaining whipped cream. Garnish with the reserved large strawberries.

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