The Delta Communicator: Fall 2023

celebrating star trek day!

Cover Photo by selina otsuka

in praise of 'star trek'

a source of inspiration

fleet admiral kermie mistwallow

Star Trek holds a special place in my heart as a beacon of hope, exploration, and the boundless potential of humanity's future It's not just a science fiction series; it's a source of inspiration and a reminder of our shared values and aspirations

To me, Star Trek embodies the best of humanity's nature It presents a future where diversity is celebrated, where people from all walks of life work together in harmony, regardless of their backgrounds or species This vision of a united Earth and an inclusive interstellar community resonates deeply with me, as it reflects the kind of world I would like to see and be a part of

Star Trek is a vehicle for addressing contemporary social and ethical issues through a futuristic lens The series has often tackled complex subjects such as prejudice, war, diplomacy, and the consequences of technological advancement It encourages viewers to think critically about their own society and values, offering new perspectives on how to overcome challenges and create a better world

In a world often filled with uncertainty and division, Star Trek offers a utopian vision that serves as a guiding light It encourages us to work together for the betterment of all, to embrace our differences, and to strive for a future where humanity's potential is realized to its fullest For me, Star Trek is more than just a TV show; it's a philosophy, a vision, and a reminder that the ideals it portrays are worth striving for in our own lives, in the world at large and within the fan organization we all hold dear UF Starfleet: Boldly Going Forward

JAMES T. KIRK

Commanding Officer

Captain Kirk embodies leadership, charisma, and a willingness to make tough decisions. His adventurous spirit and belief in exploring the unknown reflect the human drive to discover and expand horizons

MR. SPOCK

Science Officer

Mr Spock's half-human, half-Vulcan heritage allows him to explore the tension between logic and emotion. His struggle to reconcile these aspects of his identity mirrors the human quest for self-discovery and understanding

warmth as the ship's chief medical officer highlight the importance of empathy and caregiving His "country doctor" persona reflects the relatable struggle to balance professional responsibilities with personal connections

MR. SCOTT

Chief Engineer

Scotty's engineering prowess, dedication, and resourcefulness embody the spirit of problem-solving and innovation. His role as the chief engineer underscores the value of practical skills and adaptability in the face of challenges

NYOTA UHURA

Lieutenant Uhura, the communications officer, is a groundbreaking character for her time She represents the shattering of gender and racial barriers, as a woman of African descent in a prominent position on the bridge. Uhura's presence highlights themes of diversity, equality, and the importance of communication in fostering understanding

Helm

Lieutenant Sulu serves as the helmsman and later the chief helmsman of the Enterprise Sulu's background as a skilled pilot and his diverse interests, including botany and fencing, showcase the multifaceted nature of human talents and passions

MR. CHEKOV

Navigator

Ensign Chekov, the ship's navigator, adds a youthful energy to the bridge crew His Russian heritage reflects the global nature of the Star Trek future and the idea that people from different cultures work together harmoniously

NURSE CHAPEL

Sickbay

Nurse Christine Chapel, while not a permanent member of the bridge crew, is a recurring character who represents the medical and caregiving aspects of humanity Her presence emphasizes the importance of healthcare and compassion in the future

JANICE RAND

Yeoman

Yeoman Janice Rand, another recurring character, showcases the administrative and support roles that contribute to the smooth operation of the ship Her interactions with other crew members reflect the interpersonal dynamics on the Enterprise

Captain’s Log, stardate 230808 19 We used maximum warp to travel back in time to Earth’s 20th Century. Our mission: to attend a ‘Star Trek Day’ celebration with Terran Trekkies and fabulous talent Talk about going boldly! I hear TrekFEST features terrific DJs, and great live performers, all at UF Starfleet’s base in Second Life, Pinastri Headquarters.

Starting off the FEST will be DJ 'Naida Starchild' and Host 'Evey Riley' with their ‘TOS’ themed ‘Cosmic Rift’ set on Friday night, September 8th, starting at 7pm SLT/PDT, at Club Latinum Dress is casually Trekkie! Set coordinates, and beam over at warp speed. Naida spins great music that transcends you, helping you transport to another place and time Live long, and dance the night away!

LIVE ‘On the Bridge’ Saturday September 9th, noon SLT/PDT, will be the fabulous ‘JC Farstrider.’ Jazz Sax player JC Farstrider (AKA) Killer Joe Cool, brings you Jazz Classics from Southern California where he plays professionally. Jazz is truly his passion and Sax is definitely his weapon of choice He loves to fill you with excitement and romance through great music that has touched his own heart from a young age Host: Evey Riley

Star Trek Day!

Next up is the hugely popular ‘Shantu Selene’ LIVE ‘On the Bridge’ at 1pm SLT. Singing both his own haunting ballads and some classic standards, Shantu brings a marriage of poetic lyrics, romantic guitar and a hypnotic voice to his shows. He shares the joy, sorrow, passion and love that is in his heart with his listeners And he still loves to sing Elvis. Host: Evelyn Rieko

We jump into warp factor nine when the effervescent DJ ‘Hal Jordan’ takes the stage at 2pm SLT/PDT. Hal is a frequent DJ for UFS events and always has a great selection of tracks ready to entertain! He's known to have an eclectic music library and happily takes your requests Host: Siobhan Crystal

Rounding out the day will be the one and only ‘SL Cheerleading Squad’ LIVE ‘On the Bridge’ at 3pm SLT/PDT The SLCS is a virtual cheerleading team within Second Life, a very elaborate 3D virtual world. SLCS is the largest, most organized, and most successful cheerleading group within Second Life Every cheerleader has gone through an interview process and extensive training! Each member is not only beautiful, but also intelligent, spirited, professional, and fun! You won't want to miss their terrific choreographed routines!! Host: Poison Toocool

UF Starfleet Communications is responsible for the promotion of UFS to members & fans, provides social events, and publishes news & information on social media. An event like this is a collaborative effort, with several UFS members volunteering their time, talent and energy to plan, organize, build, decorate, promote, and host Many thanks to Greg Esharham, Evelyn Rieko, Evey Riley, Hal Jordan, Naida Starchild, Selina Otsuka, Siobhan Crystal, and TaylorRaeJunior for their enthusiasm and support

Watch for our next event - ‘OktoberFEST’ - Fri Oct

USS DURANT

We are para-RPers and storytellers Using live, inthe-moment chat, we listen, read, respond, and create a new story as a collective of writers jamming on a theme We are given a context – a place to begin and then improvise together what happens next, and what happens after that… and where does that take us

That sense of being in fellowship with other creative people who understand the overall context and environment while writing a story that is vibrant and alive creates a sense of enjoyment and togetherness. Our goal on Durant is to foster that sense of belonging, to embrace good RP etiquette, and to have tons of fun!

USS ATLAS

USS Atlas, NCC-74138, is a Hestia-class long range exploration vessel based out of Pinastri Colony on the Second Life Grid. Our mission is to explore the farthest reaches of the Delta Quadrant, seeking out strange new worlds and new civilizations, boldly going forward into the unknown! Our motto is “A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for ”

We are open to new crew! Please inquire with Captain Drewski Northman or Lt Commander Siobhan Crystal if you would like to join us

SS NIMBUS

Starbase 755, SS Nimbus is a starbase located in the Humboldt Belt in the Pinastri system to monitor any incoming and outgoing threats And was approved for Shakedown on stardate 191120, in the year 2417 Currently under command of Commodore Luciano Skar-Machado

The Starbase registry number of the Nimbus is the Starfleet Security Code of the late Akara Dover

We are a live-RP starbase based on Discord for all real life members of United Federation Starfleet.

PINASTRI HQ SHIPS OF THE LINE

Pinastri Headquarters has a multitude of functions Serving as a place in Second Life where those that choose not to be assigned to a Ship or Station of the fleet can call it home. For those that choose the Roleplay aspect or to go through the Academy Experience then HQ can also serves as a fully immersive roleplay hub in Second Life. Experience being a Starfleet officer at the Delta Quadrant HQ for the entire fleet! Pinastri Headquarters is located on the fourth planet in the Pinastri star system, not far from the mysterious Nekrit Expanse

USS SHOGUN

The second vessel to bear this name, USS Shogun will be the second ship to be Captained by Ulrich Bechir after his return to Starfleet after a 10 year disappearance

Rebuilt and relaunched, USS Shogun, NCC-73812A, is a Gagarin Class Vessel Serving dual purposes of exploration and battle the new Shogun is based out of Pinastri Colony on the Second Life Grid Our mission is to explore previous conflict areas, disputed parts of space, and borderlands while seeking out strange new worlds and new civilizations, boldly going forward. Our motto is: “The strong are the patient ones "

USS THOR

Originally Named for Admiral Peedy Thor The Sovereign Class ship is assigned to protect and serve United Federation Starfleet With a dual assignment of both exploration and defence, The ship is available to serve a multitude of needs for the Federation.

USS Thor and it’s crew are on a ‘protect and serve ’ mission in the deepest parts of the Delta Quadrant, championing the Federation’s philosophy and ideals under the motto ‘For Those That Came Before’

TRANQUILITY SHIPS OF THE LINE

SS Tranquility is a huge show of Starfleet strength as well as a safe haven and a place to repair starships. It also provides staging areas for many freighters and transport vessels.

The giant sensor towers and the forest of antennae allow the facility to scan for light-years around the area of the station Retail and office space along with cargo holds and numerous holodecks are available Tranquility provides transporter service and trade arbitration if necessary

Tranquility also has a significant tourist trade, by

USSVERACRUZ

The Allegiance-class USS Veracruz is named after the State of Veracruz located on the east coast of Mexico It is the second Federation starship to carry the name of Veracruz beyond the Sol system; the first USS Veracruz served during the Dominion War, most notably at the Siege of AR-558.

The first mission of the Veracruz in October 2011 truly tested both ship and crew, as they were forced to forego the luxury of a shakedown cruise, and instead set out in pursuit of a stolen Federation Battle Cruiser prototype codenamed the USS Proto. Both ships were evenly matched, and it was only the experience of the Veracruz crew that made the difference

THE FLEET

Recently added: USS Baker, NCC-221, a GalaxyClass vessel roleplaying Sundays at 2030 hours SLT and Wednesdays at 1000 hours SLT CO: Adm Poison Toocool. XO: RAdm Cheryl Skinstad.

THIS ISSUE:

Many thanks to LT VakTari Tal (Saraphinadarksoul), Hal Jordan (Greenlantern Excelsior, Kermie Mistwallow, Selina Otsuka, and Evelyn Rieko for their contributions to this issue of the United Federation Starfleet e-newsletter, ‘Delta Communicator ’

S T A R F L E E T United Federation

TECHNOLOGY News News

Science fiction stories usually depict futuristic ideas and inventions Some predictions were way off the mark, like flying firefighters, schools where students learn through wired headsets that dispense information directly into their brains, and houses heated by radium and dusted by mechanical whirlwinds. But there was one science fiction franchise that got many predictions exactly right: Star Trek Let's look at some of Trek's predictions that actually came to be

The Personal Access Display Device (PADD) was created in 1987 by Rick Sternbach, senior production illustrator/designer for Star Trek: The Next Generation Starfleet PADDs were used to complete many different tasks using access to library computer systems. PADDs in various configurations were used by many sentient races across the galaxy. In the real world, the Apple iPad was introduced on January 27, 2010 In October, 2011, Sternbach said, "I can understand why there's been some hoopla over the comparison to recent tablet computers, particularly the Apple iPad, but I really see the PADD as simply an outgrowth of science fiction data displays imagined for decades in literature and on screen " Artist Doug Drexler was a little more excited about it. He said, "It's uncanny to have a PADD that really works. The iPad is the true Star Trek dream."

The Universal Translator was mentioned in Gene Roddenberry's 1964 "Star Trek is " first draft proposal for Star Trek The Original Series It said, in part, "We establish a "telecommunicator" device early in the series, little more complicated than a small transistor radio carried in a pocket A simple "two-way scrambler", it appears to be converting all spoken language into English."

As explained by Captain Kirk in the TOS episode “Metamorphosis,” it enabled communication with aliens by comparing the frequencies of brain wave patterns, selected those ideas it recognized, and provided the necessary grammar

By Captain Hal Jordan

Originally it was a device connected to a Starfleet communicator Later it became a worn or handheld device, also built in to the communications systems of Starfleet vessels Finally, translators were included into Starfleet combadges. Today, in our real world, translator applications like Google Translate can be installed on smart phones, translating text to speech and speech to text in many languages However, they are not yet able to translate alien speech

The automatic doors introduced on The Original Series finally came into being in real life in 1980 The Star Trek doors opened very quickly, and never opened for anyone who was just passing by. Earth's real life automatic doors are much slower, and not smart enough to know when someone is approaching the door versus just walking nearby But researchers are now developing a "smarter" automatic door that will be almost as smart as the doors on Star Trek

All of the Star Trek series and movies depict voice activated artificial intelligence interfaces that allow the characters to retrieve information and direct actions to be taken. Majel Barrett-Roddenberry was the voice of most Federation starships and starbases, up to and including the 2009 movie Star Trek In the mid-1960s, a talking computer would have been considered an impossible fantasy But in 2011 in our real world, it became a reality with the invention of Apple's Siri And today, talking computers exist all over the world They have names like Alexa and Google Assistant, and they can call up information, control the lights and temperature in your home, and call for help if they hear the sound of breaking glass. They won't be able to activate the Emergency Medical Hologram for a few years, though

There is at least one way in which our real world is far better than the world of Star Trek Our computer consoles don't blow up nearly as often!

OUR FLEET IN ACTION

United Federation Starfleet, or UFS for short, started as a dream a dream to realize and bring Gene Roddenberry’s vision to life by creating a new Star Trek community.

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

Gene Roddenberry

We envisioned an opportunity where people could live out Roddenberry’s vision by joining one of the most respected, most organized, and most active Star Trek organizations available. Our dream to accomplish this began in 2006. Since then, UFS has become one of the premiere Star Trek groups within Second Life and has established a thriving virtual community through the use of Discord and other applications so that everyone can participate, no matter where they are, or how they interface with us

S T A R F L E E T United Federation

S T A R F L E E T United Federation

United Federation Starfleet is a lively, active group of Trek fans and science fiction geeks who come together in a spirit of community and fellowship to talk Trek, hang out, play games, and/or roleplay Engage with us on Discord at: discord io/ufstarfleet