THE COLUMBIA COMLINK THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE USS COLUMBIA, A CORESPONDANCE CHAPTER OF THE STARFLEET INTERNATIONAL FAN CLUB INC
Volume 1, Issue 4
SHAKEDOWN CREW REPORTING Quote of the month “Captain, life is not a dream” APRIL 2010
“TO SAIL BEYOND” EMAIL NEWSLETTER SUBMITTIONS TO
rld.sfi@insightbb.com
Newsletter 1
Ship’s Roster Command Staff Commanding Officer
Commodore Jason Schreck
Executive Officer
Lt Commander Randy Davis
Chief of Engineering
Lieutenant Al Davies
Chief Science Officer
Marine Captain Steven McKean
Chief of Security
Lieutenant Teshie Marie
Chief Medical Officer
Lieutenant Robert Page
OIC 133rd MSG
Marine Captain Zeb Young
Chief of Operations
Lieutenant William Phillips
Command Department Commanding Officer
Commodore Jason Schreck
Executive Officer
Lt Commander Randy Davis
Command Intelligence Officer
Ensign Paul Mastovich
Command Officer
Ensign Rob Dorman
Engineering Department Chief of Engineering
Lieutenant Al Davies
Engineer’s Mate
Crewman Recruit Kevin Turner
Newsletter 2
Marine Complement (133rd MSG) Officer-in-Charge
Marine Captain Zeb Young
Deputy Officer-in-Charge
Lt Commander Randy Davis
Platoon Leader
Marine Captain Steven McKean
Medical Department Chief Medical Officer
Lieutenant Robert Page
Xenopsychologist
Ensign Katie Jackson
Pharmacist’s Mate
Crewman Recruit Monica Beard
Life Science Assistant
Cadet Catherine McKean
Science Department Chief Science Officer Marine
Captain Steven McKean
Astronomer
Crewman Recruit Kristy LaFata
Chief Computer Programmer
Crewman Recruit David Graham
Security Department Chief of Security
Lieutenant Teshie Marie
Chief Master at Arms
Lieutenant (JG) Jeremy DeSpain
External security/Tactical
Crewman Recruit Brittany Vance
Security officer
Ensign Ryan Pelkey
Newsletter 3
Currently Unassigned Crew Members Ensign Cameron Lowe Crewman Recruit Nicholas LaFata Ensign Jessica Pehrson Crewman Recruit David Johnson Crewman Recruit Heath Row Cadet John Callender
Reserve Crew Ensign Kirk Freeman
Newsletter 4
INSIDE THIS ISSUE! 6
letter from the co
10 from the xo 11
operations
11
computer archives
12
fiction
12
personnel file
15
science dept.
16
cadet corner
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games submitted by LT Robert page
From the Desk of MCpt. Young O.I.C. 133rd M.S.G. As the ship is underway, and the crew settles into their routine duties, I would like to extend to all crewmembers an opportunity to join the 133rd Archangels. The unit is still growing and has many open positions. I would like all crewmembers to understand that holding a position within the M.S.G. does not exclude anyone from holding any other positions on the ship. This unit has many opportunities for individual creativity. Our chapter takes place in an era that has little cannon reference and I would like us to take advantage of that. We have little limits as to what our creativity can do. Until next time, Semper Consectatio Protinus "Always Striving Forward" MCpt. Young
Newsletter 5
FROM THE COMMANDING OFFICER Here it is reporting time again. First off I want to say I'm sorry, I have not been around as much on the forums lately but the real world work has been bogging me down. As most of you know I’ve been on medical leave since January without pay. Since then work has occasionally sent me some projects to work at while at home but recently they set me a big project with a deadline that has to be met, so it has kept me rather busy. This will be done soon however so I will be around more. Onto ships business: We are almost three full months into our shakedown cruise. I know things with the ship have slowed some lately. Some of this is due to real life interfering, some of it is because we managed to get so much done so quickly. Our Constitution and bylaws are essentially done. We have a monthly published newsletter, we have a promotions and point system, and by the time this is published we will have a name for the newsletter and a ship's motto. In the coming months I would like to still get the following accomplished before our shakedown is over. 1. I would like to see all members pick a department and position on the ship. 2. I would like the staff to work on developing a ship's awards program to recognize outstanding service to the ship. 3. I would like to have at least one online role playing session for the crew. 4. I would like to develop a recruiting flyer that could be handed out at conventions, comic shops etc to attract more members. 5. I would like to see department heads make regular contact with their members at least monthly to see if there are any concerns so they can be addressed. The first one is easy. A department listing has been sent out to all members. All they need to do is contact myself or the department head to let us know what position they would like. If the position is open it can be theirs. If crew do not chose a department they will soon be assigned to a department and position until they tell us which department they want to be in, then they can be moved. As part of this I would also like to encourage department heads to ask someone to serve as there assistant department head. This person serves as a junior staff member and can attend staff meetings when the department head is not available to vote on their behalf. Selection of an assistant department head is up to the department head and is there to help them.
Newsletter 6
We will be holding a staff meeting in the near future to work on a ship's awards program. Staff, please think of ideas for this. An announcement of the meeting will be forthcoming. The online role-playing session will again be worked out in the months to come. I have some experience with this, but not a ton, and am open to suggestions from members or even to a member who would be willing to narrate from time to time as well. Recruiting flyers- I am open to various design ideas and would like to see what crew members can come up with as well. As to making regular contact with department members: This is important. This helps keep member interest and let them know they are appreciated and a part of the crew. This will also help us retain members when their membership comes up for renewal. The last couple of things I would like to touch on. Many of our members are making good use of STARFLEET Academy. This is a great program and I highly recommend members use it. Remember 25 points toward promotion can be earned through the Academy. In addition, Senior Staff remember if you have not already done so taking Officer Training School is a requirement to hold your staff position beyond the 6 month probationary period. Not everyone has done this and if you have to, you may be asked to step down if it is not done soon. Well I guess that's about it for this month. As always let me know if you have any questions, comments or concerns. You can email me at LB206@aol.com My ready room door is always open to the crew. Commodore Schreck signing off.
Newsletter 7
continued from page 1
STAR TREK ONLINE: NOVEL Prior to the terror-filled times of the Long War—the seemingly endless struggle against the Undine, a paranoid, shape-shifting race once known only as Species 8472—enemy sleeper agents quietly penetrated every echelon of Federation society, as well as other star faring civilizations throughout the Alpha and Beta quadrants. The ensuing conflict shook humanity to its very core, often placing its highest ideals against a pure survival instinct. All too frequently, the Undine War demanded the harshest of sacrifices and exacted the steepest of personal costs from the countless millions whose lives the great interdimensional clash forever altered. Drawn from his exhaustive research and interviews, The Needs of the Many delivers a glimpse of Betar Prize–winning author Jake Sisko’s comprehensive "living history" of this tumultuous era. With collaborator Michael A. Martin, Sisko illuminates an often-poorlyunderstood time, an age marked indelibly by both fear and courage—not to mention the willingness of multitudes of unsung heroes who became the living embodiment of the ancient Vulcan philosopher Surak’s famous axiom, "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few”.
What is SETI@home? SETI@home is a scientific experiment that uses Internet-connected computers in the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI). You can participate by running a free program that downloads and analyzes radio telescope data. http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/
Newsletter 8
Learn the Klingon Language http://www.kli.org/
Newsletter 9
FROM THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE LTCMDR Randy Davis rld.sfi@insightbb.com
Meet Rear Admiral Randy Davis and The USS FRANKFORT, A Noble class starship. Since I have maxed out my level at Rear Admiral 5, I have been working on getting better gear and doing the mini raids; the newest raid The Khitomer Accord has just come out‌more on this next month. Another month has come and gone, and we find ourselves in excellent shape. Our constitution and bylaws are nearly complete and the crew is really shaping up. Everyone should know by now I am a big Star Trek Online Player, what you may or may not know is that Cryptic (the creators of the game) wants to start a Star Trek Online Advisory Council whose membership would include players of the game. Cryptic wants STARFLEET to provide a volunteer for the Council seat and I have applied for the position. Anyone who plays the game needs to go here if they are interested in Appling for this position. http://www.sfi.org/portal/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=486:volunteerneeded-star-trek-online-advisory-council&catid=39:special&Itemid=103 If you have not sent me your email address and want a copy of the newsletter sent directly to you please do so, if you have submitted anything for the newsletter then I already have your email address. Well that is it for this month I look forward to chatting with you all in the future and please do not hesitate to send me mail anytime; I actually look forward to it‌ May the wind be at your backs, LTCMDR RANDY DAVS XO, USS COLUMBIA
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Operations Log LT Hilo Kahn Reporting By now most of you have heard that I have taken over as Chief of Operations for The Columbia, and would like to take this time to assure everyone that I will perform my duties as Chief of Operations to the best of my abilities and in strict adherence to Starfleet Regulations and Traditions. Currently, the Ops Department is busy calibrating and fine tuning all ships sensors and transporters along with the main deflector, and should have every thing operating at 100% efficacy by the time we reach the Romulan Neutral Zone. I will also be posting regular updates on the ship’s main computer. (on the ship’s wed page) Also starting next week, Ops will be conducting shuttle operations so that we can qualify all onboard shuttle pilots LT Hilo Kahn Chief of Operations USS Columbia NCC 2049
From the Computer Archives: It is highly recommended that all crewmembers review the video file, Balance of Terror (TOS episode 108). It will provide some background on the Neutral Zone and Romulans. If you are unable to view the video file, here’s a link to an analysis of the video. http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Balance_of_Terror_(episode)> Antique Analysis: Next month I will be reviewing the book Star Trek Vanguard: Harbinger, which involves the USS Enterprise and Starbase 47 (Vanguard) in the year 2265. MCPT Steven McKean Chief Science Officer USS Columbia NCC-2049
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Starfleet Personnel File Name: Hilo Kahn (William “Bill” Phillips) Rank: Lieutenant SSC: 66580 Current Assignment: Operations Officer USS Columbia NCC 2049 Race: Trill (Human) Gender: Male Age: 42 Birth date: August 2nd, 2252 Blood Type: O+ Height: 5’7” Weight: 150lbs (242lbs) Hair Color: Dark Brown Eye Color: Brown Spots: Reddish Brown Personality Traits: Hilo Kahn is the fifth host for the Kahn symbiotic. A somewhat quiet, cold and unemotional man; Hilo is dedicated to his duties as a Starfleet Officer with his one vice being his love of women, as he is some what of a ladies man similar to Capt Kirk. He is honest to a fault and is often very blunt when talking to other people. With Hilo you always know where you stand. Languages: Trill, Federation Standard, Vulcan, Romulan, Klingon, Andorian, Tellarite William Phillips: There you have my alter ego for fan fiction. Myself, I am 42 years old, and a disabled Navy veteran. I am originally from Las Vegas Nevada but currently live in Centralia Mo just outside of Columbia. I am a big Sci-Fi and Fantasy fan; my hobbies include video games, writing and photography so basically I am an ultra nerd. Other then that not much more to say.
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FICTION BY Lt (JG) DeSpain It was deep in the shipboard night, it was well past the time when reasonable people or senior officers were asleep. By all rights, he should be as well, but nights were always the hardest and rawest times for his telepathic sense. The unfiltered raw emotions of the dreaming haunted and chased him away from the sleeping quarters. His empathy was fairly strong, as was his telepathy, his ability to filter out the input was not always as strong. He still had his own coping methods; his favorite was work, since it gave his mind something else to concentrate on. Unfortunately there was little to no work to be done, the shake down was going very well, even after the addition of Chief Tactical officer to his list of responsibilities. The shakedown was running smoothly at least in his departments. Everyone was too busy to warrant extra attention from the Master at Arms. And then you had tactical; long bouts of boredom punctuated by intense moments of excitement. Even the laying in the tubes, and test firing had gone with nearly no hitch. Other than an intermittent flicker in Phaser array two, and that turned out to be an onboard software issue, easily repaired once it was run down. Running that down had been good hard cooperation between tactical and engineering, but short lived. So that was how he found himself alone in the officers gym in the middle of the night, pushing himself through a workout most would consider masochistic boarding on suicidal. He rode the workout right to the edge and his mind wandered. Teetered on the brink of giving into the demons that haunted him as he floated through half remembered halfinstinctual martial arts moves in the daze of forgetfulness. He shook his head to clear the fog, and drifted towards the heavy bag to pound out some frustrations, he ignored most of the merely physical challenges, and he craved mental stimulation, cerebral challenges. He could crawl back into the books and recommence work on his masters from Starfleet academy, but that barely saited his thirst, it was just rote work. Perhaps the Doctor or the XO would enjoy a game of chess; both seemed to the type to enjoy the challenge of the game. Empaths did not generally get invited into the junior officer’s poker game, unfair
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advantage and all. He stopped suddenly as he realized that he could get all the challenge he wanted, he had stopped all too suddenly as the bag came back from his last blow to catch its revenge, nearly knocking him off his feet as his brain whirred. He was half way down to marine country when his brain reminded him, no CIO is going to welcome a sweaty wild eyed sleep deprived shave tail waking him at this hour for less then a boarding maneuver. He stopped, that meant that part would have to wait until morning, and probably would be better if he learned a bit about the OIC before he sprung this idea on him. For that matter, he would need to consult with the security chief, and his boss in Ops. Despite the mental whirring, he jogged along with a lopsided grin. He made a mental list of equipment he would need, some of which he would have to make sure they never realized he had in his personal gear. Then he stopped suddenly looking at the doors to the holo deck when he spotted them after rounding a corner. He could do the whole thing in there that would work best. He settled in at the spartan desk in his quarters and began working feverishly at the terminal making lists of things he would need, and things he would like. He was not quite to the planning stage yet, but that would be soon. He tapped idly at the terminal, he only had limited information at his fingertips, he had access to detailed bios of every crew member but not as detailed information about the ship itself. He knew if he tickled right he could get the computer to grant him the information he wanted, but you never used your trump card this early in the game. You saved it for when it was perfect for use. So instead he prepped messages and a list people he would need to speak with. So far he figured he would need to involve the CIO of the MSG, the Sec Chief, Chief Engineer Davies, any engineer would do, but he liked Davies, His Boss at Ops, and Probably the XO, if not the Old man himself. He drifted off to sleep in the chair, relaxed for the first time in weeks, he had something on his plate that interested him...
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SCIENCE DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL LISTING Chief Science Officer - MCPT Steven McKean Astronomer - CRR Kristy LaFata Chief Computer Programmer - CRR David Graham
PROJECTS Increase efficiency of ship’s sensors. NEWS This is a good source of science news: http://www.physorg.com/ http://www.physorg.com/space-news/ SHIP’S INFORMATION (from http://techspecs.startrek.acalltoduty.com/excelsior.html) The Excelsior Refit class starship provides a multi-mission mobile platform for a wide range of scientific and explorative research projects. 4.0 COMPUTER SYSTEMS 4.1 COMPUTER CORE Number of computer cores: Two; the primary core occupies space on decks 6, 7 and 8 located centrally in the main saucer section. The secondary, emergency core is much smaller than the first and is located adjacent to Environmental Control on Deck 17. Type: The updated Computer cores found on the Excelsior class are larger versions of the New Orleans Class Isolinear Processing cores, spread out to take three rather than four decks. The system is powered by a smaller, regulated EPS conduit directly from the warp core. Cooling of the isolinear loop is accomplished by a regenerative liquid nitrogen loop that is vented directly to space. For missions, requirements on the computer core rarely exceed 7580% of total core processing and storage capacity. The rest of the core is utilized for various scientific, tactical, or intelligence gathering missions - or to backup data in the event of a damaged core.
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7.0 SCIENCE AND REMOTE SENSING SYSTEMS 7.1 SENSOR SYSTEMS Long range and navigation sensors are located behind the main deflector dish, to avoid sensor "ghosts" and other detrimental effects consistent with main deflector dish millicochrane static field output. Lateral sensor pallets are located around the rim of the entire Starship, providing full coverage in all standard scientific fields, but with emphasis in the following areas: Astronomical phenomena Planetary analysis Remote life-form analysis EM scanning Passive neutrino scanning Parametric subspace field stress (a scan to search for cloaked ships) Thermal variances Quasi-stellar material Each sensor pallet (twenty in all) can be interchanged and re-calibrated with any other pallet on the ship. Warp Current sensor: This is an independent subspace graviton field-current scanner, allowing the starship to track ships at high warp by locking onto the eddy currents from the threat ship's warp field, then follow the currents by using multi-model image mapping. 7.2 TACTICAL SENSORS There are twenty independent tactical sensors on Excelsior Class Starships. Each sensor automatically tracks and locks onto incoming hostile vessels and reports bearing, aspect, distance, and vulnerability percentage to the tactical station on the main bridge. Each tactical sensor is approximately 50% efficient against ECM, and operates modestly in particle flux nebulae - measuring somewhere between 40-50% accuracy on primary and secondary scans. 7.3 STELLAR CARTOGRAPHY One small stellar cartography bay is located on deck 14, with direct EPS power feed from engineering. All information is directed to the bridge and can be displayed on any console or the main viewscreen. The Chief Science Officer's office is located next to the Stellar Cartography bay. 7.4 SCIENCE LABS There are Fifteen science labs on an Excelsior Class starship; five labs are on deck 7 adjacent to Sickbay, 5 labs are on deck 8, and 5 multifunction labs on deck 16. The 5 labs on deck 5 are bio-chem-physics labs that can also be reconfigured for Medical labs and used primary by the Medical staff. The 5 labs on deck 7 are a mixed batch; two are bio-chemphysics, two are XT (extra-terrestrial) analysis labs, and one eugenics lab. The final 5 on deck 16 are multi-functional labs that can be equipped for various experiments
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Cadet Corner by Kitty I got interested in rockets and space when my dad was working at White Sands Missile Range. We joined the NASA Earth Crew. The club doesn't exist any more, but NASA has plenty of cool things on their website. http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/index.html Here's my favorite links from the main student page. 1) NASA eClips: Good videos for when you get tired of reading. It has super-good information to make you super-smart. 2) World Book at NASA for Students: It is good for learning and understanding our Solar System. 3) NASA Kids' Club: Games and interesting information for kids. I got to participate in World Maths Day 2010 for my school. It was good because I got to compete with other kids around the world on the Internet. You also compete against the clock so it builds your brain for math speed. http://www.worldmathsday.com/2010/Default.aspx Another good math site is IXL. This is a very good site for practicing math subjects. http://www.ixl.com/ This site has fun math games, word problems, logic puzzles, and math videos. http://www.mathplayground.com/
CDT Catherine McKean USS Columbia NCC-2049
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It is only Logical.
Across 6. The Vulcan Homeworld. 7. Vulcans are Touch. 8. Father of Spock and Sybok. 10. Destroyed after the Great Awakening. 12. All mental disiplines require. 14. Son of Amanda Grayson. 15. Vulcan Soul. Down 1. The reponds to the vulcan greeting. 2. It is hexagonal in shape and made of an unknown metal. 3. The Capital City of T'khasi. 4. Vulcan Hand salute Greeting. 5. Youth Emotion Suppression Disipline. 6. A special adaptation of the sight organ called. 9. Adult Emotion Suppression Disipline. 11. Avulcan game for keeping the logic sharp. 13. Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations.
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Sick Bay Medication List H
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ALIZINE ANESTHEZINE CATELINE CERVALINE CORDRAZINE CORTICAL ANALEPTIC DERMALINE GEL HYDROCORTILENE HYRONALIN IMPEDREZENE
IMPROVOLINE INAPROVALINE LECTRAZINE NEODEXTRALINE SOLUTION NETINALINE NOGATCH HEMLOCK PULMOZINE RHULUDIAN CRYSTALS TRIANOLINE TRI-OX COMPOUND
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