Independence Fleet Newsletter

May 2004

--------------------------------------------------

As a small note: I do not currently have all the addys
for all the groups. Please send them to me asap.
mega_man0007@y...
-Hiron

_____________________________________________________

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****

=/\=INDEPENDENCE FLEET NEWSLETTER - May 2004=/\=

-- Opening
-- Newsbits
-- Announcements
-- Current Missions
-- Fleet Awards
-- Interview
-- Special Thanks



*******************

=/\= Opening =/\=

Greetings one and all.
I'm Bry, better know as Larakizhaan "Zhaan" sh'Harena
to most folks in the fleet. I've finally been able to
get myself organised enough to do the newsletter this
month (that in itself is a major piece of news, lol).
Anyway I could ramble on for a while but I won't, it's
time to get on with the newsletter...
Enjoy!

*******************

=/\= Newsbits =/\=
- IDF Academy
At the end of the month work has started on getting
the IDF Academy (tentatively being called Independence
Academy) up and running, which will include an updated
website and the appointment of an Acting-Commandant in
Admiral Dragonetti's LOA, namely one Larakizhaan
sh'Harena. Anyone interested in joining the IA as
either a teacher or a student should contact either
Vice Admiral Hiron or myself. We'll keep you posted on
any further developments.
- Fleet-Wide Mission
Work continues to progress on this idea, although
nothing has been finalised and ideas are still being
discussed.

- IDF Fantasy Baseball
1. 814 Houston Heroes 7900 R Adm Henry "Hank" Logan
CO/DD USS Patriot/DSE
2. 865 Texas Werewolfs 7856 Unknown
3. 1850 New York Diamondbacks 7318 Capt. Steven
McCloud Ex-CO USS Excalibur
4. 2451 Missouri Royals 7091 Lt Alexander Jameson
Ex-CSecO USS Patriot
5. 2770 Anahiem 2002 Champs 6963 Lt Tourgh CSecO USS
Dragon
6. 5499 Baghdad Roughriders 5863 Unknown
7. 5717 Hell Boys 5723 Adm James D. West DFI/IDF
8. 6543 Houston Evil Empire 4904 R Adm Joseph
"Stealth" Carroll CO/DD USS Liberty/DRF
9. 9231 Intermeezo Spears 0 Cmdr. Michael Intermeezo
XO Raptor

- Website Update
As some of you may have already noticed the IDF
website has been updated by the new Webmaster (Captain
Harrold of SB10). Unfortunately its a work in progress
and not all the links are active or correct. We'll
keep you updated when it's fully operational.


*******************

=/\= Announcements =/\=

From the Office of Vice Admiral Hiron:
<<Begin Transmission>>

Hello crew of IDF,

Part of being the Director of Fleet Development, it is
my job to develop. And another part of the job, is to
monitor possible new simms to join our family. And
with great pleasure I’d like to announce our newest
member, Starbase D’shubba. Captained by Captain Ruari
Joel “RJ” Echo (also known as Lt Commander Thomas
Hallet of the GWBA) the Starbase is stationed near the
Breen Border, in order to quell a possible uprising
involving the Breen invading our space.

I would like to wish them luck in their new journeys.

In other news, getting bored with Earth, I have
temporarily set up a new office on the USS Washington
- A. Please forwards all messages there. From there I
have already begun to monitor the next possible IDF
simm. More information will follow as soon as I have
it.

Also, Speaking of the W-A and the Sunfire - C for that
matter. But ships successfully launched this month and
seem to be doing fairly well.

Live long and Prosper, Through simming!
-Vice Admiral Richter Hiron

<<End Transmission>>

Excalibur:
First off I would like to start out with some
milestones that the Excalibur has had for the month of
April.

Our First one is we reached our 3800th post on
4/03/2004 it was posted by our one and only Cmdr.
Ingoldo.

Second is we had our first three way post done on
4/27/2004, it was post number 3872 and it was posted
by Lt. Calhoun, Lt. Loren, Lt. Wright a new member of
our crew. Great job!

Captain Tolbin

GWBA:
PROMOTIONS
Lt. Tobias James, COO promoted to Lieutenant Commander

Pilot 3rd Class Yundor Le'e, SQXO promoted to Pilot
2nd Class

MILESTONES
Post #2100, by Lt. J.G. Lupas Dermont, AEO on April
25th

Dragon:
Promotions
Commander Vadok is made Captain and assumes command of
the USS Washington-A.
Lt Cmdr Garner, is promoted to second officer of the
W-A.
Lt Cmdr James Sullivan is promoted to full commander
and assumes the First Officer position on the Dragon.
Commander Denorian Berann leaves the simm due to Real
Life time constraints.
Major Jamie Davison also left the simm this month, due
to real life.
Major Ken Lionheart assumes command of Dragon Special
Ops and the role of Second Officer.

Raptor:
Promotions:
Ens. Tyler Garret --> Lt. Tyler Garret (New
CMO/Fighter Squad CO)
New comers:
Ens. Ryan Wachowski --> CEO
Ens. Leo Guenette --> Chief of Security
Ens. Kullin --> CIO
Ens. Keh'Lera Miller --> CCO/CS
2nd Lt. Dereven Irina --> Marine CO
Lt. Tyler Garret --> CMO/RSCO (Raptor Squadron CO)

I would like to personally thank Vice Admiral Hiron
for all the assistance on recruitment. We've nearly
tripled in original size.

Captain Jones
USS Raptor
Holland:
=/\=New Crewmembers=/\=
Lieutenant Lovejoy Chief Comunications Officer
Lieutenant Junior Grade Paige Turner Assistent
Security/Tactical Officer
Lieutenant Colonel Shahrizan Shariman Marines CO1
Ensign Jonathan Lee Nic Recycle Chief Medical
Officer
Lieutenant Jack Nicleson Chief Inteligence
Officer

Goliad:
The Goliad’s former CEO Lt. Commander Steven McConnell
has made a welcome to the new USS Goliad-B, retaining
his rank and resuming his position (previously covered
by Lt. (jg) BOB).
Ensign Tracy Lucas has just joined the Goliad as Head
Flight Control Officer
Lieutenant Telana M’Len’Shay is taking over as Chief
Security Officer

Promotions/Demotions
Commander Natasha Cruix, Second & Strategic Operations
Officer has been promoted by the Admiralty to take
command of the USS Sunfire-C.
Lt. Commander Kristov Hevanovich, Chief Security
Officer has been promoted by the Admiralty to
Commander and First Officer aboard the USS
Washington-A.
Lieutenant (jg) Nathanial Archer, Chief Medical
Officer has been promoted to Lieutenant and requested
a transfer to the USS Sunfire-C as CMO.
Lieutenant (jg) Neo Anderson, Operations Manager has
left the USS Goliad-B.

Liberty:
Promotions:
Captain Carroll would like to congratulate the
following
Liberty crewmembers for promotions. They were all well
deserved.
Congrats to the following: Ensign D'ce is promoted to
the rank of Lt.
(jg).

Starbase 10:
Promotions-
Lieutenant Junior Grade Readdy, Ann
Is now officially Lieutenant Senior Grade, with all
the rights and privileges thereof. Congratulations
Lieutenant Readdy.



*******************

=/\= Current Missions =/\=

Excalibur:
Mission: ( One Mans Time) The Excalibur picks up a
distress signal from an unknown Nebula. While our
Chief of Security has been switched by a transporter
accident. The Excalibur is heading to the distress
call attempting to find out where our Lt. Barns is.

Patriot:

The Heralds Call:

Vincetti Robosi is back to plague the Federation, and
this time his targets
are artifacts with unusual properties. The Flame of
the Firelord, The
Breathe of the Air Walker, The Pedestal of Terrax, The
Tear of the Silver
Surfer, The Heart of Nova, and The Blood of Morgue all
have a mysterious
connection and its up to the crew of the Patriot to
protect these artifacts
from Robosi and keep him from unleasing a cosmic power
that has laid dormant
for eons.

Holland and Raptor JM:
Mission Summary
When we arrived at the location of the asteroids we
got fired at. We defended us, and destroyed a few of
the asteroids. We tried to get to know the Language of
the Clicks. Like we call them. When Lieutenant Lovejoy
and Keh'Lera translated the message the clicks had
send to us they let it hear us. (both ships) "Do not
enter our space or prepare to be destroyed. This is
sacred space. We warn you. DO NOT ENTER. We will
destroy you." what the message. Right after the
message ended all power went offline on both ships.
Only, on the Holland, the internal Coms were still
online. Few minutes after everything went offline they
got online again. Captain Jones came to the conclusion
that the Clicks were hiding something. We went to the
end of the rim. turned out to be an Clicks
transporter. Bigger then anything we have encountered
before. We are currently going after the transporter.

GWBA:
SUMMARY
The diplomatic mission to Florna failing, the USS
George W. Bush-A , is forced to abandon the
garden-like planet. They are chased away from the
planet by a rag-tag fleet of ships under the command
of the former Captain of the USS Evalington, Gordon
Freehand, who's involvement in the situation is still
unclear. Captain Absecon's position as a Star Fleet
officer has been put in jeopardy, and she is adamant
to found out who is backing the rag-tag fleet, and why
they want her out of Star Fleet.
Following the fleeing shuttle craft with Freehand and
the yet unidentified Admiral, the Bush is once again
set upon by the rag-tag fleet. Their best chances of
fending off the attacking ships AND capturing the
rogue admiral is to separate the Bush into it's three
saucers sections. The Zero Bridge with Captain Absecon
follow the shuttlecraft while the other sections, hold
the enemy at bay. Damaged, the Sigma section of the
Bush crash lands on a nearby asteroid/planetoid and is
silent.

Lt. Tobias James
Chief Operations Officers
USS George W. Bush
NCC-2004 A

Mission Summary: The Liberty after a fun shore leave
on Earth and
patch job at Utopia Planetia traveled to Vulcan so
that newly
promoted RAdm Carroll would be able to conference with
the Vulcan
hierarchy. While in talks with the Vulcans the Liberty
is in orbit
running different readiness drills.



*******************

=/\= Fleet Awards =/\=
Best story:
GWB - Cmdr. Marko, Post 2052,
http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/USSGeoWBush/message/960


Best CD:
Goliad - Lt. Commander Kristov Hevanovich, Post 885,
http://lists.topica.com/lists/goliad18907/read/message.html?mid=809100225&sort=d\
&start=1433

Funniest:
Goliad - Lt. Dawn Freeman, Post 879,
http://lists.topica.com/lists/goliad18907/read/message.html?mid=809043768&sort=d\
&start=1433

Genesis:
SB10 - Captain Harold, Post 1959,
http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/Starbase10IDF/message/2655

Most Improved:
Liberty - Ensign D'ce. Ensign D'ce has continued his
high posting the entire month and began to learn the
differences in CD and story posts. Though he has yet
to master them, he has begun the assimilation process
quite well and looks to be making noticeable
improvement.

Rookie:
Dragon - Ensign Richard Flagg. Ensign Flagg is this
month's Rookie of the Month. He joined and posted his
first post on the 29th. And ended up with 5 posts.
Within two days that is quite good. He is an excellent
poster, for having absolutly no other simm experience.
One training session and he was ready to go. It will
be interesting to see how he handles our upcoming
mission.

MVP:
Holland - Lieutenant Rhiana Hunnicutt. A keen simmer,
Hunnicutt's posts have been funny, well written and
researched. Detailed and confident, this simmer's
posts add to our knowledge of her character, and
invite other character's participation.

Most Posts:
Dragon - Cmdr. James Sullivan 30

Recruitment:
Excalibur - Lt. Calhoun, 1


*******************

=/\= Interview =/\=

IDF top dawgs with big balls, had the opportunity to
sit down with one of it's long time members, Sutak.
Today, Sutak talks to us about his simming career, why
he had a big part in the first fleet split and Master
Splinter from the Ninja Turtles.

Ace Decade: Today I am sitting down with a retired
Admiral, Sutak. Sutak is one of the original members
of IDF and of
the USS Sunfire, the sim that started it all. Tell me
Sutak, how were you introduced tot the Sunfire?

Sutak: I was sitting around on my lazy ass staring at
the computer screen. I had just left another
disasterous sim and
thought about giving up completely. Giving it another
ship I tried the sunfire. Found her right out the blue
and as they say the rest is history.

Decade: Indeed it is. That concludes our interview.
(Laughs). Just joking.

Sutak: (Laughs).

Decade: When you started the Sunfire you were under
the command of Commodore Jay Robertson correct? How
were things under him if you can remember?

Sutak: Yes, that is true. He wasn't there much when I
joined. It seemed no sooner than a month or two he
resigned. I
never got a chance to really see how he was for a
commanding officer.

Decade: Yes, Robertson was only there for
approximately four months before resigning. When
Admiral James "Danger" West stepped in, how did things
go?

Sutak: I think we hit it off right from the beginning.
I hated his way of commanding the ship and he hated
me. It was
a mutual love hate relationship there.

Decade: (Laughs). During your time on the Sunfire did
you meet anyone you became friends with?

Sutak: Sure did Bob, Ace was the best friend I made on
the sunfire. He was with me when we got kicked off the

sunfire. Among others was Wil Parks, and Rynn
Bannister.

Decade: Yes, there were many arguments sent through
the Sunfire groups. Seems there were more hate mail
than posting. Can you give me the reason Ace and you
were fired?

Sutak: Well you know I dont really know that, Chuck.
It seems we were scape goats. They just wanted to
prove a point to stop the arguements. So the offed us
and so we went.

Decade: Yes it seemed the majority of the crew was
against you. The Sunfire lived on with new simmers
like Thomas Dupont, Dick Phelps, Ashla Bogan,
B'Karlsa, Krol to name a few, took the old Sunfire
players places. as you and Ace persued the first ever
Liberty, in Utopia Fleet. After your brief time on the
original Liberty, pre IDF days, what
did you do then?

Sutak: Liberty was a great ship but she seemed to go
before it's time. So I pretty much just gave up
simming at that
time, John. I figured at that time it was the best
simming was ever going to get.

Decade: The original Liberty only hit 95 posts or so,
in three months. Not great, but not bad either. When
was it
that you heard of IDF coming together?

Sutak: I heard through Ace. We tried one ship before
that but the XO was a spaz and woudln't let anything
even
remotely bad happen to him. So, then later he told me
of IDF and who ran it. I wasn't sure I wanted to join.


Decade: What made you go through with it. Given your
relationship with Admiral West, Star and Seldon?

Sutak: Ace told me it was different. He told me that
it was Star's ship that we would be going on and I
didn't
really have a problem with Star. So I said yes and
wasn't expecting much.

Decade: Once IDF launched you found yourself on the
USS Avalon NCC-3002, under the command of Charles
Star. You only served on this ship for a month before
heading over to the newly polished up USS Liberty
NCC-4003. What was it like being under Star?

Sutak: Well like you said Chris, I was only on there
for a month. But in that month I had more fun simming
than I did
on the Orginal sunfire. I guess most of my beef was
with West.

Decade: When you jumped to the USS Liberty as Chief of
Security, things took off in a very fast paced manor.
In the
Liberty's first month they had seen 173 posts, a feat
that was consider huge at the time. How was things
under rookie Captain Ace Decade the second time
around. How was it different than the first time?

Sutak: He is my best friend so we from the get go had
an understanding of how things wanted to be run. I
think his
idea's, which I wholeheartedly agreed with, gave the
crew the momentum to hit 173 post that month. I
believe he helped others learn a better way to run
their ships.

Decade: No question a lot of people have borrowed
Ace's ideas over the years. You see them in IDF and
non-IDF sims.
As your time on the Liberty grew short, you recieved
word that you were getting your own command. How did
this come about?

Sutak: I wanted to advance my character to a higher
level. So I told Ace about this and he talked to Star
which happen
to be starting a new ship that he would be taking
over, leaving the Avalon vacant. He was looking for
someone to take command of the ship.

Decade: So after a few months your were off on your
own command. How did it feel taking over a ship that
all ready
existed?

Sutak: I think it made it easier for a rookie captain.
It gave me an experienced crew and let me form to them

instead of them forming to me. I believe it was more
benificial to do that.

Decade: Going into the new year, (2002), the Avalon
had it's posting back up, and in January took home the
IDF posting
title for the second time, the first under you. Not
only did it win the title but it broke the previous
record held by the USS Liberty by a measely three
posts. How did it feel to have a crew that
participated so much?

Sutak: It made me feel proud as a captain that I had a
crew so talented. Some ships quit after just a few
weeks and
yet we were slowly getting stronger. It was a happy
moment for me.

Decade: Shortly thereafter, you pulled the Avalon from
IDF along with the USS Chesapeake. You renamed the
Avalon, the USS Camelot. What pushed you to make this
decision?

Sutak: I again wasn't agreeing with the way IDF was
beingg ran. West was CinC and after talking to the
captain of the Chesapeake, we decided to leave
together. It was a bad idea and bad timing on my part.
I was leaving for basic training and I somehow knew
when I got back the crew wouldn't be the same.

Decade: While you were away you left the Camelot under
Rynn Bannister, a person you had known from the
original
Sunfire. What was the difference you saw in your crew
when you made your return later that year?

Decade: I heard alot of arguing went on and alot of
people didn't like her style of running the ship. I
lost contact
with someof the crew members. When I returned a few
had gone as far as changing their email address. Post
were severly down and the people that were power
players didn't care anymore. I knew it was time to end
it.

Decade: Which pretty much ended your career right? Did
you do anymore projects after the Camelot and IDF?

Sutak: Well, right after that I got word of my
deployment to Iraq. I had joined the USS Excalibur but
didn't get maybe
five posts out before leaving. I am currently still on
the Excalibur and again I ventured into starting my
own ship.

Decade: What is your favorite sim to date that you
have ever served on?

Sutak: I would have to say I have the best memories
from the Liberty.

Decade: That seems to the favorite of many who have
served on it. Sutak, it has been nice sitting down
with you, a
living legend at that, but before I end this interview
I have a few short questions for you.

Sutak: Okay.

Decade: Which is the better college basketball team:
Louisville Cardinals or Kentucky Wildcats?

Sutak: Louisville Cardinals of course...what a silly
question.

Decade: In a boxing match who would win: Muhammed Ali
or Lennox Lewis?

Sutak: That would be a tough one. I would go for my
man Muhammed Ali.

Decade: Who is going to win the NBA championship this
year: Sacremento Kings, Minnesota Timberwolves, San
Antonio Spurs or the LA Lakers? Or maybe some other
team you feel that has a good shot?

Sutak: I have and always will go for the Lakers.

Decade: I hate LA. But if you say so. Their down 2-0
against the Spurs right now in a best of seven series,
second round. It will be tough to make a run.

Sutak: I have faith. The fat woman hasn't sung yet

Decade: (Laughs). Who is the better Star Trek Captain:
Janeway, Picard, Sisko, Archer or Kirk?

Sutak: Archer. He's in a tough time and has to make
tough decisions. I know what it's like when your told
to do one
thing and because of the circumstances you have to
break the rules and lie and cheat and steal even to
get the job done.

Decade: What is your favorite ST show: TOS, TNG, DS9,
Voyager or Enterprise?

Sutak: DS9.

Decade: Which movie do you prefer: The Flintstones or
Scooby-Doo?

Sutak: Scooby-Doo. Where else can a bunch of stoners
go on the road and trick people into believe they are
solving a
real mystery?

Decade: But, Wilma Flintstone is hot man. And so is
Daphne too I suppose. Hell, so is Betty Rubble and
Velma.

Sutak: Not as hot at the red head off Scooby-Doo.

Decade: That would be Daphne my friend.

Sutak: (Laughs). They have names?

Decade: You dont know their names?

Sutak: (Laughs). Yeah, but their just cartoons.

Decade: What is your favorite animal out of the two: A
cat or dog?

Sutak: Dog.

Decade: A dog? You like a dog jumping on your ass all
the time when you try and get out of the car to the
front door? Cats are smarter and more peaceful and
self-dependable.

Sutak: Cats are annoying crybaby's.

Decade: But, hell I like all animals so oh well. In a
battle to do the death. Who would win: Speed Racer
from The Speed Racer Show, Snarf from the Thundercats,
Splinter from the Ninja Turtles or Elroy Jetson from
the Jetsons?

Sutak: Master Splinter. He's one bad ass mouse-rat. If
I saw something like that I'd shit my pants...so he'd
definately win.

Decade: (Laughs). In a wrestling match who would win:
Trish Stratus, Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Garner or
Jenna Jameson?

Sutak: Jenna Definately. I mean trish is hot and has
muscles but Jenna has been working those muscles out
longer. (Laughs). All Angelina Jolie has is a good
butt, good boobs and nice lips.

Decade: (Laughs). Is the glass half ful or half empty?


Sutak: It's actually about 4/8 full.

Decade: Well, that about wraps up or interview for the
month. Sutak thanks for taking the time out of your
retirement to sit and chat with us.

Sutak: Yeah, gotta get back, Mattlock is on.


*******************

=/\= Special Thanks =/\=

R.Adm. Henry Logan (for the baseball league table),
Ace Decade (as ever), Sutak (for argeeing to be
interviewed), R.Adm. Carroll (for his work on the
awards), V.Adm. Richter Hiron (for giving me some
ideas on what to write about), and of course all of
you in the fleet (without which this we'd have
nothing!).
Peace and Long Life.

-Bry
_______________________________
Rear Admiral Larakizhaan sh'Harena
Commanding Officer | Division Director
USS Goliad NCC-18907-B
Special Operations Division
Independence Fleet
_______________________________