=/\=INDEPENDENCE FLEET NEWSLETTER - DECEMBER 2003=/\=

-- Opening
-- Newbits
-- IDF Academy
-- New Division/Ships
-- IDF Graphics and Design Dept.
-- Current Mission Summaries
-- Awards
-- Interview
-- Removal of Commander in Chief
-- Letter from Former Admiral Star
-- Thanks

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=/\=OPENING=/\=

Good morning IDF officers. This month we have a lot of material for the newsletter. There is so much info, in fact, that no more time is needed for the opening...let's just get right to it.

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=/\=NEWSBITS=/\=

- Lieutenant Thomas Hallet, Chief Engineering Officer of the USS George W. Bush was promoted to Lieutenant Commander and also assumes the additional role as Second Officer of the ship. Congratulations!

- Lieutenant Junior Grades Wei Lu, Venka, and Alain Legard; Chief Medical Officer, Counselor, and Weapons Specialist, have all been promoted to full Lieutenants. Great job!

- Captain Dylan Anderson was relieved of command of the USS Liberty for inactivity due to being AWOL. His replacement is Joseph Carroll, the former XO. Carroll was promoted to captain and now commands the Liberty. In related news, the New Orleans Class Liberty previously in service was destroyed not long ago. IDF Command has commissioned the USS Liberty-A, a Sovereign Class ship, to replace it.

- Captain Fiona Starling, formerly of the Washington, resigned her commission. Her replacement is Nniol N'Var, the former XO. N'Var was promoted to captain and now commands the Washington.

- Rear Admiral James Britanicus has released command of the Horatio Nelson into the hands of Captain James "Rook" Mirtoh. Britanicus still directs the Defense Response Force.

- Former Admiral Star was relieved of command by the Admiralty. [For more info, please see article below.]

- The USS Goliad reached 600 posts on November 19th. The post was sent in by Lieutenant Hevanovich. Keep up the good work.

- Former Rear Admiral Rager is returning to the fleet as Official Webmaster! The fleet is glad to have her back in any capacity.

- The IDF Academy is scheduled to open on January 1st, 2004. [See article below for more information.]

- A new division is scheduled to be launched sometime between January 1st and 15th, 2004. [See article below for more details.]

- The Official IDF Graphics and Design Department is scheduled to be opened sometime between January 1st and 15th, 2004. [For more details, see article below.]

- To express general interest in any future Division Director, Commanding Officer, or Executive Officer openings please visit the IDF homepage at www.angelfire.com/trek/independencefleet and click on the proper join link.

- If anyone has any personal announcements relating to the fleet or personnel within the fleet to submit for future editions of the newsletter, please send them to Admiral West at Insidr524@aol.com. We try to gather all important announcements as the month goes by but would hate to miss anything that could be important to someone. Thanks.

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=/\=IDF ACADEMY=/\=

I am pleased to announce that on January 01 we will be launching the first IDF academy. Starting then, all new recruits will be put through the academy and all future COs and XOs will have special classes in the academy. There will also be many optional fun classes for you to take if you like.

The webpage is still under construction but will be released very shortly.

Also, we are in need of instructors, if you feel you have legit skills to be an instructor please send me (Vice Admiral Dragonetti poisonwake@yahoo.com) an email answering the following questions:

1) What would you like to teach?
2) What are your qualifications?
3) What ideas do you have?
4) What improvements do you have for future recruits?

This is very exciting time, and I'd like to extend a very special thanks to Commander AC MacGyver of the USS Horatio Nelson. She has very generously donated a lot of her time to help with the academy. She will play a very vital part in running this, alongside with myself. Please give her a large thanks as well.

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=/\=NEW DIVISION/SHIPS=/\=

IDF is launching a new division with two vessels sometime between the 1st and 15th of January, 2004! The official name of the division has not been decided as of yet, however, we can tell you that it is going to be some kind of medical/rescue/research themed division.

The division director for this division is going to be Rear Admiral Kallan Maverik! You may remember her also as former Minerva XO Entera Danae. Stay tuned for updates from your neighborhood Admiralty and/or Commanding Officer. We will bring you the facts, as they happen!

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=/\=IDF GRAPHICS AND DESIGN DEPARTMENT=/\=

Also launching between the 1st of 15th of January 2004, the new IDFGDD will be co-directed by Lieutenants Dunmore and Hevanovich from the GWB and Goliad. These two artists have helped the Admiralty before with the fleet logo (originally created by Admiral West) and the new ship link-tabs on the IDF homepage.

The purpose of the GGD is to create and provide high quality images and designs to all IDF personnel to use for individual fleet websites and crew biographies. Examples of these designs are, but not limited to: Personalized sim banners, logos, symbols, awards and medals, dedication plaques, ID cards, and pictures of celebrities or whatnot in Trek outfits for pictures in crew bios!

Stay tuned for updates from your neighborhood Admiralty and/or Commanding Officer. We will bring you the facts, as they happen!

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=/\=MISSION SUMMARIES=/\=

Here are a few of the many current missions in which our ships/bases are involved in...

***

USS Goliad - "BIOHAZARD"

The USS Goliad has responded to a vague distress call from the USS Yorktown and arrive to find it adrift in a dense EM field which inhibits shields, weapons lock, communications and transporters. An away team, led by Captain Zhaan go over to investigate. What they find is a nightmare. A mysterious biological agent aboard is effecting the crew and turning them into mindless zombies, and there an undercover Operative aboard the Goliad is there to collect combat data.

Captain Larakizhaan sh'Harena
Commanding Officer
USS Goliad NCC-18907-A

***

USS George W. Bush

The GWB has gone back to Earth to get a long overdue refit. While on Earth, the beloved Chief Tactical Officer has proposed to his girlfriend and they are supposed to get married. However, 5 days before the wedding, The crew is contacted by Admiral Johaan of Starfleet HQ. Apparently the son of the late Admiral Weaver, our current ACEO Michael Weaver is the prime suspect of the recent murder of a Klingon Ambassador.

The GWB has been assigned to find evidence against Weaver, however, being a friend of the family, Johaan has asked that the Bush look for evidence to help Michael prove his innocence.

Michael has gone missing. Can the GWB crew find him? Did he commit the crime? What about the wedding? Will they be able to find the culprit of the crime? These questions and many more are sure to be answered, in............*Until Death do us Part.*

--submitted by Lt. Ryan Dunmore, CTO

***

USS Excalibur

The Excalibur is sent to Sector 221-G to replace Capt. Calhoun's ship on patrol. While exploring the sector, they encounter the Great Bird of the Galaxy. The Great Bird deposits an egg in the Excalibur's Warp Core and asks McCloud to take the egg to a system 35 light years away. The system contains a Red Giant and McCloud must get the Egg there in ten days or the Excalibur will be destroyed by the growing offspring of the Great Bird. What will they encounter along the way? Will they get there in time to save the ship? Read our posts to find out.

Respectively submitted by,

Capt. Steven McCloud
CO USS Excalibur NCC-2997

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=/\=AWARD WINNERS=/\=

And now we announce the award winners for this month. Only four sims submitted nominees before the award voting process was started, but even so, there was excellent and outstanding work in the fleet as always!

***

Best Character Post(s)
Lieutenant Wei Lu, USS Washington Post #2766 and #2769

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Washington11988/message/777
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Washington11988/message/783

***

Best Story Post
Dr. Paula Fredricks, USS Excalibur Post #3406
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/uss-excalibur/message/4175

***

Funniest Post
Lt. Commander Natasha Cruix, USS Goliad Post #590
http://www.topica.com/lists/goliad18907/read/message.html?mid=807807798&sort=d&s\ tart=1018

***

Genesis Award
Captain Zhaan, USS Goliad #618
http://www.topica.com/lists/goliad18907/read/message.html?mid=807887022&sort=d&s\ tart=1043

***

Most Valuable Poster: Lieutenant Alain Legard, USS Washington

Gerard has consistently worked to keep the storylines flowing. He is always willing to help other players, whether it is with their skills stats or a post. He consistently comes through with plot advancing posts. He is always willing to help out with the webpage, or anything else that is asked of him. He does this while juggling the responsibilities of school, college apps, and while being a newspaper editor for his school newspaper. He's definitely worth more than we pay him!

***

Most Improved Poster: Dr. Winters, USS George W. Bush

Winters has been a crewmember of the George W. Bush for about 5 months, and has usually just been a small voice in our missions. She has begun to step it up a notch and to become more lively in the storylines. Her writing has improved a great deal and so has her use of characters-- for all those reasons, I nominate her for Most Improved.

***

Outstanding Simmer: Gabrial Barns, USS Excalibur

Jeff, who plays Gabe Barns the civilian weapons specialist was in Kuwait and this month started his journey home. While in transit back to the United States, he was able to post 18.5 times and added to the X's mission greatly. This is what I call an Outstanding Poster.

***

Rookie of the Month: Ensign Olymbia Lymberia, USS Goliad

Joining the ship on a short break between mission she posted twice, both of them well written and introduced her character well. I'm looking forward to working with her in the future.

***

Recruitment Award: Lt.(jg) Ceras, USS Goliad, 1 recruit

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Most Posts: Captain Steve McCloud of the USS Excalibur had 36 posts, however, since COs are uneligible for awards besides Genesis (at this time, may or may not change in the near future), Commander Ingoldo of the Excalibur wins by default with 31 posts.

***

Congratulations to all the award winners this month!

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=/\=INTERVIEW=/\=

This is the first interview conducted by Ace Decade as Official Fleet Interviewer! That's right folks, Ace Decade is now the Official Fleet Interviewer. It is a high prestige position that Ace does very well. Let's take a look at some of his work here.

***

Today, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Lt. Ryan Dunmore. Dunmore talks about his awards, Captain Absecon, where he sees himself in the future and who would win in a fight between Bill Clinton and Bill Gates.

Decade: I am sitting here with Ryan James Dunmore of the USS George W. Bush. Ryan first I want to thank you for taking the time out of your future Hall of Fame career life, and chatting with us.

Dunmore: *laughs* I'd hardly call it a hall of fame career but thank you, anyways.

Decade: Don't argue son it makes you look bad. Would you prefer me to say, "I am sitting here with this piss poor simmer, Ryan Dunmore?"

Dunmore: *laughs again* Very true. I accept the first welcome instead of the second.

Decade: Just kidding. So Ryan, what got you into this crazy world we call simming? Where did it all begin? How did it start?

Dunmore: Well, it was about a year ago. The now retired Admiral Star had just handed the GWB over to then Captain Jasson Asuka. I was on the Gamefaqs.com message boards. While on the Star Trek board, I noticed a cleverly placed ad for a website claiming to have a trek ship called the "USS George W. Bush." Being curious I went. Once I looked around, I realized it was a simulation game, and I joined. I guess you could say the rest is history.

Decade: Interesting. How would you compare Jason Assuka to your current CO, Julie Absecon?

Dunmore: Oh great put me on the spot huh? *laughs*

Decade: I try.

Dunmore: *laughs again* Well, they are both very different. I have yet to find a flaw in either one of them during my stay on the GWB. Asuka was a very nice guy, and he seemed to love simming with us on the GWB. It was quite sad to have him leave us. But life moves on. As for Abescon, I think she is a wonderful person in and out of character. I feel sorry for her though. She is in school still and I talk with her on AIM, all of the time. She is always bogged down with homework. But yet she makes enough time, to post, work on the website, and entertain my ideas for the ship. *laughs* I know she tries her best to do her job. Sometimes maybe even too hard. By the way I'd like to go on record to state that I am not sucking up to get a promotion. *laughs again*

Decade: Of course you're not. Ryan, your current ranking is Lt. How long did it take you to get to where you are today and do you see yourself moving up in the rankings anytime soon?

Dunmore: Well, I was promoted from ensign to Lt JG in April. At that point Julie had just taken over the GWB and asked me to become her new Second Officer. In September she promoted me again to Lt. This past month I had been extra busy with school and some out of character stuff, like the new images on the website. So unfortunately, I was not able to post as much as I wanted to. So when awards/promotions came around for November, she decided not to promote me. It was warranted, in my opinion. You need to do simming to get promoted. So, my friend Mike aka Lt Tom Hallet was promoted to Lt. Cmdr and I gave up my position as second officer. Which she didn't make me. Just so everyone knows. I felt it was necessary. But as far as me moving up, all I have to say is that I am trying to be more active, and I am going to try and get back with my friend so he can't order me around anymore. *laughs* But I hope to make Lt. Cmdr. by next newsletter and before I leave for my short LOA/vacation.

Decade: Well, I wish you the best of luck. In April you won your first award in IDF, the Recruitment Award. The same award top simmers like Ashla Bogan(2), Gorath(2), Sutak, James Mirtoh, Be'karlsa to name a few, took home in the past. But unlike those simmers, you had to share it with one Airika Calhoun of the USS Excalibur. Tell me, did you sharing your first award make it less meaningful?

Dunmore: Well, it kinda took away from the glory, but it was just the recruitment award. I mean don't get me wrong, it was still a great honor. But recruitment doesn't even require a reason why the person was nominated. Just the fact that they did bring on some new people. Which like a lot of things I have tried, failed. Considering they stayed onboard for about 1 month. *shrugs his shoulders* Oh well.

Decade: Well, it's the effort that counts, not how long they stay. So just remember that. Ryan, later this year, in September, you won your first individual award, Most Improved. Most Improved is a very important award. How does it feel to have your name on a list that consists of simmers like, James Britanicus, Jason Assuka, Talin Southbranche and the very first MIP winner, Rebecca Dax?

Dunmore: Now that one is a true honor. When the captain wrote up the nomination for MIP, I felt important. Then one night I was sitting in front of my computer and my friend, Captain N'Var of the Washington came on. She said, "Congratulations!!" and I was confused. Apparently, then Captain Starling had already forwarded the newsletter to her crew and N'Var saw my name on there as MIP. And she gave me an early congratulations. So now I knew what was going on, so I was forwarded the newsletter to see for myself. I was so excited you don't even understand.

Decade: Of course, the most honorable award is the Most Valuable Player (MVP). Do you see yourself winning this award? If you do, you will be on a list full of Hall of Famers. Just to name a few; Tavik, Steve McCloud, Yarg Nolram, Ingoldo and perhaps the greatest of all, our first MVP winner, Ace Decade.

Dunmore: You were the first one? Congrats! But anyways, I don't think I might ever be good enough to get that Award. I hope to someday, but I don't think I can. Of course though, you never know whats gonna happen next on the GWB.

Decade: Anyone can if they try. And. . .you need to read up on your fleet's history my friend. On to another question. What types of missions do you prefer? Horror, suspense, action, etc? What would you like to see more of? And thanks for the late congratulations.

Dunmore: No problem. I will have to check out the history sometime. As for the missions that I prefer, I'd have to say, Action missions, with some suspense in them. Like most people on the GWB we like a good deal of plot twists involved. Sometimes we get so many we don't know what's going on. At least Captain A is able to decipher all of it and do one of our "famous" summary posts, to try and straighten everyone out.

Decade: Action is amongst the favorites in IDF. If you were to pick on the one simmer that has stood out in your mind to be the best ever, in your years worth of service, who would that simmer be?

Dunmore: Wow, just one. Hmmmm there are many I'd like to think of as some of the best simmers. Captain A, Captain N'var, Captain Zhaan, all stand out. I'd probably have to say one person I'd have to say though that really sticks out in my mind is Tom Hallet. We started around the same time. And not only did our characters become friends, I'd say that we are pretty good friends too. Not only that. I have watched him improve so much over the past 6 months it isn't even funny. I'd have to say he has stood out the most, in my opinion.

Decade: Ah, good 'ole Tom. Great simmer. Do you look to finish your career with the GWB, or perhaps move elsewhere to another ship in IDF?

Dunmore: *laughs* I've used this expression with Captain A before, I am the Will Riker to her being Captain Picard. If I ever get a command in IDF, it was the GWB. It has a sentimental value to me. Of course now, I have to go through Tom, Marko and her to accomplish my goal.

Decade: Ryan I am going to wrap this interview up, but before I do I am going to compare somethings and I want you to pick what you think is best, or like the best etc.

Dunmore: Okay.

Decade: Which do you prefer? Coke or Pepsi?

Dunmore: Pepsi all the way, favorite drink in character and out of character

Decade: In a fight who would win? Bill Clinton or Bill Gates?

Dunmore: Bill Clinton, Sax players can fight man. *laughs*

Decade: Who is the better simmer of the four? Sutak, Ace Decade, Charles Star or James West?

Dunmore: Well, now, on the spot again, eh Captain. Well, I'd have to say West since he is the only one that I have simmed with of the four.

Decade: Which is the better show? Seinfeld or Friends?

Dunmore: Friends, I don't like Seinfield

Decade: Who would you marry, do and kill out of these three woman? J-Lo, Jennifer Garner and Madonna?

Dunmore: *laughs really hard* Now that's a question. Ok in this order Marry; Garner, Do; all three, and Kill; none they are all cool.

Decade: And finally, which movie do you like best, Jurassic Park or E.T.: The Extraterrestrial?

Dunmore: Jurassic Park, ET was cool when I was a kid but I can't even watch it now.

Decade: I want to thank you for your time once again Ryan. I wish you the best of luck in your simming career, as you are a young one and have many great moments a head of you.

Dunmore: Thank you, Captain, I really enjoyed this.

Decade: Thank you, and I will be looking for you at the top one day.

Dunmore: *laughs* I hope so.

***

Ace did an extremely good job. We thank him for his time and work. Ace is also working on a top 20 list of great simmers from IDF. More info will come later.

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=/\=REMOVAL OF COMMANDER IN CHIEF=/\=

On December 2nd of 2003, Former Admiral Charles Star was relieved by the rest of the Admiralty. Former Admiral Star was unable to fulfill his duties as Commander in Chief, as he promised to do when returning from being AWOL the first time, causing the recent fleet split. Essentially, the Former Admiral promised forward movement in the fleet, even with the loss of those sims, but none came.

After begging and pleading with Mr. Star for some time, trying to get things authorized and not suceeding (as the rest of the Admiralty's hands were tied without the order from Star), we made the decision that the fleet could not move forward quickly enough, waiting, hoping, for Star to respond to us. On the night of the 2nd, the fleet was back under the control of the Admiralty as a working unit, and now we have the resources and authorization to expand and launch all these wonderful things for us all. We hope to be the internet's premier Star Trek Role Play by E-Mail by next summer!

We have a wonderful fleet staff here including our own Director of Fleet Development; Vice Admiral Dragonetti, and she is very good at her job here. She, and all of us here at IDF, will keep working to bring to you the latest and most creative ideas to make the fleet a great place to sim!

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=/\=LETTER FROM FORMER ADMIRAL STAR=/\=

The Admiralty agreed to let Former Admiral Star write a letter about his recent removal from the CinC position to be published in the newsletter, unedited. It seems that the Former CinC is very upset over this and wants to hold a grudge and bash the Admiralty as if the fleet will not survive without him. Essentially, he does not believe in any of us, Admiralty or Officers. Let's see what he has to say in his own words...

***

Due to an unforseen technicality, we were unable to publish the letter in this edition of the newsletter. Turns out that the letter was way too long to fit in one e-mail along with the rest of this information. So, the Admiralty will be releasing the Former Admiral's letter in a separate document to follow right after the issuance of the newsletter. Stay tuned for it!

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=/\=THANKS=/\=

Thank you to Former Admiral Star, Vice Admiral Dragonetti, Ace Decade, Captain Zhaan, Rear Admiral Britanicus, and Lieutenant Dunmore.

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=/\=END TRANSMISSION=/\=

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Admiral James West
Director of Operations
Independence Fleet
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