What an anniversary month we have had! While it’s been a great time of celebration and reflection for our fleet, you might also have heard about our very own USS Firebird cleaning up at the recent Khitomer Peace Awards (2026 Q1). Well, here’s the total haul:
Congratulations to Malcom, Rhiana, and the rest of the Firebird crew for an outstanding performance and for being recognized by a premier external organization with these well deserved honors!
We are also pleased to announce that Michael Intermeezo will be promoted to Vice Admiral, assuming the newly created position of Chief of Operations effective August 1st. In this role, his primary responsibility will be leading our simulations to help them maximize their potential. Intermeezo previously served as Commanding Officer of the USS Chuck Norris, where he did an amazing job guiding the crew through highly imaginative missions.
We are thrilled to welcome Vice Admiral Intermeezo to the staff as he helps our fleet continue to become everything it can be for our members. And congratulations again to the USS Firebird!
It’s always hard to start something new, and Starfleet Academy is no exception. This post has everything you want in a character driven arc, from start to end, the situation, the dialogue, and character feel real and grounded.
Best Post (Joint Post)
Cmdr. Dean House & Capt. Rhenora Kaylen & Cmdr. Jenna Ramthorne & Cmdr. Savar cha’Salik hei-Surak Talek-sen-deen & Lt. Cmdr. Thriss Kla’ren & Lt. Cmdr. Aurora Vali & Lt. JG Micheal Stevens & Lt. JG Jacob Rosen & Lt. JG Rowan Hale & Lt. JG Olivia Voight & Lt. JG T’Lar & Ens. Kitiuas Thenis ie-Jia’anKahr & S’thenosis Gorgox & Cmdr. Jennifer Baldric & Cmdr. Rosa Coy & Lt. Cmdr. Bonnie “Bon-Bon” Durnell & Remal Kajun 2O / CO / CFCO / XO / CEO / CC / CRO / COO / CMO / MO / C / SO / Guest / MA / ACFCO / CSS / C USS Sunfire
The somber beginning of this post, and the sudden gear shift when crisis arrives shows both a creative story and how when you have enough cooks in the kitchen, you can create something great.
Funniest Post
Ensign Aidan “A.J.” Reid & Ensign Kevin Mitchell & Lieutenant JG Benjamin “Ben” Dalton IS / IS / ACIO USS Washington
A great duality, when you should be professional, and you can be professional, but when you also know people’s internal monologues, it adds both great insight and humor as well.
An interesting atmosphere to start a very interesting mission, with some cloak and dagger.
MVP
Commander Rhiana t’Aegis Chief Security & Tactical Officer USS Firebird
The Security and Tactical Officer continues to be a rock for the sim despite personal loss, showing extreme range in creativity and collaboration. She is the backbone of the Firebird.
Most Posts
Commander Jenna Ramthorne Chief Flight Control Officer USS Sunfire
For writing 25 posts.
Most Improved
Lieutenant Imik S’Niohun Chief Security/Tactical Officer USS Washington
Another Chief Security/Tactical Officer really showing her range with highly varied contributions, with great plot twists and openings for other players.
Rookie of the Month
None this month.
Recruitment
None this month.
Rear Admiral Aurther Winters Director of Personnel Independence Fleet
A great writer knows how to write for different cultures and perspectives, and this captures it very well, building the tension without being melodramatic.
A great post, having two characters interact, help move the plot along while doing a great job setting up tension without it being thrown directly into the reader’s face.
Funniest Post
Cmdr. Jenna Ramthorne & Lt. Cmdr. Bonnie “Bon-Bon” Durnell & Cmdr. Dean House CFCO / CSS / CTO USS Sunfire
Well written, and deep with characters and themes. An interesting look at how you can plan for one thing, and maybe take the more difficult path instead.
MVP
Lieutenant JG Kate Kono Intelligence Officer USS Washington
The Washington’s Intelligence Officer wrote 10 truly outstanding posts, a good mix of joint and solo posts, that took the story in highly creative directions.
Most Posts
Commander Jonathan Grayson Executive Officer USS Washington
For writing 12 posts.
Most Improved
Commander Donald “Don” Key Flight Control Officer USS Albion
Commander Key came roaring back with a bang taking the mission in a distinctly comedic direction while also involving the whole crew and fleshing out mission specific NPCs.
The new Trill Tactical Officer was chomping at the bit while the mission concluded. Has jumped in with multiple excellent posts and has integrated well with the diverse crew.
Recruitment
None this month.
There is one more piece of business. It turns out that Admiral Star did miss one award in Awardapalooza a few weeks back. While we did announce Ken Gillis’s 2022 Simming Prize via social media, we never included it in a blog post. Well, that is now corrected! Here is his citation in full straight from The Simming Prize:
“With an illustrious career spanning decades in multiple groups and roles, the breadth of his accomplishments is unrivaled. From both his and simming’s early days as founder of Pi Fleet, Administrator of RolePlayerUSA, and the 11th President of the Simming League to more recently as Executive Officer of Independence Fleet, Chair of FallFest, and serving as a board member at multiple organizations, his selfless efforts to positively impact to the broader community are exactly what we need today.”
Rear Admiral Aurther Winters Director of Personnel Independence Fleet
That’s how you start a mission! I can’t wait to see where it goes.
MVP
Cmdr. Rhiana t’Aegis Chief Security/Tactical Officer USS Firebird
She does it month in and month out: writing outstanding posts, collaborating on the mission, planning for the future, recruiting, and managing the Discord channel. Well done!
Most Posts
Commander Jenna Ramthorne Chief Flight Control Officer USS Sunfire
For writing 13 posts.
Most Improved
Lieutenant Imik S’Niohun Chief Security/Tactical Officer USS Washington
Returning from an LOA, she jumped back in with the crew with some great writing that she’s already well known for.
Rookie of the Month
Lieutenant Devin Hadenbeer Infiltration Specialist USS Firebird
The new Infiltration Specialist wrote an amazing character, has been a joy for the crew to sim with, and has already positively influenced the ship’s culture.
Recruitment
Cmdr. Rhiana t’Aegis Chief Security/Tactical Officer USS Firebird
Due to her work and diligence, the Firebird has welcomed two new players to the sim.
Rear Admiral Aurther Winters Director of Personnel Independence Fleet
A nice ironic look at Klingons and how absurd things can be when you take it to the exact opposite of how a culture should act and be treated leads to the laughs.
Genesis
Capt. Malcom Llwyedd & Cmdr. Rhiana t’Aegis & Cmdr. Jörgen Leed & Lt. Cmdr. Elias Ford & Lt. Hank Solomon & Lt. Jackson Smith & MCPO Harris Zim & Cmdr. Elizabeth “Beth” Boyle CO / CSTO / CDO / CMO / CSO / CIO / CB / XO USS Firebird
This is just a great classic beginning to a Star Trek story. The suspense, multiple different views to a problem, and best of all, a problem that needs to be addressed and a high level of urgency.
MVP
Lieutenant JG Kate Kono Intelligence Officer USS Washington
The Intel Officer was outstanding from start to finish showing a wide range of emotion in her writing.
Most Posts
Commander Jenna Ramthorne Chief Flight Control Officer USS Sunfire
For writing 18 posts.
Most Improved
Ensign Kit Thenis ie-Jia’anKahr Science Officer USS Sunfire
The Science Officer returned to the Sunfire after a short break and slid effortlessly back into action with 7 excellent posts.
Rookie of the Month
None this month.
Recruitment
None this month.
Rear Admiral Aurther Winters Director of Personnel Independence Fleet
Ensign Emilynn Dove Operations Officer USS Firebird
The Ensign is a dynamic presence in and out of the story, writing truly outstanding posts while constantly helping others. She is the type of player the who raises up everything about the sim.
Most Posts
Commander Jonathan Grayson Executive Officer USS Washington
For writing 11 posts.
Most Improved
Ensign Kitiuas Thenis ie-Jia’anKahr Science Officer USS Sunfire
The Ensign returned from LOA with a bang, complete with excellent posts and plot twists. It was as if she had never left.
Rookie of the Month
Lieutenant JG Thalek zh’Vareth Chief Medical Officer USS Sunfire
New new CMO dove straight in with complex medial storylines. An amazing entrance–that’s how it’s done.
Recruitment
None this month.
Don’t worry, we’ll be back to your regularly scheduled host next month.
Commander Rhiana t’Aegis Second Officer USS Firebird
The Firebird’s 2O stepped up her participation in May as acting XO. In addition to advising the CO on sim matters, she played a valuable role in crew OOC discussions. She is an indispensable member of the sim.
Most Posts
Commander Jonathan Grayson Executive Officer USS Washington
For writing 10 posts.
Most Improved
Lt. Cmdr. Callie Raven-Grayson Chief Counselor USS Washington
The Washington’s Counselor had an excellent month, taking events from the prior mission and turning them into an opportunity for excellent character development for both herself and others. She also finished #2 on the sim in total posts.
Rookie of the Month
Lieutenant Ánderijá “Rija” Rautajärvi Assistant Chief Engineering Officer USS Washington
The Washington’s new Engineer recently joined, and though only aboard for the final week of the month, she has already shown outstanding writing and collaboration in solo and joint posting.
Recruitment
Commander Jonathan Grayson Executive Officer USS Washington
Recruited one new player who won two fleet awards in her first month.
Rear Admiral Aurther Winters Director of Personnel Independence Fleet
The entire crew coming together to get the start of a mission off with a bang! Depth, intrigue, and off to the Gamma Quadrant, I can’t wait to see where it heads to!
MVP
Commander Jonathan Grayson Executive Officer USS Washington
It was almost a foregone conclusion that he would win something this month with his hands in nearly every Washington post. Great work, excellent overall plot, and strong character development for himself and everyone else because of him.
Most Posts
Commander Jonathan Grayson Executive Officer USS Washington
For writing 9 posts.
Most Improved
Ensign Emilynn Dove Operations Officer USS Firebird
Participated in four joint posts. She is continually seeking to become a better writer, takes advice well, and makes excellent changes. Still passionate about simming, she has seen an incredible improvement in the last few months.
Rookie of the Month
None this month.
Recruitment
Commander Mashiro Munetani “Shiro” Executive Officer USS Wayfarer
Hot on the recruitment trail for both the Wayfarer and the fleet, actively seeking new players.
Rear Admiral Aurther Winters Director of Personnel Independence Fleet
It’s high time we recognize some of the truly amazing simming and online role playing that makes this fleet a special place–a place where people join and stick around.
Congratulations to all of our latest award winners below!
The Special Commendation Medal is awarded for achievement above and beyond the call of duty at the crewmember level.
Special Commendation Medal
Awarded to Lieutenant Owen Woodhouse of the USS Firebird for outstanding role playing. A charter member of the Firebird, he has done it all from writing for a variety of characters to introducing meaningful plot twists to setting up other players to take the lead. A master recruiter, he has brought in four players new to simming and has one Recruitment award win.
Awarded to Lieutenant Commander Rhiana t’Aegis of the USS Firebird for outstanding role playing. A member of the Firebird since shortly after its founding, the detail and nuance of her writing is second to none. She has contributed to multiple post awards and has also been a key leader in managing the ship’s website and teaching and training newer players.
Awarded to Commander Dean House of the USS Sunfire for outstanding role playing. One the remaining transfers from the Sunfire-Liberty sim swap, he continues to be an integral part of the crew. An excellent all around writer, he totals 9.61 awards, good for 15th place all-time, which includes 0.92 Best Posts, 3.18 Funniest Posts, 1 MVP, and 1.5 Recruitment awards.
Awarded to Commander Samantha Howard of the USS Washington for outstanding role playing. A superior simmer in all respects, she has won 5.23 Best Posts, 3.7 Funniest Posts, two Most Posts, and two MVPs, which are part of a grand total of 14.93 total awards, good for sixth place all-time. She simultaneously leads while filling in the gaps.
Awarded to Commander Kevin Lance of the USS Chuck Norris for outstanding role playing leadership. Recently stepping up to the Executive Officer role, he has not missed a beat. Mentoring others while leading high quality collaboration, he currently ranks 9th all-time with 13.4 total awards–an impressive stat line that includes 2.2 Best Posts, two Funniest Posts, seven Most Posts, and two MVPs.
Awarded to Commander Mashiro Munetani “Shiro” of the USS Wayfarer for outstanding role playing leadership. As the Wayfarer’s longtime Executive Officer, she expertly guides both experienced and novice players in working together to creatively advance the plot. She has totaled 2.96 monthly awards across his career that has seen the Wayfarer more than make its mark.
Awarded to Commander Savar cha’Salik hei-Surak Talek-sen-deen of the USS Sunfire for outstanding role playing leadership. As the Sunfire’s longtime Executive Officer, he always knows just what is needed–an update to the website, help to a newer player, or a witty plot twist. He currently ranks 13th all-time with 11.54 total awards, which includes five Most Posts and three MVPs.
Awarded to Captain Michael Murphy of the USS Montana for outstanding role playing leadership. Since promoted to Commanding Officer, he was the prototypical Executive Officer during his long tenure in the position. Winning a variety of awards–0.25 Best Posts, 0.5 Funniest Posts, two MVPs, and two Recruitment awards–he did all the big and little things that mattered.
The Command Excellence Medal is awarded for achievement above and beyond the call of duty at the sim Commanding Officer level.
Command Excellence Medal
Awarded to Captain Akeno Misaki for commanding the USS Wayfarer from 2020 through today for a remarkable 52 total months in command thus far. Known for beginning and facilitating wildly imaginative missions, she has taken home 2.24 Genesis awards and 2.81 Best Posts within her 5.17 total awards. She sets the standard for the modern Commanding Officer.
