USS Sunfire Archives - Independence Fleet

Monthly Awards: August 2025

Posted on September 30, 2025 | by Aurther Winters | Leave a Comment

Ensign Helle Leed
Biologist
USS Firebird

For “Anomaly: The Flame Remembers”

Written so well it’s like you’re there.

Best Post (Joint Post)

Capt. Rhenora Kaylen & SCPO Ronson Mitchell & Cmdr. Jenna Ramthorne & Cmdr. Savar cha’Salik hei-Surak Talek-sen-deen & Lt. Cmdr. Aurora Vali & Lt. JG Ngaza & Ens. Kitiuas Thenis ie-Jia’anKahr & Lt. Cmdr. Bonnie “Bon-Bon” Durnell
CO / Y / CFCO / XO / CC / CSOO / SO / CSS
USS Sunfire

For “Looking Deeper”

It’s a symphony of collaboration.

Funniest Post

PO3 Thyra Kevensdotter & Capt. Malcom Llwyedd & Ens. Emilynn Dove & MCPO Harris Zim
RO / CO / OO / CB
USS Firebird

For “Fool Me Once”

I definitely wanted to read this one more than once.

Genesis

Capt. Mira Rodale Lance & Cmdr. Kevin Lance & Lt. Cmdr. Awal Kronnelti & Lt. Betaras K’ner
CO / XO / CSTO / CMO
USS Chuck Norris

For “And then there was”

A great way to start the next chapter.

MVP

Commander Jenna Ramthorne
Chief Flight Control Officer
USS Sunfire

She has been an absolute powerhouse this month with a great mix of solo and joint posts while simultaneously wrapping up one mission and setting up the next.

Most Posts

Commander Jenna Ramthorne
Chief Flight Control Officer
USS Sunfire

For writing 11 posts.

Most Improved

Lieutenant JG James Phoenix
Tactical Officer
USS Washington

Coming off a non-stop action month, he somehow still found a way to step it up with some truly outstanding posting.

Rookie of the Month

Ensign Fiona Flores
Communications and Operations Officer
USS Montana

She jumped right into joint posts with multiple crew members, improving both the quality and quantity of the ship’s posts. She has just the right recommendations to improve the story–a welcomed addition!

Recruitment

None this month.

Rear Admiral Aurther Winters
Director of Personnel
Independence Fleet

Monthly Awards: July 2025

Posted on August 30, 2025 | by Charles Star | Leave a Comment

It’s just me, your guest host this month!

Commander Kevin Lance
Executive Officer
USS Chuck Norris

For “Indecent Proposal”

Only on the Chuck Norris.

Best Post (Joint Post)

Cmdr. Jenna Ramthorne & Lt. Cmdr. Bonnie “Bon-Bon” Durnell & Capt. Rhenora Kaylen & Cmdr. Savar cha’Salik hei-Surak Talek-sen-deen & Cmdr. Dean House & Lt. Cmdr. Aurora Vali & Lt. JG Micheal Stevens & Lt. JG Thalek zh’Vareth & Ens. Kitiuas Thenis ie-Jia’anKahr & Cmdr. Jennifer Baldric & Lt. Cmdr. Rynn Upland & Lt. Sarah Wilson
CFCO / CSS / CO / XO / CTO / CC / CRO / CMO / SO / MA / ACEO / MO
USS Sunfire

For “Flight of the Saviours”

A fast paced montage that hits all the right notes, even if Saviors is spelled wrong.

Funniest Post

Capt. Malcom Llwyedd & Cmdr. Rhiana t’Aegis & Lt. Zub Enel & PO3 Thyra Kevensdotter & Ens. Gianna Djokovic & Lt. JG Peter “Jinx” Kooba
CO / CSTO / ACSTO / SO / TO / SIO
USS Firebird

For “Evaluation: Security and Tactical”

When everyone has to play the game.

Genesis

None this month.

MVP

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.

Monthly Awards: June 2025

Posted on July 24, 2025 | by Aurther Winters | 1 Comment

Ensign Emilynn Dove
Operations Officer
USS Firebird

For “Courage to fly”

Excellent, hits all the right notes.

Best Post (Joint Post)

Capt. Mira Rodale Lance & Cmdr. Kevin Lance & Lt. Cmdr. Awal Kronnelti & Lt. Tracey Walker Jr & Lt. Betaras K’ner
CO / XO / CSTO / CEO / CMO
USS Chuck Norris

For “What in the World?”

Now that’s a Chuck Norris post.

Funniest Post

Lt. Cmdr. Bonnie “Bon-Bon” Durnell & Cmdr. Dean House
CSS / CTO
USS Sunfire

For “Dinner and Some Drinking”

Up to trouble on the Sunfire.

Genesis

Capt. Alex Shepard & Cmdr. Mei Irizaki
CO / XO
USS Eminence

For “Genesis”

It literally is Genesis.

MVP

Commander Jenna Ramthorne
Chief Flight Control Officer
USS Sunfire

In addition to keeping the Sunfire’s engine room tidy, the consistent top notch writing and and comic relief are something to behold.

Most Posts

Ensign Emilynn Dove
Operations Officer
USS Firebird

For writing 9 posts.

Most Improved

Lieutenant Ánderijá “Rija” Rautajärvi
Assistant Chief Engineering Officer
USS Washington

In his first full month, he has continues to impress with strong and collaborative posting that advances story while also being very interesting and full of character development.

Rookie of the Month

Ensign Kasm
Security Officer
USS Washington

Coming aboard as a new player is tough, even more so when you are playing a new and unique species, but here is Ensign Kasm showcasing exactly how it’s done.

Recruitment

None this month.

Rear Admiral Aurther Winters
Director of Personnel
Independence Fleet

24th Anniversary Webcast: Saturday @ 1pm Eastern

Posted on July 23, 2025 | by Charles Star | Leave a Comment

Beam up to our Discord Server this Saturday, July 26th at 1:00 pm EDT (-4) / 6:00 pm BST (+1) for our anniversary webcast celebration. In addition to spinning the awards big wheel to see who will win real prizes this year, host Ken Gillis has a few surprises this round. See you there!

For the second year in a row, it appears that we didn’t publish a recap following the last anniversary webcast:

Frist place: Remal Kajun of the USS Sunfire

Second place: Captain Mira Rodale of the USS Chuck Norris

Third place: Captain Rhenora Kaylen of the USS Sunfire

The bridge of a futuristic starship, designed with a circular seating arrangement. In the center, a large, command chair is surrounded by four other seats, all with ergonomic, cream-colored upholstery. The curved ceiling has a series of geometric panels with ambient lighting. Behind the seats, large control consoles with touch-screen interfaces are mounted on the walls. Two doorways and an elevator are visible on either side of the bridge.

The Most Important 24th Anniversary in the Universe

Posted on July 4, 2025 | by Charles Star | 7 Comments

Happy 24th Anniversary, Independence Fleet! These anniversaries seem to be happening quicker and quicker these days! Continuing a tradition we began a few years ago, we again have a video message from a very special guest:

As some of you are already aware, we recently acquired a prop used on Star Trek V: The Final Frontier during the shuttle crash landing scene:

See it on the right side of the screen next to the stacked barrels? Yes, that’s it!

Turns out, it’s a miniature of a highly prolific movie prop. Dubbed the “most important device in the universe” by some, it’s been used in more than 200 movies and television shows. Ex Astris Scientia notes that this full sized version appears in two Star Trek movies and six episodes, and refers to it as “blinking tubes” here.

This guy even created his own working copy of the thing. This full-size device belonged to Modern Props, which unfortunately closed back in 2020. While we don’t know the fate of Modern Props #195-290-1, we’re happy to hold a piece of history with this mini version. What did we do with it?

We asked each ship to write a post using the object in some way. Here are those submissions in alphabetical order by sim:

A Tale of Two Spragues (and Keys) by the USS Albion
What in the World? by the USS Chuck Norris
Transfer Arrival by the USS Churchill
Genesis by the USS Eminence
The Thing Is Broken by the USS Firebird
Shakedown out the window by the USS Liberty
Potential Problem by the USS Montana
Ikar’s Folly by the USS Sunfire
Brigid’s Gift by the USS Washington
Goes Nowhere, Does Nothing by the USS Wayfarer

We then asked three individuals from independent sims to serve as judges:

Christie of Gnashville
Tavey of USS Potemkin
WizardBeard of Memory Theta

And your winners are…

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1st Place: USS Chuck Norris for What in the World? CO: Captain Mira Rodale	2nd Place: USS Washington for Brigid’s Gift CO: Captain Shran dh’Klar	3rd Place: USS Sunfire for Ikar’s Folly CO: Captain Rhenora Kaylen
“Any device that knows that Raktajino is needed is awesome in my opinion. Awesome plot.” “I liked the casual subtlety that was employed here.” “The writing style here is very clean with very good grammar, which makes it easy to read. Well done!”	“This post had peak Treknobabble and it was fantastic.” “Disclosure – I have a fascination with Celtic deities, so I was immediately drawn in anyway. This was fun, and I am curious about what happens next!” “I absolutely adore the Quantum Physics take.”	“Starfleet and Snow.. Neat.” “‘Outsmarted by snow’ is definitely a new take on the ‘acts of God’ trope and I am here for it!” “I found the battle portions to be particularly engaging, especially the dialogue.”

Superlative winners:

Most integral to story use of the object: USS Firebird for The Thing Is Broken CO: Captain Malcom Llwyedd	Most creative use of the object: USS Montana for Potential Problem CO: Captain Michael Murphy	Most humorous use of the object: USS Wayfarer for Goes Nowhere, Does Nothing CO: Captain Akeno Misaki
“I will forevermore wonder what The Thing ™ does! I cared about the characters and the plot!” “This sim does a great job of rounding out all bases in a post.” “‘The thing is broken’ is now my new favorite sentence.”	“This sim does a good job of showing before telling.” “I wanted to know more about the mysterious officers.. Tell me more!” “The whole ‘Men in Black’ story line is absolutely wonderful!”	“I wasn’t sure what to expect with the cat at first but the post turned out to be a lot of fun.” “Cats In Space! I could feel how comfortable Barry the GNDN is for Isoroku!” “I’m pretty sure you’re the only sim in history who would think to use an unknown object as a cat bed and I love it.”

Great all around use: USS Eminence for Genesis CO: Captain Alex Shepard	Avant-garde: USS Liberty for Shakedown out the window CO: Captain Kaylia Strenvale	This is Trek: USS Churchill for Transfer Arrival CO: Captain James Stewart
“The cameos were surprisingly well done.” “A good way to bring in a familiar character. Hi Geordie! OK folks on the Eminence, how do you find the device??” “The writing, grammar, and punctuation are impeccable!”	“An interesting dilemma, and some equally interesting people in the middle of a time twist!” “There was a great sense of urgency in the story.” “From this post, it sounds like the object was incorporated into a larger story, which I find very creative.”	“The sim did a good job of writing the post by the numbers. Right on.” “I wondered where the device was…” “I love the detailed descriptions of the scenery.”

Yes, it is a post: USS Albion for A Tale of Two Spragues (and Keys) (CO: Captain Dick Sprague)

“This was one of the funniest things I’ve read, although I may have found it even funnier if some of the context wasn’t lost on me.”

“I liked the differentiation between the real characters and the fake ones.”

Congratulations to everyone, and a special thank you to our judges! All three judges expressed to me how much they enjoyed reading the 10 posts. They were all highly entertaining while showcasing the unique personalities of each sim. I hope the Captains and crews had as much fun writing them!

Happy 24th anniversary, Independence Fleet! Thank you for all you do to make our community what it is!

A purple horizontal ribbon with fine dark stripes and three white liberty bell symbols evenly spaced across the center. The ribbon design symbolizes achievement or recognition within the Independence Fleet.

2025 Hall of Fame Inductees

Posted on July 4, 2025 | by Charles Star | 4 Comments

With our 24th year now in the books, it is once again my privilege to formally announce the latest class of the Independence Fleet Hall of Fame. Induction into the Hall of Fame is the highest honor this club offers–reserved for those who have demonstrated exemplary service or extraordinary contributions to the fleet, according to the Hall of Fame Charter (pdf). This is the best of the best!

Without further ado, here is your Hall of Fame Class of 2025…

Inducted by Election:

Commander Natasha Cruix

of the USS Sunfire

A long-time member of the Sunfire during the final days of the fleet’s early era, Natasha Cruix’s superior writing shone through. Boasting six total awards, including two Best Posts, two Funniest Posts, and one Genesis award, she always had just the right touch to move the plot forward in an interesting or humorous way. She also rose through the ranks to become a top-notch Executive Officer.

Commodore Caleb Virgil

of the USS Liberty Belle

A key player during the fleet’s renaissance period, Caleb Virgil commanded the Liberty Belle for 13 months, which landed him one posting title and 2.33 Genesis awards. In addition to being in the top 20 all-time with 994 command posts, he actively highlighted the creative work of his crew, leading to many awards for them. Finally, he answered the call as a Task Force Commander at the end of his career.

Inducted by the Veterans Committee:

None this year.

Congratulations to both of our 2025 inductees! Their actions continue to provide a timeless example for us still role playing today to follow. The inductees will hereby be remembered forever for their extraordinary service to Independence Fleet.

There are now 45 total members of this most exclusive club. Well done!

A purple-tinted space scene featuring a futuristic starbase and a Starfleet-style starship approaching it, with the text "IDFLEET.COM" in the bottom right corner.

2023 Tournament of Simulations Winners Announced

Posted on June 6, 2025 | by Charles Star | 4 Comments

The 2023 Tournament of Simulations (aka ToS) were finally announced yesterday, and continuing our tradition of excellence, IDF took home three more awards! Congratulations to the Captains and crews of the USS Firebird, USS Sunfire, and USS Wayfarer. In fact, the USS Firebird was the #1 sim overall for the entire tournament Well done!

Outstanding Star Trek:

Banner image of the USS Firebird, registry NCC-88298, featuring a detailed Starfleet starship flying through space. The ship is shown from above at an angle, with glowing blue and red elements and a sleek, futuristic design.

Great Star Trek:

It was another performance for the ages from all of you! Look for the 2024 tournament to be announced soon.

Welcome to Utopia Fleet!

Posted on May 29, 2025 | by Charles Star | Leave a Comment

If you visited this website on April 1st earlier this year, that’s how you were greeted! Continuing our April Fools’ Day tradition, we decided to go back to our roots and pretend we were rebranding as old Utopia Fleet, where the historical USS Sunfire, which later launched Independence Fleet, was created. In case you missed it, you can see the archived page at the Internet Archive.

Another special thanks to Ken Gillis for creating the new Utopia Fleet branding. It looks amazing! Maybe we’re on to something…

Monthly Awards: April 2025

Posted on May 21, 2025 | by Aurther Winters | Leave a Comment

Commander Jörgen Leed
Chief Diplomatic Officer
USS Firebird

For “A Fragile Peace”

A great post, well written with a very heavy introspective look at the situation of diplomacy.

Best Post (Joint Post)

Lt. Ayana Hillis & Cmdr. Jonathan Grayson & Lt. Cmdr. Callie Raven-Grayson & Lt. Inara Senn & Lt. JG James Phoenix
ACSTO / XO / CC / CSO / TO
USS Washington

For “Superior Weapons and Tactics”

There is no better place than being trapped in a jail cell to flesh out characters and add some dread and suspense.

Funniest Post

Capt. Michael Murphy & Lt. Cmdr. Steve Ryan & Lt. Aubrie Fox & Lt. Kestra Ral & Ens. Leela
CO / XO / CRO / CSO / RO
USS Montana

For “Potential Problem”

This gag and trope has been used many times before, and probably many times after, but a piece of equipment that we know, but no idea what it does is going to get a laugh out of me every time.

Genesis

Capt. Rhenora Kaylen & Cmdr. Jenna Ramthorne & Cmdr. Dean House
CO / CFCO / 2O
USS Sunfire

For “Fungus Amungus”

A very promising start to a new mission with some unexpected turns right out of the gate. Mystery and intrigue are surely close behind.

MVP

Commander Jenna Ramthorne
Chief Flight Control Officer
USS Sunfire

A dependable and a brilliant writer who always knows how to add dimensions and depth to the story.

Most Posts

Commander Jonathan Grayson
Executive Officer
USS Washington

For writing 12 posts.

Most Improved

Ensign Abigail Gordon
Nurse
USS Firebird

Ensign Gordon helped bring the Firebird’s last mission to a close. She’s also been finding her way around the ship, writing well, and has plans to add new NPCs to the complement.

Rookie of the Month

None this month.

Recruitment

None this month.

Rear Admiral Aurther Winters
Director of Personnel
Independence Fleet

Monthly Awards: March 2025

Posted on April 24, 2025 | by Aurther Winters | Leave a Comment

Lieutenant Commander Rhiana t’Aegis
Chief Security/Tactical Officer
USS Firebird

For “Grounding Herself”

A well written post that really brings forth how memories can help us look inward.

Best Post (Joint Post)

Lt. Cmdr. Deanna Celes & Cmdr. Jonathan Grayson & Lt. Cmdr. Shoniara T’ghann-Travis & Lt. Inara Senn & Lt. JG Kate Kono & Lt. JG James Phoenix
ACOO / XO / ACMO / CSO / IO / TO
USS Washington

For “Wonderland”

Bringing in a sleeper ship. Well we all know where this is heading…