You don’t see a lot of detailed posts like this kicking off shore leave. I like it!
MVP
Ensign Laurel Zatara Chief Flight Control Officer USS Albion
Ens. Zatara joined during January and immediately finished second on the ship in posting. Even better than that, her posts were always excellent, driving the plot forward while giving other players a chance to get in on the action, and best of all, they were usually pretty funny–which is par for the course on the Albion.
Most Posts
Lieutenant Shoniara T’ghann Dex Assistant Chief Medical Officer USS Washington
For writing 25 posts.
Most Improved
Lieutenant JG Torvin Anor Chief Engineering Officer USS Wayfarer
Lt. jg. Torvin joined the Wayfarer as an engineering officer and was initially mainly in the background. However, after the recent mission he really stepped up and into place of a CEO both in and out of character. He is a pleasure to write with.
Rookie of the Month
None this month.
Recruitment
None this month.
Thanks for a great start to 2022. Keep the excellent posting coming!
Much is being made about today. After all, it is 2-22-22. Or 22-2-22, depending on where you’re from. To top it all, it’s even a Tuesday! If you’ve been around IDF long enough, you know we also like neat dates. Here are just a few that come to mind:
The previous USS Sunfire launched on 10/10/10
The second USS Pioneer launched on 2/14/11 (Valentine’s Day): The original Pioneer was known as “The Love Boat” due to its relationship centered posts & stories
In our continued series of My Favorite Trek, I have had the delight of interviewing Dean House of the USS Sunfire. Let’s have a look at the starship Sunfire’s Chief Tactical Officer, currently Acting Executive Officer.
Name: Dean House (aka Angelus) Rank: Commander Sim:USS Sunfire Position: Chief Tactical Officer Other Characters: N/A
Favorite Star Trek episode? “Lower Decks” Star Trek: The Next Generation. Season 7, Episode 15 Why? It’s something that always hit just right. We always know, any of the shows have the main characters and most of the time show cases them. Even though there’s always extras. However, that episode was something that was needed. While the ending was definitely sad. The writing as excellent. Show casing what the ones that actually keep things going do. Their internal struggles, their insecurities. What they want to strive to be. It was a hard choice between this one or “Yesterday’s Enterprise,” but “Lower Decks” wins hands down. Favorite Star Trek series?Star Trek: The Next Generation. Why? While I was introduced to TOS in syndicate by my mother, and grandmother. TNG was really more of what I came into when I was a little older and it definitely helped me to work through awkwardness in middle school. Associating more with Wesley Crusher than the other characters. Or maybe Data a little. I’m aware that he gets a bad rap but that’s not really the characters fault really. Favorite Star Trek film?Star Trek V: The Final Frontier Why? There’s a lot of controversy over this one. It doesn’t have the greatest writing. The directing was okay. Nothing to write home about. The best thing about it I look at is its underlying message trying to be relayed. Or at least in my opinion. It’s not about Sybok trying to find Sha’kar’ri(or God.) I mean yes, that’s part of the plot. I always have believed it’s all about family. The relationships, the turmoil that they’ve all endured. Life, death, life. How through no matter what, they are always a family and always will be. Family isn’t about blood. Even when Bones always gets mad at Spock and says “You green blooded…in human…(enter explicative here.) We don’t choose our family; we are brought together. That’s the real premise of the movie. In my opinion. Favorite Star Trek Captain? Always and will always be Kirk.
What year did you start simming? 1995.
What sim was it? USS Cortez, Email based in UCIP.
What keeps you simming today? Stories, the people, the relationships formed between strangers with a common love for a genre. Seeing what else people come up with.
Favorite non-simming hobby? [I]Have to go with Video Games. Though I’d love to get back into modeling (plastic ships and the like.)
Favorite non-Trek series?Supernatural.
Favorite non-Trek film? I have to go with Evolution (2001, David Duchovny) because it was the last movie that I got to go to an actual theatre to with my grandmother and she absolutely loved it, and so do I.
Favorite book (fiction or non)?Both fiction and non-fiction.
Favorite video game? [The] Final Fantasy Series and Resident Evil Series
Favorite musician or band? Non-committal.
Favorite superhero? Superman.
If you could have any superpower, what would it be? Telepathy.
Favorite sport? [I’m] not big into sports, but I guess….Hockey.
Favorite team? The Dallas Cowboys.
Favorite food? My Deanwiches.
Coke or Pepsi? Pepsi.
Lennon or McCartney? [I] Don’t particularly care either way
Favorite James Bond actor? Sir Sean Connery.
Star Trek or Star Wars? Both, for different reasons. Star Trek has more of the base of equality and what this world, universe should be. While Star Wars has lightsabers and I love flying and space combat (lol).
Rank the Trek TV shows from best to worst. TNG / TOS / ENT / DSN / VOY / PIC / DSC Rank the Trek movies from best to worst. TFF / TWOK / TVH / TUC / TSFS / FC / G / N / I / TMP / ST (2009) / ID / B Was this too many questions? No.
Thank you very much for this wonderful opportunity to get to know you better. We now have a nice insight into the sort of Star Trek that you like. Good luck and safe voyages with the USS Sunfire.
Happy new year! As we close out 2021, I think of all the many great things that happened in this fleet over the last 12 months. There’s not enough room here for it all! But we do have room for our final batch of 2021 award winners…
Best Post (Single Author)
Lieutenant Aiko Kato Flight Control Officer USS Washington
Lt. Kato wins for an incredible third month in a row with an excellent character introspective that distills information into direction for the rest of the crew. Well done!
Best Post (Joint Post)
 Lt. Callie Raven-Grayson & Cmdr. Jonathan Grayson & Lt. Shoniara T’ghann Dex CC / XO / ACMO USS Washington
Commander Jenna Ramthorne Chief Flight Control Officer USS Sunfire
Cmdr. Ramthorne returns to action! She’s a brilliant writer and an incredible asset to the ship and fleet, always willing to lend a hand or an ear to whoever needs it.
Most Posts
Lieutenant Shoniara T’ghann Dex Assistant Chief Medical Officer USS Washington
For writing 22 posts.
Most Improved
Lieutenant Brakon Ryal Executive Officer USS Eminence
Lt. Ryal really stepped up his game, driving the story forward and helping organize posts.
The W’s new security officer jumped aboard with phasers blazing. He showed an ability to adapt quickly and push the story forward, all while developing his own character and working with others.
Recruitment
 Lt. Callie Raven-Grayson Chief Counselor USS Washington
For recruiting a new player who was immediately able to jump into the game and is already simming like a veteran. Recruitment is the key to success!
Congratulations to our December award winners. Here’s to many more great things in 2022!
Gets the story going and leaves many openings for other players to take the story in different directions, everything a Genesis post should be.
MVP
Lieutenant Callie Raven-Grayson Chief Counselor USS Washington
The Washington’s Counselor has really came into her own, crafting in-depth posts that moved the story, included much of the crew, and created lots of personal development for both herself and others.
Most Posts
Lieutenant Shoniara T’ghann Dex Assistant Chief Medical Officer USS Washington
For writing 13 posts.
Most Improved
Commander Finchley Kerr Chief Strategic Operations Officer USS Sunfire
Finchley stepped up big by driving the plot forward, offering many valuable suggestions, and creating opportunities to engage the rest of the crew.
Rookie of the Month
None this month.
Recruitment
None this month.
Congratulations to our award winners. I’ll see you again in 2022!
Very well written bit of backstory, with a great perspective established in the “Previously On” section.
Best Post (Joint Post)
Lt. Cmdr. Trevor Andrews & Capt. John Wells & Cmdr. Yadira Tristan House Kilrah & Lt. Cmdr. Timber Wolf & Lt. Nerex & Lt. JG Hank Solomon & MCPO Alake Van Der Luan ACEO / CO / CEO / XO / FCC / CSO / MaA USS Eminence
It’s been a while since I’ve read a good old fashioned time travel post, and this one didn’t disappoint. Great character interactions, and the authors didn’t skip over the gravity of someone discovering they’re out of tine. Kudos also for the transporter room scene. Well done!
Funniest Post
Lt. Sheeraashaa Genno Chief Security/Tactical Officer USS Albion
As is typical for the Albion, the odd title is indicative of the goofy mission to follow, with plenty of opportunities to be taken in many directions.
MVP
Lt. Bonnie “Bon-Bon” Durnell Computer Systems Specialist USS Sunfire
What more can I say about this powerhouse simmer? A rock-solid team-first player and sounding bound for the Captain, there’s nothing Durnell can’t and doesn’t do.
Most Posts
Lieutenant Callie Raven-Grayson Chief Counselor USS Washington
The Sunfire’s new Chef joined in October, showed exceptional improvement over the course of the month, and blended in nicely with the experienced crew.
Rookie of the Month
Lieutenant Callie Raven-Grayson Chief Counselor USS Washington
The Washington’s new Counselor immediately brought excitement and creativity to the sim, and has been a joy to the rest of the crew.
Recruitment
Commander Jonathan Grayson Executive Officer USS Washington
For recruiting a new player who turned out to be a game changer.
Congratulations to everyone who took home hardware this month. I’ll see you in November!
Good writing from a team that is used to working together getting it done. Not all Trek posts need action sequences to be good, and this one hits the mark with the threat of violence without actually getting into it. Had me on the edge of my seat!
Funniest Post
Commander Jackson Andrews Executive Officer USS Albion
Nice intro and good tags all around on this one. Well done!
MVP
Lt. Bonnie “Bon-Bon” Durnell Computer Systems Specialist USS Sunfire
What a player! From creating well crafted posts to encouraging engaging joint efforts, Durnell also acts as the Captain’s counsel to bounce suggestions and ideas off of.
Most Posts
Lt. Bonnie “Bon-Bon” Durnell Computer Systems Specialist USS Sunfire
For writing 15 posts.
Most Improved
Lieutenant Aiko Kato Flight Control Officer USS Washington
The Washington’s young pilot really worked to get involved with the crew and to become more integrated, creating some excellent contributions along the way.
Rookie of the Month
Lieutenant Trevor Andrews Assistant Chief Engineering Officer USS Eminence
Don’t let the rank fool you, Andrews arrived on the Eminence and hit the ground running. A great addition to the sim!
Recruitment
None this month. Get recruiting!
It’s been a while since we’ve had 5 sims represented within the awards in a single month, well done! Keep all the great posts coming, and maybe we’ll see a few more next month.
Rear Admiral Bolak has resigned his position as IDF’s Director of Media due to time constraints. His last official day will be October 31st. I would like to personally thank Bolak for all of his hard work and the many contributions he has made to the fleet, especially the My Favorite Trek and Captain’s Chair interviews.
This year’s Simming Fall Festival will happen on November 13th. It will be hosted by our friends over at 5th Fleet. As always, we look forward to supporting 5th Fleet and engaging with the rest of the simming community at FallFest.
As everyone knows, we celebrated our 20th Anniversary earlier this year. What you might not know is that several other fleets also marked significant anniversary milestones in 2021. You can read more about a few of them over on the Ongoing Worlds Blog. Speaking of milestones, yesterday was the 11-year anniversary of the launch of the award-winning USS Sunfire-D.
Favorite Star Trek episode? This is a hard one, but I’d have to go with The Best of Both Worlds Parts One and Two.
Why? This is something I genuinely enjoy about many shows and Trek, but I really liked how it showed different possibilities of what could have happened. For example, the promotion of different officers, Picard’s possible fate, etc. I also like how it slightly segues into future TNG episodes.
Favorite Star Trek series? If the last question wasn’t clear, Star Trek: The Next Generation is by far one of my favorites. But I also enjoy most of the other shows that take place in the 24th century. Most notably: Star Trek DS9 and Voyager.
Why? I like how it shows how far the Trek Universe had advanced since The Original Series. It also vastly explored what Starfleet expanded to. Who wouldn’t like to explore the universe on a big Galaxy Class ship?
Favorite Star Trek film? Star Trek 4: The Voyage Home
Why? Multiple reasons, actually. It felt more laid-back than many other Trek films. It was cool seeing a legendary cast go back in time to the 80s, which was the present day when the film was released. Plus, Kirk and Spock’s “Colorful Metaphors” were enjoyable to watch too.
Favorite Star Trek Captain? Honestly, it’s a hard decision. But if I could give an answer at this moment in time, I’d have to say Janeway. Even if she broke the Prime Directive a few different times, she had to make tough calls for her crew. Not only that but she is a fellow coffee drinker. However, I am salty that she never promoted Harry Kim.
What year did you start simming? I started simming in 2020. I know that it’s far from as long as many of the others have been simming. However, before I was doing simming, I roleplayed constantly on various video games, and other forms of entertainment. I had been looking for a way to roleplay Trek when I came across the world of simming.
What sim was it? My first sim was one of IDF’s finest, the USS Washington.
What keeps you simming today? Today, what keeps me simming is the strive to know what happens next in the story, whether it’s small or large. So essentially, it’s the story that keeps me going.
Favorite non-simming hobby? I have many different hobbies outside of simming, especially, watching various shows, including Trek. However, I have a big passion for cars. I genuinely love the automotive world.
Favorite non-Trek series? Right now, it’s probably the new Magnum P.I series.
Favorite non-Trek film? This is a hard one, because I actually have two: Unstoppable and Need for Speed.
Favorite book (fiction or non)? I don’t necessarily have a favorite right now, but I have been reading the Star Trek novel, The Dark Veil. I also enjoy reading the Harry Potter Series.
Favorite video game? Honestly, while I have the games I constantly return to, like the Forza Games, I played and finished Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order. It is by far one of the best story games I have played so far. That’s not to say that it will change. But hey, I’m a sucker for story games.
Favorite musician or band? Linkin Park is by far my favorite, but I also like Greenday, Foo Fighters, and pretty much anything that is rock, or alt rock.
Favorite superhero? Probably Spider-Man at the moment, because I can relate to him the most.
If you could have any super power, what would it be? Teleportation
Favorite sport? Anything to do with motorsports, mostly with cars.
Favorite team? McLaren F1
Favorite food? Philly Cheesesteak Sandwiches
Coke or Pepsi? Pepsi
Lennon or McCartney? Lennon
Jordan or LeBron? Jordon
Star Trek or Star Wars? Star Trek
Rank the Trek TV shows from best to worst. DSN, TNG, VOY, ENT, PIC, DSC, TOS
Rank the Trek movies from best to worst. TVH, FC, TWOK, I, G, N, ST (2009), ID, TUC, B, TFF, TMP, TSFS
Was this too many questions? No.
Commander Jackson Andrews, and all his other characters, everyone!
Love this! Well written prose from the perspective of a cat. Super awesome!
Genesis
Lt. Niles McCulloch & Ensign Trevor Andrews & Capt. Emmalyn Marcus & Lt. Cmdr. T’Ponga Shemara & Lt. Sykon Son of Sran. Son of Kanok & Lt. Angelus De’luvia & Lt. JG Travis Ryson ACEO / EO / CO / CEO / XO / CNO / CSO USS Montana
Great, well rounded genesis post. Hits all the right notes.
MVP
Lieutenant Angelus De’luvia Chief Navigation Officer USS Montana
Lt. De’luvia is the consummate team player who is not afraid to voice concerns or alternative ideas. He’s a great asset to both story and crew.
Most Posts
Lt. Bonnie “Bon-Bon” Durnell Computer Systems Specialist USS Sunfire
For writing 13 posts.
Most Improved
Commander Finchley Kerr Chief Strategic Operations Officer USS Sunfire
The newest member of the Sunfire crew, he weaved his way into the current mission with both joint and solo posts, coming up with some great ideas along the way.
Rookie of the Month
Lieutenant JG Shoniara T’ghann Dex Assistant Chief Medical Officer USS Washington
The Washington’s new Medical Officer hit the ground running with some amazing solo work and group posting–the future is bright!
