For example 5 year missions. Gosh knows how many years the Sagan spent on its extra galactic mission.

By Joseph Jackson (Bonneville) on Tuesday, June 28, 2022 - 10:16 am: Edit

You guys are awesome. This info is much appreciated.

By Joseph Jackson (Bonneville) on Tuesday, June 28, 2022 - 09:54 pm: Edit

I thoroughly enjoyed the class history article on the Kzinti Strike Carriers in CL #26. The Rapier, the Shortsword, and the Phasganon were 3 of my favorites.
I did feel a little silly though. I had it in my head that it was a class history of the Strike Cruisers.
Yes, a round of laughter and finger pointing is in order.
Here's a Question:
In Y168, would the GIA and Whiskers have any means of interaction, and if they did, would it be possible for them to engage in a joint venture against a potential Klingon target? Not a pre-emptive strike, but perhaps a defensive action against a suspected privateer?
I know, not a lot to go on.

By Mike Grafton (Mike_Grafton) on Wednesday, June 29, 2022 - 02:55 pm: Edit

Sure. Of course you'd have the usual array of suspicions, cross objectives and such.

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Saturday, July 02, 2022 - 02:21 pm: Edit

Might even be a single blind or even (rarely) a double blind operation. (One side sending a stooge or decoy operative (there was an episode NCIS about how and why Leon Vance (played by Rocky Carroll) was recruited to the NIS (Naval Investigation Service(for runner of the N.C.I.S.)) for a covert mission.

Officially, the mission was to gather intel. Unofficially, Vance was supposed to die, which act as a pretext for reprisal killings of other Russian agents.

A double blind operation would be if a Russian agent was recruited for the Russian side of the mission, also intended to die and, again, act as a pretext to justify Russian targeted assassin attacks on U.S. agents.

In the NCIS episode referred to above, Vance teamed up with an Israel agent, turned the tables on both sides, and emerged with enhanced reputations that ultimately saw Vance and David promoted to the head of both N.C.I.S. And MOSSAD, years later.

Complicated.

By Joseph Jackson (Bonneville) on Saturday, July 02, 2022 - 05:10 pm: Edit

Life is definitely complicated. But don't you just love that spy vs spy stuff?

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Saturday, July 02, 2022 - 06:28 pm: Edit

When the good guys win!

By Joseph Jackson (Bonneville) on Monday, July 04, 2022 - 11:28 pm: Edit

Hey, let's say I had a story I wanted to submit to Captain's Log, and I had gone way overboard on a presentation. So I worked up a Synopsis, half a dozen character backgrounds, a scene outline, and a sample scene.
Is design@starfleetgames.com the best place to send it?
Also, it's 10 pages of material, would just the synopsis be a better start?
I know, I'm long winded.

By Jeff Anderson (Jga) on Tuesday, July 05, 2022 - 10:02 am: Edit

A couple years ago, I did just that with a vignette as a way of saying, "Thanks." Originally tried sending it as an attached file to an email. Maybe it's just a manifestation of my incompetence with computers, but it wouldn't open.

Eventually, my brother-in-law was able to transfer the text to the main body of the email file and we were able to send it that way.

TBH, it was a guess to email it to where you asked, Joe, but that is where I sent mine.

By Mike West (Mjwest) on Tuesday, July 05, 2022 - 10:13 am: Edit

That is the correct email address for all submissions, whether fiction or something else.

I would also suggest just the synopsis to start with. You should find out first whether the idea is workable, wanted, or can even fit into the SFU. If it can't, then there isn't any point to continue with the effort.

And the synopsis should probably be a single page. If it is 10 pages, it may never get reviewed, as that is a significant investment in time to read. A single page is something that can be read immediately, thus significantly increasing the chances of any kind of review.

Also, send the synopsis as just text in the email. No attachments. Just send it as plain text in a simple email. Even when sending the full submission, plain text is generally best as whatever you are using to edit it is not what they are and they will have to completely reformat it from scratch anyway.

Hope that helps!

By Joseph Jackson (Bonneville) on Tuesday, July 05, 2022 - 01:19 pm: Edit

You guys are great. This is all so very helpful indeed. I'll breakout the brevity stick and beat that submission into shape and sent it off this very evening.
Thank you much.

By Garth L. Getgen (Sgt_G) on Tuesday, July 05, 2022 - 05:32 pm: Edit

I always ran my store ideas past Petrick first, because he had a nice way of pointing out the stupid things I came up with (like putting a T-bomb on a Free Trader). Not sure if he's up to reading much these days .....


Garth L. Getgen

By Garth L. Getgen (Sgt_G) on Wednesday, July 06, 2022 - 07:26 am: Edit

story ideas, not store ideas. {sigh} GLG

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Thursday, July 07, 2022 - 03:24 am: Edit

He should be ready to read again by Friday or next week.

By Joseph Jackson (Bonneville) on Thursday, July 07, 2022 - 10:16 am: Edit

It's ok Garth, you're good at other things.

By Garth L. Getgen (Sgt_G) on Thursday, July 07, 2022 - 01:06 pm: Edit

After the test I took yesterday at the end of a cyber security class, I'm not so sure about that. It was very humbling.


Garth L. Getgen

By Joseph Jackson (Bonneville) on Thursday, July 07, 2022 - 10:50 pm: Edit

Hey folks, I'm in desperate need of a geography lesson. I'm looking for any information or SFU material concerning the point where the Federation, Klingon, and Kzinti borders meet.
Not all who wander are lost, but I'm lost as BLEEP.
Thanks for any suggestions!

By Jeff Anderson (Jga) on Friday, July 08, 2022 - 12:21 am: Edit

The only formal name I can think of is to use its F&E Hex number as its sector.

However, from personal experience, I've always defined locations in terms of nearby landmarks; I don't tell people, "Turn on Fifth Street," I tell them, "Turn on the street just past the strip mall with the Quickee Mart and the Clown Burger."

Maybe it's just another manifestation of my Aspbergers, but the way people are quick to understand directions like that, it may be pretty normal.

The upshot, Joseph, is that if your characters make reference to "The Three-Way Border," it ought to be clear enough to work for fiction.

My 0.02 Quatloos worth.

By Mike Grafton (Mike_Grafton) on Friday, July 08, 2022 - 07:36 am: Edit

IIRC there is a specific planet around there that features in several Scenario backgrounds.

By Joseph Jackson (Bonneville) on Friday, July 08, 2022 - 12:03 pm: Edit

Good stuff to think about!
I found a map in GURPS, Prime Directive: Federation-it's probably the same map in F&E, it shows Sherman's Planet, Blackfoot Pass, and a Battle Station for each of the 3 Empires, all in that area.
I should know Sherman's Planet, it sounds very TOS?
At a loss for Blackfoot Pass, going to need more research on that one.
Also, I'm not very savvy on the online slang: IIRC?

By Joseph Jackson (Bonneville) on Friday, July 08, 2022 - 12:18 pm: Edit

Follow up message:
Do those Battle Stations have names and/or numbers?
Is that a F&E thing? I've always wanted to get into F&E. Frankly, I find that my day job really interferes with my lifestyle and hobbies.
Question 2: is it Battle Station or battlestation?

By Graham Cridland (Grahamcridland) on Friday, July 08, 2022 - 12:40 pm: Edit

Sherman's Planet is the disputed world at the center of the Klingon/Fed conflict in "The Trouble with Tribbles." From F&E, it is a bit "south" of the Kzinti border, on the Fed/Klink NZ. From the same game, the Kzinti border is interesting because the Marquis Province would appear to extend there... but doesn't, and instead the Kzinti Duke controls the area adjacent to the Klingon/Kzinti NZ.

"If I Recall Correctly."

By Mike Erickson (Mike_Erickson) on Friday, July 08, 2022 - 01:03 pm: Edit

A couple things that may be useful geographically:

Two page PDF of the F&E map, East and West sides with all the hex numbers:

http://www.starfleetgames.com/documents/SFU%20Small%20maps.pdf

A "Gazetteer" listing of many (but probably not all) planets, bases, colonies, and historical locations on the F&E map by hex:

http://www.starfleetgames.com/documents/Gazetteer/Gazetteer_2019.pdf

Hopefully this provides some inspiration for budding fiction writers!

--Mike

By Mike Erickson (Mike_Erickson) on Friday, July 08, 2022 - 01:08 pm: Edit

From Gazeteer, Sherman's Planet is listed as being 1910.

>> Do those Battle Stations have names and/or numbers?

Gazetteer lists the names/numbers of some bases, but not close to all.

>> Frankly, I find that my day job really interferes with my lifestyle and hobbies.

LOL!

>> Question 2: is it Battle Station or battlestation?

Battle Station

--Mike

By Joseph Jackson (Bonneville) on Friday, July 08, 2022 - 01:59 pm: Edit

I KNEW I knew Sherman's Planet!
I'll check out those links, thanks.
Also, I found a great reference to Blackfoot Pass in CL #7 index with a scenario list.
Good to know about the Marquis and Duke. I'll keep that in mind.
Thanks again everyone, this is very helpful!