STARBASE 410 NEWS

Articles and excerpts from the Club

Newsletters

ISSUE 6


Merry Christmas & a Happy New Century
To all our readers

ISSUE 6: DECEMBER 1999

CAPTAINS LOG

What a month November has been!

We have been so busy that, at times, it seems we haven't had time to breathe! On the 13th November a group of us went to the Black Horse Pub in Sudbury for a Star Trek night with Karaoke. A very nice young lady called Bethany and her friend joined us. Bethany is disabled and comes from Clacton. Her Parents very kindly brought them to Sudbury for the evening. Bethany, like the rest of us, is a Star Trek nut and said she thoroughly enjoyed herself. She is hoping to join us again. She took part in a Starbase rendition of "Startrekkin" which proved to be quite hilarious. Zuveda did a couple of solos. The women of Starbase 410 did "Girls just wanna have fun!" We had a great evening and were just warming up nicely when it all finished. Some of us went back to Bob & Wendy's to stay over. I feel sorry for anyone trying to sleep with Ke'reth and I around. I reckon that the engines of the Enterprise are quieter than our joint snoring! I woke him up and he woke me up and poor Selene didn't get any sleep at all! Leigh was lucky…. he was upstairs.

Of course, the following weekend was the Children in Need Trekathon (see separate report).

The weekend after the Trekathon saw us at Ipswich for the actual Children in Need Night (Fri, 26th). Saturday night (27th) saw eleven of us taking part in a Quiz night at my local village hall in Gazeley. I have booked two tables for next year so we will need twenty people. It was a really good fun evening with a fish/chicken/veggie burger & chip supper and bring your own booze! The following week I got told off by the organisers because, apart from T'Pina, we weren't in costume! I said that after Children in need it was nice to relax and not wear costume. So it looks likely that we won't get away with it next year!

Myself, Selene and boys wore costume to help the Sea Cadets with their stall at the Charity Late Night Shopping in Bury St Edmunds. It was very successful. Now we have our Christmas meeting and the USS Lutonia Disco to look forward to.

May I make a plea to all members. If you have not been able to make it to a meeting lately…. or not been to one at all…. please don't miss this one. This one is at our usual venue. We are starting at 4.00 pm for Concert rehearsals and Hall decorating. The Christmas party starts at 7.30 pm. A number of you are bringing food, if you would also like to contribute but have not yet arranged to do so, please telephone me as soon as possible. Members contributing food only pay 50p. For Members and guests not contributing food there will be a charge of £2.00. All Members are to bring their own drinks and glasses. The Sea Cadet Unit does not have a bar or glasses.

Don't forget:

  • To bring a Unisex gift costing less than £2.50 and multi-age childs gift costing less than £1.50.
  • Guests are welcome, so bring the whole family. Let's have a really good party to get Christmas off to a good start!
  • To bring CD's/Tapes - party type music please.

So far we have ten Acts for the Christmas Concert….. it should be extremely funny. So do make an effort and come along, even if you haven't been before.

Tickets for the USS Lutonia Disco are SOLD OUT. We have Thirteen members representing the Starbase.

We have been approached by several charities asking us to help them with fund raising events next year. We will be looking at them in Committee meetings and will let you know which ones we agree to do.

One note for your diaries: Saturday 8th July 2000 will be our first Starbase Ball and Awards evening. It will be at the Athenaeum, Angel Hill, Bury St Edmunds. More details later.

In the meantime, if I don't see you before, have a Merry Christmas and a Happy & Prosperous New Year and New Century.

We are on the threshold of a New Century. It will be an exciting time and we need our club to boldly go forward and become one of the best clubs in the country. This can only be achieved with your help and participation. I would like to thank you all for everything you have done this year to make the club as successful as it is. We can only go from strength to strength.

Captain Anarita Jat.

EDITORS CORNER

Well, once again it is amother issue of the Starbase 410 Newsletter. The first thing I would like to do is thank everyone who helped hold the ship while I could not contribute. This was because I have been snowed under with work from college. However, this has been mainly sorted out now and I am able to serve the Starbase once again. This was also why I have not been supporting the club functions of late. I am really looking forward to the next issue.

There are loads of great ideas in the pipeline which will be introduced next year. The whole format will be changing and there will be many more articles being put in. I this will show how far the Newsletter has come in such a short time.

Don't worry, the best parts of the Newsletter will still be there. Until then I going to sign off and wish you all a Happy New Millennium.

Lt. Mark Swan
Editor

PLEASE NOTE

The Deadline for Articles and Items of News for the Newsletter
is 7th JANUARY 2000

PERSONAL LOG

ARRIVALS

As Starbase 410 became visible on the viewing deck, so my apprehension grew. I know this does not sound right for a Klingon Warrior but I was not your usual Klingon. I had spent a lot of time on Earth and picked up some bad habits, like keeping my children with me, whilst making sure they had the benefits and teachings that I'd had. Only, where I had to rely on a small Holosuite, the children (wherever possible) would experience them for real. However, I was not sure how this would fit in with my new posting.

I did not know how Ambassador Ke'reth would cope with the reality of his new Chief of Staff having children in her care. He did say that it would not be a problem. Having not met the Ambassador before, I could not predict his reaction to the ages of the children. Because, according to Klingon tradition both the boys should, by now, be out of my care. I only know the Ambassador through reputation and rumour and I wondered what he was really like. It was a personal summons, so I must have done something right! And my new duties as Chief of Staff are to be combined with that of ghojmoq (a nursemaid/teacher) to my own children and others at the Starbase.

The excitement of the children brought me back from my thoughts. The ship was docking and there was no more time for speculation. We collected our things and boarded the station. Fortunately, it was a quiet time and I managed to find our quarters without meeting anyone.

We had only been there a few minutes when the door chimed. I opened it and to my surprise the Ambassador himself was standing there. After scrutinising me for what seemed a long time, he brushed past me and entered the room. Silently, I thanked Khaless that I had had the wit to send the children to bed as soon as we had arrived. "I'm glad you managed to get here early b'Sel. I hope you can start work now, you have 30 minutes in which to report to my office." With that Ke'reth turned around, left the room and disappeared down the corridor, leaving me with my mouth open! I recovered myself, straightened my clothing and attempted to follow him.

b'Sel

FUTURE MISSIONS

COMPLETED

KLINGON IMPERIAL FLEET DIRECTIVE

From the desk of
General K'bathl sutai LoDni

Let it be known that, from the publication of this document, that the Generals' vessel is on permanent attachment to Starbase 410.

The vessel in question is the IKV Hegh qaD, a Negh'Var Class Battlecruiser. More than capable of destroying a planet. IKV Hegh qaD will serve as a protection/defence vessel for the Starbase.

Career Opportunities are available to all Imperial Klingons.

The Klingon Empire is an Equal Opportunites Employer amd disregards gender, physical health age and sanity.

Qapla'

The General

TREKATHON REPORT

First of all, on behalf of the Club, I would like to thank, Bob Hedley, his wife Wendy, the Black Horse Landlord - Spud, and Landlady - Jo, who all worked extremely hard to organise the event. Without them the event would not have been the success that it was.

The people of Sudbury responded very well, especially the business community who donated such good raffle prizes and assisted with photocopying and various other services. Our sincere thanks go to all involved.

I would also like to express a special thank you to Selene. For all the car trips from Sudbury to Bury and other places, transporting stuff that was needed or had been forgotten.

We kicked off on Friday night with videos etc., KiHQas managed to get £5 for a kiss! Not bad eh? The General and K'bang turned up later so we had Bob & Wendy, Me, Selene & children, Seaspirit, Laura, the General & K'bang, Jeanette Warren, The Ambassador and Leigh Brown staying all night, plus Kevin Tatum who had been sponsored to stay awake for the whole 48 hours. We did various things during the night - watched videos……. ever seen a grown man drool? Just show the alternative Major Kira (the Intendant) clad in skin tight leather to the General!….. Played music, danced (me and Leigh), cut out stuff for the children (Jeanette & Wendy), talked (all of us).

Saturday saw us on the street, collecting money from an unsuspecting public. Mark Swan excelled himself by hijacking a bus the traffic lights. The driver sat through red, green and red again before Mark had finished collecting from the passengers.

Leigh had his face painted as Pudsey Bear and was known as Captain Pudsey for the rest of the weekend. Leigh and Mark worked very hard collecting money and kept returning with loads-a-money in their buckets. They were hoping to keep account of everything they collected but unfortunately it got put in with all the rest.

Jeanette worked really hard all day Saturday painting faces and again on Sunday. It was nearly non-stop! She is quite an expert now.

The General & Bob kidnapped the Kingfisher from the swimming pool and he was led, handcuffed by the wing to Bob, through the town and back to the pub, where I found him drinking beer and smoking (minus the head of course). They also liberated the anchor form the Anchor Pub and held that for ransom. Seaspirit worked very hard on Saturday, supervising the model making and colouring tables for the children until John Borda returned from the town and relieved her on the colouring table.

The BBC team turned up Saturday evening and filmed us but they didn't show it. I'm trying to find out what happened to it. There was a Disco Saturday evening put on by the Landlady Jo. Some of us managed to get some shut ey Saturday night although Kevin and Wendy stayed awake.

Sunday saw people out colecting again and getting ready for the meeting in the afternoon. T'Pina, Emma & Sue from Ipswich, David Canning, Louise Gallagher & Scully (new member) turned up on Sunday Afternoon. As some of us were so tired, we sat and watched videos, sorted out the ship's concert and generally relaxed prior to the draw of the raffle. We blew up the balloons that had the prizes written on a piece of paper inside. Pop a balloon and claim your prize! It worked well.

We attended the Radio Suffolk Children in Need presentation evening at the Novotel in Ipswich and presented our cheque for £1,345 which represented the money we had raised by the 26th November, there was more to come but had not yet been collected in time. Once all the rest of the money had been collected, it had pushed our total up to £1,500.

Thank you to everyone who took part or helped in any way.

Thinking caps on for next year…. we have one or two ideas in the pipeline…. got any more?

Anarita Jat

FACE PAINTING

In response to Ann's request for ideas I suggested that we do face painting whenever we go to Fete's etc. Now I think there must have been a slight misunderstanding here because it was just a suggestion but Ann thought I had done this before and was volunteering for the job. The only experience I've had with face painting was making my son up as a zebra 10 years ago, but I'm always game for a challenge so out I went and purchased several paints (thanks to Louise for her contribution). The next thing I needed was Guinea Pigs (sorry I mean volunteers) to practise on.

Now face paints and 15yr old boys don't go together very well so the only other person to try my 'skill' out on was my hubby. Now unbeknown to us the poor dear is dreadfully allergic to face paints and he came out in big red blotches! So at the October meeting Louise and I practised on some of the children as well as some adults, the Luton lot were really accommodating on this day.

For the Trekathon I had put out pictures of all the 'faces' I had practised but unfortunately the little dears got hold of my book and I was getting requests for some complicated faces, I think the one where I had to paint a garden scene was the most challenging and one even came with a picture from a magazine with one he wanted me to copy. I was kept really busy that weekend, I painted over 80 faces and raised £40.Thanks to everyone who kept me supplied with coffee. I think we all got a little tired over the weekend but I enjoyed myself and can't wait to have another go next year.

Jeanette Warran

WEBLEY THE SPIDER


FROM THE DESK OF THE KLINGON AMBASSADOR

nuqneH (Greetings), from the Empire.

Well, it's time again to write my page, so I have decided to share some thoughts with you. A while ago, I had a discussion, via sub-space, with a Federation Officer. We discussed the differences in Command Styles between a Klingon Captain and a Federation Captain. Their traditional command styles differ greatly.

From the Klingon Captains' perspective:- From the Federation Captains' perspective:-
The Federation Captain seems to be either unwilling or unable to discipline his or her crew. Their hands are tied by the very traditions which give them their authority. They rely on 'trials' and 'board of enquiry', then on many occasions the offender is treated as if they are ill. They spend time in correctional institions and counselling sessions. They lack conviction. They are weak. The Klingon Captains' system (to outsiders) seems unnecessarily brutal. With its system of often violent punishments for repeat offenders, including both corporal and capital punishment for even minor disobediences. They command through fear and competition. They do not know co-operation. Although formidable, they lack cohesion and often lose valuable officers in inship fights for positions and ranks.

Until recently, the Klingon Captain often saw the Federation Captain as cowardly and unwilling to make hard decisions. While the Starfleet Captain thought he/she was dealing with some kind of animal, for whom a 'glorious death' in battle was the favoured outcome in any given situation.....

Well, things change and traditions are broken. We live in interesting times. Old enemies are finding a new understanding in each others ways. This leads me to my own feelings:-

I was trained to succeed at all costs and I used this attitude to command my first vessel, a small Victory Class Scout - IKV Retaliator. A year later, after around 20 missions, I took command of a Vor'cha Class Cruiser known as the IKV Restless Shadow. It was during this time, that my command style began to change. Perhaps it was because my crew, aboard the 'Shadow', became close friends. I found myself asking them for advice. Believe me when I tell you, that listening to others pulled my butt from the fire more times than I care to remember. In just over two years commanding a Starship, I learned a lot. I learned to stand back, watching, in an attempt to understand my enemy, looking for their weak points. Using this style of command, we were often out-gunned, rarely out-smarted but never beaten.

We learned to work as a team. I read each officers resume, spoke with them about their skills. I tried to use their knowledge, fostering and encouraging a team mentality. I've continued this experiment, learning a little something from everyone I worked with. Over the years, my style of command became a pseudo Starfleet command style - a hybrid.

I took that which I considered to be the best from my Imperial training then introduced a little Starfleet style into the day to day running of my ship. I started off, by taking the time to give crew briefings to my Department Heads. I found that once they understood my motivations, the crew's overall efficiency improved.

I cut down on much of the bullying and inship fighting that happens on even the best run Klingon vessels. I did this by letting it be known, that I was willing to deal with bullies personally. If you consider the last sentence to contain an implied threat then you are beginning to understand my command style. I found that the threat of violence more motivational than its actual use. After all, If I strike an officer, they will resent or hate me. But, if I threaten them with discipline and make them understand the actions that led to their reprimand, then perhaps, in time, they will come to respect me.

Since achieving the rank of Captain in the Imperial Navy, I have taken personal command of the Klingon B'qel Class vessel. It is a vessel that is equal in width to a K'vort Class Bird of Prey but, due to its extende hull design, it is considerably larger. Though it has been assigned to an Embassy, it is considerably more powerfully armed than a Federation Defiant Class Attack Cruiser. The Klingons believe in peace through strength within our own borders. We continue to expand our Empire through both force and treaty in equal measure.

It is to further these aims and foster continued understanding between the Klingons and the Federation, that I am offering any Starfleet Officer, who wishes to take up the challenge of serving as an exchange Officer aboard the Imperial Klingon Vessel - IKV ghar, to contact me (ghar is the Klingon word for diplomacy).

Qapla'

Now for this months language lesson:

In the paper version of this page there was a change of format and I had to write in columns. Though Kahless only knows why! Learning to do things the Federation way, gives me a pain in the ridges. I suppose it's just oe of the joys of being an Ambassador [sigh!].

Anyway, Lesson Two is a list of useful words, try the following:-

Klingon

Terran

tlhIngan Klingon
Hol language
juH home
terra' Earth
tera'ngan Terran/Human
vulqan Vulcan (the planet)
vulcangan Vulcan (the person)
anDoHra' Andoria (the planet)
anDoHngan Andorian (person)
truHl Trill (the planet)
truHlngan Trill (person)
verengIneH Ferenginar (the planet)
verengan Ferengi (person)
be'jor Bajor (the planet)
be'jorngan Bajoran (person)
   
nav paper
mu' word
jatlh speak
laj lie
nep hit
qip strike
mup help
'ejwo'waw' Starbase

Remember, when pronouncing Klingon, try to place the stress on the capital letters, irrespective of where they occur in the word.

Please Note: The Klingon sound 'ngan', which when added to a planets name denotes a person from that planet and is pronounced - "nahn".

Next time:- basic sentences.

It has been an honour to instruct you. Qapla'

 

Ke'reth zantai Makura
Ambassador - Klingon Embassy

EPISODE REVIEW

BY JEANETTE WARRAN

COURSE OBLIVION

WARNING This is a late season 5 episode.

Now I'm one of these people who watches Trek purely for the escapism, I rarely look too closely at the moral being told and whether an episode is politically correct and I think there has only been one film which has left a deep impact on me until this episode.

As I've said many times I don't read spoilers so I thought the opening scenes of Tom and B'Elanna's wedding were on the holodeck and I kept expecting B'Elanna to walk in and ask Tom what the hell was going on. I knew something wasn't quite right because Tom had the rank of Lieutenant and in Janeway's log she talks about a child being born. I kept thinking alternate universes or hallucinations so that when Tuvok and Chakotay dropped the bombshell, I was taken completely unawares. Unfortunately it was at this point that the episode started to go slightly downhill.

Some good points about the first part of this episode were the scenes between B'Elanna and Tom (I normally don't like this relationship but I felt it was handled well this week). Enjoyed the wedding scene, the vows they exchanged were simple but quite touching without being too sickly sweet. Also liked the sickbay scene where B'Elanna dies, thought McNeil actually played this with feeling.

I didn't like the way Janeway put the crew at risk by stubbornly insisting that they make it back to the Alpha Quadrant. I was pleased that at least this Chakotay had the guts to stand up to her, it's just a shame that he died straight after doing it, but at least it shocked her into doing the right thing even though it was at this point I felt she gave up. I liked the scene on the bridge where she tells the bridge crew that Chakotay has died I think Kate played it with the right amount of emotion, we haven't seen her get this close to tears since the scene with Kes in the 'Gift'. This episode had a lot of good emotional scenes in it but the thing that spoiled it for me and which has prevented me replaying it many times (despite the fact there were many good Janeway scenes) is the ending. Why couldn't they at least have let the capsule with all their personnel logs in it survive? It left me with a sense of desolation and set me thinking negative thoughts such as is there no point to our existence and will we leave nothing behind for people to remember us by. This episode had so much potential but they really messed it up.


Jeanette Warran

LAST BUT NOT LEAST!

Lt.Cdr. Data Ran 'Windose 98'

WORF: "Captain, there are three Romulan warships uncloaking dead ahead!"

PICARD "On screen"

[The main viewing screen changes to a pattern of horizontal lines, each only a single pixel wide.]

DATA: "Captain, main viewscreen does not have sufficient video memory to display an image of this size. May I suggest that you select a lower resolution?"

PICARD: "Make it so."

[The screen blanks and then an image appears with big blocky square pixels. Three objects appear in the center, which could be Romulan Warbirds but, which actually look more like the aliens in 'Space Invaders".]

PICARD: "Data, open a hailing channel to the Romulans."

DATA: "Aye sir."

[Data picks up an hourglass from the floor beside him, turns it over and places it on the console in front of him. He punches some buttons on the console and sits motionless for several seconds. A flash of light blossoms from one of the Romulan ships on the view screen.]

WORF: "Incoming plasma torpedo, Captain."

PICARD: "Shields up!"

DATA: "I am sorry Captain, but I am still attempting to complete your last instruction. I must ask you to wait until I have finished before you issue your next command."

PICARD: "What on earth do you mean? Data, this is *important*! I want those shields up *right now*!"

DATA: "I am sorry Captain, but I am still attempting to complete your last instruction. I must ask you to wait until I have finished before you issue your next command."

LAFORGE: "Allow me Captain, [to Data] Control-alt-delete, Data!"

[Data, removes hourglass from the console, and returns it to the floor.]

DATA: "The Romulans are not responding to my hails. Press my nose to cancel and return to Windose. Pull my left ear to close this communication channel which is not responding. You will lose any information sent by the Romulans."

[Laforge pulls Data's left ear.]

PICARD: "Shields!"

[There is a tremendous explosion. The bridge shakes violently, and all the crew members are thrown to the floor. A shower of sparks erupt from Wesley Crushers station at the helm, throwing Wesley back away from the console.]

PICARD: "Up, Data!"

DATA: "Aye sir."

RIKER: "All Decks, damage report!"

WORF: "Captain, Ensign Crusher is injured.... He appears to be unconscious."

TO BE CONTINUED.........

BACK