February 26, 2013

Post of the Month--February 2013


Though it's been a short month, February has been packed with some really good quality role-playing posts. Now it's time to recognize one such post as we award Post of the Month for February, 2013.

Zuriel had gotten to his station not that long ago, his last shift had him at the flight control room on deck five, which was still tore up from the last  mission, but had be put "on hold" since he had a rather important date with the ships Counselor, and since that took an entire day out of his schedule, he was running a little behind, and the fact that he was thinking about her was not helping very much either, and the prospect of her being able to hear him made him devote part of his mind to keeping up a wall, which made exacerbated things even further.
Alex put his scanner to the side, tapping his commbadge to reply. =/\= "I'm realigning the power conduits sir, it's mostly just calibration and fine tuning now. The two Type 9s are operational and with your permission, I would like to begin testing the primary and transporter systems. I'd also reccommend we schedule shakedown flights as soon as possible to recertify them for active service. I'm not too keen on flying around with both of Gibson's shuttles grounded, sir." =/\=
"Aye sir, prepping for departure." he said as he pulled up the screen that communicated with the space dock. =/\= "All crewmen prepare for immediate departure, moorings detached, separating form space dock." Zuriel watched on the new view screen as the ship pealed away and once again said goodbye by to earth, " Flight control and engineering have signaled ready, max warp authorization is confirmed from starfleet command, your were right sir we are in a hurry, course to Talar layed in, jumping to warp eight. The sound of the warp engines powering echoed through the ship, a very distinct hum, that never failed to give Zuriel goosebumps no matter how many times he did it. Just before the Gibson flashed of into the great void, a warning bell went off, the Gibson had lost its warp clearance, "What in the world...Sir we lost our jump clearance pending the order of Admiral Welch of the seventh fleet." Just then the massive and poorly designed aft of the Galaxy class USS Venture, "Are you kidding me, we are going to be late just because some Admiral, wants to do a fly by!?" sometimes Zuriel really hated starfleet, after about fifteen minutes of counting every window on the Venture, the Gibson was finally given its warp clearance back, "Alright now that that over, course layed in, accelerating to warp eight."

"Sing us a song, you're the pianoman..." Alex hummed as he sat on the deck of a shuttlecraft, working on calibrating the power distribution system. Ever since they had replaced the EPS conduits due to cannibalizing parts in the last mission, there was a notable performance deviation with the shuttles. He had managed to track the problem back to the new conduits; for some reason, there was a partial block after the engines and power was being siphoned off before reaching the rest of the systems. You'd think this would be an engineer's problem...he mused, leaning against the bulkhead and entering readings from his scanner into a PADD.  
=/\= "Soreka to Wu, how are those shuttles working out, I hope we don't have to do anything to major to them." =/\= It was Zuriel's order that caused the mess but there was so much to fix that he never had time to go down and help him out, but he was sure Wu could handle it without him looking over his back the entire time.

Please congratulate Lieutenant Zuriel Soreka on what is a fantastic post that describes in detail the embarkation procedure for a Starfleet shuttlecraft. What could have been a simple post has been turned into a literary delight that really projects a picture in the mind's eye.

Speaking of the post in question, Acting Commanding Officer of the Gibson Tobias Masters commented; "His post was well written and showed technical knowledge. He is one of Gibson's best and I feel it is his time to shine with a PotM award."

Have you seen a post worthy of some recognition? Be sure to submit it to your Commanding Officer before the end of the month for it to be considered Post of the Month!

February 23, 2013

Spotlight On Command - John Brown

Welcome to the final installment of "Spotlight on Command", our newest feature that interviews the fleet's Command Level Officers about their past experiences and more.

In our final interview, we're talking to one of the founding members of the fleet and USS Churchill First Officer, Lieutenant Commander John Brown, as he recalls the "good old days", his time posting on a multitude of different SIMMs and how he thinks Shadow Fleet compares to other RPGs.


You joined the fleet in the very early days. Has it changed much since back then?

The early days of the the fleet...Now that makes me feel old. I was 20 years old but I have grown along with the fleet. I have seen us develop from just a small group of fellow role-players to a large RPG with four SIMMs. Being a part of this makes me feel immensely proud. And all the hard work that people like John Kawolsky, Scott Bradley, Riley T. Munro and Chris O'Neill have put in over the years... All these people I have worked with closely, it has made my time here the best it can be.

Have any moments stuck out as being particularly memorable?

Well there were a few times that stood out. One of the times was when Scott Bradley got himself killed during a mission and then came back. That was also when Aaron boarded the Discovery...but the best one was when I crashed the USS Repulse into a planet! That has been a long-time running joke now; I'm only on to have crashed a ship into a planet!

Which SIMMs have you role-played on?


I've been lucky enough to have role-played on quite a few SIMMs; the CSS Tigerclaw, USS Port Royal, USS Discovery, DS Discovery, USS Churchill, USS Gettysburg, USS Dephia-B and USS Repluse - but not in that order.

Which was your favorite?

Well since I have served on almost every SIMM in Shadow Fleet's history, I would have to say the USS Churchill and USS Repulse are tied on that one.

What do you think has allowed Shadow Fleet to survive for as long as it has?

Well, I think the one thing that has helped Shadow Fleet survive for this long is the friendships it creates. This fleet creates the most long-lasting friendships I have seen anywhere and I for one and proud to be a part of it. Shadow Fleet is truly a family of players.

Moving on, do you enjoy the roles and responsibilities of being a First Officer?


I really enjoy the role of First Officer and what makes it more worth while is that I consider the current Commanding Officer of the Churchill a friend, which makes it doubly fun. Also, helping new players and other members of the ship's crew makes it that much more rewarding.

Would you say being a Command Level Officer in Shadow Fleet is harder than most other fleets?
Yes, I would say it is harder, but if it wasn't harder it wouldn't be as rewarding. In Shadow Fleet, you have to work for your position which is what I think makes our fleet unique.

Finally, if you could pick just one word to sum up your time in Shadow Fleet, what would it be?

Just plain awesome!

Thank you very much to John Brown for taking the time to answer our questions. We hope you have enjoyed our latest feature series and as much as we have enjoyed presenting it to you and hope that it has provided a glimpse into what life as a Command Level Officer in Shadow Fleet is truly like.

Though that's the end for "Spotlight on Command", for now...keep your eyes locked on the Fleet News Service for more exciting features coming soon!

February 22, 2013

Appointment of New Twitter Account Manager

Following on from our recent advertisement, we can now confirm the appointment of a new Twitter Account Manager.

We are pleased to announce that managing the fleet's official Twitter account from now on will be Crewman Luke Stafford. Mr Stafford has extensive experience in posting on the Twitter social networking site and has demonstrated a true commitment to this fleet during the relatively short period of time he has been a member.

Luke will now be responsible for tweeting official news items, messaging celebrities, interacting with followers and gaining new followers in an attempt to recruit new players to the fleet itself.

Please congratulate him on his new found position as a member of the fleet's Media & Recruitment Team.

First Official YouTube Recruitment Drive!



We are excited to announce the first official Shadow Fleet YouTube Recruitment Drive, your chance to assist in the future development of our fleet!

Launched as an official project of the Media & Recruitment Team, this is the first recruitment drive to focus entirely on YouTube and the medium of video and moving images. But we need your help!

If you're interested in helping the fleet to grow and expand with the introduction of new members, it's as easy as "1, 2, 3":
  1. Search for a Star Trek-related video on YouTube
  2. Post a message in the "comments" section
  3. Move on to the next video and keep advertising the fleet!

If everybody in the fleet posted just five recruitment messages on different YouTube videos, that's over 200 messages on as many pages! With over 12 million views on the new Star Trek Into Darkness movie trailer alone, we're opening ourselves up to a serious fan-base and a potentially massive increase in the forum member count.

So between now and the end of February, take just ten minutes out of your day to advertise Shadow Fleet on YouTube. You could be the one who makes a difference!

February 20, 2013

Spotlight On Command - Connor Price

In the penultimate installment of our newest feature, we're talking with USS Gettysburg First Officer, Commander Connor Price, about his previous time in the fleet, his favorite SIMM and his advice to those aiming to become First Officers themselves.

How did you discover Shadow Fleet and what made you want to join?

I discovered Shadow Fleet about 5 years ago while surfing the web. I was just getting into Star Trek and searched "Star Trek RPG" on the internet. When Shadow Fleet popped up, I just knew I had to join. There was only one 'main' ship back then, though there were some non-canon alien races bashing about. I wanted to join Starfleet and shoot people though. I think I was about 12 or 13 at the time.

Have you enjoyed your time in the fleet?
Definitely! It's not just the fleet, it's what the fleet has helped me achieve. I wouldn't have joined the UK's Air Training Corps if it wasn't for the support of Admiral Kawolsky, and meeting both him and Commander Thompson last year was a real highlight of my life.

What has been your most memorable moment?

Tough one. I still remember when I first joined up, the Discovery was engaged in a close quarters battle with an alien ship deep in a nebula somewhere. That scenario really sparked my imagination, and helped me get off my feet.

Of all the ships you have posted on, which has been your favorite?

Gotta be the Discovery. Sorry, Churchill and Gettysburg, but the Discovery has a special place in my heart. It was, and still is, a fantastic place to RP.

Do you enjoy being a First Officer?

Yes! Me and Lance make a fantastic team, and he allows me a great deal of freedom to run the ship. I actually enjoy all the admin work that I have to do, the 'behind the scenes' stuff, if you will. And, being able to tell people what to do is a plus.

Do you have any advice for those would-be First Officers in the fleet?

Slightly cliche, I know, but work hard. Don't expect success to come to you, really make an effort. Get out there, write great posts, help where asked, get along with people, and you'll soon be at the top! And, don't be afraid to ask questions. if you don't understand what you've been told to do, ask, rather than get it wrong.

Finally, if you could pick just one word to sum up your time in Shadow Fleet, what would it be?

I'm going to be boring and say "Educational". My experiences in the fleet have really helped me interact with people in real life, and has definitely helped me achieve things I would not have achieved in my own time. In particular, Shadow Fleet has been a huge help in developing my writing skills. Just take any of my posts now and compare it to my early ones, and you'll see the improvement!


A very big thank you to Connor for providing us with a very heartwarming interview. It's clear to see that he has really enjoyed his time with us.

Our next installment of "Spotlight on Command" will be our last, when we'll be speaking with Churchill's First Officer and one of the longest serving players in the fleet, Lieutenant Commander John Brown. It's not to be missed!

February 18, 2013

Spotlight on Command - Tobias Masters

As we near the end of our "Spotlight on Command" feature series, we're moving on to interview those officers who work under our Commanding Officers, dishing out the work to the Department Heads and organizing the day-to-day running of each of our SIMMs: the First Officers.

In this interview, we're chatting with USS Gibson First Officer, Lieutenant Commander Tobias Masters, as he talks about his reasons for joining, why he likes Shadow Fleet so much and how being a First Officer in this fleet differs to others out there.

Tell us how you found Shadow Fleet.

I actually found Shadow Fleet while looking around on Startrek.com. Admiral Kawolsky messaged me with an invite.

Have you enjoyed your time in the fleet so far?


Definitely. I am and have been in several fleets now, and by far I enjoy this the most.

What would you say has been you most memorable moment?

Jumping the rail on the USS Gibson and slamming the Captain through the navigation controls. We had talked about it prior to happening, but it was still epic. We won't talk about what she did in response!

You rose through the ranks pretty quickly. Do you enjoy being a Command Level Officer or would you have preferred a little more time getting used to the lower ranks?


Well, when I joined the fleet I kind of got thrusted right into the thick of things. Reece [Thompson] was the Churchill's Security Chief but at the time was Acting First Officer so I got to play a green department head for a short time. I like the challenges it brings and enjoy the position.

How do you feel being a Command Level Officer in Shadow Fleet compares to other Star Trek RPGs out there?

It is definitely more challenging than in other fleets that I have been in, but challenging in a good way. Here once a person reaches command level it really feels earned and that I have a level of responsibility. In other fleets you just get a ship by asking for one and it really isn't earned.

If you were to take command of your own SIMM here in the fleet, would you do anything differently to the other SIMMs?

I don't rightly know how to answer this question. Each of us have our strong suites and weaknesses. I would hope to have an XO that complements my strengths and weaknesses so that we can mesh and have the best ship on the site.

Finally, if you could pick just one word to sum up your time in Shadow Fleet, what would it be?

Epic.

As always, we'd like to thank Commander Masters for taking the time out to answer our questions. Keep you eyes locked on the news board for our next "Spotlight on Command", when we'll be talking with Gettysburg First Officer, Commander Connor Price.

February 17, 2013

Commissioned Officer Recruiting Period 01/13

We are pleased to announce the launch of 2013's first Commissioned Officer Recruiting Period, or CORP for short.


The CORP is the opportunity for all eligible crewmen to apply for a place on a Commissioned Officer Training Course (OTC) at Shadow Fleet Academy.

During period 01/13, we are looking to recruit into the following fields:
  • Flight Control
  • Security/Tactical
  • Science/Medical
  • Engineering/Operations
  • Counseling
If you are an enlisted player holding the rate of Petty Officer Third Class or above and wish to apply for the Officer Training Course in any of the above fields, send a request to your Commanding Officer via private message explaining the field in which you are applying and why you wish to become a commissioned officer in Shadow Fleet.

The deadline for all applications is February 25th, 2013.

Good luck!

Note: Not all applicants will be successful. If you are not accepted onto an Officer Training Course, there will be another opportunity through CORP 02/13 to be announced later in the year. Successful graduates may be required to transfer ship to satisfy officer personnel requirements across the fleet. Maximum graduating rank in this CORP is Ensign.

Wanted: Twitter Account Manager

We are currently on the look-out for a resourceful player to join the Media & Recruitment Team as the official Twitter Account Manager.

This exciting position is open to any enthusiastic person with an interest in marketing through the medium of social media. The successful candidate will have an interest and enthusiasm for social media, with excellent writing skills and an ability to take instructions from the Head of the Media & Recruitment Team.

Responsibilities include:
  • Posting daily updates on the fleet Twitter account 
  • Tweeting/re-tweeting messages to/from celebrities in an attempt to boost the fleet's profile
  • Taking instructions from the Head of Media & Recruitment
  • Liaising with other members of the Media & Recruitment Team
  • Writing excellent marketing copy to promote the fleet
  • Working under pressure during times of high recruitment
If you think you would be a good person for this role, send a personal message to Rear Admiral (Lower Half) John Kawolsky, explaining why you should be chosen, any skills and experience you may have, and what you would bring to the position.

The deadline for all applications is February 22nd, 2013.

Selection of New Member Orientation Officer

After receiving several applications for the position of New Member Orientation Officer, we are delighted to announce the person selected to join the fleet's support staff in this new role as well as those players who will be supporting him.

Though the position was advertised as a stand alone role, reporting to the Head of Media & Recruitment, the fleet admiralty have decided to expand this to include the appointment of two other representatives working directly below the New Member Orientation Officer, one from the United Kingdom and the other from the United States.

Heading up this new "mini-team", we are delighted to announce, will be Crewman Jon Tulley. Though Mr. Tulley has not been with the fleet long, he has already gone a long way in establishing himself as a dedicated player who always welcomes new members, providing help & support when needed. This, combined with his real-world experience of working in the recruitment field, makes him an excellent candidate for the role. We feel his new position is only an extension of what he is already doing within the fleet.

Supporting Crewman Tulley will be Petty Officer Third Class John Harriman (for the United States) and Senior Crewman Rennan Protheus (for the United Kingdom). Both players have been members of the fleet for some time now and are no stranger to its policies and procedures. Placed in different timezones, they are well served to offer help and advice to players from around the world.

Together, these three players will provide a complete "welcome" service to new players joining the fleet, advising on matters from how to complete their application to technical issues like changing their rank insignia. The New Member Orientation Officer will oversee the progress of new players in the fleet right up until they complete their one week probation period and are settled into their ship.

Please congratulate these players on their new secondary appointments.

February 15, 2013

Spotlight on Command - Riley T. Munro

In the latest episode of our newest feature "Spotlight on Command", we're talking with USS Gibson Commanding Officer Riley T. Munro about her most memorable moments in the fleet, life as a Command Level Officer, and what makes the Gibson stand out against other SIMMs.

How long have you been a member of Shadow Fleet now?

My very first character that I created on Shadow Fleet was in January of 2008. Her name was Damiana, and since then I have really grown to love the fleet. I don't know where I'd be without it.

What has been your most memorable moment so far?

The most memorable moment for me on the fleet... wow, how do I answer that? That's rough. Personally, I could never explain how much I enjoy writing with Captain Scott Bradley, but a moment that I knew I had picked the right person to do character development was when he gave Munro her nickname, "Ro". Ever since then I have cherished every time we get to write anything together.

Which SIMM have you enjoyed role-playing on the most?


I both love and hate this question. How do you pick? The first ship I served on was the USS Discovery, and I loved it. But to be honest, I wouldn't give up the Gibson for the world, I've had other commands, but I am just proud of the Gibson and more so her crew. She is mighty little ship and the personnel teach me more than I could ever hope to teach them.

How did you feel when you were given command of the Gibson?


I was ecstatic. I went on for weeks about it. I spent months prior to her opening thinking of all the little things that would make us different. And she hasn't disappointed. Worth every moment I gave in thought... the crew brings her to life in a way not even my imagination could see.

What would you say separates the Gibson from the other SIMMs in the fleet?


Lots of things, I have a faith in my crew that they are capable of using their imagination, they are the heart and soul of the ship, so why not let them take up the reigns sometimes and be free to grow. I know that in the future, the fleet will have more ships, some of which will be commanded by people that are currently on the Gibson. I see the Gibson more like the original series of Star Trek than any other, due to the nature of the missions, and that they have life lessons in them.

In your opinion, what is the most difficult aspect of running a SIMM?
Once I became a commander, I found that sometimes my posting in mission lacks, sometimes because there just is too much to do outside of mission in admin work, but sometimes because I want to see the crew move things along, I don't want to always override their ideas. I think it comes off as being an absent leader, and I see that, but I hope they know they are my number one priority here on the fleet. Multitasking has never been one of my strong suits... so I could stand to learn and improve it.

Finally, if you could pick just one word to sum up your time in Shadow Fleet, what would it be?

Is "Life-changing" a word? If it isn't, I just made it one. When the fleet took me in, I was in a very rough patch in my life. They gave me that outlet that I needed to pour my issues into. I made friends I would have never gotten to meet and they have changed me for the better. I am the one who is honored to be here... Thank you to everyone, you make my ever so changing, chaotic life - bearable.

Thank you to Commander Riley T. Munro for what was, once again, another interesting installment of our "Spotlight on Command" series. Next time, we'll be focusing our attention on the First Officers of our fleet so keep checking back if you don't want to miss out!

February 7, 2013

Spotlight On Command: Scott Bradley

In the third installment of our latest feature "Spotlight on Command", we're talking with one of Shadow Fleet's founding members, Captain Scott Bradley, as he reveals his motivations for joining us all those years ago, his most memorable moments since, and his future prospects in the fleet.


You've been a member of the fleet from the very beginning. Can you tell us what drew you here all those years ago?

Well I'm getting on a bit now, so my memory isn't what it used to be! Though I do remember being a member of another Star Trek RPG site called Expansion Fleet. It was there that I originally met John Kawolsky, and through roleplaying on that site I seem to remember being emailed and getting an invitation to join Shadow Fleet. At the time I was just looking to RP as much as possible, so I took the chance and joined the site. And the rest is history.

Do you think Shadow Fleet has changed much since then?

Oh yes! But that's a good thing! Obviously we have more members now and more ships, but it's just the little things that you notice when you've been. From forum layout to the way things are done now, it's been a gradual process but I guess that's what makes Shadow Fleet last!

What has been your most memorable moment?

I am really struggling here! There have been literally dozens of moments in my time here! From becoming the XO of the Discovery, to helping plan season-long story arcs and all of the crew-mates that I've posted with! If I had to put it down to one moment, I would have to say the initial idea of creating minisodes with Admiral Kawolsky. It's no secret we are both massive Battlestar Galactica fans, and it was a couple of years ago we thought that we could adapt that format to Shadow Fleet, letting us get some more character stuff in between missions.

It's years later and the format is still going strong, and has spread to other ships! So they seem to be popular, and obviously I feel a great sense of achievement in having helped create them.

Now that we have four ships in the fleet, do you feel more pressure to make the Discovery stand-out above them?

Absolutely. Competition is healthy and I'm looking forward to us all pushing each other to be the best we can be. Obviously things haven't been ideal lately, and that's partly due to work commitments on my part. But I know that the Discovery can kick on and keep leading the way it has been for the past few years!

Surely you'll be due for promotion soon. Would you take it if it meant leaving the Discovery?

You'd have to get all of the medical crewmen in the fleet to put me in a straight jacket, drug me up and wheel me away before I would leave that ship! But seriously, I would be honored by it, but I can't see myself in any other role. I've got a lot planned for the Discovery, and I couldn't imagine not being there for it!

Finally, if you could pick just one word to sum up your time in Shadow Fleet, what would it be?

I don't know if that's possible. I'll try two; Frackin' awesome!

As always, a big thank you to Captain Bradley for taking the time out to answer these few questions. We're sure you'll agree it has been interesting to read about his experiences throughout Shadow Fleet's six year history.

In our next "Spotlight on Command" feature we'll be chatting with Commander Riley T. Munro about her time in the fleet and what she has planned for the crew of the Gibson. Keep checking back if you don't want to miss out!

February 6, 2013

New Member Orientation Officer

An exciting new opportunity has opened up for a player wishing to become involved in the retention of new players who may join the fleet.

We are looking to recruit a New Member Orientation Officer, responsible for welcoming new players, assisting them with their application and answering any questions they may have.

Full responsibilities of the role include:
  • Welcoming each and every new player who joins the fleet by PM and/or profile comment
  • Providing assistance in completing the new player application form
  • Acting as a single point-of-contact for new players who may have questions about the fleet
  • Imparting knowledge & experience onto new players to prepare them for their time in the fleet
  • Introducing new players to the different aspects of the forum and its features (articles, blog, general discussion etc)

Candidates applying should be extremely organized, trustworthy, online often and hold the minimum enlisted rate of Petty Officer Third Class. Additionally, all candidates should have an in-depth knowledge of the Shadow Fleet Rules and procedures, hold no other secondary administrative position and have at least six months experience of posting within the fleet.

If you think you meet this criteria and wish to apply for the role, please send a PM to Rear Admiral John Kawolsky explaining why you think you would be a good choice along with any relevant experience you may have.

The deadline for applications is February 12th, 2013 however this may be sooner if the right candidate is found.

February 5, 2013

New StarTrek.com Account Manager

We are pleased to announce the appointment of a new account manager to maintain and update the fleet's official StarTrek.com profile.

Please congratulate Petty Officer Third Class Sukal who, effective immediately, will be responsible for ensuring the fleet is appropriately represented on StarTrek.com by posting regular updates in our own RPG topic, interacting with forum members and actively recruiting from the site.

As a secondary role, Petty Officer Sukal will maintain his commitments to the crew of the Gettysburg but will now be joining the fleet's Media & Recruitment Team to assist the recruitment and retention of new players in a fleet-wide capacity.

We have full confidence that he will perform well in his new role.

February 3, 2013

Spotlight on Command: Reece Thompson

Following on from our recent Q&A with Gettysburg Commanding Officer, Captain Lance Krol, we are pleased to announce the launch of a new feature series called "Spotlight on Command", focusing on the work carried out by the fleet's Command Level Officers.

In this installment, we chat to the newly-appointed Commander Reece Thompson about his previous experience in Shadow Fleet, his new position on the Churchill and his advice for any budding captains out there.

 How long have you been a member of the fleet?

I have been with Shadow Fleet for over just over three years. During my time here I have made a number of friends including: Riley T. Munro, Shelaf Greegy, John Brown, Alyssa Meadows and many others. The fleet has helped me a lot during those three years.

What has been your most memorable moment?

I think without a doubt, it was just after I joined. I was assigned to the USS Port Royal as a security officer and I was fighting off intruders in Engineering. The OOC roasting I got from Commander Munro was astounding. It was after that roasting I decided to brush up on my Star Trek knowledge, and realised that particle weapons and warp cores don't mix.

How many SIMMs have you role-played and which has been your favorite?


I've actually been on quite a lot of the SIMMs here. I get around a little bit. I've been on the USS Discovery a few times, I was also on the USS Intrepid at one point, the USS Port Royal while it was active, most recently I was on the USS Gibson and now on the USS Churchill for the second time I believe. So yeah, I've pin-balled around the fleet.

If I'm honest, I'm not really sure which was my favorite. I think that my time on the Discovery would rate just marginally higher though because the ship and storylines were established so well.

So you were recently given command of the Churchill. How did that feel?

Genuinely, I was surprised about it. I expected Mr Price or Mr Brown to be given the ship. I'm quite glad about it though. I'm quite new to command, having only been an XO beforehand, but luckily, my new XO is a former Captain of a SIMM, so I know that I'm in good hands.

Have you implemented, or are you planning to implement any changes to the SIMM?

I haven't implemented any changes yet, and for the time being, I can't think of anything I need to implement. Ask me again in a few weeks, I might have something more helpful.

What advice would you give someone wanting to pursue a command position in Shadow Fleet?

Well, first of all, don't get so attached to post counts. Although I'd tell that to anyone talking about any sort of promotion path. Don't rely just on post numbers to advance. The best way to get noticed for a command position is to help out your current command officers. Submitting mission ideas, welcoming new members, diffusing any confrontations between members. Any and all of these things would catch someones eye. Keep doing them, and there's a high possibility that once you hit Lieutenant, you'll be strongly considered for the COTC.

Short answer, don't just be a poster. Be an asset.

Finally, if you could pick just one word to sum up your time in Shadow Fleet, what would it be?

Fantastic!

A very big thank you to Commander Thompson for answering our questions. Keep your eyes open for our next installment of "Spotlight on Command", coming soon.

February 2, 2013

Startrek.com Account Manager

An exciting new opportunity has opened up for a player wishing to become involved in advertising the fleet externally as part of the Media & Recruitment Team.

We are looking to recruit a new StarTrek.com Account Manager, responsible for maintaining and updating our account on StarTrek.com - the official website of Star Trek.

Responsibilities of the role include:

  • Logging in daily to check profile posts and responses to recruitment topics
  • Posting recruitment invitations on other user's profiles
  • Regularly updating the Shadow Fleet recruitment topic 
  • Participating in meetings and discussion topics as part of the Media & Recruitment Team
  • Advertising fleet social media (Facebook, Twitter, Blogger) through StarTrek.com
  • Assisting in planned fleet recruitment events
  • Exercising appropriate control of restricted information
  • Following instructions from the Head of Media & Recruitment

Candidates applying should be extremely organized, trustworthy, online often and hold the minimum enlisted rate of Senior Crewman. Additionally, all candidates should have had at least three months time within the fleet.

If you think you meet this criteria and wish to apply for the role, please send a PM to Rear Admiral John Kawolsky explaining why you think you would be a good choice along with any relevant experience you may have.

The deadline for applications is February 8th, 2013.

February 1, 2013

The Gettysburg Gets Underway

The Galaxy-class USS Gettysburg


February 1st has arrived which means only one thing; it's time for our newest SIMM to set sail!

That's right, the USS Gettysburg has now officially launched under the command of Captain Lance Krol, her mission to reignite the Star Trek ethos of exploration and discovery on the fringes of Federation space. With her first mission entitled "Unwritten Future", our newest addition to the fleet is set to be an exciting one!

But that's not all! With the launch of Gettysburg brings new changes within our fleet. We are pleased to announce the promotion of Reece Thompson to commander and his appointment as the Churchill's new Commanding Officer. Assisting him as First Officer will be Lieutenant Commander John Brown. Together, these two officers will ensure the high standards the Churchill has shown of late, are maintained as we go into February and beyond.

Join us in celebration by heading along to our Facebook page, Twitter feed, or Blogger profile today and help us wish the Gettysburg a very successful maiden voyage!

Posting Record

With the launch of the USS Gettysburg today, we have reached a milestone in the development of our fleet. Over the past six years we have built this community up from just a handful of players to a thriving group of like-minded Star Trek role-players.

As well as this, you have also managed to break yet another record in the form of the monthly post count. With 3968 posts submitted to the boards in January, you have beaten and surpassed our previous record of 2876 from June 2012.

This is a tremendous achievement and I thank each and every one of you for your hard work and determination in making this fleet - this community - a wonderful place to be.

Keep up the good work!