Topics

Character(s) affected: Ruth Sigurdsdottir
Assigned ship(s): USS Challenger - A
Period of time absent: Almost 2 weeks (but see notes)
Date of last period of activity: 11th August (fully active)
Date returning: 28th Aug

Any relevant comments: It will be my 50th birthday on 16th August.  For the dates 12th, 15th thru 19th I will be fully LOA (as in out of town not just busy with b'day stuff).  I also have a plethora of days out, meals, guests visiting etc to get thru with appropriately taking time out to rest up so I can enjoy the fun.  Don't worry I will pop in on Discord and post when I can but will probably (will discuss with Ian) take myself out of the main mission for that month if needed.

Character(s) affected: Ruth Sigurdsdottir
Assigned ship(s): USS Challenger-A
Period of time absent: 4 days (see note)
Date of last period of activity: (see note)
Date returning: (see note)

Any relevant comments: This is just a 'Backside Covering'.  Basically I will have guests since the Tall Ships Race is visiting Hartlepool and I don't know when in those 4 days we will be visiting to go see the ships.  I will however be around, so ping me an email or those who have me on email, if I'm needed desperately you can get ahold of me still, I'm not out of town, just afk for extended time and spending more time with guests.

Character(s) affected: Ruth Sigurdsdottir
Assigned ship(s): USS Challenger-A
Period of time absent: 5 days/10 days (partial, max.  See notes)
Date of last period of activity: 5th Dec/22nd Dec
Date returning: 11th Dec/3rd Jan 2023

Any relevant comments:

5th thru 11th Dec: attending 2 rock gigs one on 6th near Newcastle upon Tyne which isn't too far from me but will be there late due to a 'meet and greet' with our friends in the band... back late, lie in the following day, and a 2nd on 9th which involves a 136 mile road trip one way to Wigan then back via Leeds with my brother, staying overnight to get a few hours sleep (for him, the driver) then getting me back to Hartlepool by 9.30am to go out with my bf since that will be Saturday 10th and you all know Saturdays are my one day I see the bf!!  Between days I will be doing a pre-Xmas sort out and housework with my brother and Angel *and* trying to relax some so the CFS doesn't send me into a flare up more than necessary with all the travelling and late nights.  If I can post I shall.

23rd Dec 2022 - 2nd Jan 2023:  Generally just 'family visiting over the festive period syndrome'.  I have my brother from 23rd or lunchtime 24th thru to 1st or 2nd Jan (depending on how hung over we are on NY Day!!) I'm only posting a partial for this since if I can post I shall... just can't guarantee...but I generally LOVE the Xmas missions!

Character(s) affected: Ruth/Hrafn and assorted NPCs
Assigned ship(s): Challenger/Katra
Period of time absent: 6 days/10 days
Date of last period of activity: 1st June/11th Aug
Date returning: 8th June/22nd Aug

Any relevant comments: First (June) is the Platinum Jubilee weekend and I'm likely to have company so not sure how much if any computer time I'll have, Second (Aug) incorporates the 2 weekends either side and week of my birthday... people like to take me out and I'll be unpredictable during those dates but not totally away I hope but posting might be spotty.

For everyone to post their Seasonal Greetings to individual friends on the forum and/or to our lovely group as a whole.

This is for all of you!

Love Pol (aka Ruth and Skye(and I suppose Huxley - the Challie's own ship's cat!), Hrafn, the kids, Macavity, Mestophelis, Lappy and Lazzy (the cats), and Luby, plus the Siggy Twins et al) *MWAH*

Hi y'all!

A long time ago in a galaxy... oops sorry, wrong sci-fi franchise!!

News of my demise is overra.... oh damn still....

Anyhow, thought I'd best give you an update...The shorter version ain't too short but bear with me.

First up - I was talking to the player of Kyle Briggs, since most of you know he's a close personal friend of many years standing from way back when we were both in our respective military forces, and as such, and with the lack of organisation I had until fairly recently, I'd lost his postal address and wanted to send a card for the year end festivities.... well I find out there had been some changes and that I had missed you all.

So... had a quick chat with Tekin Nevir who indicated that I would be welcome back any time (not that I really had any doubt)... and thus I'm planning to do just that, although I don't yet know in what capacity or anything until I've had more discussion with Tekin and Ian.

Those of you thinking 'but didn't she leave for health reasons?' - Yes, and to an extent those health reasons are still relevant, so don't expect miracles.  However, my MacDobby (a nickname I gave Angel aka Ta Li aka my 'brother' since he has a Scottish surname and has turned into my house elf LOL... don't worry, he's a free elf, I gave him clothes for his b'day!) has been staying with me while he's trying to secure a house for rental in Hartlepool (the town I live in) so he's been doing 90% of my household chores, running into town for me, picking up prescriptions, making sure I eat and drink regularly and so on, even when he gets his own place he'll be here at least every other day so I can safely know that the chores will be done and I don't have to worry about them piling up - so the stress side of fretting about my place becoming a pigsty is now off my shoulders, I don't get depressed over the fact that I'm too ill to run a vacuum cleaner over the floor, or that there is a mountain (not just a pile... a veritable MOUNTAIN) of laundry to be done and I will always have painkillers with a maximum of a 48hr wait - literally as long as it take for a repeat prescription to be put into my doctors, processed and picked up from the pharmacy. 

So.... my body has had a chance to start healing, I'm not dealing with compounded PEM (Post Exertional Malaise - most people think of them at 'Fibro Flare') bouts - I still get them, I still WILL get them in future, but my body is at least having a chance to rest.  In the last month since he came up, I've mostly been sat under a blanket doing knitting and crochet, watching Netflix/Amazon Prime and being waited on hand and foot.

My intention is that I not only manage to get back to Shadowfleet but I make in roads on my novel writing too and have more time for my crafts.  He's perfectly happy with this since he gets pressies for his nieces and nephews made and I only charge him for the materials if I don't have them in stock.

I ask that if I have an off day - which will still happen - you don't think I'm lying about my health and throw me out of the nearest airlock!!

Hope to be writing with you very soon!

Best Wishes for whatever you celebrate this year end even if it's just eating lots of nice foodstuffs!!

HUGS

Pol aka Ruth/Hrafn/Luby

Have spoken briefly on FB messenger to Tekin Nevir who indicates that I would be welcome back...

I don't know where I might be most useful, but you know me, fairly flexible.  I would of course like Ruth with Lahr and Hrafn is happiest either on Katra or with Nevir....

If you need me to bring back Luby or Lawrie or even create anyone else I can do so. Anything bar an engineer!

Let me know where, what rank and what I need to do next.

Good to be back,

Pol aka Ruth/Hrafn

Character(s) affected: Ruth Sigurdsdottir, Hrafn Falleg-Tekin, Luby Wentock
Assigned ship(s): Challenger, Katra and Discovery respectively
Period of time absent: RESERVE REQUEST
Date of last period of activity:
Date returning:

Any relevant comments:  Health reasons see the letter in FNS, I hope sometime to come back and will submit mission ideas via various friends

[**draws circle of doom**]

Dear Fellow Fleeters.

It is with heavy heart that I have today asked to reserve my characters with immediate effect, but I felt you all deserved a reason why...

The short version - my health, or rather the lack of it. (there's also a synopsis in GREEN near the bottom).  I'm sorry if this is TMI for some people but I feel that you need it explained.

I have had a few months of poking, prodding, blood tests, scans and so on and while the prognosis isn't life threatening (don't worry, I'm too mad to die just yet!) it is debilitating.

I've copied this from cdc.gov and then added my parts (in yellow) as explanation of how it effects ME:

There is no cure or approved treatment for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). However, some symptoms can be treated or managed. [My doctor said that one treats the symptoms rather than the disease/illness, but even then it's like getting a new bingo card every day as to which symptoms present themselves] Treating these symptoms might provide relief for some patients with ME/CFS but not others. Other strategies, like learning new ways to manage activity, can also be helpful. [I have done Occupational Therapy to help with this, I have employed the D's - Defer, Do, Don't, Delegate... but that only works 'so far'. ]

Patients, their families, and healthcare providers need to work together to decide which symptom causes the most problems. This should be treated first. Patients, families, and healthcare providers should discuss the possible benefits and harms of any treatment plans, including medicines and other therapies. [This part makes my doctor laugh - she read this page with me as a guide to helping other people understand when I told them.  However she did say this is the most accurate in the main.  However, '... which symptom causes the most problems... well yeah, how does 'all of them' sound?!]

Healthcare providers need to support their patients' families as they come to understand how to live with this illness. Providers and families should remember that this process might be hard on people with ME/CFS. [Except that my family... ah... long story.  My immediate blood family are more medically problematic than I am.  My mother is bedridden, my sister is her sole carer and is also physically disabled and potentially has ME herself.  My chosen family are scattered around the country.  Locally I have a few very good friends who help out but those closest namely my partner - he's FT carer not to me himself, and Tracey has her daughter to look after.]

Symptoms that healthcare providers might try to address are:

Post-exertional Malaise (PEM)

Post-exertional malaise (PEM) is the worsening of symptoms after even minor physical, mental or emotional exertion. For some patients, sensory overload (light and sound) can induce PEM. The symptoms typically get worse 12 to 48 hours after the activity or exposure and can last for days or even weeks. [In my case, try MONTHS... and the problem being that I'm not fully recovering from one bout of PEM because living on my own bar the cat - and other than for companionship matters he's pretty useless for doing housework for example!! - and the NHS not able to provide 24/7 carers for me... I HAVE to do stuff otherwise I'd have an overflowing cat's litter tray, stinking bags of trash... well you get the idea, I have to do stuff, so I never recover fully from one bout and I'm having another... this compounds the issue.  See also 'sleep' below.]

PEM can be addressed by activity management, also called pacing. The goal of pacing is to learn to balance rest and activity to avoid PEM flare-ups, which can be caused by exertion that patients with ME/CFS cannot tolerate. To do this, patients need to find their individual limits for mental and physical activity. Then they need to plan activity and rest to stay within these limits. Some patients and doctors refer to staying within these limits as staying within the "œenergy envelope." The limits may be different for each patient. Keeping activity and symptom diaries may help patients find their personal limits, especially early on in the illness.

Being mindful of personal limits could prove to be a helpful coping skill for people living with ME/CFS.  This enables them the ability to find balance between activities and rest, giving them a sense of managing the illness rather than the illness controlling them. People living with ME/CFS may find that everyday activities such as buying groceries, brushing their teeth, or interacting with others may be enough to cause a relapse or "œcrash". It may not be possible to entirely avoid these situations, but people living with ME/CFS need to be aware of monitoring their own activity limits. When having a good day, it is tempting to try and "œpush" (increasing activity beyond what would normally attempt) to make up for lost time. However, this can then lead to a "œcrash" (worsening of ME/CFS symptoms); the cycle can then repeat itself after people start recovering from the crash. [I'm mindful, but see above.  I will even when I know I'm going to be doing something - e.g. on Saturday I'm going out with my partner, that's normally a double-edged sword.  He's like plugging in a battery pack as far as my depression is concerned... so I brighten and my ailments don't seem so bad, but we will be doing stuff so.... that's the down side.  I can only 'bank' so much energy so I don't do much on a Friday, and I know that all of a Saturday evening and most of Sunday I will need to recover.  I manage to get back to 'maybe' 50% energy levels on a good day but I'm like a phone battery that won't take a full charge... and that's the problem, every time I manage to charge less and less.]

Rehabilitation specialists or exercise physiologists who understand ME/CFS may help patients with adjusting to life with ME/CFS. Finding ways to make activities easier may be helpful, like sitting while doing the laundry or showering, taking frequent breaks, and dividing large tasks into smaller steps. Some patients find heart rate monitors useful in keeping track of how hard their body is working, as a way to prevent PEM. Patients who have learned to listen to their bodies might be able to increase their activity level. However, ME/CFS is unpredictable. PEM symptoms may not start right after exercise, making it important for each treatment plan to be tailored for each case. Exercise is not a cure for ME/CFS. [Thankfully, my current doctor understands this, and it is for this reason that she's basically said to cut down EVERY activity that isn't totally necessary - she understands that I might for example have to take a bag of trash out or do the litter tray, but the hoovering can wait until Saturday morning when my partner comes around and he can run the hoover around the floor of the living room, but something like checking emails, or SF... that can wait or be eliminated from daily routines.  I can check for any important emails on my phone.]

Any activity or exercise plan for people with ME/CFS needs to be carefully designed with input from each patient. While vigorous aerobic exercise can be beneficial for many chronic illnesses, patients with ME/CFS do not tolerate such exercise routines. Standard exercise recommendations for healthy people can be harmful for patients with ME/CFS. However, it is important that patients with ME/CFS undertake activities that they can tolerate, as described above.

Sleep
Patients with ME/CFS often feel less refreshed and restored after sleep than they did before they became ill. Common sleep complaints include difficulty falling or staying asleep, extreme sleepiness, intense and vivid dreaming, restless legs, and night-time muscle spasms.
Good sleep habits are important for all people, including those with ME/CFS. When people try these tips but are still unable to sleep, their doctor might recommend taking medicine to help with sleep. First, people should try over-the-counter sleep products. If this does not help, doctors can offer a prescription sleep medicine, starting at the smallest dose and using for the shortest possible time.

People might continue to feel unrefreshed even after the medications help them to get a full night of sleep. If so, they should consider seeing a sleep specialist. Most people with sleep disorders, like sleep apnea (symptoms include brief pausing in breathing during sleep) and narcolepsy (symptoms include excessive daytime sleepiness), respond to therapy. However, for people with ME/CFS, not all symptoms may go away. [All of the above bar narcolepsy... well I do have excessive daytime sleepiness but not what people commonly think of as narcolepsy, I don't just fall asleep randomly, in fact I find it very difficult to sleep during the day.  I do have some amitriptyline 10mg which are supposed to help me sleep at night - they do, their function being that they relax my nerve pain and relax me generally and even act as a general mild anti-depressant (need about 10x the amount to work fully as an anti-depressant but...), but even the 10mg tablets have me totally zombied the next 3 days and as I'm already half dead during the day the doc has said to use only if I really want to zonk completely and have nothing to do the next day at all.  Problem being, as most people are aware the body uses sleep as a restorative healing time... I don't get full 8 hours or more each night, I don't heal, so I don't come out of the PEM... and **draws circle of doom** ]

Pain
People with ME/CFS often have deep pain in their muscles and joints. They might also have headaches (typically pressure-like) and soreness of their skin when touched. [Ah, you reckon?!  But one of the reasons that it took them so long to diagnose is that I also have arthritis so I ache from that too!  And chronic migraines until I had a lump in my brain - benign but pressing on spinal cord so had to be removed - still have the migraines just not even half as frequently nowadays!]

Patients should always talk to their healthcare provider before trying any medication. Doctors may first recommend trying over-the-counter pain-relievers, like acetaminophen, aspirin, or ibuprofen. If these do not provide enough pain relief, patients may need to see a pain specialist. People with chronic pain, including those with ME/CFS, can benefit from counse[ling to learn new ways to deal with pain. [Been there, done that.  Currently I'm still on Naproxen, paracetamol and I get 20 x dihydrocodiene to last me a month.  Doctors over here don't like prescribing acetaminophen, but my doc is fine with me having ibuprofen and even CBD oil as back up.  We've got to the point that short of IV morphine with everything else wrong with me besides the CFS/PEM I'm gonna be in pain anyhow so we try to sort that out best we can... I joke that I want a new body for Xmas but well... it would be nice LOL, decant the brain and spirit that is Pol and just but it in a younger, slimmer body please!   Hey, not lost my SOH, if I lose that shoot me, with a blunt, rusty knife please!!]

Other pain management methods include stretching and movement therapies, gentle massage, heat, toning exercises, and water therapy for healing. Acupuncture, when done by a licensed practitioner, might help with pain for some patients. [Acupuncture doesn't come cheap in the UK, and I'm on benefits so that is right out.  Huxley (my cat) tries his best with free catupuncture whether I want it or not! Massage - ditto, although my partner does his best.  I have heat pads but in summer ...ugh, I'm a bloody Viking!! I do not do well with heat!! I do use them during the winter as well, it's cold then LOL.  Water Therapy... only in the shower, then I do like a shower where I will come out looking like a boiled lobster!!!]

Depression, Stress, and Anxiety
Adjusting to a chronic, debilitating illness sometimes leads to other problems, including depression, stress, and anxiety. Many patients with ME/CFS develop depression during their illness. When present, depression or anxiety should be treated. Although treating depression or anxiety can be helpful, it is not a cure for ME/CFS.

Some people with ME/CFS might benefit from antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications. However, doctors should use caution in prescribing these medications. Some drugs used to treat depression have other effects that might worsen other ME/CFS symptoms and cause side effects. When healthcare providers are concerned about patient's psychological condition, they may recommend seeing a mental health professional.

Some people with ME/CFS might benefit from trying techniques like deep breathing and muscle relaxation, massage, and movement therapies (such as stretching, yoga, and tai chi). These can reduce stress and anxiety, and promote a sense of well-being. [Me, I've gotta be special... window licking special! I not only have 'regular' depression, I have it as a result of the CFS, and have PTSD (2 major triggers) so I'm completely FUBARred!! I have 'coping' techniques, and I'm working on the rest!  Having you guys as friends helps, tho maybe not with the being totally MENTAL part!!]

Dizziness and Lightheadedness (Orthostatic Intolerance)
Some people with ME/CFS might also have symptoms of orthostatic intolerance that are triggered when-or made worse by-standing or sitting upright. These symptoms can include:

Frequent dizziness and lightheadedness
Changes in vision (blurred vision, seeing white or black spots)
Weakness
Feeling like your heart is beating too fast or too hard, fluttering, or skipping a beat [it was this that led me to get checked out further - in conjuntion with the blurred vision, floaters in vision and dizziness which had caused me to fall down the stairs... all related apparently.  Good news is knee is on the mend!]
For patients with these symptoms, their doctor will check their heart rate and blood pressure, and may recommend they see a specialist, like a cardiologist or neurologist.

For people with ME/CFS who do not have heart or blood vessel disease, doctor might suggest patients increase daily fluid and salt intake and use support stockings. If symptoms do not improve, prescription medication can be considered. [Because of weight, doc has recommended lots more fluids, eating bananas as potassium is better than sodium for me!]

Memory and Concentration Problems
Memory aids, like organizers and calendars, can help with memory problems. For people with ME/CFS who have concentration problems, some doctors have prescribed stimulant medications, like those typically used to treat Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). While stimulants might help improve concentration for some patients with ME/CFS, they might lead to the "˜push-and-crash' cycle and worsen symptoms. "œPush-and-crash" cycles are when someone with ME/CFS is having a good day and tries to push to do more than they would normally attempt (do too much, crash, rest, start to feel a little better, do too much once again). [<< That, right there = Me!!  I have had butt kicked by doctor.  She's 'allowing' me next weekend to supervise the complete house blitz of getting furniture moved, all the dusting, hoovering and so on done, all the laundry, turning my mattress on the bed etc etc when Angel - who some of you know as Dr. Ta-Li Yona - comes to visit me as he's a big strong lad and has said that he'll do all the bending, stretching, donkey-work jobs for me so that I can just do the sit down, and sort thru bags type tasks which shouldn't wear me out too much.  While this is a definite kindness and the poor guy shouldn't be using his vacation to help me out it means that for a good couple of months at least my 'general housework' will be at ultra minimum and thus I might have a chance to actually recover!]

Living with ME/CFS
Strategies that do not involve use of medications and might be helpful to some patients are:

Professional counseling: Talking with a therapist to help find strategies to cope with the illness and its impact on daily life and relationships. [Hahahahaha, sorry but been there done that, doesn't work for everyone.  My best counsellors are my friends, and they help enormously. Hence why I hope all of you will keep in touch.  Ask Kyle, Jackie or Nevir for my details... most of the CLOs have them.]
Balanced diet. A balanced diet is important for everyone's good health and would benefit a person with or without any chronic illness. [Fight a running battle with my weight but I eat healthily]
Nutritional supplements. Doctors might run tests to see if patients lack any important nutrients and might suggest supplements to try. Doctors and patients should talk about any risks and benefits of supplements, and consider any possible interactions that may occur with prescription medications. Follow-up tests to see if nutrient levels improve can help with treatment planning. [See above re- bananas.  I'm slightly anaemic too but doc found that iron supplements are NOT good for me... while I'm sharing a LOT about myself and my health here, how we found that out deffo falls under TMI!!  Instead I eat about 4x as much spinach, broccoli and other dark greens as I used to which are high in naturally occurring iron.]

So... to paraphrase that lot for the benefit of those who don't want to read ALL of it...

• I have a condition called CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) and a side-along condition known as PEM (Post Exertional Malaise) and as a result of the PEM I have to try to rest as much as possible because ...
• I'm not recovering from one PEM fully before being hit with another and...
• Other ailments like arthritis also wear me down/out so I have less of a 'window' of energy to do things
• Medication doesn't help this, only medication that I get helps the pain
• I stress out (making things worse) because I don't have the energy to fully do housework so only minimal stuff gets done, which stresses more....
• Shadowfleet is unfortunately not a necessity to life, so that's got to be off my list of daily 'tasks'
• This isn't goodbye (hopefully) just 'so long'.

I have however worked out some things for my characters (including NPCs) to be doing while I'm not here and provide a 'backstory' for if/when (hopefully when) I come back!!

Ruth - There has been an opening for a Xenolinguist tutor for the Academy and Capt. Lizzie Vaughan pulled a few strings so that Ruth can go work there.  She has Skye (the dog) with her.

The Siggy twins get posted (separately) to Starbase 54 (Arya) and USS Epsilon (Katya) so they're off doing their stuff.

Hrafn - Well... she's taken the kids, including Ruthie and Meros (for those who don't know, Ruthie is the oldest child from a relationship prior to marrying Nevir and Zerma Meros is her Bajoran bf!  Both Science Ensigns) to New Bajor, living with her inlaws.  Following on from the turmoil on Katra (I mean the station being blown up in part and so on!) she decides that it is no longer somewhere safe for the kids to be, nor is it fair on them to keep being sent off to New Bajor to be away from them, so when the Bajoran Archaeological Society asks if she would head up a team of Xenolinguists since she's been working freelance for them ever since she was pregnant with Lamar, and staying on New Bajor for safety, she agrees.  They tell her to pick her own team so, for the first time ever, with the exception of Nevir, she manages to gather her family in one 'safe-ish' place (no where in ST is entirely safe, you never know when someone is going to decide they don't like Bajorans or whatever!!) and so Hrafn, Ruthie and Meros, Tidu, Nerys and Lamar, Crista and [color=burlywoodJames as a 'family unit' (and in the case of Ruthie and Meros, 2 of the team of Xenolinguist/Scientists) go to live on New Bajor.

Ujosso and Mary being the Katra headmistress and school secretary also end up on New Bajor as many of the families who were displaced after Katra was attacked stayed on New Bajor and haven't as yet moved creating difficulties for the school on Bajor, being short staffed... so they join the school as teachers.

Anth and Sally McCutcheon - I'm unsure about these but totally possible they head for Daystrom since that's where Anth originated.

Luby and the Posse.(Kestra, Roger, Bettina and Grithaw) - Some of you remember Dr. Ta-Li Yona looks like a Klingon but is actually also half Vulcan. (this is posted with permission from him and worked out with him)  Well he never knew his father and as such when a letter arrives saying that his father has been spotted somewhere around Kronos he sets out to look for him.  As Luby and him were starting a relationship he asks her to go along with him as his assistant.  She couldn't leave until circumstances were right and so she finally goes to join him.

The Posse are recalled to Earth to work with Lizzie.

So that's it... it's been fun writing with you all and I sincerely hope that I manage to kick this thing totally into remission sometime and come back.

Until then, Live long and prosper.

Ruth, Hrafn, Luby et al

[Service Ribbons]

Hello Crew of the Challenger!

As always here is are the ribbons for our bi-annual awards.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Service Ribbons

6 Month Service Ribbon

Shazam, Derek Rodwell (belated)

1 Year Service Ribbon

Derek Rodwell

2 Year Service Ribbon

Orcas Abisa, ShranLahr ch'Verret, Jettis Jyur (belated)

3 Year Service Ribbon

Jettis Jyur and Rhymus Cleroux

5 Year Service Ribbon

Ruth Sigurdsdottir and Lisa Belmont

Honourable mentions to our newest crewmembers Lagar (3 months), Hanir Seph (2 months) and Silverback (1 month)

Posting Ability

Posting Excellence Award

This award goes to a player who has demonstrated consistent high quality posting skills.

Lagar and Jettis Jyur

Descriptive Combat Award

Shran'Lahr ch'Verret (as Burke as well as Lahr!!) Rhymus Cleroux and Derek Rodwell

Technical Precision Award

Lisa Belmont

Most Engaging Member Award
Awarded in January and July to the player who writes the most emotionally engaging, scene setting posts.

Lagar and Rhymus Cleroux]

Best Duo Award

Awarded in January and July to the two players who have shown the highest levels of cooperation.

There are a few 'couples' and not just the conventional kind, prior to Kyle leaving for Katra, he and Lisa were up for this, as well as Lahr and Ruth (shoo in!! ) Lek and Helga (who are now together on Discovery) plus Ian and Jess (the latter two couples don't qualify unfortunately as Helga and Jess are NPCs) but unconventional 'couples' not necessarily romantic ones like the way Lahr and Lagar play off one another.

Shran'Lahr ch'Verret and Lagar

Aaaaand....

Ruth Sigurdsdottir and Shran'Lahr ch'Verret

Rib Tickler Award

Awarded in January and July to the player with the most humorous posts.

I've had to give 2, I can't nominate myself and it's not the 'done thing' to nominate the CO either but I'm doing these awards this time so he gets one too!!

Shran'Lahr ch'Verret and Ian Galloway

Extra Contribution

Captain's Personal Merit Award

Lagar

Executive Officer's Personal Merit Award

I just want to say in my time as XO here, there are several people who could easily have got this award...like most of the crew.  My friend, my 'mate' (IC-ly) and person who I always can rely on in any situation on and off site is Lahr/Sinthija... for which I'm grateful... but that might smack of favouritism... so I've been looking elsewhere.  Jettis for stepping into my CSO shoes and doing such a sterling job, Lisa for her dedication to the medical department despite planning a wedding OOC, Lagar who really has been an outstanding member of the crew from the get go, both as his main and taking on NPC-ing Koroz so perfectly... I'm spoilt for choice.  It was very hard to decide, but I eventually fixed on ....

Jettis Jyur

Crew Choice Award

Jettis Jyur

On the recount, this was pretty conclusive!!

Outstanding Commitment Award

These are awarded in January and July to players who are always online and posting regularly in missions.

Jettis Jyur, and Lagar

Contribution Award

This is awarded in January and July to players who make contributions outside of missions. These could include submitting mission ideas and helping new members settle in.

Lisa Belmont

Vaughan Outstanding Contribution Award

Awarded in January and July to players who make outstanding continued contributions outside of missions. These could include assisting the commanding officer with important tasks or temporarily taking on command officer responsibilities. The Contribution Award must be earned before this award.

Shran'Lahr ch'Verret

(it was a close run thing between Lahr, Lagar and Jettis.  However there is a stipulation that the Commitment Award is achieved prior to gaining THIS award...so something to work towards for the January awards!!)

Thank You!

Once again... congratulations. Awards have been assigned. If you don't see your ribbon, or I've missed one, please give me a nudge....after I'm back from LOA!!  The ones I have will be up just as soon as I get logged onto the admin side of the site and work thru them!!

COLOUR KEY BY DEPARTMENT:  COMMAND, FLIGHT, MEDICAL, SCIENCE, SECURITY, OPERATIONS, ENGINEERING

Here are the nominations for this one (from 'Fracture Lines' Mission) there were a ton, so even if you think yours wasn't nominated... honestly there were far too many to list all of them... great writing people!!

Jettis Jyur - #92  https://www.shadowfleet.org/forum/season-four-misisons/s4-e11-fracture-lines/msg255630/#msg255630

Shazham - #36 https://www.shadowfleet.org/forum/season-four-misisons/s4-e11-fracture-lines/msg255078/#msg255078

Derek Rodwell - #204 https://www.shadowfleet.org/forum/season-four-misisons/s4-e11-fracture-lines/msg256649/#msg256649

Ian Galloway - #49 https://www.shadowfleet.org/forum/season-four-misisons/s4-e11-fracture-lines/msg255175/#msg255175

Lagar - #218 https://www.shadowfleet.org/forum/season-four-misisons/s4-e11-fracture-lines/msg256795/#msg256795

Hanir Seph - #116 https://www.shadowfleet.org/forum/season-four-misisons/s4-e11-fracture-lines/msg255865/#msg255865

Lisa Belmont - #180 https://www.shadowfleet.org/forum/season-four-misisons/s4-e11-fracture-lines/msg256415/#msg256415

Lahr - #196 https://www.shadowfleet.org/forum/season-four-misisons/s4-e11-fracture-lines/msg256604/#msg256604

I whittled these down to 4... those from

Derek Rodwell - #204

Lagar - #218

Lisa Belmont - #180

Lahr - #196

Watch out for the new thread for nominations so we can gather them 'as we go' for July nominations.  Thanks!

Sorry this is so late in the day - mea culpa!  I'm giving everyone until Mon 5th (when I shall be popping on briefly to give you all your nice shiny awards!! before disappearing for my 2 week break) so please vote quickly! ~ Ruth

Character(s) affected:Hrafn Falleg-Tekin,Ruth Sigurdsdottir, Luby Wentock
Assigned ship(s): Katra, Challenger, Discovery
Period of time absent:14th - 22nd Aug = just over 1 week and 3rd-7th Sept =5 days over weekend
Date of last period of activity: Fri 13th Aug/Thurs 2nd Sept
Date returning: 23rd Aug/8th September

Any relevant comments:

Aug LOA - 16th Aug is my b'day and I'm not sure how much I'm going to be out or whatever (lockdown is supposed to be lifting at the end of July, but won't hold my breath... but my partner will try to take me out as much as possible that week anyhow so ....).  Again I'll pop into Discord but won't be posting  (probably not).

Sept LOA - My friend Angel (player of Dr. Ta-Li Yona) is visiting for the weekend, we'll be very busy catching up, visiting town, and him helping me get my house ship shape too... no time for posting!

Naturally I will write into missions at the time something that will explain my absence/not posting so people don't have to worry about waiting on posts from me.

[[Engineering - USS Challenger]]

[Engineering - USS Challenger]

Ruth strolled into Engineering and looked around for Derek, after spotting him she wandered over, smiling with her red air flowing behind her like a flag.

"I wasn't sure if you were going to do things down here or in a holodeck, but I checked with the computer where you were.  So what you gonna start me on?  Things not to do so things don't go 'Bang!'?" she said with a smirk.

[CURRENT]

Following a discussion with a couple of players and also the CLO team, I've found that some people prefer/can read the CURRENT font better than the NEW/PROPOSED font on the ID cards.  Some it's optical issues, some it's the difficulty of reading one or other fonts on a phone/tablet etc.

So we're putting the vote to you, the players.  Do you prefer:

('CURRENT' - 'Glopentine-Bold-Bold' )

('NEW' - 'Roddenberry')

I will go with the majority. Also all 'old' cards with the smaller size I will get around to updating to the larger size once we have some kind of consensus on this.

P.S. Dr. Yona I will update your card to USS Discovery once we have this sorted!