Btw, how about two teams of a stinger plus a swarmer fighting each other for the whole cooperation exercise angle instead? Or do we have some reason for trying to test the two designs against each other?
To Boldly Go... (a Starfleet quest)
- Thread starter OneirosTheWriter
- Start date
- Sci-Fi
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- Tags
- star trek exploration fully automated luxury gay space communism top level canon (canon) #hashtagcontent all-encompassing space amoeba cardassian boy bands cardassian magical girls darkest bureaucracy debate makes the qm cackle like palpatine hoh is an empire quest it has to be foreign infiltrators more ships ship happens singers delenda est starfleet this is not an empire quest ur waifu is collective?
- Location
- USA
1 PP and 2 RP currently with Colony Datanets boosting RP by 1 from all colonies, they can be worth it. Once we get the second colony core though they really become good investments. If we have no other colonies in a turn I would still want 1 or 2 BR just to boost our PP and RP by a bit.
- Location
- Central Standard Time
Add me to the tag list.
I just had a thought: the FDS's four push limit might because they only have four fast courier ships and teams.
Forgothrax
Not Going Gently
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Not really sure how much mileage we can get out of the Miranda for a while. Arrays and Burst Launchers may not add +1C for them, and I don't think we have any other tech advances worth mentioning to make them better for a bit. Maybe in the 2330s we'll be in a position to upgrade them... but given how old the design is, at some point the original hulls will go the way of the Soyuz and we just won't have a need for something with Miranda stats. Building more of a B-refit is unnecessary.
Oberth is a special ship, given that it's too small to even fit on the sheet. If a refit will become available, it'll be by Oneiros randomly deciding that we can have one.
No point giving the Constie a combat refit, since she's a rear-area ship and fragile to boot.
IIRC I think Oneiros made it clear that there would be no Connie-Cs, that the B was the maximum the design could take.
I've played around with it and yes, we can pull several combat parts while activating arrays and burst launchers to get more mileage out of the design.
It was a spitball exercise, mostly. My thought process is that once the Amby gets into production, we may shift towards building Ambys for our Explorer needs and the Excelsior isn't going to be something we build that often. The capability gap is enormous for the cost. Something like my design would be a Renaissance replacement, since it's much cheaper than the Excelsior-A (fifth less crew, almost a third less SR) but similarly capable. Unless we can make the Excelsiors cheaper, I don't see much point continuing production past the 2320s. They're good all-rounders, but at a stunning cost. We'll have Rennies to be combat cruisers and secondary responders, and Keplers to handle peacetime event response. A cheaper E-A will allow us to have a large population of all-rounders without the significant cost.
Wild speculation alert!
Jump forward 3-4 decades.
Our Explorer Corp is trading in their Ambassadors for Galaxies.
Our regular fleets are a mix of Ambassador-A, a few remaining Excelsior-B, but mostly [un-named] cruisers, Kepler-As and a core of [tentatively naming as New Orleans] combat frigates. Maybe a Kepler replacement is being worked on.
The Humans are the first member fleet to have their own Galaxy class.
The vulcans and Gaeni are working on a new generation tech-cruiser.
The bees and cats have swarm doctrine to new heights and earned a place of terror in the Cardassian world view.
Jump forward 3-4 decades.
Our Explorer Corp is trading in their Ambassadors for Galaxies.
Our regular fleets are a mix of Ambassador-A, a few remaining Excelsior-B, but mostly [un-named] cruisers, Kepler-As and a core of [tentatively naming as New Orleans] combat frigates. Maybe a Kepler replacement is being worked on.
The Humans are the first member fleet to have their own Galaxy class.
The vulcans and Gaeni are working on a new generation tech-cruiser.
The bees and cats have swarm doctrine to new heights and earned a place of terror in the Cardassian world view.
- Location
- Austin, TX
What I'd like to know is the reason the minesweeper ship option was raised in the first place. Was it...
1. To have a specialist science ship that has higher effective science when searching for mines
2. To have a specialist ship that is much more efficient in clearing mines once they are located
3. A heavily armed (C), armored (H), or shielded (L) science ship that can survive the occasional 'oops', as well as ambushes by ships defending the minefield.
1. To have a specialist science ship that has higher effective science when searching for mines
2. To have a specialist ship that is much more efficient in clearing mines once they are located
3. A heavily armed (C), armored (H), or shielded (L) science ship that can survive the occasional 'oops', as well as ambushes by ships defending the minefield.
pheonix89
Wants to be Seven Of Nine
- Location
- North American Plaguelands
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Most likely we've phased in Excelsior-C that's faster to build and lower cost.
Excelsiors were still viable first-line combatants as of the later phases of the Dominion War.
Its been my Imagination that eventually we will build a 1.5-1.8mt cruiser around the late 2340s as a supplement to our existing force of Excelsiors, which by then will be transitioning into our general purpose cruiser model. There will likely never be many of them due to our large stocks of Excelsiors, but I think there will be a need due to our likely quite large garrisson requirments by then, and general attrition of the Excelsior fleet. (Im betting several will bite it in the inevitable war with Cardassia.)
I think the best model for this Ersatz Excelsior cruiser will be the Cheyenne. Its quad nacelle design would be a spirtiual successor to the Constellation, and the in our canon a distant descendant of the Ares.
- Location
- Mid-Atlantic
What I'm getting at is that we build ships to do jobs, and the question may well be "why build a new ship to do this job when we have one of our many Excelsior-As already in service that can do the same job, or do it with a slight modernizing -B refit?"
It's sort of like one of the problems Microsoft faces; their greatest competitor isn't Apple or whoever, it's older versions of their own products that do their jobs in a satisfactory manner and don't urgently need replacement. In our case there's the prospect of new sectors being added to increase our needs for a bigger and bigger fleet, though; that's one possible driver of a new heaavy cruiser type.
On the other hand, if we're going to do that, we really should prepare sooner, rather than later. We'll want to consider some berthing infrastructure sized for two-megaton ships, though I suppose we could just decide to never build them in anything other than the 'explorer' berths we may have less pressing need of once we've stopped Excelsior production, with Ambassadors and the new cruisers occupying those heavier berths in a 'high-low' mix.
Thing is, that PP income starts paying for itself very quickly. If you pay 8pp to get something that grants you 1pp a year in perpetuity, that's functionally equivalent to investing your political will at 12.5% annual interest... forever. The rest is just gravy.
While it may be that we can do better than that, that is nothing to sneeze at.
- Location
- Peterborough, NH, USA
So, for OC species, do we have a forum dedicated to proposing those yet, or should I just post ideas here and anyone who wants to use the species in question can pick them up for an Omake or whatever?
If so, I have an idea for a rodent-like (in the same way the Apiata are bee-like) race. They're furred like the Caitans with coloration ranging from black to brown or red, with the rare white or yellow one appearing every few generations, and have short rat-tails (which their scientists suspect are being phased out by their evolutionary processes similar to Earth primates). They have relatively short lifespans (60 Earth years would see a newborn become a great-grandparent or die), which they compensate for by having children in litters of 3-6. Their approach to science is the opposite of the Gaeni, that is, they take as few risks as possible, as their psychology is to throw numbers at a problem until they drown it or bull through, and work through the problems by throwing as many scientists at it as they can.
This is reflected in their ship-building, preferring large numbers of smaller craft with a few capital ships acting more like mobile fortresses or aircraft carriers than something too devote a lot of importance in battle to using as weapons. As such, they have a lot more scientists, engineers, technicians, and fighter pilots than almost anyone else on a percentage basis. They've also been working with drones and hope to develop AI technology to continue their practice of 'throw more people at it.'
I totally didn't come up with these guys because of the Biophage resurgence and mention of drones in reaction to it.
Edit: Woops, completely forgot about naming them. I'd say... The Abregi Collective, as they're inherently geared towards working as a large group, they achieved world peace in record time, as cooler heads realized that it was the best way to utilize their resources, both manpower and less sentient resources.
If so, I have an idea for a rodent-like (in the same way the Apiata are bee-like) race. They're furred like the Caitans with coloration ranging from black to brown or red, with the rare white or yellow one appearing every few generations, and have short rat-tails (which their scientists suspect are being phased out by their evolutionary processes similar to Earth primates). They have relatively short lifespans (60 Earth years would see a newborn become a great-grandparent or die), which they compensate for by having children in litters of 3-6. Their approach to science is the opposite of the Gaeni, that is, they take as few risks as possible, as their psychology is to throw numbers at a problem until they drown it or bull through, and work through the problems by throwing as many scientists at it as they can.
This is reflected in their ship-building, preferring large numbers of smaller craft with a few capital ships acting more like mobile fortresses or aircraft carriers than something too devote a lot of importance in battle to using as weapons. As such, they have a lot more scientists, engineers, technicians, and fighter pilots than almost anyone else on a percentage basis. They've also been working with drones and hope to develop AI technology to continue their practice of 'throw more people at it.'
I totally didn't come up with these guys because of the Biophage resurgence and mention of drones in reaction to it.
Edit: Woops, completely forgot about naming them. I'd say... The Abregi Collective, as they're inherently geared towards working as a large group, they achieved world peace in record time, as cooler heads realized that it was the best way to utilize their resources, both manpower and less sentient resources.
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I think we'll be wanting the excelsior-cruiser or excelsior-replacement light-explorer faster than some of us seem to believe. 2325 or 2330 almost certainly. Given what we can design right now I doubt that we will be producing many Excelsior-A in ten years. We should not be, anyway.
I know that, but I don't find a 7y return (minus the time value of PP) very appealing. It's too long-term for my tastes. My estimation is that the value of PP is something like 20% to 25% per year, so 12.5% annual interest isn't that great.
I know that, but I don't find a 7y return (minus the time value of PP) very appealing. It's too long-term for my tastes. My estimation is that the value of PP is something like 20% to 25% per year, so 12.5% annual interest isn't that great.
- Location
- USA
Vote Tally : Sci-Fi - To Boldly Go... (a Starfleet quest) | Page 2002 | Sufficient Velocity
##### NetTally 1.9.2
[10] WG A 2v2 with any Ships, including member world ships - 2 modern Catian Swarmers vs 2 Indorian Large Escorts
[13][WG] A Fleet Battle (Cost 2pp/Explorer, 1pp/Cruiser, 1pp/2 Escorts)
Total No. of Voters: 49
Took out the votes for roles, this is just the battle votes
##### NetTally 1.9.2
[10] WG A 2v2 with any Ships, including member world ships - 2 modern Catian Swarmers vs 2 Indorian Large Escorts
[13][WG] A Fleet Battle (Cost 2pp/Explorer, 1pp/Cruiser, 1pp/2 Escorts)
Total No. of Voters: 49
Took out the votes for roles, this is just the battle votes
Forgothrax
Not Going Gently
- Pronouns
- He/Him
The answer to that question lies in this one: is there any point to building Excelsiors after we have Ambys? If there's still a need for general purpose capital ships that aren't 240sr and 20 crew, then it probably behooves us to build something cheaper than an Excelsior. We certainly won't be retiring any Excelsiors, and I see no reason not to refit them to the B-standard as soon as we can, but they are quite expensive.
Night
Widow Null
- Location
- Hoff
It's entirely possible that upgrades to the Excelsior will reduce crew requirements as well, or increase capabilities to the point the expense is considered worth it.
- Location
- Mid-Atlantic
I'm a bit skeptical of the idea that we can rely on being able to invest 20 political will in a way that will reliably pay off an average of 4-5pp. The most favorable possible investments may pay off on that scale, but that doesn't mean all of them do. A reasonable rate of investment has to reflect overall return rates, not just the cherrypicked "on your best day" ones.
I doubt we'll build many more Excelsiors after 2322 or so, but by that time we'll already have quite a few. I can see us wanting the capability to mass-produce a new heavy cruiser by 2330 or so, though, which would require starting the project in the early to mid-2320s.
Omake - The Vice Admirals Romulans Edition - BriefVoice
Vice Admirals - The Romulan Take
Title: Potential Commanders of the Starfleet of the United Federation of Planets
Contingency Document ID: 2PBZ-7ZNA-6QRE
Maintained By: Office of Assistant Sub-Quaestor for Foreign Power Relations
Last Updated: 89 DAYS PRIOR TO CURRENT DATE
Access Level: All Senatorial Staff, any others by Senatorial designation
Abstract: This document maintains capsule summaries of the personalities and careers of potential successors to the post of Commander of Starfleet for the United Federation of Planets. In the case of time-critical decisions coinciding with appointment of a new Starfleet Commander, these summaries may be used as briefing material in lieu of a more complete profile.
Introduction:
The post Commander of Starfleet is the highest military office within the supra-national alliance system known as the United Federation of Planets (UFP). Not only does the Commander have final authority over vessels belonging to Starfleet (the supra-national UPF navy), but in a so-called "State of Emergency" (usually, but not limited to, declared war) the Commander may command the navies of all UFP member worlds. Starfleet Commanders are directly appointed by the President of the UFP Council, the highest political office in the UFP. Though by UFP law the President may choose to appoint any UFP citizen, strong custom and precedent is that the Commander be chosen from among from the ranks of Starfleet Vice Admirals with appropriate seniority. In practice this means that the pool of potential successors is highly limited, having been promoted to their ranks by previous Starfleet Commanders.
The document will briefly summarize current Starfleet Vice Admirals in the expectation that a new Starfleet Commander would be picked from among their number. In the case of time-critical decisions coinciding with appointment of a new Starfleet Commander, these summaries may be used as briefing material in lieu of a more complete profile. For current Starfleet Commander VALENTINA SOUSA, see linked full profile.
Caveats:
Information beyond service highlights should be regarded as speculative. Strengths, weaknesses, and political alignment should be taken in context that no one rises to such a high rank by being incompetent or avoiding indoctrination in Starfleet ethos.
Definitions:
Most terminology will be obvious from our own naval organization or be explained as relevant. However two terms are used with sufficient frequency so as to be worth additional exploration.
Explorer Corps – A special division of Starfleet consisting solely of multi-functional battleships capable of meeting any scientific, diplomatic, or martial need. These ships function on independent missions within the UFP and outside its borders and are considered elite postings.
Starfleet Intelligence – Starfleet's dedicated espionage agency. Due to its full integration into Starfleet, it should be considered equivalent to our own Directorate of Naval Reconnaissance rather than an independent organization such as the Tal Shiar.
Vice Admirals Listed in Order of Seniority
===
Rinias ch'Vohlet
SPECIES: Andorian
CURRENT POST: Commander, Starfleet Ship Design Bureau. Despite the name, the SDB does considerably more than design new starships. It is a wide-ranging research organization that develops technologies related to starships and starship missions. As its commander ch'Vohlet decides what technologies and doctrines will be prioritized
TIME-IN-RANK: 9 years prior to current date.
SERVICE HISTORY HIGHLIGHTS: Served as director of San Francisco Fleet Yards prior to promotion. Known to have seen extensive combat service as a junior officer and to have multiple awards for valor and wounds suffered in the line of duty. We were able to dig up a public 'farewell' message to one of his commands indicating that the move to rear echelon starship construction and research may have been demanded by his spouses after one close too call too many.
PERSONALITY: Ch'Vohlet is a devotee of physical fitness, and participates in long distance running competitions as well as being an advanced practitioner of certain Andorian personal combat traditions. He is what might be called a 'first strike' advocate who believes threats should be anticipated and neutralized as soon as possible, though his research-oriented position means he has little opportunity to put this into practice. We have obtained position papers indicating his Design Bureau is strongly pushing a "Forward Defense" defensive doctrine for the UFP.
STRENGTHS: Having seen starships operate under the most stressful conditions imaginable and then built them, ch'Vohlet is likely intimately familiar with the capabilities of the UFP's ships. He is known for cool-headed thinking under danger, or at least he was before his promotion to Rear Admiral. His colleagues consider him far-sighted and often 'ahead of his time'.
WEAKNESSES: Considered blunt and sarcastic by his peers and subordinates. Little interest in politics. Tendency to over-reaction.
POLITICAL ALIGNMENT: Something of a 'favorite son' for Andorians who apparently even now consider him something of a larger-than-life romantic figure. Other than that, his posting keeps him well away from most political questions.
COMMENTS: Assuming he hasn't lost any of his earlier nerve, ch'Vohlet might prove extremely dangerous as a military commander. The advancements his SDB has produced in shield regeneration are troublesome enough.
===
Hikaru Sulu
SPECIES: Human
CURRENT POST: Commander of Starfleet Tactical. This position is responsible for Starfleet's overall strategic posture, war-planning, and battle analysis. Under Sulu's tenure it is also known to work closely with Starfleet Intelligence, though the two commands remain nominally separate.
TIME-IN-RANK: 5.75 years prior to current date.
SERVICE HISTORY HIGHLIGHTS: Sulu was a bridge officer aboard Starfleet's Constitution-class starship the Enterprise during its five year mission under Captain James Tiberius Kirk, a voyage so steeped in legend that even one only cursorily aware of UFP history will likely have heard of it. As a starship captain, Sulu played a major role in ensuring the successful negotiation of the Khitomer Accords between the UFP and the Klingon Empire. Later as a Rear Admiral, he personally negotiated Klingon aid during the Biophage crisis, riding with the Klingon fleet to the Battle of Kadesh. Apparently as a reward he was placed in command of Starfleet's Explorer Corps before his eventual promotion to Vice Admiral.
PERSONALITY: Highly charismatic, Sulu is reportedly capable of inspiring incredible loyalty in those under around him, a loyalty his reputation says he returns. Fearless in starship battles, he is also an expert in many low-tech forms of violence including antique firearms, blades, and unarmed combat. Reputedly he is also an avid botanist, likely so he can grow his own plant-based poisons based on his other interests.
STRENGTHS: Sulu is something of a legend among his colleagues in Starfleet. Quoting one source directly, "The man can pull miracles out of his ass at will." Even beyond his rank he commands enormous respect throughout the entirety of Starfleet and in the wider UFP. A skilled political operator, he's parleyed this respect into influence on many levels.
WEAKNESSES: Sulu is becoming aged for a human and likely does not have many more years of active military service left. When his sense of loyalty is invoked, he can engage in irrational behavior to satisfy it.
POLITICAL ALIGNMENT: In the Empire, an admiral of Sulu's popularity would be considered politically destabilizing. He is a dedicated Expansionist who strongly favors UFP growth and integration of new species.
COMMENTS: Sulu's apparent rapport with the Klingon Empire would present a serious threat if he were to become Commander of Starfleet. According to some sources, he is virtually a second shadow-Commander of Starfleet already.
===
Patricia Chen
SPECIES: Human
CURRENT POST: Starfleet Shipyard Operations Vice Admiral. Chen is responsible for starship construction in Starfleet shipyards. Note that "Starfleet shipyards" should not be used interchangeably with "UFP Shipyards". Though the member species of the UFP maintain their own shipyards, for approximately the past 30 years Starfleet has maintained its own supra-national shipyards where only dedicated Starfleet vessels are constructed.
TIME-IN-RANK: 3.75 years prior to current date.
SERVICE HISTORY HIGHLIGHTS: Served previously as director of Utopia Planitia, Starfleet's largest shipyard. Prior to that was head of "Shipyard Industrial Command" and before that the Starfleet "Explorer Corps". Chen made a name for herself as the most-favored protege of now-retired Starfleet Commander VITALIA KAHURANGI.
PERSONALITY: Chen is known as an innovator and pioneer of new methodologies. Her mentor Ret-Admiral Vitalia Kahurangi once described Chen in a public speech as, "One of the most daring commanders I know, and one of the great escape artists."
STRENGTHS: Chen has shown great adaptability, able to quickly size up and meet the requirements of a new task. Peers describe her as "highly intelligent" even among a peer group known for high standards of ability.
WEAKNESSES: As with many high-intelligence individuals, Chen is easily bored by the tedious clean-up work involved in all big projects and prefers to delegate such responsibilities. Note: In order to protect intelligence sources, additional information is available only under standard senatorial Secret-level classification.
POLITICAL ALIGNMENT: Chen appears to value Starfleet as an institution over any particular potential usage and is otherwise politically neutral. Anything that strengthen's Starfleet's position is good and anything that doesn't is undesirable or unimportant. Despite or because of this neutrality, she is personally popular with many UFP Council members.
COMMENTS: When dealing with an individual famous for her innovative solution to problems, one should beware one does not become a problem.
SECRET LEVEL CLASSIFICATION UNLOCKED
-You are now cleared to know that there is additional information regarding Patricia Chen that is under TAL SHIAR TOREYA level need-to-know classification. Apply clearance codes for further details.
TAL SHIAR TOREYA LEVEL UNLOCKED
-The following information was obtained through Orion Syndicate contacts prior to the anti-Syndicate efforts of the UFP. These contacts were eliminated and information was purged from their data banks to ensure the knowledge remains the exclusive property of the Romulan Star Empire.
-As a child, Patricia Chen's parents arranged for treatments within Orion space that artificially enhanced her intelligence. These enhancements would have been highly illegal within United Earth. See attached files for details and chain-of-evidence. It is unknown if Chen herself is aware of the nature and extent these enhancements. Under Earth law Chen would bear no legal responsibility for these enhancements, but they would be considered sufficiently scandalous as to likely end her Starfleet career.
-This information has been classified so that it can be utilized when and if a disruption of the Starfleet would be maximally advantageous for the Empire, particularly if Chen has been appointed Starfleet Commander.
===
Shey ch'Tharvasse
SPECIES: Andorian
CURRENT POST: Chief of Staff, Starfleet Command. As chief of staff, ch'Tharvasse servers as the Starfleet Commander's primary aide and advisor. He provides a buffer between the Starfleet commander and those who would otherwise directly report to her. In the event of an unplanned replacement of the Starfleet Commander due to mischance, he would likely be made interim Commander, though in the event of a political ousting he would likely be seen as too closely connected.
TIME-IN-RANK: 3.5 years prior to current date (Note he has held Chief of Staff position for 10 years and was promoted to Vice Admiral while maintaining the same assignment.)
SERVICE HISTORY HIGHLIGHTS: Served as head of Starfleet Intelligence prior to appointment as chief of staff. Known to have "made his name" as a Commodore resolving a near war with rogue political elements among then-UFP affiliate species the Rigellians.
PERSONALITY: Known among his colleagues for short and pithy summaries of complex situations, ch'Tharvasse lacks the sort of professional paranoia normally found among former intelligence heads. Rather, he is inclined to seize opportunities and take risks to make deals. One source close to him says that ch'Tharvasse believes every sapient has a price, and if you want something from them it's just a matter of finding that price and meeting it.
STRENGTHS: Believed to be a savvy political operator with allies on the UFP Council. Ch'Tharvasse is known to have a special talent for inter-species diplomacy and has personally intervened in personnel and goal selections for many Starfleet diplomatic missions. The UFP Council utilized him during the negotiation of our recent non-aggression treaty. Highly ambitious.
WEAKNESSES: Easily tempted by a presented opportunity. Has now spent a decade directly subordinate to Starfleet Commander, and his own leadership skills may have deteriorated.
POLITICAL ALIGNMENT: On one occasion, openly expressed concerns about the amount of Starfleet resources devoted to the UFP's low-boil war with the Cardassian Union. Believed to have an excellent relationship with Rigellian Council Members.
COMMENTS: The most nakedly political of the Starfleet Vice Admirals. If appointed Starfleet Commander, the office's political power will be maximized. On a more positive note, long absence from regular operations may inhibit his ability to be an effective military commander.
===
Nyota Uhura
SPECIES: Human
CURRENT POST: Director, Starfleet Operations Command. Put simply, this position is responsible for coordinating the activities of all of Starfleet ships.
TIME-IN-RANK: 2 years prior to current date
SERVICE HISTORY HIGHLIGHTS: Uhura was a bridge officer aboard Starfleet's Constitution-class ship the Enterprise during its five year mission under Captain James Tiberius Kirk, a voyage so steeped in legend that even one only cursorily aware of UFP history will likely have heard of it. Other notable postings include leading the forward-most defensive squadron in the UFP's early clashes with the Cardassian Union and later leading the UFP's campaign against the Orion Syndicate.
PERSONALITY: A talented linguist, Uhura prides herself on knowledge of alien cultures and is known to speak our language to some degree of fluency without translator assistance. Has a knack for getting the opinions of her subordinates and swiftly synthesizing them into an effective course of action.
STRENGTHS: Described by one sources as, "Possibly the most gifted linguist and communications specialist Starfleet has ever had." Appears to have a special gift for coordination.
WEAKNESSES: Uhura is becoming aged for a human and likely does not have many more years of active military service left. Reportedly can become impatient with an operational pace she considers too slow.
POLITICAL ALIGNMENT: The violence of the Orion campaign is believed to have left her with a hardened, somewhat militaristic view (relative to the baseline Starfleet officer) towards facing down and eliminating threats to the UFP.
COMMENTS: Currently lacks time in rank to be promoted to Starfleet Commander, barring extraordinary circumstances. A highly capable, aggressive commander who recently reorganized Starfleet Operations to create numerous new Vice Admiral positions.
===
Scott Linderley
SPECIES: Human
CURRENT POST: Commander of Starfleet Intelligence. Though individual member states maintain their own intelligence divisions, Starfleet Intelligence is believed to be the primary espionage service for the UFP as a whole.
TIME-IN-RANK: 1.25 years prior to current date (Note he has held the post of Commander of Starfleet Intelligence for 6 years and was promoted to Vice Admiral while maintaining the same assignment.)
SERVICE HISTORY HIGHLIGHTS: Unknown. Vice Admiral Linderley has successfully managed to erase or encrypt records on his earlier career, and our usual sources have been unable to help.
PERSONALITY: Secretive and paranoid, we assume.
STRENGTHS: Counter-intelligence.
WEAKNESSES: Unknown.
POLITICAL ALIGNMENT: Unknown.
COMMENTS: Currently lacks time in rank to be promoted to Starfleet Commander, barring extraordinary circumstances. Little firm information is available, but it seems unlikely that a man with such a low public profile would ever be made Commander of Starfleet.
===
Viraan zh'Dohlen
SPECIES: Andorian
CURRENT POST: Tailward Theatre Command. As the name implies this posting is responsible for Starfleet operational activity on the UFP's tailward border, including their border with the Empire. This position also made her nominally responsible for the operations during the recent war between the UFP and the Arcadian Empire, though we cannot confirm her actual level of responsibility. Note this position was newly created with zh'Dohlen's appointment as part of a response to the UFP's recent expansion.
TIME-IN-RANK: 1 year prior to current date
SERVICE HISTORY HIGHLIGHTS: Zh'Dohlen spent many years with the UFP's Explorer Corps, first as chief of staff and then as commander once she was promoted to Rear Admiral. We have been unable to find any notable achievements prior to these appointments.
PERSONALITY: Colleagues describe her as "irreverent" and more interested in results than in procedure. Otherwise a private individual with no spouses and few interests outside of her work.
STRENGTHS: The "Explorer Corps" tends to produce Starfleet's most elite officers, and zh'Dohlen had nearly a decade in that command to earn their loyalty. Also known as one of the more political admirals, able to efficiently manipulate Starfleet's internal bureaucracy.
WEAKNESSES: Some complains have been intercepted that she fails to provide sufficient guidance to her subordinates. Seems to have no special talents or areas of specific ability that might distinguish her for the jump to Starfleet Commander.
POLITICAL ALIGNMENT: Reportedly well-liked by at least some members of the Federation Council, but there are few public statements to indicate her vision for Starfleet or the UFP.
COMMENTS: Currently lacks time in rank to be promoted to Starfleet Commander, barring extraordinary circumstances. As Theatre Commander on our border, zh'Dohlen is of special concern to the Empire, and further profiling efforts are ongoing.
===
Sotak
SPECIES: Vulcan
CURRENT POST: Central Theatre Command. As the name implies this posting is responsible for Starfleet operational activity in the UFP's central area, including rimward of Ferasa and the Sydraxian border. Note this position was newly created with Sotak's appointment as part of a response to the UFP's recent expansion.
TIME-IN-RANK: 1 year prior to current date
SERVICE HISTORY HIGHLIGHTS: For fifteen years prior to his Vice Admiral promotion, Sotak was the Rear Admiral in charge of the sector containing Vulcan, considered to be generally a peaceful command. This seems to have been a reward for successful prior service in Starfleet Intelligence, of which we know few details.
PERSONALITY: As with most Surakians, Sotak strives to suppress his emotions. Colleagues have described him as "calculating" and "patient". He has the fairly specific hobby of being interested in the metalworking techniques of other races and is a hobbyist blacksmith. He has been known to forge small metal objects, including blades, as gifts.
STRENGTHS: Highly respected by his peers and known to have considerable diplomatic experience. Careful in all aspects of his duties and rarely makes an unforced error. Successful service in Starfleet Intelligence suggests an understanding of subtle operations.
WEAKNESSES: Considered to be reactive and unaggressive.
POLITICAL ALIGNMENT: Something of a favorite of the Development faction, where his hobby of personal craftsmanship is regarded as deeply symbolic. One source claims that he makes a deliberate policy of favoring Vulcan officers, but if so he is sufficiently subtle about it that the perception has not impacted his career.
COMMENTS: Currently lacks time in rank to be promoted to Starfleet Commander, barring extraordinary circumstances. However, this appears to be a man of extreme patience and undoubted ambition. If he can achieve some extraordinary accomplishment during his time as Theatre Commander, his chances of someday being promoted to Starfleet Commander will considerably improve.
===
John Harriman
SPECIES: Human
CURRENT POST: Spinward Theatre Command. As the name implies this posting is responsible for Starfleet operational activity on the UFP's spinward border, encompassing the UFP's border with the Cardassian Union and the current Gabriel Conflict Zone. Note this position was newly created with Harriman's appointment as part of a response to the UFP's recent expansion.
TIME-IN-RANK: 1 year prior to current date
SERVICE HISTORY HIGHLIGHTS: Harriman had a long career commanding a ship in the Explorer Corps, then moved to Explorer Corps operations director. He then spent six years commanding the Starfleet squadron posted on the Empire's border. As a Rear Admiral Harriman served in Theory Command of Starfleet Tactical, a post whose function remains somewhat opaque to us. Despite all of this, a shadow hangs over his career as the captain under whose watch the famous Admiral Kirk died.
PERSONALITY: Described as "earnest" and "kind". Harriman excels at developing personal relationships and friendships and consequently has a cadre of quite fierce supporters within Starfleet.
STRENGTHS: While rarely innovative, Harriman has an encyclopedic knowledge of the tactics and stratagems employed by commanders of the past and can deploy them on command... or recognize them when deployed against himself. One source says, "I've never been able to get one up on John... he always seems to catch on to what I'm trying."
WEAKNESSES: Has little interest or skill in politics, which is one reason he has been unable to shake the shadow of Admiral Kirk's death. Not considered to be very innovative.
POLITICAL ALIGNMENT: For some members of the Federation Council, Harriman's obvious lack of interest in politics is a positive, as he is considered an unbiased source on Starfleet. As mentioned, Harriman operates heavily on personal, private friendships which tends to obscure the full scope of his support from our ability to monitor.
COMMENTS: Currently lacks time in rank to be promoted to Starfleet Commander, barring extraordinary circumstances. As Theatre Commander covering the Cardassian Union border, Harriman has a high probability of being the commanding officer on the spot when general war breaks out between the Cardassians and the UFP.
===
T'Faer
SPECIES: Vulcan
CURRENT POST: Director, Starfleet Logistics Command. As the name implies this posting is responsible for Starfleet logistics, including non-combat capable transports, mining colonies, research colonies, and similar. Note this position was newly promoted to a Vice Admiral spot with T'Faer's appointment as part of a response to the UFP's recent expansion.
TIME-IN-RANK: 1 year prior to current date
SERVICE HISTORY HIGHLIGHTS: T'Faer first came to our attention when she was appointed as commander of the UFP squadron bordering the neutral zone during the Biophage crisis, having been called back from a sabbatical as Director of the Vulcan Science Academy. She was badly wounded during this crisis. After returning to duty, she served in the Ship Design Bureau for two years before being promoted to the (then Rear Admiral) position of Director of Starfleet Logistics Command. She was briefly placed in command of the border area between the UFP and the Cardassian Union, before being abruptly reassigned back to Logistics Command when it became a Vice Admiral position.
PERSONALITY: As with most Surakians, T'Faer strives to suppress her emotions. Considered brutal, efficient, and severe by her colleagues. To quote a sources, "She has no patience for any alternative point of view that can't back up their argument in excruciating detail." Undoubtedly a scientific genius who has unfortunately personally contributed much to the UFP's development of anti-cloaking technologies.
STRENGTHS: Massively talented at coordinating large numbers of personnel and resources and able to alter schedules on-the-fly in resposne to changing situations. Skilled at defensive operations.
WEAKNESSES: Has little interest or skill in politics and few of her colleagues or superiors actually seem to like her, even as they admire her skills.
POLITICAL ALIGNMENT: We have been able to find find few clues to her political beliefs or any ambitions she may have for Starfleet's direction. While T'Faer seems to have no personal friends among Federation political circles, her service in the Biophage crisis has given her a permanent reputation as a soldier who will get the job done, whatever the job might be.
COMMENTS: Currently lacks time in rank to be promoted to Starfleet Commander, barring extraordinary circumstances. Most details of her current work are opaque to our usual sources, as very few people take any interest in logistics beyond those involved.
========
Omake Notes - This was a long one. @OneirosTheWriter I hope this provides a little bit of fleshing out if you need to do more with any of these characters, especially as some of them may eventually be candidates for Starfleet Commander in future votes.
Title: Potential Commanders of the Starfleet of the United Federation of Planets
Contingency Document ID: 2PBZ-7ZNA-6QRE
Maintained By: Office of Assistant Sub-Quaestor for Foreign Power Relations
Last Updated: 89 DAYS PRIOR TO CURRENT DATE
Access Level: All Senatorial Staff, any others by Senatorial designation
Abstract: This document maintains capsule summaries of the personalities and careers of potential successors to the post of Commander of Starfleet for the United Federation of Planets. In the case of time-critical decisions coinciding with appointment of a new Starfleet Commander, these summaries may be used as briefing material in lieu of a more complete profile.
Introduction:
The post Commander of Starfleet is the highest military office within the supra-national alliance system known as the United Federation of Planets (UFP). Not only does the Commander have final authority over vessels belonging to Starfleet (the supra-national UPF navy), but in a so-called "State of Emergency" (usually, but not limited to, declared war) the Commander may command the navies of all UFP member worlds. Starfleet Commanders are directly appointed by the President of the UFP Council, the highest political office in the UFP. Though by UFP law the President may choose to appoint any UFP citizen, strong custom and precedent is that the Commander be chosen from among from the ranks of Starfleet Vice Admirals with appropriate seniority. In practice this means that the pool of potential successors is highly limited, having been promoted to their ranks by previous Starfleet Commanders.
The document will briefly summarize current Starfleet Vice Admirals in the expectation that a new Starfleet Commander would be picked from among their number. In the case of time-critical decisions coinciding with appointment of a new Starfleet Commander, these summaries may be used as briefing material in lieu of a more complete profile. For current Starfleet Commander VALENTINA SOUSA, see linked full profile.
Caveats:
Information beyond service highlights should be regarded as speculative. Strengths, weaknesses, and political alignment should be taken in context that no one rises to such a high rank by being incompetent or avoiding indoctrination in Starfleet ethos.
Definitions:
Most terminology will be obvious from our own naval organization or be explained as relevant. However two terms are used with sufficient frequency so as to be worth additional exploration.
Explorer Corps – A special division of Starfleet consisting solely of multi-functional battleships capable of meeting any scientific, diplomatic, or martial need. These ships function on independent missions within the UFP and outside its borders and are considered elite postings.
Starfleet Intelligence – Starfleet's dedicated espionage agency. Due to its full integration into Starfleet, it should be considered equivalent to our own Directorate of Naval Reconnaissance rather than an independent organization such as the Tal Shiar.
Vice Admirals Listed in Order of Seniority
===
Rinias ch'Vohlet
SPECIES: Andorian
CURRENT POST: Commander, Starfleet Ship Design Bureau. Despite the name, the SDB does considerably more than design new starships. It is a wide-ranging research organization that develops technologies related to starships and starship missions. As its commander ch'Vohlet decides what technologies and doctrines will be prioritized
TIME-IN-RANK: 9 years prior to current date.
SERVICE HISTORY HIGHLIGHTS: Served as director of San Francisco Fleet Yards prior to promotion. Known to have seen extensive combat service as a junior officer and to have multiple awards for valor and wounds suffered in the line of duty. We were able to dig up a public 'farewell' message to one of his commands indicating that the move to rear echelon starship construction and research may have been demanded by his spouses after one close too call too many.
PERSONALITY: Ch'Vohlet is a devotee of physical fitness, and participates in long distance running competitions as well as being an advanced practitioner of certain Andorian personal combat traditions. He is what might be called a 'first strike' advocate who believes threats should be anticipated and neutralized as soon as possible, though his research-oriented position means he has little opportunity to put this into practice. We have obtained position papers indicating his Design Bureau is strongly pushing a "Forward Defense" defensive doctrine for the UFP.
STRENGTHS: Having seen starships operate under the most stressful conditions imaginable and then built them, ch'Vohlet is likely intimately familiar with the capabilities of the UFP's ships. He is known for cool-headed thinking under danger, or at least he was before his promotion to Rear Admiral. His colleagues consider him far-sighted and often 'ahead of his time'.
WEAKNESSES: Considered blunt and sarcastic by his peers and subordinates. Little interest in politics. Tendency to over-reaction.
POLITICAL ALIGNMENT: Something of a 'favorite son' for Andorians who apparently even now consider him something of a larger-than-life romantic figure. Other than that, his posting keeps him well away from most political questions.
COMMENTS: Assuming he hasn't lost any of his earlier nerve, ch'Vohlet might prove extremely dangerous as a military commander. The advancements his SDB has produced in shield regeneration are troublesome enough.
===
Hikaru Sulu
SPECIES: Human
CURRENT POST: Commander of Starfleet Tactical. This position is responsible for Starfleet's overall strategic posture, war-planning, and battle analysis. Under Sulu's tenure it is also known to work closely with Starfleet Intelligence, though the two commands remain nominally separate.
TIME-IN-RANK: 5.75 years prior to current date.
SERVICE HISTORY HIGHLIGHTS: Sulu was a bridge officer aboard Starfleet's Constitution-class starship the Enterprise during its five year mission under Captain James Tiberius Kirk, a voyage so steeped in legend that even one only cursorily aware of UFP history will likely have heard of it. As a starship captain, Sulu played a major role in ensuring the successful negotiation of the Khitomer Accords between the UFP and the Klingon Empire. Later as a Rear Admiral, he personally negotiated Klingon aid during the Biophage crisis, riding with the Klingon fleet to the Battle of Kadesh. Apparently as a reward he was placed in command of Starfleet's Explorer Corps before his eventual promotion to Vice Admiral.
PERSONALITY: Highly charismatic, Sulu is reportedly capable of inspiring incredible loyalty in those under around him, a loyalty his reputation says he returns. Fearless in starship battles, he is also an expert in many low-tech forms of violence including antique firearms, blades, and unarmed combat. Reputedly he is also an avid botanist, likely so he can grow his own plant-based poisons based on his other interests.
STRENGTHS: Sulu is something of a legend among his colleagues in Starfleet. Quoting one source directly, "The man can pull miracles out of his ass at will." Even beyond his rank he commands enormous respect throughout the entirety of Starfleet and in the wider UFP. A skilled political operator, he's parleyed this respect into influence on many levels.
WEAKNESSES: Sulu is becoming aged for a human and likely does not have many more years of active military service left. When his sense of loyalty is invoked, he can engage in irrational behavior to satisfy it.
POLITICAL ALIGNMENT: In the Empire, an admiral of Sulu's popularity would be considered politically destabilizing. He is a dedicated Expansionist who strongly favors UFP growth and integration of new species.
COMMENTS: Sulu's apparent rapport with the Klingon Empire would present a serious threat if he were to become Commander of Starfleet. According to some sources, he is virtually a second shadow-Commander of Starfleet already.
===
Patricia Chen
SPECIES: Human
CURRENT POST: Starfleet Shipyard Operations Vice Admiral. Chen is responsible for starship construction in Starfleet shipyards. Note that "Starfleet shipyards" should not be used interchangeably with "UFP Shipyards". Though the member species of the UFP maintain their own shipyards, for approximately the past 30 years Starfleet has maintained its own supra-national shipyards where only dedicated Starfleet vessels are constructed.
TIME-IN-RANK: 3.75 years prior to current date.
SERVICE HISTORY HIGHLIGHTS: Served previously as director of Utopia Planitia, Starfleet's largest shipyard. Prior to that was head of "Shipyard Industrial Command" and before that the Starfleet "Explorer Corps". Chen made a name for herself as the most-favored protege of now-retired Starfleet Commander VITALIA KAHURANGI.
PERSONALITY: Chen is known as an innovator and pioneer of new methodologies. Her mentor Ret-Admiral Vitalia Kahurangi once described Chen in a public speech as, "One of the most daring commanders I know, and one of the great escape artists."
STRENGTHS: Chen has shown great adaptability, able to quickly size up and meet the requirements of a new task. Peers describe her as "highly intelligent" even among a peer group known for high standards of ability.
WEAKNESSES: As with many high-intelligence individuals, Chen is easily bored by the tedious clean-up work involved in all big projects and prefers to delegate such responsibilities. Note: In order to protect intelligence sources, additional information is available only under standard senatorial Secret-level classification.
POLITICAL ALIGNMENT: Chen appears to value Starfleet as an institution over any particular potential usage and is otherwise politically neutral. Anything that strengthen's Starfleet's position is good and anything that doesn't is undesirable or unimportant. Despite or because of this neutrality, she is personally popular with many UFP Council members.
COMMENTS: When dealing with an individual famous for her innovative solution to problems, one should beware one does not become a problem.
SECRET LEVEL CLASSIFICATION UNLOCKED
-You are now cleared to know that there is additional information regarding Patricia Chen that is under TAL SHIAR TOREYA level need-to-know classification. Apply clearance codes for further details.
TAL SHIAR TOREYA LEVEL UNLOCKED
-The following information was obtained through Orion Syndicate contacts prior to the anti-Syndicate efforts of the UFP. These contacts were eliminated and information was purged from their data banks to ensure the knowledge remains the exclusive property of the Romulan Star Empire.
-As a child, Patricia Chen's parents arranged for treatments within Orion space that artificially enhanced her intelligence. These enhancements would have been highly illegal within United Earth. See attached files for details and chain-of-evidence. It is unknown if Chen herself is aware of the nature and extent these enhancements. Under Earth law Chen would bear no legal responsibility for these enhancements, but they would be considered sufficiently scandalous as to likely end her Starfleet career.
-This information has been classified so that it can be utilized when and if a disruption of the Starfleet would be maximally advantageous for the Empire, particularly if Chen has been appointed Starfleet Commander.
===
Shey ch'Tharvasse
SPECIES: Andorian
CURRENT POST: Chief of Staff, Starfleet Command. As chief of staff, ch'Tharvasse servers as the Starfleet Commander's primary aide and advisor. He provides a buffer between the Starfleet commander and those who would otherwise directly report to her. In the event of an unplanned replacement of the Starfleet Commander due to mischance, he would likely be made interim Commander, though in the event of a political ousting he would likely be seen as too closely connected.
TIME-IN-RANK: 3.5 years prior to current date (Note he has held Chief of Staff position for 10 years and was promoted to Vice Admiral while maintaining the same assignment.)
SERVICE HISTORY HIGHLIGHTS: Served as head of Starfleet Intelligence prior to appointment as chief of staff. Known to have "made his name" as a Commodore resolving a near war with rogue political elements among then-UFP affiliate species the Rigellians.
PERSONALITY: Known among his colleagues for short and pithy summaries of complex situations, ch'Tharvasse lacks the sort of professional paranoia normally found among former intelligence heads. Rather, he is inclined to seize opportunities and take risks to make deals. One source close to him says that ch'Tharvasse believes every sapient has a price, and if you want something from them it's just a matter of finding that price and meeting it.
STRENGTHS: Believed to be a savvy political operator with allies on the UFP Council. Ch'Tharvasse is known to have a special talent for inter-species diplomacy and has personally intervened in personnel and goal selections for many Starfleet diplomatic missions. The UFP Council utilized him during the negotiation of our recent non-aggression treaty. Highly ambitious.
WEAKNESSES: Easily tempted by a presented opportunity. Has now spent a decade directly subordinate to Starfleet Commander, and his own leadership skills may have deteriorated.
POLITICAL ALIGNMENT: On one occasion, openly expressed concerns about the amount of Starfleet resources devoted to the UFP's low-boil war with the Cardassian Union. Believed to have an excellent relationship with Rigellian Council Members.
COMMENTS: The most nakedly political of the Starfleet Vice Admirals. If appointed Starfleet Commander, the office's political power will be maximized. On a more positive note, long absence from regular operations may inhibit his ability to be an effective military commander.
===
Nyota Uhura
SPECIES: Human
CURRENT POST: Director, Starfleet Operations Command. Put simply, this position is responsible for coordinating the activities of all of Starfleet ships.
TIME-IN-RANK: 2 years prior to current date
SERVICE HISTORY HIGHLIGHTS: Uhura was a bridge officer aboard Starfleet's Constitution-class ship the Enterprise during its five year mission under Captain James Tiberius Kirk, a voyage so steeped in legend that even one only cursorily aware of UFP history will likely have heard of it. Other notable postings include leading the forward-most defensive squadron in the UFP's early clashes with the Cardassian Union and later leading the UFP's campaign against the Orion Syndicate.
PERSONALITY: A talented linguist, Uhura prides herself on knowledge of alien cultures and is known to speak our language to some degree of fluency without translator assistance. Has a knack for getting the opinions of her subordinates and swiftly synthesizing them into an effective course of action.
STRENGTHS: Described by one sources as, "Possibly the most gifted linguist and communications specialist Starfleet has ever had." Appears to have a special gift for coordination.
WEAKNESSES: Uhura is becoming aged for a human and likely does not have many more years of active military service left. Reportedly can become impatient with an operational pace she considers too slow.
POLITICAL ALIGNMENT: The violence of the Orion campaign is believed to have left her with a hardened, somewhat militaristic view (relative to the baseline Starfleet officer) towards facing down and eliminating threats to the UFP.
COMMENTS: Currently lacks time in rank to be promoted to Starfleet Commander, barring extraordinary circumstances. A highly capable, aggressive commander who recently reorganized Starfleet Operations to create numerous new Vice Admiral positions.
===
Scott Linderley
SPECIES: Human
CURRENT POST: Commander of Starfleet Intelligence. Though individual member states maintain their own intelligence divisions, Starfleet Intelligence is believed to be the primary espionage service for the UFP as a whole.
TIME-IN-RANK: 1.25 years prior to current date (Note he has held the post of Commander of Starfleet Intelligence for 6 years and was promoted to Vice Admiral while maintaining the same assignment.)
SERVICE HISTORY HIGHLIGHTS: Unknown. Vice Admiral Linderley has successfully managed to erase or encrypt records on his earlier career, and our usual sources have been unable to help.
PERSONALITY: Secretive and paranoid, we assume.
STRENGTHS: Counter-intelligence.
WEAKNESSES: Unknown.
POLITICAL ALIGNMENT: Unknown.
COMMENTS: Currently lacks time in rank to be promoted to Starfleet Commander, barring extraordinary circumstances. Little firm information is available, but it seems unlikely that a man with such a low public profile would ever be made Commander of Starfleet.
===
Viraan zh'Dohlen
SPECIES: Andorian
CURRENT POST: Tailward Theatre Command. As the name implies this posting is responsible for Starfleet operational activity on the UFP's tailward border, including their border with the Empire. This position also made her nominally responsible for the operations during the recent war between the UFP and the Arcadian Empire, though we cannot confirm her actual level of responsibility. Note this position was newly created with zh'Dohlen's appointment as part of a response to the UFP's recent expansion.
TIME-IN-RANK: 1 year prior to current date
SERVICE HISTORY HIGHLIGHTS: Zh'Dohlen spent many years with the UFP's Explorer Corps, first as chief of staff and then as commander once she was promoted to Rear Admiral. We have been unable to find any notable achievements prior to these appointments.
PERSONALITY: Colleagues describe her as "irreverent" and more interested in results than in procedure. Otherwise a private individual with no spouses and few interests outside of her work.
STRENGTHS: The "Explorer Corps" tends to produce Starfleet's most elite officers, and zh'Dohlen had nearly a decade in that command to earn their loyalty. Also known as one of the more political admirals, able to efficiently manipulate Starfleet's internal bureaucracy.
WEAKNESSES: Some complains have been intercepted that she fails to provide sufficient guidance to her subordinates. Seems to have no special talents or areas of specific ability that might distinguish her for the jump to Starfleet Commander.
POLITICAL ALIGNMENT: Reportedly well-liked by at least some members of the Federation Council, but there are few public statements to indicate her vision for Starfleet or the UFP.
COMMENTS: Currently lacks time in rank to be promoted to Starfleet Commander, barring extraordinary circumstances. As Theatre Commander on our border, zh'Dohlen is of special concern to the Empire, and further profiling efforts are ongoing.
===
Sotak
SPECIES: Vulcan
CURRENT POST: Central Theatre Command. As the name implies this posting is responsible for Starfleet operational activity in the UFP's central area, including rimward of Ferasa and the Sydraxian border. Note this position was newly created with Sotak's appointment as part of a response to the UFP's recent expansion.
TIME-IN-RANK: 1 year prior to current date
SERVICE HISTORY HIGHLIGHTS: For fifteen years prior to his Vice Admiral promotion, Sotak was the Rear Admiral in charge of the sector containing Vulcan, considered to be generally a peaceful command. This seems to have been a reward for successful prior service in Starfleet Intelligence, of which we know few details.
PERSONALITY: As with most Surakians, Sotak strives to suppress his emotions. Colleagues have described him as "calculating" and "patient". He has the fairly specific hobby of being interested in the metalworking techniques of other races and is a hobbyist blacksmith. He has been known to forge small metal objects, including blades, as gifts.
STRENGTHS: Highly respected by his peers and known to have considerable diplomatic experience. Careful in all aspects of his duties and rarely makes an unforced error. Successful service in Starfleet Intelligence suggests an understanding of subtle operations.
WEAKNESSES: Considered to be reactive and unaggressive.
POLITICAL ALIGNMENT: Something of a favorite of the Development faction, where his hobby of personal craftsmanship is regarded as deeply symbolic. One source claims that he makes a deliberate policy of favoring Vulcan officers, but if so he is sufficiently subtle about it that the perception has not impacted his career.
COMMENTS: Currently lacks time in rank to be promoted to Starfleet Commander, barring extraordinary circumstances. However, this appears to be a man of extreme patience and undoubted ambition. If he can achieve some extraordinary accomplishment during his time as Theatre Commander, his chances of someday being promoted to Starfleet Commander will considerably improve.
===
John Harriman
SPECIES: Human
CURRENT POST: Spinward Theatre Command. As the name implies this posting is responsible for Starfleet operational activity on the UFP's spinward border, encompassing the UFP's border with the Cardassian Union and the current Gabriel Conflict Zone. Note this position was newly created with Harriman's appointment as part of a response to the UFP's recent expansion.
TIME-IN-RANK: 1 year prior to current date
SERVICE HISTORY HIGHLIGHTS: Harriman had a long career commanding a ship in the Explorer Corps, then moved to Explorer Corps operations director. He then spent six years commanding the Starfleet squadron posted on the Empire's border. As a Rear Admiral Harriman served in Theory Command of Starfleet Tactical, a post whose function remains somewhat opaque to us. Despite all of this, a shadow hangs over his career as the captain under whose watch the famous Admiral Kirk died.
PERSONALITY: Described as "earnest" and "kind". Harriman excels at developing personal relationships and friendships and consequently has a cadre of quite fierce supporters within Starfleet.
STRENGTHS: While rarely innovative, Harriman has an encyclopedic knowledge of the tactics and stratagems employed by commanders of the past and can deploy them on command... or recognize them when deployed against himself. One source says, "I've never been able to get one up on John... he always seems to catch on to what I'm trying."
WEAKNESSES: Has little interest or skill in politics, which is one reason he has been unable to shake the shadow of Admiral Kirk's death. Not considered to be very innovative.
POLITICAL ALIGNMENT: For some members of the Federation Council, Harriman's obvious lack of interest in politics is a positive, as he is considered an unbiased source on Starfleet. As mentioned, Harriman operates heavily on personal, private friendships which tends to obscure the full scope of his support from our ability to monitor.
COMMENTS: Currently lacks time in rank to be promoted to Starfleet Commander, barring extraordinary circumstances. As Theatre Commander covering the Cardassian Union border, Harriman has a high probability of being the commanding officer on the spot when general war breaks out between the Cardassians and the UFP.
===
T'Faer
SPECIES: Vulcan
CURRENT POST: Director, Starfleet Logistics Command. As the name implies this posting is responsible for Starfleet logistics, including non-combat capable transports, mining colonies, research colonies, and similar. Note this position was newly promoted to a Vice Admiral spot with T'Faer's appointment as part of a response to the UFP's recent expansion.
TIME-IN-RANK: 1 year prior to current date
SERVICE HISTORY HIGHLIGHTS: T'Faer first came to our attention when she was appointed as commander of the UFP squadron bordering the neutral zone during the Biophage crisis, having been called back from a sabbatical as Director of the Vulcan Science Academy. She was badly wounded during this crisis. After returning to duty, she served in the Ship Design Bureau for two years before being promoted to the (then Rear Admiral) position of Director of Starfleet Logistics Command. She was briefly placed in command of the border area between the UFP and the Cardassian Union, before being abruptly reassigned back to Logistics Command when it became a Vice Admiral position.
PERSONALITY: As with most Surakians, T'Faer strives to suppress her emotions. Considered brutal, efficient, and severe by her colleagues. To quote a sources, "She has no patience for any alternative point of view that can't back up their argument in excruciating detail." Undoubtedly a scientific genius who has unfortunately personally contributed much to the UFP's development of anti-cloaking technologies.
STRENGTHS: Massively talented at coordinating large numbers of personnel and resources and able to alter schedules on-the-fly in resposne to changing situations. Skilled at defensive operations.
WEAKNESSES: Has little interest or skill in politics and few of her colleagues or superiors actually seem to like her, even as they admire her skills.
POLITICAL ALIGNMENT: We have been able to find find few clues to her political beliefs or any ambitions she may have for Starfleet's direction. While T'Faer seems to have no personal friends among Federation political circles, her service in the Biophage crisis has given her a permanent reputation as a soldier who will get the job done, whatever the job might be.
COMMENTS: Currently lacks time in rank to be promoted to Starfleet Commander, barring extraordinary circumstances. Most details of her current work are opaque to our usual sources, as very few people take any interest in logistics beyond those involved.
========
Omake Notes - This was a long one. @OneirosTheWriter I hope this provides a little bit of fleshing out if you need to do more with any of these characters, especially as some of them may eventually be candidates for Starfleet Commander in future votes.
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- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X]WG A 2v2 with any Ships, including member world ships - 2 modern Catian Swarmers vs 2 Stingers
As interesting as that other wargame suggestion is, we're shuffling ships all over the UFP right now; simpler wargames will doubtless be much easier to schedule.
As interesting as that other wargame suggestion is, we're shuffling ships all over the UFP right now; simpler wargames will doubtless be much easier to schedule.
I have no idea how I would find the time to participate, but please add me to the list of people who want to know.
- Location
- Mid-Atlantic
In this latest post from @Briefvoice , we learn that Scott Linderley buys his clothes off-the-rack. 
Oooh. Controversial!
That is... entertainingly plausible and badass. All the Tal Shiar knows about Linderley is that he's... really frighteningly good at keeping the Tal Shiar from knowing things about him.
@nocarename could I convince you to switch your vote to 2 Swarmers vs 2 Stingers? Your current fleet battle vote only has you voting for it.
[X]WG A 2v2 with any Ships, including member world ships - 2 modern Catian Swarmers vs 2 Stingers
I had not realised just how the species of our senior Admirals broke down. I knew Humans dominated, but had not spotted how many are actually Andorian - guess I thought they were Vulcan names.
We have no one outside of Human, Vulcan and Andorian at the top ranks yet? I'm sure we started this quest with 4 members and some of the others did join very quickly after quest start.
I had not realised just how the species of our senior Admirals broke down. I knew Humans dominated, but had not spotted how many are actually Andorian - guess I thought they were Vulcan names.
We have no one outside of Human, Vulcan and Andorian at the top ranks yet? I'm sure we started this quest with 4 members and some of the others did join very quickly after quest start.
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Very quickly is still only about nine years ago. There hasn't been time for anyone outside the original four to reach the top ranks. But as you can see, it's not that bad. All of the important founding species of the Federation are at least represented among Vice Admirals.
Long pause.
(Reaches out and shoves Tellarites into a mud puddle.)
All of the important species!