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To Boldly Go... (a Starfleet quest)

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To Boldly Go... (a Starfleet quest) Starfleet Ship Design Bureau, Refit ("To Boldly Go...")
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You know, that almost balances out if a biomolecular torpedo is created by making an antiantimatter torpedo.

EDIT.

Another idea for torpedo-type weapons. The Commonwealth could use some kind of spatial rift generator or something, something that's very dangerous after you switch it on, but harmless when it's just sitting there on the deck of your spaceship.
 
If we get into conflict with them, it's going to be hilarious when we're able to kite ISC ships by pelting them with torpedos well outside their range. :V
 
UbeOne said:
Uh, the opposite of antimatter is matter...
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Goat said:
Any real life physics major looking at this statement would start foaming at the mouth.
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Only if one's delivery is bad. Having known quite a few real life physics majors... most of us get the joke. ;)

Iron Wolf said:
If we get into conflict with them, it's going to be hilarious when we're able to kite ISC ships by pelting them with torpedos well outside their range. :V
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They could be really good at beams?
 
Simon_Jester said:
Yeah. If the Commonwealth is "better safe than sorry"-ing to the point where they act skittish, where they don't actually initiate contact readily in the first place, where they attack ships that 'look like' they're about to attack them, et cetera... That could explain part of their bad contact experiences.

Though given that other species they may have encountered include the Cardies, the Ferengi, the Sydraxians, and the Yrillians who are sometimes literal giant pirates, I wouldn't want to engage in too much victim-blaming here. They could easily be just a bunch of reasonable, well-intentioned, very unlucky beings in a galaxy that wasn't very kind to them.
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The other thing is, we know from our contact with the Ittik-ka that societies on the rim are slightly behind technologically. Very weak evidence so far, but it's possible that societies towards the center are slightly ahead, which may mean they don't treat fairly towards races that are behind even if they're economic peers or even economically ahead. Another non-evidenced possibility is that the pressures that drive interspecies competition towards the galactic center are very different; if more advanced races exist or have existed, for example, they may create a very different environment for races of our tech level. It's possible that the rise and fall cycle we see in Federation/Alpha/Beta Quadrant space is at a different stage, and that their Hurq or Orion-equivalent or the more aggressive species that threw them off are still around. Also a possibility: the denser proximity of stars nearer to the galactic center creates more competition among species earlier in their spacefaring lives and the species more prepared to crush their enemies tended to come out on top.

It's easily possible their experience is all bad luck though. This is all speculation at best.
 
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Omake - Winterwind Tales Pt 1: Defective - Iron Wolf
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    • Winterwind Tales Part 1: Defective
    2312.Q4.M3    ​


    As soon as the door to her ready room had opened, Abigail Taggart knew today was going to be interesting. Standing in the threshold was Ozzgrizzira, Command Ozzira on the Ladrirri. He was also the only drone 'officer' in the Apiatan fleet, his name a portmanteau of Officer-Drone, a pseudonym to allegedly to hide the shame he could bring to his original, very conservative hive. He cut a striking figure, standing almost as tall as Taggart, taller with the antennae. If it wasn't for his height he might be easily mistaken for another worker, his hair in the short, severe style of the other Apiata, and his uniform sufficiently loose to hide any curves - or lack thereof.

    "Captain Taggart," he said, "I hope I am not interrupting anything. Commander Iekn said this would be a good time." Taggart leaned her head to look around Ozzgrizzira's shoulders and saw the Betazoid giving her a thumbs up and an encouraging grin. She gave him a suitably annoyed glare, but blinked it away when she saw Ozzgrizzira's antennae droop.

    "It's fine." She said quickly. She gestured at a chair, "Would you like to sit?"

    "Thank you." Ozzgrizzira settled into the chair. Mentally, Taggart ran through the checklist of hospitality her grandmother had drilled into her.

    "Refreshments?"

    "No, thank you."

    "Alright. Well, you let me know if you change your mind," Taggart said, leaning forward and clasping her hands together. In the silence that followed, she studied Ozzgrizzira. She'd talked to him over the viewscreen before, but never in person. Iekn had, during a wargame brief on the Sarek. Which is probably why Ozzgrizzira had approached him first. Apiata worked very strongly on interpersonal relationships.

    He wasn't saying anything despite the fact he'd come here personally. She remembered then -- Queens, authority. He was waiting for her. "What brings you to my neck of the woods, Ozgrizzira?"

    "The Sarek is about to depart, and so is the Winterwind. This is my last chance to ask…" He tugged at his uniform, let out a slow breath. "I wish to know more about your previous ship, the USS Sappho."

    Taggart quirked an eyebrow with interest. He could have just asked via comms. Unless he didn't want his fellow Apiata overhearing. "Well, I don't hear that one every day. Shoot."

    "Shoot? Is there a threat?"

    "Uh, Earth expression. Just ask whatever questions come to you."

    "Oh." Ozzgrizzira took a moment to collect his thoughts, antenna rubbing over each other in a way that resembled nervous hands, "Is it true you were the only woman on the ship at the time? That is was - entirely men?"

    "Well, not entirely. I had Holena, and by the time I transferred out there was more women coming in. Including an Apiata spacer, by the by."

    "I see. Is this typical of Starfleet ships? That they are mostly men or women?"

    "Oh heavens, no. We're still not sure how Sappho got that bad." Taggart saw a shadow of… doubt? Fear? Cross Ozzgrizzira's face when she said 'bad'. "I don't mean that in a negative way, of course. I mean it's unusual. Chad and I could never figure out how Seruk allowed that to happen. Holena always thought the Sappho was the fulfillment of a private fantasy of his, but I won't go into such low-brow speculating."

    If she did, she'd say she Chad was playing dumb and had colluded with Seruk to make the Sappho a reality. Seruk had apparently been fond of Chad when he was an instructor at the academy. But she could never find anything more than circumstantial evidence.

    "Ah," Ozgrizzira said, "So most vessels are like your Winterwind or Straak's Sarek, a mix of both."

    "Correct."

    "So only the Sappho has that many males." Ozzgrizzira looked disappointed.

    Taggart tilted her head. "You seem very fixated on that fact." She was starting to get an inkling of what was going on. "Is there something I can help you with, Ozzgrizzira?"

    The Apiata sprung out of his chair, propelled from his seat by nervous energy. Taggart gave him space, and he stood staring out the window in her ready room. Staring at the Queenship that was a distant speck.

    "They want me to return to my adopted hive to begin… reproductive duties." He said, "They say they've tolerated putting it off with my command here for too long." He turned to look to Taggart, "The problem is, I like what I do. And unlike most drones, I am not interested in… reproductive behaviour with queens."

    Taggart leaned back in her chair. Iekn would have picked all this up the instant he met Ozzgrizzira. She wasn't sure if she should be mad at him for passing the buck to her or flattered he thought she could handle this better.

    Her PADD beeped and she glanced down at it. It was a message from Iekn: "My vote is for the latter. You've got my confidence, Captain." Sure, Iekn.

    She glanced up. Ozzgrizzira was pacing now, his words spilling out in a rush, "I have studied your species. They have struggled with similar issues in the past. I find myself reading about your famous figures like Joan of Arc, Boudica, Catherine the Great. All leaders unusual in their known world in their time. Because of their gender. All killed or slandered later." He turned suddenly, leaning over her table, "They are of a different species and different biology, yet I understand them more than my own sisters and brothers. Than they understand me. Because I'm defective."

    Taggar made a face. "Honestly, I've never liked that term. Three centuries previous and they'd be saying that about me," she said, glancing at the picture of Jennifer sitting on her desk. "In Starfleet, we're taught IDIC. It's not that you're defective, Ozzgrizzira. You're unique. Or a 'different paradigm from the species baseline', if you'd prefer the xenostudies textbook version."

    Ozzgrizzira collapsed back into his seat, and sat there quietly. "Thank you." he said, eventually. "I've been reading the publicly available personal logs of some of your Captains: ka'Sharren, Eaton. But it is the logs of Chad and the Sappho that most intrigue me. He speaks of building a family, or at least, a very close-knit team. It sounds like the Hive, but -- with a place for me.

    "It's why I want to be a part of Starfleet. And hopefully, of the Explorer Corps." He shifted in his seat, "But before any of that I need to have a senior officer's recommendation."

    Taggart nodded. But confusion crossed her face, "If you don't mind me asking, first -- why me? You'd go a lot further with Straak's recommendation. I'm sure if you told him what you told me he'd help."

    "He wouldn't understand like you," Ozzgrizzira said. Taggart quirked an eyebrow, then glanced down at the picture of Jen again. Slowly, she turned it around to face him. He nodded, "Yes. And you served on the Sappho. And on the Courageous, with Eaton and McAdams. The…" He gestured out from his chest, "Symbolism matters. Maybe not to the admissions committee, but it does to me." He gave her a small smile, "Maybe another defect of mine?"

    "Hogwash. That's actually the kind of thing the Academy likes in admissions essays." Taggart nodded, "With that, and all the experience you've got, you're the model candidate. They'll probably commission you at a high rank, to boot. But it'll take a couple of years…"

    "I plan to do it in a year and a half. I have already… secretly… done some of the coursework by correspondence." The Apiata looked equal parts pleased and contrite for his deception.

    "That's the kind of spirit they like in the Corps, Ozzgrizzira."

    "Please, call me Ozzgrizz." He perked an antenna, "Do you think Chad would give me a nickname? I know mine is quite a mouthful for non-Apiata."

    Taggart was pulling a PADD from her desk, flicking to a letter template, "Well, knowing him…" She tapped her chin with the stylus, "Probably Ozzy. Actually, if you get assigned to his ship-"

    "--I plan to." Ozzgrizzira said, intently.

    "--Tell him I thought that up. He'll be pleased as punch." She smiled. "Now, Ozzy, if you'll give me a moment I'll write this up. You can go and I forward it or..."

    Ozzgrizzira stayed put. Taggart smiled and began writing with the stylus. In her window, the Queenship grew smaller in the distance.
     
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    • I like to imagine that as those ISC inspectors on Courageous are standing in her torpedo bay, there is this ancient grizzled Andorian senior chief that's like absolutely seething with rage at the very idea that she's improperly handling her Photon Torpedoes.

    "THE ANTIMATTER IS STORED WITH THE REST OF THE FUEL. THESE ARE JUST EMPTY HUSKS. DO YOU THINK I'M STUPID? DO YOU THINK I'M AN IDIOT?!?!?" *shakes inspector* "ARE YOU STUPID? DO YOU THINK I'M STUPID? I'M NOT CRAZY, YOU'RE CRAZY!"

    [Diplomatic Incident Intensifies]
     
    On the plus side, they may have tried to blow Gaeni Science Cruiser right on the first look.
     
    "The problem is, I like what I do. And unlike most drones, I am not interested in… reproductive behaviour with queens."
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    Given what we've know of Apiata society, I can only begin to imagine how his fellows would react to such a statement.

    Taggart quirked an eyebrow, then glanced down at the picture of Jen again. Slowly, she turned it around to face him.
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    This, right here, is emblematic of how delicately you're handling this, @Iron Wolf. It's really appreciated, believe me.
     
    I think I figured out why they've had such a different experience.

    The UFP core region is NOT NORMAL. That density of warp-capable species that close together is not seen elsewhere.

    Klingons and Romulans have comparable territory and it's just them there. The Cardassians have a huge chunk of core territory with no other species, and the minors around their periphary tend to be significantly bigger - the Konen fought Cardassia solo and put up an actual fight, not a one-sided beatdown like UFP vs Licori.

    Gabriel's atypically dead, but I suspect that Gabriel's closer to average than the area around Sol.

    Hence, they've likely got a much narrower range of contacts, and we know there's at least one jackass group that way.

    So it's possible they just had an average contact rate rather than a freak outlier rate, and rolled poorly.
     
    pheonix89 said:
    I think I figured out why they've had such a different experience.

    The UFP core region is NOT NORMAL. That density of warp-capable species that close together is not seen elsewhere.

    Klingons and Romulans have comparable territory and it's just them there. The Cardassians have a huge chunk of core territory with no other species, and the minors around their periphary tend to be significantly bigger - the Konen fought Cardassia solo and put up an actual fight, not a one-sided beatdown like UFP vs Licori.

    Gabriel's atypically dead, but I suspect that Gabriel's closer to average than the area around Sol.

    Hence, they've likely got a much narrower range of contacts, and we know there's at least one jackass group that way.

    So it's possible they just had an average contact rate rather than a freak outlier rate, and rolled poorly.
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    Pretty sure that the Klingons, Romulans, and Cardassians just subjugated the minor powers within their space and don't let them hold their own territory.

    Its notable that there were hardly any klingon inmates at Rura Penthe.
     
    Excuse me, I've got normal bees, I've got weird bees, I've got bees of every shape and size down here at Iron Wolf bee emporium! Look at this bee! She loves her mom and follows her duty without question. What a nice bee! Look at this one! She's antisocial and listens to emo-punk music in her room! Drone mom doesn't know where she went wrong! That's wack! That's a wack bee! Let's shuffle her off to Starfleet where she can be wack with her wack friends!

    Bees! Bees everywhere!

    More seriously I've always been kinda fascinated with the Apiata 'defectives.' There's a lot of potential there! But I do have normal bees coming up.
     
    AKuz said:
    I like to imagine that as those ISC inspectors on Courageous are standing in her torpedo bay, there is this ancient grizzled Andorian senior chief that's like absolutely seething with rage at the very idea that she's improperly handling her Photon Torpedoes.

    "THE ANTIMATTER IS STORED WITH THE REST OF THE FUEL. THESE ARE JUST EMPTY HUSKS. DO YOU THINK I'M STUPID? DO YOU THINK I'M AN IDIOT?!?!?" *shakes inspector* "ARE YOU STUPID? DO YOU THINK I'M STUPID? I'M NOT CRAZY, YOU'RE CRAZY!"

    [Diplomatic Incident Intensifies]
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    That's a spot-on impression of a senior chief Gunner's Mate you've got right there...
     
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