31 GLASCOW WAY

HAMPTON, VA 23669

E-MAIL: USS-JAMESTOWN@COX.NET

104 seminary Rdg

HAMPTON, VA 23669

E-MAIL: VEKMA@JUNO.COM

http://www.angelfire.com/va/ussjamestown

Greetings Crew…

Here is the news from around the fleet…

By now you should have received your ballots for the Starfleet Elections and mailed them back. I hope. There was only one candidate: Michael Mallotte. Also there were two amendments to the STARFLEET constitution. The first was to change the term of Office for the STARFLEET Commander from two years to three years with no back to back terms of office. The second is to put the STARFLEET Treasurer on the Executive Committee. I agreed with both although I am not sure if the first amendment is really good for STARFLEET or not.

I filled out a Region One Survey in the last month. I have yet to see the final conclusions from the survey. The main thing I pinged on was the "Region One Awards Program." I have voiced my opinion a number of times before that if someone is put in for a Region One Yearly Award and they do not win, they should at least receive a "Letter of Appreciation" from Region One.

We had the CO elections in August and the last ballots were counted at the September Meeting. Well, I won again. So I will be your CO (President) for two more years.

We had the Klingon – Starfleet Blood Feud last month. The Jamestown lost this one by one person. It was 46 for STARFLEET and 47 for the Klingons. The IKV Bat’Leth was ecstatic with joy. The real winner here was the American Red Cross. 80 Pints of blood were collected that day. Also, the Emergency Services Division of the American Red Cross collected about $86. I would like to thank everyone who came out and helped. Don’t worry, we will win next year.

We held our 20^th Anniversary Dinner last month and 45 people attended. It was a great time. I would like to thank all the people who worked so hard to make it possible: Captain Marilyn Romero, LtCol Michael Romero, Captain Mary Ann Winsley, Commander Christine Woods, Captain Lee Vitasek, Commodore Richard Hewitt, Commander Brad Goodman, LtJg Mark Defrancisco, Vice Admiral (Retired) Stephen Thomas, and Lt Commander Becca Ostman. Thanks for knocking yourselves out to make such a great event. Also, I would like to thank our Flag Rank guests from other clubs for attending: Commodore Tammy Willcox (CO), and Admiral Tom Monaghan of the USS Maat, Captain (Select) Joe Burell (CO) and Colonel Thomas Rawls (XO) of the USS Powhatan, Joy Dean (President) Starfleet Atlantic, and Lord Admiral Rick Wise (who also provided the cake) of the Iron Triangle. I would especially like to thank Captain Mary Ann Winsley and Commander Christine Woods for the lovely decorations. And thank you, Christine, for he song. It was great.

Well, we have some upcoming events: The Haunted House and our Christmas Party to work on and plan for. So I have to sign off for now.

The following awards and promotions were given out at the USS Jamestown’s 20^th Anniversary Dinner:

Name/Rank Award

Batts, Jason/RCT Achievement Award, 1st Award

Blackwell, Lori/ENS Achievement Award, 2nd Award

Bock, David A/CDR Award of Merit Award, 2nd Award

Burdette, Matt/WO Good Conduct Award, 4th Award

Defrancisco, Mark/LTJG Good Conduct Award, 2nd Award

Goodman, Ray/Brad/CDR Commendation Award, 6th Award

Meritorious Service Award 15 Years

Hewitt, Chris/CDT-4 Meritorious Service Award 05 Years

Hewitt, Richard/COMM Distinguished Service Award, 13th Award

Meritorious Service Award 15 Years

Leonardy, Linda/CDR Award of Merit Award, 1st Award

Oliver, Clay/1LTT Good Conduct Award, 1st Award

Ostman, Rebecca/LTCDR Award of Merit Award, 1st Award

Romero, Marilyn/CAPT Superiority in Service Award, 1st Award

Romero, Michael/MAJ Commendation Award, 1st Award

Meritorious Service Award 10 Years

Romero, Ron/LT Meritorious Service Award 10 Years

Schreck, Jason/COL Roddenberry Award, 1^st Award

Silcox, Issac/CDT-4 Good Conduct Award, 1st Award

Thomas, Steve/VADM-RET Letter of Appreciation

Meritorious Service Award 20 Years

VanArsdale, Eric/CDR Award of Merit Award, 2nd Award

Vitasek, Lee/CDR Superiority in Service Award, 2nd Award

Winsley, James/SGT Achievement Award, 1st Award

Scholastic Achievement Award, 3rd Award

Winsley, John/FCAPT Roddenberry Award, 3rd Award

Winsley, Mary Ann/CAPT Superiority in Service Award, 1st Award

Woods, Christine/LCDR Good Conduct Award, 3rd Award

Zalonis, Adam/CDT-4 Good Conduct Award, 1st Award

Noriega, Ydalmi Honorary Membership

Goodman, Ray/Brad/CDR R1 Good Conduct Award 15 Years

Hewitt, Chris/CDT-4 R1 Good Conduct Award 05 Years

Hewitt, Richard/COMM R1 Good Conduct Award 15 Years

Romero, Michael/MAJ R1 Good Conduct Award 10 Years

Romero, Ron/LT R1 Good Conduct Award 10 Years

Schreck, Jason/COL R1 Final Frontier Award

Batts, Jason/RCT Private

Blackwell, Lori/ENS Lieutenant jg

Hewitt, Chris/CDT-4 Cadet-3

Hewitt, Jennifer/WO Ensign

Oliver, Clay/1LT Marine Captain

Romero, Michael/MAJ LT Colonel

Vaughan, Adam/CDT-4 Cadet-3

Vitasek, Lee/CDR Captain

Woods, Christine/LCDR Commander

Zalonis, Adam/CDT-4 Corporal

Noriega, Ydalmi Ensign

====================================================================

Greetings, crew of the Mighty Jamestown! We are now entering our 21^st year in service to Starfleet. Time really seems to fly at warp speed when you’re having fun!

I want to congratulate everyone who helped make our 20^th Anniversary dinner a success. It was a lot of hard work, but worth it. We all had a great time. See the photos elsewhere in this issue. A high point of the evening was a proclamation signed by the Mayor of Hampton making the USS Jamestown the official Starship of the city of Hampton. It was presented to the ship by VADM (Retired) Stephen Thomas, along with many "whereases." (You had to be there.)

The weekend before the dinner the crew worked hard at "Blood Feud II," a blood drive for the American Red Cross. This year the coveted trophy was snatched from Starfleet by the Klingons (the IKV Bat’Leth) by only one vote. We’ll get it back next year! But the real winner was the Red Cross and those in need of blood transfusions. There are also some photos of this event later in this Stardate.

The next big project for the Jamestown is the Haunted House at the Virginia Air and Space Center on October 26^th. Our biggest challenge each year is to get enough volunteers so that workers are able to take a break. This event is always a lot of fun, and WE NEED YOU! I hope you will all volunteer to help us out. (There could be promotion points in it for you.)

At our August membership meeting the club held a Vote of Confidence for our Commanding Officer, FCAPT John Winsley. He will be our CO for another two years. Congratulations, John! We also welcomed back Brad Goodman to the Command Staff as Second Officer. We still have some vacancies on the Command Staff. They are: Chief Engineering Officer, Chief Petty Officer of the Command, Commandant of the Cadet Corps, and Assistant Department Chiefs for all departments except the Marines. If you are interested in any of these positions, please contact either John or myself.

That’s all I have for this time. Live long and prosper.

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Well, it has been a very busy three months for us, again. We had a great time at the 20^th Anniversary Dinner, but others will tell you more about that than me. We are looking forward to having a good year this next year but it will take your help and work. So please help whenever you can and the more the better. I do not have much to say this time.

Once again I need stories and artwork from you, the members of the Jimmy-T, to use in the STARDATE this coming year. So, start writing now and get those stories and artwork in to us as soon as you can! If you have some pictures you would like to see in the STARDATE, just get them to me and I will see if I can use them in the next issue. You can give them to me as a normal picture, or if you can scan them and send them to me, I will have a head start on getting them into the newsletter.

As always, I need your stories, artwork, and reports turned in to me NO LATER THAN THE 20th OF THE MONTH PRIOR TO PUBLICATION. For those dates just check the first column on the 2nd page. It is very easy to get your reports, stories, and artwork to me. 1) Just give it to me at a meeting. Please type it, or put it on a disk. If on a disk, please have it formatted for a PC and save it as a text file (*.txt). 2) E-mail it to VEKMA@JUNO.COM (this is our XO Marilyn Romero's email address). Once she has reviewed it, she will send it to me.

Well, here I am again, back in the Treasurer's seat. You just never know where I'm going to turn up, now do you? As of this writing, we have a balance in the checking account of $743.94 and a cash box total of $50.00. I hope that everyone has paid their ship's dues by the time you read this. If not, come see me at the next meeting--I'll be more than happy to take your money. And I hope everyone remembers the special auction coming up at the October meeting, too.

Well, that's all I have to report this time around as far as money matters go, so everyone keep your eyes open--you never know where you're going to find me!

USS Jamestown NCC-1843-D

Well, it's time for another Stardate. By the time this makes it into the Stardate we will have already had the Blood Feud and the Anniversary Dinner. I want to congratulate the following Marines for their promotions that they received at the dinner. Mike Romero promoted to Lt. Colonel, Clay Oliver to Marine Captain, James Winsley to Sergeant, Adam Zalonis to Corporal and Jason Batts to Private. Congratulations Marines!

Also, I wanted to point out the second part of my Marines verses aliens story is in this Stardate. This will probably be part 2 of 3. And since I found out one of my professors at school and her family are Trekkies, I'm going to try to get her and her family to join the ship. Hopefully I can, and maybe even get a few new Marines out of it. Well, that's it for this month.

Hello Fellow Gene Roddenberry Fans…

Can you believe that this year is almost over with! Time sure is going by fast.

Well, as you all probably know, Jimmy is off to school (Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University) in Daytona Beach Florida. I know how Marilyn felt when Mike left for school at Virginia Tech. The "Empty Nest Syndrome" is a real thing, but I’m doing better.

We are now in October and by the time you read this it will be time to start planning for Christmas. Christmas is the time of giving, and we the Staff are hoping everyone will be generous again this year. We want to help the Battered Women’s Shelter this Christmas. We are asking if everyone could bring at least one item for the women or their children at the shelter. Examples are a toy for a child or something for the Christmas dinner or an item for the household. I will have a list of possible items at the next few meetings. Anything would be appreciated. Please help us help them!

Hi gang, it's me again, coming to you on a rainy Wednesday afternoon. There's not much to report on this time around, but let me give you what I got. We have our anniversary dinner coming up on September 21st at Celebrations on Warwick Blvd. in Newport News. I can only assume everyone had a great time since it will be over by the time you get to read this. Also, on October 26th, we will be having our annual Safe Halloween at the Virginia Air and Space Center. LCOL Mike Romero of our Marine Department is heading up the activities this year, and he has some really good ideas for doing some new creepy stuff. While Mike is away at school, Lt. Commander Becca Ostman, Fleet Captain John Winsley, and I will be helping Mike get the skull rolling (did I say skull? I meant ball) to make this year's Safe Halloween a success. And that's where you come in. We're going to need at least twenty five people to help us make this the most successful Halloween ever. So, if you can help us, either e-mail Mike at mromero@vt.edu, Becca at slus8er@yahoo.com, John at uss-jamestown@cox.net, or me at cmdrscpgt@juno.com.

Well, that's all I have for now, so until next time, Qa'pla!

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Hello crew! Thank the prophets the Anniversary dinner is over! No really, I think it went incredibly well. Everyone had fun and was happy with all the free stuff they got to take home. I did have fun making the CD’s despite how much I grumbled. Marilyn’s booklet was great and Mary Ann’s cups will make great bloodwine shot glasses! So next up is the haunted house, which looks great on paper and will hopefully be a lot better and smoother than previous years.

Life has been nutty for me these last few months. Tina and I are all moved into our new apartment. It is really great and once people stop visiting, I’ll throw a party at our house. We have a pool too, so we can have a pool party next summer. Our place is in Bancroft Hall in VB and has tons of room. The pet total is holding at 5 for now. I’m halfway through the application process for the VBPD and should hear in a few weeks whether I can continue to the next evolution of testing. Things are winding down a bit.

The Tricorder had to be put on hold in lieu of the dinner, but will be back soon. Once the haunted house is done, the Science department will be adopting a new Jamestown charity. It will be science or environmentally based. I am considering the Save the Chesapeake Bay foundation, since it is local. I have also been thinking of an away team to volunteer at the Virginia Marine Science Museum for whale rescue or other things. If you are interested, let me know. Well, see you at the haunted house. Have fun!

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I think I am going to report on the strange turn of events that have been happening on the Jamestown of late. I must admit, I do not fully understand why these events took place, but if I ever find out, you'll be the first to know. Here goes.

At a recent Jamestown staff meeting, Becca Ostman is now reportedly Mike Romero's banana. (Meaning: unknown).

Also at a recent staff meeting, John Winsley was wearing Becca's jewelry and was reportedly "losing it."

Jason reportedly told Mike to "inspect" him. (Meaning: uncertain).

Like I said, I do not know why these events took place, but I'll let you know if I find out. If anyone on the ship finds out before I do, please let me know.

Well, that's all this mischief I can get into at this writing. Until next time, be careful what you say--you never know who might be listening!!

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Hi, it is me, again. Now that I am the Ship's Third Officer (in other words the Public Affairs Officer) not a spy. I will be trying to get the news about the "Jimmy-T" out to the public as much as I can. To that, I have sent an article to the COMMUNIQUE and hopefully it will be in the next issue. I will try and do this job the best I can. If you have something you think is important and that I might be able to use, just let me know.

ONGOING PROJECT REPORTS

Hi Crew. We have done a little better recently. We’ve received 31 items of food over the last three months. Mary Ann dropped them off at the Salvation Army HQ just yesterday for us. So we are up to ten items of food per meeting. I know we can do better. Please help. We are getting about 15 people at each meeting; that’s 15 items of food. So please remember to bring an item of food--a can or a box of food to each of the next three meetings. Remember our Motto: "Let Me Help!" Every can you bring helps someone in our area. Please it is very easy, just bring a can or two to each meeting. It adds up really quick.

Donations Quantity

Year 2000 199

Year 2001 089

Year 2002 to Present 110

Total to Date 398

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It's hard to believe that it is once again time to report on the state of the OCP Department. We actually have been doing pretty well with the coupons. I would like to thank Robin Woodell, Fleet Captain John Winsley, Lt. Commander Becca Ostman, and Captain Marilyn Romero for this quarter's donations of coupons. Let's keep the donations coming, and please remember to cut and sort the coupons into food and non-food categories. Here are the latest figures:

Since The Last Issue:

Food: $211.08

Non-Food: $468.70

Total: $679.78

2002 YTD Totals:

Food: $2,249.72

Non-Food: $4,176.29

Total: $6,426.01

Grand Totals:

Total shipped in 1998: $ 3,861.06

Total shipped in 1999: $25,273.07

Total shipped in 2000: $19,517.12

Total shipped in 2001: $ 6,358.62

Total shipped in 2002: $ 6,426.01

Grand Total: $61,435.88

Membership Totals since last report: 39

New Members or Rejoined Members 00

Renewals since last report 09

Members lost since last report 02

Total STARFLEET Members 37

Total Members Listed on the

Current SFI Roster 37

STARFLEET’s records now have us at 37 as of Sept 11, 2002. We have lost two members over the last few months and I expect to lose four more in October 2002. I am expecting at least one old member, Commander Alice Roy, to renew with us and a new member in the next few months. Anyway, see below for USS Jamestown members who need to renew their STARFLEET membership.

Expired Members Needing to Renew

Cmdr Scott Melrose 08-14-2001

ENS James E. Drane 03-25-2002

ENS Geraldine Drane 03-25-2002

Cmdr Alice Roy 09-26-2001

WO James Zalonis 05-18-2001

Future Members Renewal Info

LtCdr Rebecca Ostman 12-07-2002

Mona Wallace 10-17-2002

Paul Woodward 12-07-2002

Capt Lori Joyner 10-13-2002

CDT Adam Vaughan 10-13-2002

Below is a list of USS Jamestown members who need to renew their USS Jamestown dues soon. The cost for renewing is $12 each and $3 for each additional family member. Remember these dues are what make it possible for us to do the things we do, such as the Stardate, etc. Again, you can pay at the next meeting or send your check or money order payable to the USS Jamestown to the ship’s Treasurer, Captain Lee Vitasek at 3125 Saint Mihiel Ave, Norfolk VA 23059.

Name

PVT Jason Batts

Cmdr David Bock

Capt Lori Joyner

CDT Adam Vaughan

Mcapt Clay Oliver

CDT Isaac Silcox

Mona Wallace

Cpl Paul Woodward

Cpl Adam Zalonis

WO James Zalonis

Identify the Series to which each episode belongs with the following:

A) The Original Series

B) The Next Generation

C) Deep Space 9

D) Voyager

1. Destiny

2. Disaster

3. Displaced

4. Dreadnought

5. Duet

6. Emanations

7. Emergence

8. Equilibrium

9. Ethics

10. Evolution

11. Explorers

12. Faces

13. Facets

14. Fascinations

15. Genesis

16. Gravity

17. Homefront

18. Homeward

19. Indiscretion

20. Inheritance

Answers to the preceding will appear in the next Stardate.

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1. What is Sisko's middle name?

2. Leeta almost left with Dr. Zimmerman to began a new life on ____________________.

3. By the end of the Cardassian occupation, how many Orbs had been found by the Bajorans?

4. What ship captain became first citizen of a parallel Roman Empire in "Bread and Circuses?"

5. Name the two planets that found a war via computers in "A Taste of Armageddon."

6. How many people were aboard the Enterprise when Pike was captain? a) 203 b) 428 c) 684 d)1,012

7. In "Assignment: Earth, who were the two agents whose progress Gary Seven was sent to check?

a) 806 & 912 b) 201 & 347 c) 14 & 007 d) 86 & 99

8. In "Shadowplay," Odo and Jadzia Dax discovered a colony with a population composed of _________________.

9. Who died saving Ezri's life in "The Siege of AR-558?"

10. Who was Seven of Nine's roommate in the alternate timeline of "Year of Hell, Part I?" a) Ensign Brooks b) Torres c) Tuvok d) Janeway

The answers to these questions will appear in the next Stardate.

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Here are the Episode Titles Trivia answers from the last Stardate.

Answers To The Last Issue's Episode Titles:

1. C

2. C

3. B

4. D

5. A

6. B

7. C

8. D

9. B

10. D

11. A

12. C

13. C

14. B

15. D

16. B

17. B

18. B

19. D

20. C

21. C

22. C

23. D

Here are the answers to the Trivia questions from the last issue of the Stardate.

1. "some days the bear gets you."

2. (C) 87.2 cm

3. (A) Singha

4. The Cello

5. False. Kirayoski was delivered by a Bajorian mid-wife.

6. A third-class neutronic fuel carrier.

7. 1930

8. 1996

9. Smauel T. Cogley

10. He was made a solid.

Oct 27 IKV Bat’Leth’s Meeting at the Hampton Main Library starting at 2 PM.

Oct 28 Halloween Peninsula Hospital Visits.

Nov 1 International Plastic Modelers Society at the VASC at 7 PM.

Nov 7 Science Fiction Book Discussion Group Meeting at the Hampton Barnes and Nobles at Coliseum Mall starting at 7 PM.

Nov 12 USS Jamestown Staff Meeting at the CO’s house starting at 7 PM.

Nov 16 Enterprise Party at the CO’s House.

Nov 17 USS Jamestown Regular Meeting at the VASC 2 PM

Nov 19 IKV Bat’Leth Anniversary Dinner

Nov 24 IKV Bat’Leth’s Meeting at the Hampton Main Library starting at 2 PM.

Dec 6 International Plastic Modelers Society at the VASC at 7 PM.

Dec 5 Science Fiction Book Discussion Group Meeting at the Hampton Barnes and Nobles at Coliseum Mall starting at 7 PM.

Dec 10 USS Jamestown Staff Meeting at the CO’s house starting at 7 PM.

Dec 14 Enterprise Party at the CO’s House

Dec 15 USS Jamestown Regular Meeting at the VASC 2 PM

Dec 22 IKV Bat’Leth’s Meeting at the Hampton Main Library starting at 2 PM.

Jan 3 International Plastic Modelers Society at the VASC at 7 PM.

Jan 2 Science Fiction Book Discussion Group Meeting at the Hampton Barnes and Nobles at Coliseum Mall starting at 7 PM.

Jan 14 Staff Meeting at the CO’s house at 7

Jan 18 Enterprise Party at the CO’s house.

Jan 19 USS Jamestown Regular Meeting at the VASC 2 PM

Jan 26 IKV Bat’Leth’s Meeting at the Hampton Main Library starting at 2 PM.

MEMBER CONTRIBUTION

Greeting Fellow Voyagers of the Mighty Jimmy T. There is something important I wish to discuss with all of you. It concerns some STARFLEET Academy courses. Some of you – as I have been, - may be taking some of the courses offered by the Academy. (It’s a good way to build up promotion/awards points.) Most of the courses are interesting, and are offered by good, caring individuals.

However, are you aware that some of the courses may have hidden costs? It’s true. The reason I know is because I took and passed with honors a course called "The History of the Enterprise" under the College of Federation Studies. The course offers six tests. That is Ann Bellinger’s right as the school’s director. She also has a policy of giving the student a certificate for each test. Actually, the word "giving" is not the appropriate word to use here. You see, what’s not stated is that you have to pay for the tests. (In my case it’s the certificates that I need). You heard me; you have to spend five extra dollars.

In her last letter to me, dated August 11 of this year, Anne wrote the following: "The reason you didn’t get your certs for tests 2-6 is because I never received your vouchers for $1 per course. Actually these are some of the cheapest tests. Most others charge $2 per test". I have been a student at Thomas Nelson and know something about college courses. I have yet to hear of a test being considered a separate course. (At least, not until now, that is.). In my opinion tests are a part of the course and not a course in and of themselves.

I love STARFLEET and the people in it. Most of the people in the organization, and this includes the crew of the Jamestown as well, are good and honorable people who will do whatever they can to help. This also applies to the Academy. Neither you nor I have any say in how many tests or questions a course can offer. That is left up to the school’s director. However, is it really fair to charge for these extra tests when nothing is mentioned about it in either the SFA application or the Courses descriptions? For most of us, money is really tight. Do we really have the extra five, ten or more dollars to throw around for these extra tests and certificates? I know I don’t.

In dealing with various SFA schools, I have found it prudent to ask questions when I send in any application. I also honestly state my situation, the lack of money, the inability to have reliable transportation to hunt down obscure books and other "outside" reference material, (no working phone or computer either, etc) just in case there is a problem. I deal honestly and respectfully with the school’s director and I expect the same from them. I certainly don’t expect hidden costs or an attitude problem.

I feel so strongly about this, that I have written a letter to Marlene Miller, the Commandant of the STARFLEET Academy. I have not mailed it yet, because I need to copy it and don’t have either the money or reliable transportation to do so. However, once that is done, it will be mailed. I have made some suggestions to Marlene concerning this matter. First off, I have suggested that Marlene put the total amount of dollars and stamps required on the SFA application. I also mentioned that any extra expenditures, i.e., money, be mentioned in the course descriptions as well. Finally I asked Marlene to please define the terms "test", "course" and "college," since Anne seems to be somewhat confused on this topic.

If any of you feel as strongly about this as I do, then please write to Marlene and let her know. Maybe if enough people write to her, she’ll do something about this problem. I feel this issue should be addressed and corrected. However, please don't stop taking SFA courses. There are a number of good directors/instructors who offer interesting courses.

Which brings me to a last addendum. I recently applied to the new College of Religious history. I have finished the first exam and need to mail it off. The first test and the sixteen-page document you study from is from the course entitled "Terran Religious Persecution in the 20^th and 21st Century an –Overview." Bill Herrmann, the school’s director is also creating other courses like" Klingon Religion – Warrior Faith," "DS9 – The Bajoran Prophets and their Prophecies," "Star Wars –Religion of the Jedi – The Force – Faith of the Sith," "The Babylon 5 Universe Religions – An Overview" and a couple of other courses as well. The one that I’m working on Bill’s looking for contributors is called "Captain James T. Kirk and His Encounters with Planetary Religions – Care Studies in Manipulating the Prime Directive." He expects to have all his courses released by April 2003.

The nicest thing about the course though, is Bill’s attitude. First off, the course is absolutely free. That’s right, it’s FREE. (Although, I think it’s only fair that you send him three or four loose first class stamps, since he sends the course in a large clasp envelope). Another nice thing is the fact that there’s no time limit to complete the course! In his letter to me, he states the following: "I do not feel it is serving the membership to impose limitations and constraints on what I define as excessive requirements on the students applying. Education of SFA in my opinion should be a fun and entertaining experience that is conducive to the enhancement of wisdom, knowledge and enlightenment. Making students jump through hoops is not what I do as a Director. I am here to serve you the member." What a wonderful attitude to have! He also asked me to convey his greeting and best wishes to the officers and crew of the Jamestown. So if you write to him, don’t forget to include your SCC number, and please tell him I sent you. His address is:

Bill Herrmann

9908 Berrywood Dr

Lanson, SC 29456

Now please excuse me. I have to contemplate which SFA course I’m going to take next. Let’s see… I have the exam from the College of Trek Humor that I should start on and that New School of Law looks pretty interesting. Hmmm… Decisions, decisions, decisions!

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Note this story takes place last year about the time I started writing it, so some Command Staff positions may have changed.

Colonel Schreck, Major Romero, 2nd Lt. Oliver, Corporal Winsley, and Lance Corporal Zalonis are in an S-10 Invader landing craft approaching the surface of LB-426. The S-10 Invader is a Marine version of the standard Type 7 shuttle craft used by Starfleet with a few differences. The S-10 has extra phaser emitters, and combat seating for up to 12 Marines. It's large enough to carry the Marine powered infantry suits. The Marines have been sent to LB-426 to find the alien creatures killing the colonists. So far 5 colonists have been killed by a previously unknown creature and phasers seem to be ineffective against them. Colonel Schreck and Major Romero are in the pilot seats. The other Marines are seated in the back and the powered infantry suits are stowed until landing.

Colonel Schreck: Jamestown, this is shuttle craft Puller we are approaching the surface and should be landing shortly.

Captain Romero: Roger, Puller we'll be monitoring your progress keep us informed of the situation.

Colonel Schreck: OK Jamestown, Puller out. OK Marines, prepare for landing; we'll be touching down in about three minutes. Once we're on the ground we'll get into the powered infantry suits and take up positions around the colony perimeter.

(The shuttle comes to a landing safely on the surface. The atmosphere outside is toxic to human life so the suits will have to protect the Marines as well as provide them breathable air.)

Three different types of powered infantry suits have been brought to the surface. Colonel Schreck has a C3 command and control suit. 1sr Lt. Oliver is using the Standard Phalanx infantry suit. It's fairly light and mobile and will be used as a scout suit. The rest of the team is using Magnum Heavy weapons suits for maximum fire power.

Colonel Schreck: OK men, let's suit up. We will all be carrying extra ammunition for our projectile weapons. We're leaving beam weapons behind since they appear to be ineffective against these aliens. I'm going to take the northern perimeter, Major Romero take the south, Corporal Winsley the east and Lance Corporal Zalonis the west. Lt. Oliver, I want you to constantly circle the perimeter to help fill in gaps in sensors. In 15 hours the magnum suits will be out of power, the other two will last another two hours. In 14 hours I'm going to order the Lejune to come down as relief while our suits are recharged. Any questions?

Major Romero: What are our exact rules of engagement, sir?

Colonel Schreck: Shoot these aliens on sight. They do not seem to be sentient, they are simply killing machines. If you get in over your head then call for assistance and we will be there as fast as possible to help. Watch your ammunition levels. Most of you are used to beam weapons with nearly unlimited shots. It's easy to use up your ammo on projectile weapons. Those of you with grenade launchers save them as much as possible unless attacked by a group of these creatures. If there are no other questions let's suit up and move out.

(15 minutes later the team is on the perimeter patrolling their area when a call comes in to colonel Schreck from Major Romero.)

Major Romero: Colonel, my suit's sensors show a large group of unidentified life forms headed my way. It appears to be more than 100 coming this way. I estimate five minutes till they arrive. I'm going to need help and fast.

Colonel Schreck: Major, we will be there as quickly as possible. All units report to the southern perimeter and be ready to fight. Make best possible speed to Major Romero's position.

Colonel Schreck arrives first followed by the others. The number of the creatures continues to grow as they approach. Now over 250 are headed toward the five Marines.

Colonel Schreck: Strike team to Jamestown. We're going to need the shuttle Lejune and her team as soon as possible. We're about to be under massive attack here. Tell Warrant Officer Rinaldi to land close and prepare for immediate assault.

Captain Romero: Strike team, Warrant Officer Rinaldi's team has been alerted. They estimate 15 minutes till they can get down there.

Colonel Schreck: I don't think we'll last that long, but get them down here as soon as possible, we're going to need them. Strike team out. OK, arm weapons. Those of you with grenade launchers I want to see them used upon sighting. When I give the command I want you to fire a round each. You only have ten grenades each. Don't use your missiles till I say so, at close range they may do more harm than good. Clay, you and I will have to depend on our SP-628A2 projectile weapons once they get close enough. Here they come!

A huge group of aliens come over the horizon moving fast.

Colonel Schreck: Grenade launchers open fire.

Three grenades are launched into the group causing a huge explosion. Only about 15 creatures are taken down. The rest are unfazed and continue coming.

Colonel Schreck: Fire grenade launchers at will.

The three magnum suits open up when a group gets in range. More aliens go down, but the rest keep coming. Before long the grenades are exhausted. A good number of the aliens are taken out, but more are coming. The Lejune is still ten minutes from arriving. The onslaught continues as the creatures get closer.

Colonel Schreck: Switch to projectile weapons. Fire as soon as they're in range. I hope the Puller gets here soon; we can't hold out long against a group this big.

As the creatures get closer the strike team opens fire. Some go down but not enough. Ammo is running out quickly and it soon turns to hand to hand combat. (or as close to it as possible in a powered infantry suit). The first one attacks Colonel Schreck. He grabs it; throws it to the ground and snaps its neck. Thankfully the creature goes down. Lt. Oliver is next. Using the suit's strength he picks one up and hurls it into several others. Lt. Oliver fires a flare into the group. It seems to work and kills at least one of them as acid shoots out hitting several others. It has no effect on the other aliens, but does hit the end of one of the team's weapons and melts it.

1st Lt. Oliver: Sir, our suit's flares seem to work on them. Be careful though; their blood seems to be acid.

Colonel Schreck: Switch to flares. Watch out for the blood though; it's acid. Major , what's the ETA on the Lejune?

Major Romero: Less than five minutes, sir.

The Flares seem to be working to take out the creatures and some have started to retreat from the battlefield. The Lejune starts its approach and landing. Upon landing the second half of the team disembark and begin using their own projectile weapons. What's left of the alien horde begin to retreat.

Colonel Schreck: Good Job, Marines. But this isn't the end. We still have to go finish them off and find their site of origin. My suit's combat tricorder has been tracking them as far as possible. They were headed due south. Let's reload and recharge the suits, and we'll take the two shuttles after them and attack their place of origin. Also, get one of the dead creatures into one of the shuttles. I want Dr. Winsley and Commander Payne to have a look at it when we get it back to the ship.

All Marines return to the shuttles to reload weapons and prepare to head for the alien site of origin. The Puller and Lejune will both take off and fly to the limit of where the combat tricorders showed the aliens movement.

To be Continued. . .

Patrick Stewart told SCI FI Wire that X-Men 2, currently in production, is not so much a sequel, but rather the first true adventure for the mutant superhero unit. "I wouldn't say it's a new exploration," the actor, who is reprising his role as Professor Xavier in the follow-up, said in an interview. "In many respects I always looked on the first X-Men film as being like a very expensive extended trailer."

"We were introducing people to who the X-Men were, to what their world was like, who their enemies were and what their conflicts were going to be like," Stewart continued. "X-Men 2 is really extending those themes and notions that were just sketched in in the first film, and we're extending them much more deeply. So, there's my continuing conflict with Magneto [Ian McKellen] and with a new enemy, a very, very dangerous individual [General Stryker] played by Brian Cox. And, of course, Xavier is attempting to hold the X-Men together and trying to change humankind's perception of what mutants are, which finally climaxes in the movie with a very strong scene in the Oval Office between Professor Xavier and the president of the United States [played by Cotter Smith]."

X-Men 2 is slated for release on May 2, 2003.

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The central El Paso site where Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry was born has been marked with a wooden plaque in his honor, according to The Associated Press. The news service reported that the plaque will be up in time to be viewed by those Trekkers attending this weekend's Trek convention, the first in El Paso.

Roddenberry's plaque, which can be found at Sylvia's Flowers, reads, "He created a universe for his future and that universe was Star Trek, which became a worldwide phenomenon." El Paso city Rep. Anthony Cobos, who paid for the marker with campaign monies, said, "We can become a big Trekkie town."

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Patrick Stewart told SCI FI Wire that he's "open" to reprising his role as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in future Star Trek: The Next Generation features, but that the fate of the big-screen franchise depends on Trek fandom supporting the upcoming Star Trek Nemesis. "The fans continually ask the question, 'Is this the last movie? Please don't tell us it is. Let there be another movie,'" Stewart said in an interview. "So I say to them, 'We've done our part now in all of this. Everyone from Rick Berman to the cast, the writer and the director has played their part. But now it's up to the fans.'"

Stewart added, "We are opening in the toughest of times. We are surrounded by mega-movies. We are a mega-movie, too, in the great scheme of things, but [Nemesis faces competition from] Harry Potter and James Bond and The Lord of the Rings and Solaris. November-December is crazy. So we have, I don't know, five to seven days to make our impact. You know how it is with movies these days. Unless you're a low-budget independent movie that can sit around in a couple of cinemas in New York and Los Angeles for several weeks, if you don't do [big box office] in that first weekend you're dead. I would love to see Nemesis hit a home run that weekend, to use a current image. That, more than anything, is what would promise a further episode of The Next Generation." Star Trek Nemesis opens nationwide on Dec. 13.

More News Briefs ...

The premiere of UPN's new Twilight Zone series held virtually all of the audience from its lead-in series, Enterprise, retaining 94 percent from hour to hour (4.59 million vs. 4.87 million), the network reported. The audience flowed from Enterprise and The Twilight Zone in all key adults, male and female demographics, retaining more than 80 percent in all categories.

The official Lord of the Rings Web site has been updated with a new module featuring the horses of Middle-earth, in anticipation of the upcoming sequel film, The Two Towers, which opens Dec. 18.