HD03 - Security Cadet Jade West

[Maddie Allen]

== Welcome to your holodeck Cadet West, 

Read the following information carefully, because it has a fair amount of important information for you.  If you have any questions or difficulties at any time, please contact one of the following people for assistance.  We’d be glad to help you out.

Commander Jasal 
Commander Shanth 
Captain Allen  

Remember during your time at Academy people have responsibilities such as school, jobs, and family, as well as maintaining our site. There are times when we may have to wait longer than we’d like for a reply to a post or a question. Patience and treating each other with respect and dignity are two things that are absolutely required of all members.

On the flip side, the Constitution states that players need to post at least twice a week.  If you find you are unable to keep up due to something coming up in real life responsibilities or you’re just going to be on holiday, please let one of the Admins know.  You can be granted a leave of absence for the length of time you think you’ll be away.  If you don’t let us know and you suddenly disappear, this could end up with you being considered AWOL and eventually removed from the active cadet roster.

Now… with all of that said, let’s get to your character’s bio!

Please begin by posting your bio using the template below. Once posted, your bio will be reviewed by an Evaluations representative. They will post comments for you and suggest any adjustments your bio might require.  Once they approve your bio, you will be assigned an instructor and your adventure will begin!

Federation Space is a written RPG. With that said, we ask that you try to pay attention to spelling and grammar in your posts.  Posts properly formatted are easier and more enjoyable for everyone to read. I strongly recommend you run your bio and any posts you make through a spell check before posting them.

Next are a few resources that can help you as you write your bio:

Be sure to check out playable races on our site.

Our character development page is a great resource to help you fill out your bio form.

Along with character development is information about the Star Fleet Academy Curriculum, including Majors and Minors.

One last thing, please take time to read and understand our site’s canon page.  This will help you understand what 'Trek' related information is included on our site.

Again, if you have any questions, please feel free to ask!  And as always - have fun!

== Physical Description ==
Name:
Species:
Gender:
Age:
Height:
Weight:
Build/Body Type:
Complexion:
Hair Color:
Hair Style:
Eye Color:
Voice:
Off-Duty Clothing Taste:
Distinguishing Features:

== Personal History ==
Date of Birth:
Place of Birth:
Marital Status:
Siblings Name & Ages:
Mother's Name:
Father's Name:
Parent's Status:
Pets:
Best Friend:
Personal History:

== Personality ==
Academy Majors:
Academy Minors:
Hobbies & Past-Times:
Short-Term Goals:
Long-Term Goals:
Personality:
Sense of Humor:
Phobias:
Likes:
Dislikes:
Pet Peeves/Gripes:
Bad Habits / Vices:
Achievements:
Disappointments:
Illnesses:
Strengths:
Weaknesses:
Fears:
Prejudices:

== Questions ==
Most Painful Experience:
Best Time:
Most Crucial Experience:
Role Model:
Referrer / How you found Fed Space (If 'Google' or 'Search Engine' please specify the search engine and the term searched for):

==

[Jade West]

== Physical Description ==
Name: Jade West
Species: Human
Gender: Female
Age: 24
Height: 5 ft 7 in
Weight: 140 lbs
Build/Body Type: Athletically fit
Complexion: Pretty fair, with a slight tan
Hair Color: Dark brunette, with purple highlights
Hair Style: Worn down to just below shoulders, and pulled up into a bun during anticapted combat situations
Eye Color: Blue
Voice: Friendly and arrogant sounding at the same time
Off-Duty Clothing Taste: Typically opts for a blouse and comfortable pants, with an occasional sun dress thrown into the mix
Distinguishing Features: Other than her colorful hair highlights, Jade doesn't stand out in a crowd

== Personal History ==
Date of Birth: July 26
Place of Birth: Los Angeles, California
Marital Status: Single
Siblings Name & Ages: None
Mother's Name: Unknown
Father's Name: Dave West
Parent's Status: Jade knows nothing about her mother, Father was a Starfleet Officer who's MIA
Pets: None
Best Friend: Fellow Starfleet Cadet/Officer Madison Yarbrough
Personal History: Growing up, Jade knew almost nothing about her parents. Her mother had abandoned Jade and her father not long after Jade had been born. As she matured, Jade believed it was nothing more than selfishness on her mother's part and never once bothered to try and find her mother's identity, or even seek her out. Her father had even less time to deal with Jade, as he seemed to value his Starfleet career more than anything. She did spend some time with him on his various assignments, but when she was old enough Jade was sent to boarding school back on Earth.

Despite feeling abandoned by her parents, Jade did her best to make the most of the opportunity that had been forced upon her. As she progressed through middle school, Jade began to develop an affinity for singing, enough that Jade hoped she could make a future career out of it. However, reality came crashing down like a ton of bricks as Jade learned how near-impossible it would actually be to have a musical career. Not only that, but shortly after she'd turned 17, Jade was approached by Starfleet Officers who'd informed her about her father being missing. Despite not having much a bond with him, it still stung (even if only slightly).

This was the turning point in Jade's life that caused her to believe she should pursue a career in Starfleet. Jade hoped she could do it a better way than her father, and be able to properly juggle the personal and professional life of a Starfleet Officer. While a musical career would've been great and all, as a member of Starfleet she would be able to do some actual good for the universe. While the entrance exams where a bit more than she bargained for, Jade was able to secure her a spot in the prestigious Starfleet Academy.

For the most part, her time at the Academy felt no different than her time in boarding school. Sure there was a higher level of seriousness thrown into the mix, but it was nothing Jade couldn't handle. However, the hardest impact of her life was to come during her sophomore year at the Academy. During the 2401 Federation Day celebrations, Jade was one of the many young Starfleet personnel that had been partially assimilated thanks to altered DNA, thanks to transporter usage during her limited time at the Academy. Even though she recovered alongside her fellow Cadets, Jade couldn't help but wonder if she done something horrible while she was in control of her faculties. The memories of that awful experience were foggy, and it was probably in her best interest to never remember.

In her recovery phase, Jade grew closer to her roommate Madison. It didn't hurt that Madison had been going through medical training to be a counselor, and she'd been used as her "training dummy". Despite her inexperience, it did help for Jade to get the thoughts out and refocus on her future. It was better to last the past remain just that. Had it not been for Madison, Jade believed she would've ended up washing out. However, she had a new drive and was going to be stronger than ever. And she had Madison to thank.

With the worst time of her life now behind her, Jade managed to do quite well and graduate from the Academy. She wasn't in the top echelon of her classmates in terms of standings, but she did well enough to feel pride in herself. Jade wouldn't be getting assigned to a ship like the Enterprise any time soon, but she would put her talents to the test wherever she ends up.

== Personality ==
Academy Majors: Security
Academy Minors: Hand-to-Hand and Small Arms Training
Hobbies & Past-Times: Even though she abandoned her original musical career hopes, Jade can find herself singing from time to time
Short-Term Goals: Earn the respect from her fellow officers and stand on her own two feet
Long-Term Goals: While she didn't really have a relationship with her father, Jade still wishes to find out what actually happened to him
Personality: Does her best to get along with others, unless they end up disliking her humor
Sense of Humor: Dry and witty, with a mix of sarcasm
Phobias: Fears losing control of her own body again
Likes: Getting into the thick of things, as she believes putting things off is a recipe for disaster
Dislikes: Anyone trying to bring up matters of her family, or technically lack of one
Pet Peeves/Gripes: Her family being brought up
Bad Habits / Vices: Overdrinking, in private, after dark and painful experiences
Achievements: Jade feels accomplished that she did all the hard work to become an officer in Starfleet
Disappointments: Coming to the assumption that her mother was selfish and didn't care about her, enough to the point that Jade has no wish to even so much as learn about her
Illnesses: Nothing beyond the expected child illnesses from growing up
Strengths: The willingness to do whatever she can to accomplish her task
Weaknesses: Familial relations, but primarily because she never really experienced them
Fears: Not being in control of her own actions
Prejudices: Anyone that tries to bring up her family

== Questions ==
Most Painful Experience: Being used effectively as a pawn by the Borg in 2401, and not being able to fight it. With a close second of being informed that her father had officially been declared MIA.
Best Time: Actually graduating from the Academy, as it proved she was capable despite the initial psychological setback during her sophomore year.
Most Crucial Experience: Pulling herself back together, with the help of her roommate Madison.
Role Model: Initially herself, as for the most part she could only rely on herself. Jade also added her roommate to that small list, as nothing would've been possible without Madison's assistance.

[Carrs Jasal]

==Good Evening Cadet, apologies for the delay as I have been under the weather recently.

I am Commander Carrs and will be assisting with your bio.

Overall, an excellent start. I do have some questions I would like you to address; first, even if her mother abandoned her at an early age, she would surely know her name from her birth certificate/medical records? Second, if she spent some time with her father before being sent to a boarding school, how does Jade know nothing about him? She wouldn't have gone until she was 7 at the earliest based on my research aboard boarding schools. If she was left somewhere else, I need to see that in the bio.

We also need to see your Referrer on the form so that when a prospective CO looks at your bio, they know where their crew are finding the site from.

Get those changes to me ASAP, please, and we'll get you moving along!==

[Jade West]

== Physical Description ==
Name: Jade West
Species: Human
Gender: Female
Age: 24
Height: 5 ft 7 in
Weight: 140 lbs
Build/Body Type: Athletically fit
Complexion: Pretty fair, with a slight tan
Hair Color: Dark brunette, with purple highlights
Hair Style: Worn down to just below shoulders, and pulled up into a bun during anticapted combat situations
Eye Color: Blue
Voice: Friendly and arrogant sounding at the same time
Off-Duty Clothing Taste: Typically opts for a blouse and comfortable pants, with an occasional sun dress thrown into the mix
Distinguishing Features: Other than her colorful hair highlights, Jade doesn't stand out in a crowd

== Personal History ==
Date of Birth: July 26
Place of Birth: Los Angeles, California
Marital Status: Single
Siblings Name & Ages: None
Mother's Name: Serene West
Father's Name: Dave West
Parent's Status: Jade knows nothing about her mother, Father was a Starfleet Officer who's MIA
Pets: None
Best Friend: Fellow Starfleet Cadet/Officer Madison Yarbrough
Personal History: Growing up, Jade knew almost nothing about her parents. Her mother had abandoned Jade and her father not long after Jade had been born. As she matured, Jade believed it was nothing more than selfishness on her mother's part and never once bothered to try and find anything pertaining to her mother, or even seek her out despite having a name thanks to her birth certificate.

Her father had what felt like even less time to deal with Jade, as he seemed to value his Starfleet career more than anything. While Jade technically lived with her father, while he traveled to his various assignments, he didn't actually spend the necessary time a father should beyond the bare minimum in taking care of Jade. If anything it was almost as if he were waiting out the clock for Jade to turn 7, so that she could be sent off to boarding school. Given his current status of being MIA, Jade doubted she'd ever get a true answer as to why she was sent away.

Despite feeling abandoned by her parents, Jade did her best to make the most of the opportunity that had been forced upon her. As she progressed through middle school, Jade began to develop an affinity for singing, enough that Jade hoped she could make a future career out of it. However, reality came crashing down like a ton of bricks as Jade learned how near-impossible it would actually be to have a musical career. Not only that, but shortly after she'd turned 17, Jade was approached by Starfleet Officers who'd informed her about her father being missing. Despite not having much a bond with him, it still stung (even if only slightly).

This was the turning point in Jade's life that caused her to believe she should pursue a career in Starfleet. Jade hoped she could do it a better way than her father, and be able to properly juggle the personal and professional life of a Starfleet Officer. While a musical career would've been great and all, as a member of Starfleet she would be able to do some actual good for the universe. While the entrance exams where a bit more than she bargained for, Jade was able to secure her a spot in the prestigious Starfleet Academy.

For the most part, her time at the Academy felt no different than her time in boarding school. Sure there was a higher level of seriousness thrown into the mix, but it was nothing Jade couldn't handle. However, the hardest impact of her life was to come during her sophomore year at the Academy. During the 2401 Federation Day celebrations, Jade was one of the many young Starfleet personnel that had been partially assimilated thanks to altered DNA, thanks to transporter usage during her limited time at the Academy. Even though she recovered alongside her fellow Cadets, Jade couldn't help but wonder if she done something horrible while she was in control of her faculties. The memories of that awful experience were foggy, and it was probably in her best interest to never remember.

In her recovery phase, Jade grew closer to her roommate Madison. It didn't hurt that Madison had been going through medical training to be a counselor, and she'd been used as her "training dummy". Despite her inexperience, it did help for Jade to get the thoughts out and refocus on her future. It was better to last the past remain just that. Had it not been for Madison, Jade believed she would've ended up washing out. However, she had a new drive and was going to be stronger than ever. And she had Madison to thank.

With the worst time of her life now behind her, Jade managed to do quite well and graduate from the Academy. She wasn't in the top echelon of her classmates in terms of standings, but she did well enough to feel pride in herself. Jade wouldn't be getting assigned to a ship like the Enterprise any time soon, but she would put her talents to the test wherever she ends up.

== Personality ==
Academy Majors: Security
Academy Minors: Hand-to-Hand and Small Arms Training
Hobbies & Past-Times: Even though she abandoned her original musical career hopes, Jade can find herself singing from time to time
Short-Term Goals: Earn the respect from her fellow officers and stand on her own two feet
Long-Term Goals: While she didn't really have a relationship with her father, Jade still wishes to find out what actually happened to him
Personality: Does her best to get along with others, unless they end up disliking her humor
Sense of Humor: Dry and witty, with a mix of sarcasm
Phobias: Fears losing control of her own body again
Likes: Getting into the thick of things, as she believes putting things off is a recipe for disaster
Dislikes: Anyone trying to bring up matters of her family, or technically lack of one
Pet Peeves/Gripes: Her family being brought up
Bad Habits / Vices: Overdrinking, in private, after dark and painful experiences
Achievements: Jade feels accomplished that she did all the hard work to become an officer in Starfleet
Disappointments: Coming to the assumption that her mother was selfish and didn't care about her, enough to the point that Jade has no wish to even so much as learn about her
Illnesses: Nothing beyond the expected child illnesses from growing up
Strengths: The willingness to do whatever she can to accomplish her task
Weaknesses: Familial relations, but primarily because she never really experienced them
Fears: Not being in control of her own actions
Prejudices: Anyone that tries to bring up her family

== Questions ==
Most Painful Experience: Being used effectively as a pawn by the Borg in 2401, and not being able to fight it. With a close second of being informed that her father had officially been declared MIA.
Best Time: Actually graduating from the Academy, as it proved she was capable despite the initial psychological setback during her sophomore year.
Most Crucial Experience: Pulling herself back together, with the help of her roommate Madison.
Role Model: Initially herself, as for the most part she could only rely on herself. Jade also added her roommate to that small list, as nothing would've been possible without Madison's assistance.
Referrer: Googled "Star Trek Forum RPG", a lot of the RPGs I found were e-mail based and didn't seem very appealing. Forum based I found Shadow Fleet, Theurgy, and Federation Space as potential RPGs. Your RPG seemed better laid out gameplay wise, even if there was some lacking of say Theurgy's artist photomanipulations for the characters, but a nice image isn't always the most important thing I guess.

[Carrs Jasal]

==Congratulations, your bio is approved!

An Instructor will be with you shortly!==

[Jade West]

== Thank you for your guidance. ==

[Amelina Whittaker]

== Hello Cadet West and welcome to Federation Space RPG otherwise known as Fed Space. Fed Space is a great game and community.  I’ll be your Academy Instructor, helping you get ready for your time on ship. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask me here or dm me.
Before we move onto the first lesson, I want to make sure you know about the great resource our wiki provides. It has a lot of information, including what your department duties will be. Take some time to review:
https://wiki.fed-space.com/index.php?tit...ty_Officer

The wiki also includes an Academy section that contains a lot of resources for you. Be sure to take some time to review them, especially the New Cadet FAQ while you’re there. We’ll use the wiki later in our lessons, so it’s helpful for you to start navigating it now.
With that out of the way, let’s get started: 

Lesson one: Formatting basics

Third Person, Past Tense:
Fed Space has players all over the world so we use a standardised set of formatting rules. By using one style, it makes it easier for everyone to follow and understand each other’s posts.
The first thing to know is that we post in third person, past tense.  An example of this style of writing would be: Amelina was so excited to be finally taking her final examination, she fell off her seat.  NOT: I fell off my seat because I was so excited to take my final examination.

We also use double spacing between paragraphs and character’s spoken lines. This means when you write a spoken line with quotation marks “ ”, leave a space after. This makes it easier for players to follow.  A good rule to follow is ‘When in doubt, double space!’

Your Character’s Internal Thoughts
To show your character’s own thoughts, we use italics.  When writing your character’s thoughts, it’s acceptable to write in first person.  An example of showing my character’s thoughts would look like: I can’t wait to visit my home town again and see my Father

Showing Emphasis
To make something really stand out in your post, such as if your character was shouting, we use bold text. An example of showing emphasis for my character would look like: Amelina loved a good cup of coffee, especially with a bit of cinnamon.

Telepathic Communication
In general, it is rare a character has the ability to communicate telepathically and because of this, it is closely monitored by our Senior and Commanding Officers to make sure it isn’t abused.  With that said, there are a few telepathic races on Fed Space and on occasion telepaths will speak to each other through this unique skill. Telepathic communication is shown like this:

~ Hello, I am speaking directly into your mind. ~

If your character is not telepathic then, in general, you won’t need to worry about this technique, but I want you to be aware it exists in case you see crewmembers on your ship or others using it.

Using Communication Badges or Comm Badges
Characters can often receive verbal communications through a communication device, such as a comm badge, from another crew member or the computer.  When receiving a message, you should drop the quotations “ ” and instead use brackets [ ].

For example, if I received a message from another officer, it would look something like this:
[Captain Allen to Lieutenant Whittaker, please report to Holodeck 3]

If you are the one speaking to somebody through a comm device, you would still use the quotations “ ”.

Out Of Character posting or OOC:
OOC posting is what I’m doing now. OOC text is surrounded by == ==.  Use OOC when you want to talk to another player and not write it as part of the storyline.  You won’t need to do this in general discussion areas such as your ship’s OOC sections like Crew Announcements as well as in Hailing Frequencies.

Proofing Posts:
When writing a post, it’s important to take time to run your posts through the spell check many writing software offers. Spell check won’t find all grammar and spelling errors, but will find many and help correct errors found. Rereading your post can help catch errors. We don’t need anyone to be a speller or grammar whiz, but taking the time to do this extra step will make it easier for everyone to understand what’s written.

A good way to get the feel of these formatting rules and to get a feel of the site, in general, is to browse the different ship forums. Take some time to look at the different ships. Take time to notice how our players use the elements listed above. 

With all that said, let’s get to some posting!  Your first assignment is to respond to my post using the above formatting elements. If you have any questions, ask.  Good luck and have fun! ==

== Holodeck 3 - 14:00 hrs ==

After a busy morning that consisted of getting her first-year Cadets through their basic weapons training, Amelina had then spent some time in a departmental meeting before picking up the details of who would be taking the final exam that afternoon. The name was familiar to the Security Instructor and following her usual routine of going through West's information, the AI arrived at the designated holodeck to prepare the simulation that had been specifically designed to test West, and for her to achieve the best outcome. Once the programme was primed and ready to go, Amelina stood back and awaited the Cadet's arrival.

== Tag West ==

[Jade West]

The short trip from the Auditorium seemed to get exponentially longer with each passing step that Jade made towards the Holodeck she’d been assigned to for final examination. Despite her efforts, Jade was pretty sure onlookers could see how genuinely worried that the Cadet might’ve been. It wasn’t every day that one’s future could be decided on the spot.
 
Realistically, there’s only two options left at this point. I’ll either pass and move onto graduation….or, well I guess haven’t quite got that part figured out yet. It’ll just be more motivation to make sure the worst possible outcome doesn’t come to fruition. Just don’t screw up.
 
Her mental pep talk wasn’t exactly the most inspiring, if she’d given it verbally to someone else. However, considering she wasn’t trying to prop others up it could be better than nothing. After another agonizing minute of walking, that felt like an eternity, Jade finally came upon the heavy-duty door that would lead into Holodeck 3. For a moment, the brunette’s hand hovered over the control access panel that would allow her access.
 
Can’t really play the “Guess they gave me the wrong Holodeck” card to delay the inevitable, can I? Here goes nothing.
 
The heavy-duty Holodeck door began to part immediately after Jade input the command to enter. Mere seconds later revealed an almost empty hologrid, but Jade’s blue eyes locked onto a single individual, presumably waiting for her arrival. The Cadet recognized the other woman as none other than Lieutenant Whittaker. During her time at the Academy, Jade had been taught sparingly by the Lieutenant, just because of the number of other instructors, so there wasn’t much of a connection.
 
Probably for the best anyways. Instructors always like to claim they’re impartial when it comes to judging their students, but that’s not the nature for most being out there in the universe. Better to have a relatively unknown grade me, so that when I pass it can be for who I am.
 
The door closed behind her and made her approach. For a minute, Jade wondered if she should’ve gone with red highlights to make herself look more fierce and ready for the challenges ahead. Perhaps, but she did always favor her purple coloring as it seemed almost second nature to her by now. Cupping her hands behind her back, Jade transitioned to a game mode face. It was time.
 
“Cadet West, reporting as ordered.”

== Tag back ==

[Amelina Whittaker]

== Excellent Cadet, let's continue :-) ==

== Lesson two: Plots, GM Input, Character Hijacking, and New Content:

We have two types of plots here on Federation Space: the main plot and subplots. Main plots affect the entire ship and are directed by a Game Moderator (GM). Subplots are an underlying story being told within the main plot. A subplot can be run by any player with prior approval of the ship’s CO (or FO).

An example of the difference between the two:  The main plot is about the ship falling under attack. A subplot would be a character dealing with an on ship pregnancy or maybe trying to write the next great holonovel.

GMs:
Game Moderators (GMs) guide the ships’ missions along. Every ship has a mission, of which only the GMs of a ship know the mission details. 

Your job is to write what your character sees and what their reaction is. The GM will provide any unknowns about the plot.  This input will have significance to the direction of the mission. This is why characters should keep posts open ended on anything that might affect the mission’s direction or outcome.  As your character performs an action, such as performing a diagnostic scan, leave the result of the scan unknown.  The GM will explain what the outcome of the action is.

When you need GM input on something, for example results of a diagnostic scan, one only has to make a request at the end of the post.  The request can look like:

== GM Input, please. == 

Or it can also be a more specific request, such as:

== GM Input:  Result of the diagnostic, please. ==

Take a look around at the active ships on Federation Space to see characters ask for GM input.

Character Hijacking:
The next element we’re going to cover is character usage. Unless you have permission from the player, you cannot post any speech, thoughts or movements for another character (PRC or NRC) that isn’t yours, unless the character has already done so in game. This is called character hijacking and is not permitted on Fed Space. Some players might not mind, but even minor things such as a nod of the head or a shrug of the shoulders can be considered hijacking.

For example, if you write in your next post that Captain Maddie Allen suddenly appeared and started dancing the Hokey Pokey, you would have hijacked another character.

Character Movement on Ships:
I’m sure you have noticed a ship has multiple threads on it for various locations that a player can post, such as the bridge, sickbay, and security offices.  Oftentimes while on a mission players travel throughout the ship to accomplish their orders. To help follow the plot when a player is transitioning from one thread to another they should make a notation at the end their post like this:  >> Sickbay >>  The arrows and location found at the bottom of a post tells readers where this character will post next. 

When the player makes their next post, the player should make a notation at the beginning of their post like this:  << Bridge <<  The arrows and location  found at the top of a post indicate that is where a player has just come from.

Time for more writing!  In your next post, continue showing your use of our formatting techniques you learned in lesson one and ask for GM input. I will be acting as your GM.

If you need any help or would like more clarification on something, ask me! ==

== Holodeck 3 ==

Amelina's gaze brightened the second the doors opened to reveal Cadet West before the future security officer approached and reported in. " Good Afternoon Cadet and welcome to your final examination". 

The AI knew how nerve-inducing this final test could be, but it didn't hurt to be warm and reassuring when faced with something that would determine your future as part of the Fleet. " In a moment the scenario will begin, and you'll be on your own until it's complete" Amelina explained, aware that she would be observing from outside. Once West was ready the room began to change as Amelina activated the programme. What was once a blank space transformed into the corridor leading from the USS Tenacity's security department, complete with emergency lighting as the ship rocked and shook from being bombarded by an as yet unknown assailant, before the intruder alert sounded. 

== Tag West ==

[Jade West]

“In a moment the scenario will begin, and you'll be on your own until it's complete.”

There wasn’t much of a preamble before the Holodeck systems engaged, and Jade watched as the room around her changed to a starship corridor that was bathed in emergency lighting. Without warning the simulation began, and the young woman was tossed slightly against one of the bulkheads as the simulated ship was struck by enemy fire. Regaining her bearings, one of the few alarms went off that was never a good sign on a starship, Intruder Alert. Jade instinctively checked around her waist to see if she been prepared.

I shouldn’t be surprised. Wouldn’t make much of a challenge if I’d been given a phaser from the get go. I’m not sure of this ship’s class, but this does look like a typical deck that houses Security, so perhaps my first course of action should be to head towards the armory and get assigned a weapon.

While the emergency lighting kept the ship from being thrown into complete darkness, it did have a nasty habit of hindering visibility to an extent. As she was semi-jogging to what she assumed was the armory, Jade tried her best to keep her head on a swivel. Any knock and cranny could be a threat waiting to pop out, and her blue eyes were just about all she had to keep her aware. Jade didn’t know about the identity of the boarders, so who she was trying to look out for was a complete mystery. However, she had a sneaking suspicion she be able to pinpoint them out when it came down to it. Intruders didn’t tend to blend in to their surroundings.

== GM-Input: As Jade is jogging through the corridor to the Armory, does she notice anything of note through the diminished lighting. Does she somehow manage to run into the intruders? Or does she manage to reach the Armory without issue, and possibly learn who’s boarded the ship? ==

[Amelina Whittaker]

== Lesson three: NRCs, character usage, and site navigation:

Non-rated characters, or NRCs, are characters used by players as well as GMs to help fill crew gaps in ships. Starships usually have large crews and since we don’t have enough players to fill all those roles, we use NRCs.

We have two types of NRCs: Independent and Temporary.

Independent NRCs are like a Player Rated Character (PRC), in that they get played as their own character. These NRCs are registered and you can distinguish them through their character names. You’ll see something along the lines of Ensign Doe {Allen}, with the PRC character’s last name in brackets at the end. And while these NRCs are similar to PRCs, they are not a second rated character (SRC). They also do not earn points or medals as you would with your PRC.  Also, your PRC must be a Lt [JG] or higher and have the approval of your Commanding Officer to create an Independent NRC.

Temporary NRCs on the other hand, can be created by anyone. They are not as developed as Independent NRCs or PRCs and they do not have bios. They are usually created for quick tasks, and are used for times when you need to post with other players on the ship.

To make a Temporary NRC post, all you need to do is place an OOC notation at the top of the post. You’ll probably see several variations, but they typically look like:

==Ensign John Doe, Temp Security NRC ==

In the case of both NRCs, you play the character from the NRCs perspective, almost as if you have a second character.  You can only play an NRC that is one rank higher than your own. This means that if you’re an Ensign, you can have NRCs that are Midshipmen, Ensigns, or Lieutenant Junior Grades.


Navigating the Fed Space Wiki
The Fed Space wiki offers a great resource to help you out with your posts.  Be sure to spend some time checking it out.  The information on the wiki is also ‘Fed Space canon,’ which can sometimes differ from Star Trek canon, so look there first when you’re researching something.  Don’t feel limited to only looking at the wiki pages for your department, because the other departments will have information you’ll find quite useful.

As previously mentioned, Fed Space canon differs slightly from that of Star Trek, mainly because this game happens 40+ years after the Dominion War. Since the Dominion War, there have been many conflicts and wars. It’s been very rocky, but all the history from the start of Year 1 to the last entry on that page has been written and played here on Federation Space.  Make sure you spend some time checking out our site history. 

To help you get used to the organisation of our wiki, please answer the following questions in OOC.
1. How many types of phasers are there?
2. What is the left side of a ship called?
3. How long does it take to cross a sector at Warp 5?

After answering the questions, continue with another post and include the formatting and spacing as discussed in previous lessons. In your post, please continue the story and use Ensign Maura Lewis - Temp Security NRC or one of your choosing as your Temporary NRC. Have fun! ==

== Results of the GM input ==

Jade manages to reach the armory without coming across any intruders and will be successful in arming herself. However, her luck doesn't last for long when weapons fire can be heard directly outside, along with the shouts and screams of her fellow officers. The fight had been brought to the security officer, and if she listened carefully she would hear guttural sounds, identifying the intruders as some kind of Reptilian race, it was clear that they intended to show no mercy as the fight continued and some of the crews voices fell silent==

== Tag West ==

[Jade West]

== 1.) For Hand Phasers there is the Type-2 Phaser Pistol and the Type-3 Phaser Rifle. For Ship-based Phasers there are the Offensive Type-1, the Offensive/Defensive Type-2, the Defensive Type-3, the Heavy Type-4, and the Gatling Type-G.
 
2.) The left side of the ship is known as the port side.
 
3.) While traveling at Warp 5 it would take approximately a month of continuous travel to traverse an entire sector. ==
 
Jade was ever so slightly surprised when she managed to reach the armory with relative ease. As she entered the room, the young woman could’ve sworn she heard some guttural sounds in the distance, reminiscent of a reptilian species. It didn’t necessarily mean those were the intruders, as there were Xindi-Reptilians in the Federation and the odd Gorn or two that might’ve been in Starfleet, or even just onboard the ship for whatever reason.
 
Or I’m just miscategorizing the sound. I’ve never truly been deep in a combat situation before, and imaginations could be running wild right now. Or there’s truly a reptile on the loose, who knows. It’s a bit strange there’s no one here.
 
One would’ve thought there’d be a heavy presence within a ship’s armory, especially during a hostile boarding. Keeping their weaponry out of the enemy hands would’ve made the most sense, but then Jade had to remind herself that it was all but a simulation. It didn’t have to make exact sense, but she needed to roll with the punches and treat it like it were the real deal.
 
Approaching one of the weapons lockers, Jade wasn’t entirely surprised when she was able to gain easy access. If this had been real life, her being able to access firearms would’ve made sense considering she’d have actually been assigned to the ship, although there would’ve been an actual Armory Officer running the show.
 
Jade didn’t waste much time grabbing a phaser pistol, and a holster to carry said weapon. However, given there was a potential threat of a reptilian species onboard, most likely the aggressors, more firepower would probably be beneficial. A quick grab of a tricorder, because more knowledge would always be helpful, and the Cadet was ready to go, for what she didn’t know.
 
Entering the corridor, the guttural sounds were becoming significantly more pronounced. Throw in a bit of screaming from the simulated crew and it was even clearer that those were probably the baddies, especially when the screams were coming to an unceremonious end. The flashlight attached to the rifle had given Jade a bit more perspective, but she still hadn’t actually seen the enemy. What she did manage to find was a Security Officer, who seemed to be cowering. It might’ve been all a simulation, but it was easy to believe this could’ve actually happen to someone in the heat of the moment.
 
“Ensign, are you okay? Have you seen whoever’s been attacking us?”
 
== Ensign Maura Lewis - Temp Security NRC ==
 
While she’d wanted to be a Security Officer throughout her time at the Academy, Maura believed with Starfleet’s renewed sense of exploration that hell on earth wouldn’t ever happen to her. And what that was what exactly was happening at this exact moment. People were being killed, and there wasn’t the damnedest thing she could do.
 
She’d effectively crawled into the proverbial corner, cluthing her phaser in her hand. Perhaps if she managed to be unseen by whatever was out there, then she’d actually get to stay alive. Maura didn’t want her first week on the Tenacity to be her last. That was when a voice called out to her, and had she not actually taken a moment to actually look where the voice was coming from, she might’ve fired her weapon instinctively.
 
That’s one of the new arrivals just like me, right? I really haven’t gotten to meet most of the people onboard, and well frankly a good number of them probably aren’t breathing anymore. This is going to be the end.
 
Nothing was going to make Maura feel more confident, even if West happened to be carrying a phaser rifle. The fact they were using a tricorder to scan in the direction of the screams didn’t inspire the scared officer. It almost seemed like the other woman wasn’t taking the deaths of their fellow crewmates seriously.
 
“Do I look like I’m alright? There’s people dying out there, and odds are we’re next. We could just lie low, and we might just get through this alive.”
 
== GM-Input: As Jade is listening to the other Security Officer, she’s scanning the area from which the screams were coming from, in addition to keeping her eyes peeled. Does she detect anything of note, or even potentially see the possible reptilian attackers? ==

[Amelina Whittaker]

== Well done Cadet :-) & great use of the Temp NRC ==

== Lesson Four: Participation Points, Rank, Chain of Command:

Participation Points and Rank:
Participation points are issued on the first of every month.  This system is in place to allow for the progression of ranks.  Once a character earns a certain amount of points, they’ll receive a promotion to the next rank. There are a few caps in place because, let's face it, over time without the caps the site would be overrun with captains and admirals with nowhere for them to go.

To access the monthly points charts, click on the Red Alert thread on our forums page, then Monthly Point Tables.  Read more about participation points, positions, and rank caps in the Federation Space Constitution.

Participation points are awarded by the Commanding Officer (CO) and approved up the chain of command by the Fleet Commander (FC) and finally, the Commander in Chief (CinC). Everyone earns participation points every month, depending on how active a player you are, and can vary between each CO. If you have any questions about how your CO awards points, please go up your chain of command when you are assigned to a vessel.  They will gladly let you know their policy. 

Another way for you to earn points is to hold various site positions, such as Department Head (DH), First Officer (FO), Commanding Officer (CO), etc. or through earning medals.  A list of medals and their point values are found on the medals page on the wiki. Medals are typically awarded to players who go above and beyond what is expected on the site.

While we do have a points system in place, it is suggested you don’t play for the sole reason of collecting points or positions.  Your enjoyment will be more if you write and take part in things for the fun of it, and not an attempt to ‘win’.  This community is about writing, growing your character, and being a part of the Fed Space family.

As mentioned above, there are several ranks you can achieve over time. The abbreviated forms and names are listed below.

• Mid – Midshipman
  
• Ens – Ensign
  
• Lt (JG) – Lieutenant (Junior Grade)
  
• Lt – Lieutenant
  
• LCdr – Lieutenant Commander
  
• Cdr – Commander
  
• Capt – Captain
  
• Cmdr – Commodore
  
• RAdm – Rear Admiral
  
• VAdm – Vice Admiral
  
• Adm – Admiral
  
• FAdm – Fleet Admiral
  

Chain of Command:
The Chain of Command is the order in which you should follow should you require any assistance with an issue or have any questions or concerns in or out of game. There are explanations of each rank provided in our Constitution. 

We’ll start with the first person you would contact and continue from there:

1. Department Head (DH)
   
2. First Officer (FO)
   
3. Commanding Officer (CO)
   
4. Fleet Commander (FC)
   
5. Commander in Chief (CinC)
   
6. President
   

Posting Rates and Leave of Absence:
Fed Space is an RPG that is made of players from all over the world. Because of this, we ask you to have patience with other players, realizing it might take a few days for a reply. As in our Constitution, you should post a minimum of twice a week. 

If you find you can’t make that posting rate, email your DH, FO, and CO and request a Leave of Absence (LOA).  In your email, request your need for an LOA, letting them know the reason and when you expect to return. Doing this can avoid players wondering where you’ve gone to, or you wondering where another player has gone to. It can also keep you from being considered Absent Without Leave (AWOL), which will cause your account to be suspended.

More questions for you to answer:
1. What is the chain of command for the security department on the USS Artemis?
2. How many points would you need to reach the rank of Ensign?
3. Where would you find the Observation Lounge on the USS Yeager ?
4. Have a look at the active starships on the site. List your top three ship assignment preferences. This doesn’t mean you will be assigned to one of those you list as another ship might need an officer in your department.

Let's continue and keep using the Temp NRC and everything that you've learned so far ==

== Results of the GM input ==

No more screams were coming from the direction that Jade had initially heard them, however, it soon became apparent that Jade and Maura would need to move quickly, as three Reptilian intruders appeared carrying what looked like disruptor rifles, and a look of pure evil in their eyes. They were all roughly 6ft tall with almost black-scaled skin and the armour that adorned most of their bodies, was adorned with swords and daggers, as well as the blood of their various victims. 

== Tag West ==

[Jade West]

== 1) My chain of command, if I were on the Artemis, would be as follows: Department Head Aeryn Miller, First Officer Damian Coleman, Commanding Officer Tyra Crawford, there doesn’t appear to be any listed Fleet Commander, and finally Commander-in-Chief T’Mana.
 
2) To be eligible for promotion to Ensign, a player would need a minimum of 1500 points.
 
3) The Observation Lounge/Briefing Room is located on Deck 1 of the USS Yeager, and subsequently the Yeager-II Type class of ships.
 
4) With there only being four different ships, I’ll just go with no preference, especially since I don’t want to feel like I’m singling an individual ship as ‘bad’. ==
 
== Ensign Maura Lewis - Temp Security NRC ==
 
Maura’s fear level began to grow exponentially as the screams from beyond the veil of darkness were no more. It signified that people were, in fact, dead. If she weren’t able to escape now, Maura knew without a shred of doubt that her body would be lying motionless if she didn’t run. The enemy finally revealed themselves, and Maura couldn’t help but scream.
 
I can guess where that blood came from. This newbie doesn’t seem to be valuing her own life, and I’m not crazy like her. Welcoming death is not on the top of my bucket list today, thank you very much.
 
“We need to run, now.”
 
Maura didn’t even bother to wait for West to react. Nothing the crew had managed to do beforehand seemed to have affected the intruders in the slightest. Staying and fighting was pointless, and Maura was going to do everything in her power to live on. Could potential survivors brand her as a coward in the future? Perhaps, but she’d take that title with honor if she managed to live.
 
== Jade West ==
 
Truthfully, Jade should’ve been extremely disappointed in how Ensign Lewis was acting. That being said, not everyone experiences trauma in the same light. That was something Jade knew all too well. After the failed Borg invasion, during the 2401 Federation Day events, she’d been turned into a pawn for the Borg, and the aftermath almost emotionally destroyed her. Had it not been for her roommate, the young woman might not be partaking in this final simulation now. Her resolve was coming to a head as the reptilians came into sight.
 
I wouldn’t say this is my own Kobayashi Maru experience, but it’s feeling pretty damned close. Running might be an option, but we’re sorely outnumbered. And that’s even if I could count on the Ensign, which I can’t. Lieutenant Whittaker’s probably observing what my actions are going to be, and it’s even possible the Ensign was programmed to be this afraid and cowardly. Or I’m just overthinking.
 
In the end, Jade surmised that running wasn’t going to be the proper course of action. Honestly, seeing the disruptor rifle being held by all three of her opposition meant survival, if she ran, would most likely be nonexistent. Standing her ground didn’t seem to yield better estimates either, but she’d have to try. In real life she couldn’t do anything less, otherwise she wouldn’t deserve to wear the uniform. Getting into a firing stance, Jade was ready to pull the trigger as quickly as she could.
 
“You are trespassing on the USS Tenacity. You will stand down and surrender your weapons. Failure to comply will result in deadly force.”
 
Was giving a warning truly wise? Given the circumstances, it wasn’t. Besides, the young woman had no idea if the universal translator (on both ends) would even allow the enemy to understand her. However, if there was one thing Jade knew about Starfleet, it was that they didn’t strike first. That was not their overall nature, and Jade needed to make sure she upheld that honor. If her life came to an end, at least she could say she gave it her best.
 
== GM-Input: Does the universal translator successfully communicate Jade’s warning to the enemy boarders? Do they stand down, or do they take some action that will require Jade to start blasting? ==

[Amelina Whittaker]

== Another great response Cadet :-) ==

== Final Lesson:

Hello Cadet, Welcome to your final lesson. For this lesson, we will not be continuing the story. Instead, you will write a practice introductory post.  This assignment is to write a post as if it were your very first day reporting to your ship assignment. Choose a ship on our forums and report to the Commanding Officer on the bridge. Make sure to do your research about the ship you choose (who the Commanding Officer is and other details about the ship).  Include a description of your character in the post. 

Your first post on your assigned ship is a very important post. It will be the very first impression your new crew will have of your character so they can interact with you. Use the techniques learned throughout the past lessons in your post.  There is no need to include an NRC in your post.

If you have any questions, ask - and have fun! ==

== Tag West ==

[Jade West]

The day had finally arrived, as Jade was now a Midshipman arriving at her first assignment following her graduation. The turbolift up to the Bridge was feeling like an eternity, but it was allowing Jade precious final moments to go over the details once more. Making silly mistakes on her first day wasn’t how she planned on making herself known, so she reactivated the PADD she held in her hand.
 
It’s not a glamorous posting like the Enterprise, but the Artemis has earned more than its fair share of notary since it’s commissioning five years ago. I could’ve easily been placed on some ship patrolling some backwater sector, so I should be thankful at the least. Besides, just because the Artemis already has some of its own history, doesn’t mean I can’t add to it myself. Here’s hoping it’ll all be good history.
 
After several agonizing seconds, the turbolift came to a halt and Jade was greeted by the sight of the Bridge when the door parted. The young woman stepped out of the small compartment and allowed her blue eyes to momentarily take view of just how ‘big’ it all seemed. Not that she anticipated spending much time on the Bridge anyway, as Security didn’t necessarily need to be present on the Bridge, at least under most circumstances. Besides the real action would be elsewhere, not in the equivalent of an office cubicle.
 
A quick glance towards the command chairs, revealed a lack of Captain Crawford. There was her First Officer, Commander Coleman, attending to whatever it was that First Officers did. From her quick research she known that the head-shaved man had been a member of Security before his rise to Command, similar in vain to the Captain. While such an opportunity would be nice, Jade couldn’t ever see herself settling into a position that would, more or less, keep her sidelined away from the action. Then again, she didn’t know what her future would consist of, as things could always change the path she’d willingly take.
 
It wasn’t good form to greet new officers in public, at least in a public space that would potentially interfere with the work of others, so Jade presumed that Captain Crawford was awaiting her in the Ready Room. Understanding delaying the inevitable wasn’t an acceptable option, the young woman walked towards the entrance to the Captain’s inner sanctum. Softly pressing the chime, Jade waited for the command to enter and then made her way inside.
 
Stepping inside, Jade hoped that the blue highlights in her brunette hair she’d opted for would go better at putting people at ease on her first day. Purple was always her preferred color, but that tended to give vibes of royalty and whatnot, something Jade clearly wasn’t. Ease was something Jade believed she needed in abundance today, especially considering the woman on the other side of the Captain’s desk.
 
The redhead had the outward appearance of someone that looked sweet and innocent. However, given the brief background Jade had read up on she was willing to bet that under the right, or technically wrong, circumstances it would be the complete opposite. One would clearly never want to intentionally get on Captain Crawford’s bad side. That would mean there’d be a metaphorical minefield, but Jade figured she would do her best to avoid any mistakes. Offering up a smile as she approached, she calmly presented the PADD with her transfer orders attached.
 
“Midshipman Jade West, reporting for duty. From what I’ve heard it’s an honor to serve under you, Captain. Which I look forward to.”

[Paul]

==Congratulations, Cadet. Aside from the erroneous inclusion of the NRC tag (remember it doesn't need to be included unless you are posting as the NRC), your post and test scores meet our graduation criteria. You are hereby promoted to the rank of Midshipman.

Your new CO will be reaching out to you shortly, welcoming you to your new ship. Before you set off for your new vessel, there is just one thing left to do and that is to update your user CP to reflect your new rank, etc. All you need to do is go to edit profile, then rank graphic then select Security Midshipman. The position will be Midshipman and until you receive your assignment, leave that blank and then select Update Profile to save those changes.

Introductory Post: Your CO or FO will tell you where to report in. Make your first post a special one, as first impressions can go a long way. Use a spell-checker if you can, to eliminate any errors.

Once again, congratulations, and welcome to Federation Space!==

[Maddie Allen]

== Congratulations Midshipman West and again welcome to Federation Space RPG. Please take a moment to save any posts you want as I'll be clearning this thread in a few days. ==