Holodeck 02 - Security Cadet Loma Altura - Printable Version +- Federation Space (https://fed-space.com/forums) +-- Forum: Starfleet Academy (https://fed-space.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?fid=7) +--- Forum: Academy Campus (https://fed-space.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?fid=12) +--- Thread: Holodeck 02 - Security Cadet Loma Altura (/showthread.php?tid=757)

Holodeck 02 - Security Cadet Loma Altura - Amelina Whittaker - 09-24-2026 == Welcome to your Holodeck, Cadet Altura 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. Our character development page is a great resource to help you fill out your bio form. 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: Parents' Status: Pets: Best Friend: Personal History: == Personality == Academy Majors: Academy Minors: Hobbies & Pastimes: 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): == == Tag Altura == RE: Holodeck 02 - Security Cadet Loma Altura - Loma Altura - 09-24-2026 == As requested == == Physical Description == Name: Loma Altura Species: Human Gender: Male Age: 28 (making him noticeably older and more weathered than most of his peers in his graduating class) Height: 6'1" Weight: 190 lbs Build/Body Type: Dense, athletic build with broad shoulders and heavy forearms—shaped by intensive hand-to-hand combat drills, tactical conditioning, and years of heavy physical labor before the Academy. Handedness: Right-handed. Complexion: Weathered, warm olive undertones with a few faint scuffs and scars from past security training and tight-quarters extraction drills. Hair Color: Dark brown, sprinkled with early gray at the temples. Hair Style: Kept strict, regulation short and faded on the sides. Eye Color: Deep hazel-green. Voice: Baritone, measured, and deliberate—speaks with a calm cadence that tends to steady a room during high-stress breaches or security alerts. Off-Duty Clothing Taste: Practical and comfortable. Wears broken-in utility trousers, simple crewneck sweaters, and durable combat boots. Avoids overly flashy civilian fashion. Distinguishing Features: A faint, crescent-shaped chemical burn scar along the outside of his right forearm; a sharp, watchful gaze that constantly scans exit points and perimeter blind spots. == Personal History == Date of Birth: July 29, 2198 Place of Birth: Lunar colony Tycho City (with ancestral roots tracing back generations through the industrial Great Lakes / Northeast Ohio corridor) Marital Status: Single Siblings Name & Ages: Younger sister, Mara (24), who works as a commercial freight coordinator on a mid-system trade station orbiting Mars and maintains an amusingly disastrous track record in the dating pool—frequently prompting Loma to send her overly analytical, security-style "red flag threat assessments" via letter and PADD dispatches. Mother's Name: Helena Altura (née Vance) Father's Name: Victor Altura Parent's Status: Living (Retired from industrial engineering and logistics, now living on a quiet homestead in the rural countryside just outside Northeast Ohio). Loma regularly visits them about once a month via a short shuttle trip while at the Academy. Pets: None currently, though he fondly remembers an energetic shelter hound from his youth. Best Friend: An old academy tactical instructor currently stationed at a deep-space listening post. Personal History: Growing up around heavy-machinery mechanics and structural engineering with deep ties to the industrial Midwest, Loma learned early on that things break and people need to protect themselves. Before joining Starfleet later than most cadets, he spent years working commercial security and salvage logistics on the outer rim. That blue-collar grit gave him a healthy skepticism of pristine protocol, an uncanny knack for improvising security measures when shipboard systems go dark, and the physical presence to hold a corridor when things go wrong. Throughout his time at the Academy, he has kept tightly connected to his family, writing frequently to his sister Mara—often offering well-meaning tactical advice on her latest bad date—and taking regular short shuttle trips back to Ohio to visit his parents. == Personality == Academy Majors: Tactical Operations & Security Academy Minors: Applied Physics / Forensic Investigation Hobbies & Past-Times: Target shooting, practicing traditional martial arts sparring, restoring mechanical clocks, woodworking projects, and hiking rugged planetary trails. Short-Term Goals: Successfully complete the initial probationary cruise, earn the trust of the senior security team, and master the ship's internal defense grid layouts. Long-Term Goals: Rise to Chief of Security on a deep-space exploration vessel or help spearhead advanced tactical threat-assessment protocols. Personality: Grounded, vigilant, and fiercely protective of his crewmates. He prefers quiet competence over grandstanding and watches everyone's six without needing to be asked. Sense of Humor: Dry, understated, and heavily reliant on gallows humor or witty observations muttered under his breath. Phobias: Claustrophobic panic when trapped in unpressurized, dead-locked bulkheads without comms. Likes: A secure perimeter, well-maintained sidearms, freshly brewed black coffee, quiet observation decks, the steady weight of analog mechanical tools, the clean smell of fresh-cut hardwood, and peaceful weekend hikes on isolated trails. Dislikes: Sloppy security logs, lax watch rotations, unnecessary bureaucratic red tape, anyone tampering with access codes, poorly calibrated food replicators that ruin morning coffee, cheap plastic components that snap under torque, and flippant attitudes toward honest physical work. Pet Peeves/Gripes: People leaving blast doors unlatched, failing to report minor maintenance issues in high-security zones, anyone borrowing his precision tools and returning them out of order or uncleaned, and squeaky, unlubricated hinges or drawer slides left whining in an otherwise quiet hallway. Bad Habits / Vices: Tends to take double-shifts on watch patrol rather than resting; heavily inspects and tests the locks of any room he enters. Achievements: Successfully neutralizing an unshielded containment breach on a civilian transport vessel during a localized riot. Disappointments: Dropping out of his first attempt at a university engineering program before realizing Starfleet Security was the better fit for his skill set. Illnesses: None of note; standard robust human immunological and physical health record. Strengths: Exceptional situational awareness, cool under sudden pressure, and physically imposing without being reckless. Weaknesses: Stubbornly self-reliant to a fault; occasionally struggles with rigid chain-of-command protocols when a fast, unorthodox tactical response is urgently needed. Fears: Failing to protect a teammate because a security protocol or bulkhead failed him. Prejudices: Slight distrust of automated security systems that rely entirely on software lockouts instead of physical overrides. == Questions == Most Painful Experience: Losing a fellow security contractor during a volatile extraction job out on the fringe. Best Time: A three-week solo camping and mapping trip through a rugged, isolated wilderness preserve on Earth during his early twenties. Most Crucial Experience: The night he spent holding a failing atmospheric seal and securing a compromised cargo bay during a pirate raid on a fringe outpost. Role Model: Malcolm Reed (for his quiet dedication to ship defense, armory mastery, and tactical readiness). Referrer / How you found Fed Space: Returning player after many years away RE: Holodeck 02 - Security Cadet Loma Altura - Amelina Whittaker - 09-25-2026 == We like what you have so far, Cadet, although we'd like to see the Personal History fleshed out a bit more, as it's currently only one paragraph. If you could redo the bio to include more in the Personal History, then we'll review it again before moving on to the next part of your Academy journey :-) == RE: Holodeck 02 - Security Cadet Loma Altura - Loma Altura - 09-25-2026 == Copy that. Hopefully this fleshes him out nicely!  What year is current in game year so I can correctly put his birth year. I feel 2198 is quite a bit before in game date, but I can't tell  == == Physical Description == Name: Loma Altura Species: Human Gender: Male Age: 28 (making him noticeably older and more weathered than most of his peers in his graduating class) Height: 6'1" Weight: 190 lbs Build/Body Type: Dense, athletic build with broad shoulders and heavy forearms—shaped by intensive hand-to-hand combat drills, tactical conditioning, and years of heavy physical labor before the Academy. Complexion: Weathered, warm olive undertones with a few faint scuffs and scars from past security training and tight-quarters extraction drills. Hair Color: Dark brown, sprinkled with early gray at the temples. Hair Style: Kept strict, regulation short and faded on the sides. Eye Color: Deep hazel-green. Voice: Baritone, measured, and deliberate—speaks with a calm cadence that tends to steady a room during high-stress breaches or security alerts. Off-Duty Clothing Taste: Practical and comfortable. Wears broken-in utility trousers, simple crew-neck sweaters, and durable combat boots. Avoids overly flashy civilian fashion. Distinguishing Features: A faint, crescent-shaped chemical burn scar along the outside of his right forearm; a sharp, watchful gaze that constantly scans exit points and perimeter blind spots. == Personal History == Date of Birth: July 29, 2198 Place of Birth: Lunar colony Tycho City (with ancestral roots tracing back generations through the industrial Great Lakes / Northeast Ohio corridor) Marital Status: Single Siblings Name & Ages: Younger sister, Mara (24), who works as a commercial freight coordinator on a mid-system trade station orbiting Mars and maintains an amusingly disastrous track record in the dating pool—frequently prompting Loma to send her overly analytical, security-style "red flag threat assessments" via letter and PADD dispatches. Mother's Name: Helena Altura (née Vance) Father's Name: Victor Altura Parent's Status: Living (Retired from industrial engineering and logistics, now living on a quiet homestead in the rural countryside just outside Northeast Ohio). Loma regularly visits them about once a month via a short shuttle trip while at the Academy. Pets: None currently, though he fondly remembers Ruby, an energetic shelter hound from his youth. Best Friend / Mentor: A seasoned Starfleet tactical instructor on Sabbatical and working at a deep-space listening post, who recognized Loma's potential during a joint commercial security contract and ultimately persuaded him to enlist in Starfleet. Personal History: Because both Victor and Helena worked in heavy industrial engineering and mid-system freight logistics, Loma and his younger sister Mara spent their childhood moving frequently. They bounced between Tycho City’s manufacturing sectors, various outer-rim transit hubs, and extended seasonal stretches back on Earth visiting family in the industrial Northeast Ohio corridor. Growing up around cargo gantries, refinery floors, and machinery bays, Loma spent his teens helping out in heavy-equipment repair yards, keeping watch over Mara, and learning how complex mechanical systems fail under pressure. During long stretches between transit assignments and quiet periods spent visiting relatives on Earth, Loma developed a deep appreciation for tactile, analog work. It started with basic carpentry and woodworking around family workshops, learning the value of tight joints and clean materials. To challenge his patience and keep his hands steady during tense periods, he also picked up an old spacer's hobby of tearing down and restoring antique mechanical clockwork, finding comfort in gear trains and escapement wheels that required zero software to operate reliably. His love for hiking developed concurrently during those same formative years, utilizing long, solitary treks through rugged Earth wilderness preserves and planetary trails as a way to clear his head and maintain physical endurance. Eager to build on his technical aptitude, Loma initially enrolled in a mid-system technical university engineering program in his early twenties. However, he quickly grew frustrated with the overly abstract, theory-heavy curriculum, dropping out after a year to pursue hands-on, practical work in the commercial sector. He spent the following years working commercial security, salvage logistics, and asset protection across volatile frontier routes. It was during a chaotic salvage operation on an independent mining rig that he earned the distinct crescent-shaped chemical burn scar along his right forearm, having rushed bare-handed to manually clamp a failing, corrosive coolant seal before it could breach the compartment. Seeking to survive the rougher elements of the outer-rim docks, he began studying traditional striking and close-quarters joint-manipulation arts in his late teens under an old spacer and former militia hand who ran a combatives club in a dockside hub. He continues to practice these disciplined forms to keep sharp. While working a joint security contract on a commercial trade station, Loma crossed paths with a veteran Starfleet tactical instructor on sabbatical. Impressed by Loma’s unshakeable situational awareness, protective instincts, and instinctive leadership during a localized containment breach, the instructor spent months convincing him that his talents and blue-collar grit belonged in Starfleet rather than bouncing from one high-risk private contract to the next. Throughout his time at the Academy, he has kept tightly connected to his roots, writing frequently to Mara (offering humorous tactical "threat assessments" on her disastrous dates) and taking monthly shuttle trips back to Ohio to visit his parents. == Personality == Academy Majors: Tactical Operations & Security Academy Minors: Applied Physics / Forensic Investigation Hobbies & Past-Times: Target shooting, practicing traditional martial arts sparring, restoring mechanical clocks, woodworking projects, and hiking rugged planetary trails. Short-Term Goals: Successfully complete the initial probationary cruise, earn the trust of the senior security team, and master the ship's internal defense grid layouts. Long-Term Goals: Rise to Chief of Security on a deep-space exploration vessel or help spearhead advanced tactical threat-assessment protocols. Personality: Grounded, vigilant, and fiercely protective of his crew-mates. He prefers quiet competence over grandstanding and watches everyone's six without needing to be asked. Sense of Humor: Dry, understated, and heavily reliant on gallows humor or witty observations muttered under his breath. Phobias: Claustrophobic panic when trapped in unpressurized, dead-locked bulkheads without comms. Likes: A secure perimeter, well-maintained sidearms, freshly brewed black coffee, quiet observation decks, the steady weight of analog mechanical tools, the clean smell of fresh-cut hardwood, and peaceful weekend hikes on isolated trails. Dislikes: Sloppy security logs, lax watch rotations, unnecessary bureaucratic red tape, anyone tampering with access codes, poorly calibrated food replicators that ruin morning coffee, cheap plastic components that snap under torque, and flippant attitudes toward honest physical work. Pet Peeves/Gripes: People leaving blast doors unlatched, failing to report minor maintenance issues in high-security zones, anyone borrowing his precision tools and returning them out of order or uncleaned, and squeaky, unlubricated hinges or drawer slides left whining in an otherwise quiet hallway. Bad Habits / Vices: Tends to take double-shifts on watch patrol rather than resting; heavily inspects and tests the locks of any room he enters. Achievements: Successfully neutralizing an unshielded containment breach on a civilian transport vessel during a localized riot. Disappointments: Dropping out of his first attempt at a university engineering program before realizing Starfleet Security was the better fit for his skill set. Illnesses: None of note; standard robust human immunological and physical health record. Strengths: Exceptional situational awareness, cool under sudden pressure, and physically imposing without being reckless. Weaknesses: Stubbornly self-reliant to a fault; occasionally struggles with rigid chain-of-command protocols when a fast, unorthodox tactical response is urgently needed. Fears: Failing to protect a teammate because a security protocol or bulkhead failed him. Prejudices: Slight distrust of automated security systems that rely entirely on software lockouts instead of physical overrides. == Questions == Most Painful Experience: Losing a fellow security contractor during a volatile extraction job out on the fringe. Best Time: A three-week solo camping and mapping trip through a rugged, isolated wilderness preserve on Earth during his early twenties. Most Crucial Experience: The night he spent holding a failing atmospheric seal and securing a compromised cargo bay during a pirate raid on a fringe outpost. Role Model: Malcolm Reed (for his quiet dedication to ship defense, armory mastery, and tactical readiness). Referrer / How you found Fed Space: Returning player RE: Holodeck 02 - Security Cadet Loma Altura - Amelina Whittaker - 09-27-2026 == Thank you, Cadet, for making those changes, and as such, I hereby approve your bio :-) Let me also be the first to welcome you to FedSpace properly, and I'll be your Instructor for the duration of your time in the Academy. If you have any questions or need to reach me, please feel free to DM me or send me an email :-) == Before we move on to the first lesson, I want to make sure you know about the great resource our wiki provides. It has a lot of information, including your department duties. Take some time to review: https://wiki.fed-space.com/index.php?title=How_to_Play_a_Security_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’ll help 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 finally be taking her final examination that 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 for a character to have 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 crew members 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: [Commander Whittaker to Cadet  , please report to Holodeck ] 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 it 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 02 : 11:00 hrs == After finishing her duties in the Auditorium, Amelina headed for Holodeck 2, where she was to meet Cadet Loma Altura in order to put him through his final examination.  She might be the Acting Dean, but it never prevented her from doing what she loved, and that was not only teaching classes but also seeing the Academy journey come to an end, knowing that the Cadets under her watch would soon receive their first assignments, placing them on a different path that would see them thrive and learn on the job. The programme that had been selected for Altura wouldn't take long to activate, and for Amelina, this was the fun part: to see how they handled the carefully considered and hand-picked scenario. After all, it didn't seem that long ago that she was being put through her paces, allowing a moment of further reminiscing before she arrived at her destination and awaited Altura's arrival. == Tag Altura == RE: Holodeck 02 - Security Cadet Loma Altura - Loma Altura - 09-28-2026 Loma walked the hallway towards his assigned Holodeck. His head was uncharacteristically in his PADD and he was not exactly paying attention to all his surroundings. His nerves were getting the better of him. He had failed once at school. You need to be perfect on this Loma. You've done well so far, don't mess it up now. While walking toward the doors of his assigned Holodeck, he almost ran into the instructor assigned to him. He realized he hadn't been paying that close of attention to his surroundings as he stopped just short of toppling her over. He immediately realized who the instructor was. I have the Acting Dean, Amelia Whittaker, acting as my finals instructor?! One heck of a way to start your exam. He collected himself momentarily before straightening up. Loma could feel his face flush with embarrassment as he reached out toward her a little. "Excuse me Ma'am. I'm sorry Ma'am. Are you alright Lieutenant Commander?" == Tag LtCdr == RE: Holodeck 02 - Security Cadet Loma Altura - Amelina Whittaker - 09-28-2026 == A great start Cadet, I'll even let you off this once with calling me Amelia and not Amelina (easy to do with autocorrect) so let's move on with the next lesson :-) == == 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 Commander Amelina Whittaker suddenly appeared and started dancing, 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, they should add a notation at the beginning of their post like this: << Bridge>> The arrows and location at the top of a post indicate where a player has just come from. Time for more writing!  In your next post, continue using the formatting techniques you learned in lesson one and ask for GM input. I will be acting as your GM. If you need help or would like clarification on something, ask me! == == Holodeck 02 == In all her time as an Instructor, Altura wasn't the first Cadet to almost run into her, and Amelina doubted he would be the last, as the soon-to-be Security Midshipman reached out and apologised. She knew what it was like to be caught up in the preparation for what he was about to go through: the revision, the nerves and everything else, because his fate in the Fleet rested on how well he did. The Acting Dean also appreciated Altura asking if she was okay, and quickly reassured him. " It's okay, Cadet. Today is a big day for you, and yes, I'm alright. Thank you for your concern". Giving Altura a few moments to collect himself and prepare for what was about to come, Amelina then explained what would happen next. " When you're ready, please enter the holodeck and begin". Once that happened, Altura would find himself part of an away team from the USS Medari, tasked with locating a team of archaeologists who had failed to check in, while investigating ancient ruins on the seventh moon in the Archimedes Cluster. The moon itself is a typical Class M, and according to reports, it's home to various animals and birds. == Tag Altura == RE: Holodeck 02 - Security Cadet Loma Altura - Loma Altura - 09-28-2026 == Yeahhh... I realized as soon as I reopened the page and my post popped that I misspelled your name. I will not let that happen again. : )   Would it be fair to assume the last paragraph as a 'mission brief' and the character would know this prior to entering the simulation? == RE: Holodeck 02 - Security Cadet Loma Altura - Amelina Whittaker - 09-28-2026 == It's all good :-) and yes, he would as the scenario is as if he's already serving aboard a ship, once he steps inside the holodeck he doesn't have be concerned about Amelina or anything Academy related :-) == RE: Holodeck 02 - Security Cadet Loma Altura - Loma Altura - 09-28-2026 == Thank you for the clarification! == << Hallway outside Holodeck 2 >> Loma felt a wave of relief wash over him as the lieutenant commander assured him she was fine, her words quietly acknowledging the heavy pressure of the day settling on his shoulders. He forced his posture to square up, locking his focus in as she outlined the parameters of his examination scenario. A team of archaeologists missing on a Class M moon? Probably just lost comms or dug too deep into some cave network. Loma gave a crisp, respectful nod of acknowledgment to Amelina, turning on his heel to face the holodeck threshold. << Seventh moon in the Archimedes Cluster - Simulated >> The ambient hum of the archway shifted, briefly bathing him in the pale blue strobe of a simulated transporter beam before dissolving into the thick, humid air and rich, damp scent of an untamed alien wilderness. The moment the effect cleared, his right hand instinctively dropped to hover near the grip of his sidearm, while his left hand unclipped the standard-issue tricorder from his belt with practiced familiarity. He cast a sharp, calculating gaze across the dense tree line and the moss-covered stone foundations of the ancient ruins looming ahead. Far off in the vibrant canopy, unfamiliar birds chattered and rustled through the branches, but Loma’s focus remained pinned on the immediate perimeter as his fingers danced across the tricorder controls to sweep for thermal signatures or large, predatory life forms. == GM Input: Did the team arrive at or near the basecamp of the archeologists? Did the scans indicate any threats nearby? == RE: Holodeck 02 - Security Cadet Loma Altura - Amelina Whittaker - 09-29-2026 == You're most welcome, and a great post, the only thing missing was the use of showing emphasis. That being said, we'll proceed to your next lesson, and please include showing emphasis alongside your continued use of internal thoughts and GM requests in your next post :-) == == 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 Lars Olsen - 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 phaser are there? 2. What is the right side of a ship called? 3. How long does it take to cross a sector at Warp 7? 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 Lars Olsen - Temp Security NRC or one of your choosing as your Temporary NRC. Have fun! == == Results of GM input == The away team arrived not far from the archaeologists' base camp. In fact, it was only a short walk until they reached the campsite, and there were no signs that anything was amiss, as though the team had simply gone about their usual routine. As for the scan results, again everything seemed perfectly normal, and there were no threats nearby, so where could the archaeologists have gone?  == Tag Altura == RE: Holodeck 02 - Security Cadet Loma Altura - Loma Altura - 09-29-2026 == Response to Wiki Questions (with references) 1. How many types of phaser are there? There are 2 types of phaser. Hand phasers, of which there are 2 variants (pistol and rifle) and starship armaments, of which there are 5 variants (type I-IV and G)     - https://wiki.fed-space.com/index.php?title=Hand_Phasers     - https://wiki.fed-space.com/index.php?title=Starship_Weaponry 2. What is the right side of a ship called? Starboard     - https://wiki.fed-space.com/index.php?title=Helm_and_Navigation#Terminology 3. How long does it take to cross a sector at Warp 7? 11 days     - https://wiki.fed-space.com/index.php?title=Helm_and_Navigation#Terminology I hope this has answered the questions sufficiently == RE: Holodeck 02 - Security Cadet Loma Altura - Loma Altura - 09-30-2026 == Ensign Lars Olsen - Temp Security NRC == "Sensors are clear, Cadet," Ensign Olsen reported, his voice low as he adjusted the strap of his phaser rifle. He kept his eyes moving across the dense, humid foliage as they picked their way through the untamed growth. "No energy spikes, no hostile life signs. Just tree frogs and whatever's making that racket in the canopy." Loma didn't drop his guard. He kept his right hand hovering an inch above his sidearm grip—a habit forged in the unpredictable scrap-yards of the outer rim, where 'clear sensors' usually just meant whatever was hunting you didn't emit heat. Nothing on sensors means nothing is actively shooting at us, Loma thought, his boots sinking slightly into the damp soil. It doesn't mean we're alone. "Stay sharp anyway, Ensign," Loma said, emphasizing the warning with a brief, sharp glance toward the tree line. "A clean tricorder scan just means the environment hasn't figured out a way to break our equipment yet." After a short walk through the heavy canopy, the thick brush gave way to the clearing. The archaeologists' base camp sat before them, eerily quiet. Loma slowed his pace, his eyes methodically sweeping the tents, the equipment racks, and the surrounding tree line as they crossed the perimeter. "Everything looks totally normal," Olsen murmured, stepping up beside Loma with his tricorder open. He shook his head at the display. "Unremarkable. So where the hell did six people go?" Loma unclipped his tricorder with his left hand, popping the housing open to run a localized sweep while keeping his right hand firm on his phaser grip. "People don't just vanish without leaving a footprint or a power signature, Lars," Loma said quietly, his voice tight with deliberate focus. "I don't like clean screens when there should be six people besides us standing here." Loma raised his phaser to a low-ready stance and motioned toward the nearest tent structure, carefully scanning the immediate terrain. == GM Input  == Does a closer physical inspection of the ground around the camp show any distinct foot traffic, drag marks, or signs of direction where the archaeologists went? Are there any personal logs, power readings, or open data-padds left behind inside the main camp tents? RE: Holodeck 02 - Security Cadet Loma Altura - Amelina Whittaker - 10-01-2026 == Well done, Cadet, on both answering the questions and your last post :-) Keep doing what you're doing as we move on to the 4th lesson == == 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 it can vary between COs. 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 is 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 greater 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: Department Head (DH) First Officer (FO) Commanding Officer (CO) Fleet Commander (FC) Commander in Chief (CinC) President Posting Rates and Leave of Absence: Fed Space is an RPG that is made up of players from all over the world. Because of this, we ask you to have patience with other players, realising 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 Security 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 be in need of an officer in your department. == Results of GM Input == Upon closer inspection, Altura and Olsen would find evidence of a scuffle, along with a trail heading away from the camp, which unfortunately had already started to erode. As for any personal logs, power readings and open data padds,  most of the team's equipment was either smashed or missing, although a small device of non-Federation issue had been left behind in the second tent; whether by accident or not, it was a clue as to who or what was responsible for the missing archaeologists. == Tag Altura == RE: Holodeck 02 - Security Cadet Loma Altura - Loma Altura - 10-01-2026 === Answers to questions 1. What is the chain of command for the Security department on the USS Artemis?     Looking only at the ship level and not above the CO of the Artemis:     - COS Mara Calleja     - FO (Acting) Sovar     - CO Tyra Crawford 2. How many points would you need to reach the rank of Ensign?     - minimum 1500 3. Where would you find Security on the USS Yeager?     - Deck 3 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 be in need of an officer in your department.     - There isn't as much activity, or of a fleet, as there used to be, and I'd be happy to serve where needed. If pressed I'd say Artemis, Yeager, Zephyr. Character post following === RE: Holodeck 02 - Security Cadet Loma Altura - Loma Altura - 10-02-2026 == Ensign Lars Olsen - Temp Security NRC == "Well, so much for 'unremarkable,'" Ensign Olsen muttered, stepping out from the second tent with his tricorder raised. He gingerly held a small, unfamiliar metallic device between two gloved fingers, its casing distinctly non-Federation in design. "Found this tucked under an upturned cot in tent two. Looks like whoever tossed the place either dropped it in a hurry or didn't care that they left it behind." Loma knelt near the edge of the camp clearing, ignoring the damp soil pressing through his uniform trousers. His focus was pinned on the churned earth near the perimeter line. Deep boot heel gouges, scattered equipment straps, and broken branches painted a vastly different picture than the pristine center of the camp. Not a peaceful departure, Loma thought, his jaw tightening as he traced the faint indentations with his eye. They put up a fight, but whoever came for them overwhelmed them fast. "Look here, Lars," Loma said, pointing toward the heavy brush with his left hand while keeping his phaser firmly held in his right. "The ground's torn up. We've got a struggle, and a distinct foot trail heading northeast into the ruins." He leaned closer, frowning as the humid breeze rustled the foliage overhead. "Problem is, this damp soil is already settling. The moisture and wind are eroding the tracks fast. If we wait for a full forensic sweep team, there won't be a trail left to follow." Loma stood up in a single, fluid motion, maintaining his low-ready stance with his sidearm. He signaled Olsen back toward the tents. "Ensign, run an immediate localized diagnostic on that recovered device—see if you can identify the origin material or any passive energy signatures before it degrades," Loma instructed, his tone brisk and methodical. "I'm going to mark the start of this trail and maintain visual contact with the first few yards of impressions before we lose them completely." He turned back toward the dark treeline leading into the ruins, keeping his eyes locked on the subtle breaks in the brush. == GM Input / Questions for GM == Does Olsen's initial tricorder scan on the non-Federation device reveal its purpose (e.g., explosive, data storage, tracker, or alien tech origin)? As Loma tracks the eroding trail toward the ruins, do his physical checks or tricorder scans pick up any discarded gear, bloodstains, or specific footprints belonging to the archaeologists or their captors? RE: Holodeck 02 - Security Cadet Loma Altura - Amelina Whittaker - 10-02-2026 == Another excellent response Cadet and you also answered the questions perfectly, which brings us to the final lesson == b]== Final Lesson:[/b] 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 Altura == RE: Holodeck 02 - Security Cadet Loma Altura - Loma Altura - 10-02-2026 == Thank you Amelina! I hope I am able to continue to be as thorough as I've been in the Academy! I'm presenting on a calm bridge as though the ship is not out on a mission like it currently is.  The Tag at the end is to show I understand to tag whom I'm directing the post to. == == AT/D01 - Bridge - USS Artemis == The heavy turbolift doors parted with a smooth hiss, revealing the perfectly oval, three-tiered expanse of Deck Two. Loma stepped onto the upper perimeter walk, his eyes taking in the layout he had spent the last two days memorizing off the station databanks. Seeing the ship's schematics rendered in physical space—the muted beige and gray palette, the faux-chrome trim gleaming under soft overhead lighting, and the perimeter consoles arranged systematically around the room—only confirmed his earlier assessment. The schematics didn't lie, Loma thought, his security mind automatically mapping sightlines and foot-traffic flow as he looked over the space. The open, multi-level layout gives command clear sightlines on every station, but those steps down to tactical could bottleneck an emergency response if the bridge ever takes a hit. Standing six feet tall with a broad, athletic frame forged from years of hard manual labor in outer-rim salvage, Loma looked every bit the part of a security officer. His dark hair was neatly trimmed to regulations, and his dress uniform sat crisp and unwrinkled against his broad shoulders. In his left hand, he held a standard-issue duty PADD containing his transfer orders and personnel files. As he adjusted his grip, the motion briefly exposed the crescent-shaped chemical scar along his forearm—a permanent reminder of his blue-collar roots long before wearing Starfleet gray. With deliberate, measured strides, Loma crossed the beige carpet and descended the steps toward the central command area, coming to a sharp halt precisely three paces from Captain Crawford. He snapped to full attention, extending the duty PADD forward in his left hand while keeping his right hand resting comfortably at his side. "Reporting as ordered, Ma'am," Loma spoke, his voice deep, clear, and grounded with calm authority. "Cadet Loma Altura, reporting for duty on the USS Artemis. Security detail. Here are my transfer orders." He held his stance, eyes fixed ahead, waiting for Captain Crawford to take the PADD and acknowledge his presence on the bridge. == Tag Captain Crawford == RE: Holodeck 02 - Security Cadet Loma Altura - Amelina Whittaker - 10-03-2026 == You're most welcome and I look forward to seeing where you get assigned :-) Another great response, and your use of tagging is exactly how it's done == == Congratulations Cadet Altura, you are hereby promoted to the rank of Midshipman. Before you set off for your new vessel, there are just a few small things to go over. Profile: Click on your name at the top left hand corner of the screen. This will take you to your User CP. Once there click on Edit Profile, then go to Additional Information, and use the drop down box to select your rank graphic which would be [insert department] Midshipman. In the position box type in [insert department] Officer and for the time being leave the Ship assignment box empty. When you’ve added what you need to, click on the update profile button at the bottom of the page, which will save everything for you. Introductory Post: Your CO or FO will email you to tell you where to report in. Make your first post a special one, as first impressions can go a long way as well as remembering everything you have learned whilst in the Academy. Congratulations again Midshipman Altura, and welcome to Federation Space! == RE: Holodeck 02 - Security Cadet Loma Altura - Loma Altura - 10-03-2026 == Thank you once again Lieutenant Commander. I appreciate your time and efforts in the Academy! I look forward to maybe one day working with you again! ==