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E-mail: uss.aquila@juno.com |
IN THIS ISSUE:
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EDITOR/SUBMISSIONS: Captain Glenna M. Juilfs DISTRIBUTION: Commander Rob Langenderfer DEADLINE FOR NEXT ISSUE: June 28, 2000 SUBSCRIPTIONS: one (1) 33c stamp = 1 issue |
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BULLETIN BOARD | |
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| June
7-David Fields 14-Aimee Weber 17-Janet Baudendistel 19-Malcolm McDowell 26-Latonia B.J. Rutledge | |
HOLIDAYS
June 14-Flag Day 18-Father's Day 18-St. Jean Baptiste Day (Quebec) | |
| BRIEFING ROOM |
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SHIP'S LOG0005.13 |
The 110th meeting of the USS Aquila was held on Saturday May 13, 2000 at the Barnes & Noble bookstore on Mall Road in Florence, KY. The following persons were in attendance: Rob Langenderfer, Greg Turner, Glenna Juilfs, Tamara Borchardt, Aimee Weber, Diane Baker, Steve Profitt, and Jamie Dougherty.
MEETING HIGHLIGHTS:
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 VIDEO VIEWPOINTSBabylon 5: A Look at the Conclusion to Season Five: A Feeling of Denouement by Rob Langenderfer |
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Following the slaughter of Byron and his telepaths in "Phoenix Rising", the series shifts ground to what should have been a solid plotline: Londo's attempts to discover the intrigues that are playing out on Centauri Prime. However, this plotline never lives up to its potential for several reasons. There is no compelling opponent on Centauri Prime with which Londo can match wits. Emperor Cartagia was an always-interesting lunatic who was so casually brutal that probably millions of viewers were clapping their hands with delight when Vir killed him. There is one minister who is obviously power-hungry who tries to have Londo killed, but his character is never really developed to any great extent. The Regent (the one who holds the real power) is secluded, and we never get to see him struggle against his Keeper or have any scenes with Londo until "The Fall of Centauri Prime." Great many potentially very dramatic plotlines are not used. With Londo dealing merely with underlings, the audience does not get a sense that he is making much progress in rooting out the conspiracy. The Regent was always a semi-comical character, and with him not being in the stories, not only is the potential for drama reduced, but the potential for a laugh is also decreased. Since we have seen "War Without End, Part II" in season three, the audience has a very good idea of how things are ultimately going to turn out for Londo and Centauri Prime. It was Joe Straczynski's duty to make these stories interesting for viewers in spite of them knowing much of what was to come. This he failed to do. The problems with these stories are made worse by the fact that the audience knows that the Centauri are behind the raids. This was a decision Straczynski made consciously for reasons he said would be made clear to the audience later on. Well, the reasons for this was never clear to me. Perhaps he decided to increase the tragic feel of the season/story by having the audience know that the Centauri were behind the attacks but were
controlld by the Drath and so were not responsible for the suffering that they endured later on. That was an effective use of tragic irony, but it was at the price of suspense in the stories, a price, which in my opinion was far too high for the benefits received. The stories are leading to a climax, but there are no fascinating "hook" plots along the way, and we already know what a lot of the climax is going to entail.
I am not too inclined to summarize the plots of the six stories before "The Fall of Centauri Prime" when we finally get the pay-off of what we have been waiting for. "The Corp is Mother, The Corp is Father" is an episode that is not part of this arc. It is a story that is largely told from the perspective of two Psi Cop trainees who are training with Bester, the master Psi Cop. It is worth seeing, but it is not really spectacular. Still, if you want to read and get the most out of J. Gregory Keyes's Psi Corp trilogy, this should not be a story that you should miss. "The Ragged Edge" begins the arc about the Centauri activities and Sheridan's attempts to find out who is behind the raids. It is pretty forgettable, but not unwatchable. This story shows Garibaldi's drinking becoming worse, and that is a plot thread that continues for the next several stories, proving to be the most interesting story element of this part of the season. None of these six stories are really bad, and nearly all of them have some truly engaging moments, but they are merely a means to the end. Arguably, however, watching them would increase the impact of the final five stories. "Meditations on the Abyss", the story that follows "The Ragged Edge" and "The Corp is Mother, the Corp is Father", is a story in which we see Lennier in training as a Ranger. It is probably the most interesting of all of these six stories. It should not be missed. It clearly foreshadows the events of "Objects at Rest", the second last episode, with Lennier noticing parallels between himself and another Ranger trainee who is forced to question his reasons for joining the Rangers. "Darkness Ascending", "And All My Dreams, Torn Asunder", and "Movement of Fire and Shadow" each contribute toward what we see in "The Fall of Centauri Prime", but, individually, each lacks something that would make it good stand-alone viewing. "The Fall of Centauri Prime" is the episode that we've all been waiting for in which we witness what occurs to Londo as he must deal with the ultimate results of what he has brought about through his actions over these many years. It is an interesting story, and tops much of what we've seen over the course of this season. However, it is still lacking something. I can't really identify exactly that what "something" is. Above all, this story needed to be a classic, and it doesn't quite make it. Perhaps it is because the story is so depressing with virtually no hope that it rates lower than it might have otherwise. In his book The Babylon File, Andy Lane quotes from a Joe Straczynski interview in which Joe comments that accepting responsibility for the consequences of your actions is a major theme of the series and that this idea is shown in the character of Londo. Well, this episode is the culmination of that message. It is a pretty good episode overall. It's just that being a climax to the series, it couldn't just be good, it had to be spectacular, with some classic individual scenes, like those present in "The Coming of Shadows" and "Interludes and Examinations" that really stick in the mind. It did not produce as much fruit from the tree of classic tragic writing as those stories did. Still, "The Fall of Centauri Prime" serves as a very good set-up for Peter David's Centauri trilogy. David's Centauri trilogy will tell the story of Centauri Prime's ultimate liberation from the Drath by Vir. The first of the trilogy Legions of Fire, The Long Night of Centauri Prime, is excellent and captures the feel of many of the great Centauri stories of seasons two, three and four. "The Wheel of Fire" captures my vote for the best story of the season. It has several truly captivating plotlines as Garibaldi's alcoholism is directly confronted, and in the confrontation over that, Captain Lochley and Garibaldi finally discover some things about each other and why they have had the stormy relations with each other that they've had in the past. Both Jerry Doyle and Tracy Scoggins are definitely up to the challenge. I don't want to give anything away; just make sure that you see this story. We see in this story that Lyta has assumed the role of a successor to Byron, but she is advocating the use of violence against the Psi Corp, something that a number of people, including myself, have thought that Byron would not have approved of if he were still alive. We never get to hear the story of how Lyta and Garibaldi's deal ultimately turns out in which he promises to hide her operations within Edgars Industries in exchange for her removing Bester's blocks on his mind. We assume from the third Psi Corp novel by J. Gregory Keyes that she did remove the blocks on Garibaldi's mind. She is mentioned in Keyes's novels, but in such a vague way that it is hard to tell exactly what role she played in the Telepath War. Perhaps that will be revealed in a later novel or short story. This is one of the most important episodes of the season, and the title of this story serves as the title for season five. "Objects in Motion" and "Objects at Rest" are both episodes that are intended to wind down the series. That having been said, each of them are more compelling viewing than many of the episodes in season five. G'Kar deals with the consequences of being perceived as a messianic figure among the Narn, and he and Lyta end up going off together. (Straczynski has written a short story about their adventures together in Amazing Stories, but I have not read it yet.) Lennier betrays Sheridan and tries to kill him, but then he repents of his actions. He is shamed by what he has done, and he pledges to Delenn that he will redeem himself in her eyes. (In an interview, JMS said that this might be dealt with in a Babylon 5 movie at some point in the future.) I hope that the rest of this story is told because this was one of the more interesting plotlines that developed over the course of the season. Garibaldi also firmly establishes himself as the head of Edgars Industries. It is noted that Edgars pursued a number of secret projects. Straczynski definitely told a solid story with Babylon 5, but he did leave open a number of doors that future writers can go through in the novels. I will briefly discuss the River of Souls TV movie at this point since it is set after "Objects at Rest." It is the best of all the 4 TV movies. It has some very funny scenes as Lochley attempts to deal with a rude and arrogant pornography peddler. It also has some very good philosophical debate about the nature of the soul. Martin Sheen and Ian McShane are each very good in their guest roles. Tracy Scoggins does a wonderful job as Lochley. JMS noted that this story was written to give her a chance to stand on her own and prove herself to be a great captain. This story definitely succeeds with that. This is a really fascinating story that many people seem to have overlooked. It is truly a shame that the novel of this story never came out (which is a whole story in itself and the object of much controversy) for it certainly merits one. Lastly we arrive at "Sleeping in Light", the finale for the series which was actually filmed at the end of season four. It narrowly got beaten out for the 1999 Hugo Award. This is a story that has very little in the way of drama at all. In that it is almost unique in the Babylon 5 universe. It is a very relaxed story, and through the course of the tale, we learn a bit about what has happened to the characters of the series over the last 20 years. It has some truly touching moments, and the scenes between Sheridan and Delenn are some of the most romantic in the series. After having gone through such an action-packed and sometimes emotionally draining roller coaster, one can see how it was sort of nice to have a quiet final episode. This is definitely a good story. I can't give it the tremendously high rating that the viewers gave it in SciFi Universe magazine (rating it the eighth best episode of the series), but I also would say that this is an episode that you probably can get more out of on a second viewing. It serves as a very nice ending to a magnificent series. |
CADET CORNERCmdr, Erin Pence, CCC |
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| Hamlet's Cat's SoliloquyTITLE |
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To go outside, and there perchance to stay or to remain within, that is the question: Whether 'tis better for a cat to suffer the cuffs and buffets of inclement weather that Nature rains on those who roam abroad, or take a nap upon a scrap of carpet, and so by dozing melt the solid hours that clog the clock's bright gears with sullen time and stall the dinner bell. To sit, to stare outdoors, and by a stare to seem to state a wish to venture forth without delay, then when the portal's opened up, to stand as if transfixed by doubt. To prowl; to sleep; to choose not knowing when we may once more our readmittance gain: aye, there's the hairball; For if a paw were shaped to turn a knob, or work a lock or slip a window-catch, and going out and coming in were made as simple as the breaking of a bowl, what cat would bear the household's petty plagues, the cook's well-practiced kicks, the butler's broom, the infant's careless pokes, the tickled ears, the trampled tail, and all the daily shocks that fur is heir to, when, of his own free will, he might his exodus or entrance make with a mere mitten? Who would spaniels fear, or strays trespassing from a neighbor's yard, but that the dread of our unheeded cries and scratches at a barricaded door no claw can open up, dispels our nerve and makes us rather bear our humans' faults than run away to unguessed miseries? Thus caution doth make house cats of us all; and thus the bristling hair of resolution Is softened up with the pale brush of thought, and since our choices hinge on weighty things, we pause upon the threshold of decision. -- Shakespaw
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BE CONTENT 'Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therein to be content. I know how to be abased, and I know also how to abound: in everything and in all things have I learned the secret both to be filled and to be hungry, both to abound and to be in want. I can do all things in him that strengtheneth me." - Philippians 4: 11-13 When times are rough, and you think you can't take any more. When you feel at the end of your rope, and the knot at the end is becoming frayed. When you are at your lowest and are stressed to the limit. REMEMBER THIS: YOU ARE LOVED. YOU ARE UNIQUE. YOU ARE SPECIAL. YOU ARE WHERE YOU ARE MEANT TO BE AT THIS TIME AND IN THIS PLACE. Even when you think you are beyond all hope, you can give hope to others. When you think you are beyond love, you can give love to others. When you feel you are friendless, you can be a friend. You can give thanks for what you have, no matter how small or insignificant. YOU ARE ALIVE and therefore able to survive whatever comes your way with HIS strength. "Therefore I say unto you, be not anxious for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than the food, and the body than the raiment? Behold the birds of the heaven, that they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; and your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are not ye of much more value then they? And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit unto the measure of his life? And why are ye anxious concerning raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God doth so clothe the grass of the field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Be not therefore anxious, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? For after all these things do the Gentiles seek; for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Be not therefore anxious for the morrow: for the morrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." - Matthew 6: 25 - 34 Take a deep cleansing breath. Count backwards from 100. Do whatever it takes to relax and take your mind off your problems and center yourself. Be content. That is not to say do not take action, but take the necessary action logically, without your emotional stress getting in your way. Take time out to list the things that are good about your life. You may find things aren't really as bad as you think they are. Prayer: "May today there be Peace within you and may you trust your highest power that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of Faith. May you use those gifts that you have received and pass on the Love that has been given to you. May you be content knowing you are a Child of the Creator. Let this presence settle into your bones and allow your Soul the freedom to sing, dance and to bask in the sun. It is there for each and every one of you." - submitted by Tina Widener | ||
| Click Here to read more Chaplain's Corner | ||
  HELPING HANDS
Cmdr. Linda Widener, CMO |
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| Lupus Erythematosus: Under Attack By Your Own Immune System
By Adam Brochert, MD (Personal MD.com Advisory Board) |
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Systemic lupus erythematosus, SLE or lupus for short, is one of a group of diseases known as autoimmune disorders. The exact cause is usually unknown, though the disease primarily affects women of childbearing age. It can range in severity from mild to life threatening.
Lupus is classified as an autoimmune disorder which means that a person's immune system attacks his or her own body for poorly understood reasons. Other autoimmune disorders include rheumatoid arthritis, polymyositis and scleroderma. With lupus, the immune system can attack any organ in the body, and the prognosis often depends on what organs are involved and how severely they are affected. The large majority of affected individuals are women between 16 and 45 years old, though persons of any age and sex can develop lupus. What are the symptoms?
The initial symptoms of lupus are wide-ranging and thus often frustrating to patients and doctors alike because the initial symptoms may be so non-specific as to not suggest any particular diagnosis or treatment. The most common symptoms of lupus include: fatigue, fever, anorexia, nausea, weight loss, joint pain and arthritis, muscle pain, facial or other skin rash, often made worse by sun exposure (commonly a "butterfly rash" that occurs over the nose and cheeks of the face), hair loss, depression, confusion, headache, chest pain, dry eyes and/or dry mouth, repeated miscarriages. As you can see, this is a long list and several of the symptoms are quite common. Often, multiple symptoms must occur before a doctor becomes suspicious of lupus as the possible cause of a person's complaints. There are also several blood tests that can be abnormal in lupus and raise suspicion of the condition. For example, unexplainable anemia or low blood count occurs frequently in lupus. How is it diagnosed?
The diagnosis of lupus is not always straightforward. There is no exact test that makes the diagnosis. There is a degree of overlap between the different autoimmune disorders, but, an experinced doctor will usually be able to tell that some type of autoimmune disorder is present. Certain tests can detect abnormal antibodies that are secreted by the immune system when lupus occurs and these are often used to confirm the diagnosis of lupus. Although lupus can affect just about any organ in the body, the overall prognosis is often related to the degree of kidney and brain involvement. Kidney damage is a common cause of disability and death in persons with severe lupus. Affected persons may need dialysis or a kidney transplant if their kidneys fail. Brain involvement may cause confusion, personality changes, seizures or even psychosis. How is it treated?
Treatment for lupus may be again simple or complex depending on the severity of disease and response to initial treatment. Patients with mild disease may need only aspirin or ibuprofen to control their symptoms. However, many of the medications used for the treatment of moderate to severe lupus have multiple side effects. Some of the medications given to patients with lupus are also used in cancer chemotherapy. These medications suppress the immune system. This reduces the amount of inflammation and damage the immune system can cause the rest of the body. Unfortunately, this makes the person more susceptible to infections, another common cause of death in lupus patients. One of the more common medications used, prednisone, is in a class called corticosteroids. Prednisone is fairly mild as far as lupus treatments are concerned, but can cause weight gain, diabetes, osteoporosis, depression and other problems. A medication called hydroxychloroquine is also effective for some aspects of lupus but may cause vision problems, rash or muscle inflammation. Fortunately, death is a relatively rare result of lupus, with roughly 70 percent of persons still alive 20 years after the diagnosis is made. Often, however, the quality of life is severely reduced in those with moderate to severe disease and disability is frequent. Family support and outside patient support groups are, of course helpful to many with the disease. |
 
PROJECT GENESISCmdr. Tamara Borchardt, Chairperson | |
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| The Coyote |
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The coyote, or "little wolf" as the Native Americans call it, is a member of the dog family. It is the topic of many Native American folklore tales. Its name comes from the Aztec word
"coyotl." Its scientific name is "canis latrans" which means "barking dog."
The coyote, usually associated with the open lands of the west, is now found throughout the United States. Not native to Ohio, its presence here shows the animal's ability to adapt to new environments. Coyotes' good sense of smell, hearing and vision, along with being sly, enable them to even live in some urban areas. For example, a pair was found in New York City in the Spring of 1995. Presently coyotes can be found in all of the 88 counties of Ohio. The coyote has the appearance of a medium-sized dog or a small German Shepherd. Coyotes are about one and a half to two feet tall and between forty-one and fifty-three inches long. Weight ranges from twenty to fifty pounds. They have a bushy tail that is tipped with black. Most are grey, but some show rust or brown coloration. Coyote tracks are more elongated than dog tracks. This nocturnal animal is most active at night, but if not threatened by man they will hunt during the day. The coyote is omnivorous. They will eat fruits, grasses, and vegetables along with small mammals. The coyote has a bad reputation for killing sheep and other livestock, but studies show that livestock accounts for only 14 percent of the coyotes' diet. Coyotes mate for life. Between January and March is the breeding period. Most do not breed until they are two years old. The female selects and maintains the den. They usually dig their own dens but sometimes they use an old badger hole or fix up a natural hole. Dens are usually hidden from view. Females carry their young for over two months. One to twelve pups are born in either April or May. Pups are born blind and helpless. Both parents hunt and feed the young. At three weeks old the pups leave the den under close watch of their parents. Once the pups are eight to twelve weeks old they are taught to hunt. Families stay together through the summer but the young break apart to find their own territories by fall. They usually relocate within ten miles. Between 50 and 70 percent of the young coyotes die before adulthood. Of the young that die, 80 percent is the result of human trapping, shooting, poisons, or other control methods. The coyote is capable of producing fertile offspring with many other animals from the dog family. It occasionally breeds with the domestic dog, wild dogs, and wolves. This mixed offspring has created great confusion about whether a real coyote has been seen. The only way to tell the difference is by examination of the skull. The coyotes' skull is narrower and more elongated than the domestic dog. In Ohio 98 percent of the animals sighted, captured, or killed are real coyotes. More often you will hear a coyote rather than see one. Its howl can be very deceiving. Due to the way the sound carries, it seems as though it is in one place, where the coyote is really some place else. Coyotes have two howling seasons. The first is in January and February. During this time they are trying to find a mate by howling. The second season is in September and October. During this period the female is calling to her offspring. The young then call back in unison. After the move westward by settlers, coyotes thrived on ranchers' cattle and sheep. In response, the ranchers aggressively tried to eliminate the coyote, and almost succeeded. However, due to its intelligence and ability to adapt to changes in its environment, it has not only survives but flourished. World Wildlife Fund
1250 24th Street NW Washington DC 20037 202-293-4800 http://www.worldwildlife.org | |
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FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT PROJECT GENESIS - CLICK HERE | |
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GALACTIC GEMS News from around the Galaxy |
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THE BLACK KNIGHTS
An Introduction Let me split this introduction into two parts, real and trek. REAL: The Black Knights are an organization based on the simple principle of having fun. We are organized in a military fashion, after the Marines, but on a more mercenary basis. We have no true allegiance other than to ourselves and having fun. We have a membership consisting of all races in fandom. Whatever you want to be, we don't care (except bureaucrats or politicians). Many of the knights are members of other clubs and use the knights as a secondary outlet for their fun. A chance to wear a different uniform and change their character a bit. We don't have a lot in the way of command and control or rules. I like to keep things simple. I'm the boss. Don't embarrass the Knights, piss me off, or use the knights name, or my name, without permission. I generally prefer the member's other club handle rank and promotion but if a member has no other affiliation promotion will be my decision. Prospective new knights must petition me for membership (ask me). There are no real dues but it is customary to buy your commander at least one drink at the first social function you meet me at. TREK: The Black Knights are a mercenary organization with a core group of Starfleet and Klingon Marines. Though mercenary in nature we are not without a sense of values. We generally will not do anything to betray our homelands nor will we take a job we find repugnant. Many governments have found us to be very valuable when a politically sensitive job needs doing and they wish to distance themselves from it. Of course, if we can earn a few credits doing it. Our home base is on a small moon in "the triangle", that section of contested space bordering Federation, Klingon and Romulan space. It's a little place we like to call Fort Harlech. We presently have at our disposal 4 companies of Knights, 1 Marine fighter group, 1 attack shuttle group, various Klingon and Federation starships, and Bob. EVENTS:
Reprinted from THE KNIGHTLY NEWS,
The Newsletter of "The Black Knights", Number one March 2000. | ||
| MAV AQUILA | |
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These are the continuing voyages of the Privateer vessel Aquila. Their mission, should they choose to accept it (oops, wrong script!)>, is to seek out news, secrets, hidden meanings, to boldly go where none sane would care to go.
The M.A.V. Aquila, under the command of Captain L'jian "Raven" t'Khellian, a vessel in the service of the Maquis Freedom Alliance (MFA), has the approval of MFA Admiral Bejen to continue posing as the USS Aquila in order to gather intelligence for the purposes of quelling the Cardassian threat, furthering the mission of the Alliance, and to turn a quick buck. To the crew of the USS Aquila: May the Force be with you! (ED. NOTE: We found it only fitting to reprint the first story written about the USS Aquila.) THE FICTIONAL HISTORY OF THE USS Aquila NCC 42297
Mar 28, 1993 7:27 PM The Shuttle Aquila, Starfleet's first multi-deck warp-drive shuttle, was commissioned and immediately sent to patrol the corridor which was bordered on one side by the Romulan Neutral Zone and on the other side by the Klingon Treaty Zone. The Aquila was manned with an excellent crew (although some thought them to be a bit ... eccentric). Their mission was the exploration and scientific study of star systems in that area (and to pick up any useful information regarding the Romulans or the Klingons in the process). A human CO, a Betazoid First Officer, a Klingon Second Officer, and a Romulan-Vulcan Third Officer led her crew. (As if they weren't confused enough already!) They kept in close contact with their mother ship, the USS Polaris, and their brother ship, the USS Camelot (I find it impossible to refer to a Marine Chandley class courier as a "sister" ship, hence I refer to it as "brother".) Over time, the Aquila developed an off-again/on-again-friendly rivalry with a Klingon vessel, the IKV Doomslayer. They also managed to place a couple of "spies" into Romulan territory through the mercenary...er, merchant activities of the Third Officer (Black Bird Enterprises, Inc.). . . Finally, the big day had arrived! The Shuttle Aquila crew had qualified to become the crew of the newly commissioned Excelsior class ship, the USS Aquila. Taking their shuttle with them, nesting in its specially designed docking facility, the crew set off for new adventures in the now increased area of exploration. | ||
