TO:

DISCLAIMER: TALON?S EDGE is the chapter newsletter of the MAV (USS) Aquila NCC 42297, a non-profit fan organization based in Florence, Kentucky. All rights and privileges to the terms STAR TREK and all images/references to same are exclusively owned by Paramount Pictures Corp. Likewise, all rights & privileges to the terms and all images/references to STAR WARS (Lucas Film), Dr.Who (BBC), Beauty & the Beast (Republic Pictures), or other programs not specifically named, are exclusively owned by those companies. This newsletter is not intended to infringe on any copyrights or legal holdings of the writers, producers, Production Company, or others with claims to the programs/images, nor to make profit from them.

This publication is brought to you by the Propaganda Department.

We serve all your brainwashing needs.... Resistance is futile!

That said ...Warp Speed...Engage! And the Wind be in your Wings.

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Captain Glenna M. Juilfs

• MAV (USS) Aquila Officers
• UN-classified DISTRIBUTION:
• Bulletin Board Commander Rob Langenderfer
• Briefing Room
• Video Viewpoints DEADLINE FOR NEXT ISSUE:
• Cadet Corner November 28, 2000
• Chaplain?s Corner

• Helping Hands SUBSCRIPTIONS:

• Galactic Gems 1 - 33c stamp = 1 issue
• Mars Society

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Submissions should be no longer than 2 pages double-spaced. Please send submissions

Thank you for your cooperation. - GMJ

Articles & items may be reprinted if proper credit is given

(Or you will be visited by the Borg!)

THIRD OFFICER/SCIENCE CHIEF/FUNDRAISING OFFICER/PROJECT GENESIS

Tamara Borchardt, 859-371-6207

L. Alan Wright, Pager: 944-8801

Shirley Robinson, 859-581-5567

5654 Sandra Drive, Pittsburg, PA 15236.

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Currently meeting on-line fourth Tuesday at 7:30pm (except December)

Harbinger Ready Room meetings held at members homes and

- USS Aquila (MFA): - USS Camelot (Independent):

Second Saturday at 4pm Third Friday at 7pm (except December)

Barnes & Noble bookstore on Mall Road Dayton Museum of Natural History

Florence, KY 2600 DeWeese Parkway, near Triangle Park

coffee shop Dayton, OH (exit 57B from I-75 N or S)

- USS Melbourne (SFC): - USS Polaris (Independent):

Second Sunday at 6:30pm Fourth Monday at 7pm (except December)

Thomas More College Pierce Elementary School, Freeman Avenue,

Room 3320 Hamilton, OH

- Friends of the Time Lord:

Park Lane Apartments Social Room KAG = Klingon Assault Group

4201 Victory Parkway, Cincinnati, OH SFC = Starfleet Command

• 6-8: Maquis Gras
• 14: Aquila Video Party
• 9-29: BooFest, Museum Center at Union Terminal, Cincinnati, Ohio
• 21: All-Club Volunteer Weekend for BooFest
• 13-29: Dungeons of Delhi, Delhi township, Cincinnati, Ohio

• 10-12: Sugoi-Con (anime), Cincinnati Airport Holiday Inn, Erlanger, KY
• 17-18-19: TBA Aquila 10^th Anniversary Celebration

• 2: All-Club Holiday Party
• 9: Feast of the Long Night CANCELLED
• 31: All-Club New Year?s Eve/Millennium Party

15 ? Mark Lenard

17 ? Dustyn Pence Jr.

22 ? Brian Widener

24 ? Jeff & Melissa Collinsworth

2 ? Steve & Heather Blair-Collins

5 ? Armin Shimmerman

11 ? Heather Blair-Collins

13 ? Whoopi Goldberg

17 ? Hannah Baudendistel

19 ? Terry Ferrell

21 ? Alexander Siddig

25 ? Glenna Juilfs; Ricardo Montalban

28 ? Rob Langenderfer

9 ? Columbus Day; Yom Kippur

31 - Halloween

7 ? Election Day

11 ? Veteran?s Day

23 ? Thanksgiving

The 114^th meeting of the MAV Aquila was held on Saturday September 9, 2000. Meeting notes lost in the "Black Hole".

The 115^th meeting of the MAV Aquila was held on Saturday October 14.2000. The meeting/video party was held at Sam?s place in Butler, KY. The following members were in attendance: Diane Baker, Nelson Charette, Sam Hearld, Glenna Juilfs, Rob Langenderfer, Cynthia Pence, Erin Pence, Rebecca Poff, Leonard Robinson, Shirley Robinson, and Linda Widener. Visitors present: Art Lauer, and Mars Society representatives: Lyle Kelly (lhkelly@aol.com) & Janis Jaunbergs (rupucis371@excite.com).

Attendees were watching the premier episode of Andromeda when the Captain & those riding with her finally arrived (we got lost!!!) The Captain excused her lateness with "I?m not a navigator, only the helmsman." To which the Second Officer Sam Hearld replied, "God help us, she?s flying this thing?"

The Mars Society gave their presentation. Which was absolutely wonderful! Thank you Lyle & Janis for coming and informing us. This was followed by a short business meeting.

MEETING HIGHLIGHTS:

Plans for Dover 2001 were discussed.

The following persons will be promoted at the November meeting: Diane Baker, Rob Langenderfer, Cynthia Pence, and Rebecca Poff.

The Captain and Engineering Chief will be on an away mission to Sugoi Con and will not be at the November meeting which will be held on Saturday November 11 at 4pm at the Barnes & Noble on Mall Road in Florence, KY.

The weekend of November 17-19 has been chosen to celebrate the 10^th Anniversary of the Aquila. The exact date will be chosen at the November meeting and final plans will be made.

Following the meeting, attendees watched Star Wars: The Phantom Menance, and an unreleased video of the Fantastic Four.

Attendees went home as the hour was very late.

VIDEO VIEWPOINTS

"Ceremonies of Light and Dark" is a good, entertaining story that is based on an interesting premise. Just as might be ordinarily expected in real life after the events of an episode like "Severed Dreams", it is time for the characters to rest and reflect. That is the purpose behind the ceremony which Delenn has in mind for the crew. However, some people aboard the station are still loyal to President Clark, and they intend to take their revenge on Ambassador Delenn. There is a truly chilling scene in which they are introduced. This episode will definitely hold your interest, and this story contains some good character moments for nearly all of the regulars, especially at the story's conclusion.

"Sic Transit Vir" is a very well-done story in which Vir is arranged by his family to marry a Centauri girl, Lyndisty, nicely played by Carmen Thomas. It is also discovered that Vir is helping Narns escape from Centauri prison planets. This is a very touching story although it is also very sad. Still, the episode does contain some hope for the future. This is a story that will keep you enthralled while watching it even though it's not heavily arc-based.

"A Late Delivery From Avalon" concerns a man who arrives on Babylon 5 claiming to be King Arthur. Portrayed very well by Michael York, he is more than what he seems. This is a decent episode. I did not find it as interesting as many of the other stories this season. It's definitely worth watching though. There are some interesting parallels made between Arthurian legends and the characters of the series in this story.

"Ship of Tears" is a great story, featuring Walter Koenig as Bester, giving one of his top performances. We find out that Bester's lover had been forced to pilot a Shadow ship, and he will do anything to make her normal again. G'Kar is also introduced as a full member of the Army of Light after pleading to be let in on the plot for several episodes. Mira Furlan and Andreas Katsulas both give wonderful performances as Delenn informs G'Kar that she had to allow the Centauri to conquer Narn in order not to tip their hand to the Shadows too soon. Garibaldi discovers that telepaths are an effective weapon against the Shadows in this tale, a plot point that will have much importance later in the series. At the end of the story, it's announced that the Shadows have started to attack targets openly. The war has started. This is a very good story.

"Interludes and Examinations" is a classic story, one of the best that the series has done. Franklin's stim use comes to a head with Garibaldi forcing him to finally confront the problem. Londo finds his lover Adira (from "Born to the Purple") dead after she had arranged to meet him, and he immediately suspects Lord Refa (whom he had attempted to poison as a result of his continued alliance with the Shadows when Londo had been prepared to stop asking for their aid). Morden (the real culprit) manipulates Londo into pledging himself to the Shadows again. Perhaps most importantly, Sheridan confronts Kosh for his lack of assistance against the Shadows. The scene in which Sheridan stands up to the Vorlon is one of the most exciting in the series. The scene that occurs later in the story as a result of that confrontation is one of the series' most touching. This is one of the absolute don't-miss-it episodes of the series.

"War Without End, Part I" is a very good story in which the questions left over from the first season episode "Babylon Squared" are finally answered. It features the return of Michael O'Hare as

Ambassador Jeffrey Sinclair in a good performance. It gives the viewers their first view of the beautiful planet Minbar. It also features the return of Zathras, again very humorously portrayed by Tim Choate. This story has some very dramatic moments, but in many ways, the second part of the tale is even better.

"War Without End, Part II" is a great story although it bogs down slightly at the end, with much footage re-used from "Babylon Squared". At the end of the first part of the tale, Sheridan was transported 17 years into the future to a devastated Centauri Prime where Londo was emperor. We learn some of what has occurred in the intervening years, and there are some very touching scenes between Sheridan and Delenn, with Mira Furlan giving an exceptionally good performance. Straczynski even works some very important themes into the story. This is a very important episode to see, and it sets the stage for a fuller understanding of the Babylon 5 novel To Dream in the City of Sorrows, which is the best of the B5 novels having been published to this date in late August 1997 (with this reviewer having read six of the nine novels). This story has a somewhat suprising conclusion. This is not a story to miss.

"Walkabout" was a story that I really enjoyed a great deal. I felt it was one of the better stories that they have done. It really held my interest the whole way through. Seemingly, most of the show's

fandom, based on the poll results on the Lurker's Guide to Babylon 5 don't agree with me. It isn't hated, but it's not loved either. I'd strongly recommend it though. Steven attempts to help himself get over

his stim addiction and in his wanderings he meets a singer, Cailyn, touchingly portrayed by Erica Gimpel. Pat Tallman features in this story as Lyta as Sheridan attempts to test the Shadows' weaknesses. The new Vorlon Ambassador is introduced, voiced again by Ardwight Chamberlain. However, as is hinted here, the new Kosh is certainly different from the Kosh that he replaced.

"Grey 17 Is Missing" is an OK story in which Delenn considers taking command of the Rangers since Jeffrrey Sinclair has left to fufill his destiny as a Minbari hero (cf. "War Without End"). However, her claim is threatened by her old rival Neroon, played by John Vickery, who will stop at nothing, even murder, to keep her from claiming what he sees as a position which she doesn't deserve. Marcus makes plans to defend her. This is a very interesting, even great part of the story. The story's other plot, with Garibaldi investigating a missing section of the station and being captured by a crazy person, is a little funny but ultimately not worth very much at all. This is another story that even Straczynski didn't care much for.

"And the Rock Cried Out, No Hiding Place" is a great episode in which Londo's rivalry with Lord Refa reaches its climax. There is wonderful intrigue aplenty in this tale. Sheridan's relationship with

Delenn is further developed. There are some scenes between Londo and Vir which point out to Vir how far Londo has fallen. This is an episode that should not be missed.

"Shadow Dancing" is a good episode, but it seems to be quite a bit over-rated to me much as "Walkabout" is underrated. It is the culmination of Franklin's struggles as he fights to live after being

stabbed. Delenn and Sheridan begin the formal Minbari sexual ritual with each other. However, they are interrupted by John's supposedly-dead wife Anna, played by Melissa Gilbert. Some plot threads from previous stories are woven into this tale. This episode should be watched, and it will hold your interest, but it's not one of the series' greatest stories.

"Z'Ha'Dum" is one of the series' all-time best episodes. It was nominated for a Hugo Award, but its nomination was turned down in favor of "Severed Dreams". "War Without End's" Hugo nomination was also declined in favor of "Severed Dreams", but I'm not sure if "War Without End's" nomination was for part I, part II, or the story overall. "Z'Ha'Dum" is a story that deserved its nomination wholeheartedly, and

it would have been my pick among the three stories to get the award. Melissa Gilbert gives a wonderful performance as Anna, as the viewership, along with Sheridan, finally learn the truth about the

Shadows. The beginning of this story is a classic. Sheridan and Garibaldi have a very touching scene together. That would be the last close moment that they would have together for a long, long time. The

seeds of the problems that would hit Garibaldi are set at the end of this story. Sheridan's farewell speech to Delenn is also very touching. G'Kar's monologue at the end of this story is perfectly written and delivered, and it stands as one of the series' greatest moments (just like Ivanova's monologue at the end of "The Fall of Night" concluding season two). This features guest turns by Ed Wasser as Morden and Jeff Corey as Justin. This story features some very memorable music. This is a story that will hold you totally entranced. It is a classic, one of the best stories that the series has done. It was a perfect high point upon which to end the third season. This is not an episode to miss under ANY circumstances.

Space exploration is becoming downright commonplace. Modern space shuttle trips don?t receive as much attention as early flights did. Circle the words in the following puzzle associated with space exploration.

God teaches patience. Look at Job. He never lost his Faith in GOD no matter what the Enemy tried. Do we have that kind of patience today? GOD tells us:

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. ? Galatians 6:9

Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth. ? Psalms 37: 7-9

That there is such an event as the Cranberry Health Research Roundtable might surprise you, especially if you are one of those people who pass on the cranberry sauce at Thanksgiving. That the event was sponsored by Ocean Spray shouldn?t surprise you.

Scientists gathered in Houston last month to compare notes on the potential powers of cranberries, which have long been associated with preventing urinary tract infections. The most promising findings at the recent roundtable showed an "anti-adhesion" effect in the berries might be effective in combating H. pylori bacteria known to cause the majority of ulcers.

The study?s results are preliminary and performed only in a laboratory. More research will be needed to determine if cranberries can be effective in the human digestive tract (rather than neutralized by the way our body processes food). The study authors did conclude cranberries would be able to fight H. pylori bacteria that has already latched on to the stomach lining.

Another finding from the same research team at Tel Aviv University: The anti-adhesion properties of cranberries appear to be able to minimize the oral bacteria that lead to gum disease.

Rutgers University scientists reported compounds in cranberries called proanthyocyanidins appear to fight off E. coli bacteria, which are responsible for 80 to 90 percent of urinary tract infections. In a study using mice, scientists at the University of Western Ontario found cranberry compounds can inhibit the development of tumors in mice injected with human breast cancer cells.

More research is necessary to determine to what extent cranberries can help with any illness. Nonetheless, these compounds are an example of the growing number of findings that point to eating fruits and vegetables with deep pigments as natural protection from infection and disease. Maybe it won?t hurt to try some of that cranberry next time around.

MAQUIS GRAS 2000 October 6- 8, 2000 Ramada Inn, Portage, Indiana. Hosted by the MAV Firesword and other local clubs.

Sci-Fi Clubs Volunteer Day or Weekend at BooFest October 21 (22), 2000

call my home and leave a message... 513-385-9440.

FEAST OF THE LONG NIGHT ***CANCELLED***

All Clubs New Year?s Eve Party Sunday December 31^{st -} Join us for a night of fun and partying as we ring in the "REAL" Millennium. Fairfield Inn - Middletown, Ohio. Rooms are $80 for the night, Suites are $90 but is limited to 4 available(First Come First Served basis). Reservations and money is due by November 15th to get your room or suite. Please bring a pot luck dish to share. Contact Jonathan Steele to reserve your room/suite.

To further the goal of the exploration and settlement of the Red Planet. This will be done by:

1. Broad public outreach to instill the vision of pioneering Mars.
2. Support of ever more aggressive government funded Mars exploration programs around the world.
3. Conducting Mars exploration on a private basis.

The membership of The Mars Society possesses and incredibly broad range of experiences, education, interests and abilities. The scope of Task Force activities should provide a role for anyone who wishes to become actively involved in helping The Mars Society further the goal of human exploration and eventual settlement of the planet Mars. To become actively involved in any of these activities, please contact the temporary chair and offer your talents to the cause.

The following declaration was ratified and signed by the 700 attendees at the Founding Convention of the Mars Society, held August 13-16, 1998 at the University of Colorado at Boulder, Colorado, United States.

The time has come for humanity to journey to Mars.

We're ready. Though Mars is distant, we are far better prepared today to send humans to Mars than we were to travel to the Moon at the commencement of the space age. Given the will, we could have our first teams on Mars within a decade.

The reasons for going to Mars are powerful.

We must go for the knowledge of Mars. Our robotic probes have revealed that Mars was once a warm and wet planet, suitable for hosting life's origin. But did it? A search for fossils on the Martian surface or microbes in groundwater below could provide the answer. If found, they would show that the origin of life is not unique to the Earth, and, by implication, reveal a universe that is filled with life and probably intelligence as well. From the point of view learning our true place in the universe, this would be the most important scientific enlightenment since Copernicus.

We must go for the knowledge of Earth. As we begin the twenty-first century, we have evidence that we are changing the Earth's atmosphere and environment in significant ways. It has become a critical matter for us better to understand all aspects of our environment. In this project, comparative planetology is a very powerful tool, a fact already shown by the role Venusian atmospheric studies played in our discovery of the potential threat of global warming by greenhouse gases. Mars, the planet most like Earth, will have even more to teach us about our home world. The knowledge we gain could be key to our survival.

We must go for the challenge. Civilizations, like people, thrive on challenge and decay without it. The time is past for human societies to use war as a driving stress for technological progress. As the world moves towards unity, we must join together, not in mutual passivity, but in common enterprise, facing outward to embrace a greater and nobler challenge than that which we previously posed to each other. Pioneering Mars will provide such a challenge. Furthermore, a cooperative international exploration of Mars would serve as an example of how the same joint-action could work on Earth in other ventures.

We must go for the youth. The spirit of youth demands adventure. A humans-to-Mars program would challenge young people everywhere to develop their minds to participate in the pioneering of a new world. If a Mars program were to inspire just a single extra percent of today's youth to scientific educations, the net result would be tens of millions more scientists, engineers, inventors, medical researchers and doctors. These people will make innovations that create new industries, find new medical cures, increase income, and benefit the world in innumerable ways to provide a return that will utterly dwarf the expenditures of the Mars program.

We must go for the opportunity. The settling of the Martian New World is an opportunity for a noble experiment in which humanity has another chance to shed old baggage and begin the world anew; carrying forward as much of the best of our heritage as possible and leaving the worst behind. Such chances do not come often, and are not to be disdained lightly.

We must go for our humanity. Human beings are more than merely another kind of animal, -we are life's messenger. Alone of the creatures of the Earth, we have the ability to continue the work of creation by bringing life to Mars, and Mars to life. In doing so, we shall make a profound statement as to the precious worth of the human race and every member of it.

We must go for the future. Mars is not just a scientific curiosity; it is a world with a surface area equal to all the continents of Earth combined, possessing all the elements that are needed to support not only life, but technological society. It is a New World, filled with history waiting to be made by a new and youthful branch of human civilization that is waiting to be born. We must go to Mars to make that potential a reality. We must go, not for us, but for a people who are yet to be. We must do it for the Martians.

Believing therefore that the exploration and settlement of Mars is one of the greatest human endeavors possible in our time, we have gathered to found this Mars Society, understanding that even the best ideas for human action are never inevitable, but must be planned, advocated, and achieved by hard work. We call upon all other individuals and organizations of like-minded people to join with us in furthering this great enterprise. No nobler cause has ever been. We shall not rest until it succeeds.

One of the Society's goals is to convince the next administration that the American Space Program needs a mission worthy of a 13 billion a year Space Agency. We believe that can only be the human exploration of Mars. We currently have the technology required to establish a permanent human presence on Mars within 10 years at a cost of roughly 15% of the existing NASA budget. The key is to adopt a "live-off the land" philosophy, making rocket propellants and other necessary mission consumables on the surface of Mars. Practically no new technologies need to be created, everything that is necessary is already in hand. We need your voice if we are going to convince our elected representatives that this should be the case.