Tales of the Border Service: Birth and Rebirth

[CeJay]

Well, I'm loving this and especially for the oddly mixed crew on the ship. Let's face it, this is the Border Service and the Pamlico is nothing more than a little work horse (or can you say donkey?). These assignments clearly don't attract the best and the brightest. Patterson is a clever kid in his own right even if he lacks proper Starfleet discipline. I think Nor Huren knows that and likes the kid. She strikes me as a bit of a softie herself.

But what I'm really excited about now is the idea of Bane in charge while the skipper is under the weather. Better strap in, folks, this is going to be a wild trip!

Awesome.

 

[TheLoneRedshirt]

Thank you for the comments! I'm glad that (most of) you like how the story is playing out.

CeJay, you stated it succinctly - Pamlico is a little Border Service workhorse. Outside of Nor Huren (who requested her assignment) and a few others, most of the crew is made up of cast-offs, has-beens and the bottom tier of officers and crew. In normal times, Pudge Patterson would not have been accepted into the academy, much less, receive a commission. It just shows what the war losses have wrought. Even with personnel shortages, he was not considered ready for a ship of the line or a cutter.

The Pamlico stories celebrate the under-dog. Some might find redemption (Bane) and others might find the end of the road (Tien). I tend to write character-driven stories. I'd be disappointed if everyone liked all my characters.

 

[milo bloom]

Subscribing.


Love these stories from the edges of civilized society. I'll have to sit down someday and read all the stories in this mini-verse.

 

[milo bloom]

duplicate

 

[Mistral]

I like your people-even Pudge. And who knows-he may be Fleet-worthy under all that blubber after all.

 

[admiralelm11]

I like the characters in this story. On a sorta of related topic in regards to the Bluefin, there are a few of us at STPMA who are curious about what an Albacore-class cutter looks like.
I think some of this curiousity happened when Bry had the characters of the Silverfin manipped. As someone who's read your Border Service series, TLR, I'm curious as well about the Albacore-class.

 

[TheLoneRedshirt]

I like the characters in this story. On a sorta of related topic in regards to the Bluefin, there are a few of us at STPMA who are curious about what an Albacore-class cutter looks like.
I think some of this curiousity happened when Bry had the characters of the Silverfin manipped. As someone who's read your Border Service series, TLR, I'm curious as well about the Albacore-class.

A few years ago, Lt. Carter posted his creation, the USS Sculpin on the TrekBBS Art Forum. He designated it as a patrol frigate, but I thought it would make a great cutter. Alas, the thread showing many views of the Sculpin (along with some great comparison images with the Oberth-class) no longer exist on this forum. Since I did not create the design, I cannot share any images with you. I've tried to find more of Lt. Carter's work with no success.

Basically, I see the Albacore-class as the big brother of the Oberth-class - about 20% larger with a more robust design and a physical connection between the saucer and engineering hull. Lt. Carter's Sculpin had a massive impulse drive fitted aft of the primary hull in a tapered housing. I wish I could his original design. I would also be interested if anyone would like to take a shot at creating their own interpretation of the Albacore-class. I'm totally lacking in design talent.

 

[admiralelm11]

I like the characters in this story. On a sorta of related topic in regards to the Bluefin, there are a few of us at STPMA who are curious about what an Albacore-class cutter looks like.
I think some of this curiousity happened when Bry had the characters of the Silverfin manipped. As someone who's read your Border Service series, TLR, I'm curious as well about the Albacore-class.

A few years ago, Lt. Carter posted his creation, the USS Sculpin on the TrekBBS Art Forum. He designated it as a patrol frigate, but I thought it would make a great cutter. Alas, the thread showing many views of the Sculpin (along with some great comparison images with the Oberth-class) no longer exist on this forum. Since I did not create the design, I cannot share any images with you. I've tried to find more of Lt. Carter's work with no success.

Yeah, I think I may have seen it some time ago at the Treknology site. Good design.

Basically, I see the Albacore-class as the big brother of the Oberth-class - about 20% larger with a more robust design and a physical connection between the saucer and engineering hull. Lt. Carter's Sculpin had a massive impulse drive fitted aft of the primary hull in a tapered housing. I wish I could his original design. I would also be interested if anyone would like to take a shot at creating their own interpretation of the Albacore-class. I'm totally lacking in design talent.

Sounds like a challenge to make to the guys and girls over at STPMA.

 

[milo bloom]

I like the characters in this story. On a sorta of related topic in regards to the Bluefin, there are a few of us at STPMA who are curious about what an Albacore-class cutter looks like.
I think some of this curiousity happened when Bry had the characters of the Silverfin manipped. As someone who's read your Border Service series, TLR, I'm curious as well about the Albacore-class.

A few years ago, Lt. Carter posted his creation, the USS Sculpin on the TrekBBS Art Forum. He designated it as a patrol frigate, but I thought it would make a great cutter. Alas, the thread showing many views of the Sculpin (along with some great comparison images with the Oberth-class) no longer exist on this forum. Since I did not create the design, I cannot share any images with you. I've tried to find more of Lt. Carter's work with no success.

Basically, I see the Albacore-class as the big brother of the Oberth-class - about 20% larger with a more robust design and a physical connection between the saucer and engineering hull. Lt. Carter's Sculpin had a massive impulse drive fitted aft of the primary hull in a tapered housing. I wish I could his original design. I would also be interested if anyone would like to take a shot at creating their own interpretation of the Albacore-class. I'm totally lacking in design talent.

Are these images anywhere on the internet? I'm puzzled by your wording there, it seems like your saying that since you didn't paint the Mona Lisa, you can't link to a picture of it. Am I misunderstanding you?

 

[TheLoneRedshirt]

Are these images anywhere on the internet? I'm puzzled by your wording there, it seems like your saying that since you didn't paint the Mona Lisa, you can't link to a picture of it. Am I misunderstanding you?

You are not misunderstanding. Forum rules do not allow hot-linking to images on the 'net, even if I could still find an image of the Sculpin to share. So if I found an image of the Mona Lisa, I could not link directly to it unless it was on a site I hosted. For me to "grab" an image of someone else's work (without permission) and post it on my photo-sharing site would be improper. Lt. Carter has posted his work in the art forum before - it would be up to him to do so again.

 

[CeJay]

How about that little Blufin pic on UnitedTrek.org? Isn't that what the ship is supposed to look like?

 

[TheLoneRedshirt]

How about that little Blufin pic on UnitedTrek.org? Isn't that what the ship is supposed to look like?

Yes, but that's the only image I have and rules prohibit my using it here. I won't post it anywhere else.

Personally, I just use my imagination as to what most fan-fic ships look like (well, those that aren't canon). I lack the know-how or skill to create my own. I've posted the specs of the Albacore-class at United Trek, which for writing purposes are more important - at least for me. If your "image" as to how it looks differs from mine, that's perfectly okay. I would hope my writing is able to convey an image rather than simply rely on a picture.

I really need to get back to the story - we're veering dangerously close to art forum conversation.

 

[Admiral2]

How about that little Blufin pic on UnitedTrek.org? Isn't that what the ship is supposed to look like?

Yes, but that's the only image I have and rules prohibit my using it here. I won't post it anywhere else.

Personally, I just use my imagination as to what most fan-fic ships look like (well, those that aren't canon). I lack the know-how or skill to create my own. I've posted the specs of the Albacore-class at United Trek, which for writing purposes are more important - at least for me. If your "image" as to how it looks differs from mine, that's perfectly okay. I would hope my writing is able to convey an image rather than simply rely on a picture.

Not for me. All you keep writing is that it's not as pretty as a 'fleet ship and that it's like an Oberth-class. I get the "not as big and pretty" part, but since I haven't got the first clue wtf an Oberth looks like, that description is totally lost on me.

Just sayin'.

 

[TheLoneRedshirt]

Read my first Bluefin story. Strauss gives a lot of detail the first time she sees her.

If that doesn't work, just imagine it as pretty and shiny with lots of blinky things on it. Like I said, I'm not an artist nor do I care to be one. Hell, let's just say it's a silver football with wings, red stripes and flames shooting out the back and let it go at that.

Geez.

 

[milo bloom]

Are these images anywhere on the internet? I'm puzzled by your wording there, it seems like your saying that since you didn't paint the Mona Lisa, you can't link to a picture of it. Am I misunderstanding you?

You are not misunderstanding. Forum rules do not allow hot-linking to images on the 'net, even if I could still find an image of the Sculpin to share. So if I found an image of the Mona Lisa, I could not link directly to it unless it was on a site I hosted. For me to "grab" an image of someone else's work (without permission) and post it on my photo-sharing site would be improper. Lt. Carter has posted his work in the art forum before - it would be up to him to do so again.

I get that the idea of posting the image so it pulls from someone else's website and thus affects their bandwidth is forbidden. But even posting a link that we would then click and go to that person's website? Maybe I'm not understanding this whole internet thing and should go back to watching Matlock and yelling at kids to get off my lawn.

Please tell me I'm not crazy here...

 

[TheLoneRedshirt]

You are not crazy.

I cannot direct you to a site I myself can no longer find. Lt. Carter's thread portraying the Sculpin is no longer on the art forum. However, as CeJay pointed out, there is a single small image of the Bluefin (Sculpin) on the front page of United Trek. That's the best I can do for you.

As Forest Gump said, "That's all I've got to say about that."

 

[milo bloom]

You are not crazy.

I cannot direct you to a site I myself can no longer find. Lt. Carter's thread portraying the Sculpin is no longer on the art forum. However, as CeJay pointed out, there is a single small image of the Bluefin (Sculpin) on the front page of United Trek. That's the best I can do for you.

As Forest Gump said, "That's all I've got to say about that."

Sorry, I guess was really misunderstanding what you were saying about linking to a site or something. Since you just did what I mentioned earlier, I guess I get it now. Sorry for the confusion.

 

[Admiral2]

Read my first Bluefin story. Strauss gives a lot of detail the first time she sees her.

If that doesn't work, just imagine it as pretty and shiny with lots of blinky things on it. Like I said, I'm not an artist nor do I care to be one. Hell, let's just say it's a silver football with wings, red stripes and flames shooting out the back and let it go at that.

Geez.

I'll take it!

Kidding. What's the first Bluefin story?

Never mind. Just checked out the photo on the web site.

 

[TheLoneRedshirt]

Read my first Bluefin story. Strauss gives a lot of detail the first time she sees her.

If that doesn't work, just imagine it as pretty and shiny with lots of blinky things on it. Like I said, I'm not an artist nor do I care to be one. Hell, let's just say it's a silver football with wings, red stripes and flames shooting out the back and let it go at that.

Geez.

I'll take it!

Kidding. What's the first Bluefin story?

That would be "Semper Paratus." Here's the relevant segment:

Commander Strauss was more than weary of travel on the space-worn runabout. It had creaked and rattled much of the 12 hour flight from Star Station Echo, where she had boarded following a week-long voyage from Star Base 42 on the USS Hyperion . Now, she craned her neck toward the viewport to catch her first glimpse of the USS Bluefin. She was immediately intrigued with what she saw. The cutter displayed many of the features of classic Federation starship design - a circular primary hull with a secondary engineering hull and twin warp nacelles. Here, the design departed from normal practice as each nacelle was attached with redundant pylons - one set leading to the engineering hull, the second set tying into the primary hull just forward of the impulse cluster. The primary saucer appeared small in proportion to the long, tapered engineering hull,while the twin impulse engines seemed to overwhelm the rest of the ship - the impulse housing was easily a third as large as the entire saucer section.

Strauss also noted a preponderance of tractor beam nodes which she thought excessive for the relative size of the cutter. She was disappointed to see that the ship lacked the modern Type X phaser arrays common to most capitol ships. Instead, there were three paired Type VIII turrets that were visible to her, plus fore and aft torpedo launcher tubes. The ship was painted brilliant white, a color that was more common to Starfleet vessels built in the early part of the century. Prominently displayed on the cutter’s primary hull, between twin lines of blue and red, was the registry number, NCC-4458, and her name, USS Bluefin. The Border Service insignia adorned the engineering hull, streaming back in a blue and red pennant.

Strauss had spent some of her transit time perusing computer files about the Bluefin. She learned that Bluefin was an Albacore - class Border Cutter (contrary to what the admiral said), first developed about the same time as the Excelsior and Constellation class ships at the end of the 23rd century. The Albacores were designed for durability and agility with their powerful impulse engines, redundant shields and heavily braced nacelles, allowing the ship class to not only survive but safely navigate ion storms while towing vessels in distress. They were refit in the mid-24th century with extended landing bays to handle more and larger shuttle craft and Star Stallion support craft. Top speed for this class vessel was warp 9.2 and normal sustained maximum was warp 8.5. Not particularly fast by Starfleet standards, but much faster than commercial and most hostile vessels they would likely encounter. Originally, there were 20 Albacore - class ships. Now, only 15 were left in active service, the others retired, sold or destroyed.

As the runabout entered the hangar bay, Strauss closed her eyes and whispered to herself, "Gott im Himmel - Please don't let me screw up!"

* * *

Like I said, it was my first story and definitely not my best work.That's enough about the Chunky Tuna-class. I've got to finish this story.

 

[Mistral]

Interesting skew you had going here. Now, on with the story! Or do I have to break out my whip?