For readers/authors: where would you serve?

[Nerys Ghemor]

Here's a fun question for the writers and readers of this forum.

Which ship or unit, of those you've seen written and posted here, would you most like to serve with? Where do you think you'd have the most difficulty? And why?

Just two rules: You may not choose a vessel from your own story even if it's a canon starship from the series (for example, I couldn't choose the Trager or the Sherouk, because while the Trager is a canon starship, both feature prominently in Sigils and Unions). And this is not a thread to pick apart somebody's writing style or to rank the authors against each other. It's about crew dynamics, ships, and missions as portrayed by the authors, and as you understand them.

Done right, this could be an interesting opportunity to spotlight the diverse array of crew mixes and stories created by the writers on this forum.

I'll come back with my own comments later...right now, I'd love to see what you guys say!

 

[Mistral]

I have no doubt that I'd like to play cards with Solly Brin, and chat with Joseph Akinola on the Bluefish.

I'm also fairly certain that the Gibraltar is a ship I'd avoid by several light-years on the best of days.

 

[smeos]

I would like to be Bobbi's spotter. For the sole reason that she does all the work, and I wouldn't have to do squat.

 

[hellsgate]

What class / type are the Trager & the Sherouk? Freighter? Frigate?

Personally, I'd take the center seat of an Interceptor-Class, Prometheus-Class, Entente-Class (Galaxy X-Class) or one of Jim Martin's concept art ships that evolved into the Defiant we all know & love.

 

[captcalhoun]

Smeos, you'd never pass selection to get into Spec Ops.

since i don't tend to read many of the series on here, i can't answer.

 

[Gibraltar]

Nerys, this is a terrific question, and one I hadn’t ever considered before. I can’t wait to read the responses.

As for me, after due consideration, I’d have to say that if I were to serve aboard a ship I’d like it to be under the command of Joseph Akinola or Elizabeth Shelby. Both captains, though lightyears apart in disposition, are highly professional and command tightly knit crews that have gelled well together.

And, unbelievably, I’m going to have do diss on my own ship here… Gibraltar’s command crew has buckled under the stress of the past year, the ‘Year of Hell’ as Sandhurst describes it. Given the recent shakeups in the senior staff and owing to the casualty rate suffered by the crew in the past year… I’m going to have to say I wouldn’t want to be posted to that ship. Nothing against her captain, mind you, but on a purely suvival-instinct basis, that wouldn't be my first choice of assignments.

 

[Gibraltar]

Smeos, you'd never pass selection to get into Spec Ops.

since i don't tend to read many of the series on here, i can't answer.

What, you have to go through Spec Ops training to go, "Oh... hey... shoot that guy!"

 

[CeJay]

A good question, indeed and one that warrants careful considerations if you had a choice.

Gibraltar is tough little ship with a good captain but it attracts disaster like a magnet. The same can also be said for Captain Glover and his commands. Independence would be a tough assignment as well, especially during the early days.

Bluefin is not a bad choice but serving in the Border Service wouldn't really give you the real Starfleet experience and you'd be limited to police and rescue work. Besides it's not the most comfortable ship.

Sutherland is a party ship, so that'd be fun. However your reputation might take a hit. If you want to go old school, Lexington would be the ticket. And you'd have the great advantage of serving under Commodore Wesley who you know will take care of his people.

Full Speed Ahead's Farragut is a good choice too. You got an easy-going crew and a walking sex bomb. Can't go wrong with that.

 

[BrotherBenny]

I'd like to serve on the Independence. Although not an easy assignment, Aurelia has a good, solid crew and they work hard. They get the difficult assignments but they always come out on top.

 

[DavidFalkayn]

Interesting question...where would I want to serve? The Bluefin has a good captain and crew, but you're not exactly going to be exploring new worlds on a border cutter, yet at the same time, life is never dull. The Eagle also has a good captain who's a bit on the 'old school' side with a professional crew who is dedicated to exploration--you'd get plenty of exposure to the wonders of the universe on that ship. Farragut wouldn't be a bad ship to serve on, neither would Rush Limborg's take on Excelsior--after all, it's not every day you get to serve under Captain Sulu and Commander Rand...

As to where I probably wouldn't want to serve: well, no offense, Gibraltar, but Gibraltar probably wouldn't be my first choice of assignments. It's not the captain's fault, but that ship is a trouble magnet...also...life expectancies tend to be fairly short and right now there are so many fractures and divisions amongst the crew. The "little ship that could" isn't exactly the happiest ship in the Fleet right now.

 

[TheLoneRedshirt]

A very interesting question. There are several ships that have great appeal, but in the end, I'd have to pick the USS Lexington under Commodore Robert Wesley. I like how David Falkayn has fleshed out this canon character from the TOS era. He's the kind of CO that commands respect and admiration. Plus - mini-skirts!

Gibraltar, I hate to pile on, but right now serving on the Gibraltar doesn't seem to be a wise (or safe!) career move. I like Captain Sandhurst and the fascinating cast of characters, but you tend to be, shall we say . . . brutal with the ship and crew! (And to think, I let you have T'Ser for a future draft choice. )

 

[BrotherBenny]

Does no one want to serve on the Dauntless?

 

[smeos]

Smeos, you'd never pass selection to get into Spec Ops.

since i don't tend to read many of the series on here, i can't answer.

I can dream, man. I can dream.

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

What class / type are the Trager & the Sherouk? Freighter? Frigate?

Two Cardassian Galor-class warships with rather unorthodox guls. The Trager was seen in the TNG episode, "The Wounded," and the Sherouk is my own creation. If I could actually have that as my choice, either of those ships would be a hell of a place to be an exchange officer. Macet and Daro make a good gul and first officer. As for the Sherouk, that ship has seen some bad stuff...they were one of the three present at the Septimus Massacre. But the gul is someone I'd really want to get to know--he's dealt with a LOT of personal stuff before this story and yet he's managed to overcome it all with a smile. (Which I know will seem startling if anybody's starting to figure out who he was, what pre-relaunch DS9 novel he appeared in, but I submit that the way a guy is when pushed to his breaking point is NOT necessarily the way he'd be any other time.) Serving with the guy would be a privilege in and of itself.

The Romac probably wouldn't be bad either...the crew's good, but unfortunately they've got kind of a Gibraltar-like cursed-ship thing going on. These guys were present for the Septimus Massacre AND the shipboard Jem'Hadar went bonkers at the exact same time. Without spoiling anything, I can be pretty sure that after the war, even though the Cardassian Guard is going to be trying to retain all the personnel they can, there will be some people on the Romac that just HAVE to leave.

Though the Ghiletz would get a big HELL NO considering Gul Speros' attitude. The man runs a tight ship and I'd respect that discipline, but he's too much like my boss gets on a bad day (i.e. he tends to say and do some very harsh things under pressure).

But ANYWAY, on to my choices for the rest of your ships.

Like some others have suggested, I think I would most enjoy serving on the Bluefin, from what I've read so far. Yes, I know it's cramped, and the Border Service has a different mission--but at least for me, there's a LOT to be said about working with a crew that actually makes you want to get up and go to work in the morning. Akinola has just the right mix of steel and camaraderie, and there are quite a number of other personalities on the crew I think I'd enjoy being around: Strauss, Brin, and quite a number of them seem like they'd be pretty neat to serve with. I don't think I'd feel limited by the mission...it makes a difference for the people whose lives they touch.

So far, although I haven't read a lot about it yet, the Independence also seems like it has potential. Dauntless didn't seem too bad either, though I sure hope Wright would be permanently gone before I got on board.

As for the more difficult ships in my estimation...well, I can see a few where I think the crew mix would make it difficult for me. I can't see it working on the Sutherland...I haven't even read the stories yet, but Shelby has a reputation that precedes her. And blunt as it is, I do not think I could serve very well on a ship where I did not respect my commanding officer. I tend to look for a strong example on AND off duty, and while I know others would disagree, that's just my personal bias. The Farragut I would have similar reasons for, though it's not JUST Leone--it's also Elannis I would not respect.

The Gibraltar I'm ambivalent about. Part of me would be afraid of getting into it with a crew that's been through SO much hell. Yet for some reason, I see something in Sandhurst--I like the guy, and with Lar'ragos' influence on him gone, I think there's potential there. And the idealistic part of me might well think I could go there and make some kind of little difference, that maybe some fresh blood would help.

 

[captcalhoun]

SO training (as seen in montage form in Tempered Steel) includes running through the Brecon Beacons in Wales, a marathon in the desert on Vulcan, hand-to-hand combat training, a run loaded with kit on Mars including swimming the Coprates river and running up Olympus Mons, marksmanship training and an assault course.

i'd imagine some kind of run on Andoria too as well...

 

[Mistral]

God I must have been tired when I answered. The Bluefish? Crud, sorry.

 

[Admiral2]

Does no one want to serve on the Dauntless?

Don't feel bad. I get the feeling MWPrise isn't even in this discussion. [shrug]

Anywho...

Which ship or unit, of those you've seen written and posted here, would you most like to serve with?

I'm putting a stop to the bashing right now. I'd feel privileged to serve aboard Gibraltar.

Why? Two reasons:

First, I don't care if it's a trouble magnet run by a basket case. That basket case and his crew have done more real work in the defense of the Federation than any of the other fic captains around here combined. I officially declare Captain Sandhurst "bad-ass" and pledge my fealty to him!

Second, - with the exception of Lexington - Gibraltar is a TOS era design, which makes it a SHIP and not one of those TNG UFOs with warp engines that everybody else seems to prefer using. I'll take a ship over an FTL-capable christmas tree any day.

Where do you think you'd have the most difficulty? And why?

A tossup between Aegis and Eagle, because I'd shortly end up in Camelopard's Supermax for killing Terrence Glover or DeMara Deen. (Sorry DarKush and CeJay, but you know my feelings about those characters.)

 

[Gibraltar]

^ Thank you, Brother! Those aboard the little ship that could salute you!

 

[CeJay]

Where do you think you'd have the most difficulty? And why?

A tossup between Aegis and Eagle, because I'd shortly end up in Camelopard's Supermax for killing Terrence Glover or DeMara Deen. (Sorry DarKush and CeJay, but you know my feelings about those characters.)

Better to have any kind of feelings for a character than none at all.

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

^ Thank you, Brother! Those aboard the little ship that could salute you!

Hey! I didn't flat-out say "no"!

Though if Sigils and Unions didn't contradict United Trek, I would recommend a meeting between the Romac and the Gibraltar...maybe between the two of them, they could put together a functioning crew.