Hey all,
Several months ago, I posted the beginning of a story I had been throwing around in my head for a while. Ultimately, I became unhappy with the story. I reworked and rewrote it, and am in the final stages of finishing the first installment.
Below are my notes and the prologue to the first installment. I'm mostly looking for feedback/thoughts on the general idea as well as some style critique of the prologue.
I would also be more than interested in having someone help me write all of the stories I have in my head. I am a busy guy, and I have this grand plan of what I want to write with these characters, knowing full well that I can never get to it all. So if there is anyone interested in helping...
Star Trek: The Gilded Age
Star Trek: The Gilded Age is set in the early 24th century. The style of tGA will break with traditional Trek fiction in that it will not follow the bridge crew of a single starship. Instead, it will follow the careers, over several decades, of seven individuals who begin as junior officers on the USS Anaximander and go on to become movers and shakers within the Federation. The Gilded Age will center on trilogy installments of novelette-length stories that mark crisis points in the Federation of the early 24th century, with several short stories that bridge the years.
TGA intends to edify as well as entertain; it will explore many ethical issues which are on my own mind by using the Trek universe as my outlet. TGA, nor its author, is self-involved enough to think it has any “truths” to share about the universe in which we live, rather it is intended to be a medium by which the author can explore ethics. Hopefully, the reader who comes along for the ride will enjoy the stories and be challenged by some of the moral dilemmas that are introduced.
The First Installment, 2318
Praxis & Principles: The crew of the USS Anaximander are running a standard survey mission into an area of space which has been barely touched by the Federation. Unbeknownst to the junior officers, the survey mission is a public cover for a covert operation to gather information about a mysterious race known as the Rokarians who destroyed a Federation research station the year earlier. The poorly conceived covert mission will bring the Anaximander to the brink of destruction and the Federation to the brink of full-scale war. (80% finished: 25,000 words)
The Prime Directive: The fragile peace with the Rokarians is holding, but the crew must struggle with the morality of observing as the Rokarian junta systematically wipes out the democratic civilian rebellion. Meanwhile, a local supernova gives the Anaximander a break from patrol and a return to true scientific study. As they move in to study a sun about to go nova, the crew makes the heartwrenching discovery that a peaceful and culturally rich civilization on the verge of discovering warp technology is about to be destroyed by the death of its own sun. (pre-production)
The Enemy Within: With the captain recalled to earth, Yuran is in command of the Anaximander when hostilities between the rival Rokarian factions begins to spill further into Federation territory. When Rokarian ships begin to use Federation weaponry, Taj’in must race against the clock to find the Rokarian collaborator on board who is selling Federation technology. Meanwhile, the Anaximander finds itself in the crossfire of the two factions who each suspect the Federation is working with their enemy. (pre-production)
Main characters:
Ensign Benazir Najibah isa human woman of Pakistani descent who is in her second year as a communications technician on the USS Anaximander. She graduated near the top of her class at the Academy. Because of her high academic standing, she was offered a field posting her senior year at a research station orbiting Ganymede. When a faulty computer caused the environmental system on the research station to fail, Najibah panicked and failed to report to an escape pod. Although she was rescued without injury, the incident caused her CO to leave a mark in her record that her academic record did not necessarily reflect her fitness to serve as a Starfleet officer. She blames the incident for her current status as a technician who receives no intellectual challenges, working in the bowels of the Anaximander. Najibah, whose mother did not support her decision to join Starfleet, is constantly second guessing herself, even considering resigning her commission.
Ensign Kyle Kinsley is a human male from Ohio on earth. Kinsley is an only child, and thus, his parents heap praise upon him for even his most trivial successes. He is driven by the need to succeed and attain the approval of those surrounding him. While he is still wet behind the ears, he has a bright scientific mind. Kinsley is a recent graduate of Starfleet Academy, having studied exobiology. Upon receiving his commission, he is handed the dream job of working as an assistant to one of his personal heroes, Dr. Elizabeth Brown. He is disappointed to discover that Dr. Brown, whose work he nearly worships, is anti-social and anti-Starfleet.
Ensign Leianais the Bolian daughter of a career Starfleet father, the CO of Starbase 96. She was raised on starships and starbases, and so has interacted with mid and high-level career officers since she was a toddler. Because of this, she is extremely easy going with her superiors. She is, however, desperate to prove to her father that she can be as distinguished an officer as he was. She is witty and sarcastic, and easily the most popular junior officer on the ship. Leiana has a special relationship to Captain Clark, who looks after her at the behest of her father, an old friend of the captain. Leiana graduated from the academy with Kinsley and Purtina, though she had not known them as more than acquaintances during their four years in San Francisco.
Ensign Jarkx is a Bolian male who works in the tactical department of the USS Anaximander. He is several years out of the Academy, and while he has not been promoted from ensign, he holds the position of deputy squad leader for one of the Anaximander’s three security details. Jarkx graduated toward the bottom of his class at the Academy, but has a knack for tactical operations. He spends most of his free time alone or working out, but has taken an interest in winning the affection of Leiana.
Lieutenant, j.g. Cory Michaels is an up-and-comer in the engineering department of the Anaximander. The son of freighter captains, he inherited the family freighter. It was, unfortunately, destroyed in an attack by raiders beyond the borders of the Federation. Captain Clark was so impressed by the knowledge and abilities displayed by Michaels when Michaels’ crew was rescued by the Anaximander that he offered him a field commission of lieutenant and the position of deputy chief of engineering. Some of the engineering staff are still skeptical of Michaels, who never received any formal training or education.
Ensign Purtina Chrayt is a Trill woman who works as a technician in the engineering department. She is not joined to a symbiant, though none of the crew of the Anaximander are aware of the great Trill secret involving the symbiotic relationship between their two species. Purtina does not want to be career Starfleet, but wanted the best engineering education she could get: Starfleet Academy. She ultimately wants to run her own research lab to improve warp technology in the Federation.
Murio Turo is a civilian who works as an attaché to the Efrosian sitting on the Federation Council. Turo has a degree in government from the most prestigious university on the Efrosian homeworld as well as a Masters Degree in Interstellar Relations from Harvard University on earth. Though young, in his mid-twenties, Turo is a trusted aide to Councilman ___________. He is charming and charismatic. Turo comes aboard the Anaximander as a guest, to do official field research into the productivity into deep space scientific research being done by Starfleet.
Supporting Characters:
Admiral Janet Napolitano is the Chief of Starfleet Operations.
Captain Joseph Clark is the human commanding officer of the USS Anaximander. He is a seasoned Starfleet Officer and is close to retirement. Clark is known for both his vocal opposition to orders when he disagrees with them, as well as his commitment to following them when his opposition is refuted. Clark is an old friend to the father of Ensign Leiana.
Commander Yuran is the Vulcan executive officer of the USS Anaximander. She is a by-the-book officer who expects her inferiors to follow orders and procedures to the letter. Although she differs from Captain Clark’s command style, the two have a mutual respect. Her personality conflict with Lieutenant Commander Taj’in is a common topic of gossip among the junior officers.
Lieutenant Commander Taj’in, an Andorian man, serves as second officer and chief tactical officer of the USS Anaximander. Before taking the post on the Anaximander, Taj’in spent the majority of his career working for Starfleet Intelligence. His reason for his request to receive a starship posting is a mystery, though most assume he became stir crazy in a desk job. Taj’in takes special pleasure in attempting to break the cool composure of Commander Yuran.
Lieutenant Commander Huan Xing is a woman in her mid-thirties and native of Thailand on earth. Xing is the operations manager of the USS Anaximander and is known for running a tight department. She values order, efficiency, and fairness. Xing’s reputation for dispensing harsh discipline for those who fail has earned her the nickname “the Ice Queen” among the junior officers. Despite her reputation, Xing also dispenses positive reinforcement to her officers who perform well.
Lieutenant, Elizabeth Brown, Ph.D. is the temporary head of exobiology on the USS Anaximander. Dr. Brown is an ironic choice to head a science department, for she is a civilian who has a history of harsh critique of Starfleet. An ardent pacifist, she is critical of the military wing of Starfleet, in particular its increased influence over the past two decades. Captain Clark tapped Dr. Brown to join the crew for their current survey mission on the promise that she would be part of groundbreaking research. She consistently shows a gross disregard for Starfleet etiquette and procedures. Dr. Brown is known to have no friends on the ship, and often serves a harsh lip lashing to any who cross her path.
Lieutenant Isabel Luchenko is the chief medical officer of the USS Anaximander.
Lieutenant Chaim Mandel is the chief science officer and head of the astrophysics department of the USS Anaximander.
________ is a leader of the Rokarian civil rebellion.
________ is a leader of the Rokarian junta government.
Several months ago, I posted the beginning of a story I had been throwing around in my head for a while. Ultimately, I became unhappy with the story. I reworked and rewrote it, and am in the final stages of finishing the first installment.
Below are my notes and the prologue to the first installment. I'm mostly looking for feedback/thoughts on the general idea as well as some style critique of the prologue.
I would also be more than interested in having someone help me write all of the stories I have in my head. I am a busy guy, and I have this grand plan of what I want to write with these characters, knowing full well that I can never get to it all. So if there is anyone interested in helping...
Star Trek: The Gilded Age
Star Trek: The Gilded Age is set in the early 24th century. The style of tGA will break with traditional Trek fiction in that it will not follow the bridge crew of a single starship. Instead, it will follow the careers, over several decades, of seven individuals who begin as junior officers on the USS Anaximander and go on to become movers and shakers within the Federation. The Gilded Age will center on trilogy installments of novelette-length stories that mark crisis points in the Federation of the early 24th century, with several short stories that bridge the years.
TGA intends to edify as well as entertain; it will explore many ethical issues which are on my own mind by using the Trek universe as my outlet. TGA, nor its author, is self-involved enough to think it has any “truths” to share about the universe in which we live, rather it is intended to be a medium by which the author can explore ethics. Hopefully, the reader who comes along for the ride will enjoy the stories and be challenged by some of the moral dilemmas that are introduced.
The First Installment, 2318
Praxis & Principles: The crew of the USS Anaximander are running a standard survey mission into an area of space which has been barely touched by the Federation. Unbeknownst to the junior officers, the survey mission is a public cover for a covert operation to gather information about a mysterious race known as the Rokarians who destroyed a Federation research station the year earlier. The poorly conceived covert mission will bring the Anaximander to the brink of destruction and the Federation to the brink of full-scale war. (80% finished: 25,000 words)
The Prime Directive: The fragile peace with the Rokarians is holding, but the crew must struggle with the morality of observing as the Rokarian junta systematically wipes out the democratic civilian rebellion. Meanwhile, a local supernova gives the Anaximander a break from patrol and a return to true scientific study. As they move in to study a sun about to go nova, the crew makes the heartwrenching discovery that a peaceful and culturally rich civilization on the verge of discovering warp technology is about to be destroyed by the death of its own sun. (pre-production)
The Enemy Within: With the captain recalled to earth, Yuran is in command of the Anaximander when hostilities between the rival Rokarian factions begins to spill further into Federation territory. When Rokarian ships begin to use Federation weaponry, Taj’in must race against the clock to find the Rokarian collaborator on board who is selling Federation technology. Meanwhile, the Anaximander finds itself in the crossfire of the two factions who each suspect the Federation is working with their enemy. (pre-production)
Main characters:
Ensign Benazir Najibah isa human woman of Pakistani descent who is in her second year as a communications technician on the USS Anaximander. She graduated near the top of her class at the Academy. Because of her high academic standing, she was offered a field posting her senior year at a research station orbiting Ganymede. When a faulty computer caused the environmental system on the research station to fail, Najibah panicked and failed to report to an escape pod. Although she was rescued without injury, the incident caused her CO to leave a mark in her record that her academic record did not necessarily reflect her fitness to serve as a Starfleet officer. She blames the incident for her current status as a technician who receives no intellectual challenges, working in the bowels of the Anaximander. Najibah, whose mother did not support her decision to join Starfleet, is constantly second guessing herself, even considering resigning her commission.
Ensign Kyle Kinsley is a human male from Ohio on earth. Kinsley is an only child, and thus, his parents heap praise upon him for even his most trivial successes. He is driven by the need to succeed and attain the approval of those surrounding him. While he is still wet behind the ears, he has a bright scientific mind. Kinsley is a recent graduate of Starfleet Academy, having studied exobiology. Upon receiving his commission, he is handed the dream job of working as an assistant to one of his personal heroes, Dr. Elizabeth Brown. He is disappointed to discover that Dr. Brown, whose work he nearly worships, is anti-social and anti-Starfleet.
Ensign Leianais the Bolian daughter of a career Starfleet father, the CO of Starbase 96. She was raised on starships and starbases, and so has interacted with mid and high-level career officers since she was a toddler. Because of this, she is extremely easy going with her superiors. She is, however, desperate to prove to her father that she can be as distinguished an officer as he was. She is witty and sarcastic, and easily the most popular junior officer on the ship. Leiana has a special relationship to Captain Clark, who looks after her at the behest of her father, an old friend of the captain. Leiana graduated from the academy with Kinsley and Purtina, though she had not known them as more than acquaintances during their four years in San Francisco.
Ensign Jarkx is a Bolian male who works in the tactical department of the USS Anaximander. He is several years out of the Academy, and while he has not been promoted from ensign, he holds the position of deputy squad leader for one of the Anaximander’s three security details. Jarkx graduated toward the bottom of his class at the Academy, but has a knack for tactical operations. He spends most of his free time alone or working out, but has taken an interest in winning the affection of Leiana.
Lieutenant, j.g. Cory Michaels is an up-and-comer in the engineering department of the Anaximander. The son of freighter captains, he inherited the family freighter. It was, unfortunately, destroyed in an attack by raiders beyond the borders of the Federation. Captain Clark was so impressed by the knowledge and abilities displayed by Michaels when Michaels’ crew was rescued by the Anaximander that he offered him a field commission of lieutenant and the position of deputy chief of engineering. Some of the engineering staff are still skeptical of Michaels, who never received any formal training or education.
Ensign Purtina Chrayt is a Trill woman who works as a technician in the engineering department. She is not joined to a symbiant, though none of the crew of the Anaximander are aware of the great Trill secret involving the symbiotic relationship between their two species. Purtina does not want to be career Starfleet, but wanted the best engineering education she could get: Starfleet Academy. She ultimately wants to run her own research lab to improve warp technology in the Federation.
Murio Turo is a civilian who works as an attaché to the Efrosian sitting on the Federation Council. Turo has a degree in government from the most prestigious university on the Efrosian homeworld as well as a Masters Degree in Interstellar Relations from Harvard University on earth. Though young, in his mid-twenties, Turo is a trusted aide to Councilman ___________. He is charming and charismatic. Turo comes aboard the Anaximander as a guest, to do official field research into the productivity into deep space scientific research being done by Starfleet.
Supporting Characters:
Admiral Janet Napolitano is the Chief of Starfleet Operations.
Captain Joseph Clark is the human commanding officer of the USS Anaximander. He is a seasoned Starfleet Officer and is close to retirement. Clark is known for both his vocal opposition to orders when he disagrees with them, as well as his commitment to following them when his opposition is refuted. Clark is an old friend to the father of Ensign Leiana.
Commander Yuran is the Vulcan executive officer of the USS Anaximander. She is a by-the-book officer who expects her inferiors to follow orders and procedures to the letter. Although she differs from Captain Clark’s command style, the two have a mutual respect. Her personality conflict with Lieutenant Commander Taj’in is a common topic of gossip among the junior officers.
Lieutenant Commander Taj’in, an Andorian man, serves as second officer and chief tactical officer of the USS Anaximander. Before taking the post on the Anaximander, Taj’in spent the majority of his career working for Starfleet Intelligence. His reason for his request to receive a starship posting is a mystery, though most assume he became stir crazy in a desk job. Taj’in takes special pleasure in attempting to break the cool composure of Commander Yuran.
Lieutenant Commander Huan Xing is a woman in her mid-thirties and native of Thailand on earth. Xing is the operations manager of the USS Anaximander and is known for running a tight department. She values order, efficiency, and fairness. Xing’s reputation for dispensing harsh discipline for those who fail has earned her the nickname “the Ice Queen” among the junior officers. Despite her reputation, Xing also dispenses positive reinforcement to her officers who perform well.
Lieutenant, Elizabeth Brown, Ph.D. is the temporary head of exobiology on the USS Anaximander. Dr. Brown is an ironic choice to head a science department, for she is a civilian who has a history of harsh critique of Starfleet. An ardent pacifist, she is critical of the military wing of Starfleet, in particular its increased influence over the past two decades. Captain Clark tapped Dr. Brown to join the crew for their current survey mission on the promise that she would be part of groundbreaking research. She consistently shows a gross disregard for Starfleet etiquette and procedures. Dr. Brown is known to have no friends on the ship, and often serves a harsh lip lashing to any who cross her path.
Lieutenant Isabel Luchenko is the chief medical officer of the USS Anaximander.
Lieutenant Chaim Mandel is the chief science officer and head of the astrophysics department of the USS Anaximander.
________ is a leader of the Rokarian civil rebellion.
________ is a leader of the Rokarian junta government.
Last edited:
