checks and balances

"You seem to have an interesting twist on democracy, Mr. Tinker" he began. "Give the people what they want, make sure you're doing your best to keep them happy but what about the drudgery of actual government? How do you keep the infrastructure of your world going if you're an entertainment network? How do you make laws and regulate industry?"

"Running a country, continent or planet is just like running a business... you contend with all the same things. When you get right down to it, it's about taking care of your employees... or in the larger sense, your citizens."

"As far as the laws and such are concerned, my senior executives and I do all that. It was all laid out a long time ago with a very careful set of checks and balances to avoid power-mongering and so on."

Tinker turned his attention to the captain, "Maddox, I think the people of Viden will be hungry to learn more about you and your crew... AND your Federation. If I may, I'd like to schedule you and your team here for exclusive, one-on-one interviews on the 'Willam Webster' program."

Maddox was formulating his response when Tinker cut in again.

"Will's got the highest rated live interview program of his sort, he's a real celebrity in his own right and a heckuva great guy. You'll have a huge audience! Whadda ya say Captain?"

"Well, in the spirit of the 'Cultural Exchange', I say we'll do it." Maddox smiled, "What better way to get to know the Federation and its people than an interview broadcast to the citizens of Viden?"

"Fantastic!" Tinker exclaimed, "There's just enough time to get you over to stage 243 and into makeup."

"Makeup?" Maddox queried, his face suddenly less cheerful.

"Oh of course, I forget you're not in the business." Tinker smiled and passed off a small plastic card with the PBN logo on it to the waitress, "You'll all need to have a little makeup applied so your faces'll show up better on camera."

"Oh... of course." the captain sounded a little confused by the entire process.

Ahem

Chadwick noticed that President Tinker's interest in Ashby was a little more than just being cordial so he interrupted him to divert his attention.

"You seem to have an interesting twist on democracy, Mr. Tinker" he began. "Give the people what they want, make sure you're doing your best to keep them happy but what about the drudgery of actual government? How do you keep the infrastructure of your world going if you're an entertainment network? How do you make laws and regulate industry?"

Chadwick had another thought, one he dared not raise at this point for the sake of diplomacy: Who did his network ultimately serve? The people or the sponsors?

"What about your actors and actresses? I mean surely you must have popular ones, right?" She asked curious about their role. "They, no doubt, are the ones that bring you the ratings and keep you in power."

"Oh sure we have actors, tons of them." Tinker patted Ashby on the hand as he spoke, it was unclear if he was coming onto her or not, "They ARE a key ingredient in getting and keeping viewers. We even have programs that involve regular people, hidden camera-type shows, you know."

"There was the big entertainment backlash of the last decade, where the viewers rebelled against the more professional, network actors and demanded more 'real' programming with 'real' people. PBN was one of the key networks to research and develop the modern hidden camera and 'real' programs." He felt a little bolder and patted Ashby's hand again, this time letting it linger a bit longer.

Long enough that even Maddox noticed.

What about the actors?

What a weird and unusual system Leah thought to herself. The entertainers running the world instead of the educated. And yet these people had somehow discovered warp drive?

And with de Coursey's question Leah's mind began to feel a bit worried. Due to these ratings spikes, the crew was great interest towards this planets population. Of course that raised some obvious dangers. And perhaps de Coursey was hinting at this with his question? Was the crew of the Endurance nothing more than a big ratings ploy with no actual interest in a Cultural Exchange?

Leah felt a bit afraid to connect the dots, and she didn't want to ask THAT question either. Not on this type assignment. Instead she played it safe.

"What about your actors and actresses? I mean surely you must have popular ones, right?" She asked curious about their role. "They, no doubt, are the ones that bring you the ratings and keep you in power."

Poli-tainment

"Say, it's not all about money though, is it Mr Tinker? You said something to us up on the ship that implied that there's a political angle to this racket, too. Am I right?"

"You've picked your officers well Captain Maddox. They ask good questions!" Tinker gestured to the others at the table with his heavy amber glass.

"Yes, Commander de Coursey, there is a bit more to it than mere money... allow me to explain. Entertainment and politics are one and the same here on Viden. In our development as a civilization, the line between entertainers and politicians became so weak and blurred, we finally gave up and just embraced the next logical step in the evolution of both professions."

"Eventually, the big studios and networks became political power houses like our old political parties once were. I just happen to be the head of the biggest and most successful network on Viden." Tinker continued.

"Our planetary constitution states that the man in control of the most successful studio or network is the duly elected 'president' of the planetary government. In this case the voice of the people has been translated into 'viewership' and network numbers, the people of our world make their voices heard daily by tuning into the programming of their choice."

"I've been the president of programming at PBN for the last ten years, but only the president of Viden for the last eight." Tinker explained, "When I took over at PBN, our numbers were down and our programming was weak, the old fella who been in the position before me had NO idea what it was the people wanted and so people tuned out and watched other things."

"But I had a vision of the future for the network... and it took some time, but I finally turned it around and got PBN back on track and at the top of the market again." Tinker beamed with a certain amount of pride.

"I suppose when I get older and out of touch with what the people want, I'll fall to the wayside, and some young buck with a head full of new ideas will swoop in and replace me. I hope it's from within the network, but it could be from anywhere really, there are hundreds of studios and networks for the people to choose from."

"I'll try not to feel mildly insulted Mr. Tinker." Maddox smiled.

De Coursey was enough of a natural show-off not to have been too fazed by the unexpected - and meticulously planned - attention that their landing had attracted. Also, he was realistic enough not to be too disgruntled at the unimpressive size of his "spike" compared to his more dashing looking male companions or their pretty space-lady.

However, something was making him frown.

"Say, it's not all about money though, is it Mr Tinker? You said something to us up on the ship that implied that there's a political angle to this racket, too. Am I right?" he asked between sips of something half bitter, half sweet, and incredibly alcoholic.

It was one thing appearing on a few vid casts and maybe making a few extra bucks for a private company (although there were rules and regulations on that buried deep within some dusty Starfleet manual) - but if their "spikes" meant rocking the political balance of a civilization, even that of a non-federated planet, then they were straying into waters not entirely safe.

The Numbers Game

"Tell me, Mr. President", he said. "Why is it important for you to know how many people were watching the broadcast?"

"Ratings my dear Doctor, ratings." Tinker smiled and took a sip of his drink from a short, stubby, amber colored glass, "Numbers of viewers mean advertisers will line up and pay virtually anything we ask for ad time during our programs. The higher rated the better. It's what helps to drive our economy here on Viden."

"More specifically, I want to know about YOUR numbers so I'll know what to charge my advertisers during your one-on-one interviews."

"For example," Tinker pointed to the zig-zag on the paper, "The spikes seem to indicate more public interest in you and Miss Ashby here... so I know that my advertisers will pay a little more to place there ads during the interview segments that feature the two of you versus the Captain or Mr. de Coursey."

"I'll try not to feel mildly insulted Mr. Tinker." Maddox smiled.

What's with the "spike"?

Chadwick wasn't liking this one bit; what was supposed to be lunch with a planetary official was turning into a spectator show...something a man with a covert agent past wasn't comfortable with at all.

However, a bit of attention from one of the comely waitresses was a welcome relief. Chadwick smiled at her and smirked at the comment that the viewing public considered him "ruggedly handsome". But he quickly snapped back into business.

"Tell me, Mr. President", he said. "Why is it important for you to know how many people were watching the broadcast?"

What an arrival!

After the announcer made his remark about 'being right back', some of the bright lights were turned off and the men operating the big boxy cameras relaxed a bit.

Maddox finally recognized someone in the crowd, Planetary President Tinker stepped out of the throng and approached, hand already extended.

He grasped the captain's hand, and shook it, then shook the hands of the other members of the landing party.

"Fantastic! What an arrival!" He beamed, "My money was on a little flying saucer, but that light show was something else! I smell ratings captain..."

"Uh thank you President Tinker, as a repre..." Maddox was interrupted.

"Ten seconds Mr. Tinker." came a prompt from a young man wearing heavy black glasses, and holding a wooden clipboard under his arm.

"Right, right... Listen Maddox, I'm going to step back over here and we'll do the intro live for the viewers at home okay?" Tinker said as he moved back to the crowd.

Maddox didn't get the opportunity to answer. Before he could speak, the young man in the thick black glasses was counting down from three, fingers extended.

The lights came back up and the announcer spoke again through the microphone, "Welcome back ladies and gentlemen to this historic first meeting between PBN President Nicholas Tinker and the crew of a craft from a far away world! Let's watch now as President Tinker approaches these visitors from space..."

Tinker stepped forward right on cue and extended his hand again, this time in a much more formal manner.

"Greetings Captain, I'm Nicholas Tinker of the Planetary Broadcasting Network. As president of programming at PBN, I speak on behalf of all the people of this world when I say 'welcome to Viden'."

Maddox glanced at de Coursey in a manner which said, 'didn't we just do this?'

"I'm Captain Samuel Maddox of the Starship Endurance. I bear greetings from the United Federation of Planets. This is my first officer Commander de Coursey, ship's surgeon Doctor Chadwick and my chief navigator Lieutenant Commander Leah Ashby."

With the mention of Ashby's name there was another flurry of flashbulbs from the throng of reporters. More shots of 'space-girl'.

Tinker shook hands with each again in turn, pausing briefly to ensure good photops with each member of the Endurance crew. When he was done, he waited until his sound man moved in close with the boom mic before he spoke again.

"Tell me Captain, what brings you to our world?" Tinker asked, purely for the benefit of the cameras and the viewers at home.

"We've been sent here to observe conditions on Viden and to gauge your suitability for a mutually-beneficial 'Cultural Exchange' between our societies."

"Cultural exchange?" Tinker asked, "Does that mean an exchange of technologies?"

"Well, that's only one small aspect of it."

"Fantastic!" Tinker threw his arm around the captain's shoulder as if they had been life-long friends.

The reporters nearby began to shout questions at the Endurance crew and more flashbulbs popped.

"Now, now," Tinker schemed, "There will be plenty of time for questions after our meeting. There's business to be discussed."

"And there you have it ladies and gentlemen," the amplified announcer spoke up again, "Viden's first contact with an alien race! Stay tuned to the Planetary Broadcast Network for more exclusive coverage of the visitors from space!"

"Aaaand we're off the air Mr. Tinker." called out the fellow in the black glasses.

"Alright Captain, let me treat you and your men here to some of the finest food that Viden has to offer." Nick Tinker took Maddox by the arm, "We've got this place... and it's right here on the lot, reserved for the stars and execs here at the network, you're gonna love it!"

"Virginia sweetheart," Tinker called out over his shoulder as they left, "get me the viewership numbers for the last thirty minutes would you? I want to know how our 'visit from space' ranked."

__________________

After a brief ride in the back of a blue motorized ground car, Tinker and the Endurance landing party were escorted into a two-story building not far from the beam down point. The glowing neon tube above the double door entry was twisted into the word "Canteen".

An attractive young woman in a form-fitting silver jumpsuit met them at the door, "Your table is ready Mr. Tinker... welcome back."

The group was seated in a large booth in the far corner. Maddox could see why Tinker might like this spot, it afforded him a view of the entire place.

The restaurant was lit in shades of blue and purple, and was populated by men and women in professional attire who looked to be conducting business while they took their meals.

Tinker took Ashby by the arm, "Don't worry sweetheart, there'll be none of that 'space-girl' nonsense in here. No cameras allowed."

The waitress passed around a series of slick, printed menus to everyone at the table.

"Can I get you something to start off with? Something to drink?" The silver clad young woman asked. Maddox noted that curvaceous ladies in silver garb seemed to be a running theme throughout the establishment. A fact that was also not lost on his first officer.

"My usual Ruby." Tinker didn't even look away from his party.

"Listen, I know my viewers are gonna want to know ALL about you folks, and I'd like permission to the first dibs at exclusive interviews with each of you." Tinker was very smooth.

"Interviews?" Maddox asked, "Well, what sort of information will the people of Viden want to know?"

"Human interest stuff you know... about your home planet, where you grew up, how you got where you are today, the action and adventure of working in space, that sorta stuff." Tinker's eyes were aglow with the possibilities.

Maddox looked from Tinker to the other members of his party, "Well, working in space isn't all danger and excitement, there's also..."

"Now now Captain, save it for the interviews." Tinker smiled just as his secretary Virginia came up to the table with a yellow folder in hand.

"The print outs of the numbers from the last half-hour Mr. Tinker." she said, passing it across the table. He thumbed through it.

"Ye gods!" he gasped, "I can barely believe it! The highest I've ever seen." he gestured at a simple paper printout of a red line that spiked up and down along a simple grid, it meant little to Maddox, "Look here, the spike when they show your Ashby, the public is nuts for 'space-girl'... and again here. What is this spike here Virginia?"

"That was when they showed Doctor Chadwick." Virginia practically sighed with delight at the speaking of the name. She was batting her eyelashes at the doctor across the table.

"Of of course!" Tinker replied, "The uniform, the rugged good looks... and of course the red hair, shows up GREAT on screen."

"You and your people are a hit captain." the president of programming beamed as his drink arrived.

A "star" is born?

Space-Girl? Oh isn't that a lovely nickname Leah thought to herself mockingly.

However she did notice a lot of attention being paid to her over the other landing party members.

"Space-girl is beautiful!"

"Are you single Space-Girl?"

"Marry me!"

"Can I have your autograph Space-Girl?"

"Take a picture with me!"

Were some of the random things the Leah could pick out of the crowd shouting at her. All of the flashing bulbs of their cameras made the scene look even more chaotic. She already had many questions but felt it was best to leave it to the captain for the moment.

Energize

At 1259 hours, the landing party was in the transporter room, ready for departure.

"I have the coordinates they sent us sir," the transporter technician called out, "locked in and ready captain."

"Energize." Captain Maddox ordered from the platform.


An instant later, the landing party from the Endurance materialized in front of a tall gray building. The first thing Maddox and his crew noticed were the bright lights and mob of people surrounding them.

They pushed at each other, all in an attempt to get a better shot or to take a better picture. Cameras and their accompanying flashes were everywhere.

"Over here!" They shouted in an attempt to capture the attention of the Endurance crew, "Look over HERE space-man!"

The Captain held up a hand to shield his eyes from the bright lights being shone on him.

"Look! They brought a space-woman with them!" One cried out.

"Who are you wearing space-girl?!" called out another with the flash of a camera.

A voice came from the crowd, amplified by some artificial means.

"And there you have it ladies and gentlemen, the spectacular first appearance of men from another world here on Viden soil! Brought to you exclusively by PBN! We'll be back with their first words to PBN President of Programming Nicholas Tinker after these messages from our sponsor!"

Warp-Capable

"Warp-Capable for the last five years, although they seem to have chosen not to do anything with the technology other than to launch a series of powerful broadcast and transmission satellites." Maddox answered Doctor Chadwick, "Starfleet's never been to the Viden system other than our presence here now. Long range probes and scans are all we have to go on."

"All our scans seem to indicate an Earth-like planet in a stage of development not unlike our home-world's twentieth century in terms of industry and culture." Maddox continued.

"We've been sent here to observe conditions on their world and to gauge its suitability for a mutually-beneficial 'Cultural Exchange' between our societies."

"Will you be beaming down with a security detachment sir?" asked Lt. Gamelson, who had taken over security after the departure of Talik.

"No, this is a peaceful mission..." Maddox replied, "but, Type 1 phasers to everyone in the landing party just in case. I don't want to look like we're armed to the teeth on the front end of this."

"Very good sir." Gamelson returned to his security panel to make arrangements to have four Type 1 phasers charged and ready for the team when they arrived in the transporter room.

Lunch sounds fine

"Lunch sounds fine to me" said Chadwick, nonchalantly. "It makes a change for a new civilisation to offer us a warm welcome instead of threatening us or abducting one of us from the ship". Chadwick thought about that last one...too many times he'd been whisked off Endurance at the whim of some powerful energy being.

"Other than their desire for mealtime meetings, what do we know of these people?" he asked the command crew.

De Coursey Chimes in

"So, 1 o'clock would be 1300 hours by our time system."

“Hmm, in that case we might be given lunch!” muttered de Coursey happily. He was getting tired of the ship’s reconstituted fare.

She paused for a beat before she smiled again."Haven't you ever been in a history museum or gone to one of the old 20th century reenactment villages? They even have ones for the 19th and 18th century with mock battles! You should check one out!"

De Coursey grunted at the idea.

“Well, I took place in a re-enactment of a 20th Century Petrolium-car race once, and the damned thing was full of ‘farbies’ on hover sleds. I was the only feller on four wheels.”

Maddox cocked an eyebrow in the direction of Ashby, as Doctor Chadwick joined them on the bridge, "I'm not completely unfamiliar with the old style time keeping methods, but I just agreed to 'A one-oh-clock'... Does that mean I agreed to meet with Tinker at 1300?"

De Coursey didn’t answer, just muttered something about coming last and ‘popping his chute’ – whatever that meant.

"I wonder if communication with the Videns will prove to be this difficult for the duration of the mission?" Maddox thought aloud, "Perhaps we should carry a universal translator with us just in case?"

“Ah, we’ll be fine!” beamed the Commander, returning to the here and now “Ashby and I will translate better than one of those little whirring dervishes. I don’t trust a word they say anyway. Did I ever tell you about the time …” But his anecdote about the Android and the Translation Device was cut short by Chadwick’s appearance.

“You willing for a One-o-clock with the President of this rock, Doctor?” he chirped.

"So what strange, new world are we visiting this time?" he said to the group of senior officers.

LINEAGE of the ENDURANCE

“By endurance we conquer.”

In 1914, Sir Ernest Shackleton recruited men and support for his Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition, intent on crossing the continent of ANTARCTICA on foot. Shakelton's very name evokes images of hardship and survival under the most desperate circumstances, as does the name of his shipderived from his familys motto, Fortitudine Vincimus (by endurance we conquer) the Endurance.

For a ship that he could trust in extreme conditions, he chose the 300-ton 144-ft. wood-hull barkentine Polaris, which had been built at Norways Framnaes shipyard, whose extreme-strength ships were favored for polar exploration.

The Endurance, as he renamed her, was built of oak and fir and sheathed in greenhearta wood so tough that special methods were needed to work it.

Sailing south as World War I broke out in August 1914 after the Royal Navy asked him to proceed rather than accept his services the Endurance became icebound at 74 south latitude, short of the Antarctic coast, then frozen fast as the ice became tightly packed by several days of high winds from the northeast. Immobilized for ten months, including Antarctic winter, the crew abandoned her as she was crushed and finally lost on October 27, 1915.

Stranded on the ice, Shackleton and the Endurance crew of 28 made their way with their lifeboats to barren Elephant Island, which offered neither shelter, food, nor the prospect of rescue.

On April 24, 1916, Shackleton chose five crewmen and embarked in the 22-foot James Caird on one of historys most fantastic voyages: despite being able to take only four star sightings, they made 800 miles over 17 days through seas up to 70 feet and miraculously in the words of their logreached their objective, South Georgia Island.

Still 150 sea miles short of Stromness Bay on the other side of the mountainous island, and with only rags for clothing, Shackleton and two of his men struck out againthis time trekking 22 miles over uncharted alpine terrainand stumbled into the whaling station 36 hours later, to the absolute astonishment of those present.

On August 30, 1916, the trawler Yelcho finally retrieved the remaining crewmembers from Elephant Island.

Amazingly, Shackleton lost no men on this 22-month odyssey, the last fantastic expedition of the heroic age.

------------------

USS Endurance (AMc-77) was an Accentor-class minesweeper acquired by the U.S. Navy for the dangerous task of removing mines from minefields laid in the water to prevent ships from passing.

Endurance was launched on 19 June 1941 by Gibbs Gas Engine Co., Jacksonville, Florida. Placed in service on 11 October 1941, she served in a noncommissioned status throughout the war in the 10th Naval District.

She was placed out of service on 6 December 1945 and transferred to the Maritime Administration on 7 July 1947 for disposal.

___________________

The Endurance (AM-435) was launched August 1952 by J. M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp., Tacoma, Wash., and commissioned 19 May 1954, Lieutenant L. E. Martin in command. She was reclassified MSO-435 on 7 February 1955.

On 21 April 1954, Endurance arrived at Long Beach, Calif., her homeport, and began training operations along the southern coast of California. In July 1955 she made a good will cruise to Acapulco, Mexico, returning to local duty on exercises, drills, and operations with ships of other types.

Endurance made her first cruise to the Far East between August 1957 and February 1958, during which she exercised with ships of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force and the navy of the Republic of China.

Her second tour of duty in the Far East, from January through July 1960, included minesweeping exercises at Okinawa, and another period of assistance to the Chinese navy in developing their modern mine warfare techniques. Arriving at Long Beach on 19 July, the remainder of the year was given to operations and ship overhaul.

--------------------

HMS Endurance was a Royal Navy ice patrol vessel that served from 1967 to 1991. She came to public notice when she was involved in the Falklands War of 1982.

On 19 March 1982 while the ship was at Stanley, South Georgia was occupied by Argentinian civilians. The Endurance, commanded by Captain Nick Barker, was sent to order the Argentinians off the island. Endurance had a small Royal Marines detachment and took further Marines from NP (Naval Party) 8901, and sailed on 21 March for South Georgia. Arriving on 25 March, she encountered the Argentinian transport Bahia Buen Suceso, which had landed 100 troops, and Endurance landed her marines before returning to the Falklands on 30 March. She joined up with the British task force in April and landed SBS soldiers at Hound Bay on South Georgia on 22 April. With the threat of a submarine presence, other vessels moved into deeper waters but Endurance moved into sea ice near the shore. On 25 April two Wasp ASW helicopters flying from Endurance assisted in attacks on the submarine Santa Fe, which was later abandoned by her crew. When the Argentinian forces surrendered on the 26th the Endurance remained in the vicinity of the island as a guard.

Toward the end of her life she acquired the nickname HMS Encumbrance due to reliability problems.

In 1989 she struck an iceberg and although she was repaired, a survey in 1991 declared that the hull was not sound enough for a return to Antarctica and she was finally decommissioned.

______________________

HMS Endurance was the Royal Navy's Antarctic ice patrol ship. She was a class 1A1 icebreaker, with pennant number A171.

HMS Endurance was built in Norway in 1990 by Ulstein Hatlo for Rieber Shipping as MV Polar Circle. The Navy chartered her for eight months as HMS Polar Circle from 21 November 1991. She was bought outright and renamed HMS Endurance on 9 October 1992.

Endurance provided a sovereign presence in polar waters, performed hydrographic surveys and supported the British Antarctic Survey in Antarctica. Her usual deployment was in the South Atlantic and returned to the UK through tropical waters each year.

_____________________

Federation starship, Mann-class cruiser. The Endurance was constructed in 2206 and was employed primarily for strategic purposes by Starfleet command. It provided much needed defense and security within the ever-growing Federation jurisdiction. Having an advanced 3rd generation warp drive that used pure matter/antimatter annihilation, the Endurance became the first Federation designed craft to surpass warp 6.

In 2217, under the command of Admiral Okuru Nelson, the Endurance was the flagship of a massive space-lift operation to evacuate the 10 million inhabitants of Bayard's Planet before the Phi Puma supernova shockwave ignited a cascade nova in the Bayard's star system. The USS Endurance was retired from service in 2244.

1300?

Maddox cocked an eyebrow in the direction of Ashby, as Doctor Chadwick joined them on the bridge, "I'm not completely unfamiliar with the old style time keeping methods, but I just agreed to 'A one-oh-clock'... Does that mean I agreed to meet with Tinker at 1300?"

"I wonder if communication with the Videns will prove to be this difficult for the duration of the mission?" Maddox thought aloud, "Perhaps we should carry a universal translator with us just in case?"

Ashby responds

Maddox stood up from the captain's chair as if to leave the bridge then stopped suddenly, "Can... anyone tell me what a 'one-oh-clock' is?"

Leah gave a slight chuckle. "It's a an old unit of measurement Earth used. Since a day lasted 24 hours our ancestors divided the day in two 12 hour time periods. AM and PM. So an old clock would only have 12 numbers. So o'clock was shortened form of "On the clock"!

Leah smiled at her own answer.

"So, 1 o'clock would be 1300 hours by our time system."

She paused for a beat before she smiled again.

"Haven't you ever been in a history museum or gone to one of the old 20th century reenactment villages? They even have ones for the 19th and 18th century with mock battles! You should check one out!"

Sickbay

Chadwick had just started his shift in sickbay when the call came in: "Doctor Chadwick to the bridge".

"Oh well, the sick and needy on this ship will have to do without me for a while" he said to his staff. Fortunately there was only Ensign Griffiths with a dislocated shoulder who needed attention and Nurse Penney was more than capable of dealing with that.

Chadwick made his way to the bridge where he saw Maddox, DeCoursey and Ashby all conversing about some new development. He also noticed that the Endurance was orbiting a Class M planet.

"So what strange, new world are we visiting this time?" he said to the group of senior officers.

Tinker's Office

"Anything new that I should know before we attempt to make contact?" The captain asked.

A look from Chief Science Officer de Coursey told the young science ensign that it was alright to proceed. He took another look over his instruments.

"A fairly typical Class M world sir. Nitrorgen/Oxygen atmosphere, gravity, industrialization all close to levels that might be expected of Earth in the mid Twentieth Century. Most of the pollution is centered around the larger cities and areas of industry."

"Do you detect any sort of military structure?"

"There IS..." he looked once more through the scanner, "but very little. Technology on par with mid-to-late Twentieth Century Earth."

"Interesting." Maddox mumbled, "Alright then, it's no good observing in a vacuum, let's contact them. Lieutenant?"

The red headed communications officer was already at her controls, "I believe I have them now sir."

"On screen."

What appeared on the forward viewer looked to be the the interior of the office of an entertainment executive. Framed, autographed pictures hung on every wall, plaques and trophies lined several shelves off to one side. In the back was a great window that looked out over a vast series of studio buildings and exterior setpieces.

The older man at the desk in the center wore a slick, smoke gray suit with a nehru collar and a huge white smile. He was a man who had the look of someone in charge, and who always got his way with a wink, a smile and a firm handshake.

Captain Maddox leaned toward the viewer as he began, "I'm Captain Samuel Maddox of the USS Endurance, representing the United Federation of Planets. We've been sent here to observe conditions on your world to gauge its suitability for a mutually-beneficial 'Cultural Exchange' between our societies."

The man in the gray suit looked surprised and excited, he straightened visibly in his high backed, leather chair, "Hey that's fantastic Captain! I'm Nick Tinker, president of programming here at the Planetary Broadcast Network."

"President of programming? Oh I'm sorry Mr. Tinker... I needed to speak with your planetary governing body." Maddox said.

"Oh, the board of directors and I here at Planetary Television ARE the governing body for the planet," He smiled, then leaned in and put on his 'reassuring' face, "...at least until our numbers fall lower than Harlington-Straker Studios across the street."

Tinker gave a laugh that seemed timed perfectly to the 'punchline' of his own joke.

Maddox shifted in the captain's chair, "So you and your people there at Planetary Television..."

"Yes Captain, we're the governing body here on Viden. I can see that this must be very confusing to you. Why don't you and your people come down for a visit. We can have lunch and talk all about it."

Maddox looked over at de Coursey with a raised eyebrow, then back again toward the viewer.

"Fantastic," Tinker didn't wait for an answer, "I'll transfer you to Virginia who'll schedule you in... see you soon captain!"

The viewer flashed over and an image of a woman the captain could only assume was 'Virginia', Tinker's secretary, filled the screen.


"Are you available for a one-o'clock captain?" Virginia said in a pleasant, professional tone of a woman who is accustomed to talking to people for a living.

Maddox looked befuddled, then to de Coursey for confirmation, "Are WE available for a 'one-oh-clock'?"

de Coursey, off screen, nodded.

Maddox looked back wide-eyed to Virginia on the viewer, "We ARE available for a 'one-oh-clock'."

"Thank you captain I'll pencil you in." She said making a note on her desktop machine, "We'll see you then, buh-bye."

The viewer returned to the orbital view of Viden II.

Maddox stood up from the captain's chair as if to leave the bridge then stopped suddenly, "Can... anyone tell me what a 'one-oh-clock' is?"

Crew Medals and Awards

Captain Samuel Maddox

Career Service Citation:: 1 Year

Amount: 1

Medal Description: Awarded to Starfleet officers after ONE consecutive year of service aboard a starship.

Awarded Stardate 4220

Career Service Citation:: 2 Years

Amount: 1

Medal Description: Awarded to Starfleet officers after TWO consecutive years of service aboard a starship.

Awarded Reason: For joining in Jan/Feb of 2005. Thank you for your valuable and continued service!

Founder's Mark:: Azure

Amount: 1

Medal Description: Awarded to users who have recruited TWO or more new players.

Awarded Reason: Awarded for the recruiting of new user "Relon"

Founder's Mark:: Gold

Amount: 1

Medal Description: Reserved for the Board Founders and users who have recruited TEN or more new players.

Awarded Reason: Awarded 0526.20 (old Stardate system) as founding member of forum.

Founder's Mark:: Silver

Amount: 1

Medal Description: Awarded to users who have recruited FIVE or more new players or Moderators.

Awarded Reason: Moderator of USS Endurance forums

Founder's Mark:: Umber

Amount: 1

Medal Description: Awarded to users who have recruited ONE new player.

Awarded Reason: Awarded for the recruiting of new user "Linus"

Joint-Mission Participation Deocration

Amount: 1

Medal Description: Joint-Mission Participation Decoration

Awarded Reason: Active participation in “The Counterpoint Catastrophe” Board wide Joint Mission that began Stardate 4421.2. This medal will be awarded to those players that participated in the game and contributed to the story itself.

Player of the Year

Amount: 1

Medal Description: Awarded through a peer voting process, this award represents one of the highest honors available-- the appreciation and commendation of fellow players

Awarded Reason: Voted Player of the Year 2005 - Awarded 4212.7

Purple Heart

Amount: 2

Medal Description: Issued to characters that are injured during combat missions.

Awarded Reason: first contact mission to Toma Major, awarded 2258

Awarded Reason: Injury inflicted by Klingons during mission to Verian Two, (4161.22)

Service Pin:: Endurance

Amount: 5

Medal Description: Given to players who have successfully run an adventure for the USS Endurance players. 

Awarded Reason: Awarded 4814.1 as GM of "Manifest Destiny"

Awarded Reason: GM of "Cage of Freedom"

Awarded Reason: GM of "Blood Lust"

Awarded Reason: GM of Endurance game "That Which Paradise Ensnares"

Awarded Reason: GM of Endurance game "Time's Arrow"

Silver Star

Amount: 1

Medal Description: Given to players who work to make sure that their posts are well written. This includes, but is not limited to: Spelling/Grammar, Punctuation & Overall Quality.

Awarded Reason: Awarded 0555.19 (old Stardate system) for quality and characterization

Commander Jan de Coursey

Public Relations Cluster

Awarded 2006

Silver Star

Amount: 1

Medal Description: Given to players who work to make sure that their posts are well written. This includes, but is not limited to: Spelling/Grammar, Punctuation & Overall Quality.

Service Pin:: Starbase 11

Amount: 1

Medal Description: Given to players who have successfully run an adventure for SB 11 players. 

Awarded Reason: For sticking with SB 11 and helping out when no one else would.

Career Service Citation:: 1 Year

Amount: 1

Medal Description: Awarded to Starfleet officers after ONE consecutive year of service aboard a starship.

Lt. Commander Clive Chadwick

The STARFLEET SURGEON'S DECORATION is given to those in the medical field who work the hardest to create posts of medical import to our community. Awarded 2006

Silver Star

Amount: 1

Medal Description: Given to players who work to make sure that their posts are well written. This includes, but is not limited to: Spelling/Grammar, Punctuation & Overall Quality.

Joint-Mission Participation Deocration

Amount: 1

Medal Description: Joint-Mission Participation Decoration

Awarded Reason: Active participation in “The Counterpoint Catastrophe” Board wide Joint Mission that began Stardate 4421.2. This medal will be awarded to those players that participated in the game and contributed to the story itself.

Career Service Citation:: 1 Year

Amount: 1

Medal Description: Awarded to Starfleet officers after ONE consecutive year of service aboard a starship.

Purple Heart

Amount: 1

Medal Description: Issued to characters that are injured during combat missions.

Awarded Reason: Injury sustained during mission to Verian Two, (4161.22)

Lt. Commander Leah Ashby

Silver Star
Amount: 1
Medal Description: Given to players who work to make sure that their posts are well written. This includes, but is not limited to: Spelling/Grammar, Punctuation & Overall Quality.

Career Service Citation:: 1 Year
Amount: 1
Medal Description: Awarded to Starfleet officers after ONE consecutive year of service aboard a starship.

Service Pin:: Endurance
Amount: 1
Medal Description: Given to players who have successfully run an adventure for the USS Endurance players.
Awarded Reason: GM of "To Repel Ghosts"

Standard Orbit, Viden II

The Captain watched as the small green orb grew larger on the forward viewer. He was curious to see how close they could get before being detected by Viden's planetary defenses.

"Standard orbit helm" he ordered.

"Entering standard orbit sir."

Maddox looked back at the communications officer, eyebrows raised in a silent query.

She listened to her earpiece again before answering.

"Nothing sir, no chatter that would indicate that they've detected us, and still no attempts on their part to contact us." she shook her head, "I don't believe they know we're here captain."

"Even with all that broadcast and reception technology? Interesting." Maddox asked aloud, almost rhetorically.

He looked up toward the science station again.

"Anything new that I should know before we attempt to make contact?"

And then there were three... again.