Bravo Fleet
Sometimes diplomacy requires a little saber rattling
– Captain Kathryn Janeway
Task Force Updates
Across every Star Trek series, diplomacy sits at the heart of the mission: whether it be Kirk and Kang laughing their way out of a manufactured war in ‘Day of the Dove’; or Picard in ‘Darmok’, painstakingly learning to speak in another culture’s metaphors; or Sisko in ‘Sanctuary’, confronting the painful limits of welcome when Bajor cannot be the refuge desperate people hope for. Star Trek teaches that diplomacy is learning another people’s language, safeguarding their dignity, crafting the clause that averts a war or knowing when one must, with regret, walk away. That is precisely why Task Force 72 exists: to embody those lessons and to undertake the most delicate missions in and beyond Federation space, in the very best traditions of Starfleet.
That is just one of the reasons that I am thrilled to take command of Task Force 72 and thank Admiral Liam Dahlgren for their tenure and Fleet Captain Callen Varro for their trust in me. And what an exciting time to be in the task force and Bravo Fleet! We are nearly midway through the New Frontiers campaign to explore the Shackleton Expanse and it has been heartening – and a pleasure – to see and to read the many contributions from our task force. Not only that, our lounge on Discord has livened up with the welcoming of new and returning members – thirteen in total! – with a particular welcome and callout to our new commander of Task Group 101, Commander Jast.
Fiction Summaries
Vega Long Range Explorer Division – Captain Williams takes command of the USS Vega and her quirky crew, only to have the Prophets drag him into the Celestial Temple and burden him with a haunting warning about a lost traveller just as their five-year Gamma Quadrant mission begins. Meanwhile, in the Hecate Cluster, the USS Kirk’s search for a missing Romulan science ship turns into a nightmare when a surprise warbird attack leaves them crashing, broken and hunted, on a hostile world.
USS Blythe – The USS Blythe and IKS Slivin arrive at Duwalla to find not one but two indigenous civilisations living under the heel of Ferengi Traditionalists, forcing Captain Tyler to call in the USS Culver City and USS Soval as the situation spirals. When a Ferengi shuttle’s Breen energy weapon cripples the Blythe and slams her into Derganix, the shock is enough to ignite a planet-wide uprising against their Ferengi overlords
USS Cantabras – The USS Cantabras diverts to chase a faint, century-old distress call that officially shouldn’t exist. What they find is a shattered, forgotten station and a ghost of a mission that may not want to stay buried.
USS Carlsbad – Still scarred by past battles, Captain Skyrunner and the crew of the USS Carlsbad are hand-picked to spearhead a bold new push into the Shackleton Expanse. With fresh promotions, new officers and Kyrennei allies aboard, they head into the unknown: straight towards a mystery of missing engineers that could be their first great test.
USS Farragut – Guarding a fragile convoy, the USS Farragut faces the fanatical Pilgrims of the Veil, whose sinister black reliquaries twist minds, machines and the rules of the game. A Klingon pirate king’s warning leads them to the pristine sanctuary of Orantei Station and its unnervingly perfect human hostess, Lara Tei.
USS Santa Monica – The USS Santa Monica slips her moorings, clears spacedock and surges to warp with a spotless checklist and a crew hungry for the stars. Out there, beyond the comfort of the station lights, their real shakedown is about to begin.
USS Thunderchild – In the storm-wracked Paldor System, the USS Thunderchild and IKS T’Ong uncover a world where the Secundi live under the iron “protection” of Klingon Captain K’Rath, and where one brave leader, Seren Athell, quietly begs Starfleet for help. When K’Rath springs a cloaked ambush, captains and crews alike must decide whether to obey treaties, bow to politics, or risk everything to do what is right for Paldor.
Task Force Recognition
Promotions
- Aloran to Commander
- Jorvan Kael to Cadet Freshman Grade, Cadet Sophomore Grade, Cadet Junior Grade, Cadet Senior Grade, and Midshipman
- Gucti Erin to Cadet Senior Grade and Midshipman
- Benito Roscow to Cadet Freshman Grade and Cadet Sophomore Grade
- Sumeet to Cadet Freshman Grade and Cadet Sophomore Grade
Awards
- Commander Aloran – The Silver Palm
- Lieutenant Commander Traan – The Silver Palm
Conclusion
“I have been – and always shall be – your friend.”
One of the joys of being part of any community, including our online community of fans of Star Trek, are the connections we form with a diversity of people across the world. Task Force 72, and our home on Discord, is one such place where we should all be proud of the relationships we have and will form, with our fellow members. And remember, if in ever in doubt, what would Ambassador Spock do?
