Star Trek: Starbase 51
Preface: An Introduction
First and foremost, if you're not looking for a lengthy explanation as to how this story (or maybe even sets of stories) came about, then you'll likely want to skip on to the next chapter, and ignore this altogether. This is just where I'll give props to those who deserve it, and make a few disclaimers.
The real meat will come later.
If you've never heard of a PBeM Simm, but are a Star Trek aficionado, you might want to check it out. www.PBeM.com has some of the best ones out there, just looking for new fanfic writers who are looking to collaborate.
The reason I mention this is my obvious connection to that genre. Starbase 51 was initially a concept I drew up for one of those collaborations that was short-lived due to personal time constraints. I've always loved the concept, though, and was loathe to simply let it go to waste. With my discovery of this site, I think I may actually have found a suitable outlet, for which I am deeply grateful.
I must note, of course, that the nature of collaborative fiction can cause some issues with copyright as far as the characters in the simm itself goes. So as to not hurt any fellow writers, or step on their toes, I will attempt to take as few liberties regarding using their characters as I can. Some concepts, as they were integral to creating the story, will remain similar, but I will try to change as much of the specifics as possible, including the names and basic backgrounds of the character when complete exchange is not possible. If you were a member of the aforementioned simm, and feel I have taken too many liberties, I will be more than happy to mention you in this portion of the document, and what you have contributed.
As to the story itself, the concept of Starfleet Intelligence is one that has piqued my curiosity for quite some time now. That darker side of Star Trek, the part we never saw other than the introduction of Section 31 and a few mentions in various books or episodes along the way, is one I've always wanted to see its inner workings. When I found a group that based itself on the Star Trek RPG source book for SF Intel, I was hooked. I played various ships, writing various characters, until I was invited to create my own simm. I jumped at the idea, and the concept for Starbase 51 was born.
Now, years later, Star Trek canon has changed, time has moved on, and certain events make it impossible to run the story exactly the way it was done before. That's fine, actually, as it gives me the opportunity to make this story truly my own. As far as ST Canon goes, we can consider all of the current series (other than Enterprise, which is still in its infancy, and seems to thumb its nose at accepted canon whenever it can) to be canon, as well as any books by Michael Jan Friedman and Peter David to be such as well (since I borrow from Peter's ideas on occasion, and Friedman is just way too cool to be left out). I do not intend to use canon characters at all, just the universe they live in.
As for the timeline: this story occurs shortly after the end of the DS9 series. Thus, the war with the Dominion is still freshly over, and Voyager is still lost in the Delta Quadrant, and has only recently been contacted by Starfleet. Other than that, we're all set to go.
Enjoy the ride, and let me know what you think. If this is well received, I may choose to bring the USS Outreach into this as well. Don't ask what that is... it's a secret.
Preface: An Introduction
First and foremost, if you're not looking for a lengthy explanation as to how this story (or maybe even sets of stories) came about, then you'll likely want to skip on to the next chapter, and ignore this altogether. This is just where I'll give props to those who deserve it, and make a few disclaimers.
The real meat will come later.
If you've never heard of a PBeM Simm, but are a Star Trek aficionado, you might want to check it out. www.PBeM.com has some of the best ones out there, just looking for new fanfic writers who are looking to collaborate.
The reason I mention this is my obvious connection to that genre. Starbase 51 was initially a concept I drew up for one of those collaborations that was short-lived due to personal time constraints. I've always loved the concept, though, and was loathe to simply let it go to waste. With my discovery of this site, I think I may actually have found a suitable outlet, for which I am deeply grateful.
I must note, of course, that the nature of collaborative fiction can cause some issues with copyright as far as the characters in the simm itself goes. So as to not hurt any fellow writers, or step on their toes, I will attempt to take as few liberties regarding using their characters as I can. Some concepts, as they were integral to creating the story, will remain similar, but I will try to change as much of the specifics as possible, including the names and basic backgrounds of the character when complete exchange is not possible. If you were a member of the aforementioned simm, and feel I have taken too many liberties, I will be more than happy to mention you in this portion of the document, and what you have contributed.
As to the story itself, the concept of Starfleet Intelligence is one that has piqued my curiosity for quite some time now. That darker side of Star Trek, the part we never saw other than the introduction of Section 31 and a few mentions in various books or episodes along the way, is one I've always wanted to see its inner workings. When I found a group that based itself on the Star Trek RPG source book for SF Intel, I was hooked. I played various ships, writing various characters, until I was invited to create my own simm. I jumped at the idea, and the concept for Starbase 51 was born.
Now, years later, Star Trek canon has changed, time has moved on, and certain events make it impossible to run the story exactly the way it was done before. That's fine, actually, as it gives me the opportunity to make this story truly my own. As far as ST Canon goes, we can consider all of the current series (other than Enterprise, which is still in its infancy, and seems to thumb its nose at accepted canon whenever it can) to be canon, as well as any books by Michael Jan Friedman and Peter David to be such as well (since I borrow from Peter's ideas on occasion, and Friedman is just way too cool to be left out). I do not intend to use canon characters at all, just the universe they live in.
As for the timeline: this story occurs shortly after the end of the DS9 series. Thus, the war with the Dominion is still freshly over, and Voyager is still lost in the Delta Quadrant, and has only recently been contacted by Starfleet. Other than that, we're all set to go.
Enjoy the ride, and let me know what you think. If this is well received, I may choose to bring the USS Outreach into this as well. Don't ask what that is... it's a secret.