Please join me in welcoming back to the fold Shaun, who used to play our Counselor for a while and is now giving our Ops department a bit of a boost. Shaun is transferring over from the Cassini but all rumours that he's the Task Group bicycle are grossly exaggerated!

He is also not THAT old. Not like some of us. u.u

Welcome back, Shaun!

- Karen

Please join me in welcoming aboard our new Acting Chief of Security and Tactical, Lt. JG Patrick Shark! As you all know, I like setting things up so that we can work towards promoting people, hence the lower rank and fiddly nonsense with "Acting" stuff, but I'm sure it will make no difference whatsoever to the welcome you all give him. He's waiting on Starbase 24 for us so I guess this is even more reason to hurry up and get there! Welcome aboard, Lieutenant, I hope you enjoy your time with us!

Also on matters of Security, Dusky has agreed to a promotion up to Assistant Chief that I will incorporate as best I can into this transition period. Since Magda is currently missing, she can't be reassigned and someone would be put into the role. Far better it be a Playing Character anyway, I think I will work on getting Magda into Strat. Ops. when she finally exists again. That should please Ted. ;)

So hooray for a full Security compliment! We expect great things.

- Karen

From the Awards Department:

Detailed Nominations from ALL Obsidian Fleet members are currently being accepted for the James T. Kirk CO of the Year award, William Riker XO of the Year award, and Character of the Year award. Nominations will no longer be accepted after the 15th of January. Please send nominations directly to the Office of Awards & Services via awards@obsidianfleet.net

We have a great bunch of writers here and this lot of nominations goes directly to the Awards Department so nobody can remind you to construct something if you believe someone is deserving.
If you don't speak up, you can't expect that someone else will and the chances are that the person who is truly deserving will remain quietly nestled amongst some crew somewhere, never recognised because people have a tendency to take others for granted. I will be nominating. I strongly urge that the rest of you consider it because the people you write with take the time to tag you, to create ideas with you, to plot and support your character growth; the least they deserve is some recognition for their efforts, a good nomination won't take you more than half hour if you focus on it.

So get nominating!

- Karen

I don't use this function much anymore which might be a bit of a mistake because it's a good indication that the sim is active, but I just wanted to wish you all a happy start to 2010! I'm about to embark on my whole day without any internet at all so wish me luck and I'll see you again Saturday evening!

Just as a mention, coming back to posts and JP tags would be a nice present. :D You're doing great though, the last part of December was truly inspirational. Thank you all!

- Karen

It is with great sadness that I have to farewell Shaun, who plays our Counselor, Elzire Gray. As happens too often, the Real Life Gremlin has got him and he understandably has to prioritise work committments well ahead of simming. I'm sure you all join me in wishing him all the very best and extending the offer to return should he ever find himself in a position to do so. Thanks for all your contributions, Shaun!

- Karen

Please join me in welcoming Lieutenant JG Gannon Morris to the fray. He will be playing a medical officer so feel free to take all those bumps and bruises his way. I'm sure he'd appreciate any assistance you can give him to get settled into this plot, especially since the CO is out of action a bit because her tooth won't stop hurting and the dentist didn't have an appointment until Wednesday!

Grr.

- Karen