Systems Force 2 and VSD Striker Report

[Calder]

Current Units:

VSD Striker: Line Captain Patrick Calder
FRG Chinook: Lieutenant C. Broliv
FRG Thunderbolt: currently under direct command of CM La Forge and LC Stark
FRG Tsunami: Lieutenant Commander Eddard Stark

Introduction:

I was away on leave from 29 May to 11 June. During that time, I left the flotilla under the command of Commander La Forge. Everything went swimmingly.

Current Status:

In a word: improving. The new banner for the Systems Force was finally uploaded to the ER site. We’ve received several new/old GE veterans into the flotilla so I have high hopes. Also, the Striker has a brand new website, courtesy of Commander La Forge. It can be accessed via (and I bet you didn’t see this url coming): http://vsdstriker.empirereborn.net

For those of you who saw the MB announcement and wondered when I would move into my office, it’s been done. Go on in and have a look – but don’t touch anything.

Promotions, Demotions, and Transfers:

Ensign First Class Healr stepped down from his XO spot on the Thunderbolt, to be replaced by now Sub-Lieutenant Waldegrave. Mr. Healr is now onboard the Chinook. Lieutenant Broliv has returned to us from the reserves, and now commands the Chinook. Since I maintain a very ordered and structured chain of command, I have promoted Mr. Stark of the Tsunami to Lieutenant Commander – he is now the designated third-in-command of the flotilla.

Elsewhere in the fleet, change is afoot as well. Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock you know that Captain Tapio Laithlis, formerly Academy Prefect, was promoted to line captain and Senior Fleet Officer. Congratulations again to Line Captain Laithlis. Don’t forget those are some very distinguished footsteps you are walking in. He has selected veteran GE reservist “Say” Mikfarlant as his First Officer on the Chimaera. Likewise, after stepping down from his role as Senior Fleet Officer, which he has held since succeeding me in mid 2005, Mr. La Forge opted to return to his original place of hovering in my prestigious shadow, now residing here on the Striker.

Now, I truly would be remiss not to at least draw attention to the irony of this unforeseen turn of events. Laith and Say command the Chimaera. La Forge and I command the Striker. Did I somehow slip into Bizarro world or what? Is this some sort of space-time anomaly? Did I really drink that much while I was on vacation? And just where did I park my star destroyer?

Most recently, another larger-than-life GE reservist from ages past returns to us to fill the role of Procurator of Justice. Aarkon Syrtaras: Kappa Lieutenant, Striker Captain, Tactical Coordinator, Commander of the Navy, and so on, returns as Lord Syrtaras in charge of the Emperor’s Court. The weak will not only perish, but now tremble as they do so.

Could all this be the prelude to the prophesied “End of Days”? Stay tuned!

The Frigates:

Reports are in from both Broliv and Stark. Broliv seems to have a fondness for pirates these days. I will encourage that, with the following breakdown of plunder: 40% of all plunder goes to me (and I get to choose which 40%). 20% goes to Commander La Forge (one again, I get to choose which 20%). The other 40% can be divided up amongst Lieutenant Broliv and his crew as he sees fit.

AWOL checks are also currently being run.

Systems Force 2 Activity and Projects:

The Tsunami motto competition is still going on. Let’s get some mottos in to LC Stark!

I’d like to draw attention to a few things I said in the last report which were intended to get a response, but which did not. Here they are again, in bold, for your ease of viewing:

I am still looking for a ship veterancy cost list for XWA. However, it looks like S3 will not be taking place (at least not hosted by me) until the fall, since I won’t have time to do it until I get back.

I would also appreciate feedback from the Army on what platform and setting they would prefer for said wargame.

Anyone who can get the damned EaW map editor (specifically the space combat aspect of it) to work, please get in touch with me.


Final Thoughts:

I’ve been thinking about my old advice column “Dear Senior Fleet Officer” and its spin-off, “Dear Retired SFO”. Of course, I’m neither of those things anymore (well, I guess I’m still technically the latter, but it loses some flair now). So, I’m thinking about a third installment: “Dear Striker Captain”. Many of our current membership are too young to remember the wonderful letters of “General Donut”, “Commander Sandy-Pants”, or “The Fleet Commander of Love”. We’ll see. Don’t nag me though…you know what happens when people nag me.

On 29 June I will be returning to my real job, aboard a real ship. However, due to the wonders of modern technology I will still be very reachable (I have one of those nifty cellular modems for my laptop). Nonetheless, expect my response time to increase. I assure you I will get back to you, but unless it’s a memo from Fleet Admiral Fel telling me we’re at war and I need to actually command something, don’t expect a same-day reply. This will continue until October or so. Once again, I stress that this will not hinder my ability to command the Striker. For those of you who remember, I first took command of the ship while I was still at work.

You heard it here first, folks.

Finally, the official Striker Awards:

Sith of the Week: A 3-way tie: Commander La Forge and Lieutenant Commander Stark, for doing a fine job of running things while I toured Europe and I came back to find very little missing from my office, and the majority of the sand still in the sandbox. And Vice Admiral Jagged Fel for being practically instantaneous in taking care of all the little requests I had in the last month.

Gungan of the Week: I still don’t have anyone specific who’s angered me, so I’ll use the same list I did last report: People that nag me. People that act like douchebags on the message boards. (Nobody complained about the term “douchebag” last time, so I guess I’m a line captain and I can say whatever I damn well please!)

That is all.

[Broliv]

Argggh That be a fine report

[Calder]

Thanks, Bro. Nice to know it has your seal of approval.

Now where's my freakin' plunder?!