Author: cyclops

Recommending Reconnaissance Romulan Forces on the Move

Long range sensors have indicated that Romulan forces are moving into an previously unexplored region of space. It is unknown at this time why the task force is on the move. Command is recommending a reconnaissance mission be organized to track the group and investigate possible reasons for the fleet movements.

It is believed the task force consists of 2 Romulan Warbirds and 6 frigates with as many smaller vessels. The vessels were tracked heading out of Romulan space 3 days ago where the group cloaked shortly after passing through the edge of Cardiassian space, the group remained visible through that space passing through the tachyon detection network on the opposite side of Cardassian territory before cloaking.

Projected course puts the group heading out into unexplored space. Command recommends a scout mission be organized to track the group from the point they left Cardassian Space and attempt to locate them undetected.

Trello Boards

In an effort to keep things organized and try to not drop plots and forget to RP out storylines. I am going to try to put all major plots (and hopefully most minor ones as well) onto our new Trello boards. I’m not sure yet how this is going to work in practice, but I’m hoping it’ll work well.

As such, here are the public links to the boards. Trello doesn’t have a way for me to just use an invite link to let people be added, which is probably a good thing. Instead I have to actually add people. If anyone would like access to create/edit/modify Trello cards just let me know.

I’m going to do my best to also put past plots, outlines, and ideas onto it as well so that we can try to revive things and maybe resurrect some old plots.

Proceed with Required Refits

All Solas Tempus vessels should report to their designated repair and refit facilities for required sensor array refits to install the VAM Enhanced Sensor Pallets. All facilities will immediately begin upgrades to installed sensor systems as well as upgrading all fighters and auxiliary crafts.

In addition to sensor upgrades, vessels will receive upgrades to the Mark 1S Active Repair System which will also be augmented be Astromech Droids to improve internal repair effectiveness.

Contractors are encouraged to receive the upgrades and are eligible to receive access to a fully functional HAL Computer Hub for vessels receiving the upgrade. A minimal HAL installation is required for effective sensor operations but not for repair system upgrades. Contractors should contact their military liason or direct superior for further information.

Shooting on Nimbus

“This latest attack will not stand, we will locate and prosecute the people responsible for the attack to the fullest extent of the law.” — Admiral Lance Thomas

On the 18th security officers collected several assailants at Finnegan’s Tavern on Nimbus Station. One of first splicers was attacked by an unknown number of assailants during the evening of the 18th. Security responded but not before the injured officer was shot in the stomach at close range by a phaser blast. The site is frequented by many of the military personnel on the station and is run by Captain Lee Finnegan.

Solas Tempus has not released details of the incident nor the name of the person attacked, only that he was retired and worked in the hospital. Unconfirmed reports suggest that the unnamed victim was one of the team which helped in the recovery efforts of Admiral Lance Thomas after his return from capture. Given recent events, we reached out to Admiral Thomas for comment.

We have always taken the security of our officers, crew, and civilian residents seriously. It it deeply troubling when a man who did not wish to come here, who was forced here by the Splice phenomena that pervades this system, turned his life to service of the people who welcomed him among them is attacked without provocation. It is even further troubling to know this person was retired and had devoted his remaining years to the medical profession, healing the sick and wounded. Such a person should, at the very least, not have to concern himself with being shot and potentially killed by attackers after surviving numerous military campaigns bravely both in his native universe and here in ours.

It is truly inspiring to see someone who is so devoted to the service of others. Retiring from military service only to go into the medical profession. Especially when this man could have rested on his laurels and no more would have been expected of him. Such a person deserves our respect and gratitude.

This latest attack will not stand, we will locate and prosecute the people responsible for the attack to the fullest extent of the law.

Admiral Lance Thomas

When asked for further details on the attack Admiral Thomas reiterated that he could not comment further on an ongoing investigation, being handled internally by the Solas Tempus security forces rather than civilian agencies.

Within hours of our speaking with Admiral Thomas an unnamed source at Serenity Station indicated to reporters that an increase in the number of patrols was being organized. In addition, another source at the Umbral Shipyards indicated that many of their support craft which had yet to be assigned were in the process of being refit with more advanced sensor arrays. A second source at the shipyards confirmed this and also confirms that orders have been issued to upgrade the sensor arrays of existing vessels, fighters, shuttles, and all other starship and auxiliary craft in the region. It is unclear the reasons for such upgrades or orders, though it could indicate that the organization is actively searching for something which requires new hardware capabilities.

Is the surge in activity in the system related to the recent attack? The timing seems to indicate that it could be, but Solas Tempus denies that new ordered have been given, insisting that any upgrades taking place are part of the normally scheduled routine maintenance. If it is related, one has to wonder what Solas Tempus is searching for.

Drem Confusco Missing in Action

Captain Drem Confoscho has been officially reported as missing. At this time anyone with information on her potential whereabouts is asked to come forward and contact Solas Tempus immediately or the office for the Department of Protection and Investigation immediately.

The wife of the former head of Solas Tempus has been declared missing in action. While little is known about the circumstances of her disappearance, Captain Drem Confoscho has been officially reported as missing. At this time anyone with information on her potential whereabouts is asked to come forward and contact Solas Tempus immediately or the office for the Department of Protection and Investigation immediately. While Admiral Lance Thomas has not been available for comment the head of Solas Tempus, Admiral Sal D’Amico was available for comment earlier today.

We are very concerned about the recent disappearance of one of our own. Captain Confoscho was a cherished member of our organization and we ask that anyone with any information please come forward either through my office or the DPI. She was last seen at 3:50am local time on route to Trocara in the Markab System approximately 57 light years from here. There was no distress call, at 3:22am we received the last automated telemetry from her vessel, the Ghost Quartz. Next telemetry from an unmanned sensor station operated by Starfleet Command picked up the vessel near the edge of its sensor range, the station tracks the vessel until it disappears from sensors at exactly 3:50am local time while still within sensor range.

Admiral Sal D’Amico

Further details have not been provided to the press, though records indicate this was a routine trip to Trocara where her and Admiral Thomas share a home. The registered flight plan lists the trip as personal, further, records indicate Captain Confusco was granted a weeks leave shortly before departing.

Rumors have circulated for months that there was tension between Admiral Thomas and Captain Confusco following his capture and rescue where he was believed to be dead. It is not known at this time if Admiral Thomas was aware of the trip to Trocara or not but the Solas Tempus public relations office has confirmed that he is assisting with the investigation.

Fund Molten Aether

I am never one to enjoy the act of asking others for money so I will keep this short and to the point. Running this server and its associated parts costs me time and in some cases money. The web server along costs the bulk of my out-of-pocket expenses but I do think it has become an essential part of what we do. A place to keep all of our content is very important to me.

I would like to ask that anyone who feels they can consider becoming a patron via our Patreon Page. Even a small regular donation would do wonders for us and my ability to keep everything running. As things pick up I hope to be able to invest more time and energy into making content here. I also would like to start making short videos on YouTube about writing and role playing. Some of these may become content only for patrons but that has yet to be decided.

In the end, I would like to clear about $40 a month or so which would cover my web server costs for the forum, wiki, and wordpress. We have specialized patron roles, which is not much of a thank you but it is a start. Should we get enough patrons I will look into what else those people would like me to do to add value to their generosity.

To everyone, thank you.

URL Update

In the long process that has been moving to the moltenaether.com domain name, the URL’s for all blazingumbra.com will now automatically redirect to the corresponding page on the new domain. All BU links will work exactly as are for a good long while. Eventually we will be moving entirely to the moltenaether.com domain but probably not until 2021 at the earliest. Users may need to log in again to the Wiki or WordPress as the cookies are no longer valid with the new domain.

If anyone gets any redirect errors (most common is likely to be too many redirects) I encourage users to wipe their cache and refresh. If the error still occurs, let me know what page was being accessed so I can do testing and resolve the issue.

Starlight No More & Sudden Storm

Late on Wednesday night the infamous Starlight Motel caught fire after a reportedly fake 911 call brought police there before the fire took place. Law enforcement officials believe that this is related to the series of killings taking place around Chicago for some time now. In a press conference the spokesperson for the Chicago Police Department had this to say:

We understand that in today’s world often times first responders are targeted and we must remain vigilant. Two police officers were killed in the fire that occurred late Wednesday, we mourn their loss not only as a department but as a community. Their killers will be brought to justice.

CPD Spokesperson

There are few eyewitnesses to the event, some time at around 8pm a 911 call came in requesting help. The recording of the call allows us to hear a wide variety of sounds which police say were faked, but sound very real to many. Our independent analysis shows the sounds were very real identifying several independent voices screaming, breaking of class, and other assorted noises. From that point a bulletin went out and the two deceased officers were the first on the scene, they went into the hotel first. Other officers showed up after but then reported that the call was a false alarm.

We attempted to reach the CDP officers who responded to the call but the police has not released their names. Over the next hour a fire broke out in two locations, the CFD arson unit responded and believes the blazes were intentional but have not released their report to the public. One Firefighter we spoke to on condition of anonymity told us the site was the strangest fire location he’d ever seen. He reported that there were dead snakes everywhere, as if every snake in the city had slithered there and just up and died. Blood stains on the remaining walls showed strange symbols that have stuck in his mind after the fact. With so the bodies of some 22 people found, it is no wonder the site has stuck to him.

Other than these scant details City Hall is quiet and no witnesses have come forward. We know from traffic cameras that others did show up, a woman, a rather large van style vehicle with the letters “P S Y C H O T R O N I C S” painted on the side. We have not been able to find a company with this logo or name as yet, leaving the serious question – are they responsible?

During the blaze a freak weather phenomena occur across the entirety of the Chicago area, a sudden storm perhaps saved nearby properties from burning. The storm pushed rain down upon the area that for a while resembled a monsoon. As the storm raged on the temperature dropped suddenly, but briefly, below freezing causing large hailstones. This storm front, which meteorologists say came out of nowhere, lasted for almost a full week of constant rain. Scattered reports say that some people actually found frozen snakes falling from the sky late on Wednesday night, even some filing insurance claims for damage to homes and cars. One homeowner had this to say about the freak weather:

I’m not going to tell the insurance company a snake dented the roof of my car, that is crazy. I wouldn’t believe me! It happened though, a snake about a foot long. Can you believe it? A frozen snake a foot long dented my car!

Chicago Resident Joseph

Joseph requested we not print his last name or address for fear the insurance company would deny his claim upon hearing he is blaming it on a snake. It is highly this night is going to leave our memory any time soon.

The remains of the Starlight Motel have been condemned and the insurance company has erect chain-link fencing to keep people out. The owner of the property has not responded to our requests for comment. It is very likely that without the freak weather phenomena which dumped several inches of rain on the city in such a short time span the fire would have spread to neighboring lots.

Discord Reunification

As many people know, we took a poll on what people think should be done to better revive our role play. Play has diminished significantly over the last few months and that is in the face of many people being stuck at home, which should increase participation. The pole revealed that while there is a certain amount of support for killing off the Angelic Sins and Embers of Soteria settings there was far more people who (thankfully) also think everything was fine. The top two things that people think should be done were to reset everything and start over and to consolidate the servers back into one.

My choice to split the settings up into their own servers was controversial and intended to increase role play. Unfortunately it appeared to do the opposite. From the server having right around 100 people (though most were inactive) the membership has been cut in half. Also role play in AS and EoS are both at an all-time low. Since I am not very keen on resetting everything back to scratch, though that might have some advantages, I decided to reunify all the settings into a single server.

As part of this I cleared out the server invites list and generated a new invite, cleared out the old servers, sent out invites to players who were not still a member of the Molten Aether server, and moved all of the channels back. All the channels are blank of course, but my hope is that under this new (old) configuration we can once again start getting all the settings moving again.

Since roles were changing, everyone should check and make sure they have the proper permissions on Discord.